Full summary I couldn't include and thus watered down: Maka, princess of Baltica, a thriving nation by the sea, has had everything taken from her. Her parents are dead. Her kingdom has been stolen from her by one-time suitor, Prince Asura Kishin of Shizumi. With famed piano player Soul "Eater" Evans by her side, Maka makes her way to the town Black Fort, where rumors whisper an assassin with hatred for the Kishin family can help her. She will do anything to reclaim what is rightfully hers - and may find love beckoning for her. (Game of Thrones-esque story).
With a desperate, quiet pant, Maka locked eyes with her adversary, fighting the urge to flick her eyes to the dully glinting sword stretching out from his hand. Her mentor had told her that a sword would give away nothing; it was the eyes that bled out the next move.
Then, he had attacked her.
She knew how he would move when she saw his eyes flicker to the left. With her own sword swinging up to meet his, a mighty CLASH emanated through the training courtyard as Maka and her mentor thrust and parried, feigned and stabbed. They weren't the only ones. Scores of other men trained together, although most were pretending to not be watching her.
How could they avoid watching their princess sweating it out in the heat with them?
Maka lunged forward, pushing her body into the thrust, as she locked the pommel of her sword with her mentor's, and twisted.
The courtyard went quiet briefly as Taquin's sword clanged against the cobblestone. Then the sounds of other fights continued after a momentary silence.
Maka grinned, pure delight lighting up her eyes as pride surged through her chest. Her eyes met Taquin's, only to see her own pride mirrored in his cerulean eyes. "Look at you," he rumbled. "I taught you how to do that only two weeks ago. What a fine warrior you'll be."
Maka puffed out her chest, feeling ridiculously pleased with herself. It wasn't often that Taquin praised her. In fact, it was as rare as a diamond found in a stream bed. And this was the first time she had managed to pull off that move in an actual spar. Finally, her swordsmanship was improving.
Reality crashed around her as a messenger approached from the corridor leading into the castle. Pretending she hadn't yet seen him, Maka lifted her head up to the sun, closing her eyes and enjoying the warmth against her face, contrasting with the cool sweat trickling down her back. It was nice outside. The sky was a deep, welcoming blue, not a cloud in sight. The sounds of other ensuing battles rang out around her – metal screeching against metal, low voices cursing and groaning in frustration. It was like music to her ears.
"Princess Maka."
Maka turned the face the messenger, watching as he bowed lowly before abruptly straightening. "My apologies, princess, but your father requests your presence in the throne room." The messenger's eyes dragged across her sweat-slick, armored form. She watched the distaste briefly flicker in his eyes before being tamped down. "He suggested changing first."
Fine. With a sigh, Maka dipped her head down in dismissal. It had been hard for Maka to convince her Papa to let her learn to fight. Many others within the castle didn't approve. But Maka knew how to get her Papa how to do what she wanted. What she wanted, she went after, with a steely determination that no one could match.
And if she had to play the games he occasionally dictated she join, so be it.
Taquin gave her an encouraging smile. "Go on then, lass. We'll pick it up again tomorrow. Might teach ya something new. I know you've been raring to get back at that scythe again."
Maka grinned at that. Scythe training had indeed been her favorite. "Thank you, Taquin. I'll see you tomorrow."
With that, she turned and went to the shed at the edge of the courtyard. The squat, gray building was filled with swords, daggers, and all other weapons used for training purposes. She returned her sword to its rightful place, and headed back outside to find her lady-in-waiting already there.
"Let's be going then, my lady," Bella murmured, peeking out of the corner of her eye at a pair of particularly handsome men, shirtless, gleaming in the sun as their swords clashed. Bella smiled as Maka started the way back to her room, and trailed slightly behind her.
Dressed in a rose pink evening gown, with her golden curls tumbling down her back, Bella was the picture of elegance and grace. It was probably broiling underneath that gown, but Maka had noticed Bella always dressed up a little more on training days. She wondered briefly who the brown-eyed beauty was trying to attract.
Maka, by contrast, felt distinctly outshined next to her best friend and lady-in-waiting. While Bella's hair glowed like the sun itself, Maka's was pale, ash-like, although not quite gray. Bella was shapely, thin and graceful where it suited her, curved and bountiful in places men liked to look. The only place Maka felt like she sufficiently came to par with Bella was her eyes. They gleamed like emeralds, her Papa said. She didn't disagree.
Not that she was really jealous of Bella's looks; they had been born into completely different lives. Maka wouldn't tarnish a strong friendship with green thoughts.
In the cool shade within the castle walls, Maka locked arms with her friend as they trailed through the halls to Maka's personal room. "Do you know what this is about?" Maka asked as they walked past the closed doors to the throne room.
Bella shook her head. "I've no idea. I'm suspecting it has something to do with your engagement."
Maka fought back a groan.
Her "engagement" was a difficult subject. Two years ago, since she turned fifteen, her Papa had broached the subject of marriage often. He had invited suitors to the castle from Shizumi, from Dains, even from countries across the Purple Sea. Many were interested in marrying the princess of Baltica; after all, Baltica was a major trading country, with wares coming in from all over the Purple Sea, and was a major trading partner with Dains. The capital, Niv, was strategically placed in King's Cove, an inlet from the Purple Sea, and a popular trading hub. Even if the princess wasn't as pretty or as…"princess-y" (read: she learned how to use weapons instead of how to sing or embroider) as others, she was valuable.
Her Papa had so far managed to chase away all but two of the suitors he had originally invited to Niv.
As Maka made her way into her room, she paused long enough to glance about it. Her room was her favorite place in the palace, second only to the library.
The walls were sea-blue, trimmed with gold. A soft, golden-hued rug padded the floor, and led to the massive, light blue, golden-canopied bed, directly in the center of the room. Near a fireplace that was currently empty, a simple, high-backed chair sat, perfect for reading.
As Bella prepared a quick bath and organized her clothes, Maka strode up to the large, open windows across the room. They opened up to the Purple Sea, and a cushioned bench ran along the entire length of the windows. It was a favorite place for Maka to read, more so than the fireside. Here, she was content to sit and think and read, all while a soft sea breeze filtered in.
Despite the good weather, the Purple Sea was choppy, frothing with whitecaps. The deep, dark blue (almost purple, for which it had been named) water seemed particularly menacing today. Maka frowned. It wasn't often that the sea roiled like this. Niv was blessed with mostly mild weather all year.
"My lady, your bath is ready."
Maka turned her back on the agitated sea and made her way into her bathroom. Really, her bathtub was practically a small pool – it was wide and long, and deep enough in certain areas that Maka could sink completely under the water.
She bathed quickly, and dried, and Bella dressed her up in a dark green dress that flowed gently from her waist to the floor. She then tied up Maka's hair into two pigtails, and placed a silver circlet on her brow. Thus dressed, Maka and Bella made their way to the throne room. Even though Maka really wanted to stay and curl up on that bench by the windows and read, she knew she would not be able to ignore the king's summoning.
On her way there, Maka thought of her two suitors. Both were from the neighboring kingdoms.
From Dains, there was Kid Death, son of the wealthy merchant-lord that ruled the trading city Merys. Lord Death had sent his son here recently, although talk of a betrothal had been in the works for months. The prince of Dains was already married, but a match with Lord Kid was worthwhile too. It would further strengthen the bond between Merys and Niv, and the two countries in general.
Maka liked Kid well enough. He was a little odd, with strange, practically yellow eyes, and three white stripes on the right side of his ink-black hair, but none on the left. He had a habit of calling Merys "Death City" for whatever reason. But strange was good. Strange was interesting. And better than her other suitor, Prince Asura Kishin of Shizumi.
Whenever Maka thought about Prince Asura, her throat tightened and her stomach churned. She was mildly afraid of him, not that she would ever publicly show or express that. He was creepy. He wore layers and layers of clothing, even out in the hot Baltica sun, and had multiple white scarves wrapped around most of his face. What she could see of his face, she didn't like. His eyes were red – red as the blood pumping through her own veins. And, in the middle of his forehead, he had a strange tattoo: another red, sickening eye staring at her.
Relations between Baltica and Shizumi had been strained for decades now, which was why Papa had entertained this betrothal idea for so long. Shizumi was a cruel, angry country; its people were taxed basically to starvation, and the Kishin line was known for their brutal treatment of their citizens. Executions were regular there, and there were no jails – all crime-doers lost a limb, or their life, depending on the severity of their crime.
Maka had heard cases of starving children losing hands for trying to feed themselves.
And she would never, ever marry a monster that allowed that. Marriage between her and Prince Asura would mean that their countries would merge into one. And she knew, deep down, that she would become nothing more than the toy on his arm, subjected to his every whim; he would rule completely, and Baltica would lose its sparkle. Maka would lose her sparkle. Women especially were treated brutally over in that barbaric country.
She would not let that happen to herself. Or her country.
Maka paused outside of the grand, oak doors that led into the throne room. The guards outside bowed deeply, then, together, opened a door each. One called in "Princess Maka Albarn of Baltica."
As Maka walked in, with Bella trailing behind her, she discovered she had interrupted a conversation between her papa and her two suitors.
Her papa sat straight-backed upon the elegantly carved, wooden throne. Hate suddenly roared in her veins as complete and utter disgust momentarily flashed across her face, and it took all she had to not leap up and smack his face. She despised her father. She would never forgive him for what he did to her mama. Never.
Spirit Albarn smiled cooingly at his approaching daughter, even as her green eyes never met his own blue ones. He trailed his hand through his red hair, and Maka rolled her eyes, curtsied, and turned her attention to the other two men waiting in the throne room.
"My prince, my lord, it is an honor to see you both again." Maka demurely curtsied and plastered on a pretty smile. "And my king, as always." A bit of acid dripped into her tone – though that was to be expected. What the king had done had shocked and disgusted the nation. Some of the more pious would never forgive him. Especially since the queen's death.
Prince Asura and Lord Kid both bowed in response. Maka kept her smile firmly in place even as fear roiled about in her gut. She could sense Asura's eyes on her, on every inch of skin exposed by her gown. She suppressed a shudder as her papa dismissed the guards within the room, and her lady-in-waiting. Bella squeezed Maka's arm, and then was gone.
"I have gathered you all here today to announce that I have decided upon the matter of my darling daughter's hand." Spirit smiled fondly down at his daughter, who stared blandly at the spot above his head.
Inside, she was shaking. This time, she felt everyone's eyes on her.
Please not Asura. Don't damn me further, Papa, please.
"Lord Kid Death. I have chosen you to take my daughter's hand in marriage. You have my blessing."
Never had Maka been so happy to hear the king speak. She turned to face Kid with a small, shy smile that matched his own. "I look forward to our many happy years together, Lord Death."
Kid bowed formally. "As do I, Princess," he murmured softly.
"You have…thought this through, then, Your Majesty?" Prince Asura's high voice cut through the throne room, and Maka turned slightly on her heels to face him. He had eyes only for her papa, though…even as she could have sworn she felt that the eye tattooed on his forehead was watching her.
"I have, Prince Asura," the king leaned forward, clasping his fingers together, "I have decided that Lord Death will benefit Baltica, and my darling daughter, more."
There was a tense silence that stretched through the throne room. Asura broke it. "I see. I trust that His Majesty was truly wise; although…Shizumi never forgets." Asura bowed lowly, even though the other three in the room recognized the threat for what it was.
Fine then, thought Maka. We don't need anything from you. You need us.
Spirit Albarn did not feel threatened. "Of course, Prince Asura, you may stay here in Baltica as long as you wish. I must insist that you stay for the betrothal celebration, though. A week from today, we will hold a feast here to celebrate."
Asura grinned, although Maka could barely tell from under the scarves. "I will be here for it, then," he promised, turned on his heel, and abruptly left the room. The grand oak doors slammed shut behind him with a menacing echo. Maka didn't really like the idea of the prince wandering through her home, or that he was sticking around for another week.
Spirit turned to face his daughter and Kid. "And you." Spirit's expression suddenly grew menacing, and he pointed a shaking finger at Kid. "If you ever hurt my daughter, my wrath will fall upon you, and I promise you, you will regret ever touching her."
Kid blinked, not used to this side of the king. "I-I would never hurt her, Your Majesty."
Maka took his hand before Spirit could say anything else that would embarrass her and Baltica as a whole. "Come, my lord. We can tour the gardens together." There. Take that, Papa.
Grasping Kid's hand, Maka led him out of the throne room, even as Spirit called shrilly after them, "Bye, my darling daughter! I can't wait to see you for supper!"
Maka did not say a word until she had led Kid outside into the lush, green palace gardens, filled with flowers and other beautiful sights. The palace gardeners were experts in their designing and care for the garden. Maka sat down on a bench near a small pond filled with koi fish and lily pads. In front of them rose the castle
"Sometimes I do believe he's rather bipolar," Maka finally said, just to ease the tension. Kid let out a startled laugh, shaking his head. And just like that, the tension between them broke.
"So you're learning to wield a sword." Kid commented, taking the smart path away from discussing Maka's papa. "I saw you out in the courtyard today before the king called me in."
Maka nodded her head. "My mama…she was instructed on how to defend herself when she married Papa." Maka's voice grew soft, and sad. "He didn't want me to learn, but I want to be like her. Strong, tough. Able to defend myself."
That hadn't stopped Kami Albarn from being murdered, though. She knew Kid was thinking that. After all, if Kami had been able to defend herself, she probably wouldn't have been assassinated last spring.
"My condolences on the loss of your mother," Kid finally said, his eyes on the castle in front of them. "I heard many great things about the queen. She was a lovely lady. My father knew her personally, though I'm not sure how." Kid turned slightly to glance at Maka, a frown on his lips. "And I understand why you would want to be like her. I strive to be like my mother every day."
That's right. Kid's mother had died giving birth to him. "My condolences, as well. But, forgive me; curiosity is my besetting sin," she wouldn't mention her temper quite yet, "how do you strive to be like her? You see me with my training; how are you like your own mother?"
Kid was quiet for a moment, this time studying the pretty, blue and pink flowers in front of the bench. "My mother was the ruler of Merys until she married my father. She was an excellent merchant, and an excellent ruler. I strive to be like her in that way. And, of course, to be happy – my father told me she was always smiling."
"That is a good way to be like her," murmured Maka, patting Kid's hand. This could be easy, she thought. They could, at the very least, be good friends. Maybe someday she would even fall in love with Kid Death, although she didn't really believe in love herself. Her parents' destroyed marriage had taught ruined the notion of "true love" for her; even so, she got the feeling that she and Kid could be happy together, in the future.
Suddenly, she noticed his frown. And then he gasped, and with a shaking hand, pointed at a turret along the castle roof. "T-that turret! There is no matching one! YOUR HOME IS ASYMMETRCAL!" Kid cried, his lips twisting in a sneer of disgust, and Maka jumped, staring dumbfounded at the lord's son.
"I…Lord Kid?"
"How can I stay here and marry you when you live in this atrocious, piece of garbage castle?! This won't do! This won't do at all!" Weeping, Kid fell down into the grass, curling in on himself. He shuddered as he looked up at the offending turret once more. "No! I can't stand it! I have to get away from it!"
And with that, Lord Kid Death, unannounced fiancé of the princess of Baltica, bolted inside. Maka watched after him as he stumbled inside.
"Why is it that I am the most normal person here?" Maka muttered to herself, shaking her head. Then she got up and went to her room to read.