The Princess and Her Famous Criminals

They said that a love of parents is enough than all love in the universe. They said that if you listen to them, you can have a wonderful life. Parents are the people who always supports you for what you're doing. And her parents? They adore her.

Not as much as she feels it, but they're showing the best that they can so they can bring her good life. She thinks that being a noble have too many advantages. You can live a life without worries and her story is all about cupcakes and rainbows.

But, that's what she thought. That's what her teacher told her. Luan Xiu Jiu , who lives in a princess and comfortable life finally realize the reality she's living in.

Sneaking in the palace, the princess had so much fun in the capital that she doesn't want to go home, but the fun didn't last long as she looks at the dark side of the capital. People living on the streets, eating bread, and eating nothing, but a trash..

It's not pleasing to her eyes. She doesn't pity them. But she wanted to give what she have. She gave children food that they can't have for 24/7.

She gave them toys that they didn't even experience to have back then. She gave them money so that they can enjoy their days of not worrying about the food.

And when the day's over, she found herself on a house where there's nothing, but darkness and the only light that she could see is the light of the full moon.

She's scared, but maybe.. it's the same thing in the palace. She's always in her room as her father doesn't want her to go outside. She's been kept for 17 years. Can you imagine that? You're stuck in one place.. You'll see the same things everyday. Same room, Same people, and same words coming from them.

"You're awake." Seeing a stranger who she never encountered before, gave her a comfortable feeling that she didn't felt on the castle.

"You must be hungry. I bought you some food." A guy said as he placed it on a little chair.

"You? I'm the one who steals it from the bakery how dare you claim that it's yours." A girl with a blonde hair said as she raises her eyebrows, crossing her arms while looking at the guy.

"I'm the one who distracted them and you just took it without any hardship!"

"You're not good at distracting! We almost get caught because you kept on looking at me!"

"Is it my fault?! You're the one who moves too slow!" Seeing the two fighting is a different scene in Luan's eyes. It's like, it feels too alive to see them active.

"I'm sorry if they're too noisy. Here, Let me untangle that for you." A girl with a black hair said as she untangled the rope wrapping around her hands.

"Is it too tight?" Luan shakes her head as she looks at her. "No. Actually, it's quite loose." The girl looks at her as she smiles.

"You know it's quite loose, why didn't you tried to escape?" The girl has a point. Luan woke up in an unfamiliar place. The rope wasn't that fixed, but she chose to be calm and to not get away.

"Maybe I just want to get away from where I came from."

"Your face isn't familiar either." A young man said while he carefully looks at the princess's eyes. "You must be from a noble family."

'I am. In fact, I'm the princess of this kingdom.' Is what she really wants to say. But how can she say that too easily? It's not like she debut in the society before. How will they believe on her?

"I am." She answered shortly.

"From whose family?" She shakes her head.

"I don't quite remember."

"Then how can we fucking sell you?!" The guy who's quarrelling with the other girl a little while ago is now looking at Luan, in confusion.

"Then we should wait for those people who's gonna come and find her. The flyers or her picture might be posted within days. Or maybe later on. And we'll pretend that we took care of her and we can get the reward."

"Only, if we're not caught tho. And Yi, if you think of it, she should've told us where she live so we can bring her back home. Don't you think? And we kidnap a noble."

"It's either we die or we die."

"That's just the same Jia. How about my plan? We can just bring her back home, get the reward and go back in here, safely."

"That's a pretty good suggestion Zu. But she said she doesn't remember where she came from."

"Shut up Sun. Atleast I have a better idea than you being quiet and being mysterious just for you to get her attention."

"Oh yeah? This is all your fault! I told you not to kidnap people we can just steal from them!" Luan, who's watching quietly began to speak as she pointed them individually.

"The girl with the blonde hair. The one who's fighting with you a little while ago is Jia."

"Ah– sorry. Let me introduce myself–"

"Are you crazy?! Why would you introduce yourself. Do you have a death wish?!"

"And your name is Zu." Luan said as he pointed out the boy who's speaking. "You're Yi." She added as she pointed the guy who talks about the flyers.

"And you are?" Luan tilted her head slightly as she looks at the girl who untangled the rope. She dresses nicely and looks like she also came from a noble family.

"Yu. Yu Meifen." Luan sighs as she claps her hands. "So, what are we gonna do?" She ask as she gave them a smile.

"We're bringing you back." Zu said as he looks at his colleagues. "Why aren't you guys speaking?"

"We can't bring her back. As I said, It's death or die." Jia said as she looks at Luan.

"What's your name? I don't believe you don't know where you came from. Are you a bastard noble child of some family that's why you can't say it?" Luan sighs as she looks at them.

"Luan Xiu Jiu. Daughter or Mian Xiu and Feng Jiu." They became quiet as they heard those names.

"You're the daughter of those 2 shits in the palace. I see. Your sister already debuted in the society." Yi said as he looks at her. Luan knows it well. She's wondering why didn't she debuted in the society when she was 10. But her sister debuted easily.

"We can't bring her back." He added. "But she can return herself back to the palace. Pretend like nothing happen." Zu said, but Jia poke his head.

"You're a total shithead, Zu. How can we know that she'll not speak about this when we literally kidnapped her?" But for Luan, who never felt this way before, speaks what's on her mind.

"I don't want to go back." On her perspective, the palace is nothing, but a cage that keeps her from people.

"What did you just said?" Sun asked as he stands up. "The palace is filled with people that I don't want to see anymore. I can do anything. There's no one in the capital who knows my face. And I can disguise. I can be with you. Just tell me what to do." She said as if she's determined to be one of them, not knowing that they're not just people who lives quietly.

"You're saying that you wanna be a criminal?" Jia, in this time wanna laugh as she couldn't expect this words from a noble woman.

"Do you know anything about stealing, distracting, making plans, kidnapping, killing, and stuffs like that?" Jia added. As she wanted to see what exactly is Luan's thinking.

"I can't kill people. But I can learn." They looked at Yi as Jia, Sun, and Zu shakes their head in disagreement.

"If you don't want to take care of her, I will. That's too easy. If she wanted to come along, then she'll come along." Yi said as all of them sighs in defeat.

Well, except for Yu.

"Jia Li. A famous writer in the capital with a pen name 'Sora [空]' which means sky. Wrote about the palace's deep secrets along with the hidden princess who didn't get to debut her presence when she was young."

"She wrote about my manipulative father and how he tortured the commoners by raising the taxes even in small businesses."

"Being wanted in the palace, father would tip anyone who can bring her to him, alive.",

-

"Yi Shaolin. Owner of a brothel that's not registered in the palace. Kidnaps women often and sell them to customers at the brothel. Owns 26 merchant people that sell illegal opiums and poisons."

"Known for being a mastermind for all of the missing people in the capital. He's not gentle as you see. He kills people if they dare to disobey him."

"Wanted in the Kingdom. Dead or Alive."

-

"Yi Meifen. A bastard child of a noble family. She often talk about herself and choose to stay quiet, but is good in observation. She always cook for us as we tried to steal expensive ingredients from restaurants."

"She calculates our money as we tried to steal more. The more you get close to Meifen, the more she'll observe you. Known for being a murderer of her own family."

"Wanted in the entire Kingdom. Rewards are high if they bring her alive. Penalty: Torture till death."

-

"Zu Shen also known as Warrior III. His father is a former knight who was sentenced to death by the King for betraying the realm, but Zu's father was later shown to be innocent."

"Even when I apologize for a million times, he insists that everything is fine and that it wasn't my fault because I was unaware of the situation. Only the king made the decision to kill his father."

"He's wanted for killing my father's new personal knight. The one who's behind from his father's death and the one who will ruin the empire someday."

"Wanted in the entire Kingdom. Penalty: Death."

-

"Sun Tiang. A famous merchant that sells illegal information on the black market. Was known for his knowledgeable skills in gambling and the one who's responsible for killing his entire family in one night."

"A noble of a family who treats him like a dog. Feed him leftovers and sometimes, starve him to death."

"Not on the watchlist. As my father doesn't care about a noble who's

-

Luan dropped her pen as she finished writing. It's been months since she lived with them. She knows that they might not be rich as her father and not as comfortable like living in the palace..

But she knows that her heart belongs to the criminals, who was once saved her from the cage called 'palace'.

She closed her notes as she slids it back inside the cabinet. "You better not waste this opportunity, taking notes." Luan chuckles as she saw Yi Shaolin, leaning against the wall.

During her stay in the garage, even though mosquito bites in the evening and they're actually sleeping on the ground, she felt safe in every second.

Maybe it's because, they can't die that easily. Because all of them are actually half-awake. Not letting their guard down.

"I'm finished." Yi take a glance on the cabinet as he looks back at her. "What did you write?" Luan shakes her head as they both go inside.

She can't just say that they were on her notes. Zu and Sun will tease her about it. "How's the birthday girl?" Jia said as she wraps her arms around her.

Months have passed and it's finally her birthday. She became close with all of them. Specially, the girl who didn't like her before. Jia Li. Who turns out to spoil her a lot during her stay on their hideout.

"You look like a sloth while clinging to her." Zu said as he laughs. "Stop laughing motherfucker." Jia said as she hit him hard in his arms.

"Happy birthday, Your Majesty." Yu Meifen greeted. In the times of hardship and loneliness, she finds herself relying on the 5 people in front of her.

She wipes her tears as she noticed the efforts, help, and everything they did for her for these past few months.

"You know that you look ugly when you cry." Yu punches Sun's stomach while smiling as her one hand is carrying the cake.

"You're too strong for a girl–"

"And you're too talkative for a man." Yu sighs as she wipes her tears. "It's your day, you shouldn't waste it. The cake might go to waste if we don't eat it." Yi guided Luan inside as Zu started to sing for her.

"You're useful in these kind of times. I'm impressed." Jia said in a teasing tone.

"I'm not like you. You're just all about make-up and beauty products. No talent." Jia raises her eyebrows as Zu looks to her with a wide smile on his face. As if he wins this round.

"I just thought it's better to learn those things for you to make you look handsome." Luan laugh in this point.

"Other points for me." Jia added as she winks at him. Losing in the battle, Zu stays in quiet as the garage began to fill with laughter.

"Blow the candles. I'm hungry." Sun said as he looks at Luan. She closes her eyes as she wished.

'I wish for us to stay together. Until we grow old. Till death do us part. ' She blows the candles as everyone claps their hands.

"What did you wish?" Zu asked. "It's something that can't be fulfilled if I say it." Luan said as she gets some icing and puts it on Yu's face.

In shocked, Yu gets some icing as she looks at Zu. "Oh fuck, please NO!!!!!" Everyone laughs as Yu tried to catch him.

This is the day that she's supposed to be known by nobles in the palace. But 6 months ago, she was kidnapped.

And she doesn't regret what she has for today.

A warm home that she didn't even get to experience at the palace.

Do you believe that you can be with someone for the rest of your life?

"Why are you still outside? You'll catch a cold." Meifen asked as she wraps the blanket on Luan's shoulder. "Want some?" She added as she gave the coffee to Luan.

Luan takes the coffee as she takes a sip of it. "Yu," Meifen looks at the sky as Luan called her. "Do you think we can still be together for more years?" Yu, who heard the questions, looks at her out of confusion.

"What do you mean?" Luan sighs as she traced the cup's lips. "I mean, what if one day one of us died because of this? Or all of us died?"

"Dying is normal, Luan. If we don't die, then what's the real meaning of life?" Luan remembers her note as she keeps on tracing the cup.

She remembers all of the posters she saw on the streets with their faces. "You're all on the wanted list. What if one day, you get caught and no one could be able to save you?" Maybe, she's just overthinking, but this scene? It's closer than they thought.

"That's sacrifice, Luan." Yu said as she leans her back in a box.

"We need to sacrifice if we love someone."

"No betrayals. No talking. No spilling of information. And that's something to be proud of if I die. It means I didn't betray anyone and the one I love will be able to escape, free from judgements of the people." Yu caress Luan's hair as if she reassures her that everything will be fine.

"You've done a lot for us. And by the way, how's it going for you and Yi?" Luan chuckles for a moment as she sips some of the coffee.

"What do you mean? I only see Yi as my older brother. We don't have any relationship than brother and sister relationship."

"In fact, he knows who I'm in love with and tease me about it."

"And you're not saying it to me. That's unfair." Yu said as she closes her right eye. She smiles for a while. Standing up from her position, she lends a hand to Luan.

"You can't just sit here forever. You need to rest. Come on. It's a cold night. We still have jobs tomorrow." Luan takes her hand as she stands up.

"Goodnight Yu."

"Sweetdreams Princess."

Lying in bed once again, Luan's birthday passed in a fun and warm way.

It might not be the best birthday for others, especially for nobles, but at least she was known in a different way.

Days have passed and she also became wanted in some restaurants and market. Known as Red Riding Hood. Months have passed, and she became a woman who knows how to use a sword with the help of Zu. Whose father is a retired knight.

And years have passed and she's already 25 years old. The Lost Daughter of the Kingdom, but with a different heart.

She thought that there's nothing that could stop them. Until an unfortunate event brings her back to where she really belongs.

"You're getting sharper and sharper, Your Majesty." Zu teases as he lends her a hand. "Jia is a good tutor, that's why." Luan said as she gave Jia a thumbs-up.

"And that's another points for me!" She laughs.

"And that'll be the last." They stopped as soon as they heard an unfamiliar voice. Jia can't move as the knife is stinging her neck. Blood came out as the knight walks backward.

As they followed him, The King's Guards were in line as their spears is pointing to the criminals.

Luan's sister came-out, looking at her with a worried face. She ran as hurriedly as she hugs her sister tightly.

Luan felt nothing. But cold stares ordered by her father. "Let's go home," Although her sister is older than her, she can see her eyes too well.

The eyes of disgust and hatred.

"Look at you, leaving the palace like that.. You don't know how much I'm worried about you." But why? Why did she felt her sister's sincerity when they didn't talk too much?

"Let's go home. Father is waiting. We want you back home. I spent too many years.. Searching for you." Luan looks at her sister, wiping her tears.

"How about them?"

"Release that girl." The knight hesitates as the princess order doesn't seem to have powers.

"But the King ordered-"

"I AM YOUR PRINCESS. AND YOU. WILL ALSO LISTEN TO ME." Jia was released as Yi catches her. "I already did what you said. You need to come with me."

Leaving no choice, Luan looks back to her colleagues as they smile to her. "We'll come back to get you." They signed to reassure her everything.

Riding in the carriage, she can't help, but to feel uncomfortable. "Why did you come? Is it because of father's order?"

"I've been searching for you for all these years and this is what I'll get in the end..." Lian laughs as she looks at Luan.

"You don't know how much father wanted to get you back. To the point where he doesn't know that I also exist."

"Because you're the true daughter. While I'm the villainess in someone's eye. I guess you're the heroine if it's your point of view."

"Funny, isn't it? I just wanted father to love me. I debuted earlier than you. Because father wanted me to quit. You don't know that, aren't you? Because you're stuck in your room adorned by everyone."

"I was humiliated that time, even if it's my birthday. I was so mad. And I thought you were.the only one who can understand me. But on that night, you won't open the door for me."

"Do you know how much I knock on your door just for you to open it? Where are you when I needed you the most?"

Luan's eye widened as she saw her sister's tears. "I will never be someone like you. I will never be the good one in someone's eyes as long as I'm me."

Her hatred for her suddenly breaks in that time. She envies her when she's literally the one who needs help. She thought she was living in a cage, but her sister was the one who's getting tortured.

She can't speak anything.

As they entered the palace, Lian's face feels like she never cried in the carriage. She was composed as she if she was taught in that way.

The King stands up as soon as she saw her daughters, approaching him.

"I'm back father." Luan said as she bows slightly. While Lian just stands in front of him, tired of respecting his father.

"You must learn from Luan. She's respectful than you."

"As you said, I'll go back to my room, Feng." She called him by name. She might be disrespectful to her father, but maybe she was just tired of how he treats her.

Now that she saw it with her own two eyes, Luan knows that her sister is spitting nothing, but the truth. "As much as I wanted to talk to you about many things, but I guess you should clear-up your mind first and familiarize yourself with the palace once again." The King called the maids as they fall in line.

"Clean the princess and dress her nicely."

"We'll be having a dinner later on. Call your sister. I don't want to call her myself as she acts like that arrogant woman."

'It's because you never show her what a father is, but you showed her that you're just nothing, but a ruler of this kingdom. '