Ch. 3 Death
People. It's a strange word.
The ballroom held silence now. It was a different silence, for whispers only acted as subtly as such things do. Names traveling from mouths to ears like a game. Yet all seemed to hold on to dear breath, for what Princes Hinamori said might be of great sacredness. And amusement.
Before this day, bachelors had been thrown off by her. Acting as discourteous as thought possible, she had chased every one off thus far. But now, the last prince. This one of the well known Hotori family. A good match to make. Money of course was involved. Bonds of bounty as well. How could the princess resist? Her family would not allow it. Not this time.
"Well my daughter, what say you?" The king being of his kind, wasn't the one of much patience.
Amu stared into the boy's red eyes. As plainly as she couldn't see. Further. Nothing. A bit of a golden glare mounted her face. Teeth gritted as if not to yell. She could feel the breaths of cruelty and distastefulness floating around her.
"The. Pleasure. Is. Mine." Like the doll she was forced to be, she said.
The crowd settled just a bit. This response wasn't the nastiest that had escaped her rosy lips.
She was pierced with the stare of her mother, yet without even knowing it.
There was still more silence, anticipating any momentous action. Calling for it with it's temptation to be broken.
"Now my dear daughter, will you not bow in welcome?" A custom officially taken.
"No. I will not."
Gasps of the most pretentious variety flew into the room.
"Oh, that's fine. I will though." The prince's expression was still of warm-heartedness, with such that he bowed before the princess. None had taken so lightly to her attitude before. He was different.
Trouble was felt by the many in the room. The queen seemingly ashamed and embarrassed to a pulp by her disgraceful daughter. The talk of the town she had always been.
"Er... um. Yes, now that the two have been introduced, let us continue with the celebration! I haven't called so many out for no reason. Take your seats, and let out great feast begin!"
With the announcement by the king no less, servants of all costumes, colors, and ages pulled out every single chair, leading the guests into them with sweet expressions. All the inhabitants of the 'celebration' took a seat. All too quiet.
Princess Hinamori was to sit at the grand table next to her father and mother. As a reflection on the opposite side, the Hotori family would sit. And that was as awkward as it would get.
Oh how her father talked. And oh how King Hotori would talk. Money. Land. Commoners. Money. Marriage. More money. Amu didn't dare touch a portion of food. She used her plate as an escape for her eyes, all the while receiving invisible yet apparent scowls from the queen. The prince merely sat still. Averting his eyes around the room, occasionally landing them on the princess, who never looked back. All the others staring at the royal families. All the while anticipating something grand. An explosion? Maybe. They would expect anything at how things were going.
"Yes of course. Now, why is your son interested? Give me reasons for such a proposal!"
You mean why his father is interested. This is all such a stupid joke!
"It's not just him. Our family offers many things. It wouldn't be wise not to accept." King Hotori seemed to just speak at the point.
The princess had never tried so hard not to stab someone with a fork.
"Yes of course! A bond it is then?"
A bond was absolute royal fellowship. Completely unbreakable. The guests all around now only listened. Even the band stopped playing.
King Hotori put down his glass. Swallowing first, then saying in full agreement, "Yes. I accept!" This time. Yes this time, was not like the others. For they got to the point quickly.
A slam that had been waiting now mocked the silence with it's sound, coming from the princess' fork no less. It was left standing on the table. Its fangs piercing the wood below.
How... How could you! It's no say of mine. I'm nothing, not even in the eyes of my father. Mother. I don't have... anything...
Tears now stained the table's drapes. Sobbing seemed sadder in the hush the crowded room had taken. She left swiftly. Up the stairs, weaving hallways, perplexing doorways. Letting her hair fly behind her. It had dropped the bow it once wore. Her dress mimicking a ghost as it would run through a castle. She had become too much like a ghost.
"Amu-chan!" Ran had been there of course. The entire event was seen through her little pink eyes. Perhaps the last...
The princess went past the garden, to the tower where she had once stood. As a little girl, she would pretend to have friends, and no one would see, for heights had scared them.
She let her tears fall over the edge for the longest time, until it had almost become interesting to see where they'd land over the grey haze that marked the looming castle. Ran put her tiny arm-span around Amu's wrist, and wet it with her own tears. She was so scared, and soon joined by the Artist, and the Maid.
Bringing her wrist to her wet face, she looked at them with the saddest glow anyone would call impossible to compete with.
"It's over. There's nothing more anyone can do." Words called for tears. It is quite difficult to talk through them.
She bore the three in her arms. How could she have possibly imagined the last time to be as such? Their hatchings passed through their heads like faint memories as they began to fade away. As easy as they had come. One by one in order of turn, into the air like fairydust in a tale, they died.
"Thank you."
Last words to them. It was all she could say. Not even the glow of the lock was felt anymore. Not even the slightest shimmer, for it died as well. And so did the princess, as she had been dead since birth like she had felt.