The homely smell of rich, aged wine hung in the air- somewhat managing to make the marble throne room inviting. It was a mainly hallow hall, with sheen alabaster floors that sprouted thick columns all so cleaned and polished they gleamed like the stars. Decadent burgundy curtains draped across the crown moldings of the ceiling and over the throne itself, nearly every fold adorned with winking, gold trinkets. It was all a very lavish display, which was surprising, since the King had been known as a modest man. Honest and true, one who held no secrets and had trained his young son well in taking the throne.
Ha.
A faint clicking of heels sounded against the glassy floor, followed by a whining, "Big brother! You're still lying here? Geez, I didn't think you could get so complacent." The crowned princess laid her hands defiantly across her chest, weight cocked slightly to the side to show her irritation. Nobody addressed the prince so informally unless it was his little sister- and even then the guards winced with her lack of manners. Gou would be lying if she said that bothered her, though.
The prince lifted his chin off his fist, where he had been lazily slouching on the throne's armchair. The boy's red-wine eyes stared challengingly back at his younger sibling, making no hesitation to show his own annoyance. There was a certain glaze of exhaustion over them, though, and his hair was mussed up so unbecomingly he looked nothing of a royal.
"Fine, Gou, what is it?" he shot back, though the young man's voice had softened slightly. It was hard to stay mad at her. A smile passed over the princess' lips, the pleasant light returning to her pretty face. As if she had suddenly remembered that she was speaking to not only her brother, but the ruler of the land, Gou straightened along her back and gave a light curtsy. The girl's gown, made from shimmering ruby fabric, swished along the pristine floors as she rose to her height again.
"Someone is here to see you. I think you need to talk to them- ah, what were their names again?" the redhead grimaced in forgetfulness for a moment, her delicate fingers pressed to her forehead. Names always seemed to escape her mind! Gou gave a sharp look over her shoulder, maroon eyes focusing on one of the servants placed behind her. Her attention was enough to cause the silver-haired man to falter, his blue eyes worried he had done something wrong.
"T-the Fleet Admiral and Commander of your navy, your highness!" the young boy startled, voice eager and shaky, "Sir Seijuro Mikoshiba and Rei Ryugazaki!"
Gou snapped her fingers in response, "Yes- that's it! Thank you, Nitori." she answered quickly, provoking a rosy blush from the shy servant. Not paying his embarrassment much mind, the princess turned back to her brother- who was now sitting slightly straighter in his velvet seat. A meeting with the protective forces, no matter the account it was called on, was quite the serious matter- and was not to be taken lightly. The men in the navy held a high regard in the prince's favor, considering Iwami was a coastal kingdom and had much business with the sea. This thought brought Gou's eyes to the windows that bordered the throne room. There were only a handful, but they spread wide across the smooth walls and were adorned by golden paint and blood red curtains. Each gave a different view on the ocean below, as the castle was situated high on a cliff, and the throne room gave the most scenic outlook on the foamy, turquoise waters.
Rin gave the young woman a nod, not bothering to spend more words on something that didn't need to be said. The relationship between the royal pair wasn't harsh, actually, it was anything but. They told each-other what needed to be said, and found a true comfort in the presence of their sibling. After King Matsuoka's death, the two redheads had grown noticeably closer.
A hushed creak sounded from the oak-crafted doors near the back of the marble room, and through stepped two well-dressed men. The prince gave a barely visible smile, his features much more awake now, ring embellished fingers curled over the throne's arms. Gou could see a professional, maybe even impatient, sheen gloss her brother's eyes. That was much better.
Nitori, the timid servant from earlier, gave a deep bow and swung his left hand with much grandeur in the direction of the two officers, "Sir Seijuro Mikoshiba and his commander, Rei Ryugazaki, your majesty!"
The princess piped up, "They requested to see you, brother. Please listen." Gou instructed, placing her hand comfortably on her hip. She wasn't expected to leave the room by any means, whatever had to be spoken to her brother also concerned her. The princess had a place in managing protectional affairs of her kingdom.
Both sailors were covered head to toe in crisp, ivory fabric- each hem pressed and angular where it needed to be. Strips of silky red, the royal color, streamlined down their pant legs and cuffed their shoulders in roped tassels. The taller of the two men gave a generous grin, topaz eyes wandering towards the princess excitedly. It was no secret that Seijuro had more than a crush on the pretty royal.
The commander, Rei Ryugazaki, refused to let his line of vision stray anywhere other than directly in front of him, and the only non-orchestrated movement he made upon entering was sliding his silver glasses up on his nose. Gou tried her best to stifle a bemused smile, knowing that the navy was all about appearance, but also thinking that the cobalt-haired boy took it too seriously.
Her attention was drawn from the naval officers back to her brother, as the young prince rose from his throne and gave a lively smirk. "Mikoshiba, Ryugazaki. To what do I owe your honor?" he asked, hands raised from his sides in a questioning gesture. The princess found her own hands wandering to one of the many silk ribbons that adorned her dress, pulling on the edges and nearly untying one of the delicate bows.
Gou settled herself, then, slightly leaning forward with a friendly grin. "I would suggest hopping to it, boys. Big brother doesn't like those that are lazy!" she quipped good-naturedly. The fleet admiral raised his chin slightly, the wildly ginger man not seeming even minorly slighted by the royals' demeanor. His commander, on the other hand, could only manage a less businesslike face.
"Ah, Matsuoka, thought you'd like to know. We aren't here on just friendly terms, I'm sad to say." Seijuro stepped forward, his casual reference to the prince's name stirring an awkward chorus of expressions from the servants lining the throne room. The admiral's attitude still did nothing to mar his professionalism, Gou found, and his boldness was rather respectable.
Rin raised an eyebrow curiously, "Oh? Well then, bear me the bad news." the boy challenged, giving a nonchalant wave of his hand before turning over his shoulder. The young prince took a seat back on his throne, looking expectantly to the two officers. Gou felt a rise of anticipation in her throat, slightly apprehensive to hear what the men had to say. Their people may have not been the most economically sound, or healthy for that matter, but she had at least thought of their safety to be guaranteed.
Seijuro gave a flick of his cat-like eyes towards Rei, the bespectacled man having obviously waited for his cue throughout the conversation. The princess made sure to give her attention to him, crimson gaze trained on his face. Gou found herself leaning forward slightly, all too eager to hear the news. Although she tried, the younger sibling was usually rushed out of the room before any type of council with her brother. One sidelong look at Rin told her that the prince was experiencing the same baited tension.
"At approximately high-moon last night, two rebel pirate vessels engaged in combat. The casualties are not of importance to the navy, yet the incongruity of their conduct was too close to Iwami's shores. Furthermore," the intelligent commander adjusted his thin, silver glasses, "said conflict took place upon royally controlled waters. It has now become the responsibility of the Royal Navy and Council to attend to this matter."
A certain silence took over the people congregated in the throne room, yet it didn't last for long, and a heartily generous laugh boomed from Seijuro's stomach. "What Ryugazaki is trying to say is that pirates were disagreeing on our coast. This wouldn't normally be a problem, your majesty, but they were on royal waters." he nodded, amused statement causing the tall man beside him to blush embarrassedly. Gou brought her hand delicately to her mouth in an attempt to hide a giggle, yet it didn't go unnoticed by Seijuro. The ginger-haired officer shot her a grinning glance before looking back to the prince. Despite the pressing violence of the topic, it wasn't grim enough to spare a frown on. Iwami had a long history with pirate conduct, and with the skill of the navy, the princess supposed this skirmish wouldn't make any difference.
Rin's sigh was enough to let her know that the prince was thinking the exact same. "So, what do we do, commander? Push their lines back so they have their own shit to deal with?" As the redhead mentioned his position, Rei gave a slight stir. Before he could give a thought-out response, the crowned boy held his hand up, "I'm joking, Ryugazaki."
The cobalt-haired officer gave a gentle smile, or what looked like was an attempt of one, and nodded to his prince. "Of course, your highness!"
Seijuro clapped Rei on the back, the sound bouncing ever so gently off the hollow throne room halls. The prince managed a light laugh, and stood from his velvet adorned chair. The burgundy haired man let his questioning gaze switch between the two when their merriment was over, and Gou could see her older brother was now eager to finish their meeting. Rin always seemed to be in a rushed state, the princess noted mentally, though it was presumably because he had so many duties to attend to. It was no secret that Iwami wasn't in the best state, and desperately needed a ruler who could keep his head cool and work for the benefit of the masses. Gou shifted her weight comfortably, and properly folded her hands over the ivory drapes that cut through the front of her scarlet gown.
"Oi, Seijuro, how bad was this fight?" The young ruler asked, slowly descending down the couplet of stairs that flanked his throne.
"Not that rough, Mikoshiba," the man answered truthfully, and in a quickly brash tone, "but notable enough. Strange, actually."
"The captain of the opposing ship did not ask for any luxuries from that of which he boarded." Rei continued helpfully, earning a slightly confused glance from Princess Gou.
The fiery haired admiral took note of her uncertainty, and jumped to the case of explanation, "Usually pirates board another ship looking for some sort of a prize. It's odd for them not to take anything."
The pretty noble gave a nod of recognition, piecing the motive together in her mind. That was odd. The fact that the brawl occurred on royally owned waters only made the perpetrator seem more suspicious. It was against the formal word of the kingdom for any violence to take place on their waters, as well as any passing of unauthorized ships. So, while two laws had been violated, the ship on the offensive was a more valuable target.
Rin had now made his way halfway down the chamber's pearly marble floors, his boots tapping out an uneven rhythm. He was within arms' distance of the naval officers, with eyes red as wine trained on their faces. "Can you find them? Take a small crew, bring them back. Or at least question them." the prince proposed, now seeming much older than he actually was.
Gou felt an uncomfortable quiet settle on the room's atmosphere, though she wasn't really sure why. The objective of dealing with a few unruly pirates shouldn't have been so tense, as it happened all the time, and called for an easy remedy. Something in Rei's face, she noticed, alluded that it may be more difficult than her brother thought.
This seemed to be an invitation to the redhead to speak, as she bluntly piped up, "Is there a problem?"
Seijuro and his bespectacled commander almost paled in unison, but the elder kept his composure much more decently. "No, not at all, your highness. We can send a ship out."
Rin seemed satisfied enough with this answer, and casually brushed his hand through the stray locks of hair that found their way on his forehead. The hollow room had become much warmer all of a sudden, as if some agitated air had been sucked from the quarters. Fresh sunlight, like thick gold honey, streamed through the windows and poured over the alabaster floor. The rich tapestries alit like fire, and the fading lights of the day played off each golden adornment like candlelight.
The princess let out a satisfied sigh, and caught a glimpse of Rei seemingly doing the same. He was odd, but looked about her age, and so the rose-haired noble decided she liked this man. He seemed just as dedicated to Seijuro in terms of his position, even if he was not as familiar.
The prince clapped his hand to the ginger-headed officer's shoulder, a shark-toothed grin upon his lips, "Okay then, Admiral. Let me know how preparations go." he announced, leaning back slightly to alleviate the pressure on his spine. It has to be tired sitting in that throne all day long, Gou mused silently, a glimmer of mischief showing in her cardinal-red eyes. They could trust Seijuro to arrange everything- the amicable seaman had served their family for as long as the two could remember.
The bespectacled man gave an eager rush of affirmation, "Of course, your highness! Expect nothing less!" Rei's tone seemed somewhat prideful as he lifted a hand to adjust his glasses, answering in place of his admiral's position. Rin payed no mind though, and instead the redhead gave a good-natured laugh. The pirates were just a simple yet persistant force, and another crew would soon take their place to pester Iwami's waters. They were only one more complication that needed to be fixed.
Princess Gou allowed herself to smile before turning to catch a glimpse of uncertainty flicker across Seijuro's cat-like eyes. The redhead straightened her own posture, not afraid to let suspicion seep into her face.
"Prince Rin, your majesty? I-I apologize, but, another council awaits you. S-sorry!" Nitori's flustered voice disrupted the four from their jovial conversation.
An understanding frown lined the prince's lips, and he gave a dismissive wave. "See to it!" the young royal finalized his instructions, turning back over his shoulder in the direction of his gold plated throne. Seijuro and Rei responded with a proper bow, bending straight over their hips with dutiful purpose. Gou, too, offered a small curtsy- though it was more rushed than her one upon entering. Unlike the men, she wasn't satisfied with the meeting.
"Admiral Seijuro!" the tall man turned around, "Could we speak?" the princess finished sweetly, her youthful voice holding no air of wariness. Something about the look in his eyes told the noble that not all was right. The job should be typical, right? Send out a small crew to talk to and/or ward off the pirates as necessary. No harm done.
.。.:*・° .。.:*・° .。.:*・° .。.:*・°
Other than the abundant coastline and profitable access to trade by sea, Iwami had somewhat fertile soil. Well, the land wasn't too kind to hardy crops or staple plants- yet it produced some of the most beautiful flowers. The royal castle was situated on the uppermost cliff of their boundaries; an outcropping of chalk-streaked rock that loomed across the greenish-blue sea. The wind always smelled faintly of salt and foam, and was rather comforting to the young princess. Even as a child she found some solace in the scenery of her kingdom, and its tranquility managed to convince her everything would be alright.
Past the eastern halls of her castle stretched a low, crumbling wall of sandstone and brick- a once-standing force that morphed to give way to the sea. When their father passed away, Rin and Gou had used their luxuries to plant a large rose garden upon the peak of the cliff. Red iron workings stretched over a small yet pretty patch of rocky soil, and the area was brimming with flora. Stunning violet verbena, buttery daylilies, and whimsical clusters of gaillardia poked through the sandy ground; and a prismatic array of soft oranges and periwinkles stretched over the garden. The sugary sweet smell overpowered the sea's foreboding musk, and at just the right time, the setting sun lit the garden on fire in a blinding rainbow of peach, scarlet, and indigo.
The princess excitedly clasped her hands together, the silk of her crimson dress folding elegantly with every hunched motion she made. The young woman was mostly just fascinated by how pretty the flowers could be. Next to muscles, which were a rare treat, they were the most tantalizing thing she had to look at.
Seijuro followed close behind the adolescent noble, flaxen eyes also alit by her vigorously positive attitude.
"So, your highness, what is it?" he asked, breaking the silence. His mature voice was quite friendly and approachable, and Gou aimlessly wondered how such an imposing officer managed to be so warm.
"Ah, yes," she mused somewhat awkwardly in response, the cool sea breeze lashing a few strands of wine-colored hair over her face, "the pirates."
The handsome seaman gave a hearty chortle, a signature of his, "Are they bothering you, princess?"
The noble couldn't help but grin to that. She was well aware of Seijuro's antics to win her favor, in one way or another, but at this moment it seemed as if he wasn't bothered by anything. He was simply being dutiful, and if anything, genuinely concerned for her. Remembering he had spoke, the royal gave a shake of her head gently.
"No, not that. But, admiral, are they bothering you?" she asked, leaning forward slightly. The shift in the man's countenance was all too visible, especially in the highlights that the setting sun gave off. There was no hiding in the garden.
"Ah, you caught me, princess!" he smirked, raising one hand behind his head in an embarrassed attempt. The brash naval officer continued on, "I can trust you, Matsuoka. I'll tell you."
Did Gou's eyes deceive her, or was Seijuro blushing?
"The crew that caused the skirmish belongs to Haruka Nanase. The same men who killed my brother." was all he answered in simple response, cat-like eyes closed in thought. The sweet scent of flowers was, luckily, there to comfortably fill the silence of grievance. The brave man wasted no time in reaching his point, and Gou took a concerned step forward.
"Ah, Seijuro! I didn't know, I-"
The admiral held a hand up, "It's okay, princess. But don't worry, I won't let that get in the way! Your brother is a great man, and you're a great..." he paused awkwardly, "girl. I won't let anything harm you. See you, then!" Seijuro, without waiting for Gou's dismissal, had already turned away and left the princess with nothing but the scarlet-adorned view of his back.
"Wait!" she stepped forward, more unnerved by his lack of concern over his promise and sudden departure. It was typical for the handsome ginger to do such things, and he had earned a state of informality, but something screamed at the redheaded princess to stop him. There wasn't anything to ask, or anything to say, but the content of their conversation made her uneasy. These pirates were out to kill, and had no interest in riches. That in itself was a danger.
Yet instead of stopping Seijuro from departing, Gou simply retracted and brought her hands to the ribbon that adorned her chest- nervously pulling at the sides. Then, a certain determination overtook her profile. She would talk to him, or at least someone, about her uneasiness! She was just looking out for herself. And her brother, of course.
The royal turned her back to the path of his disappearance, a slightly harsh wind from the sea lashing her hair across her heart-shaped face. Her careful curls had undone from their crafted bun, leaving the princess with quite the loose and daring ponytail. She would've stood under the grace of the setting sun, with the flowers to talk to, if it wasn't for a voice distracting her thoughts.
How unfortunate, Gou almost liked feeling like the warrior she was named after.
"Miss? It's time to return." a young girl, nearly the same in age to the princess, stood at the modest oak doors leading back into the castle. Her bright, sea-green eyes were earnest and inviting, and Gou felt no pressure in returning to her friend.
"Hana!" she greeted excitedly, hands clasped together as the noble hurried to the dark blonde's side.
A blush painted the pretty girl's cheeks, "Were you talking to Admiral Mikoshiba?" she chattered almost immediately upon seeing Gou's acceptance. Such a girlishly embarrassing question caused the princess' face to rise with baby pink color.
"H-Hana! It's not like that-"
"But he's very handsome! And interested in you, princess!" Hanamura waved off her mistress' comment, eyes wide with excitement. To her the castle needed some livening up, and the romance between Gou and Seijuro seemed all too tempting.
The royal rejected her maid's teasing comments with a flustered gasp, palms rising to cover the blush that crept across her cheeks, "Hana, let's just go back!" she pleaded, lowering her hands to clutch that of the servant's and tug her friend's weight. There was no way she could ever be interested in Seijuro. Even if he was attractive, and probably had wonderful muscles, she just wasn't interested.
Plus, she had different matters on her mind- such as the fact that murderers were on her waters and the navy was going to confront them. If they wanted any hope in finding the pirates, they would need aid beyond the naval trackers they already had. It was imperative to have a skilled mapmaker on such a wild goose chase, and Gou began to have a sinking feeling that her brother wasn't going to see to such matters.
Makoto Tachibana, the most skilled in Iwami and childhood friend to her brother, hadn't been in-touch with the royal family for years. Why? The princess didn't know. Yet either way she was determined to help, and sending him with the ship seemed to be the best option.