Snippet #1697624

A little charcoal for the eyebrows, some berry juice to slightly stain the lips a darker pink. Sori knew very well none of this was necessary, her natural beauty alone was enough. Yet, that hadn’t stopped… him… from commanding a beauty regimen for her for the last week. Skin purifying, oil baths, daily brushing and oiling of the hair. Sori didn’t need it, but he had ordered it. She gritted her teeth, gripped the edge of her yukata tighter.

And, of course, she hadn’t even seen him, not even when the order went out that she was to be the Oni Clans candidate for marrying the Jade prince. Just an official letter, with his special seal, cold, impersonal. Sori shook her head, no, this was truly for the better of her clan. The Oni Clan, she would gladly take her own life for the clan if she must.

The servants backed away, complete of their task. Sori rose. So, today was the fated meeting day. Would she be able to win that human princes heart? She had to, didn’t she? Sori clasped her mothers barrette in her hair, slipped the silver dagger in her sock.

One of her… Fathers… personal servants came in then, bowing repeatedly, “Princess, he is waiting for you.”

Sori stiffened, casting one last long look on the mirror. Alluring, sapphire blue eyes, small, pink lips, creamy skin, long, flowing, midnight black hair. Yes, she was beautiful, but was it enough? She glared inwardly at her worries, forcing them out of her, or at least forcing them to hide where she couldn’t feel them for the time being.

Of course she could do this. She was Sori Valentine, 11th Oni Clan princess, and she would prove beyond a doubt that the Oni Clan could rise above anything. Sori took a deep breath, and exited the room to meet her Father, the King.