07-Ghost fanfiction
Title: Indian Summer
Disclaimer: If 07-Ghost is mine, Teito will actually have some actions with his harem.
Warning: SPOILER! Up to manga chapter 50 (Read at onemanga now! It's way, way ahead of the anime)
Chapter 1: Barsburg Empire's Prince Consort
"So it's been confirmed, eh?"
Office gossips were never restricted to the fairer sex.
"That the Emperor decided to arrange a marriage between the Princess and someone from the Oak Clan? Yes, it has," the begleiter answered his commander, a gray-haired man lounging behind his working desk, studying a crystal trinket uninterestedly.
"Tch. Must be Admiral Oak's doing. Now that brat Shuri is going to be the Prince Consort," the man dropped the object carelessly and crossed his legs.
"It may be Deputy Minister Oak of Internal Affairs' doing. If I recall correctly, he also has a son who is slightly older than the Princess," the young blonde begleiter informed.
"That boy who left home to become a bishop? Please," the senior officer sniggered mockingly. "He's not ever worth mentioning!"
"But, Sir," he was countered. "Lord Hakuren Oak had been summoned to the Imperial family to be Princess Ouka's private tutor," The begleiter continued, "He'd had an audience with His Majesty last week."
"His Majesty is right to choose someone from the Oak Clan," one of the parliamentary members chimed in. "The Oak Clan has been serving the Imperial family faithfully for centuries, producing excellent politicians and military officers. This won't be the first time a member of the Oak Clan marries into the Imperial family either."
"The Admiral's son is a bright, enthusiastic boy," another man added, someone from the military who was eager to please his boss. "Shuri's serving in the army, now, a promising officer who is well-liked by his peers. A Prince Consort who is willing to sacrifice his life for the Empire will win the people's hearts."
"But Hakuren is very wise," another with connections to the amethyst-eyed blonde's father interrupted subtly. "He is very mature for his age. He's terribly devoted, too. He has no trouble tutoring the Princess, and I've heard that Her Highness has taken a liking to him." They were two choir groups, competing in singing praises. "A Prince Consort who can advise the Princess and be completely devoted to leading the Empire will be of tremendous help to the Princess!"
"Then," the grey-haired commander stood up in surprise. He leaned towards his desk. "Who will marry Princess Ouka?"
The two parties with opposing interests continued to argue courteously, lifting one while cornering the other. In the midst of it all, the Emperor sat in his throne, keeping half an ear on the conversations, his mind a mile away.
"His Majesty, Shuri is the better candidate!" one side chorused.
"His Majesty, Hakuren is the more capable contender!" the other voiced.
The Emperor raised his hand, and the noises stopped abruptly. The Hall was completely shrouded in silence so suffocating one could hear a pin drop.
In ordinary situations, the Emperor would have preferred a high-ranked military officer to be a Prince Consort. Close ties with the army would make a ruler more powerful, more able to threaten his or her enemies and, if necessary, the people. The Prince Consort would ensure that more resources were channeled to the army, strengthening the Empire's defense. Shuri might not be as bright as he had been praised to be, but that was an added bonus, really. The Emperor tended to be wary of intelligent men because they were double-edged swords, not easy to steer. If one was careless, he could even be the one steered, manipulated.
But the situation was…abnormal. Ouka had no interest in governing the Empire, and was likely to leaving the throne for extended periods of time, if her 'excursion' to the 4th District was any example. She might need someone more down-to-earth, someone who could be more available to her, to aide her reign or to nag at her to stay close to the throne, and to the Empire, if she…wanted to take a break from her duties. The Prince Consort must be someone intelligent enough to lead a country, but he couldn't be corrupt. Now, many considered the fact that Hakuren had once left home to pursue the path of a bishop a mar to his chances, but wasn't the fact that he was once willing to leave behind the luxuries and authority of not just any aristocrat but that of an Oak, an evidence of his impeccable integrity? An evidence that he had no earthly ambitions? Then, there was that audience last week…
"Greetings for the holy Emperor," that long-haired young man bowed, "May God bless the Empire abundantly."
"Thank you for coming at a short notice," the ruler replied, his eyes assessing the person duped as the 'prodigal son' amongst the nobles.
"Your subject is honoured to be of any service to the Imperial family," he responded, his face still hidden behind his fringe.
"Hakuren," The Emperor leaned his chin on his hand. He tired of these plastic pleasantries and wanted to test this boy. "Look up. I heard that you've managed to be an apprentice bishop. How did you find your experience with the Church?"
The question implied was: why did you choose to return to the 1st District? Did you find your initial dream not as fulfilling as you hoped it would be and go back to chasing wealth and power?
"I find it extremely gratifying and would really love to continue pursuing that path," the sharp boy he was, Hakuren gave the perfect answer. "But as a citizen of Barsburg Empire, my loyalty lies in the Imperial family."
When he looked up, the Emperor was astonished at what he saw in those startling amethyst eyes. Those were the eyes of someone who had gone through hardships and fallen from heights only to re-emerge a stronger person, with clear ideas of what he held dear, clear goals and the steely determination to accomplish them. An honest, unwavering gaze, something not many aristocrats possessed.
Something the Emperor liked.
The Emperor finally sighed. "I…" the audience craned their necks. "I will leave the decision to Ouka. She will marry whichever one she chooses to."
"Hey, have you heard the rumours?" one of the maids whispered to her friend as she mopped the hallways.
"That Princess Ouka is engaged to someone from the Oak Clan? Of course I've heard that!" household gossips were the most notorious of its kind, spreading like wildfire, getting in one ear and out a thousand mouths. "In fact, I think it's no longer a rumour!"
"His Majesty had approved it?" a third person involved herself in the conversation. "Who did His Majesty pick? Lord Shuri or Lord Hakuren?"
"He said," The first one dramatised her voice, "Let Ouka choose."
The trio 'aww'ed.
The head of the maids passed by and gave them a stern glare.
The three continued moping sheepishly. "Ne, ne, who do you think Her Highness will choose?" one of them whispered.
"Lord Shuri is cute," the second one, a bespectacled maid with short auburn curls, blushed. "Isn't it awesome to have a husband in the military?"
"Eeh? I like Lord Hakuren better!" the third one raised her voice. The head of maids peered at the group, and the other two shushed her. "I agree, though. Lord Shuri is kinda childish," the first one added. "Besides, don't you think that Lord Hakuren has…a princely disposition?"
The other two who huddled together blinked. "A princely disposition…?"
"Good morning," someone greeted them.
The trio turned abruptly, and blushed when they met one of the males they had been talking about, dressed immaculately in a velvety dark purple suit with raised golden embroidery at the hems and a ribbon tied around the collar of his salmon shirt. His neat blonde hair rested on one shoulder, as always.
"G-good morning, Lord Hakuren!" the maids chorused, their knees shaking in admiration.
The smile he presented the maids was nothing short of charming. "Thank you for your hard work," he stated before he proceeded, walking down the corridor with confidence in his gait.
"That charisma…" the first maid breathed in awe.
"And that humility!" another added just as dazedly. "A princely disposition…how apt!"
"Achoo!" Hakuren covered his sneeze with his hand. 'The maids must be talking about me,' he stopped in front of the mahogany wooden double door. 'They must be weak in the knees from my gorgeousness,' he schooled himself, straightening his clothes and his books. When the doorman was about to announce his arrival, Hakuren raised his hand. "It's okay," he smiled. Having lived like a commoner, he'd come to resent the frivolous ways of the nobles.
The Imperial Palace's staff loved him for that.
Hakuren knocked the door to the Princess' quarter. "Her Highness, Hakuren Oak comes to your service."
Kikune came to open the door for him. "Lord Hakuren," she bowed her head slightly.
"Kikune-san," Hakuren replied, greeting other ladies-in-waiting who were in the room as well. "Ohruri-san, Gyokuran-san."
Ohruri greeted him back cheerfully, while the proud Gyokuran still hadn't quite warmed up to him. "Her Highness is in the study," the tall, curly-haired girl pointed at the door to his left, "with Lord Shuri."
'So the Emperor does intend to make Her Highness marry Shuri or me', Hakuren thought as he walked in that direction. Well, no matter. He was in the Palace to be Ouka-sama's tutor. He had no interest in being Barsburg Empire's Prince Consort.
He knocked before turning the doorknob. "Greetings, Your Highness," he stood still after closing the door and bent down his head.
"Lord Hakuren!" the Princess sounded so relieved at his entrance. Hakuren had a feeling it wasn't because she was so eager to study whatever he was going to teach that day. "Please come here!" He could hear her standing up with enthusiasm.
Hakuren complied, keeping his head bowed. He only looked up when he'd reached her. "Greetings, Kururu-san," he smiled at the dark-coloured fyulong perching on her mistress' shoulder.
The dragon ignored him.
"Kururu!" the Princess admonished her precious pet. The dragon bent her head in greeting reluctantly.
Hakuren's eyes traveled across the room to meet those of his cousin. "Shuri," he acknowledged him.
"Hakuren," the cyan-eyed blonde replied. He remained on the couch, slinking away from the other male.
"Lord Hakuren and Lord Shuri are cousins, right?" The long-haired royalty tilted her head at the soldier's odd behaviour. "Are you close?"
"No," the two answered simultaneously, but while Hakuren's tone was neutral, Shuri's was mocking. "I'm the heir of the family. He's from one of the branches. We're on different levels."
Hakuren didn't comment.
"But I heard that your fathers are siblings." Was the Princess siding with him? Hakuren wondered. "The…levels you were talking about, that can't be too different-"
"Stay away from him, Ouka-sama," Shuri interrupted haughtily. "That ingrate ran away from home to be a lowly bishop. He was from the Church." Those cyan irises stared at Hakuren like he was a rodent. "He's filthy. The Church has many orphans and poor, unhygienic peasants."
The Princess recoiled from the soldier, her dark pink eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Lord Shuri-" she began, her voice laden with disbelief, outrage and disgust.
"Your Highness," Hakuren raised his hand in front of the girl, and nodded to her, as though saying, 'Let me handle this.' He stepped between them and smiled at his blue-eyed cousin. "Shuri," the curve of his lips weren't sarcastic. "You have to be careful with what you say and how you treat other people. Words are powerful." The long-haired man's face took on a mask of sobriety. "Once said, words cannot be taken back. Zaiphons – words – have magic." He stepped closer to Shuri, one at a time, "one day…what you have said may get back to you in the face."
"You're cursing me!" Shuri rose to his feet and bristled. "You're using whatever you've learned from that filthy place to harm me! How dare you! I'll inform Fath-"
"Are you saying…" Hakuren was backing him up against the wall, "that the Holy Church taught me black magic?"
Shuri bit his lower lip and shoved Hakuren away. "You'll pay for this!" he called out over his shoulder as he ran out of the Princess' quarter.
"Lord Hakuren!" Ouka rushed to her tutor's side. "Are you all right?" she checked him all over, looking for injuries.
"I'm all right, Your Highness," Hakuren dusted his clothes and smiled at the royalty.
"I never like that brat," Kururu complained, her snout pointing in the direction Shuri ran to. "He's nothing, yet he's so arrogant."
"Kururu, you shouldn't say such things!" The Princess paused, then added, in a smaller voice, "even if they're true."
"Especially since they're true, you should say them!" The proud creature retorted.
Hakuren chuckled at the banter and reached out to pet the fyulong. Initially, Kururu balked, but eventually, she accepted his touch, purring softly.
"Lord Hakuren, do you like fyulongs?" Ouka led him to the desk in the study.
"Not especially. It's just…" momentarily, his amethyst eyes had a faraway quality in them. "I have a precious friend who is inseparable from his fyulong. They have a bond as deep as Kururu-san's and Your Highness'." The curl of his thin lips was affectionate.
Ouka watched the gentle expression and couldn't help but have a smile on her own face. "He must really be important to you."
"Yes." He picked up his books, which had fallen to the floor when he was pushed back by his cousin, and placed them on the flat wooden surface of the furniture. "Well…" Lesson was starting proper. "Today we will learn about the history of Barsburg Empire." He opened the book to a specific page.
Princess Ouka stared at her tutor for a while, her gaze studying him, before she finally smiled and settled behind her desk in the study. "Yes, sensei," she pulled out her quills and parchment, "I'm ready to learn!"
"Testing them?" the Emperor echoed.
"Yes," the gray-haired commander replied firmly, "Surely, the Prince Consort must be strong enough to protect the Princess."
"That's unnecessary," a politician scoffed. "That's where the army comes in, to protect the Imperial family."
"It's not their fighting skills I meant to test," the soldier argued assertively, crossing his legs and placing his joined hands atop his knee.
The small gathering of politicians and high-ranked military stared at him.
"It's their loyalty," he finished with a flourish. "It's about how much they're willing to sacrifice their lives to save Her Highness. There won't be any real death involved, however," the commander was quick to reassure the rest. "The military will make sure of that."
"Do you doubt my son's loyalty to the Empire?" Admiral Oak rose to his feet, his fist shaking.
"My sincerest respect, His Excellency," his subordinate stood and saluted. "It will be a test of character. Nothing more, nothing less."
Admiral Oak caught the fellow soldier's eyes and understood his plot immediately. "I understand," he sat back onto his seat, the commander following soon after.
Admiral Oak wasn't the only one who caught on. The Emperor wasn't a foolish man. He was, however, tired of the yapping between the two opposing factions, which were constantly tearing at each other's throat. It grated his nerves.
"Very well," the Emperor decided. Let's see if the boy with the eyes he liked had enough luck to survive through this poorly disguised ordeal of an assassination attempt. "You'll arrange for this test."
TBC to…
Consequences of an action, kindness and an encounter...
Chapter 2: The 3rd District's House of God