I'm back from the dead! xD I'm so sorry guys, the semester was horrible, I promise to update more regularly!
Rain89: Hello there! Thank you for your review :D I can't spoil you, though ;)
Chapter XIV: The candidates.
The wind was dancing in her hair when Hinata heard the knock at the door of her chambers. The girl sighed; she did not want to see anyone. To feel the wind coming from the west on her skin, where Suna was enthroned and where her beloved prince lived, was a most pleasant sensation and she wished she could stay like this for long hours. Unfortunately, she had no choice; she had far more pressing responsibilities than just personal pleasure. She readjusted her braids and quickly made sure in the mirror that her skirts were not wrinkled. Once satisfied with this quick glance, she signalled to Kō to open the door to her chambers. She was a maid.
"Lady Hinata, Lords Itachi and Sasuke of the Uchiha clan have arrived. They would like to invite you to have a snack with them."
Hinata remained silent for a moment, considering her possibilities. She had only one deser: to refuse and lock herself up again in her chambers to wait for the end of this idiotic Selection. Unfortunately, she could not put her personal interests before the interests of Yggalë and her own. She had to make a good impression on the future High Lord of Pràyol, or even on the future Daimyō. Hinata gritted her teeth at the thought of having to befriend people who participated in the hatred her people received, but she controlled herself and forced a polite smile to appear on her face.
"I would be delighted. When are they expecting me?"
"Whenever you wish, my Lady."
"Very good. Help me with my hair, please."
A few minutes later, Hinata was sitting in front of her dressing table, observing in the mirror the delicate actions of the maid. She was slower than Hamya or Hanika when it came to redo the jewelled braids, but she was also much softer. Hamya tended to be quick but rather brutal in her actions; it was not for nothing that Hanika, with her sensitive scalp, refused to let her sister do her hair.
Once the braids had been redone, Hinata opened her wardrobe and thought about which dress to wear. She was dressed quite simply today, but she longed to leave an impression of nobility on the two Pràyolians. Her present dress would not do the trick.
She chose a silver dress. The bustier was embroidered with dark crystals and interlacing black threads. The bottom of the bustier formed a "v" on the skirt, while at the bottom of the skirt there were dark plants with flowers made of crystals. The dress was sleeveless, and she chose a black shawl embroidered with silver and petticoats of the same colour to go under her dress. She would not wear bright colours for another month. She had to appear in mourning, no matter how much she resented her father. Finally, Hinata put on some jewellery, including the snake-shaped bracelets Neiji had given her three moons ago, looked at herself one last time in the mirror and decided she was ready.
"Show us the way," she says to the maid.
The latter nodded and guided them through the corridors of Ivoïré to chambers on the upper floor. Hinata could not help being slightly jealous. The candidates, Naruto Uzumaki and Itachi Uchiha, were housed above her because she was not participating in the Selection. Officially, this was the case, but everyone knew that she would never be chosen. Nor had she been able to inherit her noble father's old chambers, and she had been relegated to the floor below. It was insulting.
Hinata nevertheless tried to calm her anger and envy. They were not worthy of such feelings. She had Yggalë, the most beautiful place that the Mother Of All had created on this earth, a loving and strong clan, the affection of a wonderful prince, straight out of a song. Thinking of her dear prince made her smile and calmed the whirlwind of jealousy and annoyance within her. He filled her with affection and peace, as if the One of Peace herself embraced him.
Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha were exactly what Hinata had imagined. Almost an ugly pale compared to Gaara's porcelain complexion, the brothers could have been twins if they had been the same age. Their hair was as black as Hyūga, and both were taller than her. Itachi may have been two heads taller than her, and Sasuke only one. If she was objective, she would think they were handsome boys. Unfortunately, she had no deser to be objective when other parts of the kingdom mocked her for something as stupid as skin colour or cultural differences. Why would she strive to be objective in her heart when they were nothing but prejudice and impoliteness?
"Miss Hyūga, it's an honour," said ser Itachi – he was a knight after all – kissing her hand.
Hinata blushes beautifully. She knew how to blush when she wanted to, a talent that Her Majesty Mei had praised. She only hoped that she would honour the teachings and lessons shared by Daimyō when they dined together several weeks ago.
"My Lady", Kō calmly intervened.
"I beg your pardon?" the knight asked.
"Lady Hinata is the Great Lady of Yggalë. Please address her by her title, my lord."
"Ah! Yes, of course. I beg your pardon, my Lady," apologized the heir of Fort-Ruby.
Her apology was sincere, but she could see the confusion in her eyes.
"It's nothing," answered Hinata with a tender smile. "The trip was undoubtedly exhausting; I'm surprised you did not opt for a nap! I slept for hours after arriving in Ivoïré," she added with a laugh.
It was not a sincere laugh at all, because she did not want to be there, but Her Majesty Mei had told her that her laugh was beautiful. It was, with its title and words, a weapon that she had to sharpen. Daimyō had also complimented her beauty, but Hinata knew that her appearance would be more damaging to her than anything else in this cursed city. Therefore, although being beautiful could win her some favours from old ministers or noblemen, she did not need to sharpen it in the same way. She just had to make sure she was the best dressed so as not to be ridiculous. Putting her clan to shame, even in the eyes of these insipid and idiotic nobles, would be unbearable.
"This is the advantage of my few campaigns with other knights, my Lady. My brother refuses to admit his tiredness," joked ser Itachi.
Sasuke, slumped on an armchair, raised his eyebrows at the attention of his brother. Hinata giggled slightly and settled down in one of the comfortable chairs. The knight sat down in front of her while the servants laid pastry dishes and tea on the table. Sasuke also came closer, but Hinata could see that he was struggling with exhaustion. Nevertheless, he would never admit it, his pride would not allow it. How silly male pride could be! Neiji was the same, sometimes. Hanika would often tell her amusing anecdotes about her cousin when they had dinner with other women. It was quite funny.
"My Lady, I wanted to offer you all the condolences of our clan. Pràyol will mourn the loss of a High Lord of this nobility for years to come," Itachi said.
Hinata froze, looking into the eyes of the Uchiha. She had only one deser, to slap him with all her strength, and not to leave on the spot demanded all her control. How dare he? While he was taking part in this masquerade! Hinata thought about what she could answer without insulting him, but it was Sasuke who took the floor.
"Itachi, you are an idiot. Do you believe this is what Lady Hinata wants to hear?"
He turned towards her and bowed his head.
"Please forgive my brother, my Lady. He is not as polite as he likes to think."
"Your apology is accepted, ser – forgive me. Are you a knight too?" she asked, hoping to change the subject of the discussion.
"Unfortunately, not yet. I am only a squire, but I will soon be knighted, if all goes well."
Hinata forced herself to smile again.
"I will pray for your success. I should introduce you to my cousin Neiji, he too is a squire. Kō, do you know when Neiji will be knighted? It seemed to me that it will happen soon."
"The final test is in a fortnight, my Lady."
"I can't wait to attend," she smiles before taking a sip of tea. "Perhaps you could attend too?"
"It would be a pleasure," Sasuke replied with a polite smile. "What do you think, Itachi?"
"You can't be more prepared. If you did not participate, I'd have to beat you up," joked the elder. "Lady Hinata, I would also be delighted to meet your cousin."
"Of course, ser. I'll arrange a dinner soon, so we can talk at greater length than today."
What a plague that would be! They were uninteresting. How could lord Itachi claim the throne when his politeness left something to be desired in such a way? She exchanged a few more courtesies, before apologizing to leave the room. The snack had been delicious, Ivoïré's cooks were truly the best in the kingdom, but it was not enough to make her stay longer.
She wanted to return to her chambers and write to her mother. She had to study Yggalë's economic reports as well as those concerning security. Her father had been murdered, and no culprit had been arrested. Of course, Orochimaru seemed to be the obvious culprit, but if he was behind the attack and the poison, why had his father been the only victim? Why would he have targeted him anyway? He had not yet been crowned. Was it a personal vendetta against the kingdom of fire? If so, why bother attacking the council of Daimyōs? It did not make any sense. If his father was the only victim, it was because he was the only target. Assassins had also been sent after her and her cousins. Whether they were sent by Orochimaru or someone else, the Hyūga had clearly been targeted. She could not forgive such an act, and, as the Grand Lady of Yggalë, she had a duty to investigate and find out who had such a grudge against her clan.
"My Lady, before you leave us, I would like to ask you a question."
Itachi's voice startled Hinata, and she turned to him, forcing a smile on his face.
"Of course, I am listening to you."
"Who will you support in this Selection?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Itachi!" Sasuke cried out, but his brother ignored him.
"You don't live on the same floor as us, you don't truly take part in the Selection, do you? Who are you going to support, then? Naruto Uzumaki, or myself? A boy just fifteen years old, or an adult, knight and strategist?" he asked, an arrogant smile on his face.
"Are you out of your mind?" Sasuke asked indignantly.
Hinata did not hear the youngest of the brothers, as the words of the eldest sounded like a slap in the face. Her ears were even whistling. By the Nine, was he not ashamed? Did he have no humility? Was this how the future Pràyolian High Lords were raised? No wonder their region was known for their skill in warfare. This kind of attitude, which disregarded all lessons of diplomacy, started wars in less time than it took to blink!
"Certainly not the rude man who allows himself to behave like that! Do you think that your charms and your skill with the sword will make other rulers forget your obscenity? You will plunge us into an armed conflict in just a few minutes, with an attitude like that!"
She left, slamming the door behind her. Once outside, the young woman ran away at full speed. She wanted to collapse on her bed and cry her eyes out. The situation had been horribly frightening and had made her furious. The wind of her run caressed her face, reminding her of the wind from the steppes of Suna where her dear prince lived. How was he doing? Was the One of Rage tormenting him? If only she could feel his embrace once more, all those negative feelings, all those harmful emotions would disappear like snow in the sun. Why, why her? Why did she have to face all this? Had she offended the Nine?
Hinata did not stop running until she was at the edge of her balcony, her hands on the stone railing where she had been a short hour earlier. Tears of frustration ran down her cheeks and soon her knees gave way. The young woman let herself slide to the ground. Her fingers remained on the stone, which formed cage-like bars. Through them she could see Ivoïré, then Konoha, and to the west, hundreds of leagues from here, stood the Yggalën forests and Pearlforest. A sob shook her shoulders. She wanted to go home; to see her dear mother again, to hold Hanabi in her arms, to bathe in the hot springs. She so dearly wanted to return to her blessed days!
But she could not; she was a prisoner of this hated place, of these nobles and rich merchants, of their unfounded hatred and contempt. They had thrown her dreams of the capital to the ground and trampled them down without the slightest regret. Why did they do this? Why did they have to treat her people like that? She grabbed the enchanted vial around her neck, clutching it with all her might. She so dearly wanted her prince to be there to reassure her, so that she could dream again at his side as she had done when she had met him. Unfortunately, this was in the past, and she had to concentrate on the present and the future. She had to bury the spontaneous little girl, let the Great Lady be born. She had to love and protect her own. That was her duty, after all.
She met Naruto Uzumaki a few days later. The future lord of Laguloé was a jovial boy for whom she could not help feeling a certain sympathy. His clan was small and less powerful, but he was still proud of his origins. He only bowed his head to the Daimyō and looked ser Itachi straight in the eye. He seemed to find him deeply annoying. Just for that alone, Hinata decided she liked him much more than the rude Pràyolian knight. Nevertheless, he was not very smart, and his joviality would be useless for managing the economy and taxes. Oh, he would be a Daimyō beloved by the people, she had no doubt. But if he led the kingdom to its ruin, it would be useless. Ser Itachi had the mind, and Naruto Uzumaki the heart. If they were one and the same person, it would be perfect. Unfortunately, as things stood, that either one or the other became Daimyō was bad news.
Hinata sighed; such thoughts tended to spoil banquets.
"My Lady, what's going on? You look pale," suddenly said Hanika, sitting opposite her, wrenching Hinata from her thoughts.
Neiji was sitting next to Hanika, and Hinata was delighted to see that a relationship seemed to be developing between them. They deserved to be happy, and she would destroy everything between them and their happiness. They had suffered enough. Poor Neiji had lost her mother, Hamya and Hanika their parents, and Suna's attacks had left them haunted by horrible nightmares.
"Unpleasant thoughts about the Selection," she replied with a smile. "What do you think of the young lords who have just arrived?"
"Charming to the eye, though a little pale to me," Hamya laughed. "I haven't spoken to them yet, though. I doubt they'd be interested in a simple Yggalënne lady-in-waiting," she added, pretending to be offended.
The girls puffed, and Neiji rolled her eyes. The other knights of the clan smiled slightly, amused by the discussions between the young women. Hamya's joke relaxed the atmosphere, and Hinata enjoyed a little more the banquet and the music played. She did not really enjoy herself, too worried about Yggalë and the safety of her family, but the miserable feeling that had devoured her until then calmed down.
A few hours later, as she was returning to her chambers, Kō beside her talking to her about the knights' examination that would soon take place, Hinata saw the Prime Minister himself in the corridor, Danzō Haruno. Hinata frowned and stopped; he was a sinister man who did not inspire the slightest confidence in her. It was said that his spy network was even better than Jiraiya's, but Hinata did not believe it. Hokage was a centuries-old position. Danzō Haruno was only a man.
"Ah, Lady Hinata, I was looking for you," he said.
"My lord, can I help you in any way?"
"Yes. I'm sorry to bother you while you are probably going to rest, but I would like to ask you a question. Perhaps by accompanying you to your chambers?"
"Of course. I hope you'll forgive me if I can't give you the smartest answers, I'm afraid that fatigue is putting my mind to sleep."
"I have no doubt in your intelligence, my Lady, I am sure I would be very pleased to converse with you," he replied, offering his arm.
Hinata took it delicately, unsure of herself. What did this man want from her so late? She did not trust him, but Kō was with her. She should be safe. Or, at least, she hoped she was.
"As Prime Minister, I have to make sure that all the clans get along, or at least coexist in peace. You are the Grand Lady of Yggalë, and therefore I would like to know your feelings about the lords you have to work with."
Hinata remained silent for a moment. Was such a question really urgent? Could it not wait until the next day? This discussion was a crude trap. She immediately moved away from the minister and backed away slightly, her eyes wrinkled with contempt. Kō stood at his side, one hand on the palm of his sword.
"My lord, I thought you had an ounce of respect for my intelligence. However, whatever trap you set for me, it is crude. Kō, let's get out of here. This conversation is over."
She turned her heels, annoyed, and decided to lie down. It had been an exhausting day; she was only a novice in terms of economy. Once she had taken a few steps, she heard the voice of Danzō again.
"I thought you would say that. But please answer me, it is important."
Hinata stopped and turned three-quarters of the way, watching the Prime Minister. He did not seem at all offended by his contempt, which Hinata found nothing but more suspicious. She stroked the enchanted flask. If things went wrong for any reason, she always had this. If the past few months had taught her one thing, it was mistrust.
"Why would I do it? I don't know what you are planning, and I don't trust you."
"A wise decision, because our relationship will depend on your response. If you don't answer, I'll take the same action as if your answer did not suit me," he replied calmly.
"Kō could kill you before you blinked," Hinata replied. "I'm not stupid enough to ask him, though. I would be hanged, and my people would be massacred. The Daimyō is just waiting for a good reason to do so," she hissed.
"The Daimyō has lost its mind."
Hinata's eyes widened. It seemed to amuse Danzō who laughed slightly and offered her a hand. She seemed to like his reaction.
"I apologise for my behaviour. I choose my allies carefully, and my enemies even more so. You have the intelligence and the heart that many rulers need. My spies are watching you, my Lady, and what they have reported to me has pleased me. You have listened to and applied the advice of Her Majesty Mei, you have a relationship with a force of nature lurking in Suna, you are putting your life on the line for your own people in a losing game against Daimyō. You would make a much better ruler than the two youngsters we have."
"I was excluded from the Selection by the Daimyō."
"Unofficially. According to the law, you still participate. And if the nobles and the people happen to prefer you to the other two candidates, it's not your fault, is it? My goal is to ensure that this kingdom is prosperous, and you are its best chance."
"Yggalë will always come first," she warned him.
"I would ask for nothing less, my Lady."
Hinata took an outstretched hand, squeezing it gently.