Chapter Forty-Five:
Golden Afternoon
"Claire… Claire."
"Mm?" Sapphire eyes turned towards the one calling her and she smiled at meeting the gaze of one of her Lords. "Oh. Hey, Angie."
Angele shook his head and smiled warmly at his King. "What are you doing here?"
"Enjoying the view!" With a twirl, Claire faced out towards the lake that could be seen from the deck she stood on. Decked in a nice spring dress the color of the sky, her slightly heeled shoes clacked against the wooden deck as she turned back to Angele. "It's not everyday that we get to hold a tea party at such a beautiful place. Sharon truly outdid herself with this one."
"For as beautiful as it may be, you can't just go around ignoring your duties." Claire froze at the reminder. Angele could only shake his head at her forgetfulness. "Even if this social gathering is being hosted by the Vessaliuses, Oz-kun was kind enough for it to also double as your presentation to society as the King of the Court. And with that being the case, there's plenty of nobles wanting to have a word with you, your majesty."
"Ugh, don't call me that," Claire pouted. "You never call me that."
"It's etiquette—"
"Who cares about etiquette?" Both Claire and Angele jumped at the sudden joyous outburst that came from behind the latter as Arbel came to place his arm around Angele's shoulders. "It's a good day to enjoy some delicious food and tea and you're lecturing the girl about norms? C'mon, my love, let her enjoy it!"
"I'm not telling her not to." Through his blushing, Angele could only turn away from Arbel's face being so near his to preserve a modicum of propriety. Such an adorable sight made Claire chuckle. "I'm merely suggesting for her to bear it in mind."
"Our little king's got it. Ain't that right, Claire?" When he winked back at her, Claire nodded along, knowing exactly what Arbel was trying to pull. Said lord stole Angele away, chatting nonstop and not letting Angele get back to Claire. With their backs to her, she watched Arbel's hand give her a dismissive gesture behind Angele's back and giving her the all-clear to enjoy herself.
Taking advantage of that, she returned to the massive party where tables upon tables were scattered about in the grand garden. The decorations were wonderfully colorful. The food was splendidly exquisite and just so pretty to look at and even better to eat. Such a waste to do so but her empty stomach wasn't complaining.
Just as she finished her third slice of cake, a hand came out of the blue to offer her a handkerchief. Raising her gaze, Claire found herself staring at the mirror image that was her brother, Cloude, as he frowned at her while she took the handkerchief with a mild 'thank you'.
"Glad to see you're enjoying the desserts, nee-san. I'll be sure to let the nobles I've spent the better part of the last hour with know that they're to your liking."
Claire could only laugh at the intended jab before offering him some off her plate. "Thanks for the hard work, Cloude~ Though I still think it would've been better if you would've worn a dress and I a suit."
"You have some nerve."
"Oh well," she said with a dramatic sigh. "I guess I'll find something else to bet with Break about."
"Humph." Despite his reddened cheeks, Cloude didn't have the heart to be angry at her for long and took the dessert as the peace offering it was. "I'll let it slide only because you'll be flooded with work after this party."
"Gee, thanks for the mood killer."
He shrugged his shoulders and ate the cake in two bites. "Oh, this is pretty good."
"Isn't it?!" Claire exclaimed. Quick enough the siblings chatted idly about the different kinds of desserts she'd tried so far, knowing he would like them too. The sudden call for her by some of the nobles present, however, froze them up. Patting his shoulder, Claire hid behind her brother and said, "Thanks again, and good luck!" before storming off in the opposite direction.
Cloude could only sigh at his sister's antics before they called his attention again.
"Prince Dawn!"
"Yes, I'm coming!"
Claire hummed under her breath as she headed towards the secluded ends of the tea party only to find a couple of guys that looked a little too lost for it to be coincidental.
"Elliot! Leo-nii!" Both turned at hearing their names and stopped long enough for her to catch up to them. "I'm so glad you guys are here! But...why are you both away from the party?"
"Why else?" Elliot pointed out with annoyance. "We're looking for the pipsqueak."
"For Oz?" she repeated.
Leo nodded in response to her question. "Elliot wanted to greet Oz-kun the moment he got here. Isn't that adorable?"
"Shut it, Leo!"
"Stop being so shy, Elly. Oz has been just as excited to see you again," she assured him with a mocking pat on the back that Leo joined in on. "He wouldn't shut up about getting to spend time with his soon-to-be classmate."
"Not you, too!"
Not wanting to return so soon, Claire joined them in their endeavor and eventually found Oz along with Gilbert and Alice. Just like she thought, Oz was just as excited about seeing Elliot as he had been about coming to this party. What Leo pointed out about a Nightray and Vessalius getting along so well broadened her smile even further. They're going to build bridges that span countries one day, of that she was certain.
Wanting to see everybody who attended, Claire followed Oz as he greeted the guests that were already there. His sister Ada and Vincent were getting along quite well, something that raised her spirits at seeing such a gloomy guy spending time with such a ray of sunshine like her.
"There, there," she consoled Oz as he cried about Ada being taken away. "It was bound to happen."
Lottie, Fang, Doug and Lily had made it as well and Claire made sure to make a quick stop by their table to welcome them.
"Congratulations to you, your majesty," Fang was the first to say.
"That's right!" Lily cheered loudly. "You're gonna be some high king of whatchamacallit, right?! Ooh, can we go visit you at your castle? Do you even have a castle?" Suddenly she gasped excitedly amidst her endless questions. "Is there a large forest nearby where Bandersnatch can run around in?!"
"Yes. Of course you can. It's more of a mansion, though a castle does sound awesome. And yes there is."
Lily jumped around at the prospect of such a fun adventure waiting for her there. Lottie stopped her right in her tracks though. "Hold up a second there, Lily. You can't just ask to barge into such a place like that."
"Why not?" Both Claire and Lily said, taken aback by her question. They watched as Lottie stammered in search for a response all the while Claire hugged Lily from behind and crossed her arms in front of her before leaning down to rest her chin on Lily's head.
"B-Because," Lottie stammered somewhat, cheeks flushed a bit in embarrassment. "Wouldn't it be problematic for you to have us there?"
Claire instantly shook her head. "What I say goes, Lottie nee-sama. For the most part anyways. And since all my lords know you guys are my family, there's absolutely no problem in you coming to visit anytime you want!"
"Did you hear that, Lottie!" Lily called out. "We can go whenever we like!"
While Lottie tried calming Lily down, Claire laughed alongside Doug and Fang who thanked her for the generous offer. Fang especially patted her head affectionately before saying, "We'll be sure to visit you and Cloude often then."
"Yeah!"
"M-M-Miss Claire!" Claire turned at the sound of her name but wasn't prepared to be tackled by Echo the instant she did. Though thankfully not taken to the ground, Claire was still dazed as Echo shook her back and forth by her shoulders. "Y-Y-You have to tell Oz-sama to stop saying the things he does!"
"W-W-What's wrong, Echo-san?" Stopping her before she could cause her vertigo with how fast she was shaking her, Claire let her vision settle before facing Echo completely. "What did Oz say?"
"H-He said that Echo looked 'l-l-lovely' and that she was 'a-a-amazingly cute'!"
"Ah. That's it?"
Echo paused for a long second before shaking Claire by the shoulders even harder than before. "W-What do you mean if that's it!?"
"E-E-E-Echo!" At being called, Echo stopped, her eyes wide and cheeks rosy as could be. Oh, Claire knew that look. Chuckling to herself, Claire unlatched Echo's hands from her shoulders. "I know it's rather strange, the way you're feeling, but I assure you it's completely normal."
"It...it is?"
"Yep!" Claire proclaimed enthusiastically. "If reading all of Sharon's novels has taught me anything is that what you're feeling is nothing bad!"
"Is that so?"
"Mm. But if you want to make sure maybe ask Oz out on a date or something. I'm sure he'd say yes to you in a heartbeat!"
"D-D-D…" Echo couldn't even bring herself to repeat the word. And from how red as a beet she turned, Claire feared she might've broken the poor girl.
"We'll take care of her from here," Lottie assured Claire, taking Echo by the shoulders while she kept repeating the one letter on and on. "Go on, Little Dawn. Have fun."
Taking her lead, Claire skipped towards another table, one stacked to the brim with sweets. At noticing no one around, she went for the sneaky pick, zeroing in on a particular strawberry shortcake sitting at the top of the platter. Before she even had a chance to snag it though, a fork mercilessly stabbed the dessert before taking it away.
"Now, it's rather impolite to take others' food, Claire," Break cooed at her before putting the whole cake in his mouth.
"You have a dozen platters full of them!"
Immediately, Emily barked back. "And you have a bottomless stomach, you brat!"
Just as she was about to strangle the damn thing, Sharon caught her off guard by preoccupying her hands from dismantling the doll and taking them in hers. Giddily, Sharon greeted her as well as Reim who wasn't far behind the pair. Claire played along with a smile but couldn't help the cold sweat that ran down her back with how blatantly Sharon was staring at her.
"Um...Is something the matter, Sharon?"
"Yes, as a matter of a fact," she said with a distinct sparkle in her eye coming alive that scared Claire. "I've been dying to ask you about this!"
Without warning Sharon brought Claire's left hand out for all present to see despite her protests and heavy blushing. Both Break and Reim were awed at the piece of jewelry that was on her ring finger. It wasn't anything extravagant by any stretch of the imagination, only a simple silver band with small encrusted sapphires.
"Where did you happen upon this beautiful ring, Claire?"
Just as Claire was about to change the topic and try not to die in the process, Break offered a not-so-helpful word. "Oho, you didn't know, m'lady? The young Nightray scion came by not long ago and gifted it to our little Claire."
"Break!?"
"He did?!"
Sharon's girly switch flipped instantly and Claire couldn't do much other than stand there and take the myriad of questions the girl sent her way.
So many.
Though she didn't think it would work, she asked Sharon for a moment to breathe so she could tell her. To her utter surprise, Sharon listened to her request but it was obvious by her giddy expression that she was just brimming with excitement and curiosity. And now that Break had let the cat slip out of the bag, it would be hard to qualm her friend's enthusiasm without a proper answer.
Besides, it's not like she hadn't thought about telling any of them. Just not this soon. Oh well, better sooner than later, she supposed.
"W-Well, Elliot and I talked a lot about...well...us, and we decided that we'd make our relationship public after this party."
There's silence for the briefest of moments before Sharon exploded with giddiness, unable to handle her own emotions any longer. Before she could calm her, however, Break chuckled a second before Emily spoke out of turn.
"The guts on the brat to ask for the hand of a king!"
"It's not an engagement ring, you idiot!" Her counter was immediate, her face flushing with both embarrassment and anger. "It's a damn couple's ring is all!"
"Oh, but it's still a grand gesture to commit so publicly to someone like that! Especially at our age!" Sharon squealed with eyes sparkling as more ideas popped in her head.
Reim, the more sensible of the three, merely chuckled at their antics before smiling down at Claire. "Congratulations all the same, Miss Claire. Surely, having ties with the Nightray Household will greatly aid in solidifying not only the resurrection of the Dawn Household but also the legitimacy of the Court in the country."
Claire thanked him but shook her head at what he said. "To be frank, I could care less about any of that. We're together because we care about each other. The rest just happens to be rather convenient."
"Speaking of convenience," Sharon interrupted, hooking her arm to Claire's and taking her away from her chat with Reim. "How did Leo-kun and Cloude-san take the news?"
The reminder of their death glares promising Elliot's sure death when they told them sent shivers down her spine still. And it wasn't so much Cloude's reaction either that scared her, though she did fear the scowl he'd given Elliot. No, the worst one had to be Leo. That smile of his surely veiled plenty of threats.
"Not too well," she admitted with a nervous smile.
"Oh." Sharon placed a curious hand to her cheek. "Surely it's out of brotherly concern. Both know Elliot-sama cares about you and are only being harsh out of that same concern."
"I hope so, Sharon."
Out of the blue, Claire heard the soft notes of piano keys being played and turned away to find the duo of their talk with Oz near the standing piano. Excusing herself, she met up with Oz just as he was handed over a violin and Elliot and Leo took a seat together at the piano.
"Mind if I join you, gentlemen?"
Oz gave her a wide grin as he placed the instrument between his chin and shoulder. "Great! We were looking for you!"
"You were?"
"Yeah, but I knew you'd come when you heard us playing," Leo added. "It's like a kitten with a yarn ball! "
Though she wanted to smack him upside the head for the comment, her attention was brought back to the piano when Elliot waved at her to come closer. "What do you want to sing to?"
"Mm…" Hovering over both their shoulders, it took her a moment to think of something. Once in her mind, she played a few notes of the melody to which both Elliot and Leo catch on quick to. Leaving them to their ivory keys, Claire joined Oz in the middle of the open space all the while smoothing the skirt of her dress.
"So what are we playing again?" he asked while holding the bow aloft.
"Not telling you~" Laughing at the way he whined because of her teasing, Claire winked his way with a smile on her lips. "C'mon, Oz, improvise! As a future duke you should be able to do that much, right?"
Determined, Oz took the challenge and played along with them splendidly as Claire joined in to sing along where she knew to.
It was an old song. One of the first ones that Leo had ever composed for her and that she took as inspiration for the very first White Flora ceremony she performed at the orphanage. It was dandy and jovial and every bit what this tea party embodied for her.
Cheers and clapping ended their performance and after a few more hours, so did the party as it started dwindling down. With the sun setting soon, Claire joined Oz, Gilbert, Alice, Elliot and Leo on a walk down the river that led to the lake she'd seen before. Chilly as it was getting though, Claire shivered a bit and rubbed at her arms. It was then that out of the blue a jacket was placed over her head seconds before Elliot bent the few inches to give her a sidelong glance.
"If you're cold say something sooner, Claire."
Chuckling at his usual shyness, she thanked him for it and decided to fully wear it instead of only having it over her shoulders as they walked along the riverside. The usual banter that began though brought along talk of a boat ride by the lake which Alice of all people liked the sound of. But when Oz told her that perhaps next time since it was going to be dark out soon, Alice had the perfect response.
"This is already the 'next time!"
Claire smiled at her simplistic words.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
"...lai…"
Huh?
"...laire."
Who's...calling me?
"Claire!"
I open my eyes to meet Leo's worried gaze. When he sees this, his shoulders visibly relax a bit.
"Are you alright?"
"I…" For some reason, I can't answer him straight away.
"Are you hurt?" he asks again, this time grabbing me by my shoulders and checking with his own eyes that I'm alright.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine."
"Please, don't lie to me." His words furrowed my brow which earns an answer as to why he's questioning me so thoroughly. "You're crying."
I'm what?
The moment my fingers touch the tears that were rolling down my cheeks, I can't help but gasp. Instead of any pain however, there's this sensation of fulfillment and giddiness that's swelling in my chest. A small laugh escapes me then as I recognize what this is.
"Claire," he asks again, clearly worried about what's going on. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing...it's just…" I sniffle a bit as I wipe the tears from my eyes carefully with the back of my finger. "I just saw the most wonderful dream..."
Though taken aback by that, Leo drops the subject after I assure him that I'm indeed fine and uninjured. Despite that, the things I saw keep replaying themselves in my mind.
It all felt so...real.
"It was."
What do you mean? Astrovylia is quick to clear up any questions that I may have.
"When Alice contracted with Oz, the B-Rabbit, the brief disruption caused by their powers uniting caused the smallest of breaches in the writings. A Chain as old as him has the same capabilities as us to see them as we were all created by the Core around the same time."
Then what I saw…
"It was most likely another version of this world," Lachesis adds. "An alternate version of this story, per se, existing in accordance and parallel to your own."
The thought of that swelled my chest with happiness and warmed my heart before bringing a gentle smile to my lips.
"Is that so?" Another tear falls down. This time though I don't wipe it away; it's not a tear out of sadness, after all. "I'm glad."
It's that exact moment that a light shines from Alice's body. Though not blinding, it is bright enough to make us avert our gazes for a second before turning back and finding her falling apart quite literally into white petals as the room we were in fell along with her.
It was heartbreaking and relieving in equal measures to watch as she disappeared alongside Cheshire, promising to be together with him in the next life. It's when her body disappeared fully that the Core of the Abyss finally showed itself, but only briefly before another blinding light engulfed our vision.
This time when I opened my eyes what I saw before me left me astounded and in awe. Instead of the everlasting darkness from times before, the scenery before us now is nothing but golden curtains of lights within a scape of warm whiteness.
This is what the Abyss is really like. A beautiful place full of light.
Even Jack can't deny that truth now.
"Oz, you were right." As if having summoned him and Alice, they appear from amidst the golden curtains, determined eyes facing the man that caused many so much harm. "Lacie...didn't love only our world. She loved both of them. She...would never want this sky pierced with golden stars to be tainted."
And whatever he saw here—whatever it had meant to Lacie and him—made him reconcile with Oz's terms.
"So this is it, right? You won't try to destroy the world again."
"No…" Though a part of me still doubted whatever weight his words could have, it didn't really matter. There wasn't much of his soul left in that body. Once gone, Jack Vessalius—much like Lacie Baskerville had when that little piece of her took over me—would disappear from this world.
Oz doesn't sugarcoat anything either. But despite admitting to hating him, he does wonder the same thing I once did. He wonders if Jack would have made a different choice before it came down to all of this.
"But no, that was not an option, Oz. That thought never even crossed my mind. Because I had been bewitched by the sight of Lacie dancing happily in the blood rain."
Though it shocked me, Gilbert jumped out from behind us and tackled both Oz and Alice, henning over them like only he knew how to. It was then that I finally noticed something. A blob of white with a black core that hid behind Oz and poked its 'head' out like a child.
"Is that...the Core of the Abyss?" Gilbert asks.
"Yes. It's only thanks to the Core that we're here now. The Core tied down our souls and prevented us from being swept away with the other Alice." Wait...what? "Thus granting us some time to say goodbye."
Why was he thanking us? Why...was he saying goodbye?
"You weren't present when Oz informed them of what destroying his contractor would do to him and Alice," Lachesis explains to me.
"What do you mean…?" I whisper.
"Once he destroyed the Will of the Abyss, as his contractor, he also destroyed the Chain contracted to her. As the boy says, the only reason you can see and speak to them now is because of the Core's powers. Soon they will vanish too."
Tears were brimming at the corners of my eyes as their words settled in my head. The ruckus Gilbert was making as he held Alice and Oz only made it all that much more real. But even when it did, I couldn't comprehend it. I didn't want to.
Oz and Alice...—crack—...I'm losing them, too?
"No…" The Core pulsated faintly and turned to face me, something that through my blurry vision I barely manage to see. "Please...don't."
"What!?"
"What's going on!?"
Oz stared wide-eyed at the stars that began to form around himself and Alice, linking with one another and keeping their ephemeral shapes locked in space. The Core jumped at the faint lines linking the stars but wasn't impeded by the links. Everybody else, however—him and Alice included—couldn't move. It was like...everything was frozen in time and they could sense it. All those present as Baskervilles could sense it too, but could do nothing against it.
And as he searched all of their expressions for an answer, he found one in Leo as he stared at Claire who stood surrounded by white and blue stars contrasting against the golden landscape around her with her face buried in her hands as she wept.
"Claire," Leo called out from where he stood. Not far from her but just far enough to not be able to reach her now that he couldn't move. "Claire, stop. Even if you use Astrovylia's powers like this—you can't do it. You can't stop it."
From where he was, Oz could see her body trembling as quiet sobs escaped her. Tears dropped onto the ground beneath her, the golden light shaking beneath them as more stars formed out of them. Their sudden apparition suddenly made the stars holding them down make sense.
"Alice. Gil."
Both turned to him then as he reached upward to touch the stars that, despite holding them in place, were as fragile to their touch as fresh snow to the sun. The knowledge alone allowed them to step forward to where she stood crying and reached out to her. When his hand fell upon her shoulder, her head lifted and gave him a full view of her eyes. That familiar sapphire color that he'd seen so many times was now glazed over with the brimming tears in her eyes that twinkled like the little stars they formed.
Oz could only offer her a gentle smile. Turning to Alice with a knowing glance, both reached out to her and wiped away the tears. Her sniffling caught Gilbert's attention and had him picking a somewhat dirty handkerchief from his pocket as all three held it against her nose for her to blow it.
There was no helping the chuckle that escaped Oz as she did so and held the handkerchief close to her as she continued to sob. The day he decided to let Alice, Gilbert and Sharon know of his plan to destroy the Will of the Abyss, he had told them about what would most likely occur to him and Alice. But he hadn't told Claire. Not because he didn't trust her, but because he knew that she would do anything in her power to stop it from happening.
"I don't want you to—" A sob betrayed her words, ending her sentence prematurely. "Don't...leave."
"This was supposed to happen," Alice said rather straight-forward. "You stopping it now won't change anything."
"That's not true!" she cried out. At her words, the stars around them twinkled brighter, the links reinforcing themselves with her mounting emotions. "I-I won't know until I try! Chronos did it once! With the Core's help! If I separate Astrovylia again and give them to you, maybe you could—maybe it'll give you life too, like it did for them!"
"It won't work." It was obvious from the look on his face that it greatly pained Leo to be the one to tell her this harsh truth. "Even if you did separate her and create separate entities, it won't work. Claire...please…"
The way the light in her eyes dulled and the tears grew told Oz that she had finally accepted it. But even if she had, it didn't pain him any less to see her like that.
And it made it...that much harder to hide his own grief.
Oh boy. I thought I could hold them in.
His eyes suddenly began to sting and his lip trembled slightly.
Guess not…
All of the air in my lungs stopped the moment I saw Oz step back and hide his face behind his hands. But even despite him doing that, I could still see them—the tears he was trying to hide.
"Gil, Claire...do you think I want to go?" he sobbed. "That goes without saying… I promised everyone another tea party. And we didn't have the chance...to learn how to use the camera…"
It was innate what took over me then and almost as instant as Gil's. Reaching out, I cradled the two in my arms however I could from behind as Gilbert embraced them from the front. Oz took his arm and wrapped it around my shoulders and somehow reached over to Alice's and held on tightly. I couldn't even feel my hands from how hard I was grasping Alice and him as I cried and listened to Oz's words.
"And yet...I am glad I can even feel this way. I wouldn't have been able to feel this way before. But then I met you… We've been through a lot of pain and suffering, but we went through it together. And that only made everything more important."
The stars that had formed from my tears without my knowledge began to twinkle out and disappear as his words sunk in my mind. The tears didn't stop, but the stars did. I'm sad that they're leaving—devastated—but I can't keep them here, either. Not if it means forcing them to be here in a way they wouldn't want to be. I can't do that.
Not because I can't...but because I shouldn't.
"To be able to cry like this...that's what it means to be happy."
He's right. And all I can do is cry into Alice's shoulders as he cries onto Gil's.
A sudden flash startles us and forces us to separate. Oz and Alice hold on just a tiny bit longer before both of them push us away.
"It is time…"
I can't find the words to say. Not any that could encompass all that they've come to mean to me. Gil, however, is a whole other story entirely.
"I will be waiting...for the day that you and that stupid rabbit come back to this world!"
"Be serious," Oz chuckles.
"I am serious! Everything in this world is a miracle, so anything could happen! And also...I'm used to waiting. I've already waited ten years for you. I really don't see why one hundred would be a problem."
Strangely enough, I believed him. Reaching out to his sleeve, I held onto it tightly before turning to face both Alice and Oz, mirroring the same determined gaze that I saw on Gil.
And I can too.
"In that case...this is not a farewell. See you, Gilbert!"
It was then that a bright light shone out and took them with it when it disappeared. The silence left behind was overwhelming and settled over us quite quickly after they vanished. Leo, thankfully, took the helm of the situation and brought our attention back to the most pressing matter at hand now.
The Core of the Abyss.
As the new head of the Baskervilles, the next course of action sat squarely on Leo's shoulders. By the looks of things, however, he already had something in mind to start with.
"I think...the relationship between the Baskervilles and the Core of the Abyss ought to change."
It's a strange concept to be sure, but only because it was new. I don't think any of the Glen before him had ever thought about actually forming a relationship with the Core. Then again, perhaps the fact that the Core now knew what happiness and loneliness was greatly influenced his decision to do this.
"So what are we supposed to do?" Lottie asks.
His answer was instant. "We should come to visit, as friends."
The idea brought a smile to my face. Certainly an idea that only Leo could've come up with. And that he was placing the responsibility of such a task to Vincent said plenty as well. Though, I suppose that responsibility fell upon both of us. What he said catches us plenty off guard, though; his claim that children of misfortune weren't ill omens in the least.
And the fact that the Core would be able to use Jack's body seeing as it was excluded from the one hundred year cycle of rebirth was...convenient, as Jack so eloquently put it. But it did make some sense that the Core would be able to create something like that—a being unable to die.
An eternal friend.
"I leave it up to you," Jack said, smiling through and through. "Do as you please."
'Do as you please.'
Those words deeply resonated with me for some reason. All this time, I had been guided down a path because of my past and never once looked up to the future. Now that I have it all back it's eerie to think that I have little guidance to go on.
But...that was also the exciting part in a way.
"Lachesis. Astrovylia." Both Chains appear before me in their true forms. One dressed all in white, the other in nothing but black. Two halves of the same whole.
A whole being that was never meant to leave the Abyss.
"Stay with the Core."
They didn't object to my order; Gilbert and the others, however, weren't as quiet about what I was asking the two Chains for.
"W-What are you doing?" Gilbert exclaims. "Didn't you just get them back?"
Vincent was more forceful than his brother, choosing to grab me by the shoulders and try to shake some sense into me. As if that would somehow force me to drop such an absurd idea. "Are you insane? Do you realize the kind of power you're giving up?"
"As a matter of a fact, I do." Brushing his hands off of me, I turn towards the two who had remained silent all the while. "You once told me that the Harbinger and the Curator never had the intention of leaving the Abyss, Lachesis. The only reason you contracted with me was because I had Chronos and Lacrimosa, the two halves of your own brethren."
Lachesis drops her head in admittance. "That is correct."
"And you, Astrovylia," I say now facing the darker woman. "The only reason you were ever contracted to a human was because my people forced you out of the Abyss. And when my mother split you in half, returning was no longer an option, was it?"
Astrovylia silently shook her head.
"But you're whole now, and you can be together again." Unsheathing my rapier, I take one last glance down at the memento left to me by my mother before stabbing it on the ground in front of me and letting particles of light fly outward like fallen petals. "I don't wish to keep you tied down to me. To a place and person you only came to out of duty."
"Are you certain of your choice?"
Their voices mingled together and echo in the vastness of the Abyss. The fact that they were even asking me brought me insurmountable joy. But I'm sure of what I'm doing. I don't want to be tied down by my past anymore. I want to be able to look towards the future with pride...and my own strength.
"I am."
"Of all the paths your future could have taken, we never imagined you would have chosen to forfeit the power we bestowed upon you."
"Nonetheless, it is the choice that you have made and we thank you for it. The Abyss is our home and our sole wish is to remain with the Core."
"Good," I reply. As soon as the words leave me, however, a smile is already forming on my lips. "And it's not like I won't see you again. Vincent and I can come and go as we please, and we'll be visiting you three all the time as Baskervilles."
"And the Abyss shall welcome you in its golden embrace, child of the stars."
From where it stood pierced, Radiant Dawn burst into golden lights and joined as a sphere while floating before me. It wasn't the only one either. Twelve other spheres left my body without any warning. All twelve carried within them the Hours that Cloude and I had once mastered, each disappearing into the Abyss in flashes of silver and gold. Once gone, Lachesis and Astrovylia both bowed their heads before shrinking into themselves until they were nothing more than two balls of floating lights: one white and one black.
Both of them then floated over to the Core who carefully wobbled around them before absorbing them in their entirety. All stood shocked at what had just occurred, at what I just had forfeited out of my own volition. But not for long.
Vincent was the first to snap out of it and call out to Leo who quickly did the same. Now that it was just us with the Core, he approached it with a tender hand patting the top of the shapeless blob.
"First of all, we should find a name for the Core…"
"A good one too," I tell him as I skip over to his side. Looking over at the Core, I do the same as he did and pat it. "Fitting for our new friend."
It was after all of this that a new chapter started in all of our lives.
We returned to our world thereafter and found that the chains sustaining the world had indeed been restored once the Core of the Abyss returned to its normal state.
With much help from Duchess Rainsworth and the rest of Pandora's agents at hand, the situation in Sablier was handled. The rest of the country took a little more than that, however. But with the help of the Court, normalcy was restored to the country sooner than expected.
Once it did, however, Duchess Rainsworth came to me and my lords with a petition.
"You want us to what now?"
It was hard not to stare blankly at Duchess Rainsworth and Duke Barma, who, despite still not being well and in bedrest at the moment, was with the highest spirits I've ever seen him with. That much was obvious by how adamant he still seemed to be about marrying the Duchess.
Goddamn, not even being on death's door stopped the man.
"It's not as astounding as you think, Claire-chan."
But it was.
"You do realize you just asked me to take hold of this nation, right?"
Even Angele, who came with me on the behest of the Duchess, was taken aback by the odd request. "Sheryl, what's the meaning of this?"
"I know it sounds dubious, Angie, but do listen to what we have to say."
So we did. Apparently, she and Duke Barma were planning on explaining to the nation and even the neighboring country what had occurred. Because of everything, they would recommend that all responsibility befalls on the Four Dukedoms. And though I couldn't quite understand why she would want to do that, Angele appeared to grasp the meaning of such a thing better than I could.
"You want to divest the four dukes of their titles."
"What?" Instantly, I turn to her. The fact that she isn't denying any of what Angele just said makes his words all the more true. "But...why would you want to do that?"
"My dear, out of the four, only we remain as heads of house. Both the Nightrays and Vessalius have all but lost their heirs and will become extinguished lineages the moment the current heads pass away. The same could be said of myself and Ru-kun." Despite her gaze being downcast, a gentle smile remained on her features. "Thinking we could control what was never in our realm of understanding to begin with was the hubris we took upon ourselves long before our children and grandchildren came to this world. It is only right that we leave its preservation to those meant to carry it and unburden those who will come after us now."
"You mean to the Baskervilles?" I ask.
"Yes, dear. To Leo-kun and you." Reaching out to me, she takes a hold of my hands as we sit across from each other. "Be there for one another. Him as the shadow that lurks behind your light; be the new pillars that will sustain this nation."
To say that I was surprised by her request would've been an understatement.
I was but a girl who barely understood the state of her own lineage and was only grasping the fact she had people to look after. And now she wanted for me to be a pillar alongside Leo?
It was baffling, but, after some thought, also a logical step.
The Baskervilles did once hold reign over the old capital of the country a hundred years ago. As a choice, they made sense. But my family had only been one of the many who once stood in the nobility a century ago. We had all but vanished after my father was banished from his lineage, and with Cloude gone, all it would ever have would be me.
That, however, didn't dissuade others from thinking this would be the best course of action as well.
"It's not too far-fetched if you think about it."
"Not you too."
I sigh for the tenth time that day and watch as Leo went about picking up some books and skimming through them. He's taken his duties very seriously ever since becoming head of the Baskervilles. According to what he's told me, at least one of the other Glens still remained conscious in his mind and still talked to him from time to time. With his guidance—though always taking it with a grain of salt—Leo was handling his new duties well enough. That all the others were also helping him was good as well.
I watched him from my seat behind the grand piano that sat in the parlor of his room of the mansion. A mansion they acquired from Gilbert and Vincent as the only remaining Nightrays and now used as the main household.
The piano being where it is, it's easier for him to practice whenever he has free time. Me, I practice whenever I can.
Ever since we started living under the same roof again, he's been teaching me how to play, something I asked of him when I spotted him trying to play by himself one night. So far, I learned how to read music because of him and, thanks to Sharon and Ada, I've learned a few pieces well enough to play alongside him with few mistakes.
That's better than what Vincent can do, though, and so long as I play better than him, I'm happy. If anybody would help Leo play the piano again, it'd be me.
"I'm serious though." He comes to sit by me, his back to the piano as he lays a book on his lap. "From what I've read and what Levi's told me, the Baskervilles held plenty of power a hundred years ago. If what the duchess wants is to dissolve the dukedoms and Pandora, then we stand as the only link between the world and the Abyss. But because of the history they've been indoctrinated with about us, it won't be easy for them to trust us if the Baskervilles do come out into the light again."
The turning of pages mingles well with my playing of the music that Leo has sitting on the music rack. I can more or less play it, and he doesn't hesitate to correct me when I mess up even as he's engulfed in his book.
"The House of Dawn, however, is a different story."
"Knowledgeable of my family, now, are we?"
"Yes, as a matter of a fact," he said as he turned and placed the book over the music. Without missing a beat, he points at the page he's on. It's a handwritten journal and old by the looks of things. "See this? It's your father's family tree."
"What the—" Instantly, my hands take the book and start reading over the crudely drawn lines and names. And indeed, there on the pages is my father's name: Nicholas Aloysius Dawn. "Where did you find this?"
"Duke Barma granted me access to the records he's held onto all this time. These were among them." He gestures out towards one shelf where a handful of other books and bound journals sit tight. "He suggested I give those a gander first, saying something about them being valuable to you now that he knew whose daughter you were."
Lifting his hand, he pointed to where my father's name was and where his family line ended. Neatly written in different handwriting beside his name, however, was my mother's, and underneath the line that connected it was mine and Cloude's names. I knew that handwriting too.
"You wrote that?"
"Had to finish it for posterity's sake."
I chuckled before taking the book and skimming through it as I asked, "What did you mean by the House of Dawn being different?"
"A hundred years ago, they were a rather large dukedom despite being one of many. Before the duke's attempted murder and subsequent execution of his eldest son, it had been a brilliant dukedom that brought prosperity to its house and was greatly known for their charitable work for the people."
"And what, you think we can revive that reputation and do what Duchess Rainsworth suggests?" I asked, incredulous.
Leo shrugged his shoulders, "It'd be a good start."
Leo believed in what we could do together for this world. And I believed in him too. So we decided jointly to do as the duchess suggested. Him as head of the Baskervilles and I as head of the newly renewed Dawn Household.
It was tough to prove my lineage, but thanks to Duke Barma and his extensive research into it, we managed to prove to the nation that I was who I said I was. Though my direct connection to the eldest son of the Dawn family could not be disclosed to the public, he convinced them that I was a lost daughter of one of the other siblings before the family's downfall.
Though all that we did certainly felt like jumping through numerous hoops, it was worth it in the end. Thanks to all their efforts, I became the legitimate head of the reemerging Dawn Household and took on the duties of a noble. And despite being divested of their titles, the Rainsworth and Barma families helped in making the transition easier. For one, Duchess Rainsworth and Sharon helped me acclimate to this new environment. Duke Barma, on the other hand, aided me in a way I wouldn't have seen coming in the least.
Derek raised an amused eyebrow and whistled as he looked over my shoulder at the letter I held in my hands. Angele could only chuckle under his breath while hiding his smirk behind his hand. Both were having a field day with my reaction to the contents of the letter from the now-former Duke Barma.
"You've got to be kidding me," I sigh with exasperation.
"He wasn't joking when he said he would invest his all in Duchess Rainsworth's plan," Derek pointed out.
Angele shook his head and shooed Derek away from me as I let the letter fall on my desk. "He's always been a gambler that Rufus. And by the looks of things you're his new bet."
I found out that day that Duke Barma had named me his heir.
It had never crossed my mind that he hadn't had children in all his ridiculously long life. But from how he chased after Duchess Rainsworth, I should've guessed he would have never been with a woman that wasn't her. All that I could think of was that it had to have been under duress courtesy of Duchess Rainsworth, but a part of me believed what Angele said.
Barma was waging on a new bet—me.
God. Even now I hate thinking how smug he would've been had he lived long enough to see he'd been right.
With the Dawn and Barma Households united, our job became easier. In three short years, we were able to bring the House of Dawn into the limelight and bring forth unity to a nation that had been so devastated by the actions of four dukedoms.
And with that newfound power, I took the first step to do what was best—for everybody.
"Are you nervous?"
Gilbert's voice surprised me when it came out of nowhere from behind me. I almost tripped on my heeled shoes from how fast I turned to face him. Luckily, I caught myself before I could make a fool of myself. Before scheduled anyway.
"Who me?" I scoffed and turned my eyes askance while smoothing out the creases of my dress' skirt. "Pft, no. Not nervous whatsoever." But no matter how tough I wanted to act, I couldn't. My bravado instantly failed me and deflated my stance before him. "Is it that obvious?"
He chuckled and took a few steps to reach me. "May I?" He gestured to my ribbon that I'm sure I must've messed up somehow. I nod and he easily undoes it and ties it with his right hand.
"Thank you, Gil."
"You're welcome." He pats my head without messing my hair and I smile back at him. "Relax. You've gone over the speech a hundred times over and it's perfect. You'll do fine."
"It's easy for you to say," I said with a scoff. "You're not the one going up there to talk to stuck-ups who don't know what's under their own noses. Much less trying to convince them to accept it."
"Well, that's why we're here. To help you through it." The way he reassures me helps funnily enough, and I can take a deep breath because of it. "Better?"
Smiling, I nod back and give him a hug which he reciprocates. It's when we part ways that we notice Leo with Vincent and Angele having entered the room without our knowledge. Out of the three, Angele is the only one smiling. Leo and Vincent are on different levels of disbelief at what they saw.
Idiots.
"Minds out of the gutter, boys," I said, clapping my hands in front of their faces to get their attention back on track. "We've got a job to do today."
"Indeed you do," Angele agreed.
Leo cleared his throat before offering his arm to me. "Shall we then?"
Taking another deep breath, I take his arm and we both walk out into the ballroom full of nobles with Gilbert, Vincent, and Angele behind us.
It was three years after I had a firm hold on my household that I did as Barma before me: I wagered.
I went against what Duchess Rainsworth and Duke Barma had wanted; instead of leaving the Baskervilles to act in the shadows, I decided to bring them forth into the limelight with me. And not just them. I brought the whole of the Court of Miracles along with me as well.
My people had been living in the shadows for far too long. Even after the help they had given to clear the city of the Chains after what happened, they were still relegated to hiding. For a while, I thought it was for the best. That people wouldn't care to understand them like they had in the past and that I was doing them a favor by sparing them the vitriol.
But I was wrong.
If I leave them all to remain in the shadows I would be doing no better than what the Rainsworth and Barma Household did when they exiled my people. Living in hiding was no life at all.
So I took a chance.
And through much turmoil and disputes, I won the wager.
The Corvus—my people—could once again walk in the light. The Lords and their houses, much like the four dukedoms to Pandora, became the pillars on which my household stood. And together, Leo and I stood to safeguard the nation and the Abyss in equal measure.
Both of us in the light.
The seemingly endless paperwork that sat in front of me at my desk laughed at me and my exhaustion. Though I wanted to fight against it, there wasn't much I could do after yet another endless day of work. Calling it quits for the day, I get out of my chair and head towards the towering window that overlooks the office and shows the deep reds and oranges from the sunset. Leaning my head against the frame, I sat at the windowsill after opening it up and stared out.
Though I liked the afternoons plenty, the evenings were something I adored much more. That span of time where the brightness of day changed into the quietude of night was a view I could never tire of. The doors to the office open but I don't have to look away from the setting sun to know who it is.
The distinct clanking of cups on their saucers gives it away.
"You're later than usual, Angele," I say with a chuckle. "I thought you'd miss the view with me today—"
My words catch in my throat the moment I see Derek setting the tray with my evening tea and sweets on the coffee table that sits neatly in one corner of the room. He doesn't say anything at first. Instead, he busies himself instead with preparing the table. Instead of making it awkward, I go about it as I would usually with Angele and take a seat as Derek begins to serve me. I take a moment to savor the scent of the tea before taking a calming sip of it.
A smile is all that comes to me at the taste of it, and from across me, I catch the glimpse of one on Derek's face as well. The awkwardness fades and we continue our evening while drinking some delicious tea.
Though Angele and I became closer as both friends and confidants after all that occurred, I would be lying if I didn't also admit that I grew closer to the other lords as well. All in different ways.
Talis has grown, though if she's matured much as of late is still up for debate. She and Lily love spending time together, so it's never really quiet around here when Talis comes to visit. Envier and I have grown close as can be; if anything I think she's become the closest thing to a female friend much like Sharon and Lottie have been. Galen has become more of a father figure than anything these past years. He's still my valet in name, though the duties have mostly fallen upon Angele who's sought my company more than the others throughout these years.
And it's really simple to see why.
After his loss, I was inclined to spend as much time with Angele and help him however I could. It took a long time, but at least he could finally smile again. Sometimes I do catch him mourning on his own, but I never have a chance to talk about it with him. He insists that despite appreciating their words of encouragement, that he would much rather just have company to listen. And that's how our evening tea times began. As a way for me to talk about my day and for him to pass the time with another person.
And though it was tough to talk about even years after his passing, the talk about a new Lord of Water was inevitable. All of us thought it'd be best to keep Angele as far from the appointment as possible to avoid causing him any more harm, but when he found out what we were doing, he promptly scolded us all.
"None of you have ever officiated the anointing of a new lord. You obviously have no clue as to how to do any of it." His irritation wasn't long-lived, however, and he smiled at us as he instead suggested an alternative. "I'll perform it, but all of you will aid in order to learn the proceedings. I can't leave you children without proper education on our people's customs."
Angele kept to his word. Though the anointment would take place over the course of half a year, once it was done, the ceremony that would appoint the new Lord of Water would give the Court its Lords again. Once again, all the seats would be filled, and governing over these places and people would be a little bit easier.
And as for Derek, well, he's taken an interest in a different type of relationship with me.
"You look exhausted."
I chuckle at the first words he mutters after a long span of silence. "Gee, thanks. What girl doesn't like hearing that?"
Almost instantly, his eyes widened as if just realizing how his words could be misconstrued and instantly tried to take them back, all the while making a bigger mess of his words. Honestly, it's entertaining poking fun at him and his uncharacteristic nervousness. To think that such a trait hasn't disappeared after half a year of him trying to court me. It's cute in its own way.
"It's alright, Derek," I assure him. Changing the topic, I place down my cup and take a glance at the sweets instead. "What has you bringing our afternoon tea today, if I may ask?"
"Angele and I were straightening some things for the selection. Since he wasn't remotely close to done, he asked if I could bring it to you while Envy and Talis helped him finish."
As he pours me another cup, my mind wanders to what he's talking about. Since Arbele didn't leave any note or letter of who was to be his successor, it seems they're going about choosing them another way. For some reason that involves testing their abilities, both physical and mental, before even coming close to being anointed.
Kind of makes me wonder…
"Did you have to go through all that too? The selection process, I mean."
His eyes wander for a bit as if thinking back before chuckling and shaking his head. "Yeah, wild thing that was."
"Did all of you do it?"
"Not all of us," he rectified. "So far, only Talis and I have gone through the selection process. I think Angele did as well, though none of us really know for sure since his selection wasn't during our time. As for Envier's and Arbele's, those were done through the right of lineage."
Lineage? "I thought Lords weren't chosen by blood."
"They're not. But if they're nominated by a familial predecessor, it does make things go smoother. The tests still have to be done though. Only you as our King are exempt from that rule."
"I shouldn't be." A thought crosses my mind then and I don't fail to voice it. "And if I want to keep my word, then I should look into a possible successor, too."
It's instant the way he spits out his tea. Thankfully, it's nowhere near me and I'm saved from the splatter, though the same can't be said about the carpet beneath us.
"Isn't that a bit, I don't know, grim to think about right now?"
"I don't think so," I replied. "If anything, all this selection process after Arbele's passing has shone some light on things I never had time to think about before about the Court. The way it functions, how its politics work, what its culture is—I've worried so much about rebuilding my household that I haven't had time to look into the people I reign."
"You've got your plate full, Claire. No one blames you." Though it's sweet that he's trying to comfort me, it doesn't take away the fact that I'm not wrong.
"I know you don't, but I want to take better care of them. It's something I want to be true even after I'm gone, you know?" Pensively, I draw my finger along the rim of my cup. "Besides, who knows how long I have left? I mean, sure, I'm a Baskerville, but we're not immortal. Appointing a successor now will at least help ease some of the burdens on you guys once I'm gone."
"I don't think that should be an issue if that's your concern." That he's so quick to say this sort of thing puts me off guard a bit. "The White Sage is by decree the sole exemption to lordship through selection. Even if you did exempt out of it by choice, it still stands that your successor should be of your direct bloodline."
"No, it won't be. I'm seeing to that myself." My words catch him off guard but I don't give him time to ask what I mean and instead explain it outright. "I discussed it with Angele and we were going to bring it up with you all the next time we gathered, but I suppose I can tell you now. I'm abolishing the rule of law that dictates my successor should be of my blood."
"What? But...why? The reason the White Sage held her title was because of her blood."
"But I'm not the White Sage anymore. I haven't been since the day you all tested me and agreed to give me the title of King of the Court of Miracles." Drinking my tea and leaving it aside, I lean forward and smile. "Kind of unfair that you all have to be tested while the White Sage doesn't, don't you think? Hence why I couldn't just sit there with my arms crossed and do nothing to change that."
"B-But what about the children you leave behind. What will they have—"
"I'm not going to have any."
I've never said it out loud before, but now that I have, it seems to have hit him harder than me. I've had time to come to terms with my choice. The only ones I've told so far are Leo, Gil, and Angele and though they all were as shocked as Derek, they all agreed to support my decision. I don't think Derek will be much different.
"This right by lineage you call the White Sage was nothing but a curse to my family. It alienated my mother from her people, it caused my parents' death, and it forced my brother to sacrifice himself for my sake. From where I stand, it's nothing but pain that I wouldn't wish on anybody else."
Taking a deep breath, I let those words sink in before turning towards the window. The sun has already fallen behind the horizon and only leaves the dim lighting in the room to accompany us.
"No. I made up my mind a long time ago. This curse dies with me."
Silence came over us quickly after my grim statement. Just when I thought he might leave the conversation there, the warmth of his hand came over mine and made me turn towards him in surprise. All shock was gone from his expression. Instead what took over him was a sense of calm as he squeezed my hand reassuringly.
"If that's your choice, then I will stand behind it. And I'm sure the others will too."
Derek and I…
We never married.
Not for a lack of trying though. Derek did his damn best to convince me to at least be with him. He didn't care if I didn't bear any children. All he wanted was to be by my side as my companion. I thanked him for such a sincere confession but denied him all the same. When he asked for a reason, I didn't hesitate to give it.
I frankly can't see myself loving anybody else. Much like Angele, I don't think my heart could love anybody as much as I loved him. Derek understood that.
Besides I've got plenty of company with my friends and family. Though I might see some of them go before me, I still know I will have someone no matter what. Not a day goes by that I feel lonesome, even when I'm by myself in a dark room trying to fall asleep.
I could have married and continued my line but forfeited that path willingly instead. And I don't regret my choice.
As for my family name, I chose to pass that down in a different way.
A way that I was much more familiar with.
"A-All of them?"
"All of them, sister!" I say to her and the other caretakers that are around. All the children of the House of Fianna can't keep their enthusiasm to themselves at what I said just a few minutes ago..
"Are you really adopting us all, miss?"
Turning down to the one who asked me this, I smile down at Phillipe who appears more astounded than enthused about the news. This boy…he's the one Oz befriended. Though older, he wasn't that much taller than me yet. In a few years, however, he would soon start to grow into his own man much like some of the others here already had. And they would grow under my tutelage from now on.
"I am." Rising, I address them all from where I am. "From today onwards, all of us are going to be one big family."
The House of Fianna had been my home. It was where I met Leo. Where I met Elliot. And those children would always be my cute little siblings. I just decided to make it official. Of course, the sisters moved in as well. The mansion had been rather empty with only the Baskervilles and I inhabiting it, after all, and it was a rather large place for only five people.
The choice of my successor I left with Angele. He was the one and only to whom I ever gave the name alongside strict instructions. Even if they would be my candidate for King of the Court, each set of people from every Lord's sector would be able to give their own nominee as well. And in the end, it would be the Lord's who would test the candidates just like they once tested me.
It was the fairest option. And my role as king and head of the Dawn Household would continue with their legacy.
Finally, everything I sought out to do had been done. Things were peaceful at last. And many great things came out of that peace.
After his many attempts over the past four years, Sharon finally accepted Reim's proposal to marry. Thank goodness that he was more successful in that front than his master had been. The day of their wedding was a grand day for sure. Lottie, Lily, and I cheered for their happiness loud as could be; Doug could just not keep us quiet. It made me happy to know that after all they had gone through, they would have each other to rely on and be happy together.
The Baskervilles also came to know peace once more. Though it's far too soon to even think about it, Leo has told me that despite planning to pass along the role of Glen to whoever his successor may be, he will no longer be casting the children of misfortune into the Abyss as so many Glens did before him. With this new era, we intended to create there was no point in that anymore. Those children weren't a hindrance like the so-called Jurors wanted us to believe. They were a bridge to connect with the Core, and so they would be treated not as a sacrifice for his successor but as a partner.
Someone the next Glen would have to work alongside with to accomplish his duty.
All of us as part of his household were with him on that decision. Lottie, Doug and Lily have continued to serve Leo well too. Of course, not without hiccups. That was especially true for Lily as she had to learn the ups and downs of serving since she had been too young like us to do so before. But she learned quickly enough and took her duties as seriously as ever once she began to grow older. She wanted to be a kind mentor for the next Baskervilles just like Fang had been to her. Lottie cried when she heard that. I might have teared up a bit too.
There truly was never a dull day in that house with them there.
Gilbert and Vincent served Leo as well. Though that was a given.
Gil and I were already close after all that had happened, so things weren't all that different from before. He served Leo as more of a friend than a valet which in its own way was good. It helped him more than he would like to admit, I'm sure.
Vincent was another story though. Out of the two, he was way more of a valet to Leo than I ever thought possible. I shouldn't be surprised though, since he was the one that took care of Leo after he discovered he was Glen's successor. As for me, I grew to like him after a while. Though he still rubbed me off as awkward and weird sometimes, we came to be on good terms. I like to think that each day I spend time with him, we come closer to being real friends. Kind of like how we were when we were kids. Except with a lot more bickering in between.
There's one thing I never understood about him though.
Free time was scarce nowadays. Whatever time I do get, I spend it with Leo-nii, the Baskervilles or my lords just to get my head out of the busy life I have now.
Today was different.
Today I was waiting at the outskirts of a field near a cottage not far from Reveille. It was quiet here where it's so near to the countryside. Peaceful even. A perfect little piece of heaven. It's no wonder Ada and her husband chose this quaint little house to live in. But she's not my main concern right now.
Vincent was.
"I don't get why you aren't with her."
He barely spares me a glance when he hears me while he escapes from the view of the cottage. I don't know if Gil or Leo know that he does this sometimes. That he sneaks out from the mansion when nobody is looking and comes here to watch Ada from afar. I suppose not. He's much too sneaky for them to notice. I, on the other hand, was sneaky myself once upon a time. Even without a Chain's powers, I can still come and go unnoticed if I want to.
He doesn't hesitate to pass by me, leaving me behind to suck on my lollipop as I sit atop a large tree stump. "What are you doing here?"
"Keeping you company." I jump off and follow after him, lollipop still in my mouth. "Isn't that obvious?"
"How did you find me?" he asked.
"Followed you—you haven't answered my question."
"I won't deem it with an answer."
"So you do have one—" Before I can pester him any more than that, he stops and turns on me with a glare on his face. He reminds me of the old Vincent when he gets like that. The one I don't like. Still, I know he's doing this on purpose. He's trying to push me away. When he doesn't say anything, however, I ask again. "Why aren't you with her?"
"There isn't a point," he confessed. "I'm a Baskerville. My time flows more slowly than hers."
"Gil told me as much when I asked him why he lied to Ada about you dying." He's not surprised that I know that. Gil and I have grown close. More as friends than anything though. And that closeness allows us to talk freely with one another, even about stuff like this. "But still...she's right there. She's alive. Why not be happy together while you can?"
"Were Elliot alive, would you still be with him if all that waited for you in the end, would be to watch him die before you in the end?"
The question hits me hard, but I don't hesitate to answer.
"Yes." Biting down on the lollipop, I play with the stick between my teeth. "Because every second with him would have been worth it. It would be something I cherish and remember him by even after he's gone."
"You can't be serious," he spat back.
"I am. It's what I do every day." When he hears that, his mismatched gaze finally lifts to meet mine. "Those memories are what bring a hidden smile to the surface on my best days and what keeps me going during the worst. They're what reminds me to be happy every day that I'm alive. Because I got to be with him during those precious moments. But...I also get what you mean. It's just—I just feel like you're punishing yourself further. We all want you to be happy, Vince."
"I'm happy where I am. By my master's and nii-san's side."
My lips purse into a tight line; a sorry excuse for a smile. "But you could be happy with her, too."
Vincent shook his head but held the faint ghost of a smile as he did so. "What matters to me is that she's happy."
Even if it is with someone else.
I'm left stunned at his words and even more so by what they imply. It took me a second to get over my stupor. He's turned his back on me by then as he makes his way back to the main road that would take him to Reveille.
You're so dumb, Vince.
Skipping over to him, I jump just to latch onto his back. He's quick to shout back at me but no matter what he does, I don't let go. He gives up after a while and just carries me on his back languidly. We chat all the way back to Reveille about nonsensical things and set aside the sad reminders of a future not meant to be for either of us.
And so kind, too.
Vincent kept going back to see Ada. He always let me tag along with him when I could despite claiming through his every breath that I was being a nuisance. There was only one time that he did ask me to come along with him: the day he went to see Ada on her deathbed.
I don't know whether he actually saw or spoke to her before she died. I never went in with him despite accompanying him there. But I was there when he left the house a few minutes later, silent tears streaming down his face. The pain of losing the person you love...even now I carry it with me. I knew exactly what he was going through.
That day, I set everything aside and stayed with him until the tears stopped. Until the pain became a little less. It was all I could do.
Much like Ada, we've seen others pass on as well. Duchess Rainsworth. Angele. Galen. Envier. Derek. Talis. Reim. Sharon. Their passings remind me of the one thing that will always remain true no matter what.
There's no stopping the hands of time.
Time moves forward. Seasons come and go. And though we remain much the same, the world keeps turning. Even us in our longevity must meet our end one day. I have seen Lottie nee-sama's and Doug's which pained me greatly but much like all the others, I hold the memories of them dear to my heart.
I don't know who may leave next—Leo, Gilbert, Vincent—but as selfish as it may be, I hope that I leave last. I hope that I'm the last one to bear with the pain of their loss and that none of them have to suffer mine.
My greatest wish of all, though...is to be by Gil's side when Oz and Alice return. I want to live long enough to see that day.
I hope I do.
And I hope that when I die and my soul has gone through the cycle once more, that I can meet them all again and have that tea party we promised.
Sincerely,
Claire.
Statice.
I never understood why you named such a lovely piece after such a flower. Not until today when everything seems to stand still. It's been so many years since you passed. Whenever I muster the courage to come to see you thinking the pain I've harbored inside might somehow lessened, I'm proven wrong.
It's still as painful as that day.
At least now I can smile remembering the times we had together.
Gently, I lay the bouquet of statice flowers I brought with me upon Elliot's grave. It's been well taken care of, not just by Leo and I but by all the children in my house. Especially the older ones who still live at the mansion. They may not know who he was but they know how important he was to us.
Once here, I have close to nothing to say. I think over the years I've run out of things to talk about with him. My days are dull nowadays too, so it's not like I've got many new things to talk about either. With almost nothing to do, all I have is time to spend quietly in peace.
"I've always loved warm afternoons," I say aloud and brush a black lock of my hair behind my ear with a smile. "You used to come visit us most during the summer. You and Leo would play such lovely songs. I loved singing along with you both. And it also reminds me of that party...that lovely tea party we had. You know, despite everything, I think those were some of the happiest days of my life."
Feet crunching grass underneath them makes me glance over my shoulder and meet a pair of dark eyes with golden specks in them. A smile comes to my lips at the bouquet of flowers in his hand. I don't bother getting up as Leo approaches me instead to kneel before Elliot's grave. He places the bouquet next to mine and stays quiet for a moment. Unlike me, he has never liked talking aloud when he's here.
It's only fair. We both have things the other wouldn't want to hear when we're here.
"You're early." It's the first thing he says once he breaks his silence. He doesn't expect an answer or an excuse; he's merely stating a fact. Since we usually come visit during the anniversary of his death together, it's right for him to be confused though.
I give him an explanation regardless. "Wanted some time alone is all."
"You could've told me."
"I didn't want to bother you. Passing on your Chains tires you, after all. I wanted for you to have your rest before coming here," I retort. "Are you almost done?"
"Almost," he responds. "Jabberwock is the only one left. It should be over in a month or two. After that, I won't be Glen anymore."
A scoff escapes me. "You never were to me, Leo-nii."
"I know." The fact he says that with a cheeky grin of his own tells me he's joking along with me. "Never your master, huh?"
"I think I had enough with one Master Glen," I cajoled with a laugh. "Where are Gilbert and Vincent, by the way? I haven't seen them in a while."
"At the mansion with Lily and Phillipe. They're finalizing everything for Glen's introduction to society."
"I see." I pause for a moment. All the while, I fold my legs beside me so I can sit down properly. Leo glances over at me for a moment before sitting down as well with his legs splayed in front of him. Taking a deep breath, I smile. "It's getting warmer, isn't it?"
"It'd be worrisome if it weren't," he replies. "Summer is just around the bend, after all."
"But it's not too warm either. Not too cold, not too warm. The perfect weather for a tea party."
He doesn't say anything for another minute. But before I know it, he raises from his seat after another moment and turns to offer me his hand. "If you wanted a party you should've said so. Let's tell the staff to get some tea and pastries ready and go call the others. We can have a small party out here while the weather's nice."
A smile comes to me as I reach out. "Yeah, let's—"
We both stare at the way my hand just crumbles in his. At first, I didn't know what happened. I didn't feel it. It didn't even hurt. But there's no denying how easily my hand just broke into nothing but dust at the touch of his hand, nor the way my skin cracks further beneath my sleeve.
Terror overcomes Leo instantly and he dives to hold me against him. Despite his frantic calls, I can't really hear him at first. All I hear is the way my skin quietly begins to crack and fall until it's blown away in the warm breeze. My hand is gone first, and I can feel how weak my legs are getting. I don't know if it's because I'm starting to lose the sensation of them or because they're just gone already like my hand.
"Claire! Claire, answer me!"
When I finally hear him, I look up just in time to feel the tears that fall onto my cheek. My eyes widen at the sight of Leo crying and my chest tightens with pain.
No. This is the one thing I didn't want.
"I'm sorry," I whisper. "Please, don't cry."
I will my hand to move but it does so slowly; it's almost like I'm losing contact with my own body. It's starting to not answer me anymore. Thankfully, I have enough strength to place my hand on his cheek as his tears continue to fall. Because he's already holding me with his arm, all he can do is bury his face against my hand. The moment he does that I can already see the cracks gradually climbing down my arm towards my hand.
"Damn it!" he curses through gritted his teeth. "Not now. Not..."
"We knew it would happen." I'm surprised how calmly I'm taking this. I suppose a part of me somehow knew that today would be the day. My body certainly did. I can finally see why I had been so tired these past couple of weeks. It was trying to tell me what my mind couldn't. "Though...I am sorry...it has to be today."
But as he continues to cry into my hand and my heart hurts for him, I can't help but let my own tears spill over as my smile trembles with the sobs I'm holding back.
"I...I don't want to die," I admit with a chuckle as I choke on my tears. "Out of us...I never wanted you to be the last. You suffered so much already. If...if…"
If someone should have suffered through all our deaths, it should have been me.
Suddenly the hand I'm holding against his cheek crumbles too. Not just that, I can feel myself falling only for Leo to hold me tighter against him. I can't feel anything beyond my waist now. And as he holds me against him, I can only lay there with my head against his shoulder and my forehead against his cheek. His weeping is louder than mine but only because I have no more strength to cry. I can only feel the tears spilling over and how my chest hurts.
But it's also starting not to.
A warm breeze passes by and it surprises me. I can still feel it. The fact alone makes me smile a little.
"I'm sorry, Leo-nii...but...I'll be leaving...ahead of you."
Leo chokes back on his tears, swallowing them as he nods. "I won't be long. I promise...you won't be alone for too long."
The tightness in my chest lightens just a bit at his promise. With whatever strength I have left I nestle closer to him and am enjoying the warmth of the afternoon when one last thought comes to mind.
"Oh, and...tell Gil…that I'm sorry."
I'm sorry I couldn't wait for them with you.
"I will," he whispers through his tears. "I will, Claire."
The pressure in my chest vanishes then along with every weight I've ever had on me. When it does, I close my eyes and just bask in his embrace and the warmth of the golden afternoon.
Yeah. Today's a good day for a tea party.
A/N:
I'm not crying. I swear. Just go to the next one. I'll talk to ya'll there T-T
