Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice and all its downright adorable characters.
"Mikan-sama, the crown prince is here to see you." Michiko informed, making her mistress smile widely and immediately give her permission.
"Mother," her son greeted, "how have you been?"
"I've been well, my son." Mikan answered, "So? Who should I thank that, finally, my son remembered her poor, poor mother who suffers alone in this lonely palace?" the mother teased.
"I think it's you has forgotten about me. Usually, mother would visit me the day after my birthday, but this year you didn't." Ryuu replied.
"Huh? I did visit-!" Mikan stopped herself, remembering what happened the day she was supposed to go to her son's palace. Exchanging a look with Michiko, the empress composed herself, "Ah, Yes. I wasn't able to go this time. Well, I have a valid reason, it's because I discussed the preparation of prince Akio's birthday with Luna." Mikan gasped and turned to Michiko, "Find the director that organizes palace celebrations and tell him to be here tomorrow morning!"
The attendant jumped and immediately got out of the room to fetch the person. Ryuu laughed at his mother's disgruntled look. "You forgot, mother?"
The empress sighed and pouted at her son, "It's good that you went and visited me, Ryuu-chan. I would have been in huge trouble if I forgot to organize the prince's party."
The young successor to the throne smiled softly at his mother and got up to embrace her. "Mother, it must be really hard for you."
"Ryuu-chan?" Mikan asked, baffled at her son's sudden change of mood.
"You're always the one who gives time to do these kinds of things and yet you're always alone." The prince looked up to his mother, "Aren't you sad all the time?"
Mikan laughed and hugged her little boy close to her, "Just a bit, because you visit me all the time. So does your sister, Sayu-chan, and also Nobara and her princess." She replied, "You don't have to worry about me, Ryuu-chan."
"Yes, your mother is just fine." A voice spoke, making the other two separate.
"Natsume-sama!" Mikan exclaimed getting up along with the boy.
"Otou-sama! Have you come to visit mother too?" Ryuu asked.
"Ryuu, don't ask such-."
"Yes, of course. She might get lonely, after all." The emperor interrupted, looking at his wife. "Would you mind leaving us for now, son?" Natsume asked. "And tell the attendants not to disturb us, alright?"
The young boy immediately nodded, smiling widely. "Yes, otou-san! I'll see you soon, mother!" At that, their son left the room, leaving the alone in a tense silence.
Mikan swallowed before she spoke, "Natsume-sama, please sit down."
The man sat down on the tatami mat and looked at her as if waiting for her to sit down too. Taking the hint, Mikan took the seat in front of him.
"Is there anything you need?" Mikan repeated.
"The empress of this nation is a very fortunate woman. She got all the support she need." The emperor began, "Her powerful clan, the crown prince and even the empress dowager."
"Pardon? Natsume-sama, what are you talking about?" the empress asked.
"Not getting your way must be something new for you. But remember this, Mikan, even if you have your clan, I also have mine." Natsume uttered, "Don't think you will get everything you want just because you have your supporters."
Mikan blinked and met her husband's eyes, "Now, you're hurting me. I didn't say anything to empress dowager, in fact, I haven't seen Kaoru-sama since last week." She explained.
"Yes, I know. It was Yuka-san who talked to mother."
Mikan took a deep breath and spoke, "Natsume-sama, as I have said last night, I will always support you. And by that, I meant that all my supporters will also support you."
"Yes, and like I also said last night, keep it to yourself because I do not need it."
Mikan just smiled softly with a tinge of sadness, like a person who wants to say more but chooses not to. At her silence, the emperor stood and went to leave the room.
Mikan just sighed, "Michiko, come here."
"Mikan-sama, are you alright?" the attendant asked, kneeling in front of her.
"Yes, just tired. So many things happened since my son's birthday."
"Yes, that is true. Since you're tired, should I tell Nobara-sama and Haruka-sama to come back tomorrow?" Michiko asked.
"They're here? Let them in, I want to see them."
Michiko got up and went outside to let the consort and the princess in.
"Mikan-sama," the two greeted.
"Yes, sit down, both of you." Mikan said, smiling at the two visitors. "Haruka-hime, I have not seen you lately, were you busy?"
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I was busy with my lessons in etiquette." The girl who is the same age as her own daughter, Sayuri, replied.
"Is that so? It's fine, then. Even Sayuri-chan hasn't come to visit me these past few days." Mikan said, comforting the girl before she turned to the mother. "Have you been well, Nobara?"
"Yes, Mikan-sama. When I heard the rumors, I wanted to come visit you early in the morning but I thought that you might want to rest so I decided to go in the afternoon instead. I didn't know that the emperor would be here."
"Yes, I did not know as well. Thank for your concern, Nobara."
When the two left that night, Mikan was left with her thoughts. 'So mother spoke with the empress dowager. I knew that her leaving so easily is too good to be true.'
"Mikan-sama, you have not eaten the whole day. Please eat and then rest." Michiko said, trying to convince her stubborn mistress.
"I do not have an appetite. Food and rest, I can't even think about those things now." Mikan sighed.
"But Mikan-sama, you must not do this. You have to take care of yourself more."
Mikan sighed again, "What time is it? Send someone to pick up my daughter. Maybe I'll get some peace of mind when she's around."
But that night, even with her daughter's form lying beside her, the young empress was not able to get a sound rest. Instead she dreamed, dreamed of a young girl with pink hair and blue eyes, the same as Luna's. The girl was beautiful, with a sunny smile on her face and a light laugh. Then the scene changed into a gloomy one, men burying a dead, there are no people around to cry for the person.
Mikan jolted awake, sweating profusely even though she was feeling cold. "Keiko."
At the Yukihara clan meeting the next day:
"This must not continue!" An elder, Hatori, snapped.
"Just because he is the emperor does not mean he can do whatever he wants! He cannot just ignore Mikan-sama! He must learn to take care of the empress and support her as well!" Another elder, Arata, declared in agreement.
"There is nothing we can do if the emperor still does not return Mikan-sama's affections." This time, it was Izumi Yukihara, the empress's father, who spoke.
"Well, that's true, but still, letting her be shamed by the people is definitely too much." Arata replied.
"Does he not know how much help the empress can give him? Especially now, that some clans are revolting because of the new law he is about to establish."
"That's right. A law to unite the upper society with the lower society? That's absurd; no one from the upper society will stand with him. I doubt that even the Nogi clan would, and even if they will what difference would that make? There are so many more clans that belong in the upper society." Hatori said, shaking his head.
"The consort from the Hijiri clan may be able to offer support, but I don't think it will be the slightest bit helpful. The Hijiri may be part of the upper society but they are one of the clans that are at the bottom of it."
"Yes! And the Kouzumi consort, taking a woman from an ordinary family," Naoki, another elder huffed, "What was he thinking?"
"Izumi, tell your wife to talk to Mikan-sama."
"Why must she do that? Let them fix their own problems." Izumi replied calmly.
The elders all turned to look at him, "Are you just going to let your daughter suffer? Always protecting someone who would never turn to look at her?"
"If he continues this law, the upper society will have to choose sides. The side that opposes it? Or the side that supports it?" Hatori asked.
"Yes, we, the Yukihara's, won't be able to remain neutral forever. Even if it's for your daughter's sake. We will have to choose sides one day."
Izumi looked at them incredulously, "Do we even have to think about that? We must support the emperor, of course! He is Mikan-sama's husband."
"Why must we support someone who doesn't even care?" Naoki asked, "I am Mikan-sama's grandfather, your father. Embarrassing my granddaughter like that, why must I support him?"
"Exactly! If the opposing side wins there will be a change of emperor and the next in line is Mikan-sama's son, Ryuunosuke-sama. At least, the young prince has a deep attachment to his mother and he will be able to benefit us." Arata interjected.
The elders continued to debate whether they will stand with the opposition or choose to support the emperor instead.
Izumi sighed and stood, leaving the room to get a breath of fresh air. 'Why did I ever subject you to such a fate, Mikan-sama?'
