~ My ~ Fair ~ Princess ~



By Alexia Goddess



Chapter One




"There, thats be 'er, good soir," A street sweeper boy pointed to a
young, slender woman asking every pedistrian if they liked lilacs and
baby's breath. Presently, a young, second class man bought a small
bundle from her and gave it to his wife. The woman thanked them warmly,
and proceeded to display her 'wares.'

"Yes, that does look like her," Murmured the gentleman, whom had asked
about a street flower girl named Relena. He patted the boy on the head
and handed him a few pennies. He then walked away, clad in a trim brown
suit and hat. As the boy scampered off, the gentleman signaled someone
out of the shadows. An 'odd' looking young man with a tight black 
ponytail and slanted black eyes stepped out into view. He was
comfortably dressed, though the clothing was quite obviously well made.

"Thats her," The first gentleman said without emotion. The casually
dressed youth nodded.

"She'll be good." He ackowledged. "Which one of us is going to go give
the 'invitation?'" The black eyed man inquired of the first gentleman.
The first gentleman, with emerald green eyes, glanced to where a
shiny new automobile was just rounding the corner, a smiling, brown
haired, violet eyed man sitting behind the wheel. The automobile pulled
to a stop beside the gentleman and the casually dressed man. The young
man behind the wheel grinned widely at them.

"Hey, Trowa, Wu-man!" The boy crowed. "Sorry I'm late, but there was
this super good-looking girl that was totally digging me, and I just
had to stop and say hi." Both men only glared at the boy, who grinned
sheepishly.

"So," The boy went on. "Have you found a girl dirty and disgusting
enough for Hee-ma-  er, I mean, the Professor?"

"Over there," The one whom had been called 'Wu-man,' waved over to
where that same azhure eyed young woman was selling more flowers. He
then whacked the boy upside the head -as he had gotten out of the car
and was now within reach.

"Hey!" The boy protested. Now that he was standing, you could see that
going down the back of the finely made black outting suit, he had a
long brown braid. "What was that for?" He snapped.

"Do. Not. Call. Me. Wu-man." The black haired boy snarled, pronouncing
each word. 

The boy only grumbled to hide a snicker. "Yeah yeah, yeah...Wu-man."
The black eyed man snarled.

"Duo, Wufei, enough," Trowa snapped. Both young men turned away from
each other, scowling.

"Duo," Trowa demanded, his voice low. He handed Duo a white envelope.
"You are to give this to that woman, miss Relena." He again pointed
to the girl now sitting down and apparently counting her profits so
far that day.

"Huh? *Me?* Bu-bu..." Duo tried to protest, but gave up when Trowa and
Wufei gave him equally abashing looks. Grumbling, Duo reached into the
car and retrieved is jacket and hat. Putting on both with a reluctant
air, he strode across the street, heading directly for the golden
haired maid.

"Pardon me, miss," Duo put on a cheery mask, hiding his disgust at
having to deal with a lower class, and at the same time feeling guilty
for feeling so. Guilty and disgusted, that is, until she looked up and
he saw her eyes. His own eyes widened in surprise. Those were *not* the
eyes of a girl born and bred for the street, with a twinkle of
tolerent humor and a speck of bitterness. No, these eyes were bright,
sparkling, calm and collected and calculating. Wary and welcoming all
at once.

*Who *is* she?* Duo found himself asking himself mentally. He managed
to recover his senses quickly, and smiled charmingly at the woman as
he whipped of his hand and bent over in an elaborate bow.

"Y-yes?" The woman asked slowly, her tone wary but humble. Duo stood,
smiling. Man, Trowa sure had known what he was doing!

"Might I inquire as to if you are Miss Relena Dorlayn of London Square
Shire?" Duo wiggled his ears, contradicting his serious and mannerly
tone and making him seem rather comical. Relena stiffled a small laugh,
smiling openly now.

"Why, yes," She said, pronouncing her words carefully. "I be- er, I am
her, or, she." She stumbled for the correct wording. Again, Duo
grinned. Heero would have no trouble winning the bet with this girl,
oh, no.

Duo whipped out the crisp white envelope from underneath his jacket,
and handed it to her with a smile. Relena blinked her large, azhure
eyes in surprise as she took it gingerly.

"You, Miss Dorayn, are humbly invited to have tea with Sir Lord
Professor Yuy the second, promptly at three this afternoon. Dress in
your best, and don't forget to wash your hands and face!" Relena looked
up from the card, indignent, to see that the young man had called that
last over his shoulder as he walked away. She frowned, but turned
back to the sharp white card she had extracted from the envelope.
FLipping it open, it said almost exactly what the gentleman had said,
minus the washing part.

There, was more however, but Relena's eyes caught on the bottome of the
card, and Relena gasped. The place wasn't even in London! How could it
be? That kingdom was only a myth to street children...could it be real?

Relena's eyes hardened. 

A joke.

It had to be...

A very cruel joke, she decided, her anger seething. Still...part of her
mind wondered if perhaps...

Shaking her head, Relena resumed reading the paragraph she had skipped
when she had seen the address. Der eyes widened and she gasped slightly
in surprise again. They were directions to the train station; She was
to await a man by the name of Quatre Winner-

"Odd name," The girl murmured, but continued to read. She would then be
taken to this kingdom that was only in stories, as far as she was
concerned, where this Mr. Quatre would escort her to the...Sanq Palace?

Again, Relena shook her head. This was all just too odd.

Nevertheless, hadn't she been complaining to herself just this morning
what a bore her life was? Why didn't she just go? She'd bring as many
flower bundles as she could and sell them at the station or wherever
she was to be dropped off if it was a joke. Them places she was gonna
end up couldn't be any worse than the place she was now, could it?

Relena refused to answer that last question, and stood and made her way
home, attempting to -of course- sell a few flowers on her way.





~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~





"The'e, that oug't to do it," Relena said to herself in satisfaction.
She had cleaned her apartment real well, packed her second best dress
-she was wearing her first best- her two work dresses, a hat, her
spools of passable ribbon for her bouquets and a few other nicknacks
she considered valuable, to her at least.

It all fit in a small satchel, which she set down by the door as she
tied her drooping hat on tightly, grabbed her gnarled umbrella, then
picked up her satchel and handbag and exited the apartment, locking it
behind her.

As she left the rundown, read-to-fall-over-or-at-least-burn-to-ashes-in
-an-instant apartment building, Relena took in a deep breath, feeling
rather adventurous, and set off down the road towards the train station.
She soon came across a wagon carrying crates of chickens, and the 
wagon driver let her sit up front with him in exchange for two flower
bundles from her basket that she had over her arm for his wife and
daughter.

Thus, Relena the street flower girl arrived at the hosh-posh train
depot smelling not only like the sewers, but like chickens as well,
sweaty with the heat of the road, and bruised and sore from the long,
bumpy three hour journey.

She ignored -or tried to ignore- the disdainful looks and sneers and
snickers that even the poorer folk of the better section of the
downtown London city made quite obvious as she passed, making a show
of stepping well out of her way and holding their noses at her stink.
So you can imagine their surprise when a young, handsome young man
dressed well enough to be a noble approached her and touched her elbow.

Relena whirled, her hand ready to make a fist which was was willing to
use if need be, then stopped in shock.

"Pardon me, miss, but might you be the young Miss Relena Dorlayn?" The
blonde haired, blue eyed young man asked politely after tipping his hat
courteously. Relena was at a loss for words. Not only was this
extremely fine young man talking to her, without any apparent disgust
or hestitency to be around her, but she recognized him! It was the
same man whom had bought a flower bundle from her the night before last,
allowing her to have enough to buy some bread for that starving little
girl!

"Uh, er, I um....good lor', good soir, why, I be sh, er, her, um..."
She took a deep breath. "My name is Relena Dorlayn," She confirmed,
pronouncing her words slowly and careful and with effort, and produced
the letter from her handbag and handed it to him. The man smiled kindly
and with encouragement after he skimmed the letter.

"Well, then, miss, I am Quatre Winner." He introduced himself with a
slight bow, and Relena shyly attempted a slightly curtsey. The man's
grin widened at seeing this, and offered her arm. Again, Relena only
stood in shock for a moment, before quickly taking it, aleit in the
wrong way, but she managed.

"Shall we?" He asked, and Relena nodded, caution in her eyes as the
man led her to the train, and they boarded.

Still in a daze, Relena sat in the seat Quatre motioned to. Then, as she
glanced out the window as the train began moving, she realized that
she had just taken the steps to change her life in an unbelievably
drastic way...

But would it be good or bad?



To Be Continued....


Well, here's the second chapter, finally. I know it took long, but
please do be patient, as this fic isn't very high on my list of things
to do, if you get my meaning.

Until next time, minna-chans! Ja ne!



-Alexia Goddess


*ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY*