A/N: Here we are at the second chapter; things are about to pick up from hereon in.
Chapter 2: The Green-Eyed Monster Rears its Head
After the day of the betrothal ceremony, Yui paid careful attention to the way that everyone at the palace treated her. She was, of course, paid all due deference to her station as a princess, but it was quite evident that the servants treated her as the lowest of the royal family and regarded her as an intruder. Miaka was clearly the favored of the two girls, loved by everyone. Yui, it seemed, would always be the outsider, no matter what she tried.
It was impossible to understand why. Yes, Miaka was kind-hearted, generous, and loyal. But she was also clumsy, ate much more than was seemly or dignified, and her performance in the schoolroom left much to be desired. She wasn't very musically inclined, and she couldn't draw as well as Yui, but she proved to be quite skilled at lady's arts such as sewing, embroidery, and weaving. Yui, though, was graceful, accomplished, intelligent, well-mannered, everything a proper princess and future empress should be.
As much as she tried to, and as much as Miaka earnestly tried to befriend her over the years, Yui couldn't truly bring herself to like her. She couldn't help feeling that everyone around her constantly judged her and compared her Miaka, and Miaka was always the one who came out the winner.
One thing had occurred to help ease her situation. At 13, lonely and desperate for some piece of her home now that the clothes and toys she'd brought from Kutou as a child were long outgrown and her servants sent back and replaced with Konan servants, she'd begged Keisuke to allow her to write to her father and ask for a few attendants to be sent to her from her home country. He'd agreed, hoping it would help ease her homesickness, and her father sent several courtiers to join her household. Over time, they'd become her loyal friends, guards, and attendants.
Their self-appointed leader was Nakago, the son of Yui's former governess. They'd kept in touch after Yui's attendants returned to Kutou, which had been one of the greatest comforts in her homesickness. Then there were the twins, Suboshi and Amiboshi, Yui's age, sons of an army official. Soi, the daughter of one of her father's advisors, served as her principal lady-in-waiting. Tomo was the son of one of the most renowned mages in Kutou. Miboshi was an ascetic sage, sent to assist the royal tutors in instructing the princesses in diplomacy and international relations (this was of great importance, as a princess' marriage was a key part of forging foreign policy). He also, along with Soi and Tomo, instructed Yui in the art of sorcery; this was done in secret, as magic was taboo in Konan.
The next 2 years after the arrival of Yui's new attendants didn't change things. In fact, it seemed to do nothing but make them worse, for the people at court disliked this attempt at preserving ties to her old country. The courtiers and palace servants in particular hated the way that Yui always seemed to favor the newcomers from the country of her birth. Not to mention the nasty reputation that the people of Kutou had for sorcery.
Yui saw all of this with pain; she saw the barely veiled contempt that the Konan servants and courtiers held for her, the blatantly preferential treatment shown to Miaka, saw the hatred in everyone's eyes for her, and she heard the ever increasing sneers and whispers behind her back.
One day, a few weeks before the preparations for Miaka's 15th birthday celebration commenced, the news reached the palace that the High Priestess had died. As the imperial family gathered in the shrine where she lay in state and performed the traditional mourning rites, everyone's thoughts turned who would be her successor. It was imperative the successor be chosen as soon as possible, and the decision would be announced the day after the funeral rites were completed. During the several days the High Priestess' body was being prepared for burial, the priests and priestesses of the main temple withdrew into seclusion to fast, meditate, and pray to Suzaku for a sign as to who should be her successor.
The morning after the High Priestess was buried, Yui dressed in her best clothes, hoping that today she would be chosen as the next High Priestess of Suzaku. It was a position of great prestige, and something she hoped would help her gain the affection of the people. She'd dreamed of being High Priestess for years, having come to consider it her duty, right, and responsibility as future Empress to serve as intermediary between the people of Konan and their god.
Soi rushed in, looking excited. "Princess, you're not going to believe this!" she cried. "The Emperor has sent word that… oh, I can't put into words…. we must go to the throne room at once!"
With that, Yui was sure that she'd be announced as the next High Priestess. Her attendants following her, she headed for the throne room. But when they arrived, only Keisuke, his mother and sister, the priests of the temple, and the guards were there. The proclamation, as Yui understood, took place before the whole court, and then the new High Priestess was to be presented to the people, before the initiation ceremony where she swore her holy vows before the altar in the shrine.
It turned out what Soi meant was that Keisuke had sent word that he wished for Yui to appear beside him before the court at the ceremony, sitting in the Empress's throne. This was a great honor, as well as an acknowledgment of her status as future Empress- until the actual wedding took place, the Empress Dowager (particularly during the time when she had acted as regent until Keisuke had come of age) would be given that spot. Today, though, the Empress Dowager stood behind the throne and a little to the left, accompanied by Miaka.
The whole court gathered moments later. Keisuke stood. "My lords and ladies, as you all know, today we gather to announce who has been chosen to serve as the new High Priestess. After much mediation, the priests of the temple have received the will of Suzaku. The new High Priestess… shall be the Princess Miaka!" he declared.
In stunned disbelief, Miaka was called forward as excited whispers filled the hall. She knelt before her brother, receiving blessings from both him and the priests. No one had expected this- as a princess, Miaka had seemed destined to make a marriage for the political advantage of Konan. Out of the corner of her eye, Yui noticed that the ambassadors from Hokkan were in hushed conversation; palace gossip had it that the Dowager Empress had been negotiating for Miaka's marriage to the crown prince of Hokkan for some years now, and the arrangements had been close to being finalized. While one would have thought Yui'd be jealous of Miaka's engagement and the greater fuss being made about it, she was eager to have Miaka gone and looked forward to the day she'd leave for the marriage.
As Miaka, followed by the court, was escorted out of the palace and presented as the new High Priestess to the citizens of Eiyou, Yui seethed. Miaka always takes everything I want, she thought bitterly. The court celebrations that revolved around Miaka were almost always grander and more elaborate than those that revolved around Yui; when ambassadors came to court, Miaka was always presented to them first, always given the first choice and the best gifts from said ambassadors. She knew that Keisuke and his mother didn't seem to favor one princess over the other, but they had always been usually too focused on Keisuke's training in the arts of diplomacy and statecraft and left events like those to others, and the servants and court officials who arranged everything did have a preference.
Once the presentation ceremony was over, Yui quickly went back to her apartments. Once sure she was alone, she threw herself on the bed and began sobbing. "Princess, what's wrong?" asked Soi gently. Yui turned to see Soi, Nakago, Amiboshi, Suboshi, and Tomo standing by her bed, all looking concerned. Ashitare, the tamed wolf-dog that Nakago had brought with him from Kutou, cocked his head to the side and made a small grunt of concern.
"I thought… I was so sure I was going to be appointed High Priestess. It's not fair! Miaka always gets everything!" Yui sobbed, punching the pillow in grief and frustration.
Try as they might, Yui's attendants could do nothing to comfort or cheer her up. Even Tomo's illusions, Amiboshi's flute-playing, and Ashitare's tricks failed to lift her spirits. Finally, Soi suggested going to the kitchens and getting some of Yui's favorite sweets.
On their way to the kitchens, they overheard a small group of court ladies gossiping about the proclamation ceremony that morning.
"I truly think there's no other choice for High Priestess than Princess Miaka; don't you agree?" said one excitedly.
"Oh, yes; so lovely, kind, and good-hearted. I hear she personally distributed food and medicine to the public during that plague last winter, and she's the patron of several orphanages in the city. There's no one so good or devout, or who does so much for those in need," said a second.
"Yes, I can think of no one better to serve as our High Priestess," agreed a third.
As the women walked away, Yui's hands clenched into fists. "So, they like her because she's so pretty, kind, and good-hearted, huh? Well, we'll see about that," she snarled.
"What do you mean?"
"Forget the sweets, Soi. I have a better idea on how to cheer me up." With that, Yui turned and walked back to her apartments. Soi shook her head, trying to conceal a small smirk.
"Suboshi, Amiboshi, I have a job for you," Yui declared after she entered the room and made sure only her 5 loyal attendants were there.
"Yes, Princess Yui. What do you need us to do?" Suboshi asked. Anyone who had eyes could clearly see that Suboshi had fallen in love with Yui over the years… everyone but Yui herself, of course.
"I want you both to go into the forest outside the city. Find 3 small toads and bring them back here to me. Make sure that no one sees you."
Within an hour, they had completed their task, having smuggled the toads into the palace in a small basket.
"Soi, go draw a bath, and then bring Miaka here," Yui ordered, gesturing towards the bathing room that formed part of her apartments. Nodding, Soi exchanged looks with Nakago, Miboshi, and Tomo, and went to fulfill her orders.
Once Soi left to fetch Miaka, Yui took the basket of toads and walked into the bathing chamber. The room was made of fine red and white marble. Ornate tapestries decorated the walls. The tub was a large basin set into the floor, filled with warm scented water. Yui sat beside the tub, resting the basket on her knees.
She opened the basket and pulled out one of the toads. Kissing it, she instructed, "When Miaka comes into the tub, lie on her head, so that she thinks only selfish thoughts."
To the second, she said as she kissed it, "Sit on Miaka's forehead, that she will become ugly; let her outward appearance reflect her new inner nature."
Taking the third, she kissed it and said, "Lie on her heart, that she may have an evil temper as ugly as her face." She placed all three toads into the bath. The toads quickly settled beneath the water, waiting to fulfill their instructions.
Footsteps alerted her to Soi's presence. "I've brought Princess Miaka, she's waiting in the presence chamber," she said. Yui and Soi walked out to where Miaka was waiting.
"Soi said you wanted to see me?" Miaka asked.
"Yes, I wished to congratulate you on being named High Priestess. I was hoping that you'd allow Soi and me to assist you in preparing for the initiation ceremony this evening," Yui explained. Miaka nodded in gratitude. "Soi, go to Miaka's chambers and have one of her maids help you select her clothing for the ceremony. Miaka, please follow me to the bathing chamber- I took the liberty of having a bath prepared for you."
Soi and the two princesses walked into the bathing chamber. Miaka disrobed and stepped into the tub. Her vision obscured by steam and the heavily scented smoke from the incense burners throughout the room dulling her senses, Miaka barely noticed the toads jumping on her and landing on her head, forehead, and heart as Yui had instructed. Yui, to her shock, Miaka glow with a pale red aura after the toads jumped on her. Then she saw that the toads were gone when she stepped out of the tub; instead, three red and white lotus flowers floated on the surface of the water.
Yui pretended nothing had happened as she assisted Miaka in drying off and dressing in the clothing Soi had brought. Once Miaka had left, she rounded on her three tutors in sorcery.
"Nothing happened! Why didn't my curse work? What did I do wrong?" she demanded.
"It didn't work because Miaka, it seems, is too inherently good and virtuous to be affected by a curse. Also, given that red aura, it seems that Suzaku is protecting the little priestess," Soi sneered.
"If you wish to hurt her, you'll have to re-think your strategy," added Miboshi.
But Yui wasn't sure what to do. Yes, she did want to make Miaka suffer. But how was she to do that if her curses had no effect? Perhaps it would be a good idea to stop… it was sure to anger Keisuke and the Empress Dowager if she went any farther, which could jeopardize her future marriage and relations between Konan and Kutou, and that wasn't something she wanted. She wondered briefly for a moment why that thought had never occurred to her before. Knowing that the alliance was too important to risk, and that she couldn't dare upset the rest of the royal family, she made her decision.
Unfortunately, something happened several days later to change Yui's resolution to go no further in her vendetta.
*End Chapter*