Chapter 7: Blue and White Laces

Hitomi walked in haste, her face wore an expression of total concern and worry. She was wearing Fanelia's traditional court lady's gown, with look that was a mixture of blending medieval and eastern style. It was pure white, with tiny ribbons of light sky blue on its bodice and long, wide sleeves; simple blue laces adorned the gown and added a touch of grace to it, making it look simply stunning and remarkable. What made it even more special was the ten-meter train that was trailing behind her, designed to be delicate and yet regal. 

However, what was going on in Hitomi's head was the opposite.

Clutching some material of her gown in each hand, she dragged herself to Van's private study in half frenzy. The gown itself was a pain for her to begin with, but it was the ten-meter train that really devastated her. They were so unbearably heavy and clumsy, unable her to move at ease, merely to drag her feet.

The problem was that the gown was actually her wedding gown. It was designated exactly like what it supposed to be, and it almost resembled wedding gowns that were originated from her own home planet, but it was more elaborate in an attempt to provide the elegance of the king's bride and the future queen of Fanelia. Of course, Hitomi had felt that the ten-meter train was only a waste of material, but the royal chief tailor had insisted on including it in her gown design, and she was quite adamant in stressing the significance of the train in its contribution to the event. She had even gone far enough as to stated that there would be no 'grand wedding' without the train, for it was what made the king's bride different from any other Fanelian brides.

And there she was, on her way and in search of Van's private office in a quest of persuading her future husband to convince his royal chief tailor to let her have her way that time. She was willing to oblige to the necessity of wearing a royal wedding gown for a royal occasion, but this was too much than what she could tolerate. She had never felt comfortable in long gown in the first place, and although she understood the importance of the coming event, the prospect of her wearing a ten-metre train made her cringe in silent fear. May be if Van noticed her difficulty in dealing with the gown, he would listen to her and let her have it the way she wanted.

Puffing and wheezing, she paused for awhile to gather the skirt in her arms before she actually continued her quest, searching for her fiancée's private chamber in the so called East Wing of Fanelia Castle. She had been lost since the minute she decided to look for the chamber, she knew it, but she refused to admit it. After a little rest, she braced herself for another run and started to walk forward. How unfortunate. A crash brought her off balance and trampled her on the floor, her gown was all over her sight, causing her to have a little bit of difficulty in identifying her assailant sooner. She was still attempting to adjust her gown when she heard a man with a soft-spoken manner calling her name, "Lady Hitomi?"

Raising her eyes to meet the eyes of the man before her, she let out a surprised exclamation, "Gaudi!" Then, with a calmer demeanour, she inquired, "What are you doing here?"

"Nothing much, I'm afraid," smiling benevolently, he reached out to Hitomi, offering his help silently. "I have just discussed some unimportant matters with my cousin."

"Which is…?" smiling indulgently, Hitomi accepted Gaudi's hand and pulled her self into standing position. "You should understand very well that I am always interested in the problems around me, Gaudi." Smoothing her white gown carefully, she continued, "And I insist that you escort me to Van's study. I've been looking for it for the past thirty minutes without much avail, so I think I need your help, I'm afraid."

Gaudi laughed heartily and bowed elaborately, then offering his hand to Hitomi, "With pleasure, milady. Shall we go now?"

Giggling at the pleasure of someone's company, Hitomi accepted Gaudi's hand and let the other guide her through the hall, "Hitomi. Call me Hitomi, Gaudi. Besides, I am not a lady and you're Van's cousin."

"Well," clearing his throat, Gaudi resumed his pace, remarked, "It hardly matters. You are our future queen, so it is only appropriate to address you so. It's most informal of my way addressing you, if I may add."

"Stubborn," Hitomi chuckled, muttering under her breath, "Just like Van is."

Gaudi smiled politely at the comment, but didn't say anything against it. Instead, he changed the course of their conversation in a more private way, "Is there anything that you want to discuss with my dear cousin? Something's wrong?"

"Nothing's too bad," Hitomi answered, waving one hand in the air as a dismissal gesture, "It's just the gown. I don't think I could stand this throughout the ceremony. I am not used to…what?" Hitomi stopped chatting as she heard a soft laughter coming from Gaudi's direction. She wasn't mad at all, but she was otherwise curious. What was so funny that made the cool Gaudi crackle with laughter? Detaching herself from Gaudi, she crossed her arm in front of her chest and stared at him in mock indignation.

After a few minutes of unsuccessful attempt to control his laughter, Gaudi simply gave up and said, "It's expected from Van's daredevil bride, after all." His one good eye dancing with laughter, "Van often told me his adventures with you, and he was sure as hell that you would be his worst enemy should you side with Zaibach army. Fortunately, you were not, back then."

Hitomi almost let out an outrageous protest when Gaudi's words once again silence her, "He said he was lucky to meet you, Lady Hitomi, and I, Gaudi, was more than glad to be in you service, in the future and for all my lifetime." With that, he reached for Hitomi's gloved hand and kissed the tip of her fingers gently.

Astonished to the bottom of her heart, Hitomi could merely thank Gaudi for his silent approval of her and said, "I would also be delighted to have your service in the court. It will certainly make me less nervous."

Raising his eyes to meet Hitomi's eyes, but refusing to let go of Hitomi's hand yet, he gave her a bold grin and noted, "Some sort of a clown, am I?"

Blushing furiously, Hitomi spontaneously snatched her hand away from Gaudi's grasp and quickly explained, "No, you're not! In fact, you're the most capable general Van could have. You…"

"Thank you." Gaudi straightened himself up and returned Hitomi's nervous gaze with a kind smile. "I am grateful that you think of me that way. Most people think otherwise."

There was a vacuum silence between them, before Gaudi decided to pursue another subject, "Is there anything else, Lady? You looked concerned, and I'm certain that's not about the wedding gown you wore right now,"

"I…" Hitomi dipped her head down, for she didn't know whether or not she had to tell Gaudi about her conflict. She had the thought circulating in her head for the few past weeks already, and she didn't tell anyone else about it, even Van. However, deep down, she knew that she had to talk about it if she wanted to make things clear for herself. It was only that she didn't know to whom she should go. Merle? She didn't trust her to have a good and objective reaction to the problem. She was sometimes still emotional, and hard to predict her reactions were. Van? He would probably dismiss the problem as over apprehension. Twisting the material of her gown nervously, she tried to buy time and decided what her answer would be, but she knew perfectly that she had to come up with an answer sooner or later. Should she tell Gaudi the problem that kept bothering her or…?

Breathing deeply and evenly, Gaudi proceeded smoothly, "Is it Her Royal Highness Princess Ardine whom you're worried about?"

Hitomi was a bit surprised to hear Gaudi's words, but she nodded anyway. There was no excuse to tell falsehood. Besides, she was the worst of liars. Giving him a searching look, Hitomi narrowed her eyes, inquired, "Gaudi, is she…?"

Gaudi nodded firmly. He knew completely what Hitomi had meant to say. He was the one who brought the princess back after the incident of the revelation of Van and Hitomi's relationship. She looked so small and fragile back then that he decided to act less stiff around her. Clearly it was impossible for her to cope with the fact that the King of Fanelia was actually engaged already with another lady, so it was definitely up to him to make her visit as hospitable as possible. In some sense, the princess tears had disarmed him of his walls of hate, and instead, he had built some sympathy toward the young princess. However, the dislike was still there, for he couldn't deny the sick feeling of having to think about the reason behind the princess' arrival. It was sympathy that managed to restrain him self to do something that could hurt the princess even further.

"She's in good hands, milady."

Relief clearly shining in her eyes, Hitomi asked him more; her voice was a little bit more excited than before, "Are you keeping her company?"

Lifting one of his fine eyebrows, Gaudi gave her a shrug and said, "I supposed so,"

"That's good," Hitomi cut him short, sighing involuntary, "I'm hoping that she would be better in these few days and would eventually ready to meet us, so that we can explain our position to her. The King of Ispano would not be happy to hear the news, but I think he would understand."

Such an innocent thought…

Gaudi refrained from giving out into bitter laughter as he looked away from Hitomi's eyes, pretending to focus his mind on one of the objects around him. He admitted that this woman was intelligent, but he believed that she would never comprehend the ways of politic, or the court in Gaea, not to mention in Fanelia, too. Just like his father. His father was an even worse politician. He had lived in this world for twenty-nine years of Gaea only, and had learnt politics and the court tradition, but still he made a big mistake and was trapped in the situation that he couldn't manipulate. Such a naive man, his father was.

Hitomi might be an intelligent woman, but she might not be able to bear her role as a queen. She just had to prove her self in the arena yet, with lots of noblemen and noblewomen whom were ready to judge and scoff at her the moment she slipped, even if only a little bit. If only she had more education as, at least, the resident of Gaea did, she might be better off. He was sure Hitomi would strive to bring peace and glory into Fanelia, but he was also sure that it would come at high price. War was the biggest possibility, should Hitomi preserve her position as the future queen of Fanelia. And if there was war, people might become angry and there could even be more conflicts inside Fanelia, which would bring no benefit for the war itself.

If only Hitomi had half the education that Princess Ardine attained…

Shaking his head in puzzlement, he scolded him self inwardly for comparing Hitomi with the princess. The two women were totally different. Each had her own uniqueness, her own plus and minus. However, they would certainly bring different result to Fanelia, for sure.

"Gaudi?" Hitomi's firm voice had brought him back to the reality.

Snapping his head up, he replied, "Yes, milady?"

Smiling gently, Hitomi remarked, "You're not in this world for a few minutes or so. I know that you're not listening to me."

"Oh!" he could hear the surprise in his own voice, "My apology, I never intend to ignore you."

Waving her hand in a dismissal gesture, Hitomi replied, "That's perfectly all right. Just what are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." He replied curtly, suddenly being defensive about him self.

A lie.

However, he doubted that the future queen believed it. He could sense something special in this woman. She seemed to know everything she did before she actually commenced it. An understanding smile was spread on her pretty face, making him fidgety with guilt all of sudden. Of course, he was more than aware of the cause of his nervousness.

He had doubted his own future queen.

Dismissing the thought with a smile, Gaudi paused in front of a great wooden door, and reached for its brass handle. He turned around to Hitomi before opening it, announced solemnly, "This is His Majesty's study, milady. No one was to attend the room except for Merle and me, not even the guards. And now, you are going to be one of the few whom he even wished to be there, with him."

Smiling gratefully at Gaudi, Hitomi remarked before she disappeared inside, "Gaudi, you flattered me."

Gaudi only watched her slim, little back as he bowed back in response, then straightened him self as his future queen really gone from his sight. His face grew serious in a minute. With determined look in his face, he slung his robe across his shoulder and left the door in long strides.

It was morning again. Ardine was lying on her four-posted bed, looking at the ceiling emptily, having ordered Alia and Midia, her private handmaids, to leave her in her privacy after their routine morning service of beautifying her. She was still feeling sorry for her self after all this time. She could not help the train of thoughts of having regrets in coming to Fanelia. She even began to hate her self for obeying her father's orders. She would not cry over the matter again, for she had decided that it was useless to grieve upon the matter, but still, she couldn't stop the feeling of helplessness inside her mind.

The fact was there. The king of Fanelia would marry in short time, and the bride would not be her. And there she was, dreaming that she could conquer the stubborn king and stood together as the sole rulers of two countries. How foolish she was. She had pretended to be strong in front of her attendants from time to time, but inside she was shattered, like the crystal glass she had smashed against the wall on the first night she learnt the cruel reality. She had ordered her attendants not to clean up the shattered glasses as a reminder of her agony.

Putting her hand on the soft mattress, she dragged her body into sitting position, and looked around her warily. Such a beautiful suite. It was more decent, since she was actually a disturbance in Fanelia's relatively stable political atmosphere. What is the Fanelian king intention of keeping her after all the incident she had caused? She understood that all the incidents were not completely her wrongdoing, but, without doubt, she was the one causing the whole commotion in the first place. Could it possibly be that he wanted to keep her as a prisoner, so that her father wouldn't declare war against Fanelia?

It was such an impossible prediction. She believed that the King of Fanelia was not such a low person, considering all the heroic deed that he had done in the past. Moreover, she hadn't considered leaving Fanelia, even at the moment she heard that Hitomi would be the queen of Fanelia instead of her. She didn't understand her self. She was confused. The normal Ardine would have stormed out of Fanelia weeks ago and persuaded her father to destroy the country. She was curious, may be. That was the only answer to why she didn't leave Fanelia ages ago. She wanted to see the whole procession. And create chaos of it, if possible.

Yes, she couldn't stop the hatred that grew inside her heart, couldn't stop the feeling of wanting to tear Hitomi's wedding gown into pieces. She had sneaked quietly and spied on her older rival as she tried her wedding gown, a beautiful piece with blue and white ribbons, and felt her pride burnt inside her heart. She couldn't stand seeing another woman taking her place, destroying her childhood dream. Her father had promised her two of the most magnanimous powers in Gaea, but she had destroyed it only in a matter of seconds. She was a princess, for God's sake! And she was a Gaean, if not Fanelian. At least she was a member of the existence of this world while Hitomi wasn't.

Ardines' eyes minced as she spotted Hitomi's blurry figure from the window on the far away right wing of the Fanelia castle. A thought went across her mind as she turned her eyes away from the sight and closed the window behind her.

She had to do this. If not, she would suffer and die inwardly.

Ardine snapped her head up as she heard someone knocking on her suite's door.

"Who's there?"

Her brows knitted into one line as she heard the answer. She didn't anticipate this moment, for she hadn't met him for a long time. Why did he decide to call on her all of sudden? Hidden intention? Very likely, yes.

"Gaudi Jenaro de Fanel wish to have an audience with you, Your Highness." answered the guard who was posting in front of the door.

"No, Lord Van. Please, don't order me to stay."

Hitomi's step skidded into a stop as she heard a woman's voice inside the study. She quickly hid her self behind the voluptuous red, velvety curtain, readying her ears for the next words to come. Hitomi wasn't certain of who was with Van at the moment, but there was a familiarity upon hearing the voice just then. She braved her self to peek a little of Van's speaking opponent and almost gasped in shock as she recognised the face of the owner of the voice. It was Merle.

It was the expression that she wore that alarmed her. She looked grief-stricken, almost pleading, as she clutched the arms of Van's silky white shirt. Van himself was not any better, for distress was written all over his face, and she could see from his set jaw that he attempted to bottle up his emotions over whatever happened in there. He looked down at the cat woman with such a dignity that almost made Hitomi fly there and shake him, but the look of sadness in his eyes prevented her to do so. Instead, she waited for the next thing to happen.

"No, you CAN NOT leave, Merle. Stay! That's an order!" The last few words had been said in a soft tone, but it couldn't conceal the anger. At the very moment, Hitomi understood that Merle somehow had made a decision that seemed stupid in front of his eyes.

"Please, please….Your Majesty, let me go," Merle sobbed, releasing the material of Van's shirt slowly, but somehow managed to maintain eye contact with the young king, "I begged you as your friend, just let me go."

Turning around, his red cape whirling behind him, Van drew a thick volume of book from its shelf and pretending not to hear Merle's plea as he continued with his stubborn order, "You don't know what you're doing, Merle. You don't know how hard the life would be for you over there. And as a king, I have a responsibility to protect my subjects, especially you, whom I have known since I was little." Flipping the pages of the book absent-mindedly, he said with his clear baritone voice, "You have no idea."

Merle wasn't crying, but it was clear from her expression that she was holding her tears. She balled her fists on her sides, then looked outside the window, her voice wavering, "I…I am sorry for troubling you, Your Majesty, but I…cannot stay. Please. This is for the sake of the three of us."

Hitomi jerked back in surprise as she heard Merle mention her name. What was actually going on? She could imagine what was behind the whole commotion, but still, things weren't very clear to her. She needed more facts and explanation to fully comprehend the whole situation.

She was still thinking about the matter when she saw Merle bolted out of window, rendering Van speechless and even madder. She didn't really notice what was actually happened to them, but she was sure that Van would share it with her, sooner or later.

After a few minutes of silence, she decided that it was the right time to emerge. Clearing her throat, she stepped out of the curtain and greeted her fiancées softly, "Hello, Van. You seem tired."

The young king's face beamed as he noticed Hitomi's presence, but his face sooner darkened with realisation and understanding as he saw the expression that she wore. She had heard some part of his and Merle's quarrel.

"What's going on, Van?" Hitomi chided him softly, "Merle's almost crying."

Van strode across the room as he gathered her into his embrace, sighing in content as he inhaled the aroma of her hair. He tightened his arms around her shoulders when she tried to press her palms against his chest, whispering, his breath tickling her ears gently, "Just stay silent. At least for a while."

Hitomi almost opened her mouth in protest, but she kept silent and hugged him back, in spite of the questions swirling in her mind. Instead, she lifted her face and planted a soft kiss on his forehead. Smiling in content, Van detached himself from Hitomi, kissed her on the cheek, before he finally held her shoulders firmly and gazed deeply into her eyes.

Inhaling deeply, he told her, "Merle is entering a convent."

Almost not believing her ears, Hitomi narrowed her eyes and hissed in shock, "She what?!"

"Merle is going to be a nun and I am not jesting about this." Van's serious eyes convinced her that he was telling the truth, "And I don't want her to go." Letting out a shaky breath, Van continued, almost whispering, "For God's sake, she's my best friend, Hitomi, and I don't want her to leave me. I…"

Hitomi put her fore finger in front of Van's lips and silenced him with a hush. "Don't say that," she told him, "She will never leave you, at least not physically. I know you're hurt right now, but please understand." She saw sorrow in Van's ruby eyes, but she couldn't do anything to alter the reality. She knew Merle well enough and she was sure that Merle was not someone whose decision was easy to change.

It will take more than a word to persuade the cat woman. However, deep inside her heart, her consciousness screamed her happiness upon Merle's decision, for her one and true rival would soon be gone. She was feeling guilty for that. May be, just may be, Van could clear up all her doubts and led her to a brighter perspective. She hated this feeling of uncertainty, but sometimes she felt helpless as she strived to seek answers to some undetermined futures.

"Van…"

"Yes?"

Hitomi continued hesitantly, her voice trailed off in the end, "Do you think…?"

She almost jumped in surprise as Van suddenly took her in arm-length and exclaimed merrily, "Hitomi, just look at you! I mean…" his eyes suddenly shone at the sight in front of him as he struggled for better words, "I just realise…"

"Van?" Hitomi was frowning in confusion as she gave Van a fixed stare, but a smile soon stole its way to her lips as she understood what Van actually meant to say. It must be her wedding gown.

"Gods, you're…you're…" he blinked several times in search of compliments as Hitomi merely gazed at him fondly, laughter started to rumble softly beneath her chest. She had to admit that no matter how much she abhorred the wedding gown, she also enjoyed witnessing Van's lack of ability to express himself. "…magnificent!" Van finished with a sigh as he smoothed Hitomi's shoulder length hair out of the way to give him a better view of her figure.

Hitomi sighed in resignation as she noticed the blissful expression on her beloved face, and decided that it wasn't the time to pursue the subject of alternating her wedding gown. As a matter of fact, she didn't even have the heart to tell him that she had wanted to alter it, seeing the pleasure and admiration that clearly shone thorough his eyes 

Hi, minna-sama!! It's been the longest of time, isn't it? Thank you for being patient with me. It's been the hardest months of my university course, with all the assignments and all. However, thank God I've finished this chapter 7 and will get on chapter 8 as soon as my tight schedule permit…. :P Anyway, I'm planning the best I could for the story and it takes more than time to achieve that, for I need your encouragement. I want to thank you all readers for all the encouragement you gave me when I was feeling down in this chance. Don't forget to write me e-mails and tell me what you think, whether it's good, or bad.

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