Please enjoy the remake of chapter 4 guys :) I don't have much to say so XD
~Enjoy
~IV~
March 21st, 1413
"Sire," Cedric knocked on the door three times before allowing himself into the King's chambers.
When Cedric peered in, Takumi was stretching at the side of his bed. He looks over at Cedric and nods. "I'm awake."
"I see," Cedric murmured. "That is quite unusual for you to be up on your own, Sire."
Takumi got off his bed and stretched some more, "Is it? I don't think so."
Cedric walked into the room more, revealing himself to be carrying a bowl of water for his King to wash his face. "Sire."
Takumi looks over and walks to the bowl as he yawned. He dipped in hands in and splashed the water on his face a few times before taking a towel from Cedric's arm and dried himself. "Thank you."
Takumi then walked off to his closet to change into his normal wear.
Cedric says nothing and waited for his king to finish changing into his cloths before continuing the conversation when Takumi stepped out, fully and elegantly clothed. "The maids are waiting to greet you good morning and for today's breakfast, would you like to have it here or downstairs?"
Takumi looked into his full body mirror and fixed his hair by running a hand through. "I'll have it here. I have some paperwork to do for the kingdom."
"I shall tell the maids to bring you your breakfast." Cedric bows to Takumi before turning around and heading for the door.
"Wait." Takumi halts. Cedric turns. Takumi paused and looked away. "Have...Misaki bring it to me. Also, have a servant come in and fix my bed for me...also a tinker. I think the linen curtain may have broken."
Cedric nods sternly with a bit of a smile. "Of course sire."
As Cedric left, Takumi looked at the mirror and stared at his face plainly. What am I doing?
When Takumi finished fixing himself up, he sighed and walked over to where his large, richly wooden desk was where all his paperwork, all the villagers request/complaints and others. Takumi sighed and sat down and started reading through.
He never liked paperwork, mainly because they were all unreasonable and he tends to stress but never show his stress.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
"Come in." Takumi answers loudly. He heard the chamber door open and close but he never took his eyes off the paper he was reading. Takumi heard footsteps approaching so he instructed, "Leave the breakfast on the table over there."
He heard more shuffles and when they stopped, Takumi says, "Thank you, you may leave."
"How rude, not even looking up to see who it was." A familiar female voice sighed.
Takumi looked up to see Misaki crossing her arms at him with a glare. Takumi had forgotten that he asked for her. Somehow, Takumi felt relieved. "I apologize, my Queen."
"I am not yours, so don't say ridiculous things." Misaki closed her eyes and looked over at the tray of food she brought in. "Today the maids made some croissant bread with pork stew and some fruits on the side."
"No porridge?" Takumi unconsciously smirked in amusement to Misaki's surprise.
"No." Misaki said calmly but he wasn't fooled to know that she was upset. "I don't think I'll be any happy if I made again. Neither would your stomach. I heard you didn't feel so well afterwards."
Takumi shrugged as he placed his paperwork down. "That was because of something else. Rest assured, it wasn't because of your porridge."
"I doubt it." Misaki muttered. "I took a spoonful and I had a bad stomach ache afterwards. You ate an entire bowl, I'm sure you were nearly ill."
Takumi shook his head. "No worries. I have an iron stomach."
Misaki walked over to Takumi's desk and peered down at the stacks of paper on his desk. She snickered, "Aren't you having fun with these papers."
Takumi huffed and shook his head. "I believe as a Queen, you understand my hardships."
"I did. Now, though, I get a little break from all that." Misaki snickered and read the paper which was labeled, 'Letter of Complaint.' and she frowned.
"They are...mainly complaining about the farm lands I own and how the cold weather is affecting their lives and health." Takumi frowned emotionlessly.
Misaki placed the paper down and stared at Takumi. It must be hard...when you can't control your emotions and your entire kingdom is affect gravelly. Misaki halted and shook her head.
"How is the lifestyle of a maid?" Takumi asks suddenly, grabbing his ink feathered pen and took a out a brownish page.
Misaki shrugged as she wrinkled her nose. "Humiliating. Stressful and awfully dirty...but, I do get know and appreciate my servant's hard work now...when I return, I shall reward them humbly." Misaki grinned.
Takumi glanced up from his paper to see Misaki grinning truthfully. She really does appreciate them. He smiled inwardly.
For a few minutes, Misaki sat on the edge of his desk while just chatting with Takumi. She had even helped him with the letters. Misaki watched him worked. Maybe he isn't as bad of a person.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Misaki jumped slightly at the sudden knocking and quickly fixed herself up as well as stiffening, causing Takumi to curiously look at her. She glared at him and looked away.
"Come in."
"A message, Sire." Cedric came in and closed the doors behind him.
Misaki sighed in relief and relaxed a little. As Cedric came up to them quickly, he bowed to Misaki. "Your highness, I apologize for you to have to bring breakfast to his majesty."
Misaki smiled at him with a nod. "It wasn't your fault. You were just following Takumi's orders."
Cedric looked over at Takumi and held out a folded letter, sealed into an envelope with a blue waxed seal. Takumi took the letter. "Does it say who?"
"The merchant told me it was from Britain." Cedric answered after a slight hesitation. The room fell silent as soon as Cedric mentioned Britain. Misaki only listened in, not really sure why it was so quiet.
Takumi spoke bluntly. "Throw it out." He tossed the sealed letter aside. "I have no reason to read it."
Cedric's frown turned down even more. "I highly suggest you read it, Sire, even if it is from him."
"Throw it out." Takumi repeated more harshly this time.
"Sire—"
"Cedric, even you would understand why I don't want to read it. Can you throw it out?!"
Misaki, upset and annoyed by Takumi, picked up the sealed letter and held it in front of Takumi's face causing him to look up at Misaki curiously, raising a blond brow. "Misaki?"
"Read it. It's rude if that merchant traveled all the way from Britain just to give you this letter for nothing." Misaki said, her large eyes narrowed. When Takumi looked away, Misaki said louder, "Read it. It must be important. You can't be so damn ignorant that you choose not to read a letter."
Takumi and Misaki glared at each other for a very long minute.
Slowly, Takumi reluctantly took the letter from Misaki as he murmured quietly, "You sure have a way with you words, Misaki. Even I feel that I can't refuse you."
Misaki crossed her arms and she hid a small blush on her cheeks with her hand and just glared at him. "Open it and read it."
When Takumi opened the letter and took away the blue waxed seal, he took out the folded hazel colored page and scanned through it annoyingly. As soon as Takumi read through it, his eyes grew wide and he abruptly stood up, causing the chair behind his to fall.
Takumi clenched his hands tightly and crumbled the paper in his hands and threw it across the room in a swift. Surprising, for paper, it really did fly far with Takumi's strength. Misaki and Cedric both cringe in surprise.
"Sire?!" Cedric whispered anxiously. "Is something wrong?"
"He-" Takumi said nothing afterwards. He only bared his teeth and the storm outside raged. Loud enough for everyone to hear whistles of the rough wind and the rough beating of snow and branches flying.
Misaki looked over at the crumpled paper across the room and went to pick it up and she unfolded it and read what it said.
"Dear Takumi, " she read. "Prepare for my visit. By the time you get this message, I shall be there a days time, so, do not question or block me out. I will come. That's all. King Richard."
There was silence in the air and a slight tense. Misaki looked u from the letter between Cedric and Takumi. She could feel a very cold chill. King Richard?
Misaki folded the letter up and gave it to Cedric, who accepted it. "Sire?"
"There's nothing we can do." Takumi murmured, picking his chair up and leaning back in it, rubbing his head. "I'll be down in a minute to tell everyone."
"Then I will leave you to be." Cedric bowed and left quietly, at the door, he looked at Misaki. "Your highness?"
"Oh yes. I'll leave as well." Misaki flustered, unsure of what was going on. She quickly walked over to Cedric and as she looked behind her as Cedric closed the door, she saw Takumi's teeth clenched, his fist tight and had such a painful expression.
When the door closed in her face, she shook her head and furrowed her eyebrows. Nothing to do with me...he's none of my concern.
3 years ago
October 15th, 1410
Tapping his index finger impatiently on the arm rest of his throne, he closed his eyes and breathed steadily through his nose. He had his blonde head bowed against his left hand. He let out a dragged sigh as he rubbed his face.
"Where are they...?" Takumi murmured, finally deciding to rise from his throne after a long hour of wait.
For Takumi, he loathed being king...even after a few months after being crowned king, this was absolutely tiring and very privacy shattering. He waited for his parents, who were out visiting family friends a few days ago.
"Sire?" a polite sounding voice called behind him as Takumi stepped into the hall, away from the throne room.
"Are they still not back?" Takumi asked Cedric impatiently.
Cedric shook his head. "I am afraid not."
Takumi furrowed his brows and sighed, running a hand through his hair. "How peculiar."
"Indeed. They tell me they should depart 2 days ago, Sire. They should be back by evening on this day." Cedric stated. He hesitated. "Perhaps something has happened?"
Takumi looked over at Cedric and quickly shook his head in annoyance and hope. "They wouldn't have. They promised me they would come back safe."
"Of course, I do not doubt their promise." Cedric bowed to Takumi. "Excuse me, I must go prepare for your slumber."
Takumi nods and waved Cedric off. "Of course...do inform me if they return immediately, do you understand Cedric?"
Cedric nods with a small smile before walking away.
Takumi leaned against the brick wall and sighed, having his blonde bangs over his eyes as he bit onto his lips. Please be safe...
The Next Morning
October 16th, 1410
"I'm coming in." Takumi stated sternly once he knocked on the large grand doors, leading into his parent's room. He slowly pushed against the knob as he hesitantly peeked into the room. Surely, his parent's had come back while he was asleep.
There was only silence in the air and when he looked at the room, it was left untouched. His heart dropped in disappointment.
They're...not back...?
Takumi closed the door quietly and turned to head back to his own chambers. He couldn't help but let the disappointment control him.
"It is strange, Sire." Cedric approached from Takumi's left. "They should have come back last night. Wherever could they have gone?"
Takumi stared up with his deep, pale emerald eyes. He breathed in to calm himself as he tried to find a solution. "Have the knights go search for them."
"Now?" Cedric asked.
Takumi nods urgently. With every word, his voice raised until he yelled, unable to bubble in his emotions. "I don't know where they are. I need to confirm their safety, so yes! Now, Cedric!"
Cedric cringed but nods once as he turned and paced down the knights' hall, screaming each the knight's name as he did so.
Hands shaking, lips quivering, Takumi bit his lips until they bled as he stormed back into his room, unable to let it in. If what had happened to his brother, happened to his parents...what was he supposed to do exactly?
"Your majesty?" the knight in front of him asks, placing a hand on Takumi's shoulder, causing Takumi's eyes to flicker up, rage in his eyes.
His best knight, his friend, Kuuga, stood their with concerned eyes. "What's the matter."
Takumi's eyes softened a little as he shrugged off Kuuga's hand. In a serious and demanding voice, he ordered, "Take your best knights, head down the path towards the Usui Castle and locate my parents. Now."
Kuuga's faint red eyes narrowed but nods once as he took in the situation, fixing his armor.
"Right away."
Present Day
With Cedric beside him, Takumi sat in his throne as all his servants on one side of the room and on the other side, was his knights and royal councilmen.
A few more servants came rushing in and going to their places and he even saw Misaki making her way towards Satsuki quietly. She gave him a look before looking away and greeting Satsuki as she stood beside her.
"Since everyone's here, let's begin then." Takumi waves a hand at Cedric, who silenced everyone's murmurs.
As soon as the whispers diminished, Takumi stood up and announced, "Perhaps tomorrow or the day after, we will be having a visit from a king from far away,"
Everyone waited for Takumi to continue but he had a hard time announcing the news. He huffed out a sigh before continuing. "The king who is visiting us is...King Richard of Britain."
A burst of whispers waved across the room as the mood went from suspenseful to panic, hatred and tenseness.
"King Richard?" a knight called out. Everyone turned to the knight who had a lot of hatred shown in his eyes. "Why?"
"I don't know." Takumi sighed annoyingly. "It is not as though I want him to visit. I don't have the authority to decline him since he's nearly here already. The only we can do now is to let him in."
Everyone was practically biting themselves. The one person who they knew that their king hated, was his grandfather. What would've happened if the king Richard and their king met up once more?
Takumi continued. "I want this castle in its best shape. The food, in its best quality. Everything to its best...you all know my hatred towards him but please, try to control yourselves while he's here. It's for a day...but a very important day. No matter if you do hate him, he's still one of the most powerful kings of the world. So other than myself, I expect good behavior."
Although Takumi said that, everyone could see him shaking in anger himself.
"Oh dear..." Satsuki murmured under her breath as she had a hand over her mouth.
"Not to be impolite..." Misaki whispers, tapping Satsuki's shoulder. "Did something happen between Tak- his Majesty and King Richard?"
Satsuki nods once. "It's quite a long story. Usually, they have a good relationship but ever since four years ago when Prince Gerald's death occurred, it's been different...awfully different. It's rumored vastly that the cause of the former King and Queen of Seika's death is...King Richard. Some even believed that King Richard killed the crown prince— Prince Gerald."
"You mean- the father of the former king and queen...killed them?" Misaki gasped.
Satsuki nods once again, the usual smile on her lips drained as quickly as anything. "It's unfortunate since they had such a good connection with one another. His Majesty absolutely despises King Richard now."
That's why...he reacted that way? The death of his parents...by the own hands of his grandfather? Misaki thought, looking at Takumi. No wonder he has such a cold heart.
Misakifelt guilty for forcing Takumi to read the letter when he clearly had a reason not to.
Their eyes met for a moment and Misaki closed them and looked away. What was she supposed to say after finding out what happened in his past? Smile? Glare? Make a pitiful look?
"That concludes our meeting." Takumi sighed after announcing a few other things. "I hope you're prepared for tomorrow. Dismissed."
Everyone, including the knights and Misaki, left hastily, all of them murmuring among each other about King Richard, the heaviness in the air really deepened.
Strolling down the hall and towards his chambers, Takumi nods in greet at a few maids who rushed passed him to clean. He continued thinking angrily at the sudden news that Richard of all people was coming for a visit...of all times!
After all, it's only been three years since then. Misaki, who was disguising and hiding at his castle is here also. It'd be rather troublesome if Richard recognizes her.
"It's too damp." Takumi heard a murmur coming from ahead of him followed by shuffles. "Ah- no! I'm wet...wait- maybe...Ah!"
Suspicion was his first instinct as the sound of the murmur became more familiar. Misaki?
As he rushed down the hall and peeked down towards another hall where it was all glass windows. He was right, he spotted Misaki kneeling in front of something, fidgeting.
"Now it's too dry..." he heard Misaki groan as her arms moved again. "How..."
She stood up suddenly, to his surprise with a yellow item in her hand as she glared back and forth between the window and the yellow item.
Curious, he observed her more. Misaki moved her hand so that the yellow item became more visible. A sponge? She squeezed the sponge slightly for water to drip and then she smashed the sponge against the window.
SQUIRT!
"Ah?!" Misaki exclaimed angrily as the water from the sponge squirted onto her face unexpectedly. The soaped water dripped down her arm.
With eyes wide, Takumi couldn't help but feel surprise with his sudden need to smirk. Attempting to keep a straight face, he failed, a little small smile lit his face, followed by a chuckle.
"Seems like you're a bit trouble." Takumi heard himself say.
"Huh?" Misaki turned around helplessly. Her face drained as soon as she saw Takumi, staring at her and smiling. She flustered angrily, "Taku- I'm not having trouble!"
"Then why is your face so wet, oh powerful queen?" Takumi asked, walking up to her, reaching a hand into his cloak for a handkerchief.
"I've never done this before alright?" Misaki grumbled, tossing the sponge into the bucket. "They didn't give me much to do so I felt a little guilty and I ended up doing...this."
"It's pitiful to watch you try..." Takumi murmurs, taking his handkerchief and slowly placing it on her cheeks to wipe off the water, causing Misaki to cringe in surprise.
Misaki blushed and glared at Takumi. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Hm?" Takumi looks down at her as he paused. "I'm being a gentlemen and wiping the water off. We can't have a lovely queen like you to be seen like this, right?"
Misaki slapped his hand away and leaned down to pick up the sponge again, which was damp and as she rose, she glared at Takumi.
"What's the matter?" Takumi asked.
Misaki cleared her voice with a cough before going up on her tippy toes, hanging the wet sponge over Takumi's head and slowly squeezed until every last drop of water was on him.
Takumi remained quiet as the sounds of water splattered against his hair. He was too stunned to say anything.
"Ahem, well, allow me to be ladylike and leave you to your...business to clean up." Misaki smirks as she eyed Takumi's upper body wet. "Good day, your majesty."
As speechless as he was, he watched Misaki pick up the bucket and leave ever so elegantly.
Taking out another handkerchief, he gently wiped himself as he tried to resist to let out a chuckle. "What an interesting queen. Ah...better go dry myself."
Meanwhile
Wrapping a cloak around himself, Cedric brushed back his silky hair before opening the back doors from the kitchen to head outside and check up on the knights who were training outside.
He looked up at the sky and blinked in confusion. "I expected a rage of snow today...but the sky today is...clear?"
Cedric sighs and continued walking, observing the castle's surroundings until he looked up at the castle to see through a mirror, her highness Misaki, dumping water on Takumi?
"..." Cedric observed with absolute surprise but also, somehow thought he should've seen it coming.
Thinking he shouldn't get involved and not ask Takumi later, he moved on when something caught his eye in snow.
There, in the corner, surrounded by snow, a little small green stem sticking out with a little small green bud sticking out. Crouching down, he smiled. I haven't seen green plants for three years...
When Cedric looked up at where Takumi was, he saw the cold king who usually never smiles, smiling widely.
Cedric smiled a little. "I've waited for this day...and I witnessed it in person..."
Cedric sighed happily and looked out in the horizon. The thaw is coming.
See you guys in the next remake~
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~WhiteAngel83