The Last Princess

by Marissa Craig

  Marissa Craig

  Chapter 1: Setsuna

  My whole life has been more about what I will be and not who I am today. My whole life I’ve been conditioned to be a man’s wife. I don’t know him but I can’t fail him. At least that’s what father says. Sometimes I feel like he only loves me because of the title he’s given me….princess of his nation, the small kingdom of Morinaga.

  I’m only twelve but I’ve heard of girls getting married at this age. My future husband and I will finally get to meet next week. I’m curious to see him but I can’t drop the act that I want nothing to do with him.

  Secretly I’ve sent him letters since I was five and could write. He’s never written back but I kept writing. I can see why he wouldn’t want to be bothered with me. He’s about twenty now. I just wonder what kind of man he is. I hope he’s nice to me.

  “Setsuna-sama! Again!”

  I’m supposed to be practicing my walk. Hard to concentrate. I have so many teachers handling me. It’s all increased since the Niwa royal family will be arriving soon.

  “Setsuna-sama, again.”

  I turn around and start walking towards her. The dress is supposed to flow a special kind way; I have no control over that. I stop in front of her and she holds her forehead.

  “It’s not good enough.”

  It’s all so demanding. I hope my future husband will accept me for who I am and not mold me into what he wants. That’s all I ever wanted. I’m so miserable here. My last letter to him wasn’t too long ago. I always tell him how miserable I am. I wonder if that’s what prompted this sudden meeting.

  “I need a break,” she says.

  What exactly has she been doing to get so tired? She stomps off and slams the door behind her. I settle near the window and look out. Because I am so important to bridge our nation with the Niwa’s nation, I’ve been secluded inside the palace walls. If I die, so does the hope of our kingdom.

  I don’t care but there are people counting on us. I’ve never met the citizens of our nation but I hear them on t.v. and they love it here. Our nation can’t fail them. But deep down, I wish I could be one of them instead.

  The door slams open and the court ladies rush in.

  “I can’t decide on the dress,” one says.

  “Do the white one to show her purity.”

  “No, it might be mistaken for a wedding dress.”

  It’s as if I’m not even conscious. They string me up touching me how they like. I do want to look pretty. It’s gonna be hard to get Kyoya-sama’s attention when he’s so much older. I just want to meet him; I don’t want a production out of him.

  “She’ll wear the royal robes,” mother steps in. “Same as always.”

  The court ladies part and she approaches me.

  “The same ones I wore when I was introduced to my husband.”

  “Mother, I-”

  “You’re not improving. They’ll be here in a week and you’re not improving. Do you think that’s acceptable? It’s not just Kyoya-sama you have to impress. He has two brothers and parents. Did you research them?”

  “His older brother is Kantarou-sama, a commander in charge of palace security and his younger brother is Kira-sama.”

  “And Kira-sama is the same age as you and already declared a genius. If you can’t be up to his standards how can you hope to impress your husband.”

  The yelling never ends. I’m never good enough. She stares at me with cold eyes. I think she was nicer before we learned about the engagement. I turn my head away and she yanks it back.

  “Ruin this and you’ll have no place in this family.”

  She lets go and walks away. The court ladies follow. I get up and wander around the halls. I can’t take this. I’m so afraid of letting someone down. I’m the only offspring and mother is barren and father is sterile from an accident.

  After I marry Kyoya-sama I’ll be pressured to have kids to carry on our legacy. My mother won’t even tell me how to do it. The whole thing is vague.

  “Setsuna-chan,” I hear.

  “Yumi-chan, are you done with school?”

  She’s my cousin. She kind of understands my position but she’s allowed to go outside the palace walls. She only has to wear her royal robes for special events. Mine never leave my body.

  “I can only stay a minute. I’m going out with my friends.”

  “Oh?”

  “There’s this new movie out and I gotta find a cute outfit.”

  I follow her down the hall. She’s the most glamorous girl I know. She has long hair like me put she’s allowed to wear it down and wear nontraditional makeup.

  “Can I see what a cute outfit looks like?”

  “Of course. I guess I should be passing some advice to you.”

  “I have a class for that.”

  “That whole courtship from our ancestors. No. If you wanna keep your man, you have to do things my way.”

  “My man? You mean Kyoya-sama?”

  She starts to chuckle.

  “What?”

  “Let’s get inside first.”

  I go to her room and she walks straight to her closet.

  “I know you’re not allowed to see him or have contact with him but you should know he’s a very popular guy.”

  “Tell me about him.”

  “I can’t. Truthfully I’ve never met him. But let’s just say you’re gonna have a lot of jealous girls at your feet.”

  Yumi-chan is closer to his age. She’s seventeen. She might be able to understand things more.

  “I hear he’s a very caring man,” I say to her. “Quiet and reserved.”

  I can’t believe I’m talking about him as if I know him. I’ve never had any contact with him but I figure since he never rejected my letters he must be caring.

  “What are you even gonna do with him?”

  Her hair whips around. I stand awkwardly in the middle of her room. It’s refreshing to be around her. I feel like she’s the only one that doesn’t shelter me. She’s very outspoken.

  “I don’t know but…what do you think he will expect.”

  “I think…it will be awkward for you. He’s an adult and should be having sex with you but he won’t cause that would just be gross.”

  “Could you explain that to me?”

  She comes from the closet defeated. She takes my hand and leads me to the bed.

  “Did no one clue you in?” she asks me.

  “I’ve been practicing.”

  “Practicing what?”

  “How to walk and improve my table manners. And I’ve been studying history and language. I know their language very well.”

  “It’s a dead language so what’s it matter. I mean…aside from being a princess do you realize your other duties to him.”

  “Our marriage is to bridge our nations. That’s why I can’t mess up.”

  “Yes, you’ll be a great symbol but also…you’ll be his fiancée, his girlfriend.”

  “His girlfriend?”

  “And so you take care of his needs.”

  “I’ve been studying cooking too-”

  “As his girlfriend you have to make him happy. Make him not want any other woman.”

  She looks at me and I’m afraid to let her know I’m confused.

  “I can’t blow your mind just yet. With your age difference I know he’s not thinking about it.”

  “Yumi-chan….there are some things I can’t practice and that makes me scared.”

  “But that’s the best part. You’re going to have your first experience falling in love.”

  I’m going to fall in love with him? She skips back to her closet and rummages through her clothes. For us to fall in love it means we must really like each other…and accept each other. />
  “I want him to like the real me,” I say to myself.

  This training is useless. I want to meet him in clothes I want to wear and talk about things that interest me. They’ll be here in a week. I still have time to send him another letter.

  “Can you take a letter out for me?” I ask her.

  “How long do I have to be your personal messenger?”

  “Please, I just wanna say my thoughts to him just in case I can’t communicate around my parents.”

  “Fine, but make it quick.”

  Chapter 2: Kyoya

  “I can’t wait to meet you. Since you announced your visit, I’ve been drilled harder and it makes me want to run away. But my cousin reminded me that aside from being a symbol for our nations, I’ll also be your girlfriend. That made me nervous. I mean, I’m not old enough to get married so I’ll be your girlfriend for many years. And soon enough we’ll fall in love. I don’t know how to prepare myself to be accepted by you. I would just hope you would accept me how I am. I will be restrained at our meeting because of my parents but I truly hope we can get along.”

  She writes like an adult. I know she’s smart; she does nothing but study. But all that studying can’t teach her social skills. I never really thought of that either. She will be my girlfriend.

  This will be her last letter. I’m kind of curious as to what she looks like and sounds like. No one knows what she looks like since she’s never allowed to be photographed or leave the palace. She’s such a delicate princess. It’s a shame to entrust her to me.

  “What a pain,” Kan-nii comes in.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I hide the letter in my drawer.

  “I was pulled off duty to see your wife.”

  This little girl, my wife. I lean back in my chair. No one knows about the letters. It’s labeled as fan mail. It always comes in a peach envelope.

  “Aren’t you curious? Or are you jealous cause as first born, you’re still single.”

  “Hmph, you wish you had my status. Good luck getting a woman once your engagement goes public.”

  “And why can’t I?”

  “You cheat on that little girl and everything is over.”

  He can’t be serious. I won’t be able to fool around with her till she’s like sixteen or so. Am I to remain celibate until then? I never even thought of that.

  Perhaps it’s a sacrifice. When I marry Setsuna-san, I’ll own everything she owns; she’s the only heiress to the nation. Everything will be mine. And with it, I can easily bypass my brother and take the throne. Finally I can go down my own path.

  But the sacrifice is too great. I need sex.

  “Have you thought of it?” he asks me.

  “Thought of what?”

  “Her.”

  “Not in that way. She’s just a sheltered child. If we have to visit more often she’ll just be more like a sister.”

  “We’ll find out tomorrow.”

  Yeah, tomorrow. When he leaves I pull out the letter again. She sounds better. Her other letters were sad. She hates not being able to leave. She hates how her parents won’t hug her. It’s like she has no one that loves her. I smile thinking about it. I never respond but she keeps writing as if we’re having a conversation. This is the first time she spoke about falling in love. I wouldn’t count on it. But little girls all have thoughts like this. She doesn’t know that this marriage is only for show. But to spare her feelings, I hope we can get along too.

  With one night left I wander to the court ladies dormitory. I peek my head in while they busy themselves. She catches my eye and I start walking back to my room. I can hear her footsteps behind me.

  “This might be our last night,” I say out loud.

  “You’re gonna replace me with a twelve year old.”

  I stop at my room and she waltzes in. She’s gotten spoiled. Regardless of the engagement becoming public, I don’t like to look at the same woman for so long.

  “Just take off your clothes.”

  “I bet she-”

  “Shut up.”

  I don’t want to hear anyone talk bad about the princess. She’s not moving fast enough.

  By morning we’re on a jet awaiting landing. No one looks happy to be here.

  “Morinaga is such a backwards nation,” Kira says.

  “What they lack in technology they make up for in resources,” Kan-nii corrects him. “So much untapped reserves.”

  “I still think they’re all hicks,” Kira continues. “Especially the princess.”

  “I’m sure she’s as smart as you,” I tell him.

  “Don’t make me laugh. I bet she’s a moron.”

  No one could touch his level of genius; at least that what he keeps telling himself. I have a plan. No matter what stupid things my brothers say, I feel as though Setsuna-san is already on my side. She put a dependence on me. That’s why the letters increased over time.

  “Enough, all of you,” father cuts in.

  Mother nuzzles at his chest. I wish they would tone it down a bit. I turn away from them.

  “Darling, leave them be. They know to behave when it’s time.”

  He goes back to nuzzling her and we all look disgusted. How can parents still act like that; they’re old. There’s nowhere to go. We took the small jet cause the Morinaga palace has such a small runway.

  I’m more nervous than I thought I would be. She may be nothing but a kid now but in a few years she’ll be a woman and I’ll have to marry her. So many sacrifices.

  I’ve always been kind of detached when it comes to women but it can’t be like that with Setsuna-san. I can’t treat her poorly either or she’ll break it off with me.

  And I can’t let her know I don’t have the best intentions.

  “We’re arriving,” father says. “You better win her favor.”

  Chapter 3: Setsuna

  Today is the day. Everyone is running around preparing. I’m trembling. Yumi-chan sits next to me having her make up done.

  “I-I’m really scared.”

  “He’ll accept you, don’t worry.”

  “I-I’m kind of excited too.”

  I want to see him and hear his voice. I bet he’s nice; he has to be.

  “Hold still, girl,” they say to me.

  In an instant it’s silent. I’m stuck in a room by myself. It’s a sitting room that faces the pond in the courtyard. I guess they’ll come get me when it’s time. Mother never gave me any motherly advice; she only gave me orders. Father hasn’t spoken to me this whole time. He only glares and frowns lately. I look over at the door. It may be a while.

  I get up and walk to the edge of the room. The pond has the cutest fish in it. It’s just what I need to see right now. I’m distracted looking at it. I turn around to check on the door again and see a man standing there.

  I’m afraid to acknowledge it but I know this is him. His wears a black suit with slicked back hair like I imagined. He’s so tall. I feel uneasy.

  “Kyoya-sama?” I say aloud.

  He nods.

  “Setsuna-san?”

  “Yes.”

  So this is him. I instinctively take a step forward then stumble over my robe. I stop myself but he lunges forward grabbing my shoulders. My heart is beating so fast; I’m nervous.

  I look up at him. He really is an adult. I move away from him and we stand inches from each other.

  “You seemed distracted. What were you looking at?”

  “Our pond. I found it calming.”

  “Perhaps I should have a look.”

  He walks to the edge of the room and steps onto the walkway. He sits down right above the pond.

  “Sit, Setsuna-san.”

  I walk cautiously to him. Tripping earlier was embarrassing. Sitting next to him is exciting. I keep peeking up at him but his face is straight.

  “D-did you ever get my letters?” I ask him.

  “Yes.”

  I can’t help but smile in relief. So it hasn’t been for nothing. />
  “You’re sneaky to figure out a way to contact me.”

  “I know. Please don’t tell my parents. They would be very-”

  “It’s fine. It’s okay to keep secrets between us.”

  I can’t stop smiling. This is exactly what I wanted.

  “Do you have any more secrets?” he asks me.

  “Uh…I uh-”

  “In time. You don’t have to rush things.”

  “Do you…I mean…I’m sure you have a lot going on. Is this engagement what you want? My parents won’t like it but I can always say no.”

  “That’s sweet of you but you’ve known about me since you were five and I’ve known about you since I was thirteen. I plan on marrying you.”

  To hear it come from his mouth is too much.

  “I should ask you….after meeting me, do you really want to fall in love with me?”

  “Definitely!”

  I spoke without thinking. But I do. He’s a great man. I put my hand over my mouth. I’m not supposed to be so outspoken.

  “I look forward to it,” he says to me.

  I can’t stop smiling. His face is so calm; it’s cause he’s mature.

  “Setsuna-san.”

  “Yes.”

  “We probably won’t get much time alone so I want to say as much as I can.”

  He takes a card from his pocket and hands it to me without looking.

  “It’s my personal number. Don’t show it to anyone else.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  This is going so well. I think we like each other.

  “You can call me if you want to talk but be sure not to get caught.”

  I’m so happy right now. This is perfect. I look over at him but he still won’t look at me. He’s not smiling either. Maybe I’m the only one that’s happy. Being here is his duty too. Perhaps he’s just being nice so his parents won’t yell at him.

  “You look miserable. I’m sorry.”

  I get up and walk back to the door. It’s so hard to move in this robe. Before I can slide the door he grabs my hand. I try to hold back tears. No man like him would willingly want to be my friend. He’s big and strong and probably has prettier women waiting for him that he had to give up on. I’ll never be as mature as him; I’ll be nothing but a burden.

  “Why are you crying?” he asks me.