“This is why I said we needed to allow the maids to do the Coronation Cake and not us!” my voice rang through the now flour-coated kitchen. 

I looked down and saw that my newly made gown was now ruined and I was mad, ‘My grandmother gave this to me last week. I muttered under my breath. I looked up with a venomous glare that even my older friends winced at.

“Who did this?” I said in a low but threatening voice.

And without hesitation, most fingers were pointed to my older but foolish distant cousin. I examined him as he frantically looked around.

“Come on guys, why did you sell me out?” he started giving a pout with his statement.

“Eden,” I said, causing him to snap his head around.

“Run,” I said as I started sprinting towards him.

But because of his agility and my inexperienced body, he dodged and booked it to the front door. But no worry I was hot on his tail anyway, my anger was fueling me at the moment. 

“Oh idiot, stop chasing me,” he yelled out.

“Come back here you bag of fleas, I am going to squash you like the mosquitoes my maids kill for me,” I yelled back.

But alas he was lucky, my stamina gave out on me and I fell facedown into the ground. ‘I am going to kill him when I regain my strength’ I thought as I grabbed a handful of dirt into my hands.

“Hahaha, still lacking in that kick huh Tsu?” he chuckled.

“There you are!” I yelled as I aimed the dirt right into his face which in response he started to sneeze.

“Ha, who got the last laugh now idiot.” I grinned as I took my face out of the ground. 

“Why do you guys always play so rough?” I looked over to see our other friends come into view, the soft voice must have come from Lily.

“You guys should not do that to each other. You guys can hurt each other, you know.” The youngest of everyone said which was none other than Caroline.

“Duh, that was the whole point.” I calmly said.

“And what would you get from that, honestly you two are from your respective main houses and you guys are always going at each other’s throats or just downright quarrelling. Can’t you guys just behave?” Dakota complained. 

“No.” Eden and I said in sync.

That was followed by both of us getting our ears pulled by the eldest of us.

“You two are getting annoying right now. Hug and make up right now.” Star growled. 

I cursed her and her speed was so close to light but I was too busy trying to release her grip on my poor ear which was very much in pain. Eden seemed to have the same thought as me.

“Are you guys going to stop for at least the rest of the day? It is my party for both my birthday and coronation.” Star’s words were always final for us, which was sad.

“Please just release my ear, you know these are very sensitive in my family!” Eden screamed.

 “Can you release mine too, my skin easily bruises?” I tried to stay still under her hold. 

She released us and turned to one of the maids, “Get Tsubaki a bath please, we are already behind schedule to carry you all to my empire.” 

The maid bowed and walked away. To be honest, I didn’t mind being baked and just eaten by one of the gods in this land. I sighed as I went to go where the maid went. I quickly cleaned myself because I never liked an angry Star, she in her regular mood was hard enough. I heard a knock on the door and I heard a deep voice come from the body behind it.

“Prince, I am the guard that will be escorting you to represent your empire at Her Highness Platinum’s coronation.” 

“I was never informed of such arrangements?” This seemed suspicious because of my inactivity or just my grandmother worrying about me and my siblings. 

“It is on behalf of the Crowned Prince.” my brother is worried about me, I wonder why?

“Do you have proof?” I asked. “I can have you locked up for giving a member of the main house false information.”

“I have a scroll in my hand,” he responded.

Then I guess I would see it for myself. I finished with my bath, wrapped a towel around my waist, opened the door, and extended my hand. The man stared for a bit, with faint pink on his face. 

“Hand it over, my people aren’t paying you to stand around and waste my time,” I said.

“Sorry, prince.” he quickly handed the scroll to me and I looked at it.

I, Hun Pan-An as Crowned Prince, have authorized that Min Rong’an- Head of the Masjin District-accompany my brother Prince Hun Tsubaki of the main house to the Coronation of Her Highness Star Platinum as both will be given the authority to represent this powerful empire. 

~ Crowned Prince Hun Pan-An

“I am not a child anymore, dear brother,” I growled. 

I turned to the man in front of me, he had silky long hair that was perfectly carried into a high ponytail which fit his milky skin colour and gentle dark brown eyes. He was taller than me but not by much for I still could look him in the eye without tilting my head upwards. I sighed and gestured for him to follow me which he quietly did. I opened my door and he stood at the entrance.

“Come in,” I said.

“I am not allowed in the sleeping chambers of royalty, Prince,” he responded.

“We both are men right?” I asked.

“Yes, your highness.” he nodded.

“Then come inside and close the door, I will change behind the sheets so you don’t have to worry,” I said going behind that said sheet. 

I heard him shuffle and from the looks of his shadow, he was standing by the window. I sighed and started to put on my clothes.

“Tsu!” a voice screamed. I forgot people were waiting on me. 

I heard my friends storm into the room and come behind the sheets and I scrambled to cover myself. 

“Tsu you ain’t going to wear that plain suit at my coronation, are you?.” she asked.

“Yes, what's wrong with this?” I stared at the baby blue gown I had in my hand.

Star ran towards my closet, pulling out one of my gold, red, and orange royal gowns. “This is more like it.” She exclaimed with the others agreeing behind her.

“That is only for special occasions within the empire, I can’t wear it outside.” I tried to run away from it. That was a lie, I didn’t want to wear it because that specific gown was so tight-fitting and people always thought I was a girl at first glance. 

“Too bad, my day, my rules.” She threw the suit at me.

“You can’t reject Star Tsu, get with the program.” Dakota laughed.

Eden started whistling knowing what would happen when I got to the other empire. Lots and lots of stares and worse of all cat-calls from higher-ups thinking I am an unmarried maiden they can take advantage of. 

“And you..., you are coming too right, I hope you know I am dressing you too.” She targetted my guard. 

I hope if he is an observant guard, he wouldn’t define her. This journey may only take a couple of hours but with this group, it is going to feel like days. I sighed when I felt Lily finish doing my hair into a top bun with loose hair, holding it with some of my most expensive jewellery. 

“You look like a girl Tsu, maybe I should call you Madam from now on.” Eden laughed which was joined by the others too, other than Lily who was mostly quiet.

I am gonna kill him and make sure no one can find his body one day. God of my empire- Fenix help me.