By: Lirial Raito
Chapter 11: The Dinner; Endymion's Ultimatum
She smiled at the mirror, making sure her image was perfect. Endymion was sure to come as his royal self, and probably dressed in his 'king' attire rather than what he once wore as a prince, though only she and the Senshi would every know that. For this evening she had dressed in her old princess gown, though with the silver in her hair she looked more like her mother than her own past self. But perhaps that was for the best.
With one final glance at her reflection she made her way to the dining room, smile warm with approval at the soothing music in the background, and the choice of food there on the table. Mako-chan had made ever person's favorite food, except Endymion's. Little name cards denoted where everyone was to sit, though Usagi doubted anyone would have a problem with where to sit, since the food was already placed before the appropriate name card. A smell spell Makoto had concocted would keep everything warm and cold, at just the temperature each guest liked best.
She took her set between Seiya and Minako just as Shingo was leading Endymion into the room. Her trademark smile never faltered as his eyes reflected his indignation at being the last to arrive at the meal, and finding everyone else already seated. Usagi didn't care though. He had come here to 'discuss' things with her, and she wasn't really feeling charitable enough to play along as nicely as he wanted her too. 'I was right… king clothes rather than prince clothes. Does he honestly expect us to be impressed?'
"Please Endymion, do have a seat already. We've been waiting for you before we started dinner." Her voice was cool, and every bit as royal and aloof as his appearance tonight. 'He flinched… well, what does he expect, requesting this talk and then being unfashionably late? Humph.'
Endymion did as directed though, taking the seat directly across from her as had been planned, stuck between Makoto and Haruka to ensure his good behavior. Still, if he was nervous by sitting between her most volatile Guardians he certainly didn't show it. His attention was alternated between smiling charmingly at Serenity, and glaring at Seiya.
'What an annoying way to spend this dinner' she thought, though she became a little more unnerved with each of his smiles.
Endymion was the first to be finished with his meal, and his fingers tapped the table in boredom as he waited for everyone else to be finished. A half hour later, and he wanted to snap at Serenity in annoyance. Everyone but her was finished, and she still had half of her food left! He didn't want to stay around in the presence of her protectors any longer than he had to, despite their past friendship. As Serenity smiled at him, every bit as serene as her name implied, he knew for certain that she was eating so slowly just to bother him.
'I bet she still eats like a ravenous pig on normal days, the way she did when she was younger. Damn her, this is bothersome.' He could feel his eyelid muscle twitch, something that had recently started to happen when he got angry, which only made him more angry. Like all good politicians, he had perfected the ability to hide his emotions from everyone, but that tick always gave his anger away.
The soft murmur of voices caught his attention again, just as Seiya was refilling Serenity's juice glass. Makoto had declared alcohol forbidden with
her meals, maintaining that if they drank too much, no one would ever appreciate her hard work and culinary skills. But Serenity had stopped eating,
and was complimenting Makoto on her splendid meal.
'Splendid? I've eaten far better foods before… Makoto isn't as special as she thinks. None
of them are. And how dare Seiya lean so close to Serenity? Blasted woman isn't even from this solar system.'
He would have continued on in a mental rant, but Serenity had turned her luminous blue eyes upon him, glinting in amusement. She was standing, and motioning for him to follow her into the living room. 'Finally, time to talk. Took her long enough.'
Endymion spared a few moments to admire the graceful way she walked and tried to hold his temper at bay. He reminded himself again that this was his destined princess, despite her current resistance to the idea.
He took the seat she indicated, once more sitting across from her and Seiya, the rest of the household taking up various positions around the room. Obviously, no one trusted in his continued good behavior.
Serenity tilted her head slightly to the side, examining him quietly for a moment. "So, Endymion, what is it that you wanted to speak with me about?"
'No banalities tonight? Of course, I'm sure she already knows why I'm here.' He folded his hands in his lap, trying to project a feeling of sincerity and openness. "You know that the council wishes for us to be married before they give me my throne. I know that you refused, and told them of our contract for Chibi-Usa to be your heir alone."
Serenity nodded at both of his sentences, her expression unchanging. The Council couldn't make her change her mind, and Endymion couldn't either. She refused to follow the destiny he wanted her to have once more, finally convinced that the attitude of the Earth Royals, which obviously hadn't changed in over a thousand years, was the reason Earth hadn't been a part of the Silver Millennium. 'Their Royal Family was always stubborn, and every single one got worse with age. Few seemed capable of true love, and Endymion is just like his father, unreasonable and demanding, and getting worse with each passing year.'
Now he spread his hands out, almost beseeching in his movements. "Serenity, I know you'll never love me like you once did, and I certainly don't blame you."
'Not any more at least,' he thought.
"But the Council, and the planet, truly wish for you to be their Queen… I know the things they've offered you," he continued, trying to keep his voice smooth and quiet.
"Now, I know what they ask is very unfair to you. After all, you have someone you love, no?" He glanced at Seiya as he said this, to much aware that Serenity loved someone other than him, and hating every moment of it. "But life isn't always fair, and there is a growing opposition who believe that having people from other planets living on Earth, people who won't age and die, is wrong."
Serenity stiffened in her seat, though she was careful to hide it. "And those people want us to leave, correct? Unless I agree to marry you, and be a nice passive
Queen?"
He smiled sardonically, inclining his head ever so slightly. "Well, that and have your powers stripped from you if possible, or so tied into the defense of this planet that you wouldn't be able to use them for anything else."
'Like cleansing the people into passive little lambs' he thought, a bit maliciously. "No matter how many times you saved this planet Serenity, no one can guarantee that you did it out of altruism, and the kindness in your heart. I know you did of course, but politicians these days are so hard to placate, and afraid of any abilities they themselves do not possess, or control. And then, no one would really mind if you left this planet, and went to another. Or perhaps another Solar System?"
The room fell into shocked silence; Endymion's words were a cold slap in the face, not at all what had been expected. Serenity shook her head slightly and the Senshi curbed the comments and questions they wanted to say.
She stood, smile unwavering. "Endymion, you should know better than to try and care me into marrying you. Such tactics don't work with me anymore. If the people of Earth are afraid of us, and want us to leave, then they will have to tell us so."
Serenity turned and walked to the door, and turned back to him as she opened it. "Now, please leave Endymion, you've over stayed your welcome here."
He stared at her for a moment with narrowed eyes, before rising slowly. Without any further words he walked swiftly out the door, lost quickly in the nights shadows.
Usagi closed the door and locked it before turning back to her Senshi.
"What do you think, minna?" she asked softly.
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To Be Continued:
Yes P-Chan21, I know cliffhangers are annoying, but they're interesting... really.
Thanks for reading minna! I hope you liked.