Ah chess again. She allowed herself the briefest of moments to observe the game, to see who would win and it came as no surprise that the blonde young man she pretended not to know was a mere four moves from checkmate. And the opponent? None other than her classy husband to be, rubbing his receding hairline in frustration.
The Fujiwara Organization did detailed business with the Aidou family and it came as no surprise that the young heir was to make an appearance at this business venue to discuss contract parameters.
Now, after that little dance during the engagement party, Hideo never let at least one of them out of his sight. If only he believed her cold remarks that the two were simply students of the same school. She would not be surprised if he did some digging and had noted that the two had opposite class schedules and next to no time to interact.
Aidou had never even spoken to her before the dance.
His outstretched palm and cocky smirk, she would've refused him due to his cocky confidence if not for those watching. Somehow at that moment she had felt as though he knew she was dependent on the looks. And oh how it irked her that his charm had worked the moment she took that hand.
But she was too much of a realist to let her molded lifestyle crumble beneath a pair of unnaturally blue eyes.
Yet the crack was scrutinized by Hideo and thus here he sat each morning in a chess match against a boy still in high school while the venue workers milled about the in the still crisp air.
Yori made to pass by as if singular in her train of approach towards the book den just beyond this lobby.
"Ah Wakaba-san come cheer me on. I believe I have this round."
Her smile never faltered as she moved carefully and with the grace that was expected and a demeanor of gentleness. Why was this false perfection so easy to fall into? Should she break it?
She answered her fiance instead.
"Oh my I'm sure you have it Dear. I don't know much about chess though?"
Now she waited upon his dismissal for her escape. What a bore she would prove without the knowledge to understand her husband's brilliant moves, and that thought was exactly what her husband was pulled into. He frowned and she continued her unfaltering smile.
"Wakaba-san you seem like the patient type who would pick up on chess quite easily. Why don't you try making the next move?"
Aidou's gave nothing away, he was smooth and wearing the mask of nobility all too well. It was against her better judgement to play, she had to dodge this confrontation. Maybe feign tiredness or..
"Go ahead Yori dear play for me while I excuse myself for a moment."
The confusion at Hideo's decision was cut short by the staring at which he had no class to hide, the maid who had frequented his room the past few nights had entered. There was something truly remarkable about that girl for stomaching the greedy little man for more than a night, however it was something she refused to dwell upon lest thoughts of a nearing future arise.
Aidou had gotten around and pulled the chair out for her with Hideo's absence and she gladly obliged before analyzing the board with greater detail wishing greatly that she could snort. How much a fool was this man to have let himself be strung along into this position?
Oh she disliked sacrificing pieces but in dire situations the bishop would have to go.
Meanwhile Aidou watched her, intent on waiting for the mask to break even a little. Now he told himself it had been more out of spite for the piggy man than anything else that led him to ask the bride to be for a dance. Yet instead of whisking her heart away he wondered exactly what happened to his as it repeatedly made theatrical leaps up to his throat and out those damned lips of his.
A mere human before him and he was feeling as though-
"Aidou-sempai I've moved."
She hid the annoyance with a smile as distraction and he resisted smiling himself at her attempt to outperform him in manners.
Then he looked at the board and let out a smile for real, oh playing with a foolish bastard had filled his enthusiasm and yet with one move here she would make him finally think before acting.
A real game of wits, how had he known she was a better match? No he was fooling himself, he hadn't known, he simply wanted her on the other side.
His finger rested on the king, he might as well make some risks in the beginning.
