Hikaru

Chapter Thirteen: The Meeting of Rivals

It was just before noon, and Hitomi was wandering through the halls of Fanelia's beautiful palace. As much as she loved seeing Merle again, she had unconsciously abandoned the feline-girl to explore on her own. Van had told her to stay put with Merle, but Hitomi did not see any real problem in being slightly disobedient. There were many guards out on watch anyway, so danger was not probable.

A figure walked past. It was small and hunched. He stopped and gave a look to Hitomi. Amused, he gave a smile and Hitomi responded with one also. He disappeared down the hallway.

Soon, ladies awoke from their chambers. Hitomi was confused as she saw such pretty young women emerge from rooms all along the corridor. They were gorgeously dressed, whilst Hitomi settled for her cleaned, yet very plain clothes she was wearing the night before. They began twittering amongst each other, she could hear them squealing as they opened little boxes full of pretty jewels and a little card of somesort that looked like an invitation. When they noticed her prescience, they stared at her curiously. Some seemed quite tired, but then suddenly livened up as if they had become excited upon seeing her. Confused, Hitomi began walking away.

"Wait!"

Hitomi stopped. She turned to have a look at a slim, attractive in an odd way, brown haired girl with dark eyes. She was dressed in clothes Hitomi could imagine a princess like Milerna would wear.

"Are you a maid?"

"No," Hitomi blushed.

"Then it is true."

Hitomi looked bothered by this statement. The lady and her friends began whispering amongst themselves again. "You are… the peasant girl Lord Van found in the woods last night! The one he knew from years ago!"

"How… how do you know?" Hitomi queried worryingly. They ignored her response this time.

"Childhood best friends," said another, "I heard that she was ashamed to be in the prescience of a King that she ran away!"

"Does he love her?" asked another.

They were speaking in a way that was not discreet at all. They were tactless for such 'proper' ladies in waiting.

There were about a dozen of them, all murmuring comments to each other to embarrass Hitomi, as if she was not there. They had addressed her just so that they got her attention so she could hear them gossip about her! Hitomi said nothing as another lady began to talk, "I doubt it. Look at her clothes! If he loved her, surely he would have dressed her more appropriately."

"Very unattractive, I daresay," exclaimed another.

"What messy hair too," giggled a smaller one.

"Pathetic," exclaimed a commanding, yet frivolous voice. All the ladies turned, "it's a daughter of Kamanyak!" said one. From the corridor came a very stunning young girl. It was Lady Sanye of Kamanyak. She looked slightly younger than Hitomi, her height being much less. She was elegantly poised, and her hair was a deep, stunning auburn. It was fiery and passionate, and her green silken dress displayed her well proportioned figure as well as a gentle impression of well shaped cleavage. The dramatic emerald colour of the silk emphasised her strikingly superb red hair. She had a pert aura about her, and her eyes were bold, yet laced with mystery. Her voice was clear, and she began talking again, "Do you not know? People say she is from the Mystic Moon. The girl who can tell fortunes." The others gasped hysterically and gave suspicious looks towards Hitomi. "What is her relationship with Lord Van then?" questioned a quite large girl.

"Hmph." Sanye said dismissingly, "Ignorance never does a lady well. I tell you, he used her in fighting the Great Empire itself."

The group whispered at the mention of the Zaibach Empire. Hitomi felt over-patronised and began walking away. She froze, unable to speak as her mind went blank. What were all these girls doing her? She did not understand at all.

"Fear not, a very non-plausable rival for the King's heart. I once heard from a butcher's son that the Princess of Asturia herself mistook her for a maid. I see no difference now, four years later." Many laughed in reply.

Hitomi was not going to stand for this… she opened her mouth to speak, but the overwhelming size of the group who looked at her with mocking eyes, made her feel ashamed of herself. She turned and ran as the bunch ridiculed her from a distance.

Hitomi began sobbing. Few tears trickled down her face. Why? Why were all these ladies residing in Van's household? Not only that, how did they know about her? Was it true, to Van, she was then just a fighting tool? Surely not… he had embraced her earlier in his bedchamber. She questioned her caving into those unkind comments, and then sighed to herself. She stopped running, and allowed herself to fall on the floor. She was probably over-tired and thus, why she felt so insecure. Van loved her, she was sure of it. Then… she wondered… why were these women so interested in Van anyway? Why were they even here?

Why was she even here? She could really not remember a thing. All that was in her head that remained from her vision on her last night on the Mystic Moon were the images of infernos rising high into the sky. Right now, with her feelings slightly hurt, she could not even bear to allow her mind to slip into thinking about visions. This was all too sudden, all too strange. Why was she in Gaea, again?

"Hitomi!" called Van, "Where were you?"

He seemed angry, but relieved at the same time. He had searched the entire palace looking for her, dropped the tray of lunch clumsily as he ran up every staircase possible, had been horded by a bunch of keen ladies of waiting and even admonished a very confused Merle who was honestly trying her best to look after Hitomi. Confronting her like a protective older brother, he placed his hand on her shoulder as her back faced him as she was looking through one of the castle windows. She seemed saddened by his touch as her body slumped. She turned to him, her eyes slightly watery. She was confused, tired, hungry and her body ached. She had bruises from the night before and she felt completely useless, and ugly. She felt wretched and angry at herself for allowing other people's comments to affect her. But it was true, why on earth would Van choose such a boyish, disgustingly unladylike girl like her over the fine daughter of Kamanyo or whatever?

"Hitomi?" Van said questioning. Hitomi knew that this was his way of asking "What was the matter?" but she turned away from him, shoving off his hand. Van felt the poor girl was probably tired and did not want to be reminded of last night, but he felt it was necessary to address her feelings. Distraught, Van tried once more, "Is there something bothering you?"

Hitomi opened her mouth to speak, but her mouth was dry. Sucking the air gently, she then murmured her reply, "Who are all those girls?"

"What girls?" Van responded. He had completely forgotten about the ball in all this disaster.

"Nevermind." Hitomi shook off a frown and forced a light smile. Then it clicked. Van smiled, "Those ladies in waiting? They came to show themselves off as potential suitors!" he said it, attempting to be humorous as if it was obvious their attempts were futile. Hitomi got the wrong impression and moved away from him. "Oh…" she said sadly. Her eyes looked to the floor and Van felt awkward. He tried to say some words to rectify the situation but his mind was boggled to how to say it. With that, Hitomi ran off once more.

"I'm always running!" Hitomi thought to herself, "Why am I always running?"

Impact. She hit something.

Landing on the floor on her bottom, Hitomi looked up. It was that girl again, the girl with fiercely red hair.

"So, it is the little maid again," gave the mocking greeting from Sanye.

"My name is Hitomi."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I did not realise that I did not make my introduction and that is why you did not address me as you should have, little maid. I am, actually Sanye Valroy De Moix, the third daughter of Kamanyak, one of the most highly desirable ladies in waiting. Most people call me the 'Red Haired Beauty,' but I guess, as I am feeling quite kind, I shall allow you fewer words to ease your simple mind and you may address me as merely your 'lady'," Sanye said haughtily with an empowering smile.

"My lady," Hitomi replied politely. She was far too timid to think up a witty comeback, and did not want to ruin Van's chances of finding a 'suitable wife,' if that was his true intention. She felt her hand quiver at the thought of it, but for Van's sake, she would be nice to his guest.

"How very civil," Sanye was amused, "I thought you might act less courteous to me since I am, of course, the leading candidate for marriage to our well known, very handsome King of Fanelia."

"Van…" Hitomi said quietly.

Sanye caught onto the informality and felt a tinge of jealousy, "Not even fit to be a maid! You know no manners that are required in a sophisticated court such as Fanelia. You should address him as your Grace! Pah, now, if you excuse me, I shall attend to my toiletries, little maid."

With that, she carried herself off in a neat walk, and disappeared at a turn in the corridor.

Next Chapter:

Chapter Fourteen: Becoming a Lady