A/N: Yo! So here I am again with another chapter. Heh, I edited last chapter because of a few inconsistencies and opposing scenes it had with this one. So to clear it all up, chapter 1-3 all happened in the same day. Chapter 4 might too. I haven't even gotten that started. I'm still straightening out my plot.
Disclaimer: Should I even include this? I wouldn't be in this site if I owned Aldnoah Zero.
My thanks to everyone who followed and faved and reviewed. Hope y'all like this one too. So, without further ado, everyone, give a round of applause for the NTR Queen!
Chapter III
The walk to the Deucalion's infirmary was a long and quiet one. All the hallways they've passed looked similar to Asseylum, and for the life of her, she never thought that the Terran's ship—although small compared to the Orbital Knights' Landing Castles—could have such complicated labyrinth of passageways. She doubt she could find her way around if she wandered alone. Thankfully, that was not so.
Inaho Kaizuka walked four paces ahead of her, his back a looming beacon for her to follow. He was not on his school uniform anymore and was instead dressed in a neat white collared shirt tucked inside his black slacks and black shoes. A black tie completed his attire, and strapped on his shoulders was his gun holster. He had been sparse with his words when he came to the designated quarters she shared with Eddelritto, informing her that it was time for them to visit Slaine, and he was silent since then. Despite the indifference though, Princess Asseylum was aware that the boy kept her by the corner of his eye, perhaps to make sure that she had not gone and lost herself within the bland iron maze.
She wished Inaho would talk to her, even with something as idle as the weather or her health. She enjoyed talking to him. He was brimming with knowledge and trivia like a tome of encyclopedia that she'd always end up learning something new. Despite his flat tones and aloof nature, Inaho was actually quite the conversationalist when he wanted to, knowing just what to say in every appropriate context. The boy was an object of mystery to her; she found educing reactions from his otherwise placid countenance and noting his interests a pleasant leisure.
Eddelritto trailed on her heals, ever the loyal handmaiden as she refused to leave her alone with but Terrans as company. Her protectiveness sometimes amused Asseylum, but it was nonetheless appreciated and she had not the heart to tell the little girl off. She just wished that Eddelritto was a little more considerate with Inaho and his friends, after all, if not for them, they both could have been in grave danger. Here in this ship—nay, in this planet, she was not a princess. She was not their princess, and there was no need for Eddelritto to demand royal treatment from them. Could she even be considered a royal, now that almost all of her kingdom believes she died?
Asseylum felt saddened. She had dreamed of peace between Earth and Vers; she wished it with all her heart. Her visit should have brought that dream into reality, but somehow it was not meant to be. She had brought war upon the Terrans instead, and now everything seemed irreparable. She had dragged countless of lives into chaos; peace was so much farther than a dream now.
And Slaine. Slaine, her very dear friend and teacher had been roped into her naivety. What would he think of her now? How could he ever forgive her for destroying the home he longed to see for more than five years?
Asseylum worried her cuffs as her mind wandered off. Such an uncouth behavior for one of royalty but she could not help the anxiety and dread she felt in her heart. It was only when Inaho cleared his throat that her reverie was broken, and yet the doubt and fear she felt did not subside.
"This way, Seylum," Inaho said, as monotone as always that she had gotten used to his robotic voice.
The brunette boy slid the door open and beckoned her to come inside, waiting for her and Eddelritto to do so before entering himself and sliding it close once again. Unlike the hallways outside, the infirmary was painted in neat coats of white, giving the room a sterile and clean atmosphere. It was quite big with about thirty hospital beds that were divided by white curtains, an aisle running along the middle. Most of said curtains were bunched aside and only a dozen or so were closed. Another door was adjacent from the one they've just gone through; Asseylum guessed that it must be the doctor's office.
A man with glasses greeted them as soon as they came in, a warm welcoming smile already plastered on his lips. "Ah, hello there! Inaho, good to see you well."
Inaho nodded in acknowledgement. "As do I, Dr. Yagarai," he politely replied. He glanced at Asseylum and Eddelritto, "These are, as you may already know, Princess Asseylum of Vers and her handmaiden, Miss Eddelritto. They claim to be friends of the injured asset and wish to talk to him-with Captain's approval of course. Princess, Eddelritto, this is Dr. Soma Yagarai. He's the Deucalion's medic."
"Princess Asseylum, it's an honor to finally meet you, and you as well Miss Eddelritto. You may see him. If Captain Magbaredge consented, then by all means, I wouldn't stop you," Dr. Yagarai said with the same easy smile.
Princess Asseylum gratefully returned it. She was quite surprised at the older man's nice attitude but he had a relaxing aura about him that somehow eased a few of her worries.
"Thank you. And 'tis my pleasure to be of your acquaintance, good doctor," Asseylum said as she curtsied.
Dr. Yagarai chuckled. "No need to be so formal, dear. You can call me Dr. Yagarai. Everyone does," the doctor replied with good humor. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll just be behind that door," he pointed at the second door, "Come see me if you need anything. Don't aggravate him too much, alright? He's only just beginning to be accustomed to his situation and is still slowly recovering."
It took Asseylum a second to realize that the doctor was talking about Slaine. A smile crept on her face at the older man's sudden fondness. It made her happy that her childhood friend was not mistreated in his care.
"Oh, and by the way, Inaho," Dr. Yagarai added, his hand on the office's door, "congratulations on your promotion! Ensign Kaizuka, huh? Yuki must be both proud and irritated. You outranked her within, what, less than a week of being drafted?" the doctor teased.
Inaho blinked. His face remained impassive but the tip of his ears was rapidly turning red, creeping a bit on his cheeks. Asseylum could have missed it if she had not stood beside him. His eyebrow twitched, and then he shrugged. "Yuki'll deal with it."
"I'm sure," Dr. Yagarai said lightly, the teasing smile never leaving his lips before he closed the door behind him.
At Asseylum's expectant smile and Eddelritto's shocked expression, Inaho shrugged again.
"It's just temporary. Captain Magbaredge seem to value my insights and she promoted me just to keep me within the confidential information loops and have a bit of authority. Technically, the higher ups had no knowledge of it still due to the communication jamming, thus, not yet official. Outside this ship, I'm just another fresh recruit," he explained.
"I see. Nevertheless, Inaho, I believe your promotion was well deserved," Princess Asseylum said.
Inaho tilted his head, auburn locks falling on his left eye as he considered her. Perhaps finding whatever it was he was looking for satisfactory, he nodded with a faint smile. "You would," he said almost amusedly. Asseylum had the urge to feel indignant. Was he mocking her? And after she voiced genuine praise, too. "Come this way, Seylum."
Asseylum observed that Inaho alternated her name quite often, calling her by the nickname she insisted he use when no one was around and her real name and title whenever they have company. Prudent should be included in his name, she thought.
Inaho lead her to the farthest bed from the entrance, several beds apart from the nearest occupied one. He slid the white curtain open and Asseylum's heart immediately went to the prone form of her friend. It felt like years since she'd last seen him. His cheeks were paler than usual, and he seemed to be thinner, but maybe that was the change in attire she was accustomed seeing him in. His platinum blonde hair splayed on the pillow, and his lips were slightly parted while his chest rose in rhythm with every breath he took.
Inaho went to the small table beside the bed and collected the tray of empty bowls laid on it. "He had just eaten lunch and taken his medicine. Drowsiness is a common side effect of conventional drugs. He'll wake up in a while. Why don't you watch him while I take this back to the cafeteria? I'll inform Dr. Yagarai on my way out."
Princess Asseylum might as well had not heard him, her eyes fixated on the sleeping boy. She took a seat at the stool beside the bed, the fabric of her ivory gown rustling as she did so. She had not even realized when Inaho silently left her and her handmaiden with Slaine. Gingerly, Asseylum reached out and scooped his hand and covered it with both of hers, her thumb tracing circles on his knuckles.
He looked really sick, and she could not help but blame herself. She shouldn't have come to Earth. If she didn't, he wouldn't have been injured and became part of this war; there shouldn't have been any war at all.
"Princess, please don't look so sad. I am sure Slaine would not want to see you upset over his own choices. Besides, he looks really well taken care of by the Terrans," Eddelritto consoled as if reading her train of thought.
"Oh, Eddelritto, I cannot help but grieve that this is my entire fault. He should not have suffered at all at the expense of my foolishness. Perhaps this whole endeavor about interplanetary peace is but for naught; just fantasies of a deluded teenage girl. I should have listened to Count Crutheo's counsel and not made the visit to Earth at all. Mayhap then, Slaine, or any of my people and the Terrans were not thrown into the violence that is war," Asseylum solemnly replied.
"I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but I refute that this war is your fault. Your intentions were pure and true when you had planned the goodwill visit. The assassination, the war, the deaths and destruction; you could have foresaw none of it. Please don't be so hard on yourself," Eddelritto asserted. Asseylum glanced at her maid. Such fire and passion for someone so young. She was a part of this war just as much as anyone else, and the mere thought of it broke the princess's heart all over again.
Princess Asseylum opted not to reply, she instead cradled Slaine's unresponsive fingers inside her own and silently counted his breathes. Inaho had just joined them again when Slaine's eyes finally fluttered open. He had been groggy, perhaps not yet quite awake. When he did though, his teal eyes widened like saucers.
"P-Princess!" he exclaimed loud enough for the whole ship to hear. He shot up like a bullet from his laid position, only to be restrained by a handcuff locked on the bed railing. Asseylum almost giggled but she had forgone it in favor of giving him a concerned look.
"Easy, Slaine. I am here," Asseylum said, a smile now on her lips.
He looked at the princess incredulously, and then at Eddelritto who smiled at him cordially, then at the quiet brunette who stood like a guard near the foot of the bed.
"Your Highness, I thought you were dead. You don't know how much I regret encouraging your infatuation with earth the moment I heard of the assassination. When I found out you're alive, I tried to tell the emperor of the knights' treason, but things had only gone from bad to worse. I tried to find you…" Slaine trailed off, his eyes downcast. "I thought it was all just a nightmare, but here you are. I am so glad you're okay, Princess."
Princess Asseylum pursed her lips, slightly frustrated that Slaine casted away his own self-preservation for her sake. "You need not risk your life for me," Princess Asseylum said with furrowed brows. His hand was still in hers, and it seemed he did not mind it, or maybe he had not noticed yet.
"I would do it all again, Your Highness, if circumstances dictates so," Slaine said with conviction.
It did not reassure the princess, only making her feel even more burdened. Her shoulders drooped but she put on a brave smile. "And your efforts are well appreciated, no matter how I believe it impractical. You should worry about yourself more."
"I, I could not bear the thought of your death. I was appalled at Sir Trilliam's blatant viciousness and his determination to succeed where your assassination had failed. I... I-I," Slaine stuttered. He seemed to want to tell her something but thought better of it yet his tongue begged to breathe it life.
"Oh, Slaine," the princess sighed as her heart clenched. "You have suffered so. Tell me what happened, please. I might ease your mind if you let it out," she said with concern.
That did it. It was like a floodgate had opened and Slaine blurted out everything he'd been through ever since she boarded the shuttle that took her down to earth. She listened attentively, noting his change in countenance and tone of voice at every confusing and doubtful moment he faced, just to get a step closer to where she was. The talk of her father and his failing health worried Asseylum. Now more than ever, he needed her and where was she? Tears stung her eyes and a lump refuse to leave her throat, threatening to choke her; she did not cry though. She had to be strong. Eddelritto's comforting hand squeezed her arm discretely, and she was thankful for the solace it gave her.
"'Tis alright, Slaine," Asseylum said, patting his hand, assuring. "I am here, I am alive. And despite the looming consequences, a significant part of me is glad that I had come to Earth. I learned so much about this wonderful planet you so proudly call home, I met different kinds of people, and I made new friends," she paused, and then gasped, "Oh, how rude of me. I have forgotten to introduce you to Inaho, and he stood practically right in front of us!
"Slaine, this is Inaho Kaizuka. He was the first person I met after the assassination. He has come to my aid countless of times, and I owe him my life. I dearly hope he consider me as his friend, for I view him as one of mine. Ensign Kaizuka, this is Slaine Troyard. He is the childhood friend I told you about," Asseylum introduced the two of them.
She waited patiently as the two boys measured each other out, eying the other from the tip of their heads to the length of their toes. Although a princess, Asseylum grew seeing knights and men parade around with both conceit and pride, and she knew the poignant male testosterone in the air when she's caught amidst one.
"Nice to meet you, uh, sir," Slaine opened awkwardly, not sure how to address a Terran boy younger than him with a position of power. Unlike the young brats the nobility of Vers had, it was obvious that Inaho earned his title.
"Likewise, Slaine. Just Inaho is fine," Inaho replied monotonously. He seemed tolerable enough; Asseylum couldn't be sure—his face was still emotionless. He reached out and shook the boy's hand, the princess relinquishing her hold as soon as Inaho extended his.
Slaine eyed Inaho once again. "Have we met before? You sound familiar," the blonde boy asked.
Inaho's lips slightly upturned in a halfway smirk. "We have," he said. "You flew decently, by the way. Bat."
Slaine's eyes bulged, his hand raising an accusatory finger. "You! You're Orange!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with astonishment and contempt.
Bat? Orange? What were they talking about? Asseylum felt lost in the conversation, and glancing at Eddelritto, it seemed the little girl was just as confused as her.
Inaho didn't even flinch at Slaine's loud voice and rude gesture. "Might as well call me by my name, Slaine. Since your custody had been assigned to me while you are incarcerated by the UFE, you'll be seeing me a lot around here."
"You shot me down! When all I wanted was to see Her Highness!" Slaine accused, ignoring everything Inaho said.
"You fired first when all you have to do was answer a simple question. As far as I can tell, it was self-defense," Inaho answered plainly.
"I saved your ship from the Hellas! You know, the arm you missed after wasting four rounds. That should have hinted that I meant well on your side," the blonde snapped. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I was trying to help!"
"That can't always be true. I prefer to be cautious. I accepted your assistance as a form of truce, meaning we take down a common enemy and settle things between us after. I gouged your motivation, I found you suspicious, and I acted upon my proper judgment," Inaho replied, his voice flat as ever. Asseylum had the distinct impression that the younger boy was making Slaine appear as if a brat throwing a tantrum.
Slaine looked frustrated, gritting his teeth in anguish that Asseylum could hear its gnashing. Listening to their back and forth argument did only made her realize that they were talking about the battle against Countess Femianne.
"Then why did you save me?" Slaine finally asked, his eyes narrowed to a glare.
Inaho tilted his head in that manner of his when he found things amusing. "I'll let you figure that out yourself. It seems rather obvious."
Asseylum inwardly cringed. Now he's making him look like a fool. It was enlightening to realize that Inaho could be really difficult when he wanted to be. She was quite thankful when they were interrupted by Dr. Yagarai, his head peering at the curtains and giving Inaho a stern look.
"That's quite enough now," the doctor chided. "Visiting hours is already over and I must ask you all to leave the patient. You can continue your conversation tomorrow."
"I understand," Inaho said, looking a little abashed.
Princess Asseylum lifted herself from the stool and bade Slaine her goodbyes and a promise to visit again. Slaine seemed drained and had not protested, which Asseylum had been grateful for. She doubt she could take anymore of his and Inaho's arguing.
Dr. Yagarai did a brief check-up on Slaine before joining them at the door of the infirmary.
"So," Dr. Yagarai said, "how did it go?" he asked Inaho.
Inaho nodded. "Fruitful. I'll continue the interrogation tomorrow. Thank you for your help, Dr. Yagarai," he answered.
Asseylum felt confused. Interrogation? Inaho had barely asked anything to Slaine, how could that be an interrogation? And then she blanched, finally realizing what Inaho had done. She could admit to being naïve, but Asseylum was never an idiot. He had used her. He had planned from the start to use Slaine's loyalty to her to his adventage, and without a pinch, he had made Slaine blurt out Vers Empire's side of the war.
How could he? How dare he? He toyed with people's feelings so easily. Did he think her so dumb that she wouldn't catch on? She thought he was her friend!
She glanced at the brunette and found him looking at her in a sideways glance, his redish brown eye studying her. Her eyes watered, her vision blurred. Feeling betrayed, Princess Asseylum went out of the door and out into the labyrinth of confusing hallways, ignoring Eddelritto's concerned call. She could care less if she got lost anymore.
A/N: This was hard. Writing Inaho in Asseylum's point of view was quite a challenge, what with her naivety. I felt like every scheming he made just flew right over her head because of her black and white perspective. I hated Asseylum in the series actually. She's so... so annoying. She was so pampered and goody-goody. Well, I want to fix that. That and Inaho's lack of character development, wait, I mean all the characters' lack of character development. Especially Rayet. I really liked that girl. I browsed the Aldnoah wikki if I could find some plotholes I could take advantage of, and so far, I've found some. I'm not gonna mention it, lest you readers will anticipate the plot twist (cackles maniacally). And yeah, I promoted Inaho early. I needed to do that for further development of the story. You'llhave to stay and find out why later. ;)
Read and review please. Point out anything you find off and I'll try to fix it, at least till I finish chapter 4. Thank you for reading!
