Chapter Text
"Eijun-kun did you hear? The king of Seido is having a debutante ball for the youngest prince." Haruichi whispered surreptitiously. Haruichi would kill himself before being caught gossiping.
Scowling distastefully while arranging the dishes on a tray, Eijun lets out a loud noise of indignation. "Huh, again?! How many times are they gonna waste our hard-earned taxpayer money on some big stupid party that only stuck up, snot-nosed little brats and old foggies go to? Is this how a country is run? This is a dishonour to Bossu’s legacy, he would be rolling in his grave Harucchi, rolling i tell ya! AHH the poor Bossu!"
Haruichi sighs exasperatedly while Eijun carries on yapping about how Kataoka, the previous king of Seido, was one of the, if not the most respectable leader to have ever lived(and he says this as someone who’s only lived through his rule for 4 years). He continues with how the current king Ochiai was going to doom them all with all the random living expenses he implemented. King Ochiai was more of a dictator and it seemed to be that marriage was not of a priority as he had adopted 2 sons, Chris Takigawa Yuu & Miyuki Kazuya.
The elder son, Chris Takigawa Yuu, was a well-sculpted brunette with brown eyes, lociously thick brown eyebrows, and hair that was usually slicked back with two strands hanging on the sides of his forehead. Sawamura would be lying if he said he wasn’t a little bit attracted to the foreign-faced man. He was a genius when it came to interpersonal skills. He helped in building a good repoire for Seidou with the neighbouring Kingdoms which increased the overseas trade traffic of food and supplies.
The younger prince, Miyuki Kazuya, was somewhat of a mystery to the kingdom. He is known as the greatest mathematician of all time. He rarely shows up to national events as he keeps himself busy with his inventions that he makes such as the great invention he named the “Computer” which was said to have the ability to be programmed to calculate mathematical equations that created a whole new era to Mathematics. It introduced potential opportunities of improving the economic system with how now employers did not need to hire workers to calculate budgets.
Although he was what they called a ‘generational genius’, one thing that affected the boy was that he was notoriously known for being socially awkward and not knowing how to communicate. It’s said that he had made a sly comment on the height of the crown prince of Inashiro, Narumiya Mei,one of the strongest kingdom’s in Daiya. Seidou will forever be in the debt of Chris and Harada Masatoshi, Inashiro’s royal attendant, for stopping the brewing fight between the two princes.
But as for the current ruler of Seido, he was ill-famed for how calculative he was. He’d increased the taxes for local companies and destroyed well-known organisations just because they weren’t making a certain amount of money. An amusing story that went circulating the kingdom was that he nearly dismissed every single one of the royal servants because the head maid and butler went against his new decree. Sawamura Eijun rarely disliked people but this man was definitely an exception.
"And i'll never forgive him for how he-" Sawamura was suddenly cut off from his rambling by an amused chuckle from the pink-haired butler.
"I get it Eijun-kun, you always have something to say about him, but don’t you realise what it means for the royal family to host a ball?”
Sawamura looks at Haruichi curiously, tilting his head like a confused little puppy.
Haruichi sighs indignantly, “It means that they’re going to be looking for a prospective bride for the crown prince.”
Sawamura squints his eyes slightly and raises an eyebrow. “What does that have to do with anything? So some poor female is going to suffer the woes of the prince, not my circus, not my monkeys.”
“Eijun, what age is Wakana-sama now?” “16? Just like us, Haruichi don’t you know that already? We’ve been with Wakana-chan for years! I’m ashamed at your terrible memory Harucchi.” Eijun chatsised Haruichi with his seemingly absentmindedness of the girl’s age.
Haruichi takes in a deep breathe holding back the urge to strangle his best friend for his obliviousness. “Eijun-kun, I cannot get any clearer than this, Wakana-sama is now of age. What it means is that Wakana-sama is going to receive an invitation for the ball and on the slight chance that the prince takes even a sliver of interest in Wakana-sama, she going to end up engaged to the prince.”
This causes Sawamura to make a theatrical gasp and start panicking “WHAT?! Why wasn’t I told anything?! Oh my gosh this is horrible Harucchi, if Wakana attends that ball she’ll be thrown to the wolves, they’re going to eat her alive Harucchi! This Sawamura Eijun simply cannot allow it. She’s going to be brainwashed by the prince and then used as a pawn in the kingdom's political games! We have to do something to protect her!" Sawamura's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan to save his friend from what he dubbed ‘a fate worse than death’. "We can't let her attend the ball. We need to find a way to keep her hidden and safe until this whole thing blows over," he declared, his hand clenched into a fist with determination shining in his eyes.
Haruichi felt his left eye twitch at Sawamura’s ridiculous claims while he starts walking away to continue dusting the mansion. “Good luck with getting Wakana-sama to willingly stay home instead of attending THE event of the century. You know she’d never forgive you for trying to imprison her in the mansion.”
Haruichi slowly turns back only to see the infamous Sawamura puppy dog eyes, oh gosh his older brother would have a lifetime of mocking material if he saw how easily he fell for those eyes, as if Ryousuke didn’t have enough ammunition already.
He sighs exasperatedly. “Look Eijun-kun, Wakana-chan won’t exactly have an easy time attending the ball with how Mistress Mielle would definitely see Wakana-sama as a rival.”
Sawamura slowly frowns slightly at the mention of the other Mistress of the mansion. Mielle Roscente, she was the younger mistress of the mansion, her mother married the widowed Duke Aotsuki. She was jealous of the things that Wakana had received since birth and had always been trying to one-up her. However, throughout the many mean schemes ielle had carried out, Wakana with her strong and compassionate spirit has decided to endure it in hopes that Mielle would turn over a new leaf, always saying how “She’s just misunderstood after suddenly being thrown into this lifestyle.” Which Sawamura always refutes to no avail with how stubborn Wakana is.
All of a sudden the doors to the kitchen slams open. “Eijun! You will not believe what happened!”
“You finally threw away that useless pair of glass slippers you own that aren’t even your size?”
And then he gets whacked in the back of the head by an irritated Wakana, a tick mark appearing on her forehead.
“No you idiot, and just saying i’ll totally grow into them. But that’s not what i’m here for, I just got invited to the ball!”
Sawamura gawks incredulously for abit before squeaking out a response. “W-what?! But i thought Mielle would never have let you attend. And you’re always so submissive to her woes.”
He tries to seem annoyed about it but secretly he’d be glad if Wakana didn’t end up going, those savages would probably attempt to steal her virtue.
Wakana then grins brightly, a sparkle in her eyes. “That’s the crazy part. She actually wants me to go with her because she’s worried she’ll mess up. Well, she put it a little more crudely but still I’m going to the prince’s debutante ball! Oh god i’m going to an ACTUAL debutante ball Eijun can you believe that?” She starts squealing and swinging Sawamura’s arms around who only froze once the words registered in his mind. This meant Wakana was going. Wakana was going to the prince’s debutante ball with all the slimes and toads of the kigdom. Oh dear god please someone wake him from this absolute nightmare.
Eijun starts shaking his head , wiping the negative thoughts from his mind as he looks scandalised. “No way are you going to that ball with all those beasts in jewellery. Nope, not a chance. This Sawamura Eijun forbids it!”
A dark aura began radiating from Wakana as she smiled a little too sweetly at him. “And why not? You wouldn’t happen to be telling me that you’re going to cage me up here right? You must know how much of a bad idea that is. I would just love to see you try.”
Sawamura shivers slightly, but then remembers the pinkette in the room. That's right! Surely Harucchi is against this inane notion. He adorns a look of self-pity before looking at Haruichi in hopes that he'd back him up.
Haruichi lifts both hands in surrender taking a step away from the two and as Sawamura looks at him in utter betrayal, Wakana merely smirks.
"Well that's that then, guess I'm going to the ball. Oh i am so wearing that new dress papa gifted me."
Haruichi looks on concerned at Sawamura who isn't looking at anyone, trembling in what was most likely anger. He was about to approach him when Sawamura suddenly lifts his head looking determinedly at Wakana.
With clenched fists he says in a strong voice. "If you carry on with this decision then you leave me no choice but to escort you to ensure your safety because knowingly leaving you in the proximity of danger would bring dishonour to the Sawamura family name. This Sawamura Eijun will dutifully protect you, this lowly peasant swears on grandpa's favourite teaset!"
Haruichi cold only look over him fondly as Wakana grin slowly widens. "You do know the the ball is invitation only right?
Sawamura looks over at Wakana determinedly, “ So? Just bring me along as a plus one.”
Wakana gives him a small look of distaste. “Yeah no, I’m not going to have you scaring off any prospective partners for me. Plus you know the invitations mostly went out to the women who are of age for the prince’s search for a bride. I’d never be able to explain why my house butler is following me to the ball like a guard dog, I’d rather not have that conversation.”
This was when Haruichi came up with the most dreadful idea he had come up with to date. “Well what if Eijun-kun accompanied you dressed as a girl.”
The room was in a still silence before an abrupt burst of laughter came from Sawamura. He clutched his stomach as his hysterical laughter slowed into a slight wheezing. “HAHHAHA Oh god Harrucchi, you’re hilarious ahhhh, kuf kuf. Hem, please if this butler career never works out for you, you’d make a hell of an amazing comedian.”
He wiped a tear from his eye but as he quitened down a little he could see Haruichi and Wakana scrutinising him a little. Wakana held her chin as she looked at Sawamura up and down and Haruichi just staring at him surreptitiously.
“You know Haruichi-san, I can kind of see him as a girl. Just a little mascara, fake lashes and a soft colored gloss, he’d even make a pretty cute girl.” Wakana starts imaging the changes needed to transform Sawamura into a girl as Haruichi nods in agreement.
Sawamura turns his headover to Haruichi only to find him grinning mischievously. “Eijun-kun has always been someone with softer features, if it weren’t for his brutish nature i would have assumed him a girl.”
Sawamura felt a sudden feeling of dread wash over him. His instincts were screaming at him. Retreat! As he turned around to run, Haruichi takes this moment to grab his shoulders steadily and lead him back to the conversation. Wakana and Haruichi adorning identical devilish grins. Oh god he really should stop Wakana-chan from hanging out with Oni-senpai.
“S-stand back you two, this isn’t funny anymore, Harucchi? Wakana-chan? you guys love me right? RIGHT?!” comes Sawamura’s famous last words.