Chapter 2
Born from the contemptuous sins of humankind, she thrives in darkest parts of humanity. There is no question to her coming, only a matter of when.
The sounds of rain filled the royal study as dark clouds gathered and hid away the warm afternoon sun. A dull light reflected off the shiny mahogany desk as an extravagantly dressed man with graying teal hair tapped a finger against its edge while he sat. In front of him, an equally well-dressed man with long purple hair was speaking animatedly.
"My lord, I insist. I understand that General Iroha holds a precarious position but you must assert your power. She has too much of the army's trust and I do not question her loyalty but given time this could-"
"I appreciate your concern, Kamui," The seated man appeared tired as he slicked a hand through his hair and adjusted his cravat, "And I understand your angle. But you mustn't be too forceful with these things. Iroha has served the country well since before the Alterian Insurgence and her efforts after have not quite been forgotten by the people yet. Such an obvious transfer of power won't go unnoticed by the court and in case it slipped your mind, many are still unsatisfied with your current position."
"But my king, hesitating will only-"
"I said no, Kamui!" The king snapped at his high advisor for the first time in months, "You may be allowed to speak on my behalf but do not forget your place. Your suggestion is heard and I forbid you from taking any action. This discussion is closed."
"I…I understand. I would never challenge your authority, my king." Kamui gritted his teeth and swallowed the defeat. He knew was treading a thin line with the sovereign. King Shigure was rarely angry with him, partly due to the man's rather meek temperament and partly due to the silver tongue Kamui took pride in perfecting over the years. The High Advisor had his liege wrapped around his finger and the royal never even realized it. Of course, that was the easy part of the plan. If he wanted a flawless execution, it would not do to lose the king's favour.
"About this year's projected harvests, do you have the reports I requested?"
"Yes, my lord. I-"
"Father!"
The wooden doors to the study burst open, interrupting Kamui's sentence, much to the purple haired man's frustration. A girl with teal hair entered and moved to kneel in front of the king with lighthearted footsteps, impervious to the heavy atmosphere that had previously settled in the room.
"Princess Miku, how many times do you need to be reminded to knock before you…" The king waved away his advisor's reprimand and gave his daughter a nod.
"You may stand."
The teal haired princess bounced up and stuck her tongue out at Kamui, who began massaging his temples aggressively at the childish gesture. The king looked his daughter from head to foot once and pursed his lips in disapproval.
"What have I told you about wearing men's clothing? You are a princess, not some common nobleman's child. Learn to dress like it."
"But I was training with Aria, father!" The teal haired girl pouted in protest. All of the dresses she had been forced into on occasion were frilly and uncomfortable. They were tight, despite being tailored to be her size and she couldn't run or ride very well. Miku much preferred the freedom that a simple dress shirt, vest and breeches offered her, although her father never seemed to understand. "And never mind that. I have a favour to ask of you…just a quick one."
The king raised an eyebrow and sighed. Knowing the stubborn nature of his daughter, refusal to hear her out would only lead to more interrupted meetings in the future.
"Make it quick then. Kamui and I still have important matters to discuss."
"Well…if I may…I wish to request a lady-in-waiting."
The king narrowed his eyes but it was Kamui who spoke up first, voice full of skepticism.
"Pardon my inquiry, princess but if I remember correctly, you've driven away every single girl of noble lineage your father meticulously handpicked. They were all…what were your words? Oh yes, "too stuck up" to attend you. Now of all times, you wish to request a lady-in-waiting? What, may I ask, brought about this change of heart?"
Miku shot the advisor a glare before looking her father in the face and answering truthfully.
"I don't intend to have someone of noble lineage fill the position, father. They watch me closely and gossip when I'm not around. I simply want someone to join me in my lessons and talk to me when I'm bored, someone I can trust."
"Ah yes, your lessons…Sir Bruno has repeatedly complained to me about your negligence of your studies," the teal haired man's face darkened with disappointment, "Do you believe that having someone alongside you will make you better focused in class?"
"Y-yes father," Miku winced at the thought of Bruno relaying every little detail of her disobedience to the king, "If you grant me this request, then I promise to try harder in my classes."
"Very well then. I hold you to your promise. I'll have Kamui arrange som-"
"Wait father! I already have someone in mind, a servant from the castle. Her name is-"
"Insolence!" The king spat in anger at the interruption. His daughter had never been one to closely observe etiquette but usually she had enough common sense to not step so far out of line. He took a deep breath and gave a dismissive wave in annoyance. "Enough of this. Have it your way and talk to the Chamberlain. Tell him that whomever you've chosen will be given the title of lady and respected as such, on the king's orders. Now leave me be."
"Yes father. Thank you, father."
Miku began to bow in the way a male vassal would until she caught the glint in her father's eye. She curtsied instead, making the king sigh and shake his head as he began reading a parchment. Her mission accomplished, Miku darted out of the room, but not before giving Kamui a victorious smirk as she left to find the Royal Chamberlain.
Kamui made his way down the corridor with heavy footsteps. He wanted to kick something badly to relieve the anger that smoldered in his chest. The meeting with the king went terrible and to have that foolish princess mock him on top of it. He truly pitied the next to cross his path, be it object or servant.
As he passed the last courtyard before the area that lead to his quarters, he heard two voices speaking loudly.
"My lady please, I cannot find someone based on nothing but a name! There are hundreds of servants in this castle and I know next to nothing about this girl."
Kamui scoffed. He had forgotten that the Chamberlain lived so close to him. It was about time that troublesome princess bothered someone else. The higher voice piped up again.
"You know enough! I've told you! Her name is Luka. She has pink hair and a handkerchief of mine. The cloth has the royal insignia embroidered on it. I doubt there will be many female servants who fit that description. Just do as you're told."
The advisor stiffened and waited until the teal haired girl stormed away to continue on his journey back to his chambers with a quickened pace. His previous frustration was quickly turning into an irrepressible excitement.
The information he'd just heard, the description of that girl…there could be no mistake. It was quite unbelievable that what they'd been searching for had been under their nose this entire time. The purple haired man chuckled darkly. That stupid royal was good for something after all.
Slamming the wooden door of his chamber behind him, Kamui hurried to place a hand on the cool surface of the mirror that hung over his fireplace like some sort of centerpiece. The mirror itself was quite a strange object. Unlike anything else made in the castle, it had an ancient and otherworldly quality to it. The frame was intricately carved out of a deep crimson coloured wood, with milky white pearls embellishing certain dips and curves in the design. The smooth surface of the ornament was not reflective at all. Crafted from Nyx's Obsidian, the small, oval object seemed to absorb all light around it, rather than reflect.
Unfazed by the ominous aura around the object, the purple haired man closed his eyes and concentrated on the place where his hand touched the mirror. Slowly, the surface began to turn translucent and glow. Kamui waited until the dark red frame contained nothing but a screen of light, to whisper his findings.
"Your holiness, the one you've been looking for is within grasp. It is no longer necessary for Lily to continue her search in Caelum. My pleas and prayers be with you, great one. The Oracles are ever in your service."
As the surface's glow receded, Kamui began to sneer, his eyes as dark as the mirror itself. He had been waiting far too long for his plans to be put into motion. This was only the beginning.
The grating screech of metal against metal resounded within the training clearing as two girls charged repeatedly at each other with unsharpened practice blades. They appeared evenly matched, with the white haired girl on the defensive as her teal haired opponent advanced steadily with elegant blows.
With a particularly forceful parry, the white haired girl took the opportunity to leap back and put a fair distance between them. Centering herself, the girl took an offensive stance.
Sensing a change in her sparring partner, Miku grinned, "finally going to stop taking it easy, I see."
"Arrogance is your biggest vice princess." Aria returned her friend's gaze confidently and started forward.
Swinging her sword in a full powered overhead strike, she waited for Miku to be stunned by the impact to feign a weakness in her right. The princess didn't hesitate to fall for the trap and deflected Aria's upward slash quickly, lunging forward in an immediate follow-up attack. Easily sidestepping the move she had been anticipating, the white haired girl struck downwards with the hilt of her blade.
The air was knocked out of Miku's lungs from the intense impact in the center of her back and she stumbled into the ground, coughing.
"Aria three, Miku zero," The white haired girl chirped happily and offered a hand to the princess, who was currently covered in dirt and writhing on the ground.
"I can't believe it…" Miku muttered and let Aria help her up, "I haven't lost this badly since our first time sparring…"
Leaning their practice swords against the log at the edge of the clearing, the two sat down for a quick break. Aria appeared amused at the sight of her moping friend as she took a swig from the flask of water they'd brought.
"You were so distracted today. Not much of a challenge."
Miku groaned and swiped the container from her friend to rehydrate herself.
"I know, I know. No need to rub it in."
"Oh come on Miku, tell me what's wrong," Aria slung her arm casually over the tealette's shoulder, "the princess I know is never worried about anything. Actually, sometimes, I doubt she even thinks much at al-oww."
After giving the white haired girl a well-deserved punch in the shoulder, the princess decided that she might as well tell the truth.
"It's nothing really. Just that…I'm getting a lady-in-waiting tomorrow."
"Huh…that's news to me. I thought his majesty had given up on finding someone willing to put up with you a long time ago?"
"No…I requested this one…at the cost of going to all my lessons."
Aria gave the tealette a strange look and chuckled, "Now why would you do that to yourself…I saw Bruno the other day when I was making rounds with the squad. He did not look happy. I figured it might have something to do with you. That man might not know how to use his sword but I'd definitely steer clear of him when he's in such a mood."
"Don't even remind me," Miku buried her head in her arms and sniffed, "It's just that…I met this girl in the outer courtyards when I was um…taking a break…from my lessons. I wanted to help her and this was the only way I could think of. But now that you mention Bruno…"
"I'm going to miss you, my friend," Aria mourned in mock sympathy, "Seriously though, there are hundreds of servant girls in this castle who could use your help. Why go so far for this one?"
"I…I don't know," Miku felt a little confused herself as she reflected on her actions. Maybe it was because she hadn't ever met an amnesiac before and found Luka's situation to be interesting? But she also genuinely wanted to help the pink haired girl. She thought harder. "There's just something strange about her and I guess she was the first one other than you and Yukari to treat me like an equal. I want more honest people like that at my side."
It was the truth but even as she said it, Miku knew that wasn't the only reason. Aria shook her head and gave the pensive princess a few pats on the back.
"It still sounds like an extremely flimsy reason. But then again, you've always been one to follow your whims so I guess I'm not surprised. Do tell me how those lessons go."
"It's too late to take back what I said to father about going to those…isn't it? Save me, Aria." The tealette whimpered and dove into her friend's arms. The white haired girl smirked and let the princess stay in the embrace.
"Bruno's going to have so much fun with you."
Luka sighed and unfolded the intricate handkerchief for the third time that night. She had waited until the entire day's work had been finished to take it out. Even though the teal haired noble she had met had been on her mind this entire time, she didn't want to risk the precious object being taken away. Although her fellow servants were always polite, she wasn't one to be easily deluded into thinking that they bore no ill will. Most of the women around here wouldn't hesitate to step on her to get what they wanted.
The handkerchief Miku had given her was no ordinary object. Red gold threads formed the delicate embroidery of a snarling cat, with a shield and a sword behind it. Although the creature was nowhere near realistic, anyone could tell that it was a Firecat, the symbol of Viridace. Something like this, with the royal insignia on it, was immeasurably valuable and the pinkette knew that it wouldn't be a good idea to be seen with it in public. The servants in this area all lived in poverty, to her knowledge. If they noticed the handkerchief, they would very likely fight each other to try and take it from her. Conflict was best avoided as a servant with no connections and no family.
Still, she couldn't help but stare at the cloth when she was all alone. The five other women she shared the room with were all at dinner. Now was the only time she had to ponder upon the girl she met.
Luka had been trying for the past day to forget their meeting. There was no way they'd see each other again, yet time after time, her thoughts circled back to Miku. The teal haired girl was clearly some noble man's daughter but she had been so friendly and kind and, most of all, naïve. She didn't know why but talking with the tealette was so easy. Her feelings had spilled out in lighthearted conversation.
For the first time in years, Luka had felt some sort of excitement, a disturbance in the mind-numbing routine of her days. She wished she hadn't revealed so much. The self-conscious kind of regret still haunted her. At the same time, she didn't want their meeting to be any different. Either way, it would be a fine memory to cherish.
Her life had been nothing but dull servitude since she'd been brought to the castle. It had been a long time since she'd stopped trying to remember her past. Now, she only wanted to someday make it out of the castle walls and see the world, experience a life beyond cleaning up after spoiled aristocrats and reading others' dagger-filled smiles. Luka smiled bitterly and sighed. It was a good dream to have, but not a very realistic one. With her current salary, she'd likely be trapped sweeping floors until the end of her days.
A loud knocking made the pinkette jump and tuck the handkerchief quickly into her sleeve. Cautiously, she cracked open the door, wondering who it could be. Her roommates usually barged in and no one else ever visited them.
A nervous looking woman, a grouchy man and an expressionless boy were standing on the other side. Luka recognized the woman as the head maid of the entire area and the man, if she remembered correctly, was the Royal Chamberlain. The boy was probably his assistant.
The man gave her a disdainful glare as soon as the door opened and turned to the woman.
"This one is Luka, no mistake?"
"Y-yes sir. The only Luka here." The head maid looked ready to collapse with nerves. Someone of the Chamberlain's status around these parts was unheard of.
"I've been told that you have a handkerchief with the royal insignia on it. Show me." The chamberlain looked at her accusingly.
"Yes…here," Luka pulled out the cloth and waited for the man to announce some sort of punishment for her, despite doing nothing wrong. Years in the castle taught her that justice didn't really exist with these people. To her surprise, the chamberlain only gave the thing a brief glimpse before turning on his heels and commanding gruffly for her to follow.
The pinkette obeyed and stumbled after the man, who was walking away rather quickly. Behind her, she heard the head maid let out a sigh of relief. Her anxiety only grew as she was led further and further from her quarters without an explanation. Finally, as they reached the first inner courtyard, she blurted out the question that had been plaguing her.
"What are you going to do with me?"
The Chamberlain stopped for a moment to give her an exasperated look.
"I hate explaining these things to you lot but basically, you are no longer a servant. On the king's orders, by the request of princess Miku, you will be attending her highness as a lady in waiting. And yes, this means you will be given a status befitting your position. Now we must hurry and get you cleaned up and changed. You will be given new quarters, close to the princess's."
Shaking his head, as if lamenting her stupidity at not knowing, the Chamberlain continued walking quickly. Luka stood still for a few seconds, stunned by what the man had just revealed, before she recovered from the shock and half ran to catch up.
Princess…Miku?
A/N:
I was going to update first thing in the morning but I've been playing fe h so...:'3
I guess this is going to be a Friday thing now...Tentative weekly update schedule.
NegitoroShipper: Thank you for the review! It's good to hear that you find things to be clear since there's so much more world building I'm trying to do with this one. And I'm happy you like it ^^
Fffff: ...thank~ it pleases me when people are pleased with my work and hence creates a positive cycle of more gay sushis for everyone- uhh...I mean hi :'3
Psykoakuma: Magic is going to have a much bigger part in this fic hehe. I'm trying to write a normally progressing relationship for once so yay fluff. Lol of course~ More IA, as requested :3c
Azhenet: yep, for once Miku is the fancier (?) one :'D And your English is fine, perfectly understandable~
TremendouslyMental: Thanks for pointing out the grammar stuff :'D You've exposed my (lack of) editing...
Seriously though, don't be afraid to tell me if I've made errors like that (this goes for everyone here :'3)
I would say more but I'm hungry so see you guys next time XD