#juliusa

This was where he could watch the subtle shift in her demeanor and he wondered if the princess was even aware of it herself. Did she know the ruthlessness her mother could hold? “And what would that be? Depending, I may be able to grant it.” “I want to see my sister.” Serenity stiffened beside him, which drew his gaze to her. Did she know about his sister? How much did she know? “Your sister...” A small frown from the queen. It wasn’t something that was supposed to be, the Plutonian senshi was fated for a lonely duty that she often regretted... But it would be a nice treat for the siblings. “I suppose a small visit couldn’t hurt. To make up for the pain her duty has caused you.”  Had the princess not been holding his hand it likely would have balled into a fist. “The only way that pain can ever be forgiven is if you would spare her from that duty.”  There was no reply from the queen except a small smile. He would get no remark back to that statement. “Luna will take you-” “I can take him mother,” the princess spoke up, smile bright. “I know the way.” “Serenity?” “Please mama? I know this party is for me but I’d really like to help Julius.” There was a silent stalemate between mother and daughter and Julius was left in the rather uncomfortable position of watching them duel in silence. It did, however, give him plenty of time to think. How could such a small rabbit know about his sister? Or, at the very least, his sister’s location. “Fine,” the queen sighed in defeat. “I will allow it but we will be talking about this later.” While Serenity gave a little cheer in victory, the clockmaker found himself smirking slightly. So she knew without her mother’s previous knowledge. How interesting. “Thank you mama. We will return swiftly.” A small curtsy to her mother, Julius following suit with a bow, before she was dragging him back the way they had come. The path she led him on had been familiar, sounds of guests enjoying themselves following after them like joyful whispers. That as until Serenity the younger took him down a corner he hadn’t known was there. The sounds of the party had stopped so sudden that the shift in noise around them, or rather the lack there of, had been jarring. If it hadn’t been for the sounds of their steps against the marble floors and the steady breaths they took he might have thought he’d gone deaf. The longer they walked the more oppressive the silence got, fog beginning to cover the floor and making it hard to see his steps. Serenity seemed not to be bothered, hand still holding his as they continued on. Almost as if she were worried he would get lost. And then, just as the fog began to get denser, he was aware of a steady ticking. Like the sound of his pocket watch in the silence of his room. It began to get louder, however, drowning out the noise of their steps. Of their breaths. Had the hold on his hand not been firm he would have been sure the princess was no longer with him...  A thought, he found, that scared him.

“I-I’m so sorry, sir.” A quick but formal bow. “I’m afraid I wasn’t watching where I was going.”  “So I can see,” he replied, smirking ever so slightly. It really wasn’t fair, she whined mentally, how quick her heart beat raced. Who did he think he was? Being so attractive... “And where were you off to, little princess?”  His voice was a smooth and rich timbre that made her swoon, the color on her face seeping down to her neck some. Did he understand how hard it was to even remember that it was she he was talking to? “I-I’m sorry?” she queried, eyelids batting some. As if she were coming around from a daydream. “Oh, um... Nowhere, really.”  “I see.” The way his eyebrow ticked upwards told her that he totally didn’t buy her response. “Well then, if you have no where to be... Perhaps you would be willing to escort me to where the ball is being held?” Oh how hard it was to remember things when he was speaking. Why did she have to react the same way every time anyone attractive was around? “The ball?” Oh, right. The ball. The annual birthday bash her mother held in her honor. “I-I...”  If she did the little princess could kiss sneaking down to Earth goodbye. But how in the world could she turn down a request from someone so attractive? Surely Endymion would understand, right? He was constantly surrounded by attractive people! “I would be delighted to, sir. Please, this way~” Turning on her heel, the small princess moved to lead him back the way she had come. Venus was going to be so jealous. Julius gave her a small noise of gratitude a he followed after her. It had felt... almost wrong to force her from her path. But he was certain it was the right thing to do. And not just because he had the prince’s gift for her.  “Would it be possible to have an audience with your mother?” he asked, gaze focused down the hall before them. “More then likely I’m sure! Mama is usually present and an active force during such parties.” It was hard to keep the curiosity from her tone. “Just to catch up. It’ been a very long time since I’ve stepped foot in the palace halls.”  Oh if she hadn’t been curious before she definitely was now. There was no way she wasn’t going to ask. “You’ve been here before?” A quick glance at her face out of the corner of his eye. “I have been. Dozens of times.”  “How come I’ve never seen you before?” She didn’t miss the uneasy look in his eye. “Ah... That is... if it’s not prying too much.”  “Mm..” His gaze moved towards the looming doors that were steadily getting closer. “Because I grew angry with your mother. I’d come to loathe the palace and what it stood for.”  There was a sharp intake of air from the smaller form. There was a lot of pain in his heart... “Why?” Her voice was soft, wavering slightly. “What did my mother do to hurt you so much?”  Silence answered her, the clockmaker coming to a stop in front of the doors. Was there a point to answering? What would she say anyway? The doors opened suddenly, surprising the petite princess. Both turned to look, finding someone who looked almost identical to the princess. Aside from some color differences she was dressed in an orange seifuku; a sailor senshi. 

Like his sister.  “Serenity! There you are!”  The princess laughed nervously, blushing slightly. “Venus! I was heading here, honest.”  “Really?” A deadpanned stare. “Because Mercury and Mars both said you weren’t in your room or the gardens.” Her usual hiding spots from them. “As soon as I heard I sent Jupiter to the teleporter room.” There was quite the evil eye directed to the Lunar princess, the clock maker forgotten.  “I wasn’t heading to Earth, honest. On my way here I’d run into this nice gentleman!” A hand moved to motion towards the gorgeous man beside her, drawing attention away from herself. “He needed help getting to the ball room.”  The princess tried not to bite at her bottom lip, a tell that often gave away that something was up. It didn’t help that she felt a little guilty pulling him into this but she couldn’t let them know they’d been right in their assumptions of her trying to sneak away. Not to mention the guy was very pleasing to look at... Surely she could play that card in her favor? Thank Selene it was Venus she’d run into and not Mercury or Mars.  “Well, well~ If it isn’t Julius Monrey~”