Into the Array C10

Life have been busy. And I thought I would have lost interest in this story because I have officially lost interest in Hetalia. But guess not. Because look! A new (boring) chapter. Honestly though, my renewed inspiration was all because of Valentina from Rupaul's drag race.

I was never a really good writer to begin with, and lazy so thanks to all who read.

As always, please enjoy.

The lack of sleep tugs on heavily on the eyelid, and render Ivan's brain incapable of any other thoughts except the ones with nature of self-deception.

'Close it for just more second, and you'll feel better when you open again. Just one more and you'll be alright.' his inner thought convince Ivan, and unsurprisingly won. Ivan slipped completely into a deep sleep once again on a shaking carriage, losing his battle to stay awake.

He dreamt of Yao again. He dreamt that the 9th prince was in his arms again, sleeping deeply and snuggled carefully up onto him, and this time, he unwittingly leaned down and gave him a peck on his soft cheek. That moment felt like happiness all rolling up into his heart, the kind of feeling you felt when everything you wanted to protect is just right in front of you.

'Sir, Sir! Wake up sir. Mistress Mu is waiting!'

'I'm awake.' Ivan immediately shot his head up, opening his blood shot eyes. 'I'm awake.' he answered again, looking around at the curious heads peering into the carriage. The dream and feelings dissipated as quickly as it came.

'Hurry hurry,' Jin Xi ushered irritably.

Stepping into Princess Mu's house felt like stepping into another mini palace. It was built with the same grandeur as it did on the outside. Intricate, mythical sculptures and tamely trimmed plants graced the courtyard. A pavilion with bridges extending outwards hover on a deep pond with floating lotus leaf and big fat colourful fishes swimming all around.

Jin Xi hastily see Ivan to a building just opposite the pavilion. The inside is not as huge as the court Ivan went yesterday, but it's still spacious enough to be luxurious. A large wall with a huge painting of mountains and waterfalls greeted him, and at the side of the two walls are two half circles doors that led to the back of this building. But despite everything, it is empty. No one, not even any signs of servant can be seen. So what's the hurry, Ivan rolled his eyes.

A well defined shadow started to emerge from the door on the right, where the strong sunrays is filling up the room from.

Speak of the devil, Ivan thought.

The shadow slowly revealed her owner and out came a lady dressed in twilight purple. She looked up at Ivan with a brilliant red smile that reveals a row of opulent pearly white. Tilting her head slightly inwards and raising her shoulders a little, her body speaks of an endearing shyness to meet a stranger like Ivan. Such grace, such beauty, her smile, so beautifully precious and charming. Her eyes are sharp but one that speak of kindness, that unlike of Yao's eyes that are filled callous defiance.

'Hello, it's me. Wang Mu.' the princess introduced, raising her arms

It's really hard to not smile back at a lady like Princess Mu. Ivan is convinced that his face is red and turned away a little from Mu before giving a quick nod towards her direction.

'Good morning Princess.' Ivan greeted.

'Jin Xi, how careless of you to leave our dear guest standing. Serve us some tea will you?' Mu instructed kindly towards her servant. Turning back to Ivan, she continued 'Please, just call me Mu. I am not very particular about titles.'

'No no no.' Ivan insist in horror. 'I can't'

'Don't worry darling, it's just you and me here. In return, I'll call you Ivan, is that okay?' Mu replied sincerely.

'I..' Ivan knitted his brow in embarrassment. 'If you insist, Princess Mu.'

'Thank you.' she said, as she take a seat on her chair looking at Ivan. 'Take a seat Ivan and we can start anytime.' As soon as she finished her words, a wave of her hands towards her servant leaves them scrambling to bring Ivan's art supplies in.

As Ivan is setting up his canvas and art supplies, he managed to regain his professional attitude towards his subject. And as always, he started asking questions when his pencil started moving on the canvas, sketching the silhouette of the infamous princess.

'Tell me more about yourself, Mu.' Ivan purposely averted his eyes, choosing to focus on drawing when he speaks her name. There is something about her, something that makes Ivan afraid of her name, as though speaking her name will make him feel good about her, and he don't understand why he don't want that.

'I would say that I'm a little neurotic towards beautiful things, and that's why I am a fashion trend setter in my country. If you have seen girls on the way to the palace wearing elevated footwear, well my dear you just saw one of the trend I have started.' Mu started speaking. A little tad too tense, but everyone is a little tense during the first painting session, so it's okay, Ivan thought.

He turned back at Mu and commented 'I did see them and thought it was really innovative. So it started from you. I am surprised. I mean, Han is always known for many things, and it's beautiful fashion is one of them. You're really talented.'

'Thank you.' Mu replied sweetly, giving a little happy wink at the compliment.

'You have a really beautiful pair of eyes, it would be a really great fun to actually paint them out.' Ivan continued, trying to keep the conversation going.

'Thank you. But...' She hesitated, and continued with a tease 'You say that to everyone, don't you?'

'No, definitely not.' Ivan insisted, looking back and mentally noting the details of Mu's dress and elaborate hairdo. Long translucent sleeves that teases the eyes with soft white skin ended right at the edge of her shoulder, her chest area is almost bare if not for the inner wear that cut across horizontally. The purple, paired with silvery thread that lined the edges of her costume, flowed down softly down her body, enhancing her figure. Whoever designed this dress have a really good sense of fashion taste, Ivan thought.

'In fact, I've only said it once ever since I started my trip to Han, and noted it twice since.' Ivan said absentmindedly, completely focused on the sketch in front of him. 'So, tell me a little about the royal family, perhaps your relationship with your parents and siblings.' he continued, looking back at the princess from the canvas.

'Sure, who do you want to know first?' Mu smiled.

Ivan hands stopped moving. Only a face flashes past his mind.

'Maybe you can share a little on your 9th brother?' Ivan said, hands regaining its movement across the canvas. He heard Mu giving a snort, which was followed by a little chuckle.

'Him?' Mu asked. 'What do you want to know about him?' her smile disappeared a little.

'Are you close to him?' Ivan ask, looking at Mu. And for that moment, he realise the words from Da Lao is right, Mu have beauty that put flowers to shame and allure that shut out the moon, but she is nothing compared to Yao.

'I am not, sorry to burst your bubble. It's been years since we last interacted because he was always away for war.' Mu replied, giving the same pretty smile as she did when she first came out. 'But I'll share what I know with you.'

'Sure.'

'He...' Mu started and stopped, taking in deep breaths as though she is preparing herself.

Ivan looked at her with bated breath.

'He is my brother and we share the same blood. But he...He is an unscrupulous and short tempered man. My 6th brother, Wang Ping was the first royal general for my father's army, and it was an incredible feat considering that there are no precedent before him. He was the only person who supported my 8th sister's decision to join the army. But perhaps fate always have his life in store for him, and Huan Huan decided to bring in Yao to toughen him up as well. Yet shortly after Yao is in the army, a series of victorious campaign won by the combine effort of Huan Huan and Yao got Ping ousted from the army. I still recalled the day at the court where Yao just run Ping down to filth in front of our father. There are no words from Ping throughout the ordeals, only tears. I have not seen him cry before, but that day he cried, it was heartbreaking. How utterly betrayed and humiliated he must have felt that his own brother is doing this to him.'

Mu bite back her tears and quickly sniffed. Ivan turned back to her and asked softly 'Are you okay?'

'I'm okay, I just don't know why he did that to Ping. I believe you must have heard of the rumours of what he did to his own wife and Ping.' Mu sobbed, tilting her head up to hold back the tears.

Ivan let out a breath and quietly replied 'Yeah, I've heard of it.'

'Yao's wife was a very close friend of mine. She used to be lady in waiting for me but she was so talented. In fact, so talented that the prima donna of our palace dancers personally requested that she should join the team. I should have never let her go, Ivan.' Mu's eyes finally can't contain the tears from these tragedy and they came out dragging streaks on her rosy cheeks.

'You're not okay.' Ivan blurted out, very startled by her tears and at the same time unsettled by what he have heard.

'No, I need to spit out this thing that have haunted me for so long. Father have always told us that nothing is more important than family, and we have to act like a family, and be a family. But how could family do what Yao ever did. How could he just kill his own wife that he claim to love so much, and cut out his own brother's tongue and broke his legs all because he lost a war.'

'What?'

'He turned his own brother into a cripple.' she cried, wiping her tears and hiding her face from Ivan with a handkerchief. 'He slit his wife's throat and cut out Ping's tongue, breaking his legs and left them both bleeding and dead on the ground. I saw it all for myself, and if it's not for me, Ping would have died.'

Ivan is at loss for words. Strange how firsthand accounts and rumours have such a different impact on human emotions, he thought. Yet something inside his heart is stirring, did he actually felt a sense of betrayal from a man that have absolutely no interaction with him except for the ones yesterday night.

'I'm sorry, I am afraid we have reschedule my session. I am very sorry. Please go ahead and paint for my two brothers first. The borders need them. For this, at least I have the sense to acknowledge it.' she sobbed on her sleeves. 'Jin Xi!' she cried, ringing on the bell on the table beside her chair with distraught.

'Mistress Mu, what happened.' Jin Xi burst into the room filled with horror.

'I recalled some bad memories, please send Ivan back. I-I need some rest.' she said, looking up to her servant with red eyes and nose.

'No. I can't. I can't leave you like this. You worry me too much my dear Mistress.' Jin Xi replied with some indignation. 'But I'll make sure your guest is properly taken care of. Please let me bring you back to the room.'

Mu nodded. Allowing herself to helped back to her room, Ivan is left in the living room pondering on Mu's words. Questions that he regret asking but nonetheless glad that he did, but it only lead to more questions, why? Ivan refused to believe that Yao was just angry.

'Tell me Jin Xi, why is everyone so obsessed over Yao?' Mu asked as she walk silently on the shiny lacquered wood. The tears on her face have long ago dried, or more accurately, it have started to dry the moment Ivan stopped looking at her.

'Mistress, because everyone is always attracted to drama.' Jin Xi answered carefully.

Mu gave a smirk at his answer. 'Well then, I guess I have done my job well giving people what they wanted, don't I.'

'Indeed my dear Mistress. You have done well, it's very convincing. I can assure that.'

'I know. I've always known.' Mu replied haughtily. Following up with a snort of disdain, she commented 'Child of God.'

'Yes, what is the accursed beauty of the Child of God as compared to our Mistress Mu.' Jin Xi quickly followed up eagerly.

'Your mouth is especially sweet today. Tell me what you need only after I have taken my rest.' Mu replied. 'All this crying is going to ruin my eyes.'

'Thank you Mistress Mu.'