Chapter Twenty Eight: The Art of Deception
Politicians are masters of the art of deception.
-Martin L. Gross
xxXxx
Natori was from the Human Kingdom. He had done everything in his power to hide the fact, and it had served him well in his rise to power as high advisor to the king.
Most days it was a thankless job, often feeling like he was a mere baby-sitter to a child in a grown up body; one that only cared for getting what he wanted. In some ways it was a blessing, but it was a vexing task more often than not. Even when he toyed with the idea of killing the king, he was forced to conclude that it would have been a disastrous choice. For a reason he had never been able to figure out, the young Prince Lune had always despised him. He was sure to dismiss him and his rather foolish son after his coronation.
Natori had once had siblings, in the Human Kingdom. But thanks to a deceitful human, he was now alone. Oh, he remembered how kind the child appeared to be, when they came mewing for a small bit of his food. Ever smiling, the child had poured all of the brown liquid he had been drinking into a bowl for them, and watched them lick up every drop.
Natori had tried to warn his brother and sister away from the stuff, since the fumes were nauseous, but they had been so hungry, that they even looked a little happy when they slowly died, right in front of him.
It was partial irony when he braved the human world again, to search for that poison when the king's demands became too much, all those years ago. It was a sheer stroke of brilliance to kill off Prince Lune before he came to power, and allow one of his more reasonable relatives to become king in his place after offing the king as well. He had only been able to find a small bit of the mysterious 'chocolate milk' and bring it to the kingdom, which was why it had taken so long for the effects to become serious.
Then that runt came out of nowhere, riding that infernal crow and bearing firebird tears. Received honor and glory that should have gone to his son, as thanks for doing so well in his duties.
Nothing Natori tried worked, in his efforts to remove this dangerous thorn in his side. The runt somehow was able to override any rumor he could come up with, no matter how dangerous the task was. All Natori had accomplished, trying to get rid of Baron, was make his enemy stronger, and more powerful with each successful task.
After a while he was forced to give up, since the king started thinking of difficult tasks on his own and nothing could make the runt fail. Even taming the Sea Maiden and transforming her into a lady was no problem for that disgusting little peasant.
But this time, Natori was determined to come out on top. After months of listening to his son bemoan his unrequited love for the half-human, an opportunity had finally presented itself, and there was no way in all of the Cat Kingdom that the high advisor was going to let Baron ruin it for his family a single time more.
Feeling happier than he had in years, it was slightly difficult to make his features somber as he knocked on the king's door the next morning.
"Come in," the monarch growled sleepily.
Natori was able to put on a suitably somber expression as he let himself into the king's private chambers, where the old fool was having breakfast in bed. "I'm afraid that I have bad news, your majesty."
"Didn't anyone find my son?" he snapped as he chewed his way through another mouse pastry.
"Not him specifically, but we have discovered the 'surprise' he meant for Lady Haru."
The king took a long drink of wine before speaking. "What was it?"
Natori took a long breath, to weather the storm that was sure to follow his words. "A minor priest in the capital was found bound and gagged in his home this morning. He claims that the prince held him at knifepoint to perform a marriage ceremony, binding him to a white maiden that matched Lady Haru's maid's description. Your son then tied him up to keep anyone from finding out before the two could escape into the night."
The king stared in complete shock, and stood up in bed to make his platter fall in a mess to the floor. "He eloped with her maid?"
"It would appear so, my king. No one has the slightest clue where the two are hiding."
The king jumped off the bed to begin throwing a tantrum… but crumpled to the floor on impact with a yowl of pain. Natori bit back a smile, glad that the king wasn't able to throw tantrums the way he used to, even as he helped the monarch to his feet again.
"How dare he? He knows how important the prophecy is! I thought he finally warmed up to her!"
"It would appear not, my liege. Still, that leaves us with an important question; what do we do now?"
"We find him. He has to come back and face his destiny," the king asserted, but Natori shook his head in faux sadness.
"We've been tearing apart the capital for three hours now, and they are nowhere to be found. On top of that, even if we find them, she is the only leverage you have to coercing your son into the marriage, but it is against our laws for any cat to have more than one wife. If you have the maid executed, then he will have no reason to go through with the wedding that must take place tomorrow. He would kill himself first."
"But how can we have a wedding without a groom?"
"We simply find a new one, that's all," Natori soothed him, using every bit of his court training to keep control over his emotions. "One with royal blood."
His marriage to Rosella had been nothing but a trial, but at least she had provided their son with that credential. Even if it was to his grievance that Natoru took after her so strongly, both in body and spirit.
"This can't be right! Send for Baron; he'll know how to deal with this," the king proclaimed as he marched to one of his wardrobes and started throwing outfit after outfit over his shoulders, searching for the perfect one.
Natori's blood heated up, at hearing his rival so quickly sent for. "It might be best if you were to not seek his advice concerning this, my king."
"Why not? Unlike some others I could mention, he's never let me down," the king replied casually as he settled for an amethyst robe that complimented the crown that never left his brow.
"While… that might be true, your majesty," Natori struggled to say without losing his temper, "I fear that he will try to influence your decision on the Sea Maiden's behalf to his own advantage."
The king paused halfway through getting dressed and looked at his advisor quizzically. "What do you mean, babe? What advantage?"
Natori fought back another wave of revulsion at the hated word. "I am firmly convinced that the Baron von Gikkingen is in love with her, my king."
"What? That's nonsense," the king laughed as he finished dressing. "How can he fall in love if he doesn't even have hormones?"
"Your majesty," Natori said between gritted teeth; determined to make the king see his point, once and for all. "Who was it that ultimately managed to bring the Sea Maiden to the Cat Kingdom?"
"Baron," he grunted with a quizzical expression.
"Who was it that warned us she would be a handful?"
"Baron."
"Who knew how to soften her displeasure enough to give your son a chance to court her, and managed to turn her into a lady?"
"Baron," the king said yet again, suddenly realizing just how much the little runt had been in the picture.
"Your majesty; he has an extensive knowledge of humans. There's no telling how many other courting rituals he has at his disposal, or all of what happened during her stay in his estate. I have seen him watch her, when he thinks no one's watching him. He cares for her a great deal more than he'll show, at least for the present. With the prince effectively out of the way, he does have the best chance than any in the kingdom of wooing Lady Haru."
"Except he's a runt!" the king suddenly yelled. "He could never father children on anybody, let alone the Sea Maiden!"
"Precisely, sire. That is why we must act quickly to betroth her to another." Natori smirked as the king fell into his hand. "In fact, I know just the one."
The king looked at him quizzically. "Who?"
"If you will recall, my son is completely loyal to you-"
That's as far as he got on the subject. The king started laughing so hard, that the advisor could barely hear his own thoughts.
"N-Natoru?" the king managed to choke mirthfully after slamming his fist against a nearby table a few times. "That's even funnier than Baron marrying her!"
Natori stiffened defensively. "How so, my liege?"
"He's an idiot, and Baron's one of the smartest people I'll ever know. No, Natoru wouldn't do at all." The king held one hand to his chin as a wicked smirk returned. "In fact, I know of only one cat worthy to father the Sea Maiden's child, now that Lune's declined the privilege."
"Who?" Natori asked exasperatingly. He needed to cut off the king's line of thought as quickly as possible.
"Never you mind. Just send for the Sea Maiden. Tell her to meet me at my study in ten minutes or less."
"But, my king-" Natori tried to dissuade him.
Then the monarch marched up to him, and grabbed a large fistful of his robes. "If you don't do as I say, I will have your head removed. Either tell her to meet me in my study in ten minutes, or have an appointment with Harold in ten minutes. Your choice."
Natori clenched his jaw painfully. "… I'll… retrieve the Sea Maiden."
The king grinned, and patted his head in an insulting manner after letting him go. "There now. That wasn't so hard, was it?"
The high advisor chose not to answer that. He merely bowed his way out of the king's presence, and started marching down the hallway. With every step he took, he cursed the king in his mind, still fearing that one of the servants would overhear and inform the monarch.
It was such a good plan. Peacefully take over the kingdom, just by having his son marry the Sea Maiden. He could have prevented his son from making too many mistakes while pulling the strings, and it was quite likely that the resulting child could have taken after Natori himself, to become the greatest king ever been.
Maybe there was still a chance to make things work. He had hardly ever spent time with Lady Haru since her miraculous transformation, but he was certain that she was more reasonable now, thanks to-
He forced his thoughts to another direction before he could even think 'Baron'. That little runt did no one any favors but himself.
After what felt like eternity, he was in front of Haru's door, with her guard half-asleep at the door. But he snapped to attention as the advisor approached.
"Inform the Sea Maiden that the king wishes me to escort her to his study in five minutes," Natori said, certain that much time had elapsed since departing the king.
Instead of offering another unneeded remark, the giant cat actually did as he requested the first time, slipping through the door and locking it behind him.
That seemed a little suspicious. Ever the curious one, he pressed his ear to the door to overhear what was going on within.
"…in five minutes."
"What, seriously? Face the wall so I can get dressed!"
After that, Natori heard some rather violent sounds come from the room, but since he heard no cries for help, he assumed that she was only rushing about. He bit back a grin, secretly glad that the transformation wasn't as complete as everyone thought.
It proved that Baron wasn't perfect at every task given to him.
He backed away from the door, just in time for it to open. Despite the violent sounds that he had just heard, Lady Haru looked nothing less than perfect, as if the king had interrupted her during a quiet morning read.
"Please lead the way, Natori," she said in a calm tone as he offered her one arm. "Did anyone find out where Lune went?"
The high advisor flinched at the question, but gave her a reassuring smile as she politely declined the arm. "That is what the king wishes to speak to you about, my lady. Be warned, he may not be in his own mind when you speak to him."
She seemed surprised at his answer. "Oh? Why not?"
"It is not my place to speak so… why is he following us?" he snapped at the giant guard, who was following them at a respectful distance.
"Muta is doing his job, of course."
"But, this is only an audience with the king. Surely he would like to catch up on some sleep?" Natori wasn't about to admit it for anything, but her giant guard made his fur stand on end.
"I would feel better if he came along anyway. Would you rather rest, Muta?" she asked over one shoulder.
"I will follow you, my lady," was all he answered with, pausing long enough to give her a respectful bow, even if it was a little rough.
She smiled warmly at him, and nodded at Natori as if to reassure him. "You see? He's perfectly fine with coming along."
'I'm not worried about him being fine with it!'
"Speaking of which, Yuki usually wakes me up by now. Do you know if she's sick again?" the Sea Maiden asked worriedly.
That made him stiffen defensively. "I do not trouble myself with the illnesses and complaints of the staff. I have enough trouble keeping up with my own job."
Let the king tell her what had happened to her maid.
Before Natori was able to say anything more, they were in front of the king's study, and the servant outside of it was poking his head through the curtain.
"Lady Haru has arrived with High Advisor Natori, my king."
"Send them in," the monarch answered excitedly, rushing about much like Lady Haru had when getting dressed.
Wishing he hadn't let himself get distracted with her guard, the high advisor followed her into the study, and took his customary place behind the king's chair as the old monarch helped her into a comfortable seat.
Muta simply stood next to the wall, directly behind his mistress.
"My my, thank you for coming on such short notice, my dear," the king gushed, still not taking his chair. "May I offer you some refreshment? I have some nice raspberry wine."
Lady Haru gave a light laugh. "If you will recall, your majesty, my stomach's too delicate for wine, although I thank you for the offer. Did you ever find out what became of Lune?"
The king gave a theatrical sigh, and patted her hand in a comforting gesture. "I'm afraid so, my dear. I regret to tell you this, but it looks like you won't be marrying him tomorrow."
"Oh? Why not?" she asked innocently.
"Because he eloped with your maid. I'm so sorry, babe."
It could have been Natori's imagination, but she didn't seem too surprised or disappointed. "My, what a shame. I was wondering why she hadn't woken me up this morning."
"I can always get you another maid, but that leaves us with a more important problem, babe. You have a large wedding tomorrow, but no groom in sight. I'm pretty sure that I could dig one up for you, though," he insinuated, making Natori understand in horror.
The king wanted to marry her!
"That is most generous of you, your majesty. Unfortunately, there's another problem concerning the wedding, one that I must address right here and now."
"What is it, babe?" he asked worriedly. "Not enough flowers? It is the Winter Solstice, after all."
"No, flowers aren't the problem. It's the little fact that I was never engaged to Lune in the first place."
Both the king and advisor stared at her in complete and total shock.
"… How can you say that?" the king roared, storming over to his desk to retrieve the contract from a locked drawer. "I have proof that you two were engaged, right here!" he stressed, waving the parchment around like a war banner
"Yes, funny about that contract. Natori, would you mind reading it aloud for us?" she asked politely, although a smirk was starting to be shown on her fair lips.
Natori decided that he didn't like that smirk at all, as he accepted the contract from the king, and read it for the two of them. "On this day, the fourth of Fishal in the year 999 Post Humanis, that the Sea Maiden, also known as Haru Yoshioka, will agree to marry Prince Lune Felinus if he retrieves her family locket from her home world and presents it to her by the eleventh of Fishal in the same year. If he should fail, the Sea Maiden will be free to make a living on her own, and no action will be taken against the prince or his loved ones for his failure."
"That sounds pretty cut and dried to me, babe; you even signed it," the king gloated.
"I agree. Every word in that contract is lawfully binding in every sense. Too bad Baron retrieved my locket instead of your son, or I really would be engaged to him."
"Baron told?" the king roared like a lion.
"He never told me a thing. But you just told me everything," Lady Haru said, her tone turning dead serious as she stood up from her chair. "Until now, I had nothing to base my doubts on. Thank you for the confirmation, your majesty."
Realizing what he had just done, the king slapped both hands to his mouth in horror, as Natori dropped the worthless contract in shock.
"I already knew you lied to me at least once over the contract. When I was talking to Baron's steward during my stay in Piaal, he mentioned that his lord was gone for almost two weeks on the first assignment involving me. You said that he went home after bringing me here, and that would have only took two or three days of his time; four at the most. Plus I saw him again, after the prince gave back my locket. I wasn't exactly nice to him, but he was around."
The king gaped at her, falling against his desk in a near faint.
"Now, if Baron had just gone with Lune to the Human Kingdom, you wouldn't have needed to hide it. But since you were trying to hide your best agent's involvement in Lune's side of the contract, there's no way in heck you'll be able to convince me that your son really did retrieve my locket from the sea, especially considering your reaction just now. Let's face facts; it does sound a bit more like something you'd force Baron to do than Lune."
She smiled deceptively, and curtsied to the king. "In short, I have no reason to be upset with Lune's elopement, seeing as I never had a claim on him. But, since I am the Sea Maiden, I really should consider getting married tomorrow. It's not like I have any prior commitments, and some of your aristocrats truly are charming gentlecats. It shouldn't take me long to find one to my liking; what do you think of Earl Jacob of Thonvit?"
"Thonvit? He's a serpent-tongued opportunist!" the king barked, eager to cut off any rivals.
"Well, what about the Duke of Combeg's second son, Gerard?"
"Completely unacceptable!"
"Count Roland's nephew, Edward?"
"Don't make me laugh; a fish has more brains than him!"
Lady Haru sighed in exasperation. "All right, who would you deem a suitable mate for me?"
Natori looked at the king in horror. If the foolish old cat answered that the way he feared, then intervention from Baron would be inevitable.
But it seemed strange that her large guard was remaining perfectly calm, as if watching a play.
"Well, how about me?" the king wanted to know. "You could skip the princess part and be a queen instead. Come on, what do you say, babe?"
Haru's eyes turned cold and unfriendly; much the way they had when she saved the prince's life. "That is not even worth laughing over, your majesty. You have tricked me repeatedly, lied to me repeatedly, and sent me off to princess boot camp when I shouldn't have had to go. You made me think that you had power over my destiny, when you really don't, and never did. To top it off, you are old enough to be my grandfather, and I find the idea of becoming your wife repulsive."
The king stood to his full height, and started marching over to her to get a different response. But the guard that was still standing at the wall was quicker, grabbing the girl by the waist to pick her up and put her behind him as if she weighed the same as a doll.
"Stand aside; I'm not through talking to her!" the king commanded, a little taken aback that the fat feline was even taller than him. Not that he was about to let anyone see, but Natori could tell.
The guard grunted a stubborn no. "I obey my lady, not you."
"I mean, really!" Haru exclaimed in disgust from behind the safety of his bulk. "You call me daughter, try to arrange a marriage between me and your son, and then you ask if I'm interested in you as soon as he's gone? Doesn't that strike you as a little sick and wrong?"
"I only did it once!" the king complained as he sized up the guard, wondering if he was strong enough to take him down.
"Only because I told you not to do it anymore." She crossed her arms defiantly as Muta stayed between her and the king. "Frankly, there's only one way I'd even consider marrying you, and that's a slim one at best."
Natori looked at her with horror as the king's anger melted away, just a bit.
"What will it take?" the king asked flatly.
ooOoo
Baron was visiting Toto in the stables when the soldiers came for him. Without so much as a hello, the two soldiers grabbed him harshly by the arms, and started dragging him out of the stables and into the palace.
"Hey, leave him alone!" Toto cawed out angrily, but Baron shook his head as he kept his beloved hat in one hand.
"I'll be fine, my friend! The king likely has another errand for me."
Neither of the soldiers answered or commented on that, which worried the little kitten terribly. Always before, when he was being escorted to his majesty, small talk was pretty normal between him and whoever was taking him. Even Natori and Natoru would taunt him over not being able to keep up with them.
So why was he literally being dragged instead of carried to the king, since he was impatient to see him?
'I trust you, Haru. I trust you.'
After dragging him up the stairs and down the hall, the guards unceremoniously tossed him into the king's study.
Baron fell flat on his face as a startled meow of pain issued from his lips.
"Ah, my lord Baron. So good of you to join us," the king said in his familiar 'prepare for a task' tone.
With difficulty, the tawny kitten rose to his feet, and rubbed one knee sorely as he set his hat back between his ears. "You wished to see me, your majesty?" he asked with a polite bow, keeping his own tone the same as ever.
He wasn't about to admit it, but the satisfied smirk on Natori's face was nothing less than terrifying. The advisor only got that look on his face when there was a chance that Baron could lose his head.
"Actually, I did. Tell me, were you aware that Lune's eloped with the Sea Maiden's maid?"
Grateful for the training of a politician, Baron managed to look surprised. "Is that why he left the ball early last night?"
"It would appear so. There's no trace of him or of the girl, so that leads us back to our true concern; who will wed Lady Haru tomorrow?"
Baron's heart beat hopefully in his chest. "Would you like me to draw up a list of potential candidates?"
"There's no need for that. I've decided to marry her myself, and just disinherit Lune."
The kitten's jaw dropped in shock. He had known that the king had feelings for her, but actually pursuing her?
"However, there's only one way she's willing to have me, and you're going to provide it, babe. You know, since it's your destiny to ensure hers and everything."
Baron tried to think of something to say. But nothing came to mind that wouldn't earn him a short and unpleasant visit with the royal executioner.
"Hmm, this is usually the part where you ask what I want you to do," the king reminded him, his large mismatched eyes shining brighter than ever with madness.
"… What do you wish of me, my king?" Baron nearly whispered, although he wished nothing more than to laugh at the monarch.
"Well, Lady Haru had a number of objections concerning the change of plans, but didn't shut me down completely. All I have to do is become young again, and she'll have me."
Baron gave him an incredulous look. "I feel certain that I misunderstood you, your majesty. Would you please clarify?"
"In order for the babe to fulfill her destiny as my bride, I have to go through a ritual that will restore my youth!" the king repeated, looking more joyful than the kitten had seen him in a long time.
Baron's blood ran cold. "What kind of ritual?"
The king grinned, and gave a nod to a disgustingly smug Natori as he unfolded his usual notebook from the folds of his robe, and open it to a velvet bookmark. Still smirking, the high advisor began reading from it.
"To have a body that's new,
"First have a heart that's true.
"One must have cauldrons three
"Lined up, come dawn of morning.
"Two filled with water, one boiling
"The other freezing.
"The last one milk shall boil
"From an all night toil
"First jump into the milk
"As smooth as silk.
"Then into the second pot
"Where the water's boiling hot.
"Last of all the frozen water brave
"Until its air you crave.
"Then if your heart is true,
"You'll have a body that's new."
Baron's heart felt like it stopped beating.
Cauldrons. Large cauldrons, filled with boiling water and milk. Just like the nightmares of his childhood. "… Is that… a spell of renewal?" he asked in horror.
"That's right, babe. In order for me to get hitched, I have to take a bath three times in public tomorrow morning. But I'm worried about catching a cold, so I want you to do it first. To make sure it's safe and everything. If it works on you, then it will work on me. You don't mind at all, do you?" the king smirked.
Baron didn't hear him. He was too busy fainting.