Though the Heavens May Fall
Chapter Nine
By: DamageCtrl
All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Gundam Seed/Gundam Seed: Destiny. They belong to their respective creators, owners, licensees.
The carriage she had taken to and from Plants would be the one that would take her and her belongings back. That had been the reason Ezalia Joule had told her to bring it with her when they returned to the Joule Estate. It was impractical, as Shiho could've just ridden her horse as part of Lady Joule's entourage or even stayed with the woman in her carriage, as she had done in the past, but Shiho still did as she was told.
Now, as she sat on the floor, placing the last of her belongings into a massive brown trunk, she silently thought about how many things she had accumulated while she lived at the estate. She hadn't realized she had so many clothes or books or random trinkets.
A small crystal figurine of a horse from Dearka for her birthday was placed carefully in a jewelry box that Lady Joule had give her on the fifth anniversary of her being a Red Knight. The fancy calligraphy set Yzak had bought her had never been touched and remained neatly packed beside the jewelry box. Shiho never thought to use it; there hadn't been an occasion special enough to warrant doing so.
There were some books from fellow knights and a few casual dresses Lunamaria had given her over the years. There was even a nice pair of heels Lady Joule had bought her when she noticed that Shiho wandered around in training boots the whole day. Yzak had told his mother it was not necessary and that she was a knight.
"She is still a woman!" the white-haired noblewoman had snapped in return. "A uniform and a sword aren't her only weapons!"
Dearka had burst into a fit of laughter while Yzak's face had wrinkled up at the thought. Shiho chuckled at the memory as she ran her fingers over the coarse fabric of her red uniform coat now folded neatly inside the trunk. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She lifted her head and then looked around the room.
The shelves were now barren of her books and the stuffed rabbit she kept there on display. It had been a handmade gift from her late grandmother. She had caught Yzak staring at it a few times and she always assumed it was because a stuffed animal was so out of place in her room.
Her desk no longer had a pile of scrolls and parchment or her writing utensils. All that marred its surface now were various blots of ink and a dot of wax here and there that had dropped in the wrong place when she was trying to seal documents. Shiho looked towards her bed and her eyes softened.
She pushed herself up and carefully lowered the lid of her trunk. She bent down and locked it closed, securing the key in one of her pockets. That seemed to be it. All her belongings were now backed away in three trunks. Two of which had already been dragged outside and placed on the carriage that would take her away.
Shiho looked back at the empty bed. The sheets and blankets that had been in soft earth tones had been packed away and were already on the carriage, along with two small throw pillows and her stuffed rabbit. All that was left was the mattress with a white sheet draped across it. White pillows lay by the headboard, fluffed but uncovered. Silently, she sat on the edge of her bed, allowing herself to bounce up and down for a moment before swinging her legs on top and leaning back.
Her head rested on one of the bare pillows and she stared up at the familiar stone ceiling. By now, her resignation letter had already reached the Red Knights Courtyard and the head military officer there. Typically, she would need her captain's approval, but that was not necessary when she had attached the approval of Lady Joule. No one would question the noblewoman's words, thought Shiho did have to explain why she was resigning.
She could hardly inform the entire Plants military that she was stepping down from her position and leaving the Red Knights, the highest military branch in Plants, because her captain was in love with her and thus, causing him to second guess his duties. Nor could she admit that, perhaps, a small bit of her was happy that he was.
Her hands met over her stomach and she closed her eyes. She could still hear Lady Joule's words in her ears.
"You mean more to my son than any wife ever could."
Those words made her happier than she expected.
She knew full well what they implied and the problems it would bring to her commanding officer, but to know that she held such an important place in his life made her feel irrationally happy. That wasn't to say that she was in love with him. She cringed at the word. Such a giddy feeling was not becoming of her, but she supposed it was shown in different ways.
She was not a giddy idiot like Dearka was when he was around Miriallia. She didn't blush every time Yzak entered a room or found it difficult to speak to him. She was rather at ease when he was around and she respected him greatly. Her eyes opened.
Still, this was not mere admiration. She did feel warm all over when they touched, even briefly. She was pleased with every little compliment he paid her, even if it was only because she had turned something in on time. And there were moments when they were the only to people in the world and she could not see herself with anyone else.
She hadn't been lying to Lady Joule when the older woman asked her where she saw herself in ten years. She was sure she wanted to be at Yzak's side. Whether it was as a knight or as something else, she didn't know if she particularly cared any more. Besides, if wasn't as if she was sure that Yzak even felt that way.
It was one thing to hear it from his mother's mouth, but it was another to hear it from the Yzak himself was another matter. Did she really mean that much to him? If she did, why did he send her away? She frowned. All their excuses could not cover the real reason. He sent her away because she really was distracting him. That only proved what his mother told her, didn't it? Her head began to hurt.
It didn't matter. The point was that as her last duty as a Red Knight was to resign so that her captain would be free to go through with his own duty without having to worry about her.
Shiho rolled over on to her side and picked up a slight familiar scent from the pillow. She furrowed her brows and buried her face deeper against the soft object. Her eyes widened. It still smelled of Yzak.
Her eyes softened nostalgically. It was that same cologne that he was wearing the first time she met him. Just before the war with Orb began, she had been reassigned to do secretary work under Lord Captain Yzak Joule. He had requested aid from the main branch after Dearka had to leave to oversee additional training at one of the bases.
At the time she had been working at the base in December City and living at home with her aging parents when not at the base. Due to her worth ethic, she had been promoted and was sent to the Joule Estate. She arrived on horse back and waiting for her at the front steps of the massive old house was a tall, striking white-haired man in a red uniform.
She had dismounted and gave him a salute. As he replied in turn and introduced himself, she caught a glimpse of his blue eyes and, surprisingly enough, a crooked set of ribbons. As Lord Joule had begun explaining her duties to her, she found that her eyes kept wandering back to the ribbons on his chest.
It was odd that such a precision-oriented man, rumored to be one of the best Red Knights at that moment, would allow for that one bit of imperfection in his appearance. Her distracted gaze had finally caught Yzak's attention and his lips had tightened into a line.
"Is something the matter, Sir Hahnenfuss?" he had asked, irritated that she wasn't paying complete attention to him and his carefully planned introduction.
Her fingers had twitched at her sides. "Actually, my lord," she began as her eyes flittered from him to the pinned ribbons on his chest. "Your ribbons are lopsided."
She could still remember the faint blush of embarrassment that reached his cheeks as she pointed that out. His eyes had hardened as he told her it hardly mattered and that the pin had been given to him crooked. It was a complete lie and she knew it.
"My lord, as your secretary, I am required to aid in all manners that I am able," she had told him as she took a step forward. "Please excuse my forwardness." Her pale hands had risen and fixed the ribbons. She then neatly straightened them out before taking a step back to admire her work and nodding in satisfaction.
All he could do was murmur a gruff thank you in reply before turning around and showing her to her quarters. His face had been almost as red as her uniform. A small smile graced Shiho's face at the memory. He was cold and strict, just like the other knight said, with a foreboding aura and eyes always set in a glare, but she also thought he was rather good-looking.
"Sir Hahnenfuss," a voice said behind the door to her room. It was quickly followed by a short knock. "Sir Hahnenfuss, we are here to collect the last trunk if it is ready."
The brown-haired woman took a deep breath and released it as she closed her eyes. "The trunk is ready," she replied firmly. She rolled to her other side and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She stood up and brushed off her pants. She walked across the room and opened the door. Two servants came in, giving her respectful bows, as she directed them to the final trunk.
"The other trunks are ready, Sir Hahnenfuss," one servant informed her as they each grabbed a side of the trunk.
For a moment, Shiho wanted to correct them. She was no longer a Red Knight and therefore, no longer had the right to carry the title. Instead, she said nothing. Hearing simply 'Hahnenfuss' was odd to her ears. She gave them a curt bow of her head.
"I will go on ahead, then," Shiho said. She walked outside and down the familiar hallway. She suddenly felt alien in the place she had lived in for years and it was an unsettling feeling.
As she passed the servants, she gave them small bows of her head and thanked them for their help in the past. They wished her good travels and hoped that she would return soon. Shiho could only give them a small smile. They did not know the circumstances of her departure and she wanted to keep it that way.
She emerged from the house and walked down the steps she had first seen her former captain standing on years ago.
"Sir Hahnenfuss, your horse is ready," a stable hand said. She gave him a small nod.
"Thank you." She mounted the beast and looked back at the mansion one last time.
"This is your home now," Yzak had told her a few months after she moved in and saw that she was still living out of her trunk. "Treat it as such."
Her hands tightened around the leather reins. She turned her head away from the house and left.
The music filled the air, easily penetrating the gauzy curtains that hung before his open balcony doors. The massive suite was in one of the towers of the Onogoro Palace and had a view that was fit for any of the visiting royalty that stayed there. The double doors opened to a large, half circle balcony above a carefully manicured garden and over looking the ocean just beyond the garden's edges.
That night, it was even more stunning. The sky was clear and a full moon hung over the dark waters. Small stars dotted the sky and below them, white lanterns were strung across the gardens and courtyards. Students from Orb's Music Academy were providing the music and stations of food and servants wandering with trays in their hands were providing the guests with meals.
Murata placed his hands on the warm stone railing and leaned over the edge. He looked down at the garden. Numerous men and women had already arrived and were being greeted by Orb's Queen, a lovely brown-haired woman, and her husband, one the advisors. As they couple caught an arriving family in their cheerful embrace, Murata lifted a hand and carefully adjusted the blue tie of his crisp white suit.
He took a deep breath to calm himself. He had already been introduced to the Queen and her consort, as well as the rest of the advisors when he arrived earlier that day. Who he had yet to see were the people he was most nervous about meeting.
On the road entering Onogoro, they had passed each of the five Seray. He had been impressed as the guards at each gate, Haumea Elite, greeted Stellar warmly. When they reached the Azure Seray, the one Stellar belonged to; her captain came out to meet her along with her Lieutenant. Warm greetings were exchanged and the entire entourage was invited to the Seray for tea, but Stellar said they needed to get the palace.
Disappointed, Captain Haww let them be on their way. When they arrived at the Rouge Seray, Stellar was visibly crestfallen to find that her sister was away on a training session. The blonde princess was informed that Captain Attha and the rest of her family would be at that welcoming party that evening.
Lord Djibril had scoffed. A simple party? That was all they would get? Did Orb not realize that the King of the Federation was in their midst or was that the way they greeted visiting monarchs?
Stellar had actually sent him a glare. It surprised the old man at first and he lost his composure for a second, making both Auel and Sting smirk. Stellar told them that her brother was coming, not that the king was, thus it was clear that she wanted it to be an intimate gathering rather than a full fledged ball.
Murata had agreed. After all, he would be visiting her family in Orb and for such a delicate reason, it would have been best to have it in a more intimate setting.
He glanced back down over the railing. Although, for an intimate gathering, even the garden party was rather ornate. Men and women were dressed in semi-formal suits and dresses. The atmosphere was relaxed, yet tasteful. With the various fountains and music in the large garden courtyard, it didn't seem so intimate.
He supposed that would change when he arrived downstairs and met Stellar's family. He was sure when he met them that the only people in his world at that moment would be him and them. It was nerve wracking just thinking about it.
A knock echoed from his doors and he turned around. He walked into his room, sweeping aside the curtains as he made his way to the main doors. "Yes?" he asked as he opened one of the doors.
A lovely young woman was standing in front of his door, a wide smile from ear to ear. "Mura! Ready to go?"
His nervous features softened. Stellar had her hair pulled back with a small blue flower in it. Her dress was something soft and billowy, perfect for the humid, but cooler-than-normal air of an outdoor evening party. It was pale blue, almost white, accented with darker blue edges.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," he admitted as he gave her a weak smile.
"Don't worry," Stellar assured him as she took a step back to beckon him outside. "Everything will be fine."
Murata nodded and took a deep breath. He walked out of his room, closing it behind him.
"Your Majesty," two voices said from his left and his right. He looked from side to side and found Auel and Sting flanking them, having probably escorted Stellar to his room.
"Auel," Murata nodded. "Sting. Where are the others?"
"Lord Djibiril is already at the garden, Your Majesty," Sting reported dutifully. "And we have a few soldiers in attendance, though Queen Murrue has already made precautions by having numerous Haumea Elite present."
"All the captains will also be present!" Stellar beamed. "The party will be safe!"
Leading the way, Stellar brought them down the hall and the stairs that lead to the ground floor. The main doors to the garden were not hard to find, as Royal Guards lined the halls, all standing to attention. The music coming from outside was also a giveaway to their destination.
As they reached the door way, Stellar stopped and spoke to one of the men guarding the door. The man nodded his head and gave them a bow before taking a step outside. A moment later, they were announced.
"Lord Auel Nieder, son of Lord and Lady Nieder of the Federation," the guard announced loudly. Numerous heads turned towards the entrance as Stellar stepped aside to usher the pale-headed young man through. "Lord Sting Oakley, son of Lord and Lady Oakley of the Federation."
Lifting his head high, Sting proudly stepped out after Auel and stood to the side to wait for the last two.
"His Majesty King Murata Azrael escorted by his sister, Orb Haumea Elite Stellar Lousier- Attha!"
If attention had not been diverted to the doorway before, it was certainly there now. Stellar looked up at her brother and gave him an encouraging smile. She lifted up her arm and Murata chuckled. It was almost as if he were the one being escorted. He raised his arm and slid hers in the crook, then stepped out into the garden.
They had made it several steps down the main path before a voice cried out.
"Stellar!" Murata's arm was suddenly dropped. Stellar's wide, maroon eyes grew even larger as she darted forward.
"Cagalli!" In an instant, there was a crash of blonde hair and pale colored dresses before him. A woman with slightly more golden hair and suntanned skin was hanging on to his sister tightly. Her billowy pale red dress ended just below her knees and when she opened her eyes, damp amber orbs were revealed.
"I missed you so much," Cagalli whispered, barely holding herself back from telling Stellar that she was afraid that she was never going to return.
"Stellar missed Cagalli, too," Stellar nodded as she buried her face in Cagalli's shoulder.
"We missed you, as well, you know," an amused voice said behind the older blonde. Stellar lifted her head and quickly lifted a hand to wipe at the corner of her eyes.
"Athrun!" She smiled, embarrassed as she sniffled. A tall, blue-haired man dressed in his formal Red Knights uniform walked forward with his arms open. She collided with him less rushed than she had with her sister, asking him how his trip to Orb was and how he was enjoying his stay.
"Stellar! Stellar!" another voice called out to her as she slipped away from Athrun's embrace. A teenaged girl was slipping from the crowd and waving earnestly as a black-haired young man followed her looking almost subdued.
"Mayu!"
"How many relatives does she have?" Murata heard Auel sigh tiredly under his breath.
"Just a few more," a voice said beside them. They turned her heads to the voice, having hardly realized that the Captain of the Rouge Seray had turned her attention on them. She was standing by her husband, waiting patiently for Stellar to introduce them to each other.
"Stellar," Athrun called over, realizing that the young woman would simply turn her attention to the next familiar face that came along if she wasn't curbed immediately. The blonde-haired young woman perked up and gave him a questioning look. He smiled and motioned to them and Murata. "Introductions?"
"Oh!" Her eyes widened as she scrambled forward, pulling Mayu, who was pulling Shinn, until she reached her siblings. "Sorry!"
"It's fine," Athrun chuckled. "Now, aren't you going to introduce us?"
"Yes, of course!" Stellar nodded. She released Mayu's hand and motioned to her half-brother. "This is King Murata Azrael, Stellar's older brother. Stellar and Murata have the same father."
"Your Majesty," Cagalli and Athrun began to bow, only to stop at the sound of the royal's voice.
"Oh, no, please," Murata insisted as he held up his hands to stop them. "I came here as Stellar's brother. No formalities are necessary, really. Please call me Murata or at the very least, Azrael." He could almost see Djibril's horrified look at his request.
"Then you must call me Cagalli." The Haumea Elite smiled and Murata blinked. It as uncanny how two women, not blood related, looked so much alike. Cagalli extended her hand and Murata reached forward and grasped it. Her handshake was firm and professional.
"Mura, this is Cagalli Yula Attha, Captain of the Rouge Seray and Stellar's sister," the younger blonde introduced as her half-brother and adopted-sister shook hands. She took a step back and motioned one hand to the Plants nobleman. "This is Lord Athrun Zala of the House of Zala of Plants. Athrun is Captain of the Red Knights and Cagalli's husband, so Athrun is also Stellar's brother-in-law!"
"A pleasure," Murata released Cagalli's hand and extended it to Athrun. The Red Knight grasped his hand with just as firm as grip as his wife's. As he released Athrun's hand, he looked at the young brunette and the black-haired young man in a dark colored suit. Additional family, he supposed? "And they are…?" he asked quietly, looking at Mayu and Shinn.
"My name is Mayu Asuka!" the girl said as she did a little curtsy. "And this is my brother, Shinn Asuka. He is the heir to the Zala House."
"Thank you for taking care of Stellar," Shinn bowed his head respectfully, seemingly maintaining his distance as he stood behind his younger sister.
"We are waiting for at least one more person…" Cagalli sighed as she glanced around the garden. "He hasn't been announced yet. Perhaps he hasn't arrived?"
"Captain," a voice said to the side. "Officer Yamato has been found!" Several pairs of eyes turned towards the blue-eyed, blond-haired young man in the Red Knights uniform. He froze as he reached them, his face flushing as he set his eyes on Stellar.
Shinn's eye roll was unseen by anyone except for Athrun, who merely grinned with amusement. The green-eyed nobleman turned to the blond knight. "Excellent. I knew he was probably off sulking," Athrun replied. "Mayu, Shinn, please inform him that Stellar has arrived."
"Wait," Stellar frowned as she stepped forward. "Stellar will go. Kira will want to talk to Stellar."
The name rang a bell in his head and Murata found himself nodding slowly in agreement. Kira was Stellar's brother and he no doubt wanted to speak to her.
"That's fine, Stellar," Cagalli nodded. "We can introduce Murata to the others. Bring Kira back when he's done complaining."
The corners of Stellar's worried lips turned up into a small smile. "Stellar will!"
"Shinn, Rey, escort her," Athrun ordered casually. Rey's face began to redden more as Stellar made a step towards him. Shinn prepared to follow as well, keeping a somewhat stoic expression on his face.
"It won't be necessary for them to escort her, Lord Zala," Sting said as he stepped forward. "Auel and I have been assigned her guards for the duration of this trip."
Cagalli's eyes narrowed. "This…trip?" Her voice signaled that they were treading in dangerous territory. What did they mean by 'trip'? Orb was Stellar's home.
"Forgive their rudeness," Murata interjected quickly. He shot a silencing look at both young men. "Stellar is still part of the royal family and Auel and Sting were her escorts and guards back home. It is expected that they continue that role here in Orb."
"It should be fine, right, Cagalli?" Queen Murrue asked as she walked towards them, a glass of wine in one hand. Mwu was right beside her, holding her hand as they approached. "We should be respectful of our guests' wishes."
"Your Highness," Cagalli and Athrun, as well as the rest of their family bowed before lovely woman. "Mwu."
"Oh, she gets her title and I'm just addressed as Mwu?" he asked as he grinned.
"Mwu always makes everyone call Mwu that!" Stellar countered.
"I know," he chuckled as he reached forward and gently ruffled her hair. "I assume all the proper introductions have been made here?" Several heads nodded. He looked back at the Federation monarch. "Your Majesty, I hope you enjoy the party. There is plenty of food and drink and good company." He glanced over at Cagalli. "Company he has yet to be introduced to…?"
The Rouge Captain took a deep breath and nodded, conceding. "I understand," she said. She looked at Stellar. "Stellar go and fetch Kira. Bring Rey with you since he knows where Kira is hiding himself."
Stellar nodded and looked over at Rey. "Thank you, Rey! Please lead the way," she smiled.
The blond man nodded his head and stumbled forward. He let out a nervous laugh as Cagalli and Murata gave him a curious look. "The ground…" he mumbled stupidly. He let out a small cough and straightened himself up. He lifted his arm and offered it to Stellar.
"Thank you," Stellar smiled widely. Athrun raised an eyebrow. Clearly, his sister-in-law had no idea how she was affecting Rey. Green eyes glanced over at Shinn. His face was plastered in an emotionless position and Athrun resisted the urge to snort. Did he really think that pretending not to be jealous was going to help?
"He's not far," Rey said as he began to lead Stellar forward. "Just towards the balcony, by the west fountain." He carefully made their way past Auel and Sting, both of whom were looking at him with critical eyes before they followed behind.
"Shinn," Mayu said as she tugged at her older brother's sleeve. "Aren't you going to go, too?"
The red-eyed heir turned away from Stellar's fleeting figure. "I'm hungry," he stated solemnly as he turned around. "Does anyone want anything?"
Mayu let out a disappointed sigh and Athrun shook his head. "Grab me another kebab, will you, Shinn?" Cagalli called out pleasantly. "Don't skimp on the hot sauce!" She vaguely saw the small nod of his head before Mayu followed after him. The female captain let out a heavy sigh. "He spent hours trying to decide on what to wear other than his uniform, you know…" she mused to the two remaining men.
"Well, I did try to have him escort Stellar," Athrun told her.
"I think it's adorable…" Murrue smiled warmly, with a small blush across her cheeks. She looked at her husband. "Don't you?"
"Sure," Mwu smiled widely, though not really meaning it. "Well, we have a few more people to greet. Athrun, your country men are here, as well. You should oversee the introductions."
"I understand, Mwu," Athrun said as he gave the older man a nod. "We'll wander in a minute."
"Enjoy the evening, Cagalli, Athrun, King Murata," Murrue smiled and gave them a small bow of her head before following her husband towards another small group chatting with Aisha and Erica.
"Have a good evening, Your Highness," Murata gave the Queen and her husband a formal bow before allowing them to move away. He glanced back at Cagalli and Athrun, hoping that he could find something to talk about before awkward silence settled in.
"It looks like some of the men have brought their supposed brides," Athrun said suddenly as he looked around. "Ah…and Lady Durandal is speaking to the quartet…no doubt dancing will commence in just a moment."
Cagalli chuckled. "I hope Shinn doesn't sulk the rest of the evening."
"I'm sure he'll be fine," Athrun assured her. "Stellar will ask him to dance."
Murata glanced from one captain to the other. His brows furrowed. Why did they want the black-haired young man to dance with his sister? Unless… "Is Shinn one of the prospective grooms Stellar was telling me about?" he asked suddenly.
Two pairs of eyes settled on him, surprised. "Shinn?" Athrun asked, blinking. "No, Shinn and Stellar are just friends."
"Oh…I had thought that he was a Red Knight and one of those grooms…" Murata trailed off. He felt a bit foolish now.
Cagalli chuckled. "Actually, he is a Red Knight, but you need not worry about our sister," Cagalli assured him. The royal found himself smiling at the term 'our'. Did she recognize him as family? Or at the very least part of Stellar's? He hoped so. "She is not one of the prospective brides. When the agreement was made, Stellar hadn't even joined yet."
"I am relieved," Murata breathed out deeply. He offered them a tired smile. "I'm sure you both can understand my anxiety towards that."
"Rest assured that the prospective grooms are excellent men," Athrun said confidently. "Look at Rey, for example."
Murata paled. Rey? Did they mean the young man who just took his sister's arm and lead her way? "That young man…?"
"The son of the Durandals," Athrun explained. "Good people."
"Ah, speaking of good people," Cagalli said as she lifted her hand to wave at an older couple. "Murata, I'd like you to meet Kira's mother and father; my aunt and uncle."
Deeper in the garden, Stellar casually struck up a conversation with Rey which eventually led her into her trip to the Federation. As she chattered on about what she saw there, Rey nodded politely. He would've been more vocal and asked her questions on whether or not she enjoyed her stay at the Federation had her two 'guards' not been looming behind them.
He could almost feel the weight of their piercing looks on his back. "Err…Stellar," Rey began carefully as he stopped before going down a few steps. "Your brother is just down those steps."
"Oh, okay," Stellar nodded as she untangled her arm from his. "If Rey doesn't mind, Stellar would like to speak to Kira alone for a moment."
"No, no…" Rey blushed as he shook his head. "Please take all the time you want! I'll just wait here."
"Thank you," Stellar smiled softly before turning around and walking down the steps. She carefully rounded the corner and instantly felt the cool night breeze sweep over her.
"So…" a sullen voice said from the hunched over figure sitting on the stone bench. "Is your new brother here?"
Sad purple eyes looked up as disheveled brown hair fell over his eyes. Kira looked as if someone had stolen something dear to him. Stellar's eyes saddened just seeing him.
"Kira…" she began in a quiet, pitiful voice. "Kira is still Stellar's brother."
"Does he know that?" Kira spat out as he turned his head away and continued to mope.
His adopted sister let out a heavy sigh and trudged over to the bench. She sat down beside Kira and looked down at him. "Is Kira mad?"
"No," he answered too quickly. He grimaced. "I'm not mad…" he asserted as he sat up straight. "It's just…even if I haven't known you as long as he has, I still think of you as my little sister and…" His face fell. "I don't want you to replace me…"
Her maroon eyes widened. "Replace Kira?" she asked, confused. She shook her head. "Kira cannot be replaced."
"You brought over your new brother…your actual blood related brother," Kira grumbled. "And he's a king! I'm just a temple scholar…" he trailed off pitifully.
It was then that it hit her. "Kira is jealous?" she gasped.
"I'm not!" he yelled as he shot up from his seat. Stellar watched him with wide eyes. His purple orbs darted around nervously. Sure, he had spent a good portion of the time since the message from Stellar regarding her return with the Federation's king arrived mulling over how he would compare.
Stellar was bound to hold her half-brother in a higher regard since he was a king. He had an entire kingdom to offer her. All Kira could give her were all of Cagalli's 'secret' hiding places for her chocolate stashes. Murata had wealth and riches; he didn't make nearly enough.
Murata was elegant and refined; Kira wandered around his home in his most worn and comfortable house clothes. Murata lived in a fine castle and probably owned several; Kira lived above his parent's store. There was really no competition. Why have a plebeian scholar as a brother when you can have a king?
He hadn't voiced his thoughts to Cagalli, knowing she'd probably just laugh. She'd tell him that there really is nothing to compare because the situations are different. Kira doubted she would understand. After all, it wasn't as if Stellar was bringing home a new sister.
He had every right to feel jealous. He was going to be replaced!
"Kira." A small hand rested on his shoulder. He looked down and met the warm eyes of his youngest sister. A happy smile graced her pink lips. "Stellar loves Kira, too," she told him. As his eyes went wide, he felt her thin arms circle his body and give him a strong squeeze. "Stellar would not replace Kira. Kira is Stellar's big brother, too and Kira will stay that way. Always," she insisted.
The scholar looked down at the top of her head. She had not stopped squeezing him. For a few moments, they just stood there in silence. Amazingly, all it took was her assurance to calm him. A gentle smile reached his face and he raised his hand. He placed it atop her head. He rested his chin on top of his hand. "You're my little sister…and it will stay that way, too," he assured her as his other hand rose and rubbed her back soothingly. "Always."
The young blonde woman smiled against Kira. She knew exactly how he felt.
When Cagalli first brought Kira home and introduced him as her estranged twin brother, Stellar had locked herself in her room, fearing that now that Cagalli had an actual blood related sibling, and a twin at that, she had no need for some child he found in a cave to be her sister.
When Cagalli's pleas to her were ignored, it was Kira's coaxing that managed to get her out of her room. His warm smile and his kind eyes, his gentle demeanor balancing out Cagalli's more boisterous one, all of which had endeared him to her as the perfect big brother to Cagalli's big sister. He taught her to jump hurdles on horses, tutored her, and was there for her when Cagalli was unavailable.
There was no way she could simply replace him.
"If Kira wants, Kira can meet Mura some other time," Stellar offered as she pulled away from him. They had been standing there for quite some time. "Stellar does not mind."
His purple eyes were clear once more as he gave her a reassuring smile. "No, I think I'm fine now," he told her. He put one arm around her shoulder and gave her a small squeeze. "I'm glad you're back."
She returned his smile. "Stellar is glad, too."
"Let's get back," Kira sighed tiredly. "Cagalli is going to have it at me for brooding about this."
Stellar laughed as she and Kira walked up the steps, arm in arm. As they arrived at the top of the steps, they could easily sense the tense atmosphere in the air. Rey was several paces across from Sting and Auel. Both Federation men were glaring holes into him and Rey seemed uncomfortable with the attention.
"Is something wrong?" Stellar asked innocently as she looked from one party to the other.
"Nothing, Stellar," Rey assured her immediately. He quickly put on a smile and was about to offer his arm when he saw that she was currently holding on to her older brother. He fought the disappointment, but continued to smile.
"Well, if everyone is done here," Kira said as he gave an acknowledging nod to the two young Federation men. "We can return. Come, Stellar. Cagalli's going to eat all the kebabs and leave none for us."
"Right!" Stellar beamed. She and Kira happily made their way back to the main courtyard, oblivious to the dour mood behind them. Rey walked just steps behind, with Auel and Sting looming close by.
After Stellar had left, the knight had attempted a friendly conversation with the two nobles, only to have his casual questions ignored. Sting had been upfront, asking what he, a Plants citizen, was doing in Orb.
Hoping that his explanation would make way for a bettered conversation and fend off the tense silence, Rey had explained his position as a groom. Their reactions were less than pleasant from the expressions on their faces. Before it had gotten any worse and they had asked if he had any attraction to Stellar, the said female and her brother appeared.
Rey let out a heavy breath. If Auel and Sting were to be around Stellar the entire time, it would make it very difficult for him to even speak to her in private. Wooing her would be a complete failure.
They emerged on to the main garden courtyard, where it seemed that the amount of people had doubled since they left. Somewhere towards the main fountain, he saw several bodies swirling around, including that of his mother and father. Rey let out a heavy sigh. Of course his mother would request dance music.
His eyes widened. It was perfect.
"They sent some more people for hot sauce," Shinn was saying as he stood by one of the tables lined with food. Stellar and Kira were in front of him, trying to decide what kebab they wanted. "Cagalli made me pour nearly half a bottle on one."
Kira chuckled as he kept his eyes on the various assortment of skewered food. "That sounds like her."
"Shinn," Stellar began as she glanced over at him shyly. "Does Shinn want-"
"Stellar!" a voice gasped as a young man in a dark red suit reached them.
"Rey?" Shinn raised an eyebrow as his best friend stumbled over. A wide, hopeful smile was on his face and Shinn could feel his stomach twisting. He sincerely hoped that Rey was just there to pick up some food.
"Yes, Rey?" Stellar asked, politely turning her attention to the Plants nobleman as her hand hovered just above a lamb skewer.
Rey bowed before her. "Would you do me the honor of a dance?"
The half eaten skewer in Shinn's hand snapped in half. It took all his strength not to allow his jaw to drop. Clearly, his prayers for Rey to lose interest in Stellar were going unanswered.
"Wait a second…" Sting's voice was saying. Shinn turned his head and saw the two men who had been sticking to Stellar approach them quickly, determined looks on both their faces. Shinn smiled a little inside. They would surely stop Rey.
"Okay!" The bit of joy in him was instantly crushed. Stellar moved her hand from the food to Rey's and allowed him to escort her to the circle of dancing couples. A relieved look was on his face as he held on to Stellar's hand and led her forward.
Auel and Sting both scowled and followed them, but could do nothing except stand at the side as the two blondes were swept into the dancing couples.
"Shinn," a voice said beside him. "Shinn!"
"What?" he growled, irritated. He instantly regretted it when he realized it was Kira who was addressing him. The brown-haired man raised an eyebrow.
"Your hand is covered with sauce and chicken," Kira stated as he held on to his own kebab with a napkin. "And if you squeeze the skewer any harder, you're going to get splinters." Shinn blinked and looked down at his hand. Dark red sauce covered his palm while pieces of half eaten chicken were dangling from the skewer. "Is something wrong, Shinn?"
"No," he said as he shook his head and tossed the remains of his food into the nearest bin.
Kira narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "There you are," Athrun's familiar both reached both their ears. "Kira, Cagalli is waiting to introduce you to Murata."
"You're calling the king of the Federation by his first name?" Kira frowned. Somehow, the thought bothered him.
"He insisted," Athrun assured him. He glanced over at Shinn and frowned. "Why is your hand covered with sauce and…chicken?"
"It's nothing!" Shinn fumed. He turned his head away. "I'm going inside to clean up." Before the older men could reply, Shinn stalked back towards the palace.
Kira swallowed a piece of his kebab. "Why is he upset?"
"It seems that Stellar's attention is being occupied by others," Athrun replied coolly as he reached past Kira and picked up another kebab. "He's feeling a bit put out that he's being ignored…" The blue-haired noble looked around the table. "Is there any more hot sauce?"
Across the courtyard, Shinn was halfway to the palace doors when Mayu called to him. "Shinn! Shinn! Cagalli just told me!" his little sister yelled excited.
"Told you want?" he asked in the calmest voice he could muster. Luckily, his sister didn't pick up the hint of annoyance in her excitement.
"At the end of the week, we're going to go to the island again! Stellar wanted to show her brother, so we're going to get to go with them!" Mayu beamed.
"That's nice," Shinn mumbled. He froze in mid-step. His eyes narrowed and he turned around. "Who are 'we'?"
"You, me," Mayu told him as she rolled her eyes. "Stellar, her brother, Cagalli, Kira, Athrun, and probably those two guards from the Federation that keep following her around."
Shinn couldn't help but notice that the words 'groom' and 'Rey' weren't in Mayu's definition. A wide smile slowly spread across his face. "I can't wait."
"He's glaring at us…" Miriallia said as she took a step away from Dearka, hoping to put some space between them. The blond-haired knight simply took a step closer.
"He's not glaring," he assured her before swallowing the meat from his kebab. "He always looks like that."
"No…" Miriallia trailed off, trying to keep from looking at Yzak and meeting his scowl. "I'm fairly certain he's glaring."
"He's just jealous," Dearka snorted as he wiped his hand on a napkin and then tossed it into one of the garbage bins to the side. "He wouldn't have come if he didn't know some word of his anti-social behavior would reach his mother."
"He hasn't left that corner for two hours," Miriallia pointed out. She felt Dearka's hand rest on her hip affectionately. "He hasn't even greeted King Murata, yet."
Dearka let out a chuckle and looked over Miriallia's head. Currently, Stellar's half-brother was seated by one of the fountains, with Cagalli, Kira, and Athrun. He could hear their laughter, but not their words and briefly wondered if they had completely forgotten who each other was and from what country.
"They seem to be getting along well," the blond mused. "Looks like Cagalli and Kira had nothing to be worried about."
"He may have allowed Stellar to return and even came with her, but there is still a chance he wants her to remain in the Federation on a permanent basis," Miriallia frowned. She took a sip of her wine, her eyes settled on the four adults at the table. "And this may be a pleasure trip for him, but I'm sure Cagalli will find a way to talk to him about politics."
Dearka nodded in agreement. "It's good that she doesn't forget, though. It may be beneficial to get close to the king."
"Cagalli is very strict about the separation between work and personal life, though," Miriallia told him. "Especially where both Orb and Stellar are concerned."
"Are negotiations still going on between the Federation and Orb?" Dearka asked.
Miriallia raised an eyebrow and gave him a look. "Are you a spy or what?" she asked testily as she stepped back. "Why so curious?"
"Suspicious?" he grinned cheekily. He moved his arms around her body and pulled her close, despite Miriallia pulling her head back. "Actually, I figure that since I'm going to one day be an Orb citizen, I should know the goings on."
"Normal Orb citizens don't know the intricate details of the Haumea Elite or political agendas and schedules," she countered confidently.
"Oh?" Dearka raised an eyebrow. "And marrying you won't make me some super citizen?"
Her face heated up. "N…no!" she stuttered as she turned her head away. "Do you have to say it so loud!?" she hissed, glancing around to see if anyone heard him.
"Is there a problem?" he asked, pleased with the flush on her face. "Will I not be able to become a citizen through marriage? Do I need to be a groom for that?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Miriallia scoffed as she looked away. "The only people who become as knowledgeable as us on the subjects are scholar-warriors like Kira."
"So I should see Kira about my citizenship?" Dearka beamed.
"No!" Miriallia frowned. His arms loosened from her waist and she felt her heart drop. He wasn't thinking of going to ask Kira right then, was he? When Kira was sitting not only with Cagalli and Athrun, but with the King of the Federation? The blond knight took a daring step back and her face fell. "Dearka…" she began dangerously.
"It'll be quick," he grinned. He took another step back and Miriallia scrambled forward.
"Dearka!" she hissed. Before she could grab on to his arm and pull him back to keep from embarrassing her further, he caught her hand and pulled her against him.
"Just kidding," he chuckled. "It can wait. Instead, you owe me a dance." She threw him a hateful glare. "Two dances, then."
"Dearka!"
"Say my name once more and I'll kiss you," he warned, teasingly. He watched her face turn red all over again. "One dance," he assured her.
Miriallia frowned. "We are supposed to be-"
"Enjoying ourselves," he cut her off. "Come on, Yzak gave me the night off, so I don't want to have to spend the entire night watching his every move for some sign of progress."
Miriallia rolled her eyes and conceded. "Fine." A wide smile graced his face as he led her to the courtyard where people were still dancing around. "But only one!" He didn't seem to hear her as he continued to cut around various guests. She frowned. "Did you hear me?" she asked. "Only one." The man didn't respond and she glared. "Dearka!"
"There's my cue." He stopped them in their tracks and turned around, a pleased look on his face. Miriallia realized too late that she had fallen for his childish trick.
"You…arrogant…little…"
"Hmm…" Dearka smirked as his finger curled under her chin and lifted her head up. "But you still fell for it."
As he leaned down to kiss the Azure Captain, several paces away, under a tree, Yzak rolled his eyes and placed his hand over his stomach. He diverted his attention away from his underling and towards a more interesting patch of grass. The last thing he needed was to witness his secretary hang all over the Azure Seray's captain.
He shivered a bit at the thought. When he had given Dearka the evening off, he thought that he would simply wander off and not bother him the rest of the night. Yzak had forgotten that since Dearka and Mwu were apparently on excellent terms, Dearka would also have been invited to that night's festivities. Not to mention that he would automatically gravitate towards a particular Seray captain.
Yzak glared at the grass miserably. All the other grooms, save one, were with the Elites they had chosen and they seemed to be enjoying their time eating and dancing and talking to one another. Of course, Athrun was there with his wife, who was now shamelessly slapping the Federation King on the back jovially while they laughed about something he was sure was meaningless.
His blue eyes landed on the only other groom who did not have someone with him officially. Rey had been spotted dancing with Stellar earlier and possibly for far too long to fall into a category of 'friendly dance'. He had been following around the maroon-eyed blonde for quite some time, but after the dance, further contact was always thwarted by the looming Federation guards that stuck to Stellar.
Even now, Rey was sitting with the other grooms and their prospective brides while Stellar sat at another table talking to Shinn and Mayu with Sting and Auel. A small part of Yzak was satisfied that someone else's marriage plans weren't going as smoothly as his.
Snorting to himself, Yzak stalked over to one of the tables and reached for a drink.
"Lord Captain Joule," a voice greeted him. He lifted his head and froze. Corporal Labatt gave him a bow of her head as she approached. "How is your evening?"
His pale hand picked up a glass of wine and brought it to his lips. He took a good mouthful before giving a nod to the Elite and returning her greeting. "Very well, Corporal. How is yours?"
"My evening is going well, My Lord," the young woman said solemnly. Yzak nodded once more and then took another drink from his glass.
The two stood there in silence, unsure what to say next. From the expression on her face, Corporal Labatt did wish to say something, if only to end the awkward silence, but was unsure of what to say. For his part, Yzak didn't have anything to say at all.
"What a horrid marriage this would make…" a small part of his mind sneered.
Immediately, he choked on his wine.
"My Lord, are you well?" Corporal Labatt asked, raising an eyebrow in question.
"Yes," Yzak struggled to talk without making an idiot out of himself. He quickly placed his glass on the table and lifted his hand to rub his throat. "It just went down wrong."
"I see…" Labatt nodded, though hesitantly.
Yzak silently cursed himself. Where had that thought come from? Didn't he already decide, after speaking to Athrun's wife, that Labatt would be the best choice? While the marriage was purely political, he was sure that when it mattered, they would speak more than a sentence to each other.
It may not be a heart felt talk or anything, but communication would be there. Even if he did just lie to her about what made him choke on his wine. He mentally swore once more. He did not need any more doubts. Not that he had many. Or any, for that matter.
"Lord Joule," Labatt narrowed her eyes and took a step forward. She craned her neck. "Um…your ribbons…"
"My…?" He glanced down at the pins on his breast pocket. Could the evening not get any worse? His ribbons were askew. Not so much that they were clearly noticeable from a distance, but enough to be blatantly obvious up close.
Labatt's arm rose and her hand began to move forward. "Perhaps I can adjust them for you." Her fingertips were about to brush the fabric of his uniform.
His hand grasped her wrist, stopping her immediately. Her eyes widened and quickly rose to meet his gaze. For a moment, Yzak wasn't even sure what he had done. It took a while before he acknowledged that he was gripping her wrist tightly, though it was much too clear to him that he had stopped her from doing something he had always freely let Shiho do. Even expected Shiho to do.
Her hand was dropped as if it had burned him.
"My apologizes, Corporal Labatt," he said sharply as his arm dropped to his side. "The ribbons have pins and they are quiet sharp," he explained expertly. "You don't want to get hurt."
The Elite nodded her head and drew her hand back, though looked at him strangely. She did not know him that well, but knew enough to realize that this was not his typical reaction to things. Before she could insist that she had overstepped her boundaries and apologize for her actions, Yzak took a step back.
"If you'll excuse me," he said quickly. "I will go and fix them myself."
He swept past her, quickly cutting through the party and leaving her behind. It didn't take long for Yzak to find himself back in his room, his hands shaking as he slammed his door behind him.
Blindly, his hand reached up and touched the ribbons on his chest. A harsh thought slammed into him. He would never be able to let that woman near him. Not emotionally. Not physically. Labatt would be fine to work with, he was sure, but what of when it came time to create a Joule heir? Would he be able to…?
He couldn't even finish the thought. He lifted a hand and ran it through his hair, horrified at the realization. Suddenly, he wasn't so sure about what he was doing. He needed to sort out his thoughts. This…confusion…was just like war, he decided. He needed to organize his thoughts and then settle on the best course of action before he went any further. His mind methodologically went through what needed to be sorted first. Not surprisingly, one thing immediately came to mind.
Yzak rushed across the room to the desk pushed against the wall and took out the first clean sheet of parchment he could find. He brought his writing utensil down and wrote down three words followed by his name. He quickly folded the letter and rummaged for his wax and seal.
In record time, he was back downstairs and approached one of the messengers that were always on stand-by by the front of palace.
"Lord Joule!" He saluted him.
"Take this to my secretary, Sir Shiho Hahnenfuss. She should be at the Joule Estate in Plants. Failing that, she will be at the Red Knights Courtyard, at the palace, in the capital," Yzak ordered. He handed the piece of paper to the messenger and shoved a small pouch of money in his hands. "See that it gets there quickly."
"Yes, Lord Joule." Yzak nodded and stepped back. He watched the messenger mount and begin galloping down the pathway to the city.
He could only hope that she would do as his letter said and that his crude, demanding words didn't come off rude or insulting in any way.
Return at once.
She stared at the three boxes with critical blue eyes as if her life depended on her choice. In one was a high quality shirt that would bring out his purple eyes and was made of a material that felt good against her skin. In the second one was a new quill and ink set made from the finest bird plume and by the finest ink producer in Plants.
In the last box was a simple box of cookies she had baked. It was her own recipe and everyone she knew told her they were delicious. The problem was that three gifts to Kira would probably overwhelm him and make him uncomfortable.
Lacus lifted her hand to her chin and gently rubbed it. He would probably get flustered with the shirt and she had only bought it because she thought it would look excellent on the scholar. She leaned down and pushed that box aside.
She knew that as a learned man, the ink and quill would be very much appreciated, but then…they were rather fancy. He would no doubt only use them for special occasions and not as often as she would like. Sighing, Lacus moved that box aside. "Perhaps for another time."
The monarch looked down at the last box. It was a humble present and one she had put the most effort into preparing. Kira would have to eat them. In fact, common courtesy would require that he eat at least one in front of her. Then again, what if her cookies tasted horrible? What if everyone had been lying to her to spare her feelings and they were actually as bad as Dearka's brick flan? What if Kira tried one, choked, and died.
Her face paled. "This is too difficult!"
She groaned and leaned back on the edge her desk in her study. She was to leave the next morning for Orb and had prepared gifts for everyone except the one man she wanted most to see. Plants chocolate for Cagalli, tea pastries for each of the other captains, a beaded shawl for the Queen Murrue…
She had even prepared the engagement presents for all of the remaining grooms and a special gift for Kira's parents in that off chance that maybe he would introduce her to them…formally…as more than just the Queen of Plants.
Lacus looked back at the three remaining presents. Perhaps she should just close her eyes and pick…
A knock came from her door and she shot up straight. "Enter!" she called out as she straightened her dress.
The door creaked open quietly and a Red Knight bowed before he entered. "My Queen," he began as he held out a sealed scroll. "A message from the Red Knights General."
Lacus gave him a small bow of her head as she stepped forward and accepted the scroll. "Thank you," she replied calmly. "Has a response been requested?"
"No, My Queen," the knight answered. "It is just to notify you of a resignation."
"A resignation?" Lacus raised an eyebrow as her finger slipped beneath the wax seal to break open the message. That was odd. While the Red Knights was the most prestigious military branch in Plants, it wasn't entirely rare that someone would resign. Sometimes, people were injured and felt they could no longer carry their duties well. Other times, the pressure was just too much for an individual. There were even cases personal reasons were the source of resignation.
Her hands unraveled the scroll and she began to read the words from the general. Under normal circumstances, she was not informed of a resignation unless the person resigning was of a relatively high authority; and she doubted Athrun and Yzak had decided that they would resign. Athrun was a knight through and through and Cagalli would never force him to leave.
Yzak lived and breathed the structure of military life; it would probably suffocate him to leave. Not to mention what would happen with Dearka and Shiho.
Her eyes landed on the name and Lacus suddenly took in a sharp breath. Her eyes widened and she re-read the name twice over, as if to assure herself that she wasn't misreading. Her hands began to tremble.
"My Queen?" The knight was still poised by the doorway, having not left without being properly excused. He took a hesitant step forward. "Is something the matter?"
Lacus' eyes narrowed. "What is this?" she asked in a low voice. She turned to look at the knight sharply and even the hardened soldier took a step back. "Shiho Hahnenfuss resigned!?" Why didn't someone just tell her that it was night when it clearly still day? Shiho lived for the Red Knights just as much as her superior officer!
"Yes, My Queen," the knight nodded. "The message arrived a few days earlier and was subject to review as per regulations."
"Why was I not informed sooner!?" Lacus demanded. Truthfully, she knew why. Shiho's resignation was meant for the Red Knights to deal with. Informing her was simply a formality.
The knight looked at a loss for words. "I was not informed-"
"This letter was sent to me…" Lacus murmured as she began to pace the room, clearly upset by the news. "This means the resignation was formally accepted." She turned towards the knight. "When did Sir Hahnenfuss' duty officially end."
"Almost as soon as we received the resignation let-"
"I thought they were subject for review before officially accepted!" Lacus frowned.
"That is the standard, My Queen, but her resignation was accompanied by a supplementary letter from Councilwoman Lady Joule," the knight stammered nervously. "Letters of resignation are automatically accepted when accompanied by a notice from a council member, a noble, superior officer of at least a captain's rank, or by a ruler."
Lacus stared numbly at the knight. Didn't he realize that something was wrong? Shiho simply wouldn't quit! Especially not when under Yzak! It was clear to her and everyone else how attached she was to him. Leaving him to fend for himself was not something Shiho would do.
"The letter," Lacus said as she lifted up the scroll. "Did not go into detail as to why Sir Hahnenfuss resigned. Did her official letter or Lady Joule's letter state a reason?"
The knight opened his mouth to tell her that he was not privy to the exact details, only to be cut off by another woman's voice. "She had personal reasons to leave."
The queen's eyes darted to the figure standing behind the knight. A glimpse of white hair and a sliver of blue eyes signaled the arrival of the noblewoman. Instantly, the knight stepped to the side and bowed.
"Lady Joule!" he greeted respectfully.
The older woman spared him a glance and returned a small nod. "I believe that Her Majesty wishes to speak to me alone."
The knight looked back at the monarch and saw her give him a nod. He bowed his head once more and waited until Lady Joule had stepped in before quickly heading out the door and closing it behind him. A small click sounded through the room and silence settled in.
Lacus took a deep breath, trying to decide where to start without bursting into a confused, demanding tirade. Across from her, Ezalia Joule's solemn face never wavered, even as she spoke.
"She was in love with my son," she stated so easily, it was almost as if she had said a fact that everyone knew.
Lacus' eyes crinkled up. "What?"
"Sir Hahnenfuss," Ezalia continued as she remained rooted in her spot, standing stiffly between Lacus and the door. "She was…is, rather, in love with Yzak."
The queen's head slowly shook from side to side. "That may be so," Lacus said. "But I highly doubt that her love is a valid reason to urge her to resign."
Ezalia tilted her head to the side questioningly. "What makes you certain that I am the one who urged her?"
Lacus let out a heavy breath and turned around. She aimlessly moved Kira's gifts around her desk. "Lady Joule, you have been fond of Shiho since you first met her," Lacus began. Ezalia opened her mouth, but the younger woman lifted up a dainty, elegant hand to silence her. "When Yzak needed another secretary, it was you who suggested transferring Shiho from December City to directly under Yzak's command."
The older woman seemed to hold her breath for a moment. "I admired her worth ethic and she had excellent reviews from her superiors consistently. I felt that if anyone could provide Yzak with the support he needed as a captain, Sir Hahnenfuss would be the one."
"Then if you acknowledge her competence, why did you urge her to resign?"
Ezalia looked away briefly. "My Queen, I did not urge her to resign-"
"But you supported her decision to, at the very least," Lacus frowned as she turned around and faced the older woman. "Shiho would not resign unprovoked nor under normal circumstances would you allow her to."
"She would if she felt it is what is best for the Red Knights and for Plants," Ezalia defended calmly. Lacus' eyes narrowed.
"And why would she feel that it is what is best?" she inquired carefully.
Ezalia seemed to hesitate. "Yzak," the white-haired woman began tentatively. "He cannot see another woman other than her."
Lacus' eyes widened. "Then you saw it, too…"
Ezalia's blue eyes saddened. "I saw it a long time ago."
"I don't understand," Lacus said. "You know Yzak loves Shiho, but you had her resign-"
"As long as Sir Hahnenfuss is at his side as a knight, he will not be able to carry on his duty to his country and marry and Orb woman, My Queen," Ezalia stated firmly. "It is clear that the reason why Yzak has yet to choose a bride when the rest of his cohort has is because he cannot fully bring himself to betray Shiho like that."
Lacus frowned. "Then we can find another-"
"No," Ezalia cut her off quickly and gave the queen a small look of apology for her rudeness before continuing. "Yzak will not accept it and neither will I. He has come too far and it would shame both Yzak and myself if he were suddenly dropped from the agreements due to personal interests."
"Lady Joule," Lacus said. "I know that it is a humbling experience, but rest assured that no one, not myself, his fellow knights, nor the Haumea Elite and Orb will look down on Yzak stepping down if he feels uncomfortable with his current situation."
"Even if that is the case," Ezalia insisted. "I cannot let my son go through such a thing."
"So you would rather have Shiho leave and have Yzak go through with his duty unperturbed?" Lacus asked, unhappy with where the noblewoman was going. Her eyes narrowed. "Does Yzak even know that Shiho resigned?"
"No," Ezalia answered swiftly. "I do not wish to concern him on the matter considering his situation in Orb. No message has been sent to him from me. I doubt that Shiho would have sent him a letter, either." Lacus took a deep breath once more. "Lacus," Ezalia insisted softly. "You know that I cannot force someone to resign if they did not truly wish to. I can only support and validate their decision. I admit that I pushed for her resignation, but Shiho understood what her remaining in the Red Knights would do to both her and Yzak."
"She could've been transferred to a different branch," Lacus insisted.
"Yzak would have petitioned her back in a heartbeat," Ezalia countered. She smiled weakly. "You know that."
"I know full well that the marriages are in name only and the for political gain of both Orb and Plants. I know that Yzak would not love who he chooses to marry if he went through with the agreement, but," Lacus admitted. "I had always hoped, from the moment I found out Yzak was going to become a groom, that he would step down."
Ezalia let out a choked laugh. "He is a stubborn man whose honor and duty come first," she smiled sadly. "Both Shiho and I understood that. If she stayed, it would pain Yzak to see her and be denied her. If would pain her to see Yzak bound to another woman and whether they admit it or not, it is clear that seeing each other, being with each other day in and day out would tear at them. Yzak knew; that is why he sent Shiho back in the first place."
"You should not have brought up resignation to her," Lacus said in a pained voice.
"I would not have either of them suffer a moment longer," Ezalia replied, her voice strained. She looked at the queen. "She left willingly, Lacus."
The pink-haired woman closed her eyes tightly. "To do what?" Lacus asked. "All Shiho has ever known are the Red Knights."
"She is a very intelligent woman," Ezalia said. "She will find another position. I've already spoken to others about assistance in the matter and I've been assured that they will help as much as possible assisting with a job for her."
Lacus looked at the woman, barely holding back a trembling lip. Shiho was her friend, too. Yzak wasn't the only one she had left. "You understand that when Yzak finds out…" The sentence didn't need to be completed. They both knew how Yzak would react. Furiously.
Ezalia lowered her eyes. "He will eventually understand," the older woman stated. "That even if it hurts him now, I am only doing what I think is best. One day," she said hopefully as she swallowed a lump in her throat. "He will thank me. They both will."
A.N. – Ezalia believes in "tough love", Kira doesn't want to be an only child, and Stellar is oblivious. This will probably be over 10 chapters. Perhaps end around 12. I know this was a very Stellar & family centered chapter, but it's leading up to her issue. Thank you for your patience and for reading!!!