Delilah

As Delilah walked behind Mamoru, her mind kept going back to her Kingdom. She wondered how everyone would be and under what conditions they would be. She had no idea when she would see them next or if that was the last time she saw them. She was worried about her Mother, the staff in the castle, her kingdom, everyone.

“Stay here,” Mamoru’s voice broke her trance and she blinked the tears away.

She plastered a smile and nodded, keeping her gaze on the sand beneath her feet. Delilah had never visited an unknown island she had never left her Kingdom her whole life, if it were under different circumstances she would love nothing more than to explore.

Surprise took over her face as she heard someone say Doors Opening but as she stepped inside the space, she couldn’t see anyone apart from herself and Mamoru no one was there apart from herself and Mamoru. Doors closing the voice came again.

A few seconds went by before the ground beneath her shook, Mamoru snaked an arm around her waist to steady her. It made her slightly dizzy as she felt like the Earth was sucking her in.

“Princess, you’re looking a little green,” Mamoru looked worried.

Her stomach churned but Delilah plastered a smile on her face, “I’m okay,” she croaked.

Moments later the ground finally stopped going down, Doors Opening one more time the doors opened and a wide room greeted them both filled with people wearing dark clothing.

“Welcome,” A pretty woman stood in front of Delilah, her blonde hair was wrapped up in a bun and she was wearing a black blouse with a black skirt and heels, a pair of spectacles sitting on top of her head, she was slightly taller than Delilah. Her pearly white teeth were on display as she smiled at the young girl, the more she looked the more she noticed how her features resembled a certain bodyguard’s.

“Mum,” Mamoru nodded.

“Himeji, they’re waiting for you,” the pretty lady raised an eyebrow.

Delilah felt Mamoru stiffen beside her before audibly gulping, “Oh I’m in so much trouble,” he mumbled but not before giving Delilah’s hand a reassuring squeeze. He finally left leaving the two women to get acquainted.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Himeji,” Delilah bowed her head.

“Oh, darling call me, Kayori,” she waved her hand with a laugh.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to be rude,” Delilah hesitated.

“Of course I’m sure,” she smiled kindly, Kayori reminded Delilah of her Mother and it made her heartache, “I understand it’s frightening but you’ll be safe here. We’ll protect you.”

“What about my Mother, who’s protecting her?” Delilah asked.

“You are,” Kayori placed a comforting hand on Delilah’s shoulder, “As long as that King doesn’t know where you are, your Mother will be safe, trust me.”

Delilah felt a little relieved and took a deep breath, “Okay,” she smiled.

“Good girl, now come,” she took Delilah’s hand in her own and led the way and started narrating their history; “Our agency; Queendom, was founded in 1554, England, when Mary I became Queen. The women who founded it worked in the palace itself and made sure to check everything thoroughly before it went to Her Majesty. When Victoria became Queen that’s when we expanded to other places, Victoria colonised many countries so we had to be there to make sure their future Queens were safe too, unfortunately, we were too late, that moment we felt like we failed, but that didn’t stop us from trying to save all the other future Queens. Things weren’t much easier during WWI and II of course, by then we had men join as well and enough technology on our side, we lost a lot of soldiers but this job is full of risks and we took an oath if we go down, we’re gonna go down doing what we do best; Protecting Queens. Sadly, things aren’t much better now as some Kings think they’re so entitled they think they can do whatever they want,” she rolled her eyes and huffed in clear annoyance making Delilah giggle.

“I just wish I could prove to everyone that I am just as good as a King,” she told her.

A dark look shadowed Kayori’s face startling Delilah, “Now you listen to me, girl and you listen well. You do not need to prove to anyone how good you are. I know you are. You know you are. And if those bastards can’t see that then that’s their loss! You just need to make sure that whatever you do, you do it with power. You care about your Kingdom, don’t you?” she asked.

“Of course I do,” Delilah replied, instantly, “But I’m just afraid of disappointing everyone.”

A kind smile returned on Kayori’s face, “You remind me of someone.”

“Who?”

“Me, when I was your age all I wanted to do was to prove to everyone that I was just as good as the men, in fact better. But I realised that I didn’t need to prove anyone anything, there was no point. Whether you do something good or bad, people are going to talk and as much as we want to, we can’t shut them up, Delilah.”

Delilah hadn’t realised that this whole time she had been sitting until Kayori turned her chair so she was facing a mirror, “What do you see?”

Delilah shrugged not knowing how to approach the question.

“You know what I see? I see a young woman with potential. A loyal young woman. Who wants to do something good for her Kingdom. I see a Queen,” she reached down and tilted Delilah’s head up so she was looking at herself in the mirror, a smile made its way on her lips.

Kayori gestured for someone, a man stood behind Delilah and smiled at her reflection in the mirror, he didn’t look Japanese, his bronze skin and hazel eyes made him stand out from everyone else, he was wearing a tight garment around his legs and a shirt, “I am leaving this sweet child in your capable hands,” she turned to Delilah, “I’ll be right back, my dear.”

“Thank you,” Delilah smiled.

She watched Kayori leave and the man standing behind her now stood in front of her, a charming smile on his face, “Okay my Darling, my name is Alex and I’m going to turn you from a beautiful Princess into a Hot City girl like that,” he snaps his fingers. “But first, I’m going to need you to go into that room and change into this,” he says handing her a soft pink bathrobe.

“Okay,” Delilah nodded, taking the robe from him and slowly walking to the room, she noticed Alex following her and hesitated.

“Oh, I’m sorry my love, I’m just going to stand outside the room, just to make sure no one can enter,” he chuckles.

“Oh okay,” Delilah nods and walks into the room, she draws the curtain and realises there’s just enough space for one person, a mirror is attached to one side and there is also a small hook on which she hung the robe on. She turned around and proceeded to untie the corset, and after that followed the multiple layers of the dress which pooled around her ankles. After many agonising minutes of struggle with untying all the layers of fabric piecing together her garment, she finally was able to put on the robe and close it with the belt around her waist. She drew the curtain back but not before picking up her dress.

“Perfect, okay my Darling, are you ready to transform?” he asked taking the dress from her hands and plopping it in someone else’s who was passing by.

Delilah nodded, “Yes.”

“Wonderful,” he reached for her hand and led her back to the chair she was sitting in, “Okay time for the transformation, we’re going to start off with the hair and make-up, then work our way to the outfit. You have lovely long hair and the chocolate colour is b-e-a-u-ti-ful but I’m going to cut it just about two inches, and then we’re going to curl, because the volume that’s going to create is, chef’s kiss! Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Delilah nodded once again.

“Okay, close your eyes and let me work my magic.”

Delilah did as she was told and closed her eyes, she felt a soft brush running through her hair. After her hair was washed and dried using something that made a loud noise, she was eager to open her eyes but knew she had to keep her word, after her hair it was her face. She didn’t open them until she heard Alex telling her to, and when she did, she was amazed by how her hair looked. It was soft to the touch and curly.

Her make-up was minimal, her cheeks were more rosy and her lips were a light pink colour, her lashes were curled with mascara, she never looked more beautiful.

“I love it, thank you so much.”

“You’re very welcome, and I’m glad you like it. But don’t get too excited just yet, we still need to choose some suitable clothes.”

Alex led Delilah to another place where rows and rows of various garments were hanging, some of which were foreign to Delilah, “Stand here for me, Darling,” he instructed her to step onto a small step in front of a mirror, he turned the girl so he was looking into her eyes, “your eyes are like honey, hair is like chocolate, lovely olive toned skin, Darling you’re the epitome of gorgeous, now we also need something accentuates that divine little figure of yours, so maybe,” Alex proceeded to pull out a baby pink floral dress, the shouldered sleeves were slightly puffy, and the sweetheart neckline was modest enough, “What do we think?”

“I think it’s beautiful, but do you think it’ll suit me?”

Alex barked out a laugh, “Suit you? Darling you’re gonna look magnifique!”

He ushered Delilah back into the same room in which she had to change into the robe and drew the curtain leaving the girl to look at her reflection in the mirror. Shrugging the robe off she pulled the zip down which was the length of the back, before stepping into it. It was a perfect fit, but she only managed to pull the zip halfway before it became a struggle for her, contemplating whether or not to ask Alex she was saved by a voice she recognised.

“Are you okay in there, my dear?” Kayori asked.

“Kayori!” she breathed out in relief, “Yes, I’m okay, it’s just I’m unable to zip up the rest of my dress.”

“Would you like me to help you?”

“Yes please.”

Kayori managed to walk in without moving the curtain much and zipped up the dress for Delilah, “You look beautiful.”

Shyly Delilah mumbled a small thank you before following Kayori out, where she was greeted by Mamoru.

It felt as if time froze, if he looked good before he damn well looked great now! Wearing a light blue garment on his legs and a white shirt with sleeves that reached just above his biceps exposing the bulging muscles of his arms, he looked much more relaxed.

Someone cleared their throat making the young girl divert her attention to the floor which looked far more interesting.

“Delilah, we have something to discuss,” Kayori started.

“Okay?”

She looked towards Mamoru whose expression turned serious as he looked at the floor, “We have decided that instead of relocating you to a place where you know no one, to a place where you will know someone,” she started, “We have decided that until matters are all solved in your Kingdom, you will be staying with Mamoru.”

A small gasp escaped her lips, she knew Mamoru well and spent the majority of her time in his presence, but she was in her own home. She had never stayed with a man in his house before.

“Is that okay with you?”

Putting all the negative thoughts aside she took a deep breath, “I trust your decision Kayori, as long as Mr Himeji is okay with my intrusion.”

“Of course!” Mamoru replied quickly, a look crossed his face before he cleared his throat, “It’s no trouble, Princess.”

“Excellent!” Kayori smiled.

She gave Delilah a reassuring hug and gave a warning look towards her son, “I’m trusting you Mamoru.”

Mamoru gulped and nodded quickly, his Mum let out a chuckle before caressing his cheek and walking away leaving the Princess and her Bodyguard alone.

A moment of silence passed between them before Mamoru spoke up, “You look beautiful by the way.”

A blush crept on her cheek, “Thank you, so do you… I mean you look handsome as always.”

Chuckling he nodded, “Thank you, shall we?”

“Lead the way.”