Prologue

I sat next to his bed as his breathing was becoming shallower by the minute. There was nothing the doctors could do to save him. It was already too late.

What am I going to do? What can I do? Is there anything I can do for him? What about his kids?

What about me?

These questions ran through my brain like a record. Maybe I could do something, just something to help him even if it's just a little. But deep down, I knew there is nothing I could do to save him.

I can't save my brother.

"Is daddy going to be okay Aunty Marika?" quietly asked my nine year old niece, Haruka as she hugs her little stuffed toy rabbit. I stayed quiet and looked down at my lap. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't lie to her nor even tell her the truth.

Her twin brother Naruki balls up his fist looking at his father, understanding from my silence that he won't make it. Five year old Kai buries his face into my arm, trying to cover his tears. When I looked Haruka, her rabbit was covering her sniffles.

Suddenly the beeps of the heart monitor became rapid and loud.

"Stay back! Nurse, get everyone out!" ordered the doctor.

"What's happening?!" I shouted.

"Ma'am you have to stay back." the nurse tried to calm me down as she pushes the kids and I back.

"Hey!" Naruki tried to push the nurse out of the way but another nurse came and pushed him back. I could hear the doctor ordering everyone and the sound of the heart monitor going faster and faster. Then suddenly it went to a straight beep.

The room became quiet and still.

"Oscar Rivers, 32, time of death at 5: 30 p.m..." the doctor's voice echo through the room.

I felt little hands, holding both of mine and my right leg. I looked down and see that Haruka was hold my right hand and covering her face with her doll. Naruki was squeezing my left, trying not to cry. Kai was clinging onto my right leg tightly, trying not to show his face.

"It's okay..." I said to them, bringing them close to me. "Everything will be alright..." my voice went hoarse at that moment. My legs gave out, making me sit on the cold hospital floor. I felt the children wrapping their small arms around me and rubbing back. My eyes became blurry with tears as I felt my heart stopping. I buried my face in one of the kid's shoulder and started to wailed out my brother's name.

7 Months Later...

"Haruka hurry up in there! You're going to be late for school!" I banged the bathroom door, trying to get her to hurry.

"Are you done Kai?" Naruki asked as he took the empty bowl from Kai before he could answer.

"Naru what did I tell you about doing things before someone answers the question?" I reminded him.

"What does it matter if they don't even talk?" Naruki muttered. I rolled my eyes over his remark and looked at the clock.

"EVERYONE OUT NOW!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

"Does everyone have their things?! Haru do you?" I asked a I carried them down the stairs of the apartment complex at top speed.

"Yes!" she replied with her mouth full of toast.

"I can't believe the elevator was out of service again. What kind of service does the landlord even get around here?" Naru complained.

"Let's have snarky remarks later okay Naru." I told him and kicked the entrance door open. I ran like hell through the crowded streets of Charles. I twisted and turned through the streets all the way to their school.

"You kids be good okay? Get good grades and stay out of trouble." I said to them, especially Naru. He huffs and turns away.

"Have a good day at work Aunty Marika." Haru smiled at me. Kai gently squeezes my hand trying to show me affection. I ruffled his hair and kissed each of them on the cheek. The school bell rang throughout the playground, letting the kids know that school is starting. I waved to the kids and ran all the way to the convenient store for work.

Two Hours Later...

"Good job today Mari!" my manager praised as I left the store for a little break before my next job.

I bought some mini banana cream crepes as I took a stroll through the the less busy streets, trying to find a place to relax before my second job. As I walked, my eyes caught sight of a old man who was hunching over, clutching his chest. On instinct, I went over to him to see if he was okay.

"Excuse me sir, are you alright?" I asked and began to rub his back.

"My chest hurt a little." he chuckled but his face shows great discomfort.

"There's a park nearby with benches, would you like to have a seat there?"

"Oh no I'm fine, my butler is coming with the car so I'll be fine."

'Butler? Is he rich or something? Well he is in a really nice robe so I guess he could be?' I thought.

"I have some aspirin. I get headaches a lot so they tend to help me." I said and looked through my over-the-shoulder bag. I took out two pills and gently give it to him. He looked at me with a surprised look on his face. Suddenly he reached for my necklace.

"Young lady where did you get this from?" he asked as he inspected the necklace.

"My mother gave it to me." I said with a melancholy smile. As if he noticed he slowly lets go of it but has a little smile on his face.

"It's very beautiful." he gave a me smile. I smiled back and rubbed my necklace a little. Then a black car pulled up in front of us. A tall man in a nice suit with slick black hair came out of the driver's seat and jogged up to the old man.

"Are you alright sir?" the man asked. His voice was smooth and deep. It was putting me in a trance. "Who is this?" he asked looking at me.

"What is your name young lady?" the old man asked me.

"Marika Yoshihara." I reclaimed my composure and answered with a little bow.

He motioned the man in the suit to come over. As he did he whispered something in his ear. The man in the suit nodded and pulled out a notebook and a pen. He wrote something and gave it to me. I looked at the paper and saw that is was a number written on it.

"Call me anytime you are need. It's a thank you for saving me." the old man said smiling and was escorted by the man in the suit to the car. Then they drove away.

"So...that just happened." I said as I stood there. "What am I supposed to do with this?" I muttered to myself. At did he give me his number? I didn't really do anything. Suddenly thunder echoed. I looked up and saw dark clouds hovering above the city and then it started to pour. I yelped and ran to a nearby awning of a flower shop.

"Darn..." I looked at my watch and see that I was going to be late for work. "I'm so going to be late again." I cringed at the thought of my bald boss's red, angry face face yelling at me with spit and slurred words.

"Wow, the flowers are pretty today." I said as I noticed the flowers under the awning.

"They are aren't they?" a calm voice called out to me. I looked beside me, seeing a handsome man around my age in an expensive suit that seemed to belong to royalty. He had very light colored hair with gentle purple eyes. 'He seems familiar. Was he on TV or something?'He looks like Prince Edward but he would want to waste time wondering around here.' I thought.

"Yes they are." I said to him looking at him curiously. He smiles at me and pulls out a rose and hands it to me.

Then I heard a car zooming through the street, splashing water all over. Without thinking I jumped in front of the man as the car went by, spraying muddy water all over me.

"Darn, this was my favorite band shirt." I muttered, staring at my ruined shirt.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine." I said examining my ruined shirt.

Then the car pulls over and a man with brown hair, brown eyes in an expensive suit came out of the car. He looked at me wit a sad expression.

"Did you get wet from the car miss?" he said. Then he looked over my shoulder and his eyes widened.

"Hello sir...are you going to the party?" he asked the man behind me.

"I was but I got caught up by these beautiful flowers, especially this one." the man said looking right at me, touching my cheeks. I blush a little and moved away slightly.

Then another man came out with dark brown hair and green eyes, wearing a royalty-like suit similar to the other man.

"What is going on?" he said, asking the man in the front of me.

"Sorry sir, I ruined this girls clothes while driving by." the man explained. The green eyed man took a glance at me but said nothing and looked at the man behind me.

"Are going to the party?" he asked.

"Of course." the man behind me answered. Then the man went back into the ordering the other to hurry.

"Here is my card. Send me the bill when you have replace your clothes." the man says and leaves.

"I'm sorry for what happened to your clothes." he said. Then he smiled and went down on one knee. He grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it.

"Would you be my date?" the gentleman asked me with a handsome smile.

"What?!" I said as he pulled into the car. Then another man in an expensive suit, surrounded by other men and women asked him if he was ready. The gentleman ordered the people for a dress and replacements for my clothes. Then pushes me into the car and drives to one of the largest castles in the world: Nobel Michel.

I was put into a light blue ballgown dress, sky blue heels, and blue flowers in my now curled black hair. I was pushed in front of a large double door and told to go in. 'Why me of all the people?' I sighed. When I was about to push the doors, someone bumped into me. I looked up and saw bright blue steed man with blonde hair stare at me.

"...I'm sorry, did I run into you?" he asked kindly but had a stoic look on his face.

"I'm fine it's my fault." I quickly said to him.

"I have never seen you before. Is this your first time here?" he asked.

"Yes it is. My name is Marika Yoshihara. It is a pleasure to meet you." I said bowing to him. He nods his head a little.

"This is a change of pace. I didn't know you were involved with women?" a bright voice said. There was a man with brown eyes and hair looking at us with a bright smile.

"Excuse me." the blonde gentleman said and went back into the room.

"Are you not going in pretty lady?" the other man asked.

"I...um..." I hesitated as I become nervous from the handsome man.

"Let's go in together." he said. I didn't want to be rude so I agreed to it. I wrap my arm around his and he opened the doors and leads me to a large ballroom filled with many people in fancy dresses and tuxes. Suddenly I felt my arm go cold. I looked over and saw the man waving goodbye with a wink into a crowd of beautiful women. I became even more nervous as I stood in the middle of the ballroom alone. I quickly walked to a table filled with expensive foods and drinks.

I picked up a glass of champagne and took a sip. 'Ew, what the heck?' I thought and spit the drink back into the glass, trying not get noticed. 'Worst champagne ever. I guess rich people have peculiar taste in alcoholic drinks.' I put it on a butler's tray that was going back to the kitchen. Then a man with purple hair in a white sit came up to the table and drank down three glasses. 'How can he swallow that crap?' I wondered as I watched him. He notices and quickly scopes at me.

"Is there a problem?" he said. His voice was deep and sounded threatening. I quickly shook my head in fear. He scuffs and drinks two more glasses.

Then a younger man called out to him and they started to talk about how much fun there were sarcastically, their "duties" and other things I didn't completely understand. Then they both said goodbye and left. 'Wow that was strange.'

Suddenly loud horns sounded through the room.

"Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the six royal princes!" the Harold announced as six young men walked down the giant staircase.

"Prince Edward Levaincois of Charles!" ''He's a prince!'

"Prince Roberto Button of Altaria!" 'He's the one I entered with!'

"Prince Keith Alford of Liberty!"'He's also a prince. He didn't seem like one.'

"Prince Wilfred A. Spencer of Philips." a blonde came down the stairs with a stoic look on his face.

"Prince Glenn J. Carsiraghi of Oriens!" 'He's so young.'

"Prince Joshua Lieben of Dres Van!" 'How is it that they are all princes?!"

As all the princes went down the stairs, the girl went wild and ran towards them, screaming for them. Then one of them shoved me and I feel to the floor. The whole room quiet as everyone notice my embarrassment.

"Are you okay?" Edward's voice called to me. I looked up and see him reaching out his hand. I took it and he helped me up to my feet.

"I'm sorry for my rude behavior earlier today." I apologized. I acted a bit rude at the flower shop.

"It's my fault that I didn't tell you that I was a Prince." he said with a worried expression.

"You two already know each other?" Roberto walks up to us surprised.

"Do you?" Edward asked him.

"We just met at the entrance." I said to him.

"I just met her today as well at a flower shop." Edward tells him.

"He brought me here as a thank you for saving his clothes from the rain. I got drenched by it." I said with an awkward laugh.

"You should thank Prince Keith for that." said Edward.

"Thank me for what?" a familiar voice asked. Prince Keith walked up to us with a stern look.

"Do you not remember her? She's the one who got her clothes ruined by your car." Edward reminded him. Prince Keith looks at me with his stern expression.

"And you brought her here? You shouldn't mess around with commoners." he said and walked off. 'What the hell is wrong with him?! Jerk!' I thought and gave a twisted look. I looked over and saw Prince Wilfred chuckling at me. 'That's embarrassing.'

"Messing with commoners isn't good for your reputation." another familiar voice said behind me. I turned and saw Prince Joshua sighing.

"This is no fun." another voice called. It was Prince Glenn walking up to us too but he was looking bored. The princes start to talk to one another about things that I didn't understand. Then all of a sudden they said goodbye and left. The music started to change and people were looking like they were about to dance. I looked over at the princes and see that they were surrounded by screaming girls again. I decided to go back to the food table have a distance away from the dance floor.

'I wonder how the kids are doing? They did take my bag away so I wasn't able to call. I hope they remembered the drill.' I thought worriedly about the kids who are alone in the apartment. Then I felt some taps on my shoulder, pulling me away from my thoughts.

"Would you like to dance?" a man's voice asked me.

I looked over my shoulder and I saw...