Weiss woke up to a bright, pleasantly warm room, but her puffy eyes and heavy heart reminded her that life wasn't nearly as cheery as it appeared. The sunny joyfulness only masked the evil woven into the very fabric of Atlas - an evil that would take much more than ending a war to wash out. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't believe it. Instead, she felt sick to her stomach thinking about the fear and pain those people suffered while the palace covered up any traces of the disease.
The great Kingdom of Atlas was safe. Free of the Phage. Watch Vale suffer - retribution for its greed and excess - while Atlas prospered.
All lies.
She didn't know what to do about it though. She wanted to end the appalling practice immediately, but what would the people think? Would it cause mass panic when the palace admitted that they weren't as safe as the walls suggested? And what would the Council do? Did the Council even know what was going on?
Scoffing to herself, Weiss pulled her arms through the sleeves of a shirt and carefully fastened the buttons. She wasn't naive enough to believe anything happened without the Council's knowledge or, at the very least, without some of the Councilors knowing. Could they really do something like this without her approval though? Had they felt fit to continue because this practice began while her father was alive?
Her father came up with the idea - she knew that like she knew the sky was blue. Only someone as wretched, vile, and rotten as him could endorse such a policy. Only someone without an ounce of compassion for anyone besides themselves could drag people from their homes and dispose of them like vermin, not even blessing them with a proper burial.
She'd never been fond of the man, but now...she could admit that she hated him. She hated how he treated her and Winter. She hated the terror he so willingly sowed. She hated everything he represented.
But hating him accomplished nothing. Atlas needed her to stand up and do something - anything - to make this better. So, even though the child in her wanted to hide in her room while the 'adults' handled things, she got dressed and checked her reflection in the mirror beside the door. The dark circles under her eyes gave away her lack of sleep and the puffiness gave away her tears, but overall she looked...weary. Mentally, she was a mess. She couldn't stop seeing the Knights dragging that sick man away, probably never to be seen again, while the others so indifferently tossed one of the deceased into a furnace.
Holding one hand over her ice-cold heart, she closed her eyes and silently begged forgiveness from those being so horrendously wronged. Only then did she leave her chambers, sighing as she shut the door behind her.
Her footsteps felt as heavy as her heart, but she compelled herself downstairs and forced a small smile or nod for everyone she passed. A new day brought more of the same activity to the palace, but everything felt different today. She couldn't help but wonder who else knew. Did the maids know about the chapel? Did the butler know? Did everyone know except her?
The unpleasant thought led her to the dining room in search of the one person she could talk to: Ruby. But the empty dining room provided only disappointment, leaving her to consider checking Ruby's chambers next. Worried about how that might come off, however, she convinced herself to retreat to the office alone.
Now, more than ever, she wished that she'd had the courage to ask Ruby to stay last night. But after everything...she hadn't wanted to burden Ruby any more than necessary. Ruby had her own worries and concerns, as the tears in her eyes before they even went to the chapel confirmed. Atlas' research on the Phage must not have held anything of use - which last night proved - and Weiss knew how badly Ruby wanted to find a cure for Vale…
Ruby's sorrow weighed on Weiss' heart along with everything else. After how much Ruby had helped so far, Weiss wanted to return the favor. Instead, they only uncovered more lies and dead-ends.
After nodding to the Knight guarding the office door, Weiss entered the room and returned to the desk. Today, however, she didn't sit down and get right to work. Instead, she stood and stared at the stacks of proposals waiting for her approval. Her work focused on building a happier, more prosperous, more accepting Atlas, but it amounted to nothing if the Phage wasn't dealt with first. How could she promote a better kingdom while silently condoning the practice of throwing bodies into a furnace beneath the chapel?
But how could she stop it?
Knowing the answer wasn't anywhere on the desk, she crossed her arms and walked to the back of the office. There, massive bookcases held tome after tome of Atlesian policies and procedures - the most boring collection of literature in existence, in her opinion. They were, however, sacred to Atlas' royal family. They weren't even allowed outside of the room. And if they were actually so important, it might behoove her to finally crack one open.
Starting at the far-left bookcase, she trailed her fingers across the creased spines and squinted to read the faded titles. Many appeared to be archives chronicling Atlas since its inception. Others held expanded explanations of important political decisions. The most ornate were biographies of every monarch who had ever ruled Atlas.
Goosebumps rose on her arms as she read the names of some of Atlas' greatest leaders and grasped just how much history was here, right beneath her fingertips. Some of the books could very well have been written hundreds of years ago - by her great-grandfather, or her great-great-grandfather, or her great-great-great-grandmother. Her father wasn't even a fraction of the Schnee lineage and, if they were lucky, would be nothing more than a sour footnote in Atlas' storied history.
Stumbling upon a section referencing the Council, she slowed down and read each title more carefully. Some of the books were dedicated to biographies of previous councilors with blank pages still waiting to be filled. What she was most interested in, however, was anything regarding the Council's formation. The Council's purpose. The Council's inherent and implied powers.
By giving her so much work and telling her 'this is what you do,' the Council had taken away her opportunity to ask questions - not that she could believe their answers anyway. But these books, which were the most official records in Atlas, must hold answers.
Did the Council think that if they kept her busy enough, she wouldn't read them? If she hadn't learned what was hidden beneath the chapel, she might not have. Maybe she would be content to work within their rules. Today, however, she wouldn't play their game. Atlas had to change now, and it had to change drastically.
If her father could bark orders and the Councilors tripped over themselves fulfilling his wishes, why couldn't she do the same? She should be able to, so she had to figure this out. The people of Atlas needed her to figure this out. Good thing she was a fast reader.
Selecting a thick book simply titled 'The Council of Atlas,' she ran her hand across the soft leather cover while returning to the desk. Before sitting in the uncomfortable desk chair, however, she changed her route and settled into one of the oversized, far more comfortable chairs instead.
The leather spine creaked softly when she turned to the first page - the book likely sitting unopened for many, many years - and the strong smell of old paper reached her nose. The ink had faded with time, and the elegant handwriting looked like it came from another era, but the words were still legible. The first paragraph confirmed that this endeavor would be as dry and monotonous as expected, but determination drove her forward. From what she could tell, this book had been drafted upon the creation of the Council hundreds of years ago. The opening preamble set out the monarchy's reasons for establishing a separate governing body - fairness, objectivity, representation. All ideals that Weiss believed in.
Learning so much from the introduction alone, she paused and retrieved her writing instruments from the desk so that she could take notes. As much as she loathed the Council now, her forefather's decision was admirable and probably viewed as forward-thinking at the time. If the Council had once been capable of so much good, then it could be again. All it took was the right leader.
Sometime later, a knock jolted her from the midst of a particularly wordy passage. After quickly noting the page, she stuffed her notes into the side of the chair and returned the book to the shelf so as not to draw suspicion.
"Come in," she called out once that was finished.
As soon as Ruby walked into the room, a small burst of chill tingled through Weiss' veins. The feeling only intensified when Ruby smiled and Weiss' thoughts were dragged back to yesterday, before everything horrible happened.
Ruby's endless generosity, grace, and beauty drew Weiss in and, even though they shouldn't be more than friends or allies, made her want more. The sorrow in Ruby's eyes, however, reminded her of more pressing matters.
"How are you doing?"
Ruby's soft voice suggested that speaking too loudly might scare Weiss away, but Weiss only wanted her to move closer.
"I'm…" Unsure of how to vocalize her turbulent emotions, Weiss sighed and shook her head. "I feel like...everything I've ever known is a lie."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
As usual, it was an open offer. Weiss could take it or not, and Ruby wouldn't be offended either way. But how could Weiss explain how upset their discovery made her? How could she describe the unease of learning just how much she didn't know? Because if she hadn't known the Phage was in Atlas...other large, possibly horrible secrets could be eluding her.
"I don't know what to say...I don't know...I don't even know how I feel."
"It's fine to feel that way," Ruby assured her, unlocking another deep sigh and more words.
"I'm mad," she added, opting to describe individual emotions rather than attempt an explanation for all of them. "I'm really mad. And sad. And...heartbroken."
She clasped her hands above her heart, where a dull ache thudded against her cold fingers. She wanted to make Atlas better...instead, it felt like things were getting worse. The sadness in Ruby's eyes was even more heartbreaking, reminding her that what happened in Atlas affected those far beyond their walls.
"Are you ok?" she asked quietly, only for her heart to clench when Ruby turned away.
"I've been better..."
Suddenly, Weiss worried that their kiss was a mistake. The hug, too. All of the physical affection. Had she misinterpreted Ruby's willingness to be close to her? Had she projected her own feelings of want onto Ruby?
"I didn't...overstep, did I?"
"What?" Ruby's eyes snapped back to Weiss and, after Weiss vaguely motioned to her lips, Ruby quickly closed the distance between them. "Of course not," Ruby said while resting a hand on Weiss' hip. "I'm...really happy about all that."
"Oh. That's...good."
The response left Weiss with more questions - most importantly, why Ruby looked so...heartbroken. If Weiss' behavior was acceptable - an unbelievable admission she would dwell on later - then that left one plausible explanation.
"The Phage…" As soon as the word left Weiss' lips, anguish returned to Ruby's silver eyes. "I'm so sorry…"
"It's not your fault."
"I know, but...I know how important it is to you. And I wanted to help. I thought I could…"
It broke Weiss' heart to see Ruby so sad, especially when she was helpless to fix it. She'd tried. She'd asked for all of Atlas' research in hopes that something was there, but...absent a miracle, she didn't know what else to do.
Ruby seemed to understand Weiss' sense of loss and, even through her despair, mustered a tiny smile. Somehow, Weiss only felt worse that Ruby was trying to make her feel better after everything that had happened. Determined to return that support in some way, she reached up and, after a brief hesitation, gently touched Ruby's cheek. When Ruby closed her eyes and leaned into Weiss' palm, Weiss' spark tried to leap right out of her grasp.
She loved that Ruby never moved away. She loved that it felt like Ruby wanted to be close to her, just as much as she wanted to be close to Ruby. She'd never felt that way with anyone before. In fact, she often felt like everyone would prefer to be rid of her presence.
Emboldened by the acceptance, she rolled onto the balls of her feet and, after another brief hesitation, pressed a light kiss to Ruby's lips. Feeling Ruby's soft lips on hers sent a chill through her veins, culminating in a breath of frost threatening to escape. She quickly dropped back to her heels instead, swallowing the cold while holding Ruby's earnest, searching gaze.
"I'm sorry I don't have the answer," she whispered, her fingers grazing Ruby's cheek before lightly weaving through short, feather-soft hair. "If you want to talk about it…"
"Talking about it will only make me sad." Ruby's voice cracked at the end of the sentence, so she cleared her throat and forced a quick smile. "I'll have plenty of time to be sad later."
Vaguely disappointed that Ruby didn't want to talk through those emotions, Weiss still nodded at the answer.
"In the meantime," Ruby continued, appearing to force herself into a better mood. "Have you heard anything about...you know, the treaty?"
"Nothing new, so it should be done sometime today."
"Great." After a few thoughtful nods, Ruby met Weiss' gaze and smiled - this smile a little closer to normal. "Until then...can I help with anything?"
"Ruby, you've already helped so much -"
"And I want to help more." When Ruby clasped Weiss' hands in hers, a small burst of chill traveled through Weiss' fingers. "I need a distraction. Plus...I really like helping you."
The honesty in Ruby's eyes quickly broke down Weiss' reservations. She didn't deserve such kindness from someone who'd borne the brunt of her father's fury for so long, but...Ruby, somehow, didn't tie Weiss to her father. That was a remarkable, freeing feeling. For Weiss' entire life, she'd wanted nothing to do with the man, and Ruby treated her like he never existed. Like his legacy would not be her own. Like she could be someone different, someone better.
"I'm reading about the Council," she admitted. Walking over to the bookshelf, she removed the book she'd started and handed it to Ruby.
"These books hold every law and legislation Atlas has ever passed," she explained while Ruby looked over the book in her hands. "If I learn how the Council works, I'll know how to get them to do what I want. And what I want is to end whatever's happening beneath that building and make life better for the people out there." Weiss jabbed a finger toward the window. "Not for the people in here."
After following Weiss' gesture to the window, Ruby's gaze slid back to Weiss and stayed. Before long, a smile lifted her lips.
"That's one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard."
Before Weiss could even blush, Ruby set the book down and grabbed her hands.
"Let me help," Ruby said, her eyes pleading with Weiss to agree. "I'll read with you."
Weiss didn't want to take advantage of Ruby's time, but she also craved Ruby's input just as much as Ruby's presence. Plus, of all the people in the Atlas, she trusted Ruby the most.
"You can start this one." Weiss grabbed the next book in the series and handed it to Ruby, who looked relieved to have something to do. "I'm looking for any details on how the Council operates - who's in charge, how they determine who's in charge, or what powers they do and don't have."
"Got it." Ruby headed over to the side of the room and plopped down in one of the chairs. "Basically, anything I'd want to know to take them down."
"Something like that."
Smiling at the phrase, Weiss picked up the book she'd started earlier and joined Ruby on the other side of the room. Since Ruby chose the chair Weiss had been using earlier, Weiss motioned to where she'd stashed the notebook between the cushions.
"Oh, do you want to sit here?"
Ruby scooted over to make room for Weiss beside her, but Weiss blushed at the idea of sharing such a small space.
"I just...needed this..." she mumbled, grabbing the notebook and showing it to Ruby before hurriedly sitting in the next closest chair. She briefly glanced up and noticed Ruby's blush, but quickly shook her head and tried not to think too much about it.
Ruby offered to share her seat. Did she want Weiss to sit with her? Was she disappointed that Weiss declined? Sharing a chair seemed fairly intimate but...kissing was even more intimate, and Weiss just initiated that on her own.
Before getting lost in uncertainty, Weiss opened the book and tried to focus on reading. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Ruby pull her legs up onto the chair and start reading from page one. Her adorably furrowed brow suggested that her concentration had returned much faster than Weiss' had, but Weiss always found Ruby's company equal parts comforting and distracting.
Just minutes separated from another unexpected kiss, the distracting part of that equation constantly tugged at the corner of her mind. If she didn't have other urgent matters demanding her attention, she could easily spend hours staring at Ruby, wondering what the Queen of Vale saw in her. She would much rather do that, actually, even though she didn't have much experience with matters of the heart. For now, she would do her best to focus on Atlas' problems...while spending as much time with Ruby as possible.
Reading about the Council's formation accomplished both desires, but she made it through only a few pages before wishing she'd had the courage to sit with Ruby. Of course, she probably wouldn't be able to concentrate if they were that close. With their sides and legs touching, and Ruby's warmth spreading to Weiss' side, and Ruby smelling like the most heavenly flowers…
When a different kind of heat spread through her veins, Weiss cleared her throat and forced her mind away from those thoughts. Once she finished the chapter, maybe she would let herself entertain them for a little while. Until then, she couldn't let her distraction prevent her from learning about the Council.
Unfortunately, the current chapter included excruciatingly detailed explanations of how Atlas would be divided into districts to select councilors. Specific street names were noted as boundaries. Maps were also included - those were at least somewhat interesting, as she marveled at how much Atlas had grown.
The next section addressed adding or subtracting districts if the population increased or decreased. Overall, the level of thought and effort that had gone into creating Atlas' representative government impressed her. She had taken the Council for granted - it seemed ill-applicable to her life but, for the people of Atlas, it had once been a very, very big deal.
A sigh pulled her away from those thoughts. Marking her place with one finger, she looked up and watched Ruby lean her head back against the chair.
"If I'd known this stuff was so boring, I would've bargained for a reward."
"What kind of reward?" Weiss asked only to blush when Ruby's gaze fell to her lips.
Knowing what Ruby was thinking about - not just thinking about, but suggesting - sent a flurry of cold down Weiss' spine, and she balled her fingers into fists to hide the frost spreading across them. Part of her still believed the first kiss was a fluke, and that Ruby only accepted the second as a gesture of comfort. But this was different. It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing. It wasn't affected by charged emotions. They were talking about it - discussing it - as something they both wanted to do. Again.
"It's never too late to...re-negotiate."
The anticipation that sparked in Ruby's eyes matched what Weiss felt in her heart. That anticipation combined with nerves when Ruby scooted to the edge of her seat, lightly bumping her knee against Weiss', and leaned closer.
"Really?" If Ruby had any idea what she was doing to Weiss' heart right now, her smile didn't let on. "Then how about...I'll read this entire thing for a kiss."
They'd been harmlessly flirting up until this point, but that word sent Weiss' heart stampeding through her chest.
Ruby was offering a kiss. Ruby was willing to kiss her again. All she had to do was accept. She knew that she shouldn't, but she couldn't tell her heart 'no.' Instead, she tried to maintain a semblance of composure while scooting closer.
"One kiss?" she asked, lowering the book to her lap. "Your help is remarkably cheap."
"A kiss from the Queen of Atlas? I think I'm valuing my help just right. Besides, how many people can claim they've had the pleasure?"
Spotting the honest question in Ruby's eyes, Weiss blushed and averted her gaze.
"Not many..."
She didn't want to come right out and say 'no one,' but she'd never been interested in someone the way that she was interested in Ruby. Even if she'd fancied someone, she wouldn't have trusted them enough to let them as close as she'd already let Ruby. Somehow, she knew that Ruby would never hurt her. Ruby was more likely to put herself in harm's way than let harm befall someone else.
When Ruby moved closer, letting their legs brush together, a thin wisp of frost unfurled through Weiss' lips. Thankfully, Ruby seemed to think nothing of Weiss' spark slipping free, likely believing it was nothing more than a sliver of spark that Weiss had no control over.
"So…we have a deal?"
Ruby's voice was hardly more than a whisper, but Weiss heard it clear as day. The smile tilting Ruby's lips and sparkling in her eyes made Weiss' heart race, and Weiss' breath chilled the moment Ruby leaned closer. If Weiss could think of anything other than Ruby in that moment, she might have come up with a witty response. Instead, she moved forward, and Ruby met her halfway.
As soon as their lips touched, Weiss' spark burst to life. Frost slipped through her veins, filling her with pleasant chill before dusting across her lips, quickly reaching Ruby's. She nearly ended the kiss when she heard Ruby's soft sound of surprise - she would have if Ruby's hand hadn't landed on the back of her neck and pulled her closer.
Instantly losing her hesitation, she melted into the feeling instead. Her fingers wove through Ruby's hair while their lips gently moved against each other, testing their boundaries and exploring at the same time. She could feel how much Ruby liked her - and liked this. Even though her lips were cold and her skittish heart sent out small blasts of chill, Ruby was enjoying it.
Weiss could easily fall in love with it.
She'd never wanted someone so close, but she wanted Ruby even closer. She wanted to chase this feeling of trust and desire as far as it led her. It was overwhelming, but she wasn't afraid. She could never be afraid of Ruby.
Only a knock on the door could destroy that moment, sending Weiss flying out of her seat and her heart to a frantic pace. Spotting the frost spilling from her lips, she waved the evidence away and cleared her throat.
"Come in."
Glancing at Ruby only deepened Weiss' blush at having been interrupted. Unmistakable desire filled Ruby's eyes, making her wonder what might have happened had the messenger arrived later. Unfortunately, he was here now, greeting her with a bow.
"Your Majesty. I have a message for Queen Rose."
If his brown hair and beige outfit hadn't marked him as an obvious outsider, his immediate deference to Ruby made it clear who he truly worked for. When Ruby hopped up to receive her message, however, he motioned that there was no physical note. Instead, he leaned over and whispered something in Ruby's ear. Whatever it was, her eyes widened before a frown settled upon her lips. Once the full message was relayed, she nodded to him.
"Tell her that I'm glad she's well but please be safe. I'll figure out what I can."
"Understood."
After bowing to Ruby, and then Weiss, the man hurried out of the room to complete his new task. A Knight immediately joined him in the hall, escorting him out of the palace under a watchful, suspicious gaze.
"Is everything alright?" Weiss asked once they left. Before answering, Ruby narrowed her eyes, puzzling through something before clenching and unclenching her fists.
"Someone sent an assassin after Yang." Weiss' brow instantly rose, but the shock hadn't fully sunk in before Ruby turned and waved toward the window. "Atlesian," she added, making Weiss' blood run cold. "Dyed their hair to blend in."
When Ruby turned a thoughtful, searching gaze on Weiss, Weiss shook her head.
"Ruby, I didn't send anyone after your sister - I swear."
"I don't think you did. But...do you know anyone who might have?"
Weiss couldn't describe her relief that Ruby believed her, and that Ruby returned to her side and rested a reassuring hand on her hip. Briefly overwhelmed by the display of trust, she cleared her throat and carefully considered the question.
Were there Councilors who wanted the war to continue? Yes. Would they stoop so low as to hire an assassin to remove one of Vale's queens and end the peace talks? Unfortunately...also yes.
"I don't know who," she answered honestly. "Any of the Councilors who want to keep fighting."
Ruby accepted the answer with a grim nod.
"It's either that or Cecelia's getting antsy…"
"Cecelia?"
"A mercenary," Ruby explained. "No war - no people to kill. I wouldn't put it past her to keep the war going just for fun."
Weiss wanted to believe that was the culprit, but she had a bad feeling that the treachery lurked in the Council. She wouldn't put it past them to go behind her back and do something like this. All they seemed to do was go behind her back, anyway.
"If it was someone in Atlas, we'll find them." When Ruby looked at her, brow still furrowed, Weiss nodded. "We'll find them, I promise. I won't tolerate anyone wishing harm on you or your sister."
Ruby's smile was an immeasurable relief. As was the way she stepped forward and rested both hands on Weiss' hips.
"You're worried."
"Of course I am," Weiss admitted, suddenly blinking away tears. "I don't want you to think I'd do something like that."
"Weiss...I know you wouldn't. You're too honest and kind to ever do that."
When Ruby gently cupped Weiss' cheek in one hand, Weiss' breath caught in her throat. Her skin tingled with cold seconds later, her spark begging to burst out while Ruby looked at her so tenderly. She wanted Ruby to kiss her again, reassuring her that this horrible news hadn't changed what they had.
The thought hardly crossed her mind before Ruby leaned forward and granted that wish.
Her heart jumped again, but it was easier than ever to melt into Ruby's embrace. Her confidence grew with every subsequent kiss, and with every touch Ruby gave her. Feeling Ruby's gentle hands slide up her sides, subtly clutching her closer, only made her hungry for more. This was the first time she could say she'd burned with anything - with desire and longing that made her heart ache. She wanted to believe that Ruby felt the same. She wanted to believe that Ruby not only supported her, but wanted her, in the same way she wanted Ruby.
Ruby's hands slid up her back as the kiss deepened. Far from overwhelmed, she pressed closer, her tongue slipping into Ruby's mouth while an undeniable heat grew between her legs. Again, the thought crossed her mind that they shouldn't be doing this, but the reasons were hard to care about. She didn't care who Ruby was outside of these walls. She didn't care about anything outside of the office. All that mattered was Ruby - the supportive, positive, beautiful person who she couldn't get enough of.
"Ruby..." she got out between kisses when she felt Ruby's fingers fiddle with the bottom of her shirt. If Ruby was requesting permission, she must know she already had it. If not, Weiss needed to make it clear.
When another knock sounded on the door, Weiss sighed while pulling away. She really wanted to know where those kisses led, but being interrupted every few minutes would make that impossible.
"Come in," she said, trying to sound business-like and not moderately annoyed. As the door opened, however, she moved closer to the desk and pretended to straighten some papers.
The second interruption was courtesy of Councilor Hill, who hardly glanced at Ruby before striding over to the desk. Councilor Ironwood was right behind her.
"Your Highness," Councilor Hill greeted Weiss before offering Ruby a half bow. "Queen Rose. We have the Atlas-Vale Treaty for your approval."
She attempted to hand the document to Weiss, but Weiss motioned for her to give it to Ruby instead. Ruby had more experience with this than Weiss, and she trusted Ruby to point out any errors. Plus, after learning about the assassination attempt, she wanted to watch the Councilors' reactions to handing something so important to Ruby.
If Councilor Ironwood's frown was any indication, he didn't enjoy it. Councilor Hill also gave Ruby a wary gaze before handing over the document. What Weiss couldn't decide was whether something more dangerous lurked behind their vanity. Just how loyal were they? Councilor Ironwood had always been helpful and guided her through those early days. But how much of that was for her, for Atlas, or for himself?
Councilor Hill was much harder to read. From her position in the Council, she'd done enough to earn the respect of her peers and the people of Atlas. But how was that respect earned? Weiss' father was also well-respected, but due to his use of intimidation and fear rather than any ability to lead. While Weiss tried to puzzle that out, the two Councilors watched Ruby read the treaty. Ruby hadn't made it very far, however, before lowering the pages in her hands.
"You...want us to give you the Badlands?"
"What?" Weiss asked while Councilor Hill pursed her lips and nodded.
"Yes. The Council insisted that it be included."
"Vale has proven inept at managing the area," Councilor Ironwood added. "Letting corruption and disease rule the streets -"
"But we don't own the Badlands," Ruby interrupted. "We can't give you something we don't own."
"You can oversee a peaceful takeover."
"A peaceful…" Not even finishing that sentence, Ruby shook her head and turned to Weiss. "Weiss, you know we can't do that. We promised Blake we'd help restore the Badlands and give them their own representation -"
"You can't be serious," Councilor Ironwood butted in. "They've shown no capability to run their lives, let alone manage a government of their own."
"Yeah, because your army spends all day destroying everything they have," Ruby snapped before turning back to Weiss. "Weiss, you know I can't sign this. The Badlands need to be rebuilt, but not under Atlas rule. Not under anyone's rule except the people living there."
"This is one item the Council won't compromise on," Councilor Ironwood stated, squaring his shoulders while Councilor Hill scowled at him. "Either Vale cedes the Badlands or we won't accept the treaty. We'll restore the area to its former glory -"
"By putting Atlesian troops on our doorstep!" Ruby shouted at him. "That's not a peace treaty - that's encroachment!"
When Councilor Ironwood merely scoffed, Ruby again turned to Weiss.
"Weiss, you can't think this is right. We made a promise and we have to keep it."
While everyone waited for her response, Weiss scrambled to find an acceptable solution. She had promised Blake - and Ruby, in a way - that the Badlands would be restored and given representation in Vale and Atlas. But immediately siding with Ruby would look suspicious. Ruby represented their 'enemies,' after all. Weiss so quickly taking her side might give away that they were a little too friendly.
"Is everything else acceptable?" she asked quietly instead. She knew it was the wrong response when hurt flashed through Ruby's eyes.
"Read it yourself."
After tossing the pages onto the desk, Ruby disappeared in a gust of wind.
"Ruby -" Weiss tried to say, but Ruby was already gone. Left in the wake of her sudden departure, Councilor Hill signed and shook her head while Councilor Ironwood clicked his tongue. Weiss, meanwhile, grabbed the treaty and skimmed the paragraphs. Midway through the second page, she found it. Written clear as day: 'The Kingdom of Vale shall forfeit all authority over the area commonly known as The Badlands to the Kingdom of Atlas, and will oversee a peaceful takeover.'
Seeing it in print made her blood boil. She'd trusted the Council to write something equal and fair. Apparently, that trust had been woefully misplaced.
"Rewrite this," she ordered, shoving the document into Councilor Hill's hands. "Remove that passage."
"But Your Highness, the Council -"
"I don't care what the Council thinks!" she shouted, making the woman step back in surprise. "Remove that passage immediately. This is supposed to be a peace treaty. It's our duty to act in good faith and make sacrifices to prove our intent. This isn't the opportunity for personal gain."
"You're missing the point, Your Highness," Councilor Ironwood cut in. "Vale is weak. The Phage is ravaging their troops. This is the perfect time to extract a concession."
Aghast at the response, Weiss could only stare. They didn't want a concession from Vale, they wanted a concession from Ruby, who'd been nothing but sweet, kind, and honest ever since Weiss met her.
"Go back to the Council," she said, lowering her voice as her anger boiled over. "And remove that passage. I won't sign anything with that clause in it, and neither will she."
His brow rose at the order, and Councilor Hill shot him an unamused scowl, but Weiss stormed out of the room before either of the Councilors could respond. She was so angry that she could practically feel her skin burning - a stark contrast to the usual cold.
For as mad as she was at the Council though, she was mostly mad at herself. She trusted them and shouldn't have. Then she tried to play peacemaker and upset Ruby.
Knowing that she hurt Ruby weighed on her heart as she hurried through the halls of the palace. She had to apologize and assure Ruby that she intended to keep every promise she'd made. If that dragged things out longer then so be it - they would get this done the right way.
Quickly reaching Ruby's chambers, she knocked on the door before waiting for a response. Several seconds passed before she knocked again. "Ruby," she said, leaning against the door and listening for any sound of movement beyond. "Please open the door. I need to talk to you."
More silence.
Desperation growing, she was about to try again when the door behind her opened and James walked into the hall.
"James," she said in relief. "Where's Ruby? I need to talk to her."
"Sorry, I'm not sure where Queen Rose is right now."
Faced with James' impassive expression, Weiss shook her head.
"What do you mean, you don't know where she is? You always know where she is."
"I'm afraid that at this particular moment I do not."
Weiss knew it was a lie, but James didn't back away from it. He must know where Ruby went. Otherwise, he would be worried to hear that Weiss was searching for her. Understanding that he had no intention of helping - either because Ruby told him not to or because he just didn't like her - Weiss spun around and hurried away. She had no idea where Ruby went, but she wouldn't stop looking until she found her.
