Chapter Text
'Haru slow down!' exclaimed Hiromi as her friend charged past on her white stallion.
'Come on Hiromi. It's not every day the traders from the East come to town. We can not arrive too late or we will miss out on all the good stuff.' grinned Haru.
'You know that my father doesn't really approve of me doing this.' sighed her best friend.
'I know, I am a bad influence.' giggled Haru 'Come on the sooner we get there the sooner we can head back and he probably won't even realise that we left the estate.'
Haru dropped back into a trot so that she could continue the rest of their short journey chatting companionably. Despite both being from noble households they were wearing dresses more associated with the common folk.
'So how are things with Tsuge?' asked Haru.
Hiromi blushed at the mention of the man who had been courting her for the last few months.
'That's Lord Tsuge Haru.' she giggled.
Haru rolled her eyes.
'Whatever. So how are things?' she pressed.
'We get on well and he visits very often but I don't see a ring on my finger any time soon.' sighed Hiromi 'He doesn't seem to be in a rush to get married but I guess we are both quite young. Plenty of time a head of us. What about you?'
Haru chuckled at what she deemed a ludicrous question.
'Don't be silly.' she smiled 'No noble male would show interest in me. If any do happen to approach the count it will be due to the lure of his fortune.'
'It's so wrong.' growled Hiromi 'You're great. They don't know what they are missing out on.'
Haru just shrugged her shoulders, it was something that she had grown to accept from a young age.
They were soon approaching the outskirts of the town and headed towards the marketplace. They steered their horses towards their usual place where for a few coins they could leave them to be cared for whilst they investigated the bustling market square.
'Ooh what's that?' asked Hiromi distracted by something shiny as soon as they had entered the market. She darted off into the crowd leaving Haru standing there. She chuckled to herself before following her friend.
'Well, well, well.' came a snide voice from behind her.
Haru turned to face the dark haired youth.
'If it isn't her majesty.' he mocked her.
'Machida.' Haru acknowledged through gritted teeth.
'How noble of you to come down from on high to mingle with the commoners.' he continued.
'It's so nice to see that you've grown up.' remarked Haru turning away to look for Hiromi.
'Hey I haven't finished.' he snarled.
Haru turned back to regard her former friend. From a young age they had run around and played together. Haru would never admit it to a soul but she had, had a childhood crush on the youth standing before her. For years she had besottedly followed him everywhere doing whatever he wanted to do. Everything changed though the day her mother met and then married her stepfather. That day Machida turned his back on her. He deemed her to be now too posh to hang around with them. He wasn't the only one to treat her in this manner but nowadays he was the only one who continued to make comments if she would ever unfortunately bump into him. The others just decided to ignore her and act as if she never existed.
'What is your fascination with me?' she asked.
Machida growled in response, stepping forward and towering over Haru in a threatening manner.
'I am not fascinated with you.' he said 'I wish you were never born.'
'Then leave me be.' replied Haru becoming irritated.
'I'm not finished with you.' snapped Machida his body language suggesting that he was about to hit her.
'Hey!' came a shout.
They both turned around in surprise to find Hiromi and Tsuge marching towards them.
'L-lady Hiromi, L-lord Tsuge.' stammered Machida ' I wasn't going to do anything, I was just teasing. Right Haru?'
Haru stared at him in disgust. Machida was quite happy to run her down as he deemed her a mongrel of society but when in the presence of what he believed as true nobles he trembled like a coward.
'Get out of here.' commanded Tsuge as he watched Hiromi lead her friend away.
Machida nodded before turning tail and scarpering.
'Thanks Tsuge.' muttered Haru.
'You're welcome but I shouldn't have to do that. He showed no respect for your status.' he sighed.
'If most noble families won't accept me then why should I expect it from a little rat like him.' replied Haru 'What are you doing here anyway?'
'Hiromi's father realised that you two were not just taking a ride around the estate. I happened to be passing by following a meeting with my father and thought I would call in. I offered to go out and help locate you both.' he explained.
'Uh oh, busted!' murmured Hiromi.
'How did you know that we would be here?' asked Haru before spotting the guilty look on her best friend's face 'Hiromi! This is supposed to be our secret.'
Haru's temper flared a little and she ended up grabbing a bolt of fabric from a nearby stall and chasing Hiromi around with it held high. The pair squealed as they ran around in circles. Tsuge sighed and rolled his eyes. Haru suddenly realised what she was doing and looked at the stallholder guiltily. The woman had been watching them unsure of how to get on of her wares back.
'I'm sorry.' apologised Haru 'I'll pay for this.'
Thankfully she had actually chosen a bolt of rather nice material. She was sure that she would be able to do something with it. Haru quickly paid for the item before turning to the others.
'I guess we had better head back.' she sighed.
Before Hiromi could respond there was a shout and a frightened whinny. The turned towards the noise. One of the local huntsmen's terriers had been snapping at the legs of a horse which had been tied up to a trading post. The frightened mare's eyes were rolling as she managed to break the rope holding her in place. She ran wildly in panic heading towards one of the market stalls. There was a man at the stall with his back to them. He seemed completely oblivious to the impending danger and more fascinated with the fish shaped cookies on sale.
'Hey!' called out Haru to warn him but he didn't appear to hear her.
If he didn't move he was going to get himself seriously injured or killed. Haru shoved the bolt of fabric into Hiromi's arms.
'Haru no!' she cried as she watched her friend run towards the stranger.
Haru managed to bowl him over just as the thundering hooves approached. They both went tumbling as the horse hit into the stall sending baked goods flying up in the air. Haru sat gasping for air as the young man fumbled to grab his overly large cap which had fallen and forced it back onto his head. The peak came low over his forehead.
'Well that was close.' panted Haru 'Are you okay?'
It was then the man turned his face to look at her and her breath caught in her throat on seeing his eyes. One pale blue and the other ruby red. The eyes of the royal line. Haru's own eyes widened in surprise. The crown prince placed a finger on his lips before standing up and offering her his hand. Still stunned into silence Haru took the offered hand.
'Thank you.' he said ' I owe you my life. If there is anything I can ever do for you please let me know.'
Haru was still speechless when Hiromi launched herself at her attempting to check her over for injuries.
'Honestly Haru, you really need to stop doing things like this.' she scolded 'Come on let's get you home and looked at.'
'Again, thank you.' said the prince 'and remember what I said.'
Haru nodded numbly as he pulled his cap further down over his eyes and melted into the crowd.
'Did I miss something?' asked Hiromi.
Haru shook her head. There was no way Hiromi would believe the truth behind the man she had just saved. Even Haru couldn't believe what had happened. What on earth was the crown prince doing in the marketplace? It appeared that she wasn't the only one who liked to escape the noble life.