"Have you finished everything?" Chitose interrogated Ryuko. Ryuko just nodded and rolled her eyes.

"I have done everything you have asked of me." Ryuko whispered. It had been two days since she last saw Mr.Shinya. She hadn't told anyone about him though. Not even Yuu. "I'll start cooking lunch now." Ryuko said, glaring Chitose down. Chitose wasn't holding her riding crop so at the moment Ryuko wasn't very scared of her.

"If it's burnt again, I will whip you." Such a stupid threat. Like whipping was that bad, she did it so much it just felt... good... now. (Cuz I might be bad but I'm perfectly good at it.)

Ryuko couldn't cook that well. She could chop, boil, and sauté but full blown cooking wasn't a thing. It made her wonder why Chitose would fire the entire staff just to make an unexperienced woman do their work. Was she ignorant or cruel? Most likely both.

Ryuko walked down into the kitchen. She was probably just gonna make rice or something. She wasn't interested in causing a fire. That would be unpleasant.

While the water boiled, Ryuko read a book. She would just wait for the boiling noise. Funny how bubbles make a noise when they boil and not when she washed dishes. Ryuko remembered when she was five, before her mom died, when her mother just let her lie on her. She usually laid on her mother's stomach, where she could hear boiling noises. She always thought that meant she was hungry and would hurry to find an apple whenever she heard it. It was cute.

"Ryuko get the damn door!" Himiko shouted. With the tone of her voice she must've been screaming for a while. She was agitated. Ryuko was too busy thinking to care about it though.

There was a knocking at the front door. Ryuko walked up and just stared at the door for a second. More knocks came and Himiko shouted again.

"Ah! Sorry for the wait!" Ryuko apologized. The messenger man scowled at her. As he grabbed a letter from his tailcoat, Ryuko got a good look at him. His hair was neatly combed back, his Tailcoat was a crimson red, the kingdom's color, and he was quite tall.

(Y'all- Monoma would've been a better step sister and I hate myself for not making him a step sister-)

"It's mandatory to read." He said. She took the letter and looked at the stamp. It was gorgeous. The messenger began running down from their steps. Ryuko looked at him as he left and blinked. He must've been in a rush.

She closed the door and walked back inside. The pot hadn't begun to boil yet, so she took the chance to run upstairs and tell her step family. She could hear the piano play a small song as she neared the room.

When she walked in, Chitose grabbed her Riding Crop and started smacking her hand with it. It was a rule. Ryuko wasn't allowed to interrupt her piano playing unless it was urgent.

"You know my rules! You little twa-"

"It's from the palace. I haven't read it yet, but it's from the palace." She interrupted. She was ready to be whipped but Chitose just put down the crop. The fact that if came from the palace was enough to excite and calm her.

"Fetch the girl and boy!" She shooed Ryuko away. Ryuko nodded and walked into
Jin's bedroom. She could hear Ochako and her friend, Toru, run after her. Catsuki was busy being a bitch somewhere else in the house so the two mice were safe from being eaten.

"Your mother wants you. Right now." Ryuko stammered, looking around. The two siblings looked at her. Himiko stood up and nudged her with her shoulder. Jin did the same. He was a bit bigger and stronger than both of them, so it actually hurt, unlike Himiko's petty attempt.

All three blondes walked into Chitose's piano room. She hadn't gone back to playing Moonlight Sonata, instead she was waiting.

"It's a letter from the palace~" Chitose sang. She was actually a good singer, could make it her job, but she lived off of her late husband's fortune. Only a few years and she would be homeless.

(Oh god- I... This is gonna get weird.)

"There will be a ball, in honor of his highness, the prince." The old woman said.

"A prince?" Ryuko cocked her head and just looked

"The prince?!" Himiko gasped, scrambling to reach the invite. Jin held her back and laughed at his silly younger sister. "By royal command, every eligible maiden is to attend!" Himiko's voice slowly got higher and higher the longer she spoke. "I'm gonna be a princess!" She squealed.

Ryuko just looked at herself and realized she was eligible.

"That means I can go too!" She gasped. She got her hopes up only to be shut down by Himiko and Chitose.

"You? You look like you just crawled out of hell! Even if you did go, no one with a brain would ever want to marry you." Chitose eyes her up and down, her face scrunched up. Ryuko wasn't unhappy just yet, she was discouraged, but not upset.

"What would you say? I'd be honored your highness! Would you mind holding my broom?" Himiko mocked Ryuko's deeper voice, laughing. Jin wheeze at her joke before skipping around. "Please! If you went I would let birds eat my eyes!" Himiko laughed. "Of course you can't go! Stupid girl!" Jin hit Ryuko across the head. Ryuko still stood tall and just looked at them.

"Now why can't I go? I'm eligible." She said in a sturdy tone. Truthfully, her voice would probably crack if she weren't so... she wasn't angry or anything. She was... pissed? "I am part of this family!" She wish she weren't though. "And it says by royal command every eligible maiden is to attend!" She put her foot down.

"I suppose it does say that. I guess you can go-" Ryuko's heart filled up with joy. Himiko and Jin's faces were filled with disgust. "If! And only if You finish your chores-"

"I will!" Ryuko gasped. She really wanted to go.

"And can find something suitable to wear. My daughter and I will not allow you to wear anything of ours." Chitose growled lowly. She gestured her finger to her dress and looked at her in disgust. Ryuko already knew it wouldn't be too hard.

"Of course! Thank you!" She said and excitedly ran out of the room.

"Mother! She's gonna take the light from me! Why would you say that!" Himiko cried. Chitose just smirked.

"I said if."

"Ohhh!" Himiko and Jin both giggled to each other. "If!" Himiko cackled. Chitose just went back to playing her piano.

(IM PROUD FOR ONCE! Oh god, the special chapter is only three days from now! It explains a few things.)