Chapter Text
Sound of glasses ringing accompanied by cheerful whispering echoed throughout the hall. One noble after another found their way to the crown princess of the Akiyama kingdom - Akiyama Mizuki, greeting her and paying their respects. The brown haired girl smiled in a response, gently bowing while saying a few words to satisfy the aristocracy.
To satisfy those who came here to greet the princess. Those who looked at her and spoke the name of the royal. The name that didn’t belong to her.
Ena Shinonome vividly remembers the day she had agreed to the role of a portman. As vividly, as if it was just yesterday.
Portman, a person who is hired to act in a place of a member of a royal family. To protect the true identity of the royal.
Ena lived in the palace since she was a kid. She was working as a maid, while her younger brother started his training for a knight. Because of her age - only being older by a year - she was soon assigned as a personal maid for the princess. The two became close, to say the least.
Once the time for Mizuki’s official introduction was coming near, several cases of royal’s missing were making their way to the king’s and queen’s knowledge. As the fear was spreading around the kingdoms, they have decided to find a way to protect their crown princess.
~~~♡~~~
“We could get her a retainer” the queen said, tapping her chin in thought.
“Indeed. But what if it’s not enough” the king replied, sitting across the table.
“What more can we do other than ensure someone who would protect her in case she happens to find herself in danger ?” the air was tensing. This situation was nowhere near close to comfortable. Even though it wasn’t anything unusual for royals to have protectors by their side, this felt way more stressful. They knew that once Mizuki is officially introduced to the world, she will become one of the many targets.
How to protect the one that shall inherit the throne one day ?
The king stood up and started walking across the room. “What if she never were to find herself in danger ?”
“How ? We cannot just lock her in her room until she is forced to take the crown !”
“That’s not what i mean.”
What exactly did he have in mind ?
“I fear i do not understand you” the queen looked at him confused, mixing her coffee, with a glint of curiosity in her eyes.
“We will introduce the crown princess of the Akiyama kingdom to the world. And shall everyone acknowledge the name Akiyama Mizuki. Yet, what if, the person everyone would praise like our dear daughter, and the one who would probably become the target of many evil beings, was not our own child at all…?”
Upon hearing her husband’s words, the queen was forced to put down her cup for a moment. “Do you intend to get her…”
“A portman. Yes.”
“But who ? It’s really hard to find someone loyal and willing to sacrifice their life on behalf of living as someone else just to protect them.”
‘Knowing that if necessary, they would become nothing less than a life thrown away in order to save the one they swore to protect until their very last breath’ she finished, though the words didn’t leave her mouth.
The king just smiled. “Leave that to me”
~~~♡~~~
The brown haired maid bowed down before the throne. “You called me, your Majesty”
“Ah, yes, thank you for coming. You can stand up.”
Slowly, she raised her head and looked at the king. Being requested to meet with him personally was a rare occasion and she didn’t have any idea what could have led him to such a decision. Of course, she was afraid. Standing before someone who held the power of a ruler, while being just a ‘someone’ that works in his staff, made her tremble. What did she do ?
“Shinonome Ena, it’s been a few years since I assigned you as a personal maid for my daughter, is that right ?”
She swallowed before responding. “Yes, indeed. Time flies really quickly.”
The king nodded in agreement. “And how do you think you’re fulfilling your duties ?”
The feeling of uneasiness was clinging onto Ena. Oh she had to mess up really badly. Did Mizuki come and complain to her parents about her ? Ena didn’t want to hurt the princess’ feelings, really, but that ribbon really needed to be changed. It was starting to fall apart.
“I’m doing my very best”
“And is Mizuki happy with your services ?”
‘There it goes’, she closed her eyes. “I truly hope so.”
“How loyal would you say you are to her” the questions continued.
“I’m as loyal as a maid can be. I am willing to stay by her side forever.., for as long as she,” she looked back into the king's eyes, forgetting her stress for a moment. ‘What is this feeling ?’ “and you, let me.”
Upon hearing those words, the ruler smiled. “I knew I could rely on you. May I give you an offer ?”
The maid blinked in confusion. Then she nodded.
“If you’re really as loyal as you’ve just stated, would you accept to become the portman of her ?”
“A- a portman ?”
“A portman.”
“I- I mean… am i really fitting of a role like that ?”
“You are loyal and determined. And from what i have seen also really close to my daughter. Is there anything else needed ?”
She felt the bit of red creeping into her cheeks and she looked away. “If they’re okay with me, I’ll do everything to protect her. I will use her name with honor and make sure nobody, for as long as it’s needed, and for as long as I breathe, will suspect anything.”
“Awwwww Enananan you’re so sweet~” the princess in question peeked out from the door on the other side of the room, the side behind the throne.
“And what do you mean by ‘if I’m okay with you’ ?!”
Ena had to surpass the frustration. ‘Just for how long was Mizuki listening ?!’ Instead she just gently smiled.
“It’s settled then. Shinonome-san, meet me tomorrow after breakfast. I need you to sign some papers and also inform you a bit more about the current situation, as well as the upcoming events.”
Mizuki jumped from her place and in a second she was standing next to her newly assigned portman.
“Thank you, father” she bowed gently.
“Thank you, your Majesty,” Ena repeated after her.
The king stood up and waved his hand at them. “You shall leave now.”
As they exited the throne room, Mizuki excitedly wrapped her arm around the brunette’s shoulders.
“Where do we even begin~”
~~~♡~~~
The sun was peeking through the castle’s gates, the grass glimmering under its light as the spring’s gentle breeze blew into the orange haired trainee knight’s hair.
“You look like an absolute idiot.”
“Good morning too, my dear brother.” Ena’s response was suspiciously calm.
“You know, if you needed help robbing this mansion, I would gladly lend a hand. But seriously, at least steal something valuable. There is an immodest amount of royal chests and yet you choose to rob the wardrobe of the princess.” Akito glared at her. Seriously, what’s wrong with this girl?
As a response he only received a warning look.
Swinging sword in one hand, the said princess found her way into the garden where the siblings stood. With a grin drawn on Mizuki’s face, she swung her sword towards the poor and now absolutely confused boy.
“Teach me how to be a knight.”
What in the world is even happening.
~~~♡~~~
“Ah, princess Akiyama, is that right ?” Ena snapped back to reality and turned around to meet the eyes of a blue haired girl. In fact, she had to raise her head up to meet her eyes, as their height difference was quite noticeable. “I was looking forward to finally meeting you.”
“The honor is on my side, princess Hinomori, and…?”
“Momoi Airi” the knight replied, placing her hand on her chest and bowing down.
“She’s my personal retainer. Please do not think I don't trust you, that is truly not the case.”
“No need to worry, I understand. The current situation is not the best, it’s only understandable that we will have someone to protect us by our side.”
Ena wasn’t lying, with each day more and more people related to aristocrasy were getting hurt, kidnapped or even worse. Nobody dared to take any risks. Nobody.
As if on a call, a familiar voice rang from behind them.
“And that’s exactly why you should never go anywhere without me !” the ‘so called’ knight frowned as she made her way to Ena’s side.
Before she could anyhow react, the direction of the conversation was changed.
“I’m really glad you were able to arrive today. Happy to finally meet you, Shiho-san told me about you”
The princesses' eyes sparkled from happiness.
“Shii-chan did ???” Her hands covered her mouth as she excitedly asked, few tears forming in her eyes.
Airi coughed and the princess came back to her senses.
“Nice to meet you too, Akiyama-san’s knight, if I am correct ?”
“The name is Shinonome Ena and yes, you are right” Mizuki grinned and reached out her hand. She seemed to really enjoy introducing herself by that name.
She didn’t have to. The deal was for Ena to act like the princess, not the actual princess to be wandering everywhere with her under an excuse of being a knight.
‘Does she even realize that what she’s doing is putting her on the same level of danger as the one I am supposed to protect her from ?’
She did. She did realize all of this. That’s exactly why she was doing it. Ena didn’t know that though.
‘I can’t let you suffer because of me, Ena. If you’re willing to go through all of this, then shall I go with you.’
“Ah, then nice to meet you, Shinonome-san.” Shizuku smiled and took the hand, gently shaking it before stepping back to her place next to Airi.
As the four of them continued to talk, a few tones of a violin later followed by a whole bunch of other instruments came from a little stage placed in the corner of the ballroom. Those who didn’t want to participate in the dance walked away from the center, the other half finding their way there.
As the music continued to echo throughout the room, someone gently tapped their fingers on Ena’s shoulder.
“May I have a dance with you, Akiyama-san ?”