Second Best
Virtue has a veil, vice a mask.
~Victor Hugo
"Thank you for your time, Prince Kazuya," King Enma said in gratitude. His queen who was seated as his side elegantly raised her hand saying, "It was a pleasure to have such a charming young man in our presences; especially one who seeks a union with our daughter."
Prince Kazuya gently took the queen's hand and pressed a kiss to it. Bowing he responded, "The pleasure was all mine your majesties." Eyeing the blue haired princess who sipped tea quickly next to her mother he added, "And I can only hope that your daughter wishes to be part of that union as well."
Botan took the tea cup away from her lips and locked eyes with him, enchanting the young man with her brilliant pink irises. When a blush began to spread on his cheeks only did she smile victoriously and say, "Perhaps."
With another bow the prince excused himself from the royal family to return back to his awaiting court in their guest quarters. Once the door that had opened to let the prince exit closed the princess let her true colors show.
Flipping sky-blue hair Botan scoffed, "Never have a meet such a man who could chitchat more than a woman. And to add to that, his conversation was as simulating as a rock," she complained.
The queen patted her daughter's hand, "But my angel, he was so well qualified. He is the heir to a kingdom also equal in wealth to ours if not more," she said trying to reason with her daughter.
"I agree my queen. Also his father was once a great warrior, no doubt he has passed on that trait to his son, if war was ever to breakout Botan you would be well protected," Enma spoke richly about Kazuya hoping to get Botan to change her thoughts.
Rising to her feet the princess crossed her arms. Stubbornly she refused to switch views of the suitor she had just met; who knew getting married would be such a hassle? From all the princes, lords and knights that had come to seek her hand today not one of them had she fancied.
It was not her fault of course; maybe if these men would properly prepare themselves for meeting a lady of her stature then one or two might have made the cut.
Walking down the velvet steps away from her throne and her parents she declared, "I refused to have a gossiping husband, it would be absolutely shameful. I take my leave for now."
The doors opened for the princess as they also opened for her younger sister on the other side. Botan holding her head high as she always did did not see Kagome approaching, who had her head down low. The two collided dimly, however that did not stop Botan from making it seem a larger situation than it was. With an over done exhale she fell to the floor, Kagome only frowned at her sister knowing she was doing this on purpose. The sister bodyguards that flaked her sides narrowed brown eyes at the elder princess. The king and queen mesmerized by the daughter rush to her side along with servants that had stood outside the throne room.
"My angel," the queen cried putting Botan head in her lap while servants fanned her. King Enma turned to his younger daughter with disappointment vivid in his eyes. "Kagome, what do you have to say to this, this trauma you have caused?" His tone was belittling as it also was when he spoke to her.
Curtsying to her sire, Kagome spoke softly, "I am sorry father, I suppose I was not paying attention."
Her mother shot her a cold look, "Yes well look what you absent mindless has caused. I blame your horrid posture for this, you are a princess yet you crane your neck down from the towering place where you stand in this world."
"I apologize mother."
Once again the doors open to let someone and the king turned to see one of his many servants. "Ogre, speak," the king commanded to the bowing man.
"Forgive my interruption King Enma, but I am here to announce the arrival of Lady Kikyo." The man respectively informed, his eyes never leaving the ground.
Botan instantly brightened at the mention of her favorite cousin while Sango grasped Kagome's hand when her form shuttered at the name.
"Kikyo is here?" The queen questioned.
Making a big show, the elder princess came to her feet, using her father to make her stable and gave him watery eyes. "Oh papa did I not tell you Kikyo was coming to visit me today?" Turning to her mother she pleaded, "Forgive me mother and father, I was so excited to see her again that it must have slipped my mind."
The queen, as always became instantly sympathetic to her daughter, patting her shoulder affectionately, "It is fine Botan, and with Kikyo's marriage not far off you girls should spend as much time as possible together." She said in a comforting tone
"Thank you mama," Botan said with a curtsey.
Holding up a slender finger the queen added, "On one condition though."
The king chuckled behind his daughter, making Botan give them curious glances. Gliding elegantly from her eldest daughter's side she approached her youngest, the warm expression melting into a cold one as she addressed her.
"Kagome, I had wanted to devote some time with your sister today in hopes you would begin to straighten up your manners. But now that she has plans with your cousin, you can now observe them both," the queen explained. "Kikyo did not attract such a high appointed man like King Naraku with sloppy conduct."
Kagome took her mother's words like a death sentence. Kikyo was malicious, not as much as her sister but still horribly so. She was like a china doll, flawless and disciplined with beauty beyond compare but behind closed doors she was as ugly as a fairytale witch, abusing the power she held over others.
"Kagome will you obey your mother and go?"
Flinching at her father's voice Kagome muttered a, yes father, ignoring the dark smirk carved onto her sister's face.
"Where you ladies shall be going?" king Enma inquired, to which Botan answered, "To see the new gown designs from out of the country. They will be hung for private viewing in some boutiques over the valley."
The king hummed satisfied with their venue, "How lovely," he complemented before pointing sharply at Sango and Shizure, "You two will go with them, ogre go now and prepare a carriage." The two sisters bowed and left with Ogre.
Kagome stood frozen with fear that did not show as the rest of her family began to leave the room. Botan passed her sister's still form whispering into her ear darkly, "We shall have fun together, right little sister?"
Some more characters will be making their appearances next chapter XD
Review~
