EDEN
- Part II -
"My Lord, this is where my service ends." Miriam stood before the members of the House of Aurum, the three youngsters with golden hair and bright blue eyes. She held the door of the mansion open for them, revealing the grand interiors of the said House. It was the same house used by the former king, had he not been slain by the other participants of the selection.
Len narrowed his eyes at the glossy, checkered tiles. He had been to houses of nobles before, but the mansion owned by the House of Aurum was the grandest of them all. It wasn't surprising though, this used to be the residence of the past rulers. His bright blue eyes looked over his shoulder to see his cousin's reaction, and he saw that Rinto was also in awe. It turned out that only Rin was loud enough to express admiration. She was gaping with bliss overwhelming her face. Then his gaze shifted from his sister to the said caretaker. Miriam was certainly a noble, but she acted rather too subservient to be one. So this was what loyalty could do, huh? Transform nobles to act like housemaids? If he'd be the king, would his subordinates do the same.
No, of course. The last king was put to death by his own people – or rivals to the throne. In this game of survival, Len couldn't trust no one. Not even himself.
"I wonder why does it end, Miriam?" Len pushed Rin's wheelchair forward to the huge wooden doors Miriam held open for them. Rinto quietly walked after Len, casting fleeting gazes as they entered. It was such a gallant house of shining ivory and golden tapestries. No wonder why this was called the House of Aurum.
Len noticed that the woman did not walk in after them. She remained standing on the doorway with the keys on her hand and her smile not fading. When the blond glowered at her unresponsiveness, the woman bowed her head. He wasn't sure what her bow meant–it was making him uncomfortable.
"My daughter would be participating in the selection. It was a rule set by the consejo de rigueur that if a member of the family joins the selection, the family in-charge of the House would have to withdraw from their jobs of maintaining the place." The woman turned aside as though she was signalling someone to come in. Or perhaps, she really was. Soon stepped in between the wide opened doors a lady around Len and Rinto's age. Her long teal hair fell a few inches above her waist. Her sea-green eyes were so vivid and empty. Lips pursed together in a thin line, she stood wordlessly beside Miriam. "This is my daughter, Miku Unschuld. Expect loyalty from us, my lord. Unschuld was one of the founding fathers of the House of Aurum."
The girl bowed her head before them. Miriam urged the girl so-called Miku to walk inside, her whispers of 'take care' followed the silent lady. Len watched the two closely, trying to decipher if it was sincerity he could see and hear from Lady Miriam. In this selection he couldn't trust anyone, he reminded himself, not even the people who openly swore their faithfulness to him. The door closed before her, golden rays of light faded away. With a loud click, the last member of the House of Aurum was locked inside with the three Summers.
They studied each other with an immense silence. Hostile glares were all Len could give her, but she remained calm under his fiery glower. She was unaffected by the same look Rinto was giving her, supposing that every first meetings would always work this way. First impression and bullshit. How tiring. The blonde girl who had a delighted face seeing her.
"You have me as your sword, sires. Do not fear," Miku spoke in a flat tone. "I will clear the way for whosoever this House chooses to be the king."
"My lady, we do not wish to succeed the throne," Len started to push Rin's chair away from the new girl. It was such a silly introduction to declare her intentions of winning the throne for their House. He only wished to get his sister out of this mess. If showing disinterest towards the throne meant their safety, he would willingly give up his claim. "Do as you wish."
Rinto watched his cousin leave. It was very cold of Len to treat a member of the House that way, but he couldn't blame the guy otherwise. When the ceremony started at St. Elmo's Church, the first borne of the primary house of Summers had put on his apathetic mask. Len was emanating an icy aura just to show the other Houses that he wasn't a coward. Even Rinto feared how deadly Len's eyes were as he looked ahead while walking on the aisle. There were only three members of the House of Aurum who had attended the ceremony, while the other houses had all the four.
Rinto was seated behind the House of Rouge, the redhead people. Their tenet, strength. Them being the bullies of the Aurum would be an understatement. They were laughing when the two Summers walked in, and Rinto heard how the eldest son – Mikio Fort – claimed the victory of their House. Aurum didn't look as wise as their tenet, said the arrogant ginger-head.
Rinto didn't miss how the House of Noir smirked when their eyes gazed on the invalid girl. Their ebony black hair were as dark as their silence. Rinto thought as much; he had predicted that when other Houses saw Rin, they would alienate the Summers. Nevertheless the House of Weiss was the kindest among the contestants of the selection. The white-haired people never looked at the Summers. At least through that Rinto hadn't heard any declarations of superiority against the House of Aurum. Though silence spoke for the Weiss.
He heaved a sigh as Len turned down a corridor. It was just him and the last member of the House who did not show up during the ceremony. Now thinking of that, what could be the reason? Turning around, Rinto faced the teal-haired girl. She was obviously the strangest among all because of her unique hair. Weird though it was, the House of Aurum would be the apple of the selection's eyes. All houses had one thing in common, each had a unique color on them. The House of Rouge was composed of redheads; House of Weiss, the bleak-haired; House of Noir, the dark-haired; and supposedly Aurum, the blonds. But seeing the missing fourth member with teal hair, well...never mind the colors. Rinto would try to convince himself that Aurum wasn't the House's name because of the prominent golden hair.
"Good day, my lady. What is your name again?" Rinto bowed to her and smiled when he rose. She had the stoic expression, apathetic like Len's pretense, as her cold stare seemed to pierce through him.
"Miku Unschuld, sire. And you are?"
What an icy voice, he thought to himself. "I am Rinto Summers. Len and Rin's cousin. Those two were from the lineage of the king. So basically I am here to clear the path for them, too. I hope we will get along really well, Lady Unschuld."
Miku nodded. "We have no choice but to get along, sire. But that account aside, I just wish Len Summers will change his mind about his claim to the throne. After all this house was supposed to rule a century ago. The privilege must remain here because the throne was vacated unexpectedly."
Rinto smiled, satisfied to hear that this girl was siding him. He wanted Len to be the king too; it was only Len who didn't want to. "Now I understand why most Houses are hostile towards us. May I ask why you share that view, though? That Len must be the king?"
"Most Houses? Aren't they all?" Miku walked towards the grand staircase before them, her heels thudded at every step. She had seen so much for her age, had learned the part of history kept secret from today's generation. Now a youth of the rightful House was asking why she wished Aurum to rule Adheres? There could only be one reason: "The victory has been ours ever since, Sir Rinto. So be wary of the other families. I promise you that I will make this House win. My upbringing is solely for the purpose of annihilating people who'd try to hinder our way."
The selection of Eden was a bloody game for all Houses that claim the throne. While the consejo de rigueur hadn't issued the task yet, she would do her best to train Rinto and Len into battle and train the other girl into using her wisdom. Sooner or later someone would start the hunt, and it would be a miracle if the consejo's goal of making this selection less savage would succeed. But until then, Miku wouldn't let her guard down. The House of Aurum should rule Adheres, that was all that mattered right now.
Above everything else, no one but this House should know the gift of Eden.