A/N: Rima is officialy half-french now. Why? Because in Japan, it's pretty uncommon to actually have pretty blonde (natural) hair like hers, so now she has a legitimate reason. In accordance to that as well, I'm going to do as KuranPrincess suggested I do, and have put the translations from french to english to the side. ^^
Enjoy~
29th Day of January, Mid-Afternoon,
In the King's Great Chamber.
Kumiko is having a private lunch with the King today, and I've been oh so 'lucky' enough to attend to them along with Ruka, two other waiting maids, and Mrs. Takeshi. What a happy, bundle of joy I am right now. I'm the one in charge of pouring their wine, so I sincerely hope it is not poisoned, for that will be fairly bad news for me. Ha. (Good luck trying to explain why it was poisoned and I just happened to be serving it.)
I'm pretty bored, actually. (Having a conversation with myself is proof of this...) Kumiko is droning on and on about flowers, horses, and whatnots, while us ladies are standing by the wall doing absolutely nothing. Well, you could say we were doing something. If you call having your head held high and hands clasped at your waist doing something, that is.
During the first few minutes, Ruka actually had the audacity to start humming, to which I had to restrain myself from bursting out laughing because she was humming a pretty little death tune, but Mrs. Takeshi shushed her up with her infamous cold glare and scowl.
Whilst Kumiko drones on about her stupidites, (Good thing I'm not writing this down, because if anyone read this I would surely be slapped. Hard.) I will recall my encounters with a courtier I've just met three days ago. Zero Kiryu is his name.
Nineteen-Year-Old Zero Kiryu: Shimmering silver hair, lavender eyes, and a lazy smile. It's actually a bit of a wonder why he hasn't married yet. He looks like he could be quite the suitor, if you ask me. But then again, I'm talking, thinking actually, to myself so why would I ask...?
Anyways, I found out his father is a baron who married a count's daughter, so she actually dropped in ranking, not gained. He has one brother, Ichiru, who is his twin and a part of the king's army. Zero told me he is a lieutenant. Since the army is currently inactive right now, (although they hold monthly trainings to stay in shape,) he is residing in their manor house in Kanazawa.
Zero has a nonchalant, stand-offish air to him. He is too relaxed and rather casual for the saddle, and unmistakably bored by the proposal of tennis. He isn't very popular with the other gentlemen of the court, but some of the other women seemed to have an interest in him. He's more of an outsider per se, an observer. Never sinking himself neck-deep in court relations, troubles and gossip. He is an aloof man, to put things simply.
Or, in fact, a simple man, if i'm really going to put things simply. Heh. I'm so bored...
We've had a variety of encounters so far, either down by the lake or just merely through the long passageways of the enormous castle. Some would actually say it's like a secret between us, because of the ways we meet. Zero and I usually meet away from others by the lake, or just happen to meet when no one else is around. Yori has actually asked me many times if we were having an affair. I scoffed at that. If I was having an affair, I would tell her immediately. Nothing to be shy about. Right...? Right.
Here's an example of our un-planned rendezvous:
Yesterday in the late afternoon, when I was ambling down a corridor, he stepped from behind a door suddenly and stopped me in my tracks. He stared at me for a few seconds before I managed to raise my eyebrow in question at him.
"Walk with me," he said.
I bit my lip and said nothing -contemplating my options- before nodding and simply did as he requested. He stepped aside for me as I moved past him towards a doorway, him trailing behind. Beyond the door was a courtyard, and the air was warmer than I had anticipated, for a late-winter's early evening. It felt incredibly refreshing, soothing and calming me.
All day long, I'd been stuck indoors with Kumiko and the other ladies, doing my maid-of-honour duties: Sewing, singing, playing cards, playing music, and mainly entertaining Kumiko.(She's the same age as me! Why does she need entertaining!?)
Outside, my eyes seemed to open and functtion more properly, and I felt my shoulders droop a bit, me still being careful of my posture just as my governess taught me. Ah. That reminds me, I sort of miss my governess. She was such a kind lady, although astoundingly strict when it came to etiquette. But back to the main topic here...
We walked toward the rose garden. "Back home in Kanazawa," he said, breaking the silence, "we can smell the sea in the gardens. I kind of miss it. It's so hemmed in, here."
"Oh. So we're walking and talking now, are we?" I said. That shut him up, which was pretty funny. Walk with me, indeed.
We passed a bunch of tulips while walking, and I had to pause at the sight of um, what was it called again? Rosa foetida, I think. Ah. What was it that my governess told me of Rosa foetidas again? Oh. Right. They represent respect and love, I think. Or was it joy and friendship? Desire...? Whatever.
I had a question for him: "What did you think of the play last night?"
He looked up at this, a certain glint in his eye, (or something in mine, I don't know,) before he made a face and shrugged noncommittally. I scoffed at this.
"Oh? But you laughed through much of it." I said. He got defensive.
"We're at court." He said, shrugging once more. Definition- Court: Eat, drink, gossip, and be merry. "And anyways, so were you. You were all but guffawing through all of it." He added. It was my turn to shrug.
"We're at court." I responded.
"You were probably laughing the most of anyone there. You're good at it aren't you?" He told me, once we reached one of the many benches in the vast garden. I sat back, tidying my skirts and crossing my legs.
"At laughing?" I asked, while he sat next to me. He chuckled.
"At being at court, of course." Of course.
"Eh. I guess it's just another thing I was taught to do." I told him. He raised an eyebrow at this. "Did your governess teach you many things?" He asked. Of course she did, she's my governess for a reason.
"Mainly all, yes." He looked disbelieving. I smiled. "She even taught me how to flirt." He looked away at this. Hehe. "She also taught my friend Kasumi, and I how to swoon."
"Now that'sunbelievable." He said. I shrugged. I took out my fan, and breathed harder, and he got a confused look on his face. Haha. I took a deeper breath, and melted against him. He became frantic.
"Oh lords, are you okay? Yuuki?" He got up, and put a hand on my back so I wouldn't fall and hit my head. I cracked an eye open and grinned. "Gotcha." I said, laughing. He dropped his hand, and I propped myself up on my elbows.
"That was so not funny. I thought you'd really fainted." He pouted slightly, and I giggled. "My governess taught me everything I know," I said.
"Yes. But I think she missed not scaring people half to death on purpose."
---
Same day, Morning,
Kaname's Presence Chamber.
"The leader of this command? Please be so good as to reconsider. This is a somewhat undeserved honour, your majesty." Toshiro said.
Kaname sat back in his seat.
"And your reason?" 'I already know it but...this is a pretty boring response.' He thought.
"Well, the supervision of this commands authority...is something I have no place in saying anything about," he said.
"Toshiro..." Kaname started.
"Please elect a more appropriate candidate, and our command will abide by your decision," Toshiro said, and bowed. "Thank you for your consideration." Kaname sighed.
"In other words, you don't wish to accept this valuable position." He said.
"...If you order it, I will take the position. I only stated my opinion because you asked for it."
"..."
"Thank you for taking the trouble to visit. You may leave," Was Kaname's automatic response. Toshiro backed out of the room quickly and silently. He looked at the stack of papers on his desk and slightly frowned. As he picked one of the parchments up and grabbed his quill, a knock of the door sounded at that moment.
"Enter," He said, and put the quill back down. Ichijou came in with a big smile on his face and bowed.
"Yes, Takuma?" Kaname said and clasped his hands together under his chin.
"You'll never guess what I just found out," He said, and placed his hands on the mahogany desk. Kaname raised an eyebrow, when Takuma suddenly got in his face and furrowed his brows.
"Yes, Takuma?" Kaname asked again. Takuma scrutinized Kaname's face before opening his mouth.
"I think you need a shave again." He said, tilting his head to the side.
"Get out."
"No wait! That wasn't it! I just got side-tracked...sorry." Takuma said fast. "I got news that your parents were coming to visit! Isn't that great?"
Kaname just about gaped at him before re-composing his face again. Although he did, shake his head at him.
"Takuma, they're my parents. I've known for weeks now, that they were coming." Takuma's happy face fell.
"Oh...Right." Was all he said. He looked at the stack of papers on Kaname's desk. "Do you want any help with that?" He said, pointing to the papers. Kaname shook his head.
"It's nothing of real importance right now, so I think I can finish them quickly." He said.
"Alright, then. I'm going back to the great hall if you need me." Takuma said, bowing slightly as Kaname waved his hand.
"Have fun."
---
30th Day of January, Afternoon,
With Rima and Kasumi.
Rima and Kasumi were standing by the tennis court indoors, with many others also watching the games between a few dukes and earls. Right now, the Duke of Matsuyama is playing against the Earl of Kobe.
"So Rima," Kasumi started, everyone's head swishing back and forth between the two players. "How's your relationship with the earl?"
"Don't start with this again, Kasumi." Rima said, still looking at her new-found beau and the duke playing tennis. They were tied right now, and playing as vigorous as ever.
"So...sex?" Kasumi looked at over from the two tennis players and over too Rima, curiosity written on her face. Rima sent her a small glare.
"That is none of your business, but no. Now be quiet." She said, looking back to the match. When the crowd had cheered, it seems the duke had taken the lead.
"At least, not yet...right?" Kasumi added.
"Se fermer!" Rima hissed. [A/N: Shut it.]
"Oh...? No need to be so testy." Kasumi pouted.
"Hmph. I told you not to say anything else," Rima responded.
"So you retort back at me in french? Que indécent..." Rima rolled her eyes at this. [A/N: How rude.]
"I'm going to ignore you now." She said.
"'Tis not the first time you do it, ma cherie." [A/N: My dear.]
After a few more minutes of Shiki playing against Lord Matsuyama, Shiki finally got in two more points and won the match. Then, pages surried about the hallways outside the tennis court shouting, "The King! The King!" and somewhere behind him, "The Lady Kumiko!"
And surely, Kaname strode in by the hallways, wearing a tennis outfit and hold a racquet in his hand. He pointed at Shiki and Aidou, and pointed back at Takuma and himself.
"Looks like the King wants a match." Kasumi said after doing a small curtsy.
"No, really?" Rima said.
She looked over the countless amounts of heads and found Kumiko walking in, with a rosy-hued velvet gown with slashed sleevs and white ivory puffing from underneath. Behind her, several ladies-in-waiting and maids of honour sauntering through the hallways, heads held high.
"Look, Rima! It's Yuuki, Sayori, and Ruka!" Kasumi shouted in pure excitement. She then grabbed Rima's hand and pushed their way through the crowd, making Rima herself stumble a bit in surprise. They then found out, however, that their pushing to the front of the crowd had be needless because, Kumiko then strode her way to the back of the crowd, and towards the netted walls for a view of the tennis court.
When Yuuki and Yori passed them, they turned around and smiled at Kasumi and Rima who waved back at them. Ruka was busy chatting with the other silver-haired girl, Maria Kurenai, to notice them. Kasumi and Rima quickly followed behind the small entourage.
"Hm," Rima started, "Ruka seems quite in-depth with that petite platine blonde Marie, ne?" [A/N: Small platinum blonde, Maria.]
"Why, are you jealous?" Kasumi said, laughing. Rima shrugged. "Oh that is right," Kasumi started again, "You have Lord Kobe there to 'assist' you, ne?" She laughed again, but was drained by the cheers and bounces of excitement as the match with the Kaname and his friends began. Kasumi looked at Yuuki who just then also looked back at her and they both smiled at each other.
Yuuki turned head back to look at Kumiko, who was swarmed in with all her ladies-in-waiting, and then grabbed Yori's hand and made their way towards Rima and Kasumi. It was a bit of a replay of what Kasumi did with Rima, but with less pushing involed.
"Yuuki-chan!" Kasumi squealed, and hugged her. Rima took a look a Yori and giggled.
"'Sumi here did the same thing to me Yori. Their actions are much unexpected, exactemente?" Rima sked. [A/N: Correct?]
Yori laughed and nodded her head. Kasumi released Yuuki, and she stepped over to Rima.
"So Rima, I hear you're in a relationship with Lord Kobe?" Yuuki suggested, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Ugh. Not you too. Moi jamais trouver tranquillité et tranquil..." Rima muttered. [A/N: I can never get peace and quiet.] Yuuki giggled.
"So how's the...activities?" She asked. Rima clicked her tongue at this.
"I'm going back to my room."
Explanations~
Great Chamber - Was an all purpose reception and living room. The family might take some meals in it, though the great hall was the main eating room. It offered the lord of the household some privacy from his own staff, albeit not total privacy.
Rendezvous - An agreement between two or more persons to meet at a certain time and place. In this case, it's unplanned so technically no agreement was made.
Tennis Note - It wouldn't be too uncommon for a king to play tennis with other courtiers. After all, court was assembled mainly for interaction, and the king was allowed to have fun. This would just be like hunting with courtiers as well. All for the fun of it.
Also, I'm no french expertise (never taken classes in my life, just learned it off certain relatives) so some words may not be totally accurate.
Feel free to ask other questions. :)
Please and thank you to all reviewers. ^^
~Kagome873