She had inally been a Three, a writer, maybe even a teacher, like her parents. But, out of love, she abandoned everything to pnt in the ground with Pain, taking a step down to stao him.

  Maybe I wanted silly things. Or maybe things I could never achieve. But they were still my dreams. I wasn't willing to sacrifice them, no matter how much my family meant to me. Besides, I'd already done enough for them. I looked after Mr. Yamanaka's prize-winning horses all day and studied in my spare time.

  But with the arrival of that letter, everything I had done no longer seemed to make sense. In my mother's mind, I was already a queen.

  If I had been smarter, I would have hidden that letter before Konan, Pain and Moegi arrived. But my mother had already put it in her apron pocket, and took it out in the middle of the meal.

  - To the Haruno family home,” he said, with a joking tone.

  I tried to take the paper from her hand, but she was too quie. Sooner or ter, everyone would find out anyway. But if my mother acted her way, everyone would be on her side, not mine.

  - Mom, please don't! - I begged, my voice breaking.

  - I want to hear it! - Moegi shouted and, as expected, her rea didn't surprise me.

  My niece was a repliy brother: her e hair and dark eyes reflected her resembo him, and there was barely a trace of Konan.

  I felt my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. My father let out a deep sigh, while Moegi could barely tain his joy, jumping up and down with excitement. Pain and Konan watched ily, not saying a word. My mother, clearihroat, took the floor and moved on.

  “We firmed i sus that a single woman, aged between sixteen and twenty, currently resides in your house. We would like to inform you of an immi opportunity to honor the Land of Fire.”

  Kona out a scream as shrill as her daughter's and suddenly grabbed my arm tightly.

  - It's you! - excimed Moegi, grabbing my other arm.

  - I know, you little monkey. Let go, or you'll end up breaking my arm.

  - Our dear prinaruto Senju,” my mother tinued, her voice carrying a solemn tone.

  - This month, he will e of age. To begin this age of his life, he wishes to have a panion by his side, a true daughter of the Land of Fire. If your daughter, sister é is ied in being Prinaruto's fiancée, and the beloved princess of the Land of Fire, please fill iached form and hand it in to the Prefectural Services Department in your locality. The girls will be chosen at random to meet the prince, and will be hosted at the Pa Konoha during their stay. The family of each partit will be generously rewarded.

  My mother prolohe words, as if seeking to create a greater impact.

  - For their service to the royal family. - she cluded, with an almost imperceptible smile.

  - “Generously,” scoffed Pain, and I rolled my eyes in exasperation.

  That's what happened with princes. Princesses, oher hand, were simply iated intic marriages, with the aim of strengtheniions with other tries. It was necessary, but I didn't agree with it. Princes, oher hand, married oners as a way of boosting the nation's morale. Ultimately, the Sele seemed to serve only to remind the people that the try had risen from practically nothing.

  - And of course he'd love Sakura! She's so beautiful! - my mhed, pletely ented.

  - Mom, please! If I get an average grade, that's great.

  - Not at all! - interrupted Moegi, with a mischievous smile. - I look like you, and I'm beautiful!

  She smiled so broadly that I couldn't tain my ughter.

  - What about you, Pain? What do you think? Do you think I'm pretty? - I asked, joking.

  All eyes turo the firstborn, who replied with a smile.

  - A beautiful try bumpkin, that's what.

  - Pain, please,” Kona out an annoyed, but irely sincere, sigh. - Saky, you know you're beautiful.

  My father looked up for a split sed, and it was then that I uood his silence. He didn't wao go, but he couldn't ighe bes we'd get if I stayed in the test.

  - Someone's going to win, Sakura. And I'm not Mebuki Haruno if I don't get you to sign that paper.

  Thehrew her napkin oable a. Konan told Moegi to take a shower aoo. I started to clear the table while my father and Pain remained in the same pce, sipping their tea in silence.

  - Sorry, Dad,” I mumbled, breaking the unfortable silence.

  - Don't be silly, my love. I'm not angry. - He stood up and kissed me on the forehead. - I o sleep; the rose bushes are waiting for me in the m.

  The dining room fell silent once again, except for the sound of Pain cutting the meat.

  - You know we need... - my bran. I felt an irritati rise throughout my body and I looked at him angrily.

  - So why don't you sign up? - he narrowed his eyes defiantly.

  - If I could, I would. I'd do anything for my family. - I ughed, but the sound was ced with sarcasm.

  - Like when you preferred to get close to the professor's daughter instead of finishing college? - He stood up, without adding any more words, a me alone. A sense of frustration engulfed me, making me nervous. I had said too much, as usual.

  I went out of the house and sat on the baly. The wait until midnight seemed like ay. But shortly after the appoiime, I heard the sound of a car and low headlights approag. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to tame it and make it as as possible, before running towards the hedge.

  When I was a kid, I used to have piics with Ino, Deidara and Paihose rose bushes. We would py all day, and our favorite game irates. Deidara was the cruel pirate who had kidnapped Princess Ino, while I was his first mate, a task that boiled down to sweeping the ded preparing dinner - a “feast” made up of dirt and twigs in a pot. He preteo eat, throwing what was left over his shoulder, f me to sweep up again. But I didn't mind. I swept happily until Prince Pain appeared to engage in an epistick fight with Deidara.

  I reached the rose bushes and realized I wasn't alone. Someone was there, hiding in the darkness. In one swift movement, he pulled me by the wrist and brought our bodies together. I met their bck eyes, as deep as the night, and smiled.

  - What's up, beautiful? - He smiled a mischievous smile that sent a shiver down my spine.