The grand banquet hall was broader than what Sakura had in mind. With the vast venue, the staff were able to accommodate hundreds of guests. The visitors arrived with their formal attire and fancy masks once the sun had set.

Approximately three floors high, several golden chandeliers were dangling from above while various flowers and little ornaments served as decorations to the site. Many seats and tables were positioned at the sides of the venue, leaving the center area as the dance floor.

The royal party began right after the coronation of the new King with the theme; Masquerade. Numerous people danced along with the music as others meet or talk to different individuals—all with a high rank or position.

The newly crowned King roamed around the area, rather than sitting on his throne. When Sasuke was greeting guests from different kingdoms with the King, Itachi noticed that his brother's thoughts were elsewhere.

"Do not blink, for she may be swept by another man before you notice it." He started, referring to Sakura who was speaking to the former Queen of the land.

Sasuke scowled once he heard his brother's claim. "I warned her to not go with any other men other than me."

"Foolish little brother, masks could be deceiving as well." Itachi remarked, although Sasuke still disregarded his brother's point of view. "However, you have picked quite well. When must you tell her?"

"As soon as I no longer have feelings of uncertainty."

With a sip of his wine, Itachi glanced at Sasuke with a weary gaze. "Be careful. A heart can easily break."

"I know." That was all that Sasuke uttered before he drank his beverage and went off.

Itachi smiled. He knew that his younger brother had grown up. This made him believe that Sasuke would do the right thing at any means.

On the other side of the area, two women were seated next to a round table. Their conversation continued as the visitors began to gather at the dance floor.

"I heard that you visited the Water Kingdom a week before?"

"Yes, your home was indeed lovely!"

Sakura thanked the Queen before she continued. "How was my family? My sister?"

"They are all in good hands. Your younger sister is quite adorable, she's the ball of sunshine in your kingdom!" Mikoto chuckled, making Sakura want to see her sister all the more.

"Your father had a low blood pressure on the way, but no worries, we took care of him." Mikoto stated. Sakura placed her palm against her forehead.

"Again?" Sakura commented in disappointment as Mikoto nodded.

Mikoto decided to change the topic, as she noticed Sakura's expression.

"So, how is my son treating you?" The Queen asked with her eyes sparkling in amusement.

"It is better than I expected."

"How so?"

Sakura beamed in glee as she recalled the times that Sasuke had given effort to her. "He surprises me in such occasions with balloons and flowers." She looked down, a smile spreading on her lips. "No one has ever done that to me before."

"And he has never done that to anyone—even for me." Mikoto grinned widely as she took a bite of her dessert, proud that Sakura's mind was out of worry.

Sakura took her wine glass while she bit her lip in hesitation, which Mikoto took note of. "What is it, dear?" She pushed the subject and Sakura had no choice but to respond.

"Is it natural for a lady to feel strange emotions towards a man who is exerting much effort? Or is this merely appreciation?" Sakura shifted her sight.

Mikoto's smile extended as she held her new daughter's hands. "Darling, if something changes your focus to the most important thing in your life, then that is more than appreciation."

Sakura pondered over Mikoto's reply before she sipped her drink.

Just then, Mikoto recalled a certain memory from the past. Her cheerful demeanor suddenly changed into grief. "I understand the fact that you are in an arranged marriage and you know him quite well for several months..."

"I suppose so."

"But can you take good care of his precious heart for me?" Mikoto requested and Sakura saw tears nearly forming on the Queen's eyes.

It was an easy task to accept, but difficult to do. Considering the uncertainty of what life may bring, Sakura thought twice on Mikoto's request.

"As a mother, it is not easy for me to see him in misery—especially when it comes to love. I do not want to see him in pain again." Mikoto shook her bead repeatedly in remembrance.

The last word made Sakura flinch. "Again? If you may, allow me to know about what happened?"

Mikoto gave her a thoughtful gaze. "I am not in the right position to say, Sasuke should be the one to share it to you. I shall only give you a gist of it."

Sakura listened attentively to the upcoming words of the Queen.

"He was a young boy and he fell in love, or more like stuck in infatuation in my perspective. Though the woman he always thought of, broke his heart—in the worst way I have ever known." Just when Mikoto said those words, Sakura reminisced her conversation with Sasuke.

"How about you? I know that we are in a commitment, but any lady in mind?"

"As a matter of fact, there is."

Regaining her senses, Sakura prevented herself from thinking what might have happened with her husband's past.

"I am not quite sure if you have noticed. However, that also explains why Sasuke pursued on entertaining the maidens in town—to give them hope in love." Mikoto's features brightened once she added.

"Remember dear, not all bad actions consist of bad intentions."

"Thank you," Sakura spoke, pleased to have a talk with the Queen. "Your son is doing a magnificent job in protecting this kingdom, and I shall do my best to protect your son's heart."

"Thank you very much, dear." Mikoto answered gratefully, before a man walked towards their direction.

He extended his hand for Sakura. "May I have this dance, princess?" The man was wearing a tuxedo along with a crimson bowtie that matched his mask.

"Sasuke?" Sakura softly muttered in surprise while the edges of the man's mouth raised, flashing a smile.

Sakura accepted the offer as she stood up with him. She made a polite gesture to the Queen, signaling that she will be moving on first. Mikoto finished her drink and waved back to Sakura in confusion.

The two walked to the dance floor as her partner held her by the waist. Sakura, who was completely puzzled, just laid her hands on his shoulders.

He twirled Sakura along with the beat of the music as his touch grew rough. She also noticed how he licked his lips before smirking.

"You look dashing, Sakura-hime." He complimented, making Sakura let go of him.

"Hime?" She thought before asking. "Sasuke, is there something wrong?"

The man dodged her question as he brought out a scarlet rose hidden from his ebony coat. To her surprise, he winked in a flirtatious manner.

She knew that the man was obviously not Sasuke. From his actions to his words, Sakura would barf if she would witness Sasuke doing the man's actions and saying peculiar words to her. She swiftly removed the mask as she gasped.

"Kiba?" Sakura managed to say despite the fact that she was dumbfounded. "I-I thought—"

"Forgive me for the interruption. Although, may I have my wife back now?"

Both eyes widened once they turned to the speaker. Immediately, Kiba gave a slight bow. "Prince Sasuke." He uttered as acknowledgement.

Sakura examined Sasuke from head to toe. He was wearing a black suit as well, even his tie and mask had the same pitch-black color. Also, his mask was only covering his eyes like Sakura's, as compared to Kiba's who had his whole face covered by the mask.

Sasuke took off his mask and he observed the two people before him.

Based from his physical features, it looked like he was calm and formal. However, his gaze spoke otherwise.

"S-Sasuke? I thought he—" Sakura pointed to Kiba before she caressed her forehead. "Excuse me, I need to refresh my mind."

Then, Kiba decided to leave just as Sakura was out of sight. When he took a step forward, Sasuke gripped on his forearm to prevent him from moving.

"Do not even think of talking to her again." He grumbled just as he gave his signature glare.

The latter only rolled his eyes. "You cannot keep her forever, your majesty."

"Who says I am keeping her?" Sasuke retorted before Naruto came into the scene.

"As if you are not informed, Sakura-hime is married, you fool." Naruto grunted as he took Kiba from Sasuke's grasp and dragged him to the exit.

Sighing in relief, Sasuke went to Sakura. He noticed that she was looking out on the view from the large window, a glass of water at hand.

"I told you not to mistake me from other men."

Sakura glanced at Sasuke. "I apologize, I truly thought he was you."

"Even with the hair?"

"His hair was spiked up like yours, did you not see?" She pouted. "Though, I did notice it was not you just before you came. He acted very differently in comparison to you."

Sasuke snatched the glass in Sakura's hands before he gently placed it above the table. He pulled Sakura to the dance floor and continued their conversation there. "Different, how?"

"The way he looks, touch, and even his choice of words."

"I am astonished that you know how I look, touch and speak." Sasuke emphasized as he interlinked his left hand with Sakura's right.

Snaking her hand towards his shoulder, Sakura answered. "I would be amazed if I was not after living how many months with you."

"Fair enough," Sasuke commented as they swayed their bodies along with the rhythm of the song playing. "I am certain that you have danced as a princess, have you not?"

"Definitely."

"And you said that you have never liked a man."

Sakura's eyebrow raised, but she laughed at what was coming. "Proceed."

"My question is, have you ever danced with a man you liked?" Sasuke inquired with a smug grin plastered on his face.

"This is the first." Sakura's mouth curved up into a beam. "How about you?"

"This is the first." He reiterated Sakura's former words, but Sakura was not buying it.

"I find that hard to be possible."

"How come?"

"With all those ladies throwing themselves at you, I highly doubt." She snickered, vividly remembering the first time she woke up due to the screams of the fans.

"Believe it or not then."

"You are confusing, do you know that?"

"Says the one who previously does not want to talk to me." Sasuke countered, though Sakura laughed, much to Sasuke's surprise.

"Have I not told you yet?"

"Why you bloody dislike being with me at first? Please do enlighten me."

"I have this friend back at my hometown. She is a huge fan of yours. At some point, I think you played her and as a result, well, you broke her heart. Ever since that, I had a bad image of men—if that is what they do to women."

She paused before proceeding with a smile. "How ironic that the man who caused my friend's misery would be my husband."

"I am sorry." Sasuke looked down.

"No, it is not your fault. I was too affected by the experience that is not even mine to begin with."

Sasuke stared blankly into space and he questioned. "If I may know, what was the name of your friend?"

"Yamanaka Ino, familiar?" She asked, hoping that what her friend had shared was only a lie.

"I knew it." He mentioned with regret in his eyes.

"Wait," Sakura told while getting stuck in a gaze with him. "You do know her?"

"She was the most irritating female alive."

Coughing intentionally, Sakura excused Sasuke with his words. "Explain further."

Exhaling, Sasuke let them move by the edge of the dance floor so that the noises will not disturb their talk. "I remember meeting her at a royal party. We talked, but it was only about her bloody rants, fashion, gossips, and riches. Once she wanted to dance, I rejected her offer since I was..." He was reluctant, but he covered up his hesitance by clearing his throat. "...too tired. Suddenly, she screamed to me about incoherent things that I couldn't possibly understand. She stormed off afterwards."

Hearing a new side of the story, Sakura could not help but think twice of the possibility. "Is this true?"

"Ask Naruto if you wish to confirm. He was with me when I met her, or even Itachi." Sasuke responded frankly and Sakura observed the look in his eyes.

She noticed that there were no signs of lying in his expression, based from what her father taught her. "That was the first time I disappointed my parents for ruining a party. I would not forget that incident."

"I never knew..." Those were the only words that came out from her mouth. She did not know who to believe in. Her best friend or the man she married?

"Did you taste the cupcakes at the buffet area?" Sasuke instantly changed the subject to cover the awkward atmosphere.

"Yes, it was delightful."

"Thank you."

Sakura tried her best not to chuckle, but failed miserably. "Well, this is new. I did not know you were into baking."

"I did it along with my mother the night before. She wanted assistance. Father did not want to and Itachi was too preoccupied with the responsibilities for being King." Sasuke shrugged as if it was nothing. "Son duties."

"When I become a mother, I want my son to be just like that." Sakura unconsciously stated and Sasuke's lips turned into a triumphant smirk.

"And you will." He winked in a mischievous manner. It made Sakura laugh, compared to Kiba's which made her only frightened.

She lightly smacked her hand at him. "Do not flatter yourself."

The two continued to sway along with the music as the night ends.

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PUBLISHED.//4.3.16//

~Kikaraaa