Eps. 1 : A New Capture Target!

"It seems like you have woken up, Angeline." Adam said.

I yawned and stretched my arm a little bit.

"I fell asleep?"

"Yeah. My right arm even cramped but you were sleeping so tight that I couldn't afford to wake you up."

I chuckled and smiled.

"Don't smile like that.." Adam suddenly said.

"Why?"

"Just don't. That's an order."

"Okay..... But why?"

"Don't ever question my decision."

"Hmph. Fine."

What's wrong with me smiling like that? I thought I'm cute when I do that but not in his eyes I guess..

"Anyways, I heard from my father that a guest will come so I can't accompany you tomorrow." Adam said.

"Can't I accompany you?"

"N-no, father will get angry."

"Too bad then. I'll be waiting for you in the garden tomorrow." I said as I smiled.

"Didn't I told you not to smile like that?"

"Then how am I supposed to smile?"

"You have to fix your habit of smiling like that." He said before he left.

What a weird guy..

***

"It seems like you have woken up, Angeline." I said as she yawned.

"I fell asleep?" She innocently asked as she rubbed his eyes.

"Yeah. My right arm even cramped but you were sleeping so tight that I couldn't afford to wake you up."

She then chuckled and smiled cutely.

I felt my heartbeat going faster and my cheeks hot. That was so cute.

"Don't smile like that.." I said, not making eye-contact with her.

"Why?"

Because I might faint at my rapid heartbeat and die at the hotness of my cheeks. You need to realize how cute you are when you smile!

"Just don't. That's an order."

"Okay..... But why?"

How persistent.

"Don't ever question my decision."

"Hmph. Fine."

***

It's already tomorrow and I'm really lonely. Adam said he's going to greet the guest along with his father. I wonder who that guest is. The guest must be a really important person.

As I was waiting at the garden, I heard Adam's voice and someone else chatting in the hallway near the garden. Is it the guest's voice?

The voice kept coming closer..

Then Adam came into the garden, followed by a charming and handsome man who is at the same age as Adam. The man.. seemed familiar.

Oh, I remember now. He's the First Prince and also the Crown Prince. A prodigy. One of the capture targets, Raiden.

So I've met 2 capture targets so far. Raiden, unlike Adam is straight forward and not two-faced. He isn't the type to lie and is REALLY REALLY rude because of his personality that couldn't lie.

Raiden then noticed me.

"Adam, who's this girl?" He asked.

Adam walked over me and picked me up like I'm sort of a baby. Excuse you? I'm an adult. Don't you know that?

"One of our maid's daughter and also my friend. Isn't she cute?" Adam replied.

"No, she's average."

That's...... true. I'm only a mob character after all... XEN COME HERE!

"Uh.. What?" Xen asked.

Can you make me more beautiful as I grew up?

"I'll try asking Wayne. He's kinda cool so consider it done." Xen said before he left.

I smiled at Raiden.

Hahaha. He'll be surprised at my beauty when I grow up.

"Y-you! I told you not to do that." Adam said while pinching my cheek.

Ouch, it hurts! You devil!

"Not to do what?" Raiden asked.

"Nothing." Adam replied.

Raiden shrugged and sat under the tree and asked for a tea.

"Please, bring us a tea Ms. Lloyd."

"I will."

The maid went to grab the tea.

"Adam, can you put me down?" I asked with my puppy eyes.

He froze for a second but eventually put me down.

I ran to take 2 empty watering cans and gave one to Adam and the other to Raiden and told them to fill it up.

"H-how dare you! A mere maid ordering me?!" Raiden replied.

"Okay, wait here, Angeline." Adam replied before he left.

Ckckck. Such 2 different personality.

"I'm not ordering you, 'man that I don't know his name and origin is', I'm simply asking for your help." I said to Raiden who is glaring at me.

"You- Do you even know who I am?"

"I just said that I don't know your name, your origin, and definitely not your status either."

"I am Raiden Lucius D. Gard, your soon to be King."

"I didn't even ask. So are you going to fill the watering can or not?"

"Of course not! I-"

"Spoiled brat." I said as I cut his word.

He flinched when I said that and looked down.

"So what if I'm spoiled?! You're still going to be a stupid maid that will serve me!"

I sat beside him.

"Then change your personality. Try to not be lazy and work hard. You do realize that a King's duty isn't to be served but to serve, right?" I said as I looked at his blue eyes and smiled.

He stared at me for a few seconds with his mouth open a little bit. After that he stood up and went after Adam.

Pfft. How cute.

Not long after that, Adam arrived at the garden and started watering the flowers. I looked at him happily and smiled at him. Then Raiden came and also started watering the flowers like Adam while sometimes looking at me and everytime he did that, I simply smiled at him.

What a wonderful evening.

***

I am Raiden Lucius D. Gard, the soon to be King, I'm called genius and considered a prodigy. My life was perfect. It's so perfect that it's boring. I want the perfection in my life to leak.

When I was 10 years old, my father told me to visit Duke Vaile's house and greet their heir, so that I'll have allies when I become the King. His name is Adam. Also 10 years old just like me. He seemed gullible and naive. Will this kid even be able to be a Duke?

Anyways, he asked me to go to their garden since his friend is waiting for him there. I agreed since I also want to meet his so called friend. When we arrived, I saw a little girl sitting under a big tree, staring at us. I thought that his friend will be a boy. So I asked Adam to make sure.

Adam picked her up and explained that she's the daughter of a maid. Even though I said she isn't pretty, she still smiled at me. How stupid. Shouldn't you be mad at me? I sat under the tree and asked one of the maid for a tea.

Then suddenly the little girl asked Adam to put her down and went to take 2 watering cans and gave 1 to me. I was confused as to why she did that and then she told me to fill the watering can. While Adam agreed happily, I felt offended.

"H-how dare you! A mere maid ordering me?!" I protested.

She doesn't seem like she know me so I introduced myself. But even after she knew who I am, she still ordered me to fill the watering can and I refused.  She then called me spoiled and I snapped.

"So what if I'm spoiled?! You're still going to be a stupid maid that will serve me!"

She then took a seat right next to me and I was surprised because she wasn't afraid of me even though I yelled at her.

"Then change your personality. Try to not be lazy and work hard. You do realize that a King's duty isn't to be served but to serve, right?" She said as she smiled at me.

At that time, her words hit me right in the face. She's right. A King's duty is to serve his people. That's why Kings exist at the first place. She has taught me the most important lesson. And when she smiled like that, I don't know why, but I find it beautiful. Even though I clearly said her face was average. But her heart made her more beautiful in my eyes.

After that, I did as she said and filled the watering can and started watering the flowers. It was my first time doing chores. I admit it, it was fun. Sometimes I kept thinking about her words, everytime I took a glance at her, she would always smile and that made my heart melts.

"Are you going back to the Palace?" She asked me.

I nodded my head and smiled at her.

"Will you ever come back and play with me?"

"I'll ask my father."

"Angeline, you don't have to feel lonely, you still have me." Adam suddenly said.

She stared at Adam and smiled.

"Of course, but won't you feel lonely Adam? He's your first male friend, isn't he?" She asked Adam.

Am I really his first male friend? No wonder he's awkward. He has no friends. He never socialize with others except this little girl. So that's why he's attached to her.. not because of other reasons.

I don't know why I felt relieved.

"You guys can visit me anytime at the Palace." I said before I left the garden.

"Wait!" Both of them said at the same time.

"We wanted to give you this before you left." Adam spoke.

After that, they handed me a flower made out of origami.

"I thought that if we gave you real flower, it will die, so we made this flower." Angeline said while smiling.

I could feel that I'm blushing and quickly left the garden after saying thank you.

***

"Angeline! Why would you smile like that? I told you already." Adam said after Raiden left.

He picked me up and pinched my cheek.

"It hurts, Adam! Stop that."

"No, this is your punishment! Next time he comes or any other boys come, I'll not let you out of your room."

What?! Noooo! My freedom!!

"Why??? Forgive me! Noooo."

"Nope." He said as he smirked.

"You'll always be mine only." He continued then he kissed my cheek.

Anyways, I heard Raiden visited Adam again and asked where I was but Adam lied and said that I was sick and he couldn't meet me. I was really looking forward to meeting Raiden!!

I never knew he was obsessive. I haven't finished his route so I never knew. If I had known, I wouldn't approach him that day. Now I will only have 2 friends in my life. Him and Raiden. Not that I'll ever meet Raiden anymore..

2 Years have passed. Adam started attending school and I'm starting to feel lonely. Duke Vaile visited me one time and told me that Adam won't be coming home until he finished school.

Adam told Duke Vaile to inform me. It was kind of surprising that Duke Vaile personally informed me. But it seems like he's a good person, just like Adam. I learnt that Adam is going to live in the school's dorm. That's why he won't be coming back. He could come back when it's holiday but that's all.

It's now Christmas, Adam is coming home! Yay!!!

I waited in the garden as the snow kept falling down. Then suddenly someone hugged me from behind.

"Adam?" I asked.

"Hahaha. You're right. Did you miss me?"

"Yeah! You're finally back! Have you greeted your father and mother?"

He nodded and hugged me again.

"Do you know how much I've missed you?" He asked.

"Not as much as I missed you."

"I doubt that."

"Adam, come and sit beside me."

He sat beside me and hugged me again. While saying how much he missed me.

"I get it, Adam! That's enough hugs. So, tell me about school." I said.

"It's fun and I managed to make some friends. Raiden is always with me at school, the teachers are nice to everyone."

"No, not about that!"

"Then what?" He asked in confusion.

"Of course about your first love."

"My... first love?"

I nodded.

"Well, she's a cute girl, her smile is everything, I felt jealous when someone is near her, she's everything to me."

That's cool! I'll keep helping Adam so he could win the Heroine's heart.

"Do you want to know something about her?" I asked.

He glanced at me and nodded.

"I heard she likes sweets and puddings. Maybe you should bring that sometimes for her at school."

"Really?"

"Yeah! You can even make it by yourself. Wouldn't it be romantic?!"

"You're 12 next year right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Then I have to wait for another year to give it to her at school."

Ohh.. He wants me to help him make it, huh?

"I could teach you how to make it now but I don't think my mother would like the idea." I said.

"It's okay, there's no need to rush. We still have 5 more years until I graduate."

"And then.. you'll become an adult and leave me."

"What? No! Didn't I promised you that I won't leave you?"

"Okay, you have to keep your words!"

After that, he hugged me again and kissed my forehead and kept saying that he would never leave me.

It was a wonderful night.

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