Hi everyone!
Hope you're all doing well. Review responses are up first!
swimmer1102: Thank you! And yes, I'm afraid I couldn't help myself on this little cliffhanger. It adds to the spook-factor I think. It's great to hear from you again-hope you enjoy this chapter just as much!
Faeries232: I'm so glad you like it! Thank you for reviewing-it's always wonderful to hear from new readers/reviewers!
So, reader question for this week is much more general than past questions. What is your favorite part of this fanfic? Is it the narration? Antics of a certain character? Characterization alterations? A certain ship? Anything is fair game! Run with it if you like!
Next update will be on Thursday as usual!
Now, onto the next chapter. In which Haruhi and Tamaki stumble across quite a surprise.
Tamaki surveyed the dusty ruins of the wing in front of them with a frown. Grimy portraits lined the walls, overseeing a parade of broken and unused furniture down the hall. He had never seen a place in such ill-repair. It was quite the departure from his home. Every inch of the castle in Alsance was kept spotless, regardless of its usage.
"Haruhi, why isn't this wing used anymore? It seems like such a waste," he remarked as they picked around a shattered wardrobe and a rickety hall table.
Haruhi shrugged. "It just happened really. A long time ago, the younger heirs of the royal line held this wing. But as the royal families got smaller, it was used as a wing for important visitors from other countries. Since Ichio rarely has visitors anymore, it's become more of a storage closet."
"I see…And the portraits?"
"They're of the earliest monarchs of Ichio." She pointed to one of a thin-faced man with a long goatee. "That's King Akio. He united the original nation-states into one kingdom."
"That sounds like quite the feat," Tamaki said. They passed under a few more watchful gazes of monarchs from long ago. But halfway down the hall, Tamaki paused at the portrait of a woman with steely-grey hair and burning eyes. In a way, the woman reminded him of his grandmother.
"Who is this?"
Haruhi stopped before the portrait. "That's Queen Mizuki. She's called the Widow Queen. Her husband, King Hideyoshi, was killed in a battle against a neighboring country about two hundred and fifty years ago. She took up his crown, rode into battle and led Ichio to victory. She reigned for another forty years, but she never remarried."
Tamaki blurted out, "Ah. So Ichio has a tradition of female monarchs then."
Haruhi's face fell. She let out a long breath, shaking her head. "Only under absolutely extraordinary circumstances."
He blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Queen Mizuki was Ichio's only ruling queen. Since then, every royal daughter has been passed over in favor of one of her brothers."
Tamaki's mouth fell open in disbelief. Alsance had been ruled by both kings and queens. Tradition dictated that the crown passed in equal succession to the most capable child, regardless of gender or age. Ichio's laws couldn't be so antiquated. "But surely as the only child, the crown will pass to you."
"Not according to our laws and precepts," Haruhi replied. "The crown only passes to a male heir. Meaning that my husband will be the one to rule."
With that declaration, Tamaki understood the bitter distaste with which Haruhi spat the word "husband." He had heard rumors that Yuko's sole purpose in the castle was to marry the princess off. Yet he hadn't understood why Haruhi had refused all of her suitors. But now, it all made sense. He couldn't imagine being forced to hand Alsance over to someone else. Even if that someone else was a spouse.
"I'm…sorry," he said finally. "It's incredibly unfair."
Haruhi sighed and shrugged. "My mother attempted to change the laws. But she passed before any progress could be made."
"Then there's a chance it could be changed?"
"Perhaps. But it's highly unlikely. With Ichio's current political state, others might see such a change as an aggression. Our diplomatic ties are far too weak to survive that kind of misunderstanding. So, it would require a miracle. Or," Haruhi nodded wearily to Queen Mizuki's portrait. "Extraordinary circumstances."
Tamaki nodded with a frown. This would be quite a new wrinkle to consider if he intended to pursue the princess's hand in earnest. Yet now, he shook off the thought. He would cross that bridge if or when they came to it.
"I hope-" he began.
Suddenly, Haruhi raised the lantern, her head cocking to one side. She started forward.
"Haruhi—where are you—" Tamaki stopped abruptly as he saw what she was looking at. He followed after her, similarly entranced.
Beyond the bluish glow of the lantern, all was darkness. But at the very end of the hall, a glowing white orb danced in the air. As they approached, the orb shimmered and took on the shape of a woman.
A regal crown gleamed on the woman's head and she held a scepter in one hand. She raised her chin high and surveyed them both with fiery eyes.
Haruhi let out a quiet gasp and abruptly sank into a deep formal curtsey. Tamaki wasn't sure why, but he followed her lead, bending into a straight backed bow of a king's deference.
The apparition soon waved a hand in an indication to rise. When Tamaki raised his gaze to the phantom's face, he saw her mouth curve into a smile.
"Haruhi! Tamaki! Where are you?" Honey's high voice shattered the enchanted silence. Tamaki and Haruhi whirled around to face the other end of the hall as Sumire and Honey rounded the corner.
"There you are!" Sumire cried. "Mei and Kazukiyo found the twins!"
"They ran into a room and accidentally locked themselves in," Honey added.
Haruhi and Tamaki looked at each other. Did either of the pair see the queen's ghost? They glanced back to where the queen had stood. But the specter had disappeared.
"What's wrong? You both look like you've seen a ghost," Honey said.
Tamaki and Haruhi simultaneously burst into nervous laughter. But neither addressed the issue, despite Sumire and Honey's questioning glances.
And the excerpt for the next chapter is...
"Um…where's Kazukiyo?" Haruhi asked.
Mei glanced about with wide eyes. "He was with me when we found the twins."
"He came back here with us too," Kaoru volunteered.
"He couldn't have gone off by himself," Hikaru declared.
Mei held out her empty hands. "Yes, he could have. He had our lantern."
Oh my! Has our scaredy-cat suddenly developed nerves of steel? And is there a reason for such bravery? Check back Thursday for the answer!
