<div style="margin:20px; margin-top:5px"><div class="quotetitle"><input class="button2 btnlite" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';      this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Show'; }" style="text-align:center;width:100px;margin:0px;padding:0px;" type="button" value="Show"/></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i.picresize.com/images/2015/01/27/RBjVr.png">[ img ]</a></div></div></div><br/><br/>The words were rehearsed to the undeath.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Your Highness, my name is Ash."</span><br/><br/>An excellent start. Greeting the royal girl first, Ash would introduce herself second.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"I am placed, on a provisional basis, to be your replacement royal guard."</span><br/><br/>The last one died a violent death. Ash was there when she saw him get shot with a crossbow bolt. The princess was unconscious when that happened, and such a fact was better left out of the introduction.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"If you're unsatisfied by anything, just say the word to the Royal Guard Commander."</span><br/><br/>This would be a formal, proper introduction to a formal, potentially long-term employment contract with the Kingdom of Parycia. Ash wanted the gold, and she wanted a stable job.<br/><br/>It's too bad her rotting brain cells tossed out the entire introduction the moment Ash saw the princess. She held her in her arms, once, during the incident at the town of Hilden two weeks ago. The princess would remember too little of the event, mainly because she was most likely drugged. It was by this chance that Ash managed to save the day and fend off her assassins. Royalty took note, and after an interview, she landed this job.<br/><br/>But seeing Annalise with open, conscious eyes, was a lot more different. Ash had a boyfriend once (when she was alive), and would girls with boyfriends think that girls could be that beautiful?<br/><br/>It was at this moment that Ash realised something. A minute had passed, and she had not said anything. With a flustered expression, her brain cobbled together an introduction, but her mouth worked faster.<br/><br/>"I... uh... I... I'm Ash, Your Highness. Your Royal Guard for now. Unless you say no."<br/><br/>Her claws went to her back to adjust her sarashi.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"You'll sag if you don't wear support, Ash."</span>She recalled the voice of a friendly necromantic doctor. And her reply.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"I'm too flat to sag."</span>