Misaka Mikoto's birthday party in the Tokiwadai royal palace was no small affair. The gigantic main hall was packed full of people enjoying each others' companies, various food, and dancing to music.
Mikoto leaned over a railing overhanging above the main hall to gaze down at the masses of people below enjoying themselves. The women and men were wearing glamorous dresses and lavish suits. From high up, she caught snippets and murmurs of different conversations, all seemingly mundane and typical. She recognised some faces - her relatives and distant family members, and others of the noble rank whom always attended these royal parties whenever they were on. Although she had met these people numerous times, she wasn't particularly close to any of these people. Her roaming eyes found her father Tabigake who was busy being the most gracious host that he always was.
Mikoto sighed and fidgeted with the golden bangle that hung upon her right wrist. She noticed a couple of her classmates from school down below and leaned away from the railing with a slight frown. She wasn't really in the mood for that either.
"Not going to join them, Mikoto-chan?"
Startled, Mikoto spun around to face her mother. Looking as elegant as ever in her best dress, Misuzu smiled down at her.
Mikoto scratched a dress sleeve awkwardly. The frills on it were kind of irritating for her skin.
"I'm going to," Mikoto finally replied after a moment's hesitation. "I just wanted to observe the party a bit, that's all."
"What's a party without the main cause of this celebration?" Misuzu stepped closer to her daughter. She swirled the dark red wine in her glass languidly, the colour as deep as the crimson of her dress. She bent down and whispered in her daughter's ear, "Congratulations on your birthday, Mikoto".
Mikoto managed a small smile. "Thanks, Mama."
Misuzu stepped beside her, looking down upon the people enjoying themselves with the true air of a royal Queen. Her mother's beauty was renowned around the country, and although many had assured Mikoto that she would one day become just like her, the princess had a niggling feeling that she was going to fall devastatingly short of their expectations.
As a butler rushed past to bring down refills below, Misuzu waved to him and ordered a refill for herself and a new glass full of wine.
"There's a lot of people here as usual, aren't there?"
"Yeah…"
Eyes drawn back to the crowd below, Mikoto nodded. She noted more people from her school had arrived and wondered with a frown who had invited them here. She certainly hadn't. They looked happy enough, tasting all the food being passed around and chatting up a storm.
"Here." Misuzu handed the extra glass of wine to Mikoto. "Why not have a drink with me, Mikoto-chan? You're of age from today after all."
Mikoto eyed the wine glass warily. It wasn't that she hadn't already tried alcoholic beverages - which teenager hasn't, behind their parents' backs? No, it was purely the fact that Misuzu was always drinking. Eyeing the glass her mother was handing over, some dark resentment bubbled inside.
How many times had her mother failed to be there for her when she really needed her? It was no exaggeration to say Mikoto was closer to her father Tabigake. Although she rarely saw him very much due to his busy duties as King, when she did, he was always warm towards her.
Not Misuzu though.
Her mother was unpredictable. Often a sobbing mess, other times too drunk to care. Only in the public eye was she the perfect poster Queen, beautiful and regal and absolutely flawless. But Mikoto knew better.
She grimaced inwardly. On any other day, she might have sniped out a snarky response, but today was a special occasion. She supposed it made sense to have her first coming-of-age toast with her mother and Queen.
She took the wine glass gingerly between thumb and forefinger, as if it might break.
"A toast to you, dear daughter." Misuzu raised her glass and then drank deeply.
Mikoto stared for a moment and then followed suit. The wine burned down her throat. Of course, it was to her mother's tastes - ridiculously strong and bitter.
An awkward silence ensued between them.
"Have I been a good mother to you, Mikoto?"
The sudden question threw Mikoto off guard. It wasn't like her mother to have such a self-reflective inquiry. She looked at Misuzu with a raised eyebrow in return, trying to find any hint of remorse in her mother's eyes. Instead, she got nothing. Her expression was blank, only a mere hint of curiosity lay beneath the perfect mask.
Mikoto turned away. "What do you think, Mama?"
"Hm, I only asked you a yes or a no question. It shouldn't be that hard, right?"
Mikoto's jaws clenched. In frustration, she took another long swig from her wine glass. It was usually like this, talking to her mother in private. Nobody else could understand. Between them, they were mother and daughter, yet as different as night and day. Nobody annoyed her as much as her mother did, and yet she loved her mother all the same, because she was family.
"I don't have to answer you," Mikoto ground out.
"You're angry."
"I'm not," Mikoto snarled.
The corner of Misuzu's lips turned upwards. "How lowly of me, making my daughter angry on her special day."
Mikoto's hand clenched around the glass.
"I said I'm not angry!"
Mikoto let out a shaky breath. Breathe, she reminded herself. Her royal instructor always told her she had temper problems. Maybe Mikoto was in denial about this, but it was true she needed to gain back control of the situation.
Breathe.
"You're no fun, Mikoto-chan. I'm just teasing you. I'm allowed to as your Mama, yes?"
Mikoto didn't reply. Her eyes stared down at the people enjoying the party, not really seeing them. She took another gulp of the wine, swallowing away the bitter taste and her sorrows. The strong aftermath still danced on her tongue, sour and foul.
A hand landed one her shoulder gently. Mikoto flinched but didn't move.
"Maybe I might have been an awful mother at times, but I do love you in my own special way, Mikoto. You are my flesh and blood after all." Misuzu's murmur lingered in her ear. "Your place is with me, no matter what happens. Remember that."
Mikoto did not look back as she heard her mother's footsteps fade away, leaving her with that whisper ringing in her ear.
"Mama…" she murmured. She saw Misuzu walk down the marble steps towards the party below. Ever graceful, from the way she carried herself to the way she spoke, all bowed to her Queenly aura as she sailed past the masses to join her husband. Tabigake threw Misuzu a glance and appeared to be asking her a question.
Mikoto sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that day.
'He's probably asking where I am…' Mikoto grimaced.
She supposed she should play her role as she was expected to. She didn't want to disappoint her father. This was why she never truly enjoyed her birthday. Despite all the presents and party atmosphere, the expectations that were placed on her killed all the fun. She didn't particularly feel like going down and humouring guests, most of whom she didn't even personally know.
She gulped down the rest of the bitter wine.
"Well, I suppose I better get going."
It was no use delaying the inevitable. Her royal instructor would eventually look for her and wring her neck if she found her loitering around here uselessly. Not to mention, Maika was probably stressing out also trying to find her. Although they didn't often see eye-to-eye, her maid was the one true friend Mikoto could count on.
As she descended the steps down to the hall room, her eyes roamed around, wondering where to go and where to avoid. Many of the people who saw her gave her a bow or curtsey, and Mikoto gave them smiles and nods as she was expected to. In the distance, she saw some of her classmates wave to her. Mikoto smiled and waved back. They appeared to be having a great time at least, basking in the free food and party atmosphere in the royal palace.
Placing her empty wine glass on a nearby tray, she started to walk towards them in slow measured steps when a tall woman suddenly blocked her view. Mikoto's breath hitched.
"Mikoto, where have you been?"
Mikoto gulped, patting down her dress nervously. Even after knowing her since she was just a child, the royal instructor's mere presence always sent her nerves sizzling.
"I-I was just… I was just having a chat with Mama!"
"You mean the Queen," the stern woman corrected her.
Mikoto nodded, cheeks burning pink with shame at blurting out her nickname for her mother. She'd already been scolded that it was too childish by the royal instructor many times in the past.
The royal instructor leaned down towards her, sharp edged glasses glinting like a pair of jewels under the bright chandelier lights.
Mikoto angled away subconsciously. She smiled as innocently as she could despite the cold sweat running down her back.
"Why do I get the feeling you've been causing trouble again?"
"Wha-?! I haven't been, I swear!"
The royal instructor stood back up to her full height and sighed. "I realise it's your birthday, Mikoto, but please try to stay away from trouble."
"Ahahaha… I always do, you know me."
"Yes, that's precisely why-" The royal instructor narrowed her eyes suspiciously and opened her mouth as if to say something further when a strange expression crossed her face. Without saying anything more, she marched away, appearing to have another destination firmly in mind.
'Sheesh, why is she so scary?'
It was a question that Mikoto always struggled to answer. At least, she got off easy this time. It was strange how the usually focused instructor seemed distracted by something all of a sudden. Maybe she was off to torture someone else? The thought sent shivers down Mikoto's spine, but at least the target wasn't painted on her back.
She continued to eye the instructor until the tall woman became lost in the crowd of people. A relieved sigh escaped her throat. Well, at least that was over with-
"Hello, your highness."
Startled by the sudden voice right behind her, Mikoto turned around and leapt back.
A woman with long blonde hair stood, a wide smile spread across her lips. She was dressed in an aqua gown, a colour that blended well with the theme of today's event. She wore white gloves that reached her elbows, and a dainty handbag was slung across her chest, emphasising its voluptuous size.
"My, I didn't mean to startle you. Apologies."
Mikoto blinked as her mind whirred. She hurriedly thought back to all the events and parties in the past to try and remember who this woman was. She was not familiar at all. She figured it was someone with royal connections. There were always so many people invited to these royal events that Mikoto could never keep up.
"Uh hi," Mikoto said awkwardly. Looking at the woman more closely, she suddenly realised how odd her eyes were. Her pupils were star-shaped, irises glinting under the chandeliers.
"You seem to be deep in thought. Mentally preparing for your coming of age?"
Taken aback at the abrupt question, Mikoto scratched her cheek.
"Y-Yeah, I suppose I am." She smiled somewhat sheepishly.
"Hm~" The blonde woman tugged on her handbag. "Or perhaps you're thinking about what happened earlier in the streets?"
Mikoto's eyes widened. "H-How do you know about that?!" She panicked for a moment, wondering how far the word had spread already. She was in for deep trouble if the royal instructor heard that she had snuck outside in civilian's clothes without telling anybody. She hadn't even had time to come up with a good excuse and tell Maika about it so they could match up their stories.
"Ah, I just happened to be passing by," the woman said smoothly. "I was there when it occurred."
Mikoto breathed out a sigh of relief. It was true… Her royal instructor hadn't mentioned anything about her little outing earlier. If she had known there would definitely have been an immediate verbal scolding.
"I never realised you could be so harsh, Princess Misaka."
"Wha-what?"
"That poor woman, she only wanted to raise her own child."
Mikoto frowned. "But that baby… it was an Esper." She whispered the last word in a low voice, afraid that somebody would overhear.
"So you had zero pity ability for the poor mother?" The blonde raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Th-that's…" Mikoto's jaws ground together. "That's blasphemy! I get what you're saying but I…"
The cold words the mother had yelled at her rushed through her mind once more, sending an icy shiver along her back. She didn't understand what she had done to warrant such a harassment. Everyone in Tokiwadai knew how dangerous Espers could be. It was a common fact. Her fists clenched by her sides.
"I just did the right thing, okay?" Mikoto glared at the woman. "Who the heck do you think you are, questioning me?"
"My, what a scary expression. I rest my case." The blonde girl giggled. "Apologies, your highness."
Mikoto folded her arms across her chest crossly. "Since it's my birthday, I'll forgive you just this once."
The woman turned sideways and regarded her with a coy expression from the corner of her odd eyes. "Why, thank you. I suppose it'd be no good for me if I made such a frightening opponent."
"What's your name?" Mikoto finally asked. "I really don't think we've met before."
Before the golden-haired woman could answer, someone desperately tugged on Mikoto's arm.
"Princess! There you are! I've been looking all over for you! It's time for your speech!"
It was Maika, she was huffing as if she had been running around.
Mikoto turned to her maid with a frown. "What, already?"
How had time passed so quickly?
"They're going to start the broadcast soon on the hologram screens! You've got to hurry!"
"R-Right."
Mikoto turned back, but the blonde haired woman was gone. She looked around, but she could not find her anywhere nearby.
As Mikoto allowed herself to be dragged by the arm by Maika, she wondered if she would ever see the mysterious woman again.
Probably.