• A young girl around the age of sixteen sat in her room, staring outside the window. She was thinking over something the local matchmaker had told her over a week ago,
    “Well, looks like a toad may like you if you’re lucky!”
    The girl sighted and stood up, pacing the floor. That statement wasn’t entirely what was bothering her. No, it was what happened before she was told that. It was the night before the visit that she had heard something said. The words had come from the mouth of one of her personal guards, one that she wouldn’t expect to say such a thing. He had been speaking to his fellow guard about her when he said it, something that would invoke odd feelings in any person if they heard it. “I like her, okay!” The whole mess baffled her.
    “Princess Lumina, breakfast is ready.” she hadn’t noticed that a servant had entered, and was surprised then they spoke.
    “Yes, I’ll be down in a minute.” The girl said, nodding her head. She changed out of her cream colored night dress into her normal, royal blue midriff-cut shirt and skirt. She slipped on her boots and handless gloves, which were equally blue, and tied her cloak around her shoulders. Lastly, she tied her golden medium length hair into a high ponytail, allowing it to stick out in neat curls.
    Lumina then hurried out of her bedroom, and then glided down the stares, her cloak flowing enchantingly behind her. When she was in the dining room, she took a seat next to her father at the long dinner table. He nodded to acknowledge her presence. He was reading some papers, which Lumina guessed were about some problem in the city. Servants then brought out breads and a white breakfast soup, placing in on the table in front of them. No one spoke until the servants had scurried back to the kitchen.
    “Good morning, Daddy.” Lumina said, taking a bite out of her bread.
    “Good Morning, Lumina.” her father replied back, not looking up from his papers. It was quiet for awhile before anyone said anything.
    “Daddy, do you think I’d be a good wife?” Lumina said, breaking the silence. She was staring into her soup, moving the spoon in circles as though she wasn’t planning of eating it.
    “Well, why wouldn’t you? It wouldn’t matter anyways, because you won’t need to do housework like common women.” he father still didn’t look at her as he spoke.
    “Well, what kind of guy do you think I’d be good with?” She asked, gracefully letting go of her spoon and dipping her bread into the soup. This question made her father look up at her for a brief moment, yet he looked back down as he answered.
    “When I’m looking for a good husband for you, I look for a man who is a good leader, and will take care of you in the city. He must be of good family too, and you know how hard that is. No daughter of mine shall marry a commoner.” He had answered sternly, but Lumina continued with another question.
    “But what kinda guy would be interested in me? I-” this time she was cut off.
    “Lumina, I’m not a matchmaker. The only one in town is long gone, so you shall have whomever I pick.”
    “But the matchmaker said-”
    “It doesn’t matter what she said! You shall marry whom I choose!” His voice sounded a bit angry now, making Lumina sink in her chair. The rest of the meal was quiet, except for the occasional clank of a spook on a bowl.
    After breakfast, Lumina went back to her room to think some more. She could hear the muffled chatter of people below in the city from her window, and watched the hussle and bussle of the market as people scurried from building to building. She could see a dark haired figure making its way through the crowds, followed by a light haired figure who’s hair flowed behind them in the air as they tried to keep up. They were walking at a fast pace towards the palace, as they were Luminas personal bodyguards, Zeke and Renji. They were the two she had heard talking that one night, and they were some of her closest friends. She guessed that the fast pace was to see if she had gotten in trouble already, which wasn’t the case. She doubted that she would do anything outrageous because she wanted to think over things, the thought that made her head spin.
    As the two below grew closer, it was easier for Lumina to pick out their voices. She still couldn’t understand what they were saying, like she wished, but still tried, as she did everyday. She sat lost in thought until one of the boys came to her room, and when that happened she jumped up and turned around, her arms behind her back.
    “Okay Lumina, what did you do?” the black haired man said, his eyes in a curious expression.
    “What do you mean?” she said, tilting her head to one side and trying to look as innocent as she thought she was.
    “Don’t give me that look. Your father seems irritated, and you are most likely the cause of it.” He said, and Lumina sighed.
    “Yes Zeke, he’s annoyed with me. But I swear, I did nothing wrong!” she said, then crossed her arms.
    “Milady, you have to of done something if he’s that irritated with you.” the man said, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t lie to me Lumina. I’ll know.” Lumina groaned.
    “Alright, alright… I asked him some questions at breakfast, and he got mad because he really didn’t want me asking them.” she answered, rolling her eyes a little before hand.
    “That’s it?” Zeke asked, his eyebrow falling. “What were those questions that angered his highness?” Lumina stood quietly for a few seconds, leaving Zeke impatient. Her answer was nervous and unsure
    “Umm… just questions about the future and stuffs…” She bit her lip as she spoke, averting her eyes to the floor.
    “There’s more then that, milady. There has to be.” he said, and she shook her head.
    “I can’t say that.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because, I just can’t. It’s none of your business anyways.” She said, turning her nose. He looked incredibly irritated now, but then he calmed down a little.
    “Fine, princess. But just know that I do not appreciate you keeping secrets from me, and if you want your father to be less strict with you, then quit upsetting him so. You drive it upon yourself.” Zeke said, taking a bow and leaving. When Lumina was sure he was gone, she sat down on her bed and sighed. He wasn’t the one who confessed. No, he was the one the confession was told to. It was the other guard, Renji, that had confessed. As she began to think about it again, she remembered he had owed her dinner for something the same day everything else happened, and devised a plan.
    And right on time he entered her room to check in on her.
    “Lumina, what’s wrong with Zeke?” he asked, poking his head in before entering.
    “Ah, he’ll be fine. He’s just mad because I wouldn’t tell him something.” she grinned as she answered.
    “What wouldn’t you tell him?” Renji asked curiously.
    “It wasn’t something that should concern him.” Lumina said, chin up.
    “Well…. Alright the. So….what are your plans for the rest of the day?” Lumina hoped he would ask that.
    “I don’t really have any plans….. Wait! I just remembered that you owe me dinner! Ya know, from last week?” she was grinning still and could almost leap into the air if she didn’t resist the urge.
    “Oh, right…. You want to do that tonight?” he asked, surprised by the sudden excited-ness.
    “I would love to!” she answered, the excitement really showing now. “Tonight at the Harvest Rock. I’ve heard from servants who heard from townsfolk that the place it really good!”
    “Alright then……” he said, unsure of this sudden glee.
    The rest of the day went on quickly. Lumina stayed in her room most of the day, and refused to tell Zeke anything about the dinner, no matter how much he pleaded.
    When the time had come for her to get ready, Lumina acted quickly. She had thrown on her royal blue dress, which looked similar to her normal clothes only that it coved her stomach and had a gold belt that went with it. She took off her gloves and boots, and wore short top shoes instead. Her hair was changed from a ponytail to a bun; all in all she looked dressed up.
    When Renji came by to get her, he was completely surprised by her appearance. And when he remembered what her was wearing, he felt embarrassed. His clothes consisted of his casual clothes; all he did was comb out his long white hair to wear it was neat, and put on a clean shirt.
    “Ready to go, Milady?” he said, still wide eyed from first seeing her.
    “Why, yes, Renji.” she said sweetly.
    They walked down the streets side by side, not really looking at each other. It was awkward and silent until they got to the restaurant.
    “So… How was your day?” Renji asked after they sat down.
    “Oh, it was fine.” she answered, smiling. “Zeke begged me all day to tell him what we were doing.”
    “Why didn’t you?” he asked nervously.
    “Umm…Well… I figured if he found out, he would want to come along. And if he came along, then you’d have to pay for some one extra, and I didn’t want that.” she admitted.
    “That wouldn’t of been a problem, Milady.” Renji looked intently at Lumina, who was sinking in her chair. “There’s another reason, isn’t there?”
    “Well… Yeah… Kinda…” Lumina said sheepishly.
    “Lumina, if it were about earlier he would’ve forgiven you already.” Renji said with a sigh.
    “No it’s not that… It’s just… I was thinking about some things earlier. And…..” she started, then stopped to think.
    “And?” He persuaded for her to continue.
    “And….well…. Hmm…” she stopped to rethink things, then replied. “You are a toad. That’s what I’m thinking.” She sat up and nodded her head once, looking sophisticated as ever.
    “ What?” Renji questioned, his eyes widening.
    “You must be, according to the matchmaker.” she said, her grin returning.
    “Lumina… you saw the matchmaker a week ago…” he looked at her as if she were crazy.
    “I know that.” she was grinning so hard her eyes were squinting.
    “Then how, why would she tell you that?”
    “Well, last week when she came by, she said that only a toad would like, if I were lucky.” Lumina still grinned as she watched Renji’s movements. His face was turning red, as he getting nervous.
    “That means you-” he began.
    “Uh-huh.” she answered.
    “How long have you-”
    “Oh, for about a week or so.”
    “When did you-”
    “The night before I saw the matchmaker. You were at Zeke’s house prying into his business when he made you blurt it out.” she rested her chin in her hands now, still smiling but not as much.
    “Augh! I’m an idiot!” he said slapping his forehead.
    “Don’t worry, it’s not that I hate you or anything. I think it’s sweet.” she tilted her head to one side in her hands, looking as cute as a child.
    “But now you know, and now it’ll be awkward, and Zeke will find out, and start picking on me, and-” Lumina leaned over and gave him kiss on the cheek.
    “That’s enough, Mr. Toad.”~