A/N I don't own Vampire Knight nor do I make any profit from it
Chapter 4 – Only You
The next morning, Hikari was woken up by Hana who had opened the curtains, letting the bright morning sun light pour into the room. Hikari shielded her eyes with her arm and tried to turn away from the light.
"Good Morning, Lady Hikari, time to get up and go down to breakfast," Hana said with a bright smile. Hikari huffed and puffed. She didn't want to go down and sit with Kaname, even if he was her husband. But she knew that Sara and Takuma would be there as they had stayed overnight. She was looking forward to seeing them, but she would also feel quite awkward.
"Thank you for waking me up, Hana and spoiling a lovely dream," she said and sarcasm lacing her sweet voice. Hana gave her a disapproving look.
"No need for sarcasm, my lady," Hana said, securing the curtain back. Hikari rolled her eyes and swung her feet to the floor. She stood up on shaky legs and reached for the bed post.
"I will have a bath, Hana," Hikari announced, "Will pick me something to wear?"
Hana nodded obediently. Hikari made her way towards the en suite bedroom and Hana handed her a towel and some clean underwear. Hikari muttered her thanks before walking inside and closing the door behind her. She slid down the door, letting herself sit on the floor.
What had she been condemned to? She was condemned to be the unloved queen of a king who didn't give a toss about her or her emotional wellbeing. Was she forced to be unhappy? She was there as someone who would bare his heirs, nothing more and nothing less. She couldn't even begin to imagine what their coupling would be like. It would probably be joyless and mechanical; no emotional bonding, no love, no care, just nothing. It was just the means to create an heir and perhaps to satisfy his own needs.
Hikari stood up and walked over to the large bath in the middle of the room. She turned the taps and let the water fill the bath tub. Eventually, Hikari turned the water off and slipped her night gown from her body. She stepped inside and sat down, letting the hot water envelope her in pure warmth. She sighed softly and leaned back, resting her head against the padded head rest. She submerged herself in the water; her head included, and came back up. She cleared her sopping wet hair out of her face. Reaching for the vanilla scented shampoo, she squeezed some into her hand and smoothed it onto her hair. She loved the feel of the lather as she massaged it into her scalp. She liked the scent of vanilla. It made her feel warm inside and it reminded her of her mother. Her mother liked vanilla. Hikari didn't just like the smell, she loved the taste too.
After rinsing her hair out, she stepped out of the bath and let the water go. Wrapping a towel around her petite body, she walked over to the window. She saw Juuri and Haruka having a morning stroll. They looked so in love. Hikari scoffed slightly and shook her head. It all seemed too good to be true. As she dried herself off, she pulled on her clean underwear and pulled a towel bath robe. She rubbed her hair until it almost dry. She opened her bathroom door and walked back into the sun drenched room. Hana sat her down at her dresser and combed out the tangles.
"Do you have anyone you admire in a romantic sense, Hana," Hikari asked. Hana's eyes widened a little but she didn't stop what she was doing.
"I'm afraid not, my lady," Hana said with a kind smile, "I have not found anyone I deem worthy to be my long time partner."
Hikari sighed, "I envy you, Hana."
"Why, my lady," Hana said with a slight frown.
"You have the freedom to choose whom you love when I do not. I'm condemned to a life where I must prove myself to my husband and wait upon him to show his 'affection'. I must ask if he will join me in bed instead of doing being together every night…like an ordinary couple. An ordinary married couple wouldn't have separate rooms to sleep in; they sleep together."
Hana bit her lip, "It will get better. I know that your glass may seem half empty at the moment but as time goes on, your glass will seem to become half full."
Hikari stared at her maid servant sceptically, "Perhaps so."
Hana smiled softly and continued to brush out Hikari's hair. She styled it in half up half down fashion. The up part was styled in a bun with a thin plat pinned around the bun. A pearl net was used to keep it in place. The part that was down was kept in it's ringleted state. Her straight cut fringe was left out and some wispy, ringleted strands of hair left out to frame her face.
Hana picked out a white, above the knee length skirt and a white silk shirt with lacy sleeves and a lacy, open neck collar. Around her neck was a silver, oval locket that was on a long silver chain. Her makeup was done simply and she wore a vanilla perfume. On her feet she wore white stilettos with three inch heels.
Hikari and Hana made their way down to the breakfast room. Sara, Kaname and Takuma were already sitting at the table. Kaname barely acknowledged his new wife. But when he did, he was less than pleasant.
"You're late, wife," Kaname said in tired tone, "We're all nearly finished."
"Good morning to you too, husband," Hikari said in a tone that matched his. This earned a look of disdain from Kaname. Hikari avoided his gaze and turned to Sara.
"How are you this morning, Sara," Hikari asked with a bright smile, "Did you sleep well?"
Sara looked up at Hikari and nodded, "Yes, very well thank you, Hikari," Sara replied, "Did you sleep well?"
"Oh yes," Hikari said, "I had a lovely sleep."
"What about you, Takuma?"
"Fine," Takuma said with forced smile. Hikari sighed and turned to her husband who was sitting at the opposite end of the table.
"Did you sleep well, husband?"
Kaname looked up at her, but it looked like it had been a waste of his very valuable energy, "I slept well."
"I see," Hikari said softly. She turned her head to Hana before Hana nodded. Hana gestured to a servant to bring her mistress some food. A plate of cold meats and some bread was placed in front of her. She had nothing like this back home. This was partially because they were dirt poor, "Thank you," she muttered to the servant. The servant looked genuinely surprise and nodded slowly. She looked up and found that her father was nowhere to be found. She went very pale, "Where is my father, Lord Kaname?"
"He has taken to his bed, Lady Hikari," Kaname said without looking up at her, "He is ill."
"Where is his room," Hikari said, jumping out of her seat.
"Sit down, wife, and eat your breakfast," Kaname said coldly.
Hikari felt a chill go down her spine. Against her will, she sat down. Kaname was a stronger pureblood than her by a million miles. He was capable of controlling her that was for sure, "Yes, husband."
Sara turned her head to see Kaname glare at Hikari for a moment before returning to his own meal. She shifted uncomfortably. Turning to Hikari, she spoke up, "Sara, would you like to join me in the garden for a stroll before I depart later on?"
Hikari looked up at her and nodded slightly, "That would be wonderful, Sara. Thank you for asking."
Sara nodded, "Well, if you'll excuse me, I would like to retire to my room for an hour before my walk. See you in an hour, Hikari."
With that, Sara gracefully exited the room, not letting anybody have a word in edgeways to stop her. Hikari had to admire Sara's way of doing things. Sara knew that she was a pureblood and used it to her own advantage. She didn't let Kaname's presence intimidate her either. She'd been raised as a princess and knew how to handle men like him. Although she looked delicate and was rather innocent in herself, she had a deep understanding due to her mother passing on her knowledge and experience.
Hikari placed her knife and fork down, having eaten all she could, "Now may I see my father?"
"Do as you wish," Kaname said before departing the room himself, leaving her with Takuma. She sighed softly.
"What's wrong, Hikari," Takuma asked. Hikari up at him and shook her head.
"It's nothing," Hikari said as she stood up from the table. Takuma sipped his tea before standing up himself, "I'm going to see my father. See you later."
"Give him my best wishes," Takuma said before walking out with a bright smile. Hikari couldn't help but smile back. She eventually walked out of the breakfast room, wondering where her father was. Walking down the maze of corridors and finding her way was easier said than done. Why on earth was this place so big? She couldn't see the point.
After half an hour of walking, she eventually felt her father's presence. It was weak but still there. Opening a door, and taking a lucky guess, she saw her father lying in bed, "Hikari, is that you?"
"Yes, father, I'm here," She walked over to the side of the bed. Gripping his hand, she sat on the bed, "How are you?"
"Ill…that's how I am."
Hikari sighed softly, "Well, hopefully my marriage to Kaname will help you."
Eisuke coughed violently into a handkerchief, coughing up blood. Hikari rubbed his back comfortingly, "Father, please get better."
Eisuke looked up at his daughter once he had regained his breath, "I will for you, my dear daughter," Hikari sighed in response, "How was your wedding night?"
Hikari looked up at him, "Well…we didn't have one…we slept in separate rooms."
"You mean your union isn't consummated?"
Hikari nodded, "We barely have a nice word to say to each other…no, scratch that, we don't have anything to say to each other. We have nothing in common and we can barely stay in the same room with one another."
"You will have to do it sooner rather than later. You are a married woman and have certain responsibilities," Eisuke said seriously.
"I know that, father," Hikari said, "But we hardly each other and I would rather get to know the man who will inevitably bed me."
Eisuke sighed, "I understand how you feel, Hikari," he said.
Hikari looked away, "Why can't I go home with you and just perform my wifely duties when called upon? I will happily carry his child and happily be his queen in public. I just want to go home and be with you!"
Eisuke stared at her for a moment before shaking his head, "That's not possible, Hikari. Can you imagine the gossip at court it would cause? Kaname would be a laughing stock and his reputation would be ruined. People would think that he couldn't control his own wife."
"So it's about control? I'm not a possession and I will most certainly not be controlled by him," Hikari said strongly, "You've always told me to stand up for myself and to have a mind of my own!"
"Yes and I love that you have quality," Eisuke admitted, "But you must remember that both you and Kaname have strong personalities. You might have to subdue that aspect of yours if you are going to get on."
"So you're telling me that I am to play the submissive, subservient wife?"
"To some degree…yes. But I am not asking you to not be yourself. It would be a sin to do so."
Hikari felt tears brimming in her eyes. She knew that there was no getting out of this. Her father was adamant that she had to make this work. She sighed softly before nodding, "Fine, for you and only you will I do this."
Eisuke nodded, "That's my girl," He reached out and caressed her cheek, "I love you very much and you are very brave."
"Am I?"
"Yes," Eisuke said softly, "Yes, you are."
"I don't feel brave," Hikari's posture slumped, "I was asking you if I could come home just evade Kaname."
"You're young, Hikari, and you have the rest of your life ahead of you. You're a pureblood vampire, you'll live for a long time."
"I know…I know…"
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