Chapter 1.

Dear Princess Nevermind,

I would like to thank you for the fact your and your family's kindness which has given me enough money for the time being to supply my family of three.

Of course, I can understand if you drop this letter as if you are disgusted from the lowly peasant like I. I have seen you before, but indeed, I do not doubt that you never spared me a glance or laid eyes upon me before.

I am your carriage driver. I do apologize for the bumps I may have accidentally driven over upon your ride, and has given you discomfort.

Once more, I would like to thank you. When I was helping you out of the car, I had stumbled. You, however, caught my hand and pulled me upright before giving me one of the brightest smiles I have ever seen.

Now, may I address the fact that the carriage driver is supposed to pull the princess up, not vice versa.

Although, Princess, I must admit you have a very...exuberant smile. It suits you.

Pardon me. I have gotten off track. Please give your father and mother my gratitude, even if they do not accept it from a...demon from hell like me.

I saw you leave the carriage with someone who accompanied you. I assume that is your father, or...possibly a future husband. I wish you luck in finding love.

I read over the letter again, unable to stop the smile from touching my lips. Such a gentleman, really, I mused, focusing on one of his sentences. The words were structured well, as if spoken hesitantly by a man who takes his time.

Searching through the lines of carefully written text, a frown inched across my face. "What a shame," I sighed wistfully. "This young man didn't leave his name."

It was a true experience, really. For someone I have never met before to compliment on my smile. A true compliment, rather then the fake ones I receive from everyone I pass by.

"Sonia...?"

"Yes, Mother?" I responded, but my gaze didn't leave the letter from the carriage-driver.

"...I'm not... your Mother..."

The words were followed by the noise of someone yawning.

Turning my head, I could see one of my closest friends standing in the doorway of my large room. Chiaki Nanami covered her mouth with one hand as she yawned again, her morganite-colored eyes bleary with what I assumed was drowsiness.

At her sleepy gaze, I slid the paper into my desk, face-down, hoping that her keen (yet looking almost always innocent and wanting to sleep) eyes couldn't catch onto it. But my attempts were useless.

"What's that...?" She questioned.

"Nothing of concern, really," I assured her. Pursing her lips, Chiaki did nothing else besides blink at me.

"You... you do realize..." another yawn caused her to pause. "...I'll... find out soon?"

When Chiaki dropped her hand, I tried my best to change the topic. "If you're here, I assume..."

"Yeah."

Last time Chiaki had been to the Nevermind estate, she had come home late due to dozing off. The consequence was that she couldn't 'come over' until, like me, her parents found her a husband.

Chiaki made a so-so gesture. "They're in the middle of deciding it between two people- brothers, actually. Hajime and Izuru... to be honest, I prefer Hajime."

A sigh escaped my lips. "Honestly. We're not toys."

She wandered over to where I was sitting, plopping onto a nearby chair after bringing it over to my desk. "Whose's the letter from...?"

"My carriage driv- wait, how did you..."

I clamped a hand over my mouth, but she lunged at the opening before snatching up the paper, reading over it.

"...it's seems you have a secret admirer."

"It's not that secret," I pointed out. "He said he was our carriage driver, no?"

Thinking back, I tried to summon a face to mind. A face from the incident he had mentioned himself.

A single, grey lightning bolt-like shape almost shimmered to surface.

Nothing else.

My friend cocked her head, eyes thoughtful. "Sonia, are you thinking in writing back to him...?"

I went silent, and my hand froze from where I had been reaching for a quill."Yes. After all, he had been polite and reached out to me."

"He could be... I don't know, a zombie..."

Raising my gaze to look at her, I set a sheet of paper down. "For the last time, Chiaki, zombies aren't real. You may believe in them, but I do not. If he is a zombie... well, that will be an experience, no?"

She shrugged, but I could see a hint of a smile on her lips. "Go on, then. Write..."