A/N I don't own Vampire Knight nor do I make any profit from it
Chapter 14 - The Princess's Arrival
Hikari fastened a string of pearls around her neck as Hana buttoned up her navy blue dress, "Lady Yuuki is returning to court with her new husband, isn't she, Hana?"
"Yes, indeed," Hana said as she ran a comb through Hikari's hair, "Please be careful around her husband, my lady. He is a hunter after all."
"Indeed," Hikari said with a small yet smile, "I saw Lady Hanaka returning. Will she be attending with us to meet Lady Yuuki?"
"I know not, madam," Hana said, "Would it make you unhappy if she did?"
"No," Hikari replied, "I just don't want to have to look at her or be civil. She's bedding my husband after all."
Hana sighed heavily before she standing back to admire her mistress. She couldn't understand why Lord Kaname wanted to have another woman. Hikari was beautiful and graceful.
"Well, go and stun your husband with your beauty," Hana said as Hikari blushed.
"I don't think we will go that far, Hana," Hikari said with a small blush, "Lord Kaname doesn't notice me."
"But he will, my lady," Hana said, "No man can resist you when you smile."
Hikari blushed even deeper, "Well," she said, clearing her throat, "Let's go."
The two girls made their way down to the main parlour where Kaname was waiting. Kaname looked up at his bride who was walking down the stairs towards him. His wine coloured eyes lingered on her petite form for a moment or two before extending his hand to her, "You look… acceptable."
Hikari blinked at him and stopped walking as she eyed his outstretched hand, "Well, husband, coming from you, that's a complement," she took his hand and walked the rest of way down. Then, Hanaka came swanning down the stairs with an air of superiority. Hikari snatched her hand out Kaname's abruptly and averted her gaze.
"Ah, Lord Kaname, I have missed you," Hanaka exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Kaname's waist, completely ignoring the rightful queen who stood to the side.
"Are all your affairs in order, Hanaka," Kaname asked.
"They are, my lord," she turned her head to see Hikari standing awkwardly behind her, "Oh, my lady, I didn't see you there. Tell me, how are things with you?"
Hikari raised an eyebrow before regarding her coldly, "Oh, everything is fine with me. What about you?"
Hanaka scoffed slightly, "Excellent," she said in a superior tone. Hikari's eyes flashed red for a moment but Hana discreetly touched her hand to calm her down. Hikari swallowed before turning away.
"What are we waiting for? Isn't your sister here yet," Hikari asked coldly. Kaname turned to her.
"She will be here shortly," Kaname replied, "Be weary of her husband too. He can be rather volatile around vampires. Mind you, he's a vampire himself," he said with a mocking smirk, "How vulgar."
"If he's a vampire, then why is he hunter," Hikari asked innocently.
"He was bitten by a pureblood," Kaname replied Hikari gave him a questioning look, "And no, it wasn't me."
"I wasn't suggesting that it was," Hikari replied coolly, "I am just wondering who bit him that's all. There are not many purebloods in this world."
"True," Kaname conceded and he nodded slightly. Suddenly, the door opened and light poured into the darkened parlour and two figured appeared. Yuuki Kuran and Zero Kiryuu stood in the door way and Hikari blinked at the pair. Yuuki had short brown hair with large wine coloured eyes. Her skin was pale and smooth like porcelain. Zero was tall and had short silver hair with lavender coloured eyes. He had a hunter seal tattoo on his neck, keeping his vampire instinct intact.
"Brother," Yuuki said as she ran to him, her arms encircling Kaname's waist, "I have missed you."
Kaname hugged her back, "As I have missed you," he said with a small smile, a smile which Hikari had never seen before. Yuuki turned to Hanaka and raised an eyebrow.
"Has he finally married you," Yuuki asked and Hikari cleared her throat, making the Kuran princess look up.
"I am his wife," Hikari said stiffly, "I am Hikari Kuran."
Yuuki stared at her for a moment before smiling brightly, "Ah, I see. Well, I am honoured to meet you," Yuuki said as she bobbed a curtsey.
"Lady Hanaka is merely his whore," Hikari said casually. Yuuki appeared shocked by this and she cast a look of grievance to her brother. Kaname avoided her gaze. Hanaka, although squirming on the outside, stood proudly and didn't waver. Yuuki cleared her throat and turned to Zero, "May I present my husband. We married earlier this year."
"You did not see fit to invite your own family to the wedding," Kaname asked pointedly. Yuuki scratched the back of her head and giggled nervously.
"Mother and Father came to the wedding, Kaname," Yuuki said, "I didn't invite you because I knew you didn't approve of our union."
"And our parents do," Kaname asked incredulously, "I doubt it."
"No, Kaname, they were rather supportive even though I was supposed to marry Lord Eisuke Kitamura," Yuuki said and a chill went down Hikari's spine, "Did I say something wrong, Lady Hikari?"
"That's my father," Hikari said bluntly, "You were going to marry my father."
Yuuki's eyebrows rose with surprise, "I… see…"
Zero, who had remained silent, walked further into the parlour and wrapped a protective arm around his wife, "Yuuki, you haven't told them the news."
Yuuki gasped and a gleaming smile spread across her fine features, "Oh, I have some wonderful news," she gushed excitedly, "I'm with child!"
Kaname smiled slightly and Hikari's face lit up, "Congratulations, Lady Yuuki! I wish you the best."
"Shall we talk about this over tea," Kaname said as he directed them to the drawing room. However, as they did so and disappeared into the adjourning room, Hikari grabbed Hanaka by the wrist.
"What's your game, Hanaka," Hikari asked, "Why do you still continue this relationship? You don't love him do you?"
"Whatever do you mean, my lady," Hanaka said with mock innocence, "I am merely in love with him, my lady, surely you can see that."
"You don't love him," Hikari said as she continued to grip her wrist, "Anyway one can see that… all except Kaname that is. I am his wife… it hurts that he cannot even bring himself to love me and when he is transfixed with a woman who is only using him, that is like a knife to my heart."
"It's not like you love him either," Hanaka hissed, "You have only known him a matter of months. I have known him for years. What do you know of him, huh? You don't know him as I do."
"But you're only using him," Hikari said through gritted teeth.
"Yes, I suppose I am," Hanaka said, "But I do have a certain amount of love for him. It is my family who is ambitious. Let me tell you, Lady Hikari, I might be a queen in a matter of months."
"You're not even a pureblood vampire," Hikari pointed out, "The people will never accept you."
"I care not," Hanaka said, "I merely want to be his queen. Wouldn't you prefer not to be queen? I see that you have your eye on somebody else… a certain… Hanabusa Aidou…"
Hikari let go of her wrist abruptly, "I do not."
"You could have fooled me," Hanaka replied slyly, "You do realise that it is treason for a queen to take a lover."
"What happens if you become queen and become tired of Kaname? Surely… surely the novelty of being queen will ware off and your roving eye will go on to someone else? Being queen isn't about wearing pretty dresses or wearing the crown. It's a real job. Stick to being his mistress," Hikari replied venomously, "I would never choose to be queen or force it upon anybody."
"That's because you have no ambition, my lady," Hanaka replied, "You cannot bring yourself to consummate the marriage even though it is obvious Lord Kaname is desperate to do so. Having an heir would secure your position yet you turn down that honour. I will give him a child and that child will be a either a king or a queen."
"It will be a bastard," Hikari said bluntly, "It will have no claim to the throne. Only my heirs borne by me will have that claim. Your children will be mere bastards."
"Lord Kaname has the power to change that."
"No one has. Not even Kaname," Hikari said in a dull tone, "You are no more than a whore. Kaname will tire of you and your family will drop down to the lowest status within the court. I've seen it many times before in books and in history. The king will tire of his mistress. He'll send her away or kill her. You're playing a very dangerous game, Hanaka."
"Dangerous is my favourite word," Hanaka said smugly, "I am not fearful like you to be ambitious. You are meek and mild; I am as sensuous and as smouldering as fire. Kaname wants a woman and not a little girl. It's sickening how sweet you are."
"At least I am not a whore," Hikari said with clenched fists, "I am virtuous and will wait patiently in the sidelines… waiting for the opportunity to strike like a cobra and take my husband from you. You will drop him. You have that personality and when you do, I will be waiting."
"You'll have to wait a very long time, my queen," Hanaka said before disappearing into the drawing room. Hikari stood for some time, at a loss as to what to do. Hanaka had been right about one thing though.
She had been attracted to Hanabusa. He was handsome and kind, gentlemanly and dashing. He was unlike any other man she had even known. It sickened her how attracted she was. First, she had been attracted to Takuma but once she got to know his fiancée Sara, she could bring herself to think of him as anything other than a friend. But her attraction to Hanabusa was a dangerous idea and pursuing it would possibly cost her life.
Shaking her head, Hikari decided that she didn't want to be like Hanaka. She would attract her husband if it was the last thing she did.
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