Chapter Ten: Ryuichi's Folly
Haru was wearing a dark amethyst gown tonight, with a stiff itchy collar that took all of her princess training to ignore. Ryuichi was sitting across from her again, on the other side of the long table in the formal dining room. He was surprisingly quieter than usual, and taking more wine than he usually did, actually glaring at her. It was more emotion than she had ever seen him show her.
Eventually, she had to ask.
"Is something upsetting you?"
He grunted, taking another long sip from his goblet. She never liked wine, and actually had her own goblet filled with plain pomegranate juice. Hiromi always thought that her little deceptions were just too hilarious.
"Yes, milady. Something is troubling me." He took a deep sigh. "I'm worried about you and your future."
She laughed lightly.
"You don't have to worry about me. I'll be all right."
He growled and got up from his seat to march up to her, setting her danger senses off worse than usual. The servants stiffened noticeably, their nerves on edge as the advisor leaned over her.
"Actually, I think I do need to worry. You've been sent thirty-six possible suitors, and you don't seem disturbed by the fact that all of them had run out of your estate, some even screaming."
Haru started giggling, tickled that it was so easy to scare them off.
"I can't imagine what their problem was. All I did was be myself, and if they can't handle that, I'm better off without them."
Ryuichi shook his head angrily.
"Do you have any idea what they're saying about you at the palace? You've been called a half-dressed barbarian that the king should put down like a dog."
She sniffed disdainfully.
"I'm always fully dressed, and they've been saying bad things about me ever since the day I was born a girl instead of a boy. There's no pleasing them or His Majesty, no matter what I do, so I've long since stopped trying to please them. I highly doubt most of them will ever see me again anyway."
The high advisor growled again.
"Haru, whether or not your father is willing to admit it, you are a princess, and you need to act like one at all times. Image is everything."
She patted her napkin to her face before standing up with Senji's help.
"The people I care about like my image the way it is. I haven't done anything indecent in front of the suitors-"
Ryuichi grabbed her arm fiercely, making her cry out in surprise.
"Haru-"
Momotaro sharply knocked the advisor across the head while Hiromi pulled her mistress aside. Ryuichi was furious, glaring at the soldier while rubbing the sore spot on the back of his head.
"How dare you!"
"How dare you?" her guard whispered harshly, his eyes flaming worse than the advisor's. "Lady Haru is just that; a lady and a greater treasure than anyone at the palace could appreciate, her brother aside. She is wonderful just the way she is, and none under her roof will permit you to treat her in such a manner again!"
The mistress of the estate was now safely behind a large barrier of servants, who had been called to her by Ryuichi's shouts. They all glared at the advisor, having harbored a strong dislike for the man over the years, their arms intertwining to keep Haru safe from the man as she pulled off the stupid dress collar with obvious relief.
"I think dinner is finished. Sleep well, Advisor Yabuki." She turned to leave, a spark of panic issuing from his eyes.
"Wait, Naoko! I can make it all right again!" He stiffened and slapped his hand over his mouth, horrified at what had slipped.
Haru's back stiffened, icicles almost forming on her body as she slowly turned to face him, her eyes more angry than he had ever seen them. The servants shuddered, only seeing her that angry twice before.
That name. It wasn't hers, no matter how many people had tried to shove it down her throat. The only one she had let get away with even half of what that name meant in years was her brother.
"Of course," Haru hissed, her eyes slitting like a snake's. "Akya even told me that you loved her." She faced the advisor, and seemed to grow with her anger.
"I am NOT Naoko. I am Haru. I think I understand now why you always made my flesh crawl; you're a sick pervert. You will be allowed to spend the night once more, but you will leave early in the morning. If you try to resist between then and now, I will have you thrown out. Tell His Majesty to either send someone else with the allowance, or to not send it at all, for you will not set foot in my home again. Momotaro; make sure the advisor behaves himself, and don't bother to be nice if he doesn't. Seiji and Taro will help you." She stormed out while more guards surrounded the horrified advisor. They grinned evilly as they held up their weapons for his benefit.
"We'd appreciate it if you would start resisting any time now."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Haru slammed her door shut and tore off the court clothes, damaging them beyond repair. With an angry laugh, she threw the fabric, corset and all, into her fireplace and watched with glee as the gown slowly turned to ash.
Her flesh ran colder than ever, as she wrapped a bathrobe around herself and pulled a chair closer to her fire.
She should have seen the truth long ago. The old fool had actually thought that he could woo her just for wearing her mother's face. Naoko had cared about him, but did she love him? Did she marry her father just because he was the king? Haru shuddered and leaned closer to the fire.
Her mother had told her to give the king time to adjust to her; he would grow to love her in time and crown her. But Haru had never wanted a crown; she had just wanted some small sign that her father loved her. He was showing some potential, while his wife was carrying his heir and he wasn't as angry that she was a girl. But the queen's death had turned the bridge between them into a gorge, made unsurpassable when he banished her here.
She wrapped her arms around her front and squeezed herself for comfort
"I'm not Mama. I am me." She pulled her feet onto her large chair and huddled into a ball, tears squeezing past her guard. The brunette tried so hard to get people to realize that she wasn't her mother. Yes, they had similarities, but they were not the same person. Baron had told her that very forcefully.
"Remember this one thing; always believe in yourself. Do this, and no matter who or where you are, you will have nothing to fear."
How she longed for his presence! But with Advisor Yabuki between her and her father, there was no chance for her to take that trip to Saland. It was stupid, that she needed the permission of someone who wished she was never born to visit the people that cared about her. Even Akya was supportive of her spending the holidays with the von Gikkingens.
A soft knocking assailed her door, the rhythm declaring it to be her old nursemaid. Wiping away her tears of frustration, she got off her seat and opened the door. The wizened old woman was grinning at her comfortingly, Toto on her arm. Haru brightened at once, and started stroking his feathers.
"Please say he resisted."
Akya sighed.
"No, and the guards were really egging him on to do it, but he's being very docile."
Haru's mind twitched.
"After he leaves, give all the rooms he's been in a good sweeping of magic tracing and complete wash-down."
Toto switched to her arm and inched his way up to her slim shoulder to rub her cheek.
"I was under the impression that you had it done anyway."
She laughed lightly, stroking his feathers as Akya shut the door.
"I do, but I want it done extra well this time. I can't believe that old creep." Suddenly, her eyes wandered to his back, which was missing its usual case. He laughed at her sudden panic.
"Don't worry, Haru; I didn't forget or lose it. I have a verbal message this time."
She nodded, giving him her full attention.
"Baron's put out with the advisor and your father, and decided that his family is going to spend the holidays with you anyway. The von Gikkingens are coming here, since you told them to come back anytime."
Haru's face lit up like the sun, and she started laughing happily while dancing around, hugging Toto to her chest; the advisor completely forgotten.
"Did you hear that, Akya?! They're coming here!" She couldn't feel the coldness of the stones underneath her bare feet as she danced around her bedroom, Toto cawing slightly in protest, his wings pinned against Haru's chest. The old nursemaid laughed, thrilled to see her charge smile again.
"I'll get some rooms set up special for them."