Disclaimer: I do not own Familiar of Zero or Yu Yu Hakusho, they belong to their respective owners. I'm not making money, this is just for fun and a hobby at most. Hello, sorry for the late chapter. I work in retail, and I also slipped and hurt my arm so I couldn't write for a few days. Still busy, but here's a new Genkai centric chapter, enjoy!
Chapter Nine: Royalty And Nobles
Genkai and Karin's carriage would soon be upon the royal capital of Tristain. The city was already clearly seen in the distance. Despite all Genkai time away it appeared to have not changed at all. This was both comforting and unnerving to Genkai. She always felt her previous society was stagnant, but to see so little change, not just technologically, but on a societal level on a whole was. Well it was a bad omen if she ever saw one. Unchanging things died.
Though her thoughts couldn't help but think that, she was also thankful inside of the lack of change. It made returning to her homeland so much easier. She still missed her compound however.
As the carriage passed by alleys on the cobble stone street, Genkai reminisced about old times with her sister.
*Chapter Nine: Royalty And Nobles*
"Now announcing Lord Desire de Maillart." Said a random guard.
A nobleman of significant bearing proceeded into the courtyard of the royal family of Tristain. Trailing behind him was a fifteen year old holding then hand of a small child. The small child had a large smile on her face.
"Philip!" The noble man cried.
"Good to see you Maillart." Said Philip the third, current reigning king of Tristain.
"The same." He bowed to the King.
"So who are these fine young ladies behind you?" The king asked, already knowing the answer.
"Why my two lovely daughters." The two young girls curtsied behind, admittedly the four year old seemed to have a bit of trouble.
"Karin Desire de Maillart." The smallest girl said cutely.
"Genkai Desire de Maillart your majesty." Spoke the older girl as she raised from her curtsy.
"What well mannered girls." Philip stated as the small young girl behind him shyly peaked out.
"Sister who is that?" A small young four year old Karin asked.
"Marianne." The young princess bowed.
"Well now that were all done with introductions, we ought to get to the purpose of this get together." Philip said.
"Agreed your majesty. Kids why don't you all go play in the foyer yard." The kids all nodded their heads. A young three year old Marianne was excited to play with someone.
*Chapter Nine: Royalty And Nobles*
Genkai had been excited to visit the capital, even if she was stuck babysitting her cute little sister and the future Queen of Tristain. Still she did get a week off from school, and seeing how all they were allowed to do at school was mostly magic theory, it was a welcome break from her first year classes.
The foyer yard which was set in back of the royal palace was very large and setup like an anthem theatre. The walls around the yards provided maximum privacy to the royal family. In older times, even recently it would be used for entertainment, or other such purposes.
"You know my older sister is a really powerful mage Marianne!" Karin bragged to the younger child.
"Really?" Marianne exclaimed.
"Yeah! She's know as the master of explosions at school!" Karin waved her arms about trying to portray the explosions with her flailing arms.
Genkai was sightly embarrassed not that the young children would know. Ever since she had her first practical lesson in spell casting, she had earned her runic name. Genkai the Explosion. It was actually quite embarrassing.
"Hey big sister! Show me your magic." The small girl demanded.
"She's really too smart for her age." Genkai thought.
"Yeah sister, make a BIG explosion!" Karin yelled.
Genkai sighed. "Yeah sure, one magic spell coming up."
Genkai held out her wand as she channeled a spell. The spell she chanted didn't seem to matter anyways, all the spells seemed to explode, so she chose the one with the shortest incantation. Pointing her wand into a direction far away from the children she let her spell release.
"Boom!" A large explosion erupted out of the tip of her wand into a smoky, fire-less, eruption.
"Awesome! Do it again!" The young Marianne cried out.
The teenaged young Genkai sighed as she dusted the soot of her clothes. "Well today's going to be a long day." She couldn't help but think.
*Chapter Nine: Royalty And Nobles*
Philip locked the door behind him as everyone was now is his safe room. The safe room was just another one of his office with thick walls and enchantments to prevent eavesdroppers.
"Osmond." Lord Maillart said surprised.
"Yes I'm the one who asked his Majesty for this meeting." Osmond stated.
Before Maillart could speak the King stopped him.
"Don't worry this has nothing to do with you daughter... Or her explosions." Philip reassured his trusted friend Maillart.
"Then what is this meeting about your majesty?" Maillart asked.
"I recently had an encounter with a large dragon." Osmond stated carefully.
"Oh do tell my young professor, if it were only a mere dragon, I feel you've wasted our time." Stated the King of Tristain.
"A dragon, sure its of a concern to the country, but a few mages could be sent out to deal with a wild dragon professor. Surely not a problem for his majesty." Maillart lectured to the young Osmond.
"There's more, you see when I was walking back to the academy, I was attacked." Osmond stated.
"Ahh, so what you desire is recognition? Defeating a dragon is quite the accomplishment by yourself, but still not a very important matter." Philip stated.
"No a young boy no older then fourteen took it down using this!" Osmond held out his hand.
"A ring... Wait it's covered in willpower still... A powerful relic indeed... A ring of destruction.." Philip stated as he held the ring between his fingers.
"So where is this boy?" Maillart asked.
"He died shortly after defeating the dragon. He wore an all black uniform of some kind with embroidered buttons along his collared shirt, I think he was a foreign noble." Osmond stated.
"This is most unfortunate." Philip stated as he continued to look over the ring. "Hopefully no one comes looking for their son, in the meantime Osmond, please bring this to the headmaster of the magic Academy. We will have him seal it within the vaults at the school away from prying eyes. Just tell him it's a treasure belonging to the royal family."
"Yes your majesty!" Osmond bowed taking the ring back.
"Now about your eldest daughter Maillart..." Philip started to speak as Maillart gulped.
*Chapter Nine: Royalty And Nobles*
The palace looked exactly the same, even the same flowers grew alongside its courtyards as it had so many years ago. Karin walked alongside her, she wore an elegant dark shaded pink Victorian dress with frills coming out of its sleeves and collars. It was very old fashioned, at least from Genkai's perspective.
Karin had attempted to dress up her older sister only to be glared at multiple times by her. Instead Genkai chose to wear her almost peasant looking clothing which consisted of a purple hat with a rune on it, a red colored vestment with a blue stripe, as well as white pants and shirts underneath. It would fit a peasant maid perhaps in Rub' al Khali. It frustrated Karin a bit. She too would rather wear her Knight armor, but she was a Duchess!
"Were going to see the Queen Elder Sister! Why could you not at least dress for it." Karin's inner thoughts boiled out over her tongue.
"It would hinder my movement and be uncomfortable Karin." Looking down at herself Genkai continued. "Besides dresses don't flatter an old lady at my age."
Karin seethed internally but held her tongue. Was she not the daughter of the Maillart's like herself! Where was her noble spirit, where was her pride!?
The two of them entered a large audience chamber. Several important nobles were present, as well as the Queen, her daughter, and Cardinal Mazarin. Mazarin was the current regent of Tristain on behalf of princess Henrietta. He was her main advisor, if only advisor, and perhaps the current true power behind the throne. Marianne was sitting on at this meeting too, but not as a queen, but as a request by her long term friend Karin.
As they walked in their was an uproar as Genkai followed behind Karin.
"Why is their a peasant in the royal chambers!"
"This chamber is only for Nobles!"
"Get out you old hag!"
Such comments and more erupted from many of the nobles in attendance. Henrietta was also puzzled who the old woman was and was going to put a stop to this unruly shouting at once.
"Shut up!" Yelled Genkai getting all the nobles attentions.
Henrietta was at a loss for words at this old woman.
"Sister, you don't tell people to shut up in the royal chambers." Karin informed her sister.
"I don't want to go deaf at my age Karin, besides all these piss-ants do is squawk like chickens." Genkai said aloud to everyone.
"Chickens? Squawk?" Many nobles quietly spoke amongst themselves.
"Karin, we would appreciate the reason for your request for this royal audience?" Henrietta questioned one of her family's greatest supporters.
"Since when did a royal audience come with a bunch of extra's." Genkai harshly lashed out with her tongue. "King Philip would never allowed uncouth nobles like these in his audience chambers."
Many of the nobleman glared at the peasant woman. "And how might you be to have a say in such matters." Henrietta said scoldingly, but not truly seriously. This was Karin's request after all, it would not do well for her as princess to lose her greatest support.
"I am Genkai Desire de Maillart your highness." Genkai failed to bow, instead she only slightly titled her head in a sign of a small amount of respect.
"That's impossible, Lord Maillart only had one daughter!" Several nobles shouted. Further insults insinuating that Genkai was the daughter of a mistress, and therefore just a commoner, or other such insults were thrown about before order was restored by Mazarin's loud mallet.
Marianne stared at the weirdly dressed old woman, not that she wasn't old herself. "It can't be." She thought before speaking quietly aloud. "Genkai the Explosion..."
"Hello again princess, or shall I say Queen Marianne? I'm afraid it's a bit to crowded in here for an explosion demonstration, as nostalgic as that might be... Then again there is a lot of clutter that could use cleaning up over there." Genkai pointed a faux wand towards the nobles seating area across from Marianne.
"Mother who is she?" Henrietta asked.
"Exactly who she says she is I believe, I believe Karin could vouch for her own sister..." She looked back over to Genkai. "Curious Genkai, I thought I heard my late father Philip tell me you exploded during your second year familiar summoning?"
"Well there was an explosion. But needless to say I went to lands so far away that even elves had not been heard of there, I honestly thought I'd never return to Halkeginia."
"My sister Genkai has returned princess Henrietta, therefore I request all her lands and status be returned to her."
"Some of those lands belong to Vice Count Wardes, how could they end up in the hands of someone long since dead!" One noble shouted as the others agreed shortly after. Again Mazarin slammed down his mallet to bring order to the nobles.
Marianne stood shocking her daughter. "By my decree, Genkai Desire de Maillart will be reinstated at the lord and master of the former lands of Maillart. Viscount Wardes will retain his title and be given lands in the west... I do believe the Flanders fields in Passchendaele would suffice."
Many of the nobles were clearly outraged, but held it in as this was a decree by Queen Marianne herself. Still for a Vice count to be forced to move unto swampland's was ridiculous. Tristain was a small country. As such the lands which the royal family retained were held unto firmly, and rarely given out. For the Vic count to receive anything was actually miraculous. Still the nobles of this era were spoiled under both Henry's and now Queen Marianne's reign.
"Now that my mother has made a decree, I call this meeting to an end. I need to get ready to attend the Familiar Exhibition Festival after all." Henrietta got up to leave as Genkai just started to leave the room.
"Sister wait up!" Karin ran after her, well at least as well as one could wearing a large Victorian dress.