Third person POV
The tea party was long over and Akuma was free to relax for the rest of the night. It was around ten at night when Akuma had decided to retire to bed. After all, she was sure the maids would barge back into her room early in the morning to prepare for a banquet that will occur in the evening. Akuma shuddered.

'The amount of time women spend getting ready is quite scary...' Akuma slipped into bed and tried finding a comfortable position.

"Though I suppose it wasn't bad..." Akuma stared up at the roof of her bed. She never imagined such a day where she would have entered high society. Especially since she never got the chance to debut into society.

Then she began to thrift off further into thought. She would never be able to officially debut in society. Even with her privileges in Clarines besides both Izana and Zen, she no longer has a confirmed title. She is only a lady of rumors.

But how will she ever live in the future? What power will she have? She can't just sit quietly in the Clarines palace with no role or purpose like a freeloader. Plus, Izana will become the King and bring in a Queen. There's no telling what could possibly become of her with new surroundings.

'I need to confirm a position and power if I want to continue living like this...' Akuma clenched her hand and her brows furrowed.

Akuma thought back to the Trevor of Reinsfor and his motive for power. She shook her head and sighed.

'I can't believe the possibility of them wanting a girl whose background they can't even confirm to become their queen...' Akuma clicked her tongue and felt her blood pressure rise. She tightly gripped the blanket sheet and tried closing her eyes.

'I'll have to see that damned man at the banquet tomorrow too. Tch... The entire purpose of these parties is to celebrate the peace treaty and create appease Reinsfor to an extent. No wonder Izana kept quiet to himself.'

"That scheming b**ch..." Akuma cursed at Izana.

'I have to find another way to obtain power to help both Ryu and myself.'

As she thought of Ryu, memories of the day displayed in her mind. The alone time they had together played and teased her emotions, causing her face to slowly heat up. Then with the image of Ryu planting a kiss upon her hand, her heart skipped a beat and her face flushed hot. She quickly sat up with wide eyes that blinked away at the seconds that went by.

"Ah~! I really won't be able to sleep!" Akuma groaned, facepalming herself as she flopped back down onto the bed.

"Why does he have to be so cute..." Akuma let out a long sigh.

'Whatever! I'll sleep it off!' She tucked herself back to bed and closed her eyes. The heat from her face seeped onto her pillow, reminding her of the cause of it.

She laid there and tried. And tried. And tried again. And again. And yet again. Still, she was unable to fall asleep.

"F*ck..." She scoffed.
—————

*Knock knock*

"Pardon our intrusion." Five maids entered the room.

Three of them went over to Akuma's bedside, waking up the half-asleep girl.

"Ah, eh?" Akuma tiredly rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?" She let out a huge yawn behind her hand.

"It is 10 o'clock. We need to prepare you for the party. Now we only have eight hours since his highness the Crown Prince requested to wake you up two hours later." One of the maids informed.

'I think eight hours is beyond plenty enough...' Akuma sighed. 'I had barely fallen asleep two hours ago too. Thank goodness for Izana's rare sparing soul.'

"First we will need to bathe— My word, my lady! Did you not get a wink of sleep?!" One of the maids exclaimed, shocked to see Akuma's unhealthy pale skin, which was perfectly fine just yesterday.

"Ah, yeah..." Akuma sweatdropped.

"No worries! We will just have to use some more products!" The head of the group clapped her hands and pointed at one of the maids. "Go retrieve some of the finest products to enhance the Lady's skin while we bathe her!"

"Right away!" The young maid bowed before leaving in a rush.

"Ah..." Akuma paled even more. "I could bathe myself..."

"Nonsense! We need to scrub your body, soften and brighten your skin, soak in fragrant oils for nutrients, add shine to your hair, blah blah blah blahhhhh..." The maid in charge kept listing the "necessary" things they needed to do as she was dragged by two of the maids, and the remainder was preparing the water.

'Uuugghhh... Why are there so many meticulous steps?!' Akarui cried out as they stripped her down.

"H-hey! I can undress myself!" Akuma stepped away from them and they complied with her wish. Instead, they helped arrange and set up the bath.

'Geez... Maids on a day of a party are much scarier than criminals!' Akuma wrapped a towel over her body and heaved out a tired sigh. Her eyes were white in pure exhaustion.

"Lady Akuma! The bath is ready and at the perfect temperature!" A maid called out to.

"Yeah, yeah." Akuma muttered and stepped into the bath. She handed the towel to one of the maids and let them do their jobs.

"You must add more oil! Her skin needs to glow for hours!"

"Where are the petals?"

"I shall go retrieve them from the cart!"

"Please lift your arm miss."

Akuma blankly complied with their orders, her soul barely hanging on. Normally she wouldn't like people touching her such as now, but the force of the maids was not made to be reckoned with.

"I've brought the necessities for her skin! I'll set them in the room for when she is done bathing." The young maid from before returned.

"Perfect! Go prepare her facials!"

'Facials? Not facial?!' Akuma's jaw dropped, but the maid who was scrubbing her arms had closed her jaw for her.

"You mustn't do that for your jawline won't be quite as sharp."

'What the hell?! Such small detail?!' Akuma's eye twitched, feeling as though her day will be quite the tiring one.
—————

"My lady! Your preparations are finished!" The head maid said with pride, as she and the other maids took a step back.

"...!" Akuma turned around to the full mirror and her lips were agape. She brushed over her cheek to make sure the person in the mirror was truly her and let out a breath in awe. Her look for tonight's banquet, which in truth is like a ball, gave her a different appeal than the attire meant for the tea party.

"My lady will surely be the most stunning at the party!" The maids flattered and complimented her. Although they had always been fearful and cautious of her ever since she mysteriously appeared at the palace, they had grown to understand that she was a character worth respect. Especially after rumors that Akuma defended the maids and butlers from being harassed and from stray weapons flying towards them at the knights' training ground. Plus, they know how tender she can be with her lover.

"Th... Thank you..." She said loud enough for them to hear and hid her lightly blushed cheeks.

(And thy imagination shall give her red eyes and white hair~.)

'The dress isn't the same shade as Ryu's, but I'm glad...' A smile escaped onto her lips.

The maids generously smiled and bowed before their lady, who they had just been assigned to yesterday. They truly put in their best efforts to make her glow.

"We shall excuse ourselves." The maids bowed again but this time to signal their exit.

Once the doors shut, Akuma picked up the edges of her silky blue gown and let out a great sigh of wonder.

"It doesn't look like I've aged at all. To think I'd wear an even more grand gown..." She laughed a bit and covered her mouth in surprise.

"I... Am I acting docile?" She blinked, and her face blew up into a deep shade of red.

*Knock knock*

'Who could that be? The party should be in a little less than an hour.' Akuma thought for a second as to how she would walk in such a dress. She tried tracing back to her etiquette crash course and a memory clicked in her head.

*Knock... Knock*

She walked over the door and opened it. She assumed it may be Obi since he would be her escort yet again, or Izana who would inform her of more details.

"Ah!" Akuma bit her tongue in surprise.

"Eh?"

"Ryu?!" Akuma blinked her eyes in disbelief.

"I-I thought maybe you had already left..." He blushed and looked up at her.

"The party doesn't start until 6 this evening... What brings you here?"

"I...! I just felt like seeing you before you leave..." Ryu exclaimed in a rush.

"... Pft!" Akuma covered her mouth. "What the heck! You don't have to be so nervous as if confessing a crime!" She laughed.

"Ah, I'll try my best not to." Ryu let out a small smile.

"Although I'm not one to talk, I too wanted to see you. If anything, I was unable to sleep because I kept thinking about you." Akuma playing with her hair and looked him in the eyes.

"Me too..." Ryu's smile deepen in a loving manner. "You look really beautiful. You're going to attract a lot of attention again."

"Mm. But my attention will still be for you and only you! Don't worry! I won't let that bastard do anything funny!" Akuma grinned and waved her fists up and down, inching closer to Ryu.

Ryu raised his hands up and over his chest, stammering over his words. His hot face and flustered expression just nodded his head.

"Tomorrow...!" Akuma exclaimed and took Ryu's hands into her own. "I-If you, you are available, let us spend time together! Without anyone else! Maybe even to the town!" Akuma's face deepened in red and her eyes glistened more than her dress.

"Y-yeah! Yeah!" Ryu repeated twice because he was overwhelmed with excitement. "Let us do that!" Ryu ended up shouting.

"Th-then its settled! I will meet you in the garden from yesterday an hour before noon!" Akuma's excitement overfilled her head.

"M-me too! I look f-forward to tomorrow! I'll make sure to take you to the bakery that made the bread you had with Shirayuki and me! Any-anywhere you want to go...!"

"Ah! You remember that? Haha! I've never been to any town or shop before! I look forward to it too!" Akuma's smile and eyes deepened with love and infatuation. Her eyes were seeping honey and her lips were glossy and laced with stars.

"Mm..! Let me be your guide!"

"No~!" Akuma shook her head. "Be my date!"

"Ah!" Ryu's shoulders jumped and he nodded his head slowly.

"Tomorrow will be special~! You better anticipate a gift tomorrow!" Akuma cheekily grinned.

"A gift?"

"I won't say more!"

Soon after, Obi arrived at the scene. He faked his tears and pulled out a handkerchief, talking about how grown up they are. Of course, he was faced with Akuma's glares and verbal shutdowns.

Akuma and Ryu shared their farewells with happy smiles. Akuma folded her hands and placed them over her chest.

'I didn't want to say that I would be busy tomorrow... I need to work extra hard!' Ryu quickly walked down the hall, wanting to reach his office as quickly as he can.

"You look especially lovestruck." Obi chuckled. "Mind spilling some juicy intel for my journal?"

"Hmph! Since I am in a good mood I will."

"My imaginary pen and journal are ready for the details."

"Ryu and I will be going into town tomorrow around noon! A date~!" Akuma shuddered in delight and closed her eyes in the process. She let out a joyous sigh and opened her eyes. "I wish for tonight to be over with already~!"

"Seriously?!" Obi whistled.

"And you are not invited." Akuma glared at him warningly and stopped once they arrived at the door.

"I wouldn't dare." Obi shrugged.

The guards standing by the doorway allowed their access. There were no announcements as this was a minor banquet to allow the nobles to chat. Still, it was hard to miss Akuma's white, long locks of hair, her stunning soft blue dress, which complimented her fair skin, and her glowing eyes that radiated a sense of authority. Her mysterious upbringing in Clarines had only intensified their stares.

"Greetings your highness the Crown Prince of Clarines and Lord Trevor from the duke household from the kingdom of Reinsfor."

5/3/2020

Hope you guys are doing alright!! Things are tough right now, so I hope you guys find a good pace :D

ALSO!!! I wrote a Haikyuu fanfic! Iwaizumi X Reader!!!! It's my first (Y/n) story and first Haikyuu story! 👉👈 If you're into that anime, please check it out~!

Thank you for reading! Please leave a like and comment! Stay safe~! 👋💙✨