The Nightingale

Chapter 24: Tricks

Spring - March. Year x492

Spring used to arrive with a warm sun, a pleasant heat and a cold shade, also with the song of the birds that made their nests in the trees of the forest that surrounded the castle and the cliff, but it is not the only thing that arrived with that new season of the year, also came the promotion of Ulquiorra as one of the Generals of the kingdom.

It was an event that Ulquiorra had been waiting for since Orihime had become the Inamorata of Prince Ichigo. He knew that his promotion was near, but he did not stop harboring his doubts regarding what the prince had told him; Ichigo had promised Ulquiorra that he would have his support so that Orihime could marry him.

The promotion ceremony was in the Dome, where Ulquiorra swore in front of all the members of the council, both princes and the king, that he would protect the kingdom with his life. However, while swearing in front of the king, he kept remembering the conversation he had with Prince Ichigo at the beginning of that strange relationship: Prince Ichigo wanted a man completely loyal to him, not loyal to the kingdom, loyal to him.

There were so many things that could go wrong in the plans that the prince had entrusted to him, but still Ulquiorra decided to follow the plans of the future Commander-in-Chief; because it was what Ulquiorra needed to be able to marry Orihime without the Lord of Eikaran refusing.

Ulquiorra was no longer a simple soldier, he was a General and, if everything went as planned, he would be one of the six commanders who were under Ichigo's direct orders. Before they left the Dome that day, Ichigo said something that, although it caught everyone's attention, seemed unimportant.

— General Cifer, I would like you to do me one last favor before you begin your duties. Could you escort my Inamorata to Eikaran tomorrow? If his majesty doesn't object to this. — Ichigo said looking at the king who only nodded to what the Second Prince said.

That was what Ulquiorra was waiting for, that they would let him take Orihime and be able to do what they had to do, if everything went well, when Ulquiorra returned to Adelaar, he would already be married to Orihime.

— Yes, your Highness. I'll make sure that Miss Inoue arrives safely at her home. — He answered and bowed to those present before leaving the Dome to prepare everything for that trip.

Ulquiorra was happy, but he didn't show it and he didn't want to do it, he didn't want to celebrate in advance because he didn't want happiness to slip through his fingers.

—

After all other matters were dealt with at that meeting, the councilors rose bowing to the king, who was finishing reviewing some documents. That was Ichigo's moment, because if he wanted to do it, that was the right moment, there was no more time to lose.

— Father, I would like to speak with you. — He had been aware that he had said "father" and not "your majesty," which meant that what they were going to speak was not a matter of the kingdom. — Alone.

Ichigo looked at Kaien who had remained standing in his place.

— Sure, I don't pretend to hear what you have to say to our father. — Kaien's voice, as melodious and lively as ever, angered Ichigo, but Kaien withdrew from the Dome leaving him alone with the king.

— What do you want us to talk about, my son? — The king asked curiously after they were both left alone in the Dome.

— It's about Orihime. — Ichigo said without taking his eyes off his father, who made a surprised gesture and then a sly smile.

Sometimes Ichigo forgot that he didn't really know his father at all, and that usually kings used to have lovers; but still he didn't expect that smile from his father.

— Are you interested in her? — The king asked, with a very obvious doubt.

Ichigo thanked Kaien, who had unknowingly taught him how to behave in front of the king.

Like a bastard.

— She is beautiful and very accommodating. I wish she had a house on the outskirts of town. — He said that with that sly smile that he hoped his father understood. No man asks for a house for her lover unless that he wanted more time with her.

— A house here? — His father asked with the same sly smile. — The girl is going to marry a Lord that her brother chooses, surely she is going to live in another city, why do you want the girl to have a house here? — Ichigo knew what his father wanted to hear.

— I want her to be my lover. — Ichigo said without thinking about it anymore.

— You could have chosen her as your wife. You broke the engagement with the daughter of the Lord of Maranni, nothing prevented you from taking Orihime as your wife. — The king was confused.

— I know, father. You've let me make my own decisions and that makes me happy, but the truth is that I like the Kuchiki girl, and I've been thinking about it. I have long read the Accords of the Fall and I know the function of that marriage; I would not like the Lord of Maranni to see a weakness in the kingdom and think that, because I did not marry his daughter, he may have a chance that little by little his lands will once again be his. The fertile lands of Maranni are what have kept us rich in food, and I consider my marriage to the Kuchiki girl to be of vital importance to the kingdom.

— Is that why you have been with her, even after breaking the engagement? — The king asked with a raised eyebrow.

— Of course, father. She did not want to marry me and her father seemed to support that idea, what better way to have that marriage than to fall in love with the girl and make her believe that her opinion matters in something. — Ichigo said shrugging his shoulders with slight nonchalance. — From what I have seen of her, she is not an easy woman to deal with, it is better to make her believe that the decisions she makes are hers and not because someone is forcing her.

The king let see the surprise in his expression at his son's words, and Ichigo knew he was telling his father what his father wanted to hear.

— And you want Orihime to have a house here so you can see her, don't you? — The king asked with a sly smile.

— Yes, I could ask you to let Orihime stay in the castle but my mother wouldn't allow it, so I guess Orihime better have a house on the outskirts so I could go see her without the pressure of my future wife behind me.

Ichigo knew that he had hit the mark when he saw his father smile; it was no secret to anyone that Kaien's mother and his own mother had lived together in the castle, and that had been tragic; so asking his father for a house for his Inamorata didn't sound so bad.

— I'll talk to Councilor Kyoraku about that, but in case he says yes, what's going to happen to the girl's husband? Her brother will choose her husband.

— True, the Lord of Eikaran will choose her husband, but would he refuse a suggestion of a husband given by the king himself? Besides ... General Ulquiorra seems like a good prospect for a husband. — Ichigo said with the same sly smile.

The king's eyes shone in a way that Ichigo hadn't seen before, he could almost tell that his father was proud of what they had spoken. Ichigo didn't understand why his father should be proud of that, Ichigo was clearly telling him that he was going to cheat on his wife with a girl, and that he was just playing with Rukia's feelings.

Was he really the kind of son the king expected him to be? Kaien was the same way and that was why he was his father's favorite? For a moment he thought that he was facing a snake.

At the end of that talk, Ichigo was the last to leave the Dome and it was no surprise to find Kaien hidden behind one of the pillars, Kaien seemed to be very happy about something, and Ichigo guessed that he had been listening to the entire conversation with the king.

— Wow! What would the Kuchiki girl say if she found out that the prince who crowned her on the Day of the Roses only wants her as an object? — Kaien spoke with amusement in his voice.

— I don't know, I suppose Nelliel already knows that she is an object to you, so I have nothing to threaten you with.

— Be careful what you say, little brother. — Kaien threatened to Ichigo, without removing the smile.

— I tell you the same thing, older brother, but unfortunately I have nothing to threaten you with; so go tell the Kuchiki girl what you heard, avoid my marriage to her and give Maranni a chance to believe that we are weak. Our father is surely going to love that result. — Ichigo turned his back on Kaien to go the other way; he was certain that he had managed to get that idea into the mind of his father, trusting that no king wanted to lose his kingdom.

— Maybe I will, and I'll marry her. — Ichigo turned his head to see him out of the corner of his eye.

— Do it then. Marry her. You are the future king, I don't think she will tell you no; just don't let her walk near the cliff, she is a bit clumsy and can fall over.

That last thing hadn't been a threat, but it suited him to let Kaien know that he knew things too. Ichigo didn't wait for an answer from Kaien, he knew that Rukia would be angry if she found out what he had talked about with the king and, to some extent, she could take it for granted if she didn't know what was really going on. Ichigo trusted Rukia and hoped that she would trust him too.

The king agreed to what Ichigo had asked of him in the afternoon, and for dinner, he had handed over the deeds to the house that Ichigo had requested, along with a letter to Orihime's brother.

— I spoke with the Money Councilor; he said that we could afford a house for your lover, although he did not seem happy that it is precisely for your lover. You have behaved as I always expected you to and, although it does not make up for all the years we were apart, I cannot deny you something that is easy for me to give you.

— Father, your gift makes me very happy.

It was at that moment that Ichigo was certain that his father was being moved by the guilt of not making him heir to the throne and decided that, although he could take advantage of that, he would not. Not at that time.

After speaking with his father, he went to see Orihime to break the news that Ulquiorra had been promoted to General.

— This is your last night as my Inamorata. Tomorrow morning Ulquiorra will take you to Eikaran to prepare your wedding, as the laws dictate. — He said pulling out two perfectly folded scrolls, each bearing the king's seal. — One is so that your brother does not oppose your choice of husband, although if your uncle has made him aware of the situation, he will not have to. The other is for you, it is the house that I promised you, it is in your name; it is yours.

— Thank you very much, Your Highness. — He heard Orihime say and the happiness in her voice was contagious. Ichigo knew that she was a good person and that she deserved good things to happen to her.

— Rukia will come out to say goodbye to you, in the morning. — Ichigo added taking Orihime's hands to kiss them in gratitude. — Live a long and happy life, Orihime, and when you have a child with Ulquiorra, let me meet him.

Rukia left her room very early to say goodbye to her friend, she knew that she would not see Orihime again for a while, but her friend had promised that she would invite her to her home in Eikaran; Rukia knew that Orihime was going to marry Ulquiorra, so she wished her good luck and happiness.

Rukia was happy for her friend, Orihime had found happiness in the person who corresponded to her feelings; Rukia understood the reasons why Ichigo had chosen Orihime as Inamorata. Rukia understood the deal the money councilor had proposed to Ichigo, and she understood that her friend's smile was her because she was really saved by Ichigo.

She still remembered Orihime's fear of being chosen as Inamorata, Rukia had seen Orihime tremble because of that and, although they both had different reasons for not wanting to be the princes' lover, Rukia could understand her friend.

May the Deities take care of you; dear friend.

Rukia entered the castle and headed towards the queen's room to take her classes for the day, but when she entered, she realized that Prince Kaien was with the queen. That was slightly uncomfortable, she had not been with Prince Kaien, in the same room, since the incident of the fake kidnapping.

— Your Majesty, Your Highness, I didn't mean to interrupt. I retire. — Rukia said bowing but the queen prevented her from leaving the room.

— Miss Rukia, you are the person we were waiting for. — Kaien's voice made her turn to look at him curiously. The queen made a gesture for her to approach them, and Rukia approached the queen trying to put a slight distance from Kaien.

— Your Highness, how can I be of use to you? — She asked looking at Kaien, he pointed to the jewelry boxes that were open on the table.

Rukia hadn't noticed the jewels and was starting to get nervous; it was not because she was going to tell a lie, the queen had told her that she really got kidnapped that night and that was what she had to believe so that her body would not give her away. The key to lies was that she had to believe them first before trying to make others believe them.

— Prince Kaien is choosing one of the family's ancestral rings to propose to Nelliel. And we were waiting for you, Miss Rukia, to help us choose one that is appropriate for her. — The queen clarified making Rukia sit next to her.

— Oh… — It was the only thing she said before looking at all the jewels in the jewelry boxes.

Rukia didn't understand the queen's request; she didn't know Nelliel, they weren't friends, they didn't go out for afternoon tea, and they didn't go shopping in town on weekends. Rukia did not know Nelliel's likes and she did not pay attention to them while they both belonged to the Queen's Court; however, she was already there and she had to help, or at least guess a bit about Nelliel's likes.

In the jewelry boxes that were on the table there were not only rings, there were also earrings and bracelets made with precious stones. Rukia was still uncomfortable being with Kaien, after all, the kidnapping had been a plan to get close to him and trick him; a plan that had gone wrong.

The jewels that were there were property of the Real House, all had been paid with money of the kingdom and they were inherited from generation to generation; each new member added the most valuable jewels that he had for future generations. New jewels were beautiful and valuable, but inherited jewels, those that had history or had been part of history, such as the Queen's War Crown, were far more valuable.

— This is the Queen's Ring. It is given to the future wife of the heir to the throne. Are you sure you don't want to give it to Nelliel? — The queen asked Kaien handing him a ring that was alone in its case.

The ring was really beautiful, it was a really big sapphire that was surrounded by small diamonds, the ring was made of gold and inside was engraved the phrase: "For the Queen of Avanta". Rukia was surprised by that suggestion from the queen; she knew that the queen was no longer upset with Nelliel but she did not imagine that she would so willingly accept to give a ring like that. As far as Rukia knew, the queen did not want Kaien on the throne.

— Mother, I would love to give it to Nelliel, but I don't know if it would be appropriate. I know you were hoping to give it to Ichigo. — Kaien replied looking at the queen.

— Ichigo will understand. You're the one who should give it to Nelliel. You will be the king, Nelliel will be the queen and this will all belong to her.

— It will be an honor for Nelliel to wear this ring, mother. — Kaien said kissing the queen's hand before getting up from his seat to say goodbye.

Rukia didn't understand what just happened there; the queen had given in to something to make Kaien happy, why? Rukia wanted to ask but she didn't, she didn't have time to do it because immediately after Kaien's departure, the Kahya entered the room with a huge book in her arms.

— Return the jewelry boxes to their place, Retsu. — The queen pointed to the jewels. — Today we will begin preparations for Kaien and Nelliel's engagement dinner. It will be a simple dinner, just the family, the councilors and a couple of other guests. We will do it in the white garden, the one with that marble that shines with the moon.

— Your Majesty. — Rukia started to speak, because she needed to know why the queen had given that ring to Kaien. The queen smiled and took Rukia's hand gently.

— Don't worry so much, it's just a ring. — The queen smiled at Rukia and then started talking to the Kahya.

Rukia looked at the queen without fully understanding what she had said. Is it just a ring? The queen herself had started favoring Kaien over Ichigo? First a ring, then what, her loyalty? Ichigo had to know about that. The ring was the least of it, it mattered the fact that his mother had favored Kaien.

Love, LunaticR