The Lady of My Heart: Chapter 1

#11: Gakuen Alice (Natsume & Mikan)
...xXx...

Mikan exhaled tiredly while scanning her surroundings. For four days, she had been walking, and now, she was standing in front of a big town like her own. Slowly, she made her way towards one of the women in the market place. Politely, she asked the woman, "Excuse me, may I know where I am right now?"

The woman looked at Mikan with curious eyes before smiling. "You must be a traveller!"

"Yes." Mikan nodded with a smile, although the woman couldn't see her face because of the hood she was wearing.

The woman smiled. "You are in the main town of the Eastern Lands, dear."

"Thank you." Mikan gave her a small bow. When she was about to start exploring the town, she was suddenly dragged by a bunch of young women around her age. When everything stopped moving, she found herself in a spacious hall with a few guards. One of the guards saw her and pushed into a room where other young women were also inside, and she was instructed to take a seat. Still in a state of confusion, she obeyed and found an empty seat. Right after she sat, an older woman joined them and gave each of the young women a paper, including her. Despite the hood, she could still read what was written in the paper. It was some kind of a list of questions.

What is this? Mikan asked herself. It was not about the questions because she was sure she could answer all of them without any mistakes. What confused her was why she needed to do this. Maybe I can ask the woman about this later, she told herself. She started answering the questions. Surprisingly, she was the first one who finished it.

After an hour or two, the examiner finally called out, "It’s been decided, only one of you will be chosen, and that person is…"

"Mika," the examiner said after reading the paper she was holding.

Mikan's eyes nearly popped out from their socket. I was chosen! Chosen for what?

Whispers filled the room, and the examiner called out again, "Mika, please stand up."

Nervously, Mikan stood up, and everyone in the room looked at her.

The examiner looked at her suspiciously. "Please remove your hood."

It's alright to remove my hood, right? Mikan hesitantly touched her hood. No one knows you are a princess here, Mikan, she assured herself. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and opened her hood slowly.

Time seemed to stop when her long brown hair that reached past her waist spilled out from her hood. When she opened her eyes, everyone stared at her in awe and adoration. She was like a princess in everyone’s eyes.

The examiner blinked a few times before smiling. Prince Natsume will be pleased.

"Please come with me, Mika," the examiner commanded.

Mikan nodded and followed her out of the room. She was determined to ask what was happening, but before she could ask anything, she was guided into a small room.

"This is your room from now on."

Mikan looked at the room as she mentally noted, It's really a small room...

The examiner pointed to another door inside the room. "This door is connected to Prince Natsume's room, so you can tend to his needs more quickly."

Mikan was beyond speechless as she was left alone in the room. What was happening just now? Wait… did she say Prince Natsume just now? Her eyes widened in horror. What am I doing with the prince of this land? She grunted. This is great, Mikan. You ran away from a castle only to be dragged to another castle. As she looked around the room, she saw a kimono was prepared on the bed. She looked around again and found a bathroom.

An hour later, she was ready with her kimono with green obi. Her kimono was a light green colour and had pink flower patterns on it. The left sleeve was embedded with a small red phoenix symbol. She tied her brown hair to a high ponytail. A knock was heard, and she answered them as quickly as she could. It was the same examiner.

The examiner gasped silently when she saw Mikan and smiled. Perfect! "I see that you're ready."

With a small smile, Mikan nodded.

Again, when she was about to ask something, the examiner beat her to it. "You will start your work today. You could use the door I showed you just now, but you will have to introduce yourself formally before Prince Natsume first."

Mikan sighed mentally. I think I will have to ask Prince Natsume himself since she wouldn't let me speak.

Since it was next door, they only walked for a while. The examiner knocked the shoji door that had a big, red phoenix symbol on it.

"Enter," a voice answered from the room.

Both slowly entered the room.

Mikan followed the examiner closely behind. When she saw the examiner bowed, she followed suit.

The examiner smiled. "Let me present you your personal assistant, Prince Natsume."

Personal assistant of the prince? Her eyes widened in shock. Am I dreaming? My goodness, please tell me this is only a dream.

Natsume stopped reading his paperwork and looked up at the examiner. He put down his paperwork and gave the examiner a nod.

The examiner motioned Mikan to step forward.

Mikan did what she was told but hesitantly. Her head was still downcast, so she couldn't see Natsume's surprised face.

The examiner smiled proudly when she saw the prince's expression.

"You're dismissed," Natsume said with a nod.

The examiner bowed towards Natsume before leaving the two alone.

Silence filled the room.

Nervously, Mikan clutched her kimono's sleeves.

As soon as he stood in front of her, he demanded, "Lift up your head."

Slowly, she looked up at him.

When their eyes met, no word was uttered from both of them. Both of them were too mesmerised by each other’s eyes.

After a moment or two, Mikan blinked, and their eye contact broke. "Errr… Prince Natsume… I-I—"

"Your name?"

She sighed mentally. Why would people keep beating me from speaking?

"Mika," she lied. Well, she had to lie, so no one would know that she was the Princess of the Northern Lands.

He hummed. "Nice to meet you, Mika. As you already know, I'm Natsume Hyuuga, the Prince of this land. I'm expecting your good work as my personal assistant."

She stayed silent, debating with herself to tell him the truth. And finally, she blurted out, "Prince Natsume, I apologise if I have offended you, but I'm truly not into this work as your personal assistant."

He gave her a confused look.

"I'm just a traveller who just arrived here a few hours ago. I was suddenly dragged by a bunch of young women and ended up here."

Now, that explains her behaviour for not gawking over me like any other women but… too bad, or too late for that. He smirked mischievously.

She stepped backward when she saw his smirk that obviously screamed troubles.

Raising an eyebrow at her, he inquired, "Are you afraid of me?"

She gulped. "K-kind of…"

He smiled. "You don't have to be."

A gasp escaped her lips. He looks even more handsome with that smile…

Before she realised what was happening, he already wrapped his arms around her waist.

Her eyes widened and tried to push him away. "W-what are you doing, Prince Natsume?"

Holding her tightly, he whispered into her ears, "Please don't be afraid of me, Mika. I won't hurt you."

As her body slowly relax, he grinned and brushed his lips against her neck. Unconsciously, she let out a moan. Realising her action, she gasped and tried even harder to push him away. He released her a bit but only to lean down and closed the distance between their lips. Needlessly to say, she stood there, frozen. A bite on her lower lips made her gasp, and he took advantage of it, deepening the kiss. Her mind grew fuzzy before she shyly responded to his kisses.

Soon, they broke the kiss as the need of air was calling for them. While grasping for air, she looked at him with dazed eyes.

Leaning down to her ear, he whispered, "Say that you will become my personal assistant, Mika."

She stuttered, "Y-yes."

He smirked and slowly let her go. "You will start working tomorrow. I assume you're tired from your travel, so go get some rest."

Since she was lost for words, she only nodded.

After kissing her forehead, he murmured, "See you tomorrow, Mika."

"See you tomorrow, Prince Natsume."

Still in daze, she made her way to her own room. While tracing her lips, she closed her eyes. She flushed deep red as she remembered it was her first kiss, and it was taken by the Prince of Eastern Lands nonetheless. 

Stupid Mikan, you were manipulated by him! Now, you have to stay in the castle as his personal assistant. She sighed as there was nothing she could do about it. It's time to tell Akira that I have safely arrived at the Eastern Lands. She dug her travelling bag and took out her writing material and wrote him a quick letter. Once she was done, she closed her eyes. A sakura symbol appeared on her forehead before she chanted under her breath. Soon, the letter was sealed with two sakura symbols. When she opened her eyes, the symbol on her forehead disappeared. Opening the window of her room, she breathed out, "Sakura-san…"

Sakura petals started gathering in front of her and formed a girl. The girl bowed at her.

Mikan smiled at the girl and handed her the letter. "Please give this letter to Akira, and try not to get caught by my father."

"As you wish, Princess." Sakura took the letter before turning back to sakura petals and floated away from Mikan.

Akira was in the middle of reading a scroll when a sakura petal caressed his arm. He smiled to himself. It must be from Mikan. Quickly, he left the library to their shared room and locked it. When he was sure no one was around, he called out, "Sakura-san…"

Sakura appeared before him in count of seconds. She bowed at him before handing the letter from Mikan.

He smiled. "Thank you."

Sakura bowed for the last time and dismissed herself.

Akira looked at the letter and touched the seal. The two Sakura symbols vanished instantly. He smiled and opened the letter.

Akira,

I have safely arrived at the Eastern Lands. Luck was not with me, Akira. I'm living with the Prince of the Eastern Lands as his personal assistant! Can you believe that? I'm sorry, Akira. You helped me out from the castle, but now, I'm still stuck in a castle. Well, I will contact you again if something happens. Tell Okaa-sama I am sorry and I love her so much.

Your twin sister,

Mikan

With a smile, Akira thought, I'd like to know what you would do if you found out she is my twin sister, Natsume.

Chapter 1—The New Assistant Chapter 2—The Disappearance Chapter 3—The Invitation Chapter 4—The Reunion Chapter 5—The Truth Chapter 6—The Meeting Chapter 7—The Lady of My Heart Next