Snippet #1734971

The garden was a total mess. If it was a different garden it would be okay. But this is the garden. The different colored flowers were lined up along the path, specially planted to resemble a rainbow, two different arcs paralleling each other, on opposite sides of the path. It usually was beautiful, but the symmetry was all wrong. And that made Erika angry. She scrutinized the garden as she walked the stone path, hands angrily on her narrow hips, scowling. She calculated it to be perfect, for hours, getting it exact. Sadly, something definitely went awry with her last replanting. Erika continued hunting for the mistake. Her personal maid, Eva, was watching from the castle moat, with a worried expression on her face. Erika had been searching for hours, occasionally rearranging a few flowers, cutting a few others with her silver dagger.

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet. Yes, that's all correct. Everything appears to be in order. Why does something seem off?

Prowling like a jaguar on its prey, a short girl with a bird-like disposition, dressed in loose grey robes, and her mind was itching at her. Her perfect order, her wondrous garden, spoilt by an almost indistinguishable blemish. It was hard to see Erika clearly a few hours ago, but the sun was now rising, and the Prince Yashie was most likely awake by now. Very possibly, her brother was already blaming things on Jeremy Hatsuya, the heir for the Underworld. If she asked him what was wrong, Yashie would likely say the Hitsuyas did it. Somehow, they must be blamed. Erika's father would have the same response. Alaric and Yashie, so similar in many ways. United in their hatred of the Underworld, and united in their ability to rule.

I counted thirty four bees in total. They might have done something. Most likely not. Keep searching.

Aerial? What would she say if Erika asked for her assistance? The kind Queen of the Upperworld, perhaps too kind for anyone's good. she was safety, and stability, and all either loved her already, or should love her when they meet her. If not, Erika could easily and methodologically ruin their lives. She remembered that man, who lived on a poor farm that had been raided by bandits. He blamed it on the Mitsugas, and so Erika had planned his downfall.

**

Seven months ago

Haruki. Dressed in poor, peasant rags, dirty and torn. His breath was foul and his face, wretched. He had come to the castle, presumably to complain that he had been raided again, by the local band of bandits. He spoke with King Alaric, and they conferred quietly with each other. All Erika could hear of this was that Haruki claimed the royal family was on the ball. Erika didn't understand what he meant, but it sounded threatening. On the ball? If the castle is a ball, who owns it? The bandits? Does he? Erika struggled with comprehension for two days. Eventually, she decided that it must have been a threat.

Erika dressed in dark rags. She had incapacitated Haurki's wife and eight year old daughter, and tied them up. After that, she pulled them onto a wagon, and wheeled it over to the meeting spot. Last night, Erika sent a message to the bandit leader that she had a deal to strike with him, as long as he came unarmed. Sure enough, at midnight, the rugged bandit leader arrived. His eyes feasted on her for a few moments, but he saw her knife. He then looked at Erika's two captives.

"What deal you got, Princess?"

"I'm not a princess." Erika replied, with an uneasy calm. "I am a peasant girl. I live in filth, plough disgusting wheat and grass and dress in poor clothing."

The man winked, amused. The girl had a definite haughty nature that permeated her paper-thin disguise. Of course, the dagger's hilt was beautifully crafted and jeweled.

"That's an awfully expensive blade, your Highness."

"I am a terrible criminal. This is stolen from the Royal coffers." Erika explained. "It's beautiful. The blade is silver, specially crafted by Mr.Uzuki. The hilt is bronze smelt, with sapphires attached with intense heat. The carvings and symbols represent-"

"What sort of deal?" He asked, and Erika faintly smiled, revealing the amusement she felt. Her personal punishment of Haruki. She was ruining his life, but he deserved it, no doubt. He insulted the Royal family, and thus, is a spy for the Hitsuyas. A terrible person. Subhuman. So Erika had no qualms or reasons to cause harm to the hapless farmer. He most definitely deserved this.

"Fifty gold pieces. Each." Erika told him. "They will work as slaves to whatever bidding you desire."

"Deal."

The two figures, standing at the crossroads, they shook hands, and Erika handed over the wagon to the bandit leader. A few hours later, Erika had entered Haruki's home, and cut herself deep with his spear. Erika then ran home, and told her father that Haruki had abducted her, cut her, and tried to sell her to the Underworld. Haruki was immediately sentenced to the prisons.

**

Present Time

Erika grinned at the memory. It had been fun, and her arm healed perfectly, leaving no trace of the cut. Then she saw the problem, someone had walked in her garden, the footprint resembling that of a bear. Erika carefully straightened the flowers that were bent, uprooted the ones that were dead, and told Eva to escort her into the castle. She headed towards Selene's room, but missed and saw her brother. Erika casually told him hello, hoping that no one noticed she had spent the last night outside.