A/N; So, I was surfing around the net this week, and found out that InYuJi's been at it again! She did two pages for this story and they were way cute.
You're awesome!
We now return you to your regularly scheduled chapter...
Chapter Twenty Seven: A Swan's Egg
Being born in a duck yard does not matter, if only you are hatched from a swan's egg.
-Hans Christian Anderson
xxXxx
Admittedly it was as white as her normal attire, but it was still a dress!
She let out a very girly shriek and covered her top and shoulders with her arms, feeling more embarrassed than she had ever felt in her life. The expensive fabric didn't cover anywhere close to enough skin for her liking. "What the freaking heck just happened?" she demanded, feeling her face turn uncomfortably hot.
Prince Lune just grinned at her. "Our curses broke, of course! Granted, I wasn't expecting you to turn into a girl, but-"
"She's always been a girl, highness," Muta called out from behind her with a sly grin. "She's just a good actor, too!"
"… What he said," she affirmed miserably, still blushing as red as an apple. But even that wasn't enough to keep her from looking at the floor behind her.
The cloak that she had worn for most of her life had finally fallen from her shoulders, the piece that had been around her neck neatly torn down the middle. She put one hand on the strap of her satchel to be sure that it was still with her, as well as the unicorn gem at her throat. Surprised at the tinkling sound that followed her small footsteps, she pulled up her skirt just enough to look at one foot.
Even her heavily padded boots had been exchanged for a pair of incredibly fragile-looking glass shoes that showcased just how small her feet were.
The prince laughed, but it was a warm sound as he pulled off his official-looking jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. "I don't care. Boy or girl, I'm just glad you finally came home, cousin."
She gaped at him again while holding the jacket tightly around her form. "Cousin? Um, I think you're mistaken, I don't have a cousin."
He just gave another laugh and another hug. "Come now, that face with Grandfather's temper? There's no doubt of it; you are my missing aunt's child. How is she?" he begged. "Is Aunt Coletta well?"
"My mother's name is Naoko… and no." She looked down, feeling guilty as she worked her arms through the sleeves of his bulky jacket. "Mama's been gone for fifteen years."
All traces of mirth were erased from his face. "No. Did she suffer?"
She couldn't look at him. "More than you could imagine." Then she took a deep breath. "But she wasn't your aunt, she was a merchant's daughter on the run."
He gave an indelicate snort. "No, our grandmother was a merchant's daughter. The run part is accurate, though."
By now she was losing her patience. "I. Am. Not. Your-"
"If you would, my lady," Baron interjected from behind the throne. "A glance at the portrait we came through might clarify things."
She gave him a confused look, but took another look behind her. Her jaw fell open in another case of shock.
Muta was just swinging shut the portrait of her mother! Even she couldn't deny it; the style of her golden dress was much like the white one on her own body, but it was still finer than anything she would have thought her mother would wear. There was a modest crown on her brow and around her neck…
She numbly reached into her satchel and pulled out her grandmother's ruby necklace and bracelet. She had honestly forgotten about them soon after placing them in the satchel, but nothing could solidify her shocking identity like producing them.
Lune gently grabbed her wrist to inspect the jewelry and grinned at her. "You were saying?"
She couldn't think of anything to say. She was literally struck dumb.
"You do have to admit there's a bit of resemblance," Toto said cheerfully while patting the golden frame.
"… You knew," she accused, whirling around to glare at Baron. "You had to have known!"
"From the first time I saw you," the hiding lord confirmed in a cheerful tone. "I did try to tell you when we met, but it was all 'meow' to you." Despite his human appearance, the sound was very feline still.
She marched forward, but stopped herself sharply when Baron retreated more fully behind the throne. Stuffing her jeweled inheritance back into the satchel, she pulled out a kimono she had bought while out with Shima and Tokoyo. It might expose slightly more than his ankles, but at least it would decently cover him.
"Allow me," Lune pressed, taking both it and a small length of rope from her to give it to Baron.
"And you two," she growled, glaring at Muta and Toto. "You were in on it!"
"Well, sure," Muta said with a casual shrug. "All it took was finding the fur coat in the cave you grew up in."
"Okay, one, that was a quilt, and two, how would that lead to my mother being a princess?"
"It was one of the few things Aunt Coletta took with her when she ran away from home," Lune explained as the lord hurriedly got dressed. "As soon as Baron's decent, we'll tell you the whole story. Why is he still here?" he suddenly snapped, pointing at the imposter.
He had fainted by now, from the loss of blood or the shock of being beaten by a girl, no one could tell.
The guards took the hint, dragging the man out of the throne room as courtiers began to drift in, whispering and pointing at the girl in amazement.
A little curious, she tugged hard on a lock of hair to bring it into her vision, barely. "Huh. I'm a brunette."
"You didn't remember?" Baron asked, coming out from behind the throne while securing the rope around his waist. Then he made sure to grab the boots she had made them, although they had torn apart from his transformation.
"I didn't exactly look in a mirror a lot before getting cursed. Erm, could we go somewhere with less people?" she asked while giving the eavesdroppers a nervous glance, sparing the chance to retrieve her shuriken from where it had fallen and slip it into the satchel while she had the chance.
"Absolutely. Toto, Muta; both of you better come."
Baron cocked an eyebrow at him with amusement.
"Well, of course you too," Lune said while rolling his eyes. "I thought that was obvious." Then he wrapped one arm around his shorter cousin's shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze. "You know, I didn't catch your name?"
Her eyes widened as a wild smile overtook her face. 'That's right! I can say my name now!' "It's Haru. I'm Yoshioka Haru." A wonderful warmth filled her soul, delighting in what had been denied to her for so many years.
Baron beamed happily. "Haru," he repeated, savoring the sound of it. "It suits you."
"It means springtime," Muta supplied, making Lune smile even wider.
"How fitting. Come along, there's a lot to be discussed." Still squeezing her around the shoulders, he steered her to the nearest exit with the trio behind them. "Oh, and don't forget to ring the bells and alert the criers," Lune said over one shoulder, grinning happily. "I want all of Lycea to know we have a princess again."
"Wait, hold on a second," she balked, holding up her hands in protest. "Mama was the princess, not me."
"By blood right, you are a princess. But we can skip the formal coronation if you're not interested in wearing a crown," her cousin offered helpfully as they resumed leaving the room for a long hallway.
"Definitely not," she said in a firm tone, still shaking her head in disbelief. "I'm half-expecting to wake up any minute now."
Grinning childishly, Lune pinched one shoulder through the jacket just enough to make her flinch. "Sorry, but this is all quite real. Are you disappointed?"
"… Shocked," she decided in a slightly numb tone. "I wasn't expecting to be cured like that. When I thought about the place that could cure me, I imagined a quaint village with a nearby waterfall."
"Our summer castle has a waterfall close to it," Lune offered helpfully.
Haru couldn't help but laugh. "Close enough. So, what was the reason Mama left? Papa said it was because her father wanted her to marry someone she didn't like."
Lune shared a dark look with Baron. "That's precisely the reason why, but it's a bit more serious than that."
"Your grandfather was a creep, and a berserk one at that," Muta told her bluntly. "Anytime someone didn't give him what he wanted, he'd go berserk and start breaking furniture, rooms, people; anything that crossed his path."
Haru blanched. "No wonder Mama ran away."
"That's not the worst of it, I'm afraid," Baron said while reaching past Lune to touch one shoulder in comfort. "He wished your mother to marry him."
The not-as-pale-as-she-used-to-be girl blinked, but laughed nervously. "I'm almost positive I misinterpreted that," she admitted as joyous peals began to echo through the palace, as well as distant cheering outside of it.
"You didn't," Toto replied gently. "Other than the hair color, your mother took a great deal after her mother, Queen Elia." He gestured at one of the portraits, one that had a blonde version of what was in the throne room; complete with the ruby jewelry. "He loved her a great deal, but after her death he started getting worse since she wasn't around to keep him calm anymore. Then a little over twenty five years ago, he decided to marry his daughter."
"But your mother would have none of it," Baron informed her proudly. "She insisted on a very complicated set of dresses and coat of a thousand furs before marrying, in an attempt to make him stop and think about what he was demanding."
"… It didn't work," Haru summarized sadly. "Or she didn't trust him anymore."
"Both," Lune said while rubbing one cheek sadly. "After she kissed me the night before the wedding, she disappeared completely. She was under heavy guard and none of them heard anything suspicious before morning. Grandfather killed two of them in a fit of rage before a fairy came and stopped him."
Her head snapped upward. "A fairy? What did she look like? What was her name?"
"She didn't offer a name, but she looked like an elegant old lady," Lune tried to soothe her while suppressing a shudder. "She… was terrifying. She screamed at Grandfather for not just what he tried to do, but for maiming my father. He tried to stand up for Aunt Coletta and, despite the fact that he could no longer walk, Grandfather was certain that he had something to do with her disappearance."
Baron cut in. "Long story short; the fairy cursed the royal line so that no woman would be able to enter it until the severed branch was restored to the family tree. The red eye was a warning to any and all girls to keep away at the peril of their lives."
"Not that Father or I would trick a girl into it. But it is good to have you here with us," Lune admitted, giving her yet another affectionate hug. "I only wish Father were still alive to see you."
She looked at him in surprise. "If he isn't around then why are you regent?"
He grinned at her and tightened his hold again. "Because I wanted my family to be at my coronation and nothing the advisors could say was able to dissuade me."
A light blush colored her cheeks. "Not to be rude, but I think you're giving me a bruise," she managed to gasp.
He immediately released her with horror. "Oh no, I'm so sorry, it's just that I've waited twenty five years for this day and I'm just really happy to meet you and-"
She covered his mouth with one hand. "You're babbling. It was an accident, no harm done."
He gave her another look of tender affection, but managed to repress the latest urge to hold her tight. Maybe he was worried that this was only a dream as well and letting her go would result in waking up.
"You might want to tell him your side of the story, highness," Muta urged her gently.
She answered that with a sharp glare. "Don't ever call me that again. It's Haru, got it?"
"We get it," Toto said nervously, but he was still urging her to speak with one hand.
Haru sighed. "I can't really give you a whole lot of information. The one time my father talked about life before the cave-"
"There was a cave?" Lune interrupted, making her nod once.
"He said that he helped Mama escape an unwanted marriage and her father had contacts with the law. They worked their way up to the Northern Lands, fell in love along the way, got married and raised me in a cave a good half day's journey from the closest village." A wistful smile lit up her face. "Looking back, we were dirt poor, but we were too happy to care."
Lune relaxed and looked like he was fighting back tears of relief. "That's good to know. It's been terrible, not knowing for all these years. Hold on, you're a trapper?" he suddenly asked.
His cousin grinned happily. "Not anymore. I've been looking forward to retirement."
"Was it your father's profession?"
"He taught me everything he knew," she responded proudly. "I never liked being a trapper, but at least we were good ones."
A wild grin escaped his control, as well as a laugh. "Of course! No one bothered to keep track of the trappers after they provided the skins for the fur coat! I knew she couldn't have avoided detection on her own!"
"But even then, her face was plastered everywhere. How could she have avoided being seen in the middle of winter?" Muta wondered aloud.
"Probably the same way I got Medusa out of Nexa; hide her in a cave or hidden place far from civilization while Papa traded for supplies. It would have been even easier if no one knew to question trappers," she answered with a shrug. "I always wondered why he didn't take Mama or me with him when he would go to town, or even talk about us."
Lune actually whooped with delight, picking her up by the waist and swinging her around. "That's amazing! But how did you avoid getting turned to stone? Or was that just a rumor?"
Baron grimaced. "That's not a rumor, Lune. Medusa turned me into stone for over a month."
"She did it to me twice during that month. But Baron and I can tell you that story later. What else did you want to know?"
"How did you get cursed?" Lune asked curiously. "Did the cave belong to some malevolent being?"
Her very core turned to ice. "… Not exactly," she managed to say. "The… only time Mama took me out of the cave, a bear tried to kill us. She tried to let it kill her so I could get away, but… I went berserk and…"
Lune's eyes softened in sympathy. "The cloak you were wearing?"
"His hide. He was a fairy's companion. Ukima froze Mama for trying to say she killed Shiro and she never recovered. It took her a month to die."
The last sentence came out as a whisper.
Without warning, a set of warm arms wrapped around her from behind and just held her comfortingly. She managed a wan smile and wrapped her own arms around the ones surrounding her.
Even without the kimono sleeves or torn boots and necklace in one hand, she could tell Baron was the one holding her.
"Papa knew that finding a place that would accept me without needing me would take a lot of training and preparation, so he made me pretend to be a boy ward growing up. I didn't think about coming clean until after complete strangers started recognizing me on sight."
"But that turned out to be a blessing," Baron remarked lightly. "A rather short creature by the name of Rumpelstiltskin cursed her so that no woman would ever be her bride last year."
Lune managed a melancholy chuckle. "I bet you were disappointed."
"Oh, absolutely crushed," she responded with a small amount of sarcasm, but it lacked her usual enthusiasm, with her mother's fate still fresh in her mind.
Baron's arms gave a gentle squeeze, as if he could read her thoughts.
Lune gave her a gentle look, but then glanced at his best friend. "So, how come Toto's plan didn't work?"
"She's been sleeping on stone and earth her whole life. She finds beds too soft to bother with."
Haru turned a bit to look at him suspiciously. "What was that about beds?"
"Roughly four years ago, Lune got impatient to find his aunt," the magician reported, looking sheepish. "You've probably noticed that beds from Lycea have been shipped all over the world?"
"It came up once or twice when I bothered to listen. I was told they were comfy, but I didn't really give them a chance."
Muta growled in frustration. "Great, all that effort for nothing."
"I wouldn't say that," Lune protested. "Those special beds have made this kingdom a great deal of money. They weren't a complete loss."
"Erm, dare I ask what was so special about the beds?" she asked worriedly.
Toto gave her a nervous glance, but fished around one pocket until producing a small red gem the size of a pea. "Every single one of those beds had a spelled piece of jade like this hidden in the wood, but green. Only a close blood relative of Lune's can stay awake on a bed like that."
Haru quirked an eyebrow. "So even if I tried to sleep on one, it wouldn't have worked?"
"All the innkeepers were under orders to alert authorities if someone managed to stay awake on one, but even the scammers couldn't stay awake when put to the test." Lune shook his head playfully at her. "Too bad you were two steps ahead of us. Did you ever actually try to sleep on a bed?"
"Yeah, about that," Toto coughed nervously. "She flat out refused to sleep on a bed until we were on a boat to here and, even then, I had to reverse the spell."
"What?" Lune asked curiously.
"You see, the beds below deck already had the sleeping gem in them, but since Haru was your cousin, she wouldn't have been able to sleep on them. She was suffering from seasickness, so Baron suggested that I reverse the spell on one of them so that only a close blood relative would be able to sleep on it until reaching land." He placed the red jade in Haru's palm. "I tinkered with it again last night after you were out cold. Sleeping on beds won't be a problem for you anymore."
She held onto the tiny gem tightly, but gave him a grateful smile before slipping it into her satchel. "Thanks, Toto. So… any more surprises anyone would like to spring on me?"
Lune beamed at her happily. "Now that you mention it, there is someone I'd love to introduce you to. Toto, Muta, could you take Baron to my room? I'd really rather not see him in that robe anymore."
"It's a kimono, not a robe," Baron said defensively. "Men dress like this in the Wilan Empire."
"But while exposing less leg," Haru added brightly, making him give her a glare.
"What have I said about a trio?" he asked tightly.
"Who said the other two were on it?"
"All right, young lady. Enough's enough," Muta said while prying Baron off her with Toto's help. "Torturing Baron's our job."
"I thought hitting Toto was your job."
"Who said that was my only job?"
"Well, with your eating habits, it's not like you can do much else!" Toto was quick to retort.
"See if I ever stitch you back together again, you bird brain!"
"You've already called me that today, Moo-ta!"
The doctor let out a roar of rage as he tackled the magician to the ground for the third wrestling match that week.
Haru, Baron, and Lune all sighed tiredly as the two rolled around the ground like ill-bred children.
"They never change, do they?" the prince asked aloud.
"No, but we can hope. I remember the way to your chambers; where is this friend of yours?" the lord inquired.
"In the Flower Suite. Please hurry," he urged as Baron began jogging down the hallway at a brisk pace.
"That doesn't sound like the suite for a male friend," Haru said brightly as Lune steered her down another hallway.
"She isn't. I have hopes to make her my queen, but I truly did need my family back before I can propose in earnest. I think you'll adore her."
That caught her interest. "Is she funny?"
"Some days, she's the only one that can make me laugh."
"Smart?"
"We haven't bored each other yet."
"Likes you personally?"
"She certainly doesn't treat me like a prince."
Haru grinned. "She sounds amazing already."
"Just wait till you meet her," he assured with a childish grin. "I think you of all people will appreciate someone like her."
"… Lune?" she asked in a tiny voice. "You're going to execute whoever I maimed in the throne room, right?"
"He is guilty of bewitching then impersonating a noble close to the crown, trying to sway the crown before I took away his advising position, not to mention attempted murder as well as possibly a successful murder."
Her head snapped up. "Who?"
"Louise," he replied simply, once again wrapping an arm around her. "A few months after 'the accident', she turned very melancholy. She wanted to have a private word with me after I took away the advising position, but then she 'mysteriously' grew sick and died."
Haru sighed softly. "Can you break it to him gently?"
He nodded. "I'm a bit surprised he hasn't asked already."
"He considers himself annulled. But I think he'd still like to know that she at least felt guilty for doing that to him."
Lune gave her a warm smile and another hug before they finally stopped to knock at a door. "Yuki? May I come in?"
Haru's jaw dropped. "Yuki? My Yuki?"
"Wait, what?" Lune asked, but it was already too late.
The door swung open with a start, revealing a very familiar blonde.
Yuki stared for a long minute and then grinned fit to kill before pulling the brunette into a tight embrace. "It's about time you got here, Bearskin. I thought those bells might be for you."
Indeed, the cheerful peals were still ringing through the palace.
"Yuki?" Haru repeated, shocked at seeing her old friend again. "What are you doing here?"
"You two know each other?" Lune managed to gasp, finally looking shocked.
"Of course. This is my archery teacher," Yuki quickly explained, making the brunette scoff.
"Not that you needed much teaching, you disgustingly skilled person."
Yuki only laughed at that and hugged her tighter as the brunette returned the embrace. "You know, without that bear cloak, you don't seem all that big anymore."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Definitely good. Having color suits you. Do I get to learn your real name now?" she teased.
The white-clad girl couldn't help but giggle. "I'm Haru. Let me guess; all it took was a few portraits?"
"Naturally. You know, you really do look like your mother, except for the hair." She playfully tugged on one of the short locks.
"My father had brown hair, or at least he did before I became a teenager."
They both laughed at that.
"Well, come in! It's rude to stand in the doorway like this," Yuki urged, grabbing Lune's hand while keeping a deep grip on her friend. "I've missed you so much, Bearski- Haru."
"I've missed you, too. So, how did you-"
"Hold on!" Lune suddenly snapped, making both girls look up at him as they stopped walking toward a comfortable set of couches. "You knew Bearskin was my cousin? All this time?"
"I promised her that no one would know we met," Yuki admitted, looking a bit guilty. "I regretted it when you first showed me your aunt's portrait, but I couldn't go back on my word."
Haru stepped in front of her friend. "Good thing, too. If she had told you about me, you wouldn't have been able to break my curse."
"Thank heaven," Yuki said with relief. "What had to happen, Bea-uh, Haru?"
She gave her a grin. "I had to find a place that would welcome me with open hearts and arms, without knowing or expecting anything from me in return. While Lune had questions later, he was happy to see me in that moment, just for existing." Her voice turned soft, almost incredulous at the simple but powerfully true statement.
"So that's why Baron didn't give me a heads up," Lune realized, relaxing a great deal. Then he grinned at Yuki, who grinned back in a slightly foolish manner. "I guess I can forgive you, then."
"There's a comfort," she giggled, still relieved as she dragged the two to the couches and made them sit down.
Haru gave her dear friend a deep embrace after kicking off the glass slippers. Despite their dainty appearance, they weren't very comfortable. "Back to my previous question, how did you end up here, Yuki?"
She and the prince looked at each other in embarrassment. "I, um, thought he was a thief and shot him in the leg a few months after meeting you," the pale blonde said sheepishly. "After I explained myself, he let me doctor him and… he never could stay away after that. When he had to return from the summer palace, he convinced me to come with him here."
Haru looked at her, at Lune, and then smirked at Yuki. "Nice catch."
"How did I know you were going to say that?" she sighed.
"Especially for someone who doesn't like hunting," Haru ribbed her with a grin. "What about your father?"
"Oh, I assure you I took care of that detail," Lune growled, darker than his cousin had yet to hear. "I reimbursed that… snail that tried to buy her and informed the Alsdean king that if his nobleman makes another try for Yuki, I'll consider it an act of war."
"That goes for her father as well?"
"That it does. We're on good terms with Alsdea, so King Theodore is keeping them under control. He was disgusted with them as well."
Haru nodded, but had to giggle. "This arrangement must be burning up your old man," she couldn't help but laugh to Yuki. "A prime connection and he can't come near it!"
"That's not why I accepted Lune's semi-proposal," the blonde defended, although her blue eyes softened when the prince took one hand in his. "But I'll admit that it's a plus. The fact that I knew you'd show up again was another one."
Haru laughed again, shaking her head as she reached across Yuki to playfully punch Lune's shoulder. "At least I don't have to worry about your taste in women."
"You approve?" he asked like a hopeful child.
She grinned and gave another hug to Yuki, who was more than happy to return the gesture in full. "I highly approve."
Lune smiled happily, but then let a trace of nervousness filter through. "Haru… I hope you'll forgive me for this. My mother was already gone when the curse took hold. I was also very close with Aunt Coletta. She was the mother I never had. Since she left, it's been a gaping hole in my life, but-"
Haru simply got up from her seat and gave him a large bear hug. "If I help fill the void, I won't complain. Your personality is a lot like Machida's. He was my best friend growing up and I've been missing him too."
Lune grinned in relief while returning the embrace.
ooOoo
This was her mother's room. It was grand, certainly, and in the same elegant style her mother had left it. Lune had been ensuring that it stayed clean and comfortable over the years, on the off chance that the 'branch' would return unexpectedly.
Despite the fact that it had been a long day, full of celebration and merriment in the palace and throughout the capital, she wasn't sleeping just yet. Instead, she was carefully sifting through all the knick-knacks and such that had been resting on shelves and the impressive closet. In spite of everything that screamed her mother truly was a princess, she wanted to find something more personal to make the fact connect in her mind.
Haru scowled at the three most lavish of the dresses in the very back of the closet; one as golden as the sun, the other as silvery as the moon, and the third as glittery as the stars. "Mama couldn't have wanted dresses like those. She probably only asked for these to distract him."
The creep. Just thinking about him made her want to take a scalding bath.
But tucked behind the garish dresses was a modest trunk. Intrigued, she pulled it out to open it in the light of the fireplace after picking the lock.
The hinges creaked noisily before revealing their treasures. The first thing in sight was a folded-up quilt with surprisingly familiar stitches.
"Mama did love sewing," Haru sighed, gently taking it out and unfolding it over the bed.
It was a masterpiece of rings, flowers, and even tiny winged pixies fluttering within the stitches. The white background was yellowed slightly at certain places, but it was beautiful.
"That is staying on the bed," she announced to the darkness, eager for the next discovery.
A pair of glass slippers identical to the ones her curse decided to put on her was residing in the chest, as well as a little porcelain doll, a dog-eared book of stories…
A set of diaries.
Her hands trembled as she took out the one on top and opened it at the back until finding the last filled page.
Something happened just now. I can't explain it, and there's not much time to write before I must leave.
Suffice it to say, if anyone ever finds this, I want only one thing made known about my fate;
No one decides it but me!
"That's my mama," Haru couldn't help but laugh as she kept reading.
To Lunardo; you were the best brother a girl could ask for. I'm sorry I'll never get the chance to say goodbye, or thank you for standing up for me. If I could take your wounds for myself, I would do it.
Lune; Aunt Coletta loves you so much. Whatever you do, don't turn into your grandfather. You're better than that. Oh, and don't pick the orchard clean with Humbert just because I'm not around to watch you anymore.
Father; I hate you. I hate you for what you're trying to make me do and for what you do to people that stand in your way. What happened to the good man that used to lift me onto his shoulders? If he comes back, maybe I will too.
But don't count on it.
To anyone else; why are you reading my diary? You could get beheaded for that!
What else is there to say? I've gone to search for my happily ever after. Why don't you do the same?
Haru smiled as she closed the small book and held it to her heart. "Good question, Mama. But what is my happily ever after?" she wondered aloud. "I can never be a pampered society flower, even for Lune."
But then again, Lune knew better than to expect her to adjust like that. He even offered to let her live in the summer palace for a while, since it was located near Baron's lands. That had partially been why they had been so close growing up.
Haru had to admit that she was tempted for the sole reason of staying close to Baron, but at the same time, Lune was her flesh and blood. She should be here and at least get to know him better.
But what about after that? There was no way on earth she could be happy with being a mere ornament, but she also hated politics. Lounging about wasn't her style, either…
A sudden tapping sound commanded her attention. Her eyes snapped open and looked toward the glass door that led to her personal balcony. A smile crossed her lips, making her laugh lightly as she got to her feet and walked across the room.
"Why does it not surprise me to see you here?" she greeted the crow once she opened the door.
It hopped a small ways into her room and tapped the inside of the door with its beak.
Haru obediently shut the door and knelt down to run her hand over the waxy feathers. "How do you keep managing to find me, anyway?"
The crow looked up at her and smiled. "I can always find you, dear heart."
Her jaw dropped and her hand withdrew as her body followed suit.
"Now now; we both know you don't scare so easily," the crow laughed as the feathers began melting away and she began to grow.
Right before the girl's amazed eyes, the bird morphed into an elegant old lady, with hair of tightly controlled silver and a simple gown that seemed made of black feathers.
Haru stared in amazement. "You," she whispered.