The Nightingale
Chapter 11: Tea
Rukia didn't like the idea of an arranged marriage and she didn't like the princes because she knew that princes only had to reach out a hand to get what they wanted; however, what she really didn't like was the inability to choose over her life. If she had been a man then she would not have to be serving the queen, she would not have the possibility of an arranged marriage, regardless of whether she was with a prince, a widower or whoever is.
If she were a man her life would be a little easier and a little more hers. If she were a man she could be like her brother, she could have a similar life to her brother and find love on a journey; just like it had happened to him.
If she were a man then she wouldn't have to prove to the queen that her virginity was intact.
Breakfast was like every day. They were all seated at the table except Nelliel who was having breakfast with Prince Kaien; the Favorites weren't too happy about it and Senna made a very nasty comment about Nelliel and the princes.
— When the princes see how boring Nelliel is, they will immediately send her home and I will have the opportunity to be with one of them. Don't be surprised if I become queen, Prince Kaien will fall in love with me on the Night of Souls.
— Seriously Senna, don't you have something better to think about than ending up in one of the princes' bed? It's disgusting — Rukia complained because she was already tired of that topic.
— Disgusting your clothes that makes it look like your family fell out of favor a long time ago. — Senna sipped some orange juice before continuing to speak. — If you had seen Prince Kaien, you would know why he is so desired but you were not there, even better, because with your clothes he would not even have seen you.
— Just like he didn't see you? I mean… I see you having breakfast with us and not with him. — Rukia sneered.
Senna got angry and poured the juice that was left in her glass over Rukia, soaking her completely.
— Sorry, my hand shook. You should change your clothes, tell Kiyone to lend you one of her dresses, the maid clothes look good on you.
— I'm going to kill you! — Rukia yelled, she needed to take out all the anger that charged against Senna.
She got up from her seat and pulled Senna by the hair with one hand, with the other hand she pulled the pearl necklace that she was wearing along with the sleeve of one of her dress, the fabric gave way very easily and the pearls fell to the floor. Rukia was pulling hard on her hair, along with her clothes, and Senna screamed like she was killing her. They both ended up on the floor, there were screams and scratches from both of them.
No one stopped them, not the other Favorites or Orihime, she encouraged Rukia to hit Senna harder, and if the Kahya had not entered the room at that moment, only the Deities would know what had happened.
— What's going on here? — The Kahya yelled causing everyone to get up from their seats. Rukia was on Senna, she had stopped hitting her and several strips of fabric from Senna's dress were lying on the floor. The fabric was really old. — Separate them!
Orihime helped Rukia up, she was also covered in scratches and her hair was messy but she looked less hurt than Senna; Riruka picked up Senna, she looked like she was going to cry and had blood dripping from her lip. That ridiculous expression made Rukia want to laugh, she couldn't believe that she was so manipulative.
— What happened here? — The Kahya asked again without taking her eyes off both of them.
— I have no idea. That savage lunged at me! I did nothing. — Senna was the first to speak, taking Kahya's full attention, and pointing a finger at Rukia.
— That's true? — Rukia felt the calm and dangerous gaze of the Kahya on her.
— Yes, I hit her but it was after she poured the juice on me. — Rukia didn't say more. She wasn't going to advocate for herself, she had felt so good beating Senna that she didn't care if they punished her or not.
Senna immediately started to protest but the Kahya raised her hand to silence her, the woman didn't feel like hearing protests and besides, she didn't like Senna as much as Rukia.
— Senna, I will write to your father to let him know of such disrespect. I'm sure he'll be embarrassed to learn that his daughter has incited a physical attack. — The Kahya turned to see Rukia, who was still standing in her place along with Orihime. — Grand Councilor Kuchiki will know this too, I will leave your punishment to him, Miss Kuchiki. Now you two go to change your clothes, the dressmaker will bring the dresses that you will wear tomorrow on the Night of the Souls.
— Yes ma'am. — Rukia said bowing to the Kahya before walking away with Orihime behind her.
Most of them were trying on the dresses the dressmaker had worn, the Favorites had chosen the fabrics and appliqués weeks before, knowing that the Night of Souls was a gala event; when they found out that the princes would arrive for that day, they returned to visit the dressmaker to add or remove more things.
Orihime was trying on her dress too but Rukia had nothing to do there, she had tried on her dress the afternoon that she had gone to eat with her father, he had chosen the fabric along with everything else, even the jewelry that she was going to wear he had chosen; it was pieces of jewelry that existed since before the Fall, when the daughters of the Lord of Maranni were princesses and became queens, not like at that time when they had an arranged marriage to avoid an "uprising" against the king of Avanta.
The men who had signed the Accords were dead, the sons of those men too, there were no people left who had really been on the Night of the Fall, but those kings had signed that paper with blood and everyone's life was governed by that signature.
However, her father was right, she must remember that she was the daughter of the Lord of Maranni; it was time to stop running from her obligations and hide. Her mother had protected her all her life, but her mother was not there and she was no longer a child; she was Rukia Kuchiki, she descended from kings and queens older than the lineage of Avanta.
She had nothing to do there and decided it was better to go see the female doctor, there was no use postponing the visit to the woman and she had to talk to the queen anyway. She said goodbye to Orihime, who was checking that her dress was bigger than it should be, and walked through the corridors until she reached the doctor's room who was already waiting for her.
The female doctor was a very young woman, or so it seemed, perhaps it was to give confidence to the women who lived in the castle and not feel ashamed to go with her.
— Please change your clothes, I must check that you are healthy. — The doctor spoke in a gentle and soft voice.
Rukia did everything the woman asked of her and in the end she lay down on the bed.; she knew that revision was natural among women but it was still uncomfortable for her.
— You are a little hurt. — The doctor commented when the check-up was over and Rukia started putting her clothes back on.
— I guess so, yesterday I was riding a horse, it was the first time I did. — She said trying to sound calm. The woman nodded and wrote something on parchment.
— Yes, it can happen. Just that, your body looks healthy. Take this to the queen. — The doctor handed her the folded parchment that had been carefully sealed with black lacquer so that no one would read its contents. — You can go now.
Rukia nodded and put the paper in one of her pockets to walk through the same corridors to reach the queen's rooms. She was hoping to meet the soldier in the corridor again but that did not happen, perhaps he had already left the castle; he had told her that he was leaving in the morning.
She stood in front of the door to the queen's room and the guards let her in. The queen was waiting for her and, after she paid her respects to the queen, she brought her the folded parchment the doctor had given her. The queen took it and began to read it with a calm that was disturbing; when the queen finished reading the doctor's words, she smiled at her with a motherly gesture and invited her to sit next to her.
— Join me for a cup of tea, Rukia. — Said the queen pouring her a cup of tea that had too strong a scent.
Rukia did not refuse and sat next to the queen, in one of the chairs in that living room. She was nervous, her hands were sweating and she just waited for the queen to start talking but the woman was just drinking her coffee in silence.
— Your Majesty, yesterday… — She started to speak but the queen had put her coffee cup aside, interrupting her.
— You were sick yesterday. — The queen said bluntly. — Can you imagine the disgrace your father and family would suffer if they found out that you left the castle with a soldier? You are here under my care and protection, but I can't take care of you if you happily go off with the first man who talks nice to you. I thought there was more common sense in you. You are going to drink that tea, now, in front of me.
The queen pointed to the cup of tea in front of her.
— But, your majesty, I don't...
— I don't care! Riding a horse? Do you think I was born yesterday? — The queen asked, crumpling up the paper she had brought her. — Now, drink it.
The queen ordered and Rukia had no choice but to drink the tea the queen had served for her. The tea was bitter and she could taste the cinnamon along with the basil mixed together with other herbs that she could not distinguish. The queen's gaze was fixed on her and she didn't stop staring at her until she set the cup on the completely empty table. Rukia was angry and felt like crying, but the anger was greater.
— I should punish you by forbidding you to go to the Night of Souls dance but I promised your father that you would be healthy for that night. You are the daughter of one of the councilors although I doubt very much that you understand your position in the castle; I don't even know if you understand your father's position.
— I do understand my father's position. — Rukia whispered trying to contain all the emotions and nausea that the tea had caused her.
— Prove it. I gave you permission to refuse gifts from princes, don't make me reconsider my words and treat you like other girls. — The queen threatened and Rukia turned to look at her in panic.
— I promise, Your Majesty, I will behave properly. — Rukia's voice was almost a plea.
The queen seemed pleased by those words and held out one of her hands to be kissed; it was the signal that this talk was over and gave her permission to go.
Rukia got out of there and had to hold the urge to scream until she was sure no one could hear her. The tea was disgusting and the thought that she might ever drink it again gave her a chill but she could only accept the queen's words.
Rukia didn't want to go back to the room but she had to, deep down if Senna bothered her again then she could hit her again but that was not convenient; she had to calm down and think of a good lie for when her father asked her why she had been ill the day before.
Lies and more lies.
Upon entering the room she found the Favorites surrounding Nelliel who seemed to be the center of attention; surely for having gone to breakfast with the prince; maybe he "had her for breakfast," and they wanted to know the details.
— Rukia, come. Nelliel didn't want to talk until you were here. — Orihime's voice sounded optimistic, but Rukia could tell by the way her eyes moved that she was nervous.
— The beggar is here, now tell us what you have there. — Senna spoke with contempt without looking at Rukia. She was more focused on what Nelliel was holding in her hands.
Rukia noticed that Nelliel was carrying a small wooden box, it was like a jewelry box but very simple. Surely she wanted to show them some gift from the prince. Nelliel cleared her throat a bit before speaking.
— Prince Kaien sends them welcome gifts. — The Favorites got excited and got closer to Nelliel.
Rukia could see that the jealous expression on their faces had changed to a friendlier one upon hearing that it was a gift from the prince.
— A welcome gift? — Riruka asked clearly interested in the jewelry box Nelliel was holding.
— Yes, Prince Kaien hopes that you will feel comfortable staying at the castle, and he would be honored if you would use the gift he sent to you at the ball tomorrow.
The Favorites were very moved by those words and, at the moment that Nelliel opened the jewelry box, Rukia could see that there were some small rings, very simple compared to the jewels that royalty wore, it's just a small gold hoop with a stone, each a different color.
— The prince does not know which one you would like, so he hopes that you will choose the one you like the most. — Nelliel explained.
She let the Favorites pick their rings first because they looked like they were going to take the jewelry box out of her hands if they didn't pick first.
Rukia could see that Nelliel wore a similar ring, perhaps a little more elaborate than the ones in the jewelry box, and she guessed that the prince chose it especially for her. That explained why Nelliel seemed so neutral, she knew one of the princes and knew exactly where she was.
— Choose your ring. — Nelliel handed the jewelry box to Rukia.
She hadn't been at the king's welcome, so she didn't expect there to be something for her, but there were two rings left in the jewelry box, one for her and one for Orihime; Nelliel had told the prince that a lady was missing from that welcome.
— Orihime first. — She gave up her turn and Orihime chose a ring with a small orange stone, as her hair. — I do not accept the gift of the prince, I have the permission of the queen to reject any gift that the princes send.
— Did the queen give you permission to refuse gifts from princes? — Loly's voice caught her attention.
— If you don't want it, I'll keep it. — Senna said trying to take the ring but Nelliel closed the jewelry box and put it away.
— Yes, the queen gave me permission. It is the only thing you should know.
— She is the daughter of Grand Councilor Kuchiki. — Nelliel's voice caught everyone's attention. The expression of the Favorites gave her to understand that they had not noticed her last name. Rukia smirked.
— And my father spoke to the queen to avoid having to find me a husband when the princes get bored with me.
That was a low blow for the Favorites, between all they stopped Senna, who wanted to return Rukia's blows from breakfast but Rukia just looked at Orihime and they ran out of that room before something else happened.
From the hallway, as they ran laughing, Rukia and Orihime could hear Senna's screams swearing that she would regret what she said and the blows she had given her. They did not stop until they reached one of the gardens in the castle, a bit far from the queen's rooms and it was at that moment that Orihime asked what she had discussed with the queen.
— The queen forced me to drink a tea.
Rukia began to tell him what had happened since she left the room until she returned; she hadn't told Orihime everything that happened with the soldier so she had to be careful what she said if she wanted to avoid being caught in the lie. She felt guilty for lying to her but that secret was only hers.
Many thanks to everyone who reads this story.