Ooo, another chapter. Now it's getting romantic too! I've always wanted to write a romance. ^_~ *sigh* Well please enjoy readin' this, beacuase I had fun writing this chapter! Well the characters in this story are all mine. *MINE I TELL YOU! MWA HA HA HA HA!* But I don't own any rights to Sailor Moon. *tears* Flame me at lildragon@snet.net. Thanx.
-Pretty Sammi

19th of June, year 3058

Today Princess Mercedes met Veronica, Camille and I on the countryside. She accepted us into her service early in the morning, and the rest of the day has been fairly uneventful.

Her palace is marvelous. The walls, floor and ceiling are all made of a shiny white stone. All the people her wear large puffy gowns or fine silk suits, except the servants, not to say that their clothes aren't exceptional.

Everyone here is also very polite and kind, especially Princess Mercedes and her mother, who is the currant ruler of Sappho. As soon as Mercedes turns 16 years old in about thirteen months, her mother will retire and Mercedes will take her place. The princess told me that her father had died a few years ago.

There is also a strange and handsome visitor here. His name is Prince Kinoshi, he has white hair and he's very tall, and Mercedes told me he was eighteen years old. She introduced him to me while we were walking together. I admit he is very charming. Prince Kinoshi even winked at me! Rather embarrassing.... and romantic. Mercedes told me Kinoshi had come to negotiate a trade system between his planet and Sappho with the Queen.

Nothing else today.

-Milagre

Poor Serenissima sat with her back against the wall and stared out the large stone arches into the dark night. Her only light was the glow of her electronic notebook and that of the two orange moons that revolved around Sappho. The warm breeze that blew in from the large arches in the walls of the hall gently stirred her white-blonde hair and pink dress, which had many layers with the top the shortest and the bottom the longest in the common fashion of the richer Sapphonion girls.

"It's late, Milagre. Little maids-in-waiting are usually in their sleeping chamber getting their beauty rest," someone said. Serenissima quickly closed her journal and looked up. The tall figure of Prince Kinoshi was looming over her.

"Uh, you're right, Prince Kinoshi. I'm going right now," she said as she hurriedly got up.

He caught her hand. "Wait,' he said. "It would be nice to talk to another than the council members and nobles for a while. And you can call me Kinoshi, Ok?"

"You want to talk to.... me?" Serenissima asked shakily as she began to blush.

"Why not you? Please, I promise I won't tell anyone that you were out past curfew," he begged her.

"Ok," Serenissima uneasily agreed.

"Please don't be nervous," Kinoshi smiled. "I don't bite."

Serenissima laughed. "If you say so." They strolled down the hall together, and Serenissima was too anxious to start any conversation.

"So, where do you come from?" Kinoshi asked.

'Oh great, what do I tell him?' Serenissima thought to herself. "From the farm areas, very far away from the capitol city." 'Nice job!'

"So you're a country girl?" he questioned.

"I guess you could say that." 'I can't believe I just called myself a COUNTRY girl!'

"It's really a shame. With such a pretty face I know many lords who would love to have a wife like you."

"Even you?" Serenissima asked with a high heart.

He paused for a while and smiled before he replied. "Perhaps. I would need to know you better."

"I'm sort of glad I'm not a princess. Most of them just get sold, um, you know. They're forced into marriages to form peace treaties and stuff. I want to find true love," Serenissima explained. 'Good cover up. I just have to stay consistent.'

"Milagre, you're a thoughtful child, cute too. It would be nice if I could find a princess like you to marry some day."

'Thanks, Prince Kinoshi. If the war in my kingdom ever ends, I'll remember you,' Serenissima thought to herself.

"Why so quiet all of a sudden?" Kinoshi queried.

"No reason, just wondering. Are you going to court Princess Mercedes?" she returned with her own question.

"It wasn't in my plan. She would also make a wonderful bride, but I just don't know. She's so.... shy sometimes. Besides, I think she wants to be the lone ruler of her own planet instead of being a bride, and I really don't want to invade her privacy. We're just friends, and it's been that way for some years now. I honestly can't think of her any other way."

"So she is just a close friend?"

"Is there anything wrong with that?"

"No, nothing," Serenissima giggled. Then the palace tower bell struck the time, 14 hours, and she remember how tired she was having to adjust to the 36 hour time cycle on Sappho. She let out a big yawn and quickly covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, excuse me. I really wish I could stay awake longer and talk with you, but I'm about to collapse." 'I also wish I could tell you that I was Sailor Aries and Princess Serenissima and that I really think I'm in love with you.'

"Well, I guess we should continue our conversation tomorrow night then," Kinoshi said casually.

"You want to talk to me again?" Serenissima asked as she started to blush again.

"Of course. It's fun to talk to you. Sleep well Milagre. I'll be looking forward to chatting with you again."

Serenissima stood in the middle of the hall for a few seconds and then called after him, "Me too Kinoshi!"

She silently waked through the maze of halls to her assigned room, where Saffron, Sophia, and five of Mercedes' other maids-in-waiting had already fallen fast asleep. She quietly put on her nightdress and slipped into bed, where she quickly fell into dreams about Prince Kinoshi.