Chapter Thirty Six

The library at this time of the night seemed even quieter. Each turn of the page seemed to be unusually loud, even though he knew that this was not so, as the library was where many of their private conversation take place due to being very good at isolating noises.

Messallina would still come here, but their meeting seemed less and less.

Strangely enough, Larsa actually did not use the library that much. Oh, his brother devoured books eagerly, but he would not read them here.

The library remained special for the two of them.

Across him was that chess set, hidden in the corner even though it should be an object that was displayed with pride. Perhaps this was another sign of how his mother was not suitable in her role. It could have been very easy for her to sell it and distributed the money as alms. Making her popular with little loss.

A whole decade ago, he and Messallina had played games of chess. Little did they realise that they would soon be testing their own skills.

A pawn that becomes a queen could still be eaten by other pieces. A seasoned chess player would not hesitate to sacrifice this piece if it can secure the game.

It is the king that must be protected at all cost.

Messallina would never be the king and she knew this. Therefore, would it not be better if she give up now? Perhaps she might be even more danger as a Queen was expected to do more.

It would be up to her. However, the reason that he gave her a chance to decide was not the same as what Doctor Cid and Venat did for him.

It was because he needed to see the extent she could go due to him.

He had to attend some business so he was not present at dinner with his family. Therefore, he had no idea about what happened with Messallina. He would find out soon, so why was he impatient?

Nor was it likely that a decision would be made immediately. After all, she was a devout widow.

He really thought that she'd remain like that. After all, he was the one that needed to marry, not her. Besides, he was well aware that she did not enjoy playing the role of a devoted wife.

The door was opened and he did not even bother to work out who it was. Maybe he just knew.

"…surely you weren't waiting for me, so what can be so important?" this was said mockingly, yet she felt that to merely say this meant that she had a certain expectation and hope.

Messallina stood by the entrance, her arms behind her, almost like a student waiting for the approval of the teacher. Her clothes had black in it, but the other colour was lilac, the brightest colour that he has ever seen her wear once she became a widow. No veil was worn, not even that flimsy one. Instead, she had some jewelled decoration in her hair.

"Isn't this too conspicuous?" he finally said. "It seems that you have already decided to accept."

"I can't dress as if I am going to refuse." She said as she took a seat across him. She then took hold of the board by the edge and rotated it so that the colour of them was the colour that they used to have when they played against each other. However, she did not do any more.

"What happened? Was your groom so pleasant that you ended up talking so long? Or should I not be deceived by your tidy clothes?"

"It is a bad time to return." She admitted, "But as for where I was- I was actually at the cathedral, in front of Siorus' grave."

"An odd place. I am sure that this man is not like us, by having no other choice. If he would choose to let that be the place you two meet in, I am not sure if you should marry him." he said as he moved her pawn forward- the conventional step. "If you do not want to be unconventional, then I will make my move."

A gesture of the hand was the indication.

"I did not meet that man. It was quite a dramatic move too. One of my best performances, if I do say so myself." She laughed. "I began to cry, saying that I could not betray my husband and son. Therefore, I had to go to the cathedral in order to go his grave, asking forgiveness for even considering such a thing."

"Surely you could have waited until you meet the man." He commented. "I thought that you wanted to meet him."

"I was curious." She admitted. "However, I realised something very important on my way. I realised that there was no use in doing so because I cannot leave here. I don't want to leave here."

"And what made you decide to be so foolish? Do not say that it is because of Larsa, because we both know that this is not the truth."

"Do you really want to know the answer? I will tell you when I lose my next piece other then the pawn."

Which was not going to be that hard, but it would still take some time.

Vayne was going to take the piece away when her hand covered his, and even though he was looking at the piece, he could see that she had stood up and leant forward.

Not only would he lose a potential danger on the board, he gained a kiss from her.

A quick one, but one on the lip.

"For your sake, Lord Vayne…no, Vayne. I know that if I leave then whatever fragile bond we have would be gone. I can't accept that. Therefore, I am not going to meet the other. After all, it might make me want to change my mind."

"Because your possible groom is a much better person then me?" he grabbed her other hand so that she could not sit back.

"That is not that hard a thing, Vayne." She said dryly. "However, that is only if by being a better person you are referring to him being kinder and saner. I realised that there is no point to meet him because I won't marry him. However, do not worry, I will use Tudur and Siorus as an excuse, so Larsa won't be affected."

"…are you so certain?"

"I think I am being foolish, but I don't regret my decision."

"You know what I did and what I will do." he said slowly. "You know what I am like."

"I know well enough." She said. "No, that is not quite correct. After all, you still hide a lot of things from me."

"And you also know that I won't be persuaded to act otherwise." He continued steadily. "If you choose to remain beside me…you will undergo many more unpleasant things, and I expect you to help me."

"Why," she whispered as she circled around the table so that she could be right by him. "Are you asking me things that we both know already?"

His reply was to pull her to him so that she actually ended up sitting on his lap. Since the time they slept together, they had not been in such close proximity with one another.

"Then give me your final decision. I need to be certain before I act." He said grimly. "Messallina, will you continue to be beside me and aid me? If you agree, then I will chain you to me."

"I will and I do." She said as she kissed him on the lips again. "I think I might love you. If I am, then it is that sort of love that would let me do whatever I can. The sort of love where I would accept being second place."

"Then you will be my wife." He said before he laughed. "Why are you so surprised at this? Don't you think that I can do it?"

"I know that you can do it, but I am a bit surprised that you will do it."

"I don't think that the love I feel is the same as most, even what I feel for Larsa is probably still different. I do, however, know that I love you in my own way. You are different from Larsa, so what I feel for you is naturally different. Because of this, I want you to be my wife."

"Even if I do not remarry?"

"But you will," he said with confidence, "Because you will be my wife. When you are my wife, it would be much easier for us to meet and I also want you to be in my bed. I trust you in my bed. However, the main reason is because I actually want to be your husband."

The next few moments were rather strange for the two of them, as they spent it in complete silence. She leant against him while he was holding her.

That was all, as if they had time to waste by doing nothing.

However, they had to break the silence.

"How will you manage to get rid of your bride and make me into your wife?" she finally said. "Surely you won't be killing them?"

"Will you really be sorry if they die? This is a consequence that they should be aware of." He said brutally. "You would also know that they would plan to do the same to you if need to."

"And I thought that I am the only one who would want to be your wife." She said. "Of course it is not them that I am not concerned about. It is the one that delivers the blow that I am worry about. Just because someone could and would do it, it doesn't mean that won't be affected. I think your brothers deserved their fate, the one that did not is you."

For a brief moment, his gaze softened and he then said the following very softly: "Are you not the same in regard to your parents?"

Both of them had scars that only the other saw.

"You are probably the only one that wants to be my wife, the others merely wish to be part of this house. Messallina, I will find the solution very soon, but be very careful." There was actually real concern in his voice. After all, the possible consequences included her death. "We will need to keep our animosity open."

"Of course, the senate love to make people do what they don't want to. Perhaps I should try to get away to show that even though I do not want to remarry, I have no desire to remain near you."

"Are you thinking of a similar thing, or is this just a coincidence?" he chuckled. "It is dangerous to make promises, especially for someone like me, but I will make one to you. Messallina, you and I will wed."

They actually had considerable time as the marriage would not take place until some time next year. However, this was also bad because it meant that she would be in danger.

Despite her happiness at what Vayne revealed and told her, Messallina knew that she was not able to celebrate. It was true that he would do the majority of the work, but she had to make sure that she would be around to reap the benefit.

Luckily, she was able to use one of her favourite weapon: the thick black veil that concealed her face. Was it not natural that a widow would dress in full mourning to show her refusal at remarriage?

News travelled fast so she was sure that her father-in-law would have found out what happened, while Vayne would be acting as if he just heard the news for the first time.

As for Larsa…he would have found out too. Probably just then, from either his father or brother.

"I do not wish to remarry and this is my own choice." She stated as she took her seat. "Lord Gramis, does the fact that my husband is gone mean that I can no longer stay here?"

"Of course not." Gramis immediately said. "I am happy at you being here, and I know that my poor wife would have thought the same thing too. However, I am worried that you feel obliged to remain here."

"Such a thing seems like excuses to get rid of me." upon this, she actually turned to look at Vayne very briefly. This was naturally noticed by Gramis, while Larsa was probably trying to convince himself that this did not happen, or that it was just a coincidence.

"I am really glad that Messallina is staying with us." Larsa said and the fear of her leaving must have been more severe then what she had thought as the boy actually got up in his seat in order to embrace her.

"I wish to stay here, that is all. Lord Vayne." She began, "Please tell Lady Lucia that I will be very welcoming to her and as soon as she is able to, I will give all the duties I have been doing to her. Therefore, I am sure that she will have no objection with me continuing to be here."

"Perhaps, but it might be a bit hard to adjust when you have been here for so long. Perhaps you ought to leave for a while?"

"If I must. That would be how I prove my goodwill."

After Larsa, it was Drace. She was glad that she would not lose this fragile friendship yet, but that was not her only concern. Drace was going to be a piece in this game that she and Vayne would play.

"It seems that I was wrong and I am sorry." Drace said honestly.

"Do you think that I went there because I want to remarry?" Messallina said angrily, even though she knew that this was an anger that she had no right to feel. "However, the senate is not going to be very happy and I think Hosue Meligeni is the same."

"Surely the senate will not do anything extreme." Drace pointed out.

"Do you think that my father-in-law actually wanted to kill his own sons when he could have exiled them?" she said. "Yes, I have deferred to the senate's wish in the past, and I am sure that you and the other judges think that I am working for them. However, what else can I do but to keep on their good side? Do you think that a man who could not save his own sons would be able to do anything for his daughter-in-law? I think it is the fact that my father is a senate that made them feel that I could be of use. Otherwise, I am sure that they would have got rid of me."

"Gabranth and I will be on our guard even more." Drace assured her. "Lady Messallina, we need you here for Lord Larsa. You are able to guard him in areas that we cannot due to being his sister-in-law."

Messallina smiled at this, although the reason that she was not assured was not because of the judge's promise. Drace was not one who was good at concealing, so her actions would be noticed. Along with the rumours that Vayne would spread, her enemies would not be able to carry out their actions. They would make it so that her death would be attributed to House Cornelius.

It was not foul proof since there were a lot of loopholes, but hopefully, this would buy them enough time.

Author's Note: The chess game has been a metaphor/simile that I have used quite often (I included both metaphor and simile as I am sure that I have compared it both ways), and I think even though Vayne is the master mind behind all this, he is not the King, the all important piece that must be kept alive. I think he is actually the queen, the piece that does everything, while Larsa is the piece that one must lose. I am sure that he is more concerned with Larsa being alive then him, and he would be happy to leave provided that he was sure that Larsa was safe. Therefore, he is the Queen with Larsa being the King.

In chess, white tend to move first and because of this, white actually has an advantage. Therefore, I think it is logical that the less skilled layer would be able to have the advantage. Since Vayne is a more skilled player then her, it makes sense that he would be black (this can possibly lead to another symbolism conversation). Apparently the first move tends to always be the same, so that is why Vayne moved Messallina's pawn for her.

They will finally be married and they finally admit their feelings for each other. It takes thirty chapters and how many words to do it? Of course, their marriage is not so straightforward as them being in love as there are a lot of other reasons. However, the fact that they are in love is one reason. I often wonder, what would the story have been like if I started with Messallina being married to Vayne all along. But then I think it might just be a bit cliché, finding love in your marriage (although that is certainly a good thing), but I like this take. How they started of as in-laws.

The next chapters would be Vayne working out a way for him to marry Messallina and there will be a wedding. It is not just going to be: "they got married and it is three years later." There will be a chapter on the wedding.

The rest is just about a review on final fantasy that I see, so feel free to skip as it is not really related to the story.

The writer said that she felt it is really unfair when people compare X and XII because they are different type of stories. X is about emotion, while XII is about reason. I have not played any other FF game before, I haven't even played XII, but I sort of agree. With Vayne, he is governed by reason. What is the best for the kingdom, what is the best for his brother. That is why he is alone, that is why he would be condemned. In addition, that person also had a really good comment about Vayne. "Perhaps he does desire to have Larsa's understanding, but his rationality tell him that is it best for Larsa to not know such darkness. He is willing to become the sword of House Solidor, and eliminate any that is in the way of the heir of the empire; and then become the shield of House Solidor, to receive everyone's hatred and then die as they wish. And then, for the sake of Larsa, for the sake of House Solidor, for his homeland, and for the sake of everyone that he love, to win their future. From the beginning to the end, he has not been used by anyway, it is all his own choice. Perhaps that is a sort of freedom."

With the other one, the writer pointed out that Vayne's tragedy is that he is too capable, and I feel that since she did a really good job, I will just translate what she said: "Those who are really strong can probably fight till the end, but they are often not the one who would be able to receive the price, as it would be picked up by the one who managed to hide from the battle. If Larsa knew that everything that Vayne has done, the kin slaughter, is all for the sake of their family, that it is what his beloved father allowed; if Larsa know that when Vayne killed the senate, his hands are stained by blood for the sake of protecting him so that his innocence would not be lost due to the political world, would Larsa still be able to face Vayne with his sword? Would the innocent little prince who knows all of this still be able to rule the vast Archadian empire without feeling any guilt? Unlike Larsa, who is loved by everyone, Vayne's path is much too bitter, much too heavy. Perhaps it is because he is so capable, that he must have to do all these hideous things for his family…I feel that Vayne is a very tragic character. His capability let him be a target and he have to be the sword that does all these things.

That is probably why I ended up writing this story, I wish for Vayne to have some one who is able to understand him. At the very least, to not hate him and to be on his side. I think the above, which I really like, would also be a hint as to why Messallina left Archades in the end.