Written in Pink

Chapter 2

'Ethan, go into town to look for a wife. Your younger brother has found a suitable woman before you. That's pathetic.'

His father's words had stung, but Ethan wasn't particularly interested in finding a wife. So, that was how he came to wandering the streets of a village near his kingdom. This was, in fact, the same village where his little brother had been robbed the day before.

He saw a group of children with a young adult. The young adult had long, silky black hair. She was laughing. It was melodious and, well, perfect. He'd never heard a laugh like that.

"Excuse me, miss..." Ethan started, bowing politely.

"Try and rob me, creep. I'll castrate you with a rusty knife." The girl glared at Itachi with her sparkling pink eyes. They were like jewels. The purest pink roses.

"Ah, no!" Ethan chuckled, taking a step back. "I merely wanted to know the fair maiden's name."

"If it's your business, my name is Hanna. Now move, please. We're shopping." She glared at him harder, like she was trying to move him with her mind. Unfortunately, she could not. To Ethan, she was like a goddess among lowly peasants. Brimming with confidence, kindness, and reliability. Surely, this was what he should look for in a wife.

"I'm Aiden!" A young boy with dirty blond hair grinned. His clothes were now a fresh new navy blue cotton, and he was grinning heavily.

"Hanna!" A little boy with a hairstyle much similar to Ethan himself ran up, shouting, "Don't worry, I shall protect you from this scumbag! Tis a knight's noble duty!" He stood in a fighting stance, but was still short, awkward, and easily able to be defeated. He also had brand new clothes, in a dark green.

"James, be nice." Hanna frowned playfully.

"Whoa! A pretty man! Hello, pretty man!" A little girl holding a baby cooed. They both had new dresses. The older girl's was light pink, while the baby had a crisp little white dress. Her hair was short, and a pleasant caramel color. She had a sweet smile. "I'm Susan," She grinned, "And this is Leah." She held Leah up to Ethan, where Leah yanked a chubby fistful of his hair.

"Ow." Ethan grunted, prying his hair free.

"Ah, sorry about that." Hanna picked up baby Leah, who giggled in her victory.

"Melissa! Karin! Zachariah! Come look at the pretty man!" Susan squealed, waving them over.

A young man, relatively the same age as the beautiful Hanna, walked over. He had a spiked black ponytail, and one black eye. He was carrying a little girl in a light blue dress, with black hair. She was very pail, and looked sickly. A different girl in a black cloak, whose brown hair cascaded over her face, came along, hiding behind the young man's leg.

For a second, the thought flashed through Ethan's mind that this Zachariah might be the enchanting Miss Hanna's husband. Ethan's eyes narrowed into slits. What he should've said was nothing. But what he did say was, "I think you two make a horrible couple."

Hanna gave him a strange look, muttering, "We're not together."

Zachariah was blushing, but didn't voice his opinion.

"Excuse me?" Aiden tugged on Ethan's silk cloak, "Are you a woman or a man?"

Ethan glared at the boy, "I'm a man!"

Hanna, along with the other children, burst into peals of laughter. Zachariah had a smirk on his face.

Ethan scowled, and was about to say something when the black haired one, Karin, began coughing.

"Karin, are you alright?" Hanna's eyebrows knit together in her worry, and she had a little frown on her face.

Ethan didn't like it when Hanna frowned. He wanted her to smile. She had a pretty smile.

But Karin wasn't alright. She began to cough up blood, and Hanna's face began to pale.

"Karin? Karin? We... We have to get her home! Maybe if she gets some rest..." Hanna was getting frantic. Her eyes were tearing up. No matter how brave she sounded, she knew Karin would not get better. Not without medical attention, which she in no way could afford. You'd have to be insanely rich to afford something like-

"Perhaps our family medic could look her over?" Ethan suggested.

Hanna's eyes widened. Who was the man they'd been teasing so casually? She voiced her question out loud, "Who are you?"

"My name is Ethan Mallgrove, prince of this Kingdom. Would you care to make a deal?" Ethan gave a sinister smirk. He had a plan.

"Feh?" Was the only thing Hanna could manage to mutter. The children, and even Zachariah, could only stare with mouths open. Except for Karin, who'd stopped coughing, but was still a sickly pale. They had all heard of the Mallgroves, how could they not? Cruel King Lucifer Mallgrove who ruled over the land with his iron fists, his beautiful wife, and two sons.

"I will give you all a place to stay, medical treatment, and royal treatment, in exchange for you to be my bride."

Hanna took a swift glance at Karin, before muttering, "Deal."

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Leave a comment? I joined this site for feedback, but I'm not getting any. Anyway, vote and comment.

Or I might just kill of Karin. She's so cute. You really want me to kill her?

They thought Ethan was a woman. Hehe.