A/N: Another random oneshot I made from scratch. I hope I made it somehow a bit complete. :)
von Karma Estate
9:30 pm
"Franziska." The voice of Manfred von Karma echoed against the doorway.
"Coming."
Suddenly, the pitter-pattering of footsteps followed, hastily making its way nearer until it reached its destination on the door.
"What is it, papa?"
Manfred gestured to the newcomer beside him. Placing a slight brush on the boy's back.
"Franziska, this is Miles Edgeworth. He will be staying here with us."
Franziska smiled a bit, offering her hand. "Pleased to meet you."
Miles only looked straight towards her. A slight frown whisking away somehow as he accepted her hand, forming a handshake. After that, he looked down at his shoes. Franziska could see him busily floundering himself with thoughts, and that made her curious.
"Well then, I should escort you to your room." Manfred walked inside the manor. "Follow me."
And just by simple words, Miles followed. Stoic as ever. Franziska could only look at him, fueled by unanswered questions littering her head. Eventually, she brushed all of it off her head, and quickly followed, wanting to find out what would Miles react.
"... this is your room." Manfred told Miles. "After a week, I should expect you doing your studies. Understand?"
Miles gave him a nod. "Understood."
"I better get back to work now. Once again, I'm sorry for your loss." Manfred said rather cold as he turned around and walked away. Never leaving an another word.
Miles could only sigh afterwards. He held the doorknob and twisted it, entering his room. Franziska could only see him disappear inside. Bringing her an answer but more inquiries came, which caused her frown. Her puzzle being far from completing it.
She heard what transpired earlier, so she went back to her room instead of sneaking around. The feeling of defeat evident on her face.
It was morning. The sun reflecting radiant sunlight everywhere. But still, silence was prominent around the vast hallways and chasms of the manor. Maids and butlers scattered in every corner, doing various tasks like some sort of script written for them.
As soon as the sun lifted itself, so does Franziska. The little blue-haired girl immediately ran down the stairs, and into the second floor, stood on a huge vase peeking on its edge, waiting for her new guest to come out of the door of his room. She never felt anticipated for curiosity before, and quite probably because she only spent the whole day in the manor... and that is reading and doing her studies. Plainly boring.
A creak of the door. She flinched a bit closer to the vase, shrinking her frame as the vase covered her.
And she made no mistake. Miles did go out of his room. But unlike her in the morning, he was looking from one angle to another, familiarizing himself with the new scenery around him. The designs were simple but elegant in a way of not exaggerating luxury. He missed his home, but given that he should move on for the day ahead, he had no choice but to let it be.
Until he caught sight of Franziska's head quickly disappearing behind the vase. He raised an eyebrow to himself before taking steps towards the vase and meeting her there.
"Is there a problem?" He asked quite confused.
Franziska shook her head. And to her surprise, Miles only nodded.
"Quite curious, aren't we?" He smiled a bit.
She fidgeted with her fingers. "And I thought you're not capable of showing emotions." She retorted with a smile also.
"That one?" He raised an eyebrow and then he shrugged. "I'm sorry, I was just... a little bit off myself."
But despite that confident smile, Franziska could see how pale he is now. And it wasn't because of his statement earlier. She could clearly see him making up some sort of amusement last night just to forget something. She just knew it.
She hated people who are pretending now. And thanks to his little slip-up, she included that in her million-item list to hate in the world.
But how could she confront him like that? Yes, he lied to her, but it was certainly a low blow. She heard that Miles lost someone important to him, after all. She can't just barge in and ask. She had to use an another approach.
"I heard that you lost someone." She started. "Is it the reason why you're not yourself last night?"
She awaited for his answer. And the first part of it was a sigh to himself. "I think you heard it correctly enough."
She nodded understandingly at him. "Very well. So that's why you're a bit busy to pretend that you're fine. I'm sorry for your loss... I think that person was so close to you."
"He was my Father." He told her. "He died recently..."
It was a bit odd for him. To open up on someone. At first thought, he didn't want to answer her, but then, he shouldn't keep it for himself. One thing it captivated him was her gaze, wanting to know how would he feel, say, or do. Those eyes who are filled with innocence, still taking what the world is about to offer.
That brought the same entity of silence shifting in between them. And melancholy slowly followed by. Its no wonder he shouldn't bring this matter up. This only led to awkward silence of symphaty. He began to look away. Wishing he could give an her apology for such weakness.
"You know, there's nothing I can do around here besides than messing around with the maids." Franziska suddenly suggested. "That's my only way out of the door."
Miles turned back to her. "Way out?"
She was a bit stunned, but quickly recovered. "Oh I didn't tell you yet." She scratched her neck.
"Then... what about you? Did you spend your whole day just sitting around this manor?" Miles looked at the empty hallways.
"Most likely." Franziska said evenly, crossing her arms. "Unless if I do something, then I will be spending an another rim of the clock at the library."
Miles couldn't help but join her charade. "Then what is this plan of yours anyway?"
von Karma Estate, Gardens
10:11 am
There are hedge mazes everywhere. Replacing the grey aura of the manor's insides into luscious green leaves, and as red roses appeared along with it, Miles felt the gardens were tranquil-- untouched for its rare atmosphere other than the seemingly deafening silence of the hallways.
"Where are we going, Ms. von Karma?" He was clearly lost.
Franziska halted and turned to him. "Franziska is fine. You're not a nobody Miles, so use the formalities when it is needed.
He shrugged at her with a smile. "Very well, Franziska. I'm just lost in this scheme of yours, so I have to ask."
"Not far by now." She resumed her walking. "You'll see it later."
After skimming through the hedge mazes, Franziska and Miles reached the end of the hedge mazes, with a steel-bar styled door blocking the way of what she refer to as 'the outside'.
"That's the way out." She told Miles. "You should head out just fine using the main door, but not me."
Miles blinked at the tall gate ahead of them. "So this is how you go outside?"
Franziska nodded at him. "If this is the only way outside, then yes, I guess this gate is my only bet." She then pointed her finger behind him, across the main gateway. "Meet me at that old tree up front. Five yards won't hurt suspicion, ain't it?"
"I think so." Miles agreed.
Franziska snapped her fingers. "I'm placing ten bucks that you'll lose, Miles Edgeworth." She formally challenged him, as she went to climb up the steel bar gate. "And don't think about getting caught, alright?"
"Surely I won't." Miles happily retorted back, moving towards the main gateway.
More minutes later...
Miles reached the old tree Franziska told him about earlier as their meet up point. Upon seeing it a few distance away apart, he took a bit of haste from each step. He thought he was on a lead that ten bucks easily. But unfortunately, it wasn't.
He saw none other than Franziska herself, waiting impatiently for him.
"Well?" She grinned at him. And Miles only responded with a shrug and a smile.
"Alright, I get lost sometimes. But if that's the case, where are we going anyway?"
Franziska looked at the road path, and down below was a local small town setup. Several buildings looming over one another.
"There." She told him. But as she tries to explain a bit more, she heard footsteps. And it was nearing towards them. She let out a frustrated groan. "Not again..."
"What is it?" Miles asked out of confusion.
"The butlers. They're out to find me again." She frowned and pulled Miles' arm as she saw one of the butler's frame nearing them. "We have to lose them."
And with that, they ran away. Just to lose the butlers for a while.
Many days passed like this. So many attempts Franziska and Miles had made, and they all somehow made it without a fuss.
Now they're both adolescents.
This day was no different. There they went off, walking around the riverside. The land was split, one half was full of houses, one was the road to more houses and to the capital in the next few more miles. The bridge was the only platform that connects the two. Franziska liked going here frequently, sitting under a tree, and watching idly anything that captures her gaze. She felt like chains somehow loosened a bit.
However, fear still reeks the frame of hers. In terms of getting here costs punishment if suspected. She had no choice. Its only a short amount of time before she had to hastily make her way back to the manor without any traces of doubt.
Of course, Miles knew about this. She wouldn't want to show it, but it seems dismay is a part of her masquerade. Not only that, he was also good at reading her expression. The only hard thing he couldn't read about her is her thoughts. Thoughts that were pretty skeptical and were shrouded in deep mystery.
They sat in the tree in silence, each relishing the slice of peace before going back to the chaos of rivalry and show offs.
"You know... time is almost our enemy as well." Franziska suddenly thought out loud, shifting her hands.
Miles looked down at her. "How come?"
In a while, Franziska looked at the other side of the bridge. She then frowned a bit, biting her lip. "I preferred to stay here rather than in home. It felt empty and caged inside the house whilst here, they could go wherever they want..."
He sighed at her. Of course, she was never been let outside. (I wish I could help, even just for a bit. But I am barely not in condition.)
He remembered his Father again. He felt pity course through his body. The same thing would never be the same, he thought, he was brought down to some earth that are all in chains.
But what if he somehow turned the tables instead? What if he used the same method to break free from this fleeting curse? No one knows for sure, but he was willing to give it a try.
He pulled her close to him. Startling the girl in a start. Her head was pressed against his shoulder.
"Miles?"
"I can't do it alone or right now, but... at least, I have something to keep on believing I wasn't in the wrong place." He said lowly for her to hear, and after a stale moment of confusion from her, he pressed his lips to her temple gently. "In my word, that alone is sufficient."
Miles didn't want to cause suspicion, but he vowed to her. One that he could truly remember. A task at hand that motivates him to break the chains of a cage.
"W-what?" Franziska looked up at him. As she did so, Miles turned to her. Her gaze somehow recoiled as his piercing one went straightly ahead.
"I will ask for your hand." He spoke softly. "After you become of age, when this is all over, I ask for your hand, Franziska. With this, I can assure you no bounds will ever cut off before you. From this moment and beyond, you can take me wherever you wish to, reach for the ones you never grasped before, and pick you up whenever you fall."
In the back of his mind, he was fearing this act would only get him wounded in a strings of mess. He wanted to, because he wanted to be with her. Her who helped him through all the dark times he were in, sharing both perish and pain.
Yes, he was finally letting it all out. He hated to keep it for himself. And she deserves to know.
Instead, he was here. Waiting anxiously for her answer. All he could see was the surprise and blank fold of thoughts as she was trying to understand him. He was now holding both of her gloved hands. Much more smaller than his.
But even this was an envelope of barrier for him.
Franziska looked down at her hands, which was still under Miles' grasp. Suddenly, her fingers curled inwardly, her expression somehow changed in a matter of phase. Then, her hands flew, reaching for Miles. Her face was buried into his chest, her arms locked as she gave him an embrace.
And a blunt blow was made. A warm one. It was almost unpredictable, as it surged through him. His eyes was on her with his eyebrows raised in surprise, and shoulders tensed.
But her breathing was present. He wasn't drawing a string here.
Silence. No words were spoken in this moment. Time seemed slower than the last time he looked upon. He buried his face in her hair, and his arms collectively returned her sudden action. As he smelled her fragrant hair, it did phased his expression, only lost in the cover of a pale blue shade.
She was his now. And a smile marked that day.