Well, since I decided to do a double upload. I'll skip the formal thanks a give a big thank you to all the people who've stuck with me for so long. As of this chapter we have four more rewrites until I upload the actual new contents. Chapters that I've never uploaded neither here nor on the old version :D So hoped you're all psyched about that as I am! :D
For now let's get going with this next one :3
Chapter Thirty-Six
The Last Farewell
"A matter of alliance with the Court?!"
It was hard not to cringe at how loud they had all exclaimed, with Alice being the clear exception to the ruckus for once. And it didn't help that I had been in the middle of sipping my tea either.
"Are you out of your mind?" Gilbert hissed trying to knock some sense into me. Quite a useless attempt but I can't blame him for trying.
"You sound a lot like Envy did when I told the Lords as well," I simply reply while pouring myself another cup of tea. Oz seemed to have relaxed a bit more while the other two were still throwing hysterics.
"But Claire," Sharon intervened a bit too outraged by the mere thought. "It was my grandmother and Duke Barma that ordered the eradication, weren't they?" She shook her head and tried understanding my logic, "Are you sincerely expecting them to accept a treaty from you just like that?"
"Mm, I have a very good feeling about this~" I cooed while drinking my tea with a straw. Her blank stare only make me sigh, "Not good enough?"
"Are you really going on that?" Oz finally asked what had been on his mind. "I mean, have you even discussed it with the other Lords?"
"Oh yes I have!" I called proudly knowing I had at least done something right. "They reacted pretty much like you did but after I explained myself thoroughly they understood my reasons." Remembering something, I chuckle under my breath. "Angele actually said it sounded more like an 'exchange'."
"An exchange?" Oz repeated a bit confused.
"Don't worry your pretty, little blonde head about it." Finishing the tea, I poured myself some more while I continued to chat with them. "You all will be there too so you'll get your due explanation."
"We...will?" Oz, Gilbert and Sharon all spoke at the same time confused by her words.
Claire nodded and placed her straw in her tea. "I clearly specified that the successors of the Four Dukes be present. It will make the treaty one that can be passed on easily from Duke to heir."
"Then when is it?" Gil inquired.
My eyes wonder up and a grin curls onto my lips. "Tonight."
"So...what are you going to wear?" Lacrimosa's sudden question brought Claire out of her stupor from blankly staring at her dresses in the closet. She turned towards the female Chain that sat on the edge of her bed.
"Is that really the question you should be asking?" Chronos chided while sitting on the floor, cross-legged underneath Lacrimosa and with her legs over his shoulders. "Doesn't the more pressing question of what's going to happen in there bother you one bit?"
"Both are good questions," Claire admitted and took out a simple white and blue dress. It was formal but was one of the few that Elise had made that wasn't overbearing. It was a sweetheart corset of a topaz blue color embedded with rhinestones. The rhinestones overflowed towards the white skirt that consisted mostly of ruffles with one layer of white silk over them. A small white bolero to cover her shoulders and with the short sleeves that had topaz ribbons.
Taking the dress in her hands, she placed it up against her body. "This will do for tonight."
"Here, let me help." Lacrimosa clapped her hands twice and made the dress disappear from her hands and instead appear already on Claire's body, all tidied and well groomed.
Claire stared flabbergasted at her reflection where only seconds ago she had a much different outfit on. "How did you...?"
Lacrimosa raised her finger with a gloating grin on her face. "I control space, remember? Anything that is made of matter and takes up space is my domain. Changing your outfits is something that's easy as pie."
Claire chuckled at this and simply agreed. Doing her hair in a stylish bun that was just above the nape of her neck, she looked herself in the mirror. Taking something from the dresser, she got out a jewelry box. The one and only that she owned. Opening it she softly touched a piece that she hadn't seen since that night.
Neatly laid upon the black velvet bed was the zircon collar that Elliot had given her as a gift. It was the most precious thing she had besides her broche that she now kept hidden from view but still wearing it. But seeing as this was an occasion for uniting forces, she knew that having it on would be like having him by her side as well.
Her hands delicately held the ribbon and tied it behind her neck and let the zircon medallion fall gently between her collar bone. "Perfect," she murmured at her reflection.
"Not quite." Claire turned to face Chronos who had stood up from his place. Once standing, he held his hand out to Lacrimosa and helped her stand up beside him. While still holding each other's hands, they reached out with their free hands towards Claire.
She watched intently while they closed their fists. The two shinning spheres from their earring and necklace intensified before condensing and dancing down to their closed hands. Once through, the lights vanished and the two opened their hands to show Claire what they had inside.
"Earrings...?" Claire voiced looking at the two pieces that each held in their palms.
"Conduits," Chronos specified making her gaze up at them. "So you can use our powers regardless of where we are."
"But I thought I could do that already."
"When all of our powers were released, a short-circuit happened with the contracts you have now," Lacrimosa explained. She approached her and began putting the earring on her right ear. "Because of it you can't fully use what powers we posses. You're only capable of handling those that you have possesed since birth."
Chronos came up to her and did the same, careful to put on the earring he had on her left ear. "Since we can't return to your body now without causing big consequences to it, we'll use these to do our job."
Both stepped back once they were finished and smiled at her. Curious, Claire turned about to face herself in the mirror and gasped at what she saw. Two very distinct earrings hung from her earlobes but somehow they seem to create a wonderful pair. The one on her right was a drop earring of a tilted, crescent moon made of tourmaline opals held by a platinum frame. On her left was a stud earring of a sun with the same gem and frame. The light from each of them reflected a greenish-blue color along with the pale blue of the gem.
"Thank you," she sighed with a smile and only gazed at them through the mirror. "Really, for sticking with me through so much. Thank you."
"Not like we can leave right?" Chronos joked around making both girls chuckle. With a sincere smile on his face he patted her head. It felt kind of awkward since he was a few inches shorter than her but the gesture itself felt sincere and caring. "Besides, we made a promise that we intend to keep."
She felt a little tear welling up in her eye but blinked it away to glance at the time. "Better start heading out." She held the doorknob before she turned to the two, "I'm taking off now."
"Have a safe trip," the two called with smiles and saw as she left.
I stopped before the grand double doors that led to the meeting chamber of the four dukes. Outside two Pandora agents stood guard as if awaiting for my arrival.
"They've been waiting."
Yeah, specially because I'm here ten minutes early. Not letting my snappy remark be heard, I simply nod and let them open the doors for me. Walking inside, I notice just how dimly lit it is.
Scattered around the table were all three of the dukes. Duchess Rainsworth sat to the East with the real Duke Barma behind her while Sharon stood beside her. Unfortunately for me, the fake Duke Barma was also present and seated on the opposite side, to the West. On the South sat Oscar Vessalius with both Oz and Gilbert standing at either side of him. It wasn't just them either. Both top and bottom floors of the room were filled to the brim with agents. I tried my best to ignore them. The last seat that remained to the North was empty: Bernard Nightray's place. Beside the empty chair were two faces I recognized, Arbel and Angele. Coming up to me, Angele reached his open palm out to me while saying in a quiet whisper, "My King."
Taking his offer, he guides me through the rest of the floor and while Arbel holds the chair, I slide in with the two pushing me in. I sit there awaiting for them to begin the meeting.
"Clarice Florence, King of the Court of Miracles." The voice of the fake Barma boomed in the spacious chamber. "You have requested a meeting with us, the Four Dukes of Pandora. The matter: to form an alliance between Pandora and the Court. But frankly speaking, what is the real reason why you are here?"
Since I never had been in one of these meetings I tried going for the more polite approach. "Dukes and Duchess of Pandora, in my letter I said my reason for this was to form an alliance and truthfully that is the major reason why I am here today."
"You say the major reason," Oscar said catching onto what I said.
"Indeed," I say intending to clarify. "An alliance is what I am after but with it there has to be some...implications."
Immediately, I noticed the eyes of the real Barma narrow. The fake spoke, "You aren't looking for an alliance. What you want is a liberation notice."
"I prefer to call it an 'exchange'," I play coy with him but the others seem to know that I'm into something when Cheryl inquires something of me.
"What type of exchange, dearie?"
"What we offer is protection. Protection so that Pandora is able to travel outside its boundaries with us as back up. Not only that but I will provide aide to Pandora and all dukedoms with each Lord's land."
"At what cost to us?" Barma asked with an acerbic tone to his voice.
I took in a deep breath and braced myself for what was to come. "What I ask for is...for the eradication act to be purged in its totality." Almost immediately all parties burst out in an outrage at my request.
"You speak nonsense!" The fake Duke Barma cried out, mad out of his mind. "The Exitium are savages that cannot coexist with society!"
I turned to face Angele, my now right-hand as King. "Angele."
He cleared his throat before he spoke. "The Corvus of lore may be derived of preternatural forces. Yet during the times of revolution, it was the coexistence with humans that allowed our race to thrive and survive. We carry not just abnormal but also human traits inside us."
"What about those that do have the powers that Claire and you five have?" Oscar asked.
"On that note," Arbel spoke up after Angele with a smug grin on his face. "Not all of our people have those attributes. They're gifts that a minor 7% of our population have."
"As I said prior to this, I will offer our strengths to the four dukedoms that control Pandora," I clarify once Arbel is done. "I have talked about this with the Lords and they have agreed to stand guard for each house as I have specified to them. The Barma Household will work with the Land of Fire. The Rainsworth's will have the Land of Water. The Vessalius will have the Land of the Forest. The Nightray's will have the Land of the Spirits. And I will remain with control of the Land of the Dead and aide Pandora."
"Is the purging of the act all that you request?" Duchess Rainsworth asked.
I slowly shook my head before continuing. "There is one more thing. It's for you to disband any and all persecution of the Corvus and let them live amongst the people, out of seclusion."
There was another silence before Cheryl answered her. "Eliminating the eradication act won't be so bad because it will fall on us if anything happens. But allowing them to live amongst civilians is something that would endanger them and that we cannot allow."
"You have no need to worry about that Cheryl-chan," Angele quickly intervened with his famous smile. "Our King personally thought about that as well. She has proposed that her, alongside the Land of the Dead, will manage and oversee our people, specially those who posses powers. If they even think about misusing them, they are to be brought before her Majesty and to receive judgment from all six of us. None of us want to see any more senseless slaughter than there already has been."
"I understand," Cheryl said and spoke up again. "Would you give us a bit of an explanation of the lands that you decided for us?"
At hearing her call me to attention I nod before using Lacrimosa's powers to create a scaled landscape of Reveille and the country as a whole plus the areas that surround it. "As you can see, this whole country is surrounded by four distinct landscapes that lead into other countries. These four to each direction belong to one of our Lords."
Motioning my hand as if moving an invisible string, I moved the picture and zoomed in to the east. At putting the image in detail, a vast forestation came to their view. It showed one floor down with the sewers and three floors up showing some castle ruins. "The east belongs to Talis the Lord of the Land of the Forest. The ruins of a castle and the sewers lay there. It may be old but it acts as a fortress."
I moved my hand away to focus on the red lands that covered the north. Opening it, it showed two lower floors of the prisons and five up for the volcano that sat on top of them. "To the north there's the Land of Fire with Envier Arcadia as their lord. The still active volcano sits upon the old prisons that are still in usage."
The third biggest area was the one depicted in blue and when I motioned my hand for it to zoom in, one floor showed the surface and bay while five lower levels showed what laid under the waters. "To the south is Lord Arbel's territory, the Land of Water. The city of Gardenia that sunk almost a millennia ago is situated there and he's made it a livable place now that he's made it into an underwater city."
The second largest place was the one in orange which I motioned to detail. This one had no underground but had a seven floor monument of a temple. "The Land of Spirit to the west is led by Lord Derek and he resides in the temple with the surrounding villages. The temple itself is holy ground were priests and priestesses commute with spirits and only those that have been there can travel back without being eaten by the scorching sands and beating sun."
Finally, the largest of all the areas focused when I pointed at the country in which we lived in. On the surface and scaling up to three floors was the capital city of Reveille while nine floors beneath the city lay Angele's domain. "Angele's the last and is the Lord of the Land of the Dead. As you can see it resides right beneath our feet here in Reveille. The catacombs and mausoleum are under his command."
With a finally flick of my hand I made everything disappear. "Under my supervision, all those will be in your disposal. That is what I have to offer."
A silence ensued and frankly didn't settle well with me. The only thing I could do was keep quiet and hope they would understand and accept my offer.
Finally Barma spoke over all of them. "King Clarice, we will accept your request of alliance under one condition."
"Condition?"
"It is our own request to you, if you will," Oscar said not really explaining much. I nod readying myself to hear what they had to say.
"We ask that you take the fourth chair in Pandora while we seek to calm the ruckus that has been made," Duchess Rainsworth finally said.
Without knowing why, my body reacted and made me stand up abruptly while leaning against the table for balance. "W-What...?"
"Balance must always be kept," Barma explained. "This whole mess is taking its tolls and we saw fit to make this decision. And seeing as no legitimate heir is available, we concurred that you were our best option."
My mouth opened but no words came out. Their request had shocked me completely. I hadn't expected this in my wildest of ideas. They wanted me to take Bernard's place. But...I couldn't. My posture straightens with my resolve and my hands come into fists. "I'm humbled by the offer and take it as the upmost privilege that you have thought of me for such important position." Before answering, I take a deep breath and looking them all in the eye. "However, I must refuse." Just as I had thought, Barma and Oscar started making a fuss about my decision but with a quick motion of her hand Duchess Rainsworth quieted them down and asked me a question of her own.
"And why is that, child?"
A grim smile came to my lips when my hand unconsciously reached up to my necklace. "My friend and beloved passed away not too long ago. And knowing him, I doubt he would consider his older brother not a legitimate heir of this, now, his rightful place."
"Older brother?" Oscar asked a bit perplexed as all seemed.
My gaze fell upon Gilbert who slightly flinched at my scrutiny. "I believe he would've wanted you to take this important place, Gilbert."
He grimaced unable to believe my words. "How can you be so sure?"
A slight giggle fluttered away from my lips. "Perhaps...it's just the hunch of an old, wounded heart."
In Claire's room, both Chains were simply idly sitting around trying to be patient about the meeting finishing. One, however, was more than impatient about the result.
"Seriously, how much longer are they going to take?!" Chronos hissed under his breath while laying on Claire's bed.
"Calm down," Lacrimosa called bopping his head with her hand. "It's a big deal what she's asking so it's only natural that they might want to think about it."
"Yeah but how long those it take to think about such a good offer," Chronos mumbled under his breath.
The sudden noise of someone tapping glass made them turn to the balcony doors. Going up to them, both drew the curtains back and gasped at finding a familiar lion.
"Leon?" Chronos cried shocked at seeing the Chain.
"Oh look!" Lacrimosa called opening the doors and letting the Chain's head pop in. While scratching the lion behind his ear, she took the envelope that he held in his mouth. "A letter?"
"For us?" she asked him but he only licked her palm before bowing and leaving just like he came.
"What did he say?" Chronos asked closing the doors.
"That it's for Claire..." Lacrimosa said eyeing the envelope. "And if Leon brought it—"
"It's from Charlotte," he say between gritted teeth.
It felt great stretching out my arms after that pesky meeting. Good thing they agreed with me that I shouldn't take the chair. Then again they didn't allow Gilbert to either. Said that it wasn't the right time for him yet.
Out of the blue, I hear him speaking to me. "Thank you. For saying those things."
I chuckled a bit at his words. "I'm not one to lie, either." With a spin on my heels, I begin walking backwards while facing the group. "So? How was I?"
"Much more mature than the norm," Oz confessed with a slight chuckle.
"Mighty uncomfortable that was too," I agree while laughing alongside him.
"Nonetheless," Angele interrupted. "It's a common state of mind for you. A voice commanding and deserving of respect."
"As a King should be," Arbel joked with a goofy grin on his face.
"Thanks."
"Claire!"
The sudden noise in my head made me cringe and I almost fell back from how it messed with my balance. Luckily, Arbel had been close enough to catch me and put me back on my feet. Once I assured him I was all right, I stood back up and answered the two.
"What's up with you two?!" I hiss in the quietest whisper I can muster.
"Something's come up. You need to come to your room at once!"
"What are you babbling on about?"
"Leon brought you a letter from Charlotte."
That was all it took for me to excuse myself from the group with the excuse that I was very tired to celebrate any. Instead I sped towards my room and locked the door behind me after I entered. The two Chains stood there very expectant of my arrival. Once I had my bearings again, Lacrimosa shoved something at me.
"H-Hey!"
"Read it," Lacrimosa urged while holding her hands tightly together.
Holding the envelope to see it, I opened it and read the letter inside of it. " 'Meet me at your brother's resting place. I have something to give you' — Charlotte. Something to give me?" Instead of pondering about it I headed towards my closet and chose an easy outfit to travel in. With a snap of my fingers the clothes changed onto me like they had when Lacrimosa had done so. Putting on a dark-colored cloak and putting the hood on I went over and unlatched the balcony doors open.
"Are you seriously going!?" Lacrimosa exclaimed very near my ear. "It could be a trap!"
"Mosa is right," Chronos backed her up but with a much more calm demeanor. "Going there alone is beyond stupid."
I groan and turn to them with a frown. "I can't just leave things like this. I also have things to say to her. So if you're so worried then go stand guard while I'm gone. If they find out I went out to meet up with a Baskerville, the alliance will be broken. So stand guard and make sure no one comes in. Can you do that for me?"
They each stared at the other before they turned to me and nodded. I smile and thank them before I leap down land safely below. Without missing a heartbeat and as quietly as I could, I headed to the stable and went to one of the horses. When it sensed me near, it started whinnying and stomping but I quickly hushed her down.
"Now, there, there," I cooed quietly until it calmed down and nuzzled my hand. "You're a good girl, aren't you? You can take me there, right?" She bobbed her head as if understanding me and that made me smile. Saddling her, I led her out of Pandora through the back as quietly as I could. Once we were a considerable length away, I climbed her and she took me away.
It took maybe a half an hour before we arrive at the mansion where Elliot and Leo had buried Cloude's remains after Sablier. Not wanting to risk being found, I left the horse outside and jumped the fence and quietly went around to the garden. Once I started approaching the old oak tree, I noticed a slim, cloaked silhouette that hunched before the gravesite and a small pink rose above it.
A small smile crept to my lips when I spoke once close enough. "Isn't it a little late to be calling me out here?"
She must've known I was behind her because half way through my sentence, she had already stood up and turned to face me. The sullen face she had wiped the smile I had on mine. "I wanted to pay my respects to your brother. And it's never really late for you who control time and space, buttercup."
That name... She and Fang had come up with it when I had arrived at the mansion when I still couldn't communicate with them. And even after I learned to speak, they called me that as an endearment. And it brought me many more painful memories that I'd like to admit.
"Why did you call me here, Lottie?"
"To deliver something." She reached into her cloak which made me react and reach down to Radiant Dawn's hilt. She chuckled a bit, "Always had the itchy finger, you." Just then she pulled out a journal from underneath her cloak. One that seemed very tattered down and a tad bit familiar. "It was something that Cloude gave me. He made me promise the day we went Sablier to deliver this to you if he were to..." The sullen look came back to her face and instead of continuing she stretched her arm to pass me the journal.
Taking my hand off of my hilt, I took the journal and skimmed it. The first half was mostly written in our language but as the years continued it turned into normal language. Finally I reached a point in the book where the rest of the pages were blank. On the last written page I found a ripped piece of paper with his writing in our language.
If we are ever to be reborn, I wish we could be twins again and be together.
My eyes began to sting and I knew I could cry any moment but the fact that Charlotte was here didn't allow me such reprieve.
"I was a little shocked when I saw you here," she said with a scoff. "Thought you wouldn't show up."
That makes me grin a bit before I turn to her and snap my fingers. When her face changed to one of confusion I knew I had done it with the little trick. The dark cloak was now the same blood red as hers. "Do you intend to tell me that you'll return to us?"
"Sorry but that isn't why I did this." Before continuing, I walked up to the grave and caressed his name while holding the journal close to my chest. "What I lived with you guys is something I will never forget. You are a part of my family, and you have been ever since the day you took us in. You have no idea how eternally grateful I am for those years, those memories." I couldn't help myself from smiling but then at remembering the rest my smile faded and became a bit sullen. "Yet there are some memories that have plunged me into an deep abyss that I've been finally been able to surface from. It's where you all are. In blind servitude. Master Glen...I always admired him. He was kind and just to all of us. He cared for all of us. But the way things are now, I don't wish to vanish back into that abyss." My fingers slowly found their way to the rose that lay upon Cloude's gravestone.
"I'm not going back but I'll never forget any of you. I love you all too much for that. That's the reason why I will keep fighting no matter what. Until the bitter end and whatever may come. And if I have to fight you too then so be it." I breathed a sigh before finishing, "But even then, I'll still wish for it to end and that someday we will be able to speak in peace."
Turning to face her, a wry smile adorned her features. But she didn't despise me for my decision. She actually even looked...proud. Charlotte reached into her pockets once again and took out what looked to be a piece of cloth. "Here, my last advice to you."
I took it into my hand but was perplexed at what it was she was handing me. "What is this?"
"Ask your friend from the house of the dead," she suggested and brought her hand up to her hair were she took on of her rose pins off. Coming closer, she slightly bundled a piece of my hair and pinned it to one side. "Whatever happens I'll be ready to take it. And if all comes to be between us two just know that I won't go down without a fight."
"Thank you." The cloth went into one of my pockets before my hand reached over to the touch the rose pin. "Thank you for everything, Lottie one-sama."
"Thank you, buttercup." She turned and before I could catch a glimpse of her, she vanished.
My gaze fell upon Cloude's tombstone. "Someday it'll all end, Cloude," I whispered while caressing the stone. "History won't repeat itself. I won't let it. Just wait and see, you and mom'll be proud of me. I promise."
Without anything else to say I left him. That someday may be closer than I think or maybe in the far off future but no matter what I'll still be there to fight for what I believe is right. I won't let hope vanish from this world ever again.
Little bird fly away
Let the song resound again
Rise those gone up from they're grave
Kein gently stroke the head of the boy that laid on her lap as she sang a macabre lullaby.
Those who've departed come back this way
Hear this plea from the caller of the dead
The eyes of the boy opened slightly showing of an incandescent ruby glow. Kein chuckled low in her throat as if enjoying her work, "Yes, Sir Red Knave. Recuperate yours powers. For what's to come, I will need them."
A man that stood in the shadows overseeing the young girl simply sighed and bestowed the message he was given. "Mei Tao says that she'll be here with Avery soon. They'll reunite with Reina Joule first and head back. After that we'll make our attack on the five and their King." He glanced down at the girl who seemed to not be paying attention as she played with her new toy. "Is that puppet ready yet?"
"He will be soon enough," she answered while brushing a lock of his hair away from his face. "As for your plan, there's no need to go for the five, Marcus. If we go after the King with this then they will have no choice but to let her fight on her own. And this is a fight she cannot win."
"Exactly how much longer is soon enough?" Kein didn't bother to look over her shoulder to watch Zai Vessalius.
"Soon," she repeated. "Have patience. A necromancer's work mustn't be rushed."
"You will have to hurry if you want to keep that King of yours out of the way." He scorned at her laid back attitude, "Will all of you be enough to stop her?"
She cackled for a bit before returning to normal. "Why, of course we will!" A grin spread from ear to ear and stretched horrendously. "With this puppet and the countless I can summon, it'll be easy. After all, who am I but the prodigious apprentice of Master Angele."
Dun-dun-dun! :3
But yeah -w- This is it -w- Heartwarming words from an older sister like Lottie are always good. And as for Kein, well, she just creeps me the f- up. But anyway, this is it for now c:
Hoped you liked it and stay tuned for the next chapter! :D
