Chapter 9
Flashback
In a drawing room in the Crown Prince Palace;
"Greetings your Ladyship, I am Mai, a maid from the Erickson Household, she bowed, I have come to deliver this invitation at my Lady's order" the servant held out said invitation to be taken by the silver hair noble's personal maid.
"An invite to a tea party" the noble stated indifferent reading its content, handed over by his maid, after opening and inspected for harmful substance.
"Yes, Lady Bianca wishes your Ladyship grace the event with your presence" she stated.
"I decline, Rosalg discarded the paper in the nearby bin, I will not attend due to having no interest."
The maid dropped to her knees then prostrate herself at the silverette's words.
Rosalg raised a brow at the display.
"My Lady ordered me to ensure your Ladyship attends" she sobbed.
"Meaning you will face severe punishment should I refused" Rosalg summarized.
"Yes your Ladyship" she wept pitiful.
'Annoying, he sighed resting the back of fisted fingers on pale cheek, elbow propped on couch armrest, so this is a final attempt after rejecting all her other invites' "Why should I care what happens to you?" he asked emotionless.
"Your Ladyship, she started repeatedly beating her head on the marble floor, please have mercy on this lowly servant!" she begged in a desperate wail.
'How irritatingly amusing' "Enough, the groveling maid pause mid-head-bash, stop your sniveling, tell your Lady I will attend"
"Thank you so much Lady Lilith!" the maid voiced relived, still prostrated.
"Leave" he ordered waving his free hand in a lazy shooing, the maid complied after standing, repeatedly bowing in gratitude.
'It is tomorrow, he ignored the maid's bloody forehead, a couple hours to be exact, giving me no time to prepare' he slumped back in the, red and gold, velvet couch.
"What do you plan to do, my Lady?" his maid, Beatrice, asked concerned, after showing the maid out, closing the door.
"What else, we will go and enjoy the show" Rosalg smiled slyly.
"Show, my Lady?" Beatrice voiced confused.
"Yes a show, this invitation is basically a challenge in High Society, where Ladies elegantly tramples each other with disguised vicious words and lovely smiles, an amused smirk upturned soft lips, I am curious to see what manner of spectacle Bianca Erickson will show this one" he chuckled darkly.
Beatrice remained silent at her Lady's reaction, feeling even more worried about attending the tea party last minute, without proper preparation.
Day of the party, the Head Maid and a handful of servants greeted them with a bow at the Erickson mansion entrance, after getting down from one of the carriages Crown Prince Kaname gifted him.
"Welcome Lady Lilith, this way please" the Head Maid led them inside then out to a Greenhouse Garden, where other Noble's daughters were already waiting.
"Ah, you are here, the hostess got up from her table, occupied by Ladies popular in High Social Circles, greetings, I am Bianca Erickson, she curtsied low enough not to be disrespectful, I am glad you could join us today" she straightened with a polite smile.
"Charmed, I am sure" emotionless Rosalg used a silk fan to shield the bottom half of his face.
"I have always wanted to befriend you, but did not have the opportunity to do so until now, Bianca's smile turned pleasant, it really is a pleasure to finally meet you today."
Rosalg stared over his fan unmoved, "likewise."
"Let me show you to your seat, Lady Lilith" Bianca led the duo to a empty table in the corner.
"Oh dear, she fake gasped, I forgot that some of the Ladies urgently informed me today they may not be able to attend due to a terrible cold, Bianca feigned remorse, why don't you sit and wait a bit, snickers and giggles escaped close-by Ladies lips, you never know they might turn up" Bianca concluded innocently.
"My Lady-" Beatrice started, full of outrage on her Mistress's behalf, at the obvious slight but Lilith silenced her with a raised hand.
'How immature, seems this one is an obstacle for her, wanting to curry favor with Rosalia Harborn by attempting my ostracization, Rosalg complied easily, sitting with Beatrice beside him, away from everyone, it is within expectation but still disappointing this is the best she came up with, sapphire eyes brightens, it is honestly adorable, well she is a child, besides I don't participate in human social circles.'
Minutes passed with the other Ladies blatantly ignoring them.
Rosalg observed them carry on, sipping his tea bored, 'most of the females are trying their best to earn Bianca Erickson's favor while others are here to avoid getting on her bad side, this is truly a ridiculous drama, he bit into a butter cookie, delicious~, what should I do to liven up this party?'
Fanning himself slowly in contemplation, Rosalg picked up the cup of tea Beatrice pour, after finishing the cookie, taking a sip, 'I could easily crush Bianca Erickson and take over High Society, he mused placing down the cup, but why bother, all I care about is cherishing My Prince without interference but these...humans keep being a nuisance, they are making too light of me because I kept overlooking their petty taunts but it ends today, Rosalg snapped his fan shut while standing, starting with these children.'
The sound of tableware breaking got everyone's attention, only to witnessed Lady Lilith flipped the table.
"This is such a shame, Rosalg stared at their stunned face, you were having so much fun amongst yourselves, Beatrice sighed resigned at her Lady's action but not surprised, It would seem my overlooking past transgressions has made others quite bold, the air suddenly turned chilling, ice started forming on the floor and walls, there comes a point in everyone's life when they need to behave a certain way to get their point across, at time a dignify noble or a savage beast, he stated amused while solid ice sealed off all available exits, avoiding the plants, and today I will choose to act a savage beast to teach you children a lesson, don't cross me and I won't cross you."
They didn't have time to scream as they got encased in ice instantly, except Beatrice.
"I heard you destroyed Countess Erickson's Greenhouse garden" Prince Kaname teased, hours later watching Rosalg brush out his hair.
"The plants are fine and you should be gland that is all I did and not frozen them solid from the inside out, though it was tempting, he placed the brush down then joined Kaname on the bed, besides they can be defrost by high court mages."
"So does this mean you have grown bored with holding back?" the Prince pulled him to lie on his chest.
"Yes, he snuggled closer, expect a lot more incident going forward, their reactions have become dull" he mumbled.
"I expect nothing less" Kamame chuckled amused at Rosalg's words.
Flashback ends
'I am a lovable child and I'm special' This is what Yuki Cross always thought of as facts since childhood.
'My natural beauty, my upbringing as Kaien Cross cherished, adopted daughter, with the overflowing interest and affection from Kaname Kuran, my savior, I lacked nothing.'
"You're the pretties and most beloved child in the world" They've told her repeatedly for years.
'The word blessing existed solely to describe me' She believed naively.
Until Zero Kiryu showed up one winter night.
'Appearing out of no where, Kaname, Kaien and others showed great interest in that lowly orphan, it's humiliating!' Hatred started to blacken her heart.
'I detest him for taking attention away from me, so I will come up with a plan to isolate him from everyone, make him the bad-guy while I play the kind savior and he'll live to please me'
And it worked without much prompting from Yuki Cross, reclaiming her 'Perfect Happy Life.' Even when Kaname Kuran showed some interest in Zero Kiryu later, Yuki Cross didn't let it upset her too much.
'Because Kaname love me and despise Zero for being around me.' She's certain.
Years into playing the part, Yuki Cross is convinced her lies are truth.
It was the start of the holiday break and the night class students had left to their homes. Except Kaname and his inner-circle that went to Aido's family villa but Hanabusa choose to stay behind.
The day students naturally leaves realizing the night students won't be staying at the Academy.
Yuki's doing a final check for stragglers in the Sun dorms when the image of a bleeding woman reaching for her cause a splitting headache. Grabbing her head Yuki pause at the pain, vision forgotten, the ache fade, 'I've been having these random headache more frequent lately' she round a corner to the boys dorm and spot a familiar blond.
"Aido-senpai, what are you doing here?"
They ended up at Kaien's house.
"The chairman isn't here, Yuki informs closing the door once inside, he's doing night patrol since Zero's not back yet."
The blond sits on the couch lost in thoughts, at the mention of the male prefect he glance at her.
"I'm hungry, he suddenly blurts, make me something" Aido demands.
"I'm not really good at cooking" she admits hesitant.
"I don't care, just make something eatable" the blond persist.
"Fine, don't say I didn't warn you" the brunette stomped into the kitchen.
Kaname stands in his room, at the villa, staring out a window into the night sky. The visions had become more intense, sometimes he can't tell them apart from reality.
"Why would I be upset by a inferior human woman that stands no chance against me"
The same woman, that resemble Zero, voice assault his mind. He can feel the ghost of her small hands caressing the back of his head. She has been a constant.
"This one is surprise you recognize this Lord" a male, also resembling Zero, surrounded by rose in a garden, made his heart skip a beat.
"When will you accept my proposal and become my Empress Lilith?" his voice asked.
Kaname grip his head with a grimace.
Siren appear just then, before his thoughts begin spiraling again, to inform him of Rido Kuran's awakening. This news on top of everything cause his control to slip, shattering every glass window in the villa.
Yuki's terrified scream cause Kaien to rush to the bathroom in a panic.
"Yuki are you ok-what happened?!" he knock on the door urgently.
"I'm fine, her muffle voice shakily reply, its nothing-I just saw a bug."
He sigh, relieved she isn't hurt, "you gave me quite a scare young lady" he lightly reprimand.
"I'm sorry"
"As long as you're ok" he went back downstairs to the kitchen, passing the blond vampire on the couch watching TV.
The night students return to Cross Academy a week before classes start except Senri Shiki however Takuma Ichijo was summon by his grandfather. At their arrival Yuki and Kaien inspect their luggage.
Kaname gives Yuki a preserved rose as a souvenir while inwards he's concern at not seeing or sensed a certain silver hair male.
"Has Kiryu not return yet?" Kaname ask.
"Huh, Yuki looks taken aback by his question, no I haven't heard a word from Zero since he left" her grip on the pureblood's gift tightens at the mention of Zero.
"The chairman didn't tell you anything?" Kaname's gaze shift to said male interacting with the other students.
"He told me not to worry and that Zero's ok" Yuki try to maintain a worried façade, inwards she's overjoyed at Kaname's return, 'It was a boring holiday without him.'
"He's maybe right, he gaze back, I will go talk to him of important matters now" Kaname turns to walk away after patting her head.
"Wait Kaname-senpai, Yuki watch him pause then turns to her, I have something to talk to you about, later" she adds at his raise brow.
"Very well, later"
Yuki grits her teeth, head down 'since when was he so worried about Zero, I thought him leaving would give Kaname and me some uninterrupted time together but it was the complete opposite and now he seems concern about Zero's continued absent, don't they hate each other, her fingers clench into fists at her side, what's going on?!'
To be continue…