At first Shinja was skeptical of her sisters' consolation, nonetheless, after a few more of those talks they usually had she became convinced that all was well. She could get married to Silver and nothing would be moved out of proportion.

~*~

A moon's passing went by, still Shinja took time pondering her sisters' reaction. It still bothered her a huge deal even when she tried to dismiss it. Despite the convincing her sisters did. The whole affair was bothersome. Only good ol' time was to thank for her eventual acceptance to the fact that her sisters indeed wished her well and had no interest in the Silver prince for that matter.

Time helped her understand that there was no need for that. They had been genuine when they told her they had let go of Silver. A silly crush that had passed eventually. It had been that and more. As she came to discover later, there was another reason as to why her sisters had been so easy in letting the prince go.

They. Too. Were. In. Love. This discovery elated her so much so she wanted to dance day in and day out. When had it happened? Her sisters? In love? Wow!

They were happy and content so it seemed. Knowing that each of her sisters had found happiness was the final stroke that broke the camel's back which in this was the tension she had been feeling in her stomach. It's residue finally dissolved in the elation she felt at the pit of her stomach. Excitement replaced tension.

Shinka had taken the initiative to let their little sister in on what happened one day. In a secluded place, she explained everything in express detail of how love had found each of the sisters in the form of princes. They had hesitated in telling her because they thought it would be strenuous on what she was already carrying. Howsoever, with lots of assurance from the rest that it may make Shinja less frightened if they told her that they had found love, Shinka obliged and told her.

The lineup actually surprised Shinja not the bad kind—shock, the good kind—awe.

Shimi was pregnant for Brown. Shimpi was madly in love with the prince from the Yellow kingdom. Shimki was drawn to the Diamond prince. Shinka was with the Violet prince. Shinja could not be disturbed any longer. If she had any doubts left, this update pacified all of them. The princes' names were Brown, Yellow, Diamond and Violet.

The eventuality of it all bemused Shinja.

~*~

One bright afternoon as she sat by the dressing table, Shinja heard a knock on the door. Who could that be? You won't find out telepathically now, will you? Let them in. At times she felt her mind bullied her notwithstanding the fact that it was always right.

"Come in please." The door clicked and she turned her head slightly, brush in hand as she combed the grey streak that marked her head of hair lovingly. She always gave special care to that part of her hair. It was to her like a special adornment. She noticed Brown step in. "Oh Brown, it is you. Is anything the matter?"

Brown walked in. She saw the light nervous jump in his step. Could it be that he was here to woo her? He is with my sister now. Surely that could not be the case. Dismissing her pensiveness. She watched him some more. Was he ever going to speak? The suspense was killing her.

"Why are you here Brown?" She asked again. "Is anything the matter?"

"Why, of course no, milady. Nothing is out of sort." He answered in a rushed manner. Like a young kid that could not hold its excitement. She let out a breath she had been holding. Thank God.

"Well, how may I be of assistance to you?" She asked quite eagerly to get him out with it. Why else would he be in her room?

"I need to talk to you about something." Uh oh, here we go.

You said nothing's the matter Brown... Now this? You're confusing me. Her worries she spoke not instead she said, "Please, go ahead. I am listening."

She aimed at causing no inconvenience that is why she kept her bothered thoughts to herself and stuck to inquiring of him to go ahead and tell her what exactly it is he wanted to tell her. She had to keep positive and calm. What if he is not here for what you think? What if it's something else? Please God, let it be something else. Pleaseee...

To answer her prayer, Brown started.

"Dear, I am so grateful for your kind, patient and loving face." That is odd. Weird start, hopeful nonetheless. Her mind was going haywire. Brown did not notice this, he kept going. "Go ahead and marry Silver already. Put him out of his misery already, please. I'm already in love with your sister, Shimi. I wish you all the best my friend."

Phew! That was close. That was really close.

"Oh my God!" She let out on a breath before adding, "This is a pleasant surprise. Not the part where you love my sister, no." She laughed. "I already know that you are in love with my sister. The part where you thanked me, that got me really surprised. Nobody's ever done that." She doubted if anyone ever did such a thing. She spoke again.

"You are right about all you have said after that. Poor Silver. I have put him through a lot and I do not know how to approach him." She gazed at her reflection in the mirror with sad eyes. Brown saw this and thought she had nothing to worry about. He tried to pacify her doubts.

"It does not matter how you go to him. Trust me. All he wants is you. You are all he talks about. Go to the poor guy, please. Save him. Save us all. If I hear him sniffle another 'Shinja Love Ballad', Heaven forbid! I don't know what I will do to that boy. Get him out of his misery. He walks around like a bag of air without a soul. Save us princess."

Shinja had never seen this side of Brown. She actually laughed at the theatrics of how he was expressing himself. He almost knelt. Almost. See? Hilarious. Now, she understood why Shimi and he had found a liking to each other.

"You make it sound like he is dying," she smiled, "Save for you are right. I will go to him this afternoon."

"Thank you! Thank you!" he pecked her, raising from his half-kneeling, half-standing position. He fist pumped the air in cheer and victory.

Shinja laughed out loud this time. What had gotten into the prince? It must be your sister's influence. Definitely. Shimi can have that effect on a person. She is crazy.

Speaking of Shimi, while Brown walked out, the former stepped in.

What a coincidence!

A pause. Steamy eye contact, then unexpectedly came an embrace. A long embrace. A clearing of the throat tore them apart. A servant had been passing by and she was about to have an eyeful if the two of them had not been parted. The two giggled. Actually, Shimi giggled, Brown only smirked.

Brown walked away laughing lightly winking at Shimi before disappearing into the long hall way. The sisters had to catch up. He would see Shimi later no doubt about that.

~*~

Having one more look at herself in the mirror, Shinja made up her mind. She would pay Silver a visit because one, she missed him. Two, because she had made her decision. And maybe three, she had told Brown that she was going to do so. Her being a woman of her word, she was to fulfill what she said.

Nerves! Damned nerves that dampened everything! I should talk to my sisters. You're stalling. No, I'm not. Yes, you are. Okay I am but I have to do it eventually. Yeah right. Shut up! Okay, okay, take it easy. Grrr... sometimes she hated her inner voice more than anything. Always voicing the ignoble truths that she fought so hard to ignore.

She left her room to go hunt for her sisters. She knew her inner voice had taken a break. It would be back to hound her if she did not fulfill what she had said she would.

Look what I got yourself into for blurting out whatever nonsense comes to me. Hurry up already.

~*~

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