Bab 4: Chapter 4 - Date (1)
The sun had already risen once more, Daniel woke up from a lingering feeling from his crotch. He felt a sticky fluid etched in his underwear, something that reminded him of his past experiences during his adolescence. "I hate wet dreams…" He complained, walking uncomfortably in front of his wardrobe to replace his stained pants. "I guessed the fire lord didn't allow the princess to meet me here, it would be best if she wasn't allowed to go out on a date at all." Mumbled Haji, half asleep, he walked once more to return to his bed, with the intent to spend the rest of his day sleeping.
When he was about to adrift in his dreams once more, a gentle knock on his door pulled him back to reality. "Dear, the princess is waiting in the living room." Cheon's voice could be heard right outside, a delighted tone accompanied her words.
Sweat poured on his forehead, Haji didn't know if it was due to shock, fear, or his expectations broken. He slapped his cheeks, and said, "Wait a minute, mother, let me dress up." Once again, he found himself in front of his wardrobe, finding the most fashionable attire he owned, wanting to leave a favorable impression on his date. "A gentleman must present his very best when on a date." he chanted, although the princess would probably be infatuated to him even if he wore nothing but rags.
His attire was slightly ruffled from how hasty the process of wearing it had been. However, the outcome turned him into a very dashing young man, his long top-knotted hair complimented the black robe with gold trim he donned.
A smile appeared on his face, with his vanity satisfied, although he had not even taken a bath since last night. "Damn, I look good." He praised, gazing at the reflection in the mirror.
With everything prepared, and a pouch full of cash, Haji left his room with confidence. The sound of Haji's door opening alerted Cheon and Azula, who were conversing in the living room. Azula looked very tamed and elegant, a tad different compared to the maniacal attitude she had yesterday since it was the first time Azula visited the Dosa clan's manor and she wanted to leave a lasting impression, especially a good one, on Haji's relatives.
"It looks like Haji is done preparing. I'll reprimand him for making you wait, princess." Said Cheon, showing off her best, I'm about to punish my son, look.
The eleven-year-old Azula smiled at Cheon, who she deemed to be her future mother-in-law, and said, "There's no need to do that, ma'am. At least, I was able to spend some time with you."
Her words amazed Cheon, deluding her understanding of the personality of the princess. The normal gaze she used to look at Azula with turned into one with affection. "Very well, I shall spare my son from my nagging for you." She said, giggling with her right hand covering her mouth.
The rumors regarding Princess Azula's personality are far from the truth. How dare they call such a cute girl devilish, Cheon thought.
"Good morning, Azula, Mother." Said Haji as soon as he arrived, his appearance stupefied the two, attracting praises from both of them. Azula stared at him, seemingly, star-struck. Haji kissed his mother, before sitting beside Azula.
Haji scanned his gaze at Azula from head to toe, and said, "You look very beautiful today, and the dress made you much more attractive to the eyes." An honest compliment, truly, Azula's features were remarkable, even at a young age, one look could already make his heartbeat. The royal robe she wore matched her looks very well, amplifying her beauty by quite a bit, and her long untied hair held a unique charm, different from the usual top knot style she shows.
A giggle from Azula followed suit right after hearing Haji's compliment,
"Thank you for your compliment, Haji, and you look very ferocious in your outfit. If you were a soldier of our nation, every enemy would run scared at the mere sight of you." Azula said, her words gave off a chilling feeling, almost making Haji's hair stand up.
Are you insulting me or did your compliments turn for the worse? he criticized in his mind. His mother watched the two of them exchange words, finding it sweet, wondering if the princess in front of her would be her future daughter-in-law.
Haji awkwardly laughed, and said, "A good compliment, I guess I should enlist at my coming of age?"
"Then together we lead the army of this nation. I, the Fire Lord, and you, my beloved general." Azula gazed at him with expectations as she spoke seriously. Her tone proved that she wasn't joking, slightly shocking Cheon, however, it wasn't unusual as she is the princess, and someone much favored by Lord Ozai. It proved better if the relationship between the two were to be established, making Haji's life smooth sailing. This thought made Cheon supportive of them, she had no worries since he was qualified to be wed to the princess. Their clan's power wasn't something to be underestimated, owning multiple businesses and estates around the nation, and she and her son are of royal descent from her matrilineal line.
Speechless from her statement, Haji could only bring up another topic after his stomach grumbled, "Did you already have breakfast, Azula?"
"I haven't yet since I was looking forward to eating with you." Said Azula, she showed a very sweet expression. She must be very hungry to act so innocently, Haji thought. A funny idea came to his mind, thinking that a normal person would be grumpy when hungry but Azula was the opposite.
Haji looked at his mother, and said, "I'll bring you to our restaurant then. I always eat my breakfast during vacations there with my friends, I swear you'll like the food."
The restaurant he mentioned was one of the businesses their family owns. High nobility would dine on its upper floor during certain occasions, nonetheless, it accommodates middle-class citizens on their ground floor, becoming their stable source of income.
Cheon spent the whole time with Azula while she was waiting for Haji, so she'd thought of how hungry the princess might already be when she heard how she haven't had her breakfast yet. This made her stood up from her seat and hurriedly said, "You should bring the princess now, dear, she had already waited for you for quite a bit."
Prompting Haji to stand up, and gently assisting Azula to stand from her seat. He understood what Cheon was implying. He said, "Let's go now, Azula." To which Azula answered with a nod. They walked side by side, with Cheon following from behind. Outside Haji's family mansion, a carriage was waiting on the side, and an array of guards lined up.
"The Imperial Firebenders look impressive every time I see them, hopefully, they won't be in the way during our date." Said Haji, eyeing the guards that looked very intimidating in their unique uniform. Their helmet was designed with three red spikes on its top, three eye holes, and three shard-shaped mouth holes, and the armor they donned was fully colored in red.
Azula understood what Haji meant, wanting to assure him, she said, "They won't bother us and I'll make sure that we won't even see a sight of them during our date." She then remembered the conversation she had with Zuko earlier and complained at Haji, "Zu-zu's too nosy earlier, asking me so many questions before I left. I would have told him to shut up if I wasn't in a hurry to meet you."
"I think Zuko's just concerned for you, Azula, he probably believes the rumor about me having multiple girlfriends, which isn't true at all." Said Haji, not knowing how careless his words had been. Although the rumors were true, he was still able to keep on a public image of a serious, and innocent scion of the Dosa clan due to convincing the girls he had relations with to never disclose their affairs. Of course, this doesn't mean that he wouldn't be seen and recognized when he goes on a date with those teenage girls. also believed that Azula wasn't one to believe the rumors.
An annoyed look was shown on her face, she left him behind and hopped on the carriage. This made Haji curse in his mind, thinking that he somehow messed up. When he was about to enter the carriage, Azula said with a wide grin, "I don't know what I could do to you if the rumors proved true, but I'll believe for now that I'm the only one you're dating, Haji."
A slight fear swiftly affected Haji, but he was able to overcome it in a moment. There's a part of him that wants to leave immediately, cutting his ties with the princess. Still, he sat opposite of her, looking very seriously, he stared at her and said, "I promise I don't have a girlfriend yet, Azula, maybe at the end of the day, I'll be having one."
Once again, she caught up with his words, easing up her expression. A sweet smile appeared on her face, and she gazed outside the windows, it may be due to shyness or not wanting to show him her blushing face. Haji instructed the coachman to begin moving, telling him to bring them to the restaurant. The dozen of guards followed from behind, walking in an orderly manner.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone