Kagetsu woke to a knock on the door. He threw off his blankets, bounded out of bed, and wrenched open the door.
"Zelkov! Good morning, my friend!"
"You appear to be in better spirits."
This was certainly not the case for Zelkov. His appearance was even more weary and unkempt than usual. Kagetsu resolved to cheer him up.
"I am in the best of health thanks to the kind ministrations of my friends! Miss Tansy brought me soup last night." He lowered his voice. "Though it pains me to admit it — I do not want to sound ungrateful — in a battle of the soups, yours would have bested hers easily."
Zelkov didn't respond, but was his face the slightest bit less stoney, perhaps? Kagetsu noticed the large bundle in his arms.
"What is it that you have there?"
"For the maintenance of your health, Princess Ivy deemed it necessary that you have appropriate winter apparel."
Kagetsu took the bundle and shook it out on the bed. There were pants, boots, gloves, some kind of thick shirt? Best of all was the calf-length coat that all the Elusians wore in winter. It even had the same pretty designs around the collar and sleeves! Now, he could match with his friends when they went outside!
"Wondrous! My deepest thanks. And I will thank Princess Ivy as well."
"I am… glad you are pleased. Now, dress yourself. I will await you. It is a petition day, and both of our presences are required."
"Yes, of course. I shall only be a moment."
Zelkov closed the door behind himself, and Kagetsu began the process of putting on these strange new clothes.
They were itchy. And heavy. He was already starting to sweat as Zelkov eyed him critically. He pulled at his collar.
"You do not need your coat and gloves indoors."
"Ah." He took them off with a sigh of relief.
"Your sweater is backwards."
Kagetsu withdrew his arms from the sleeves and twisted the heavy shirt — appropriately called a sweater — around himself. He put his arms through the sleeves again. He could not deny that he was warm, but something was not right…
"My sword! Where do I keep my sword?"
"Hm, an oversight. This is civilian clothing. I could procure you a belt."
"Do not trouble yourself." He would never be able to draw his sword properly with those belts the Elusians wore.
He ran back into his room, dumped the coat and gloves on the bed, and picked his obi up off the floor. He fasted it around his waist and positioned his sword into place. Much better!
Zelkov shook his head and said, "It will have to do. We must hurry to breakfast or we will be late."
Zelkov walked very quickly, but Kagetsu matched his pace.
"Was last night enjoyable for you and Princess Ivy?"
Kagetsu walked on several steps before he realized Zelkov had stopped. Then he started forward again as if nothing had happened. A strange reaction.
"It was… adequate."
"Ah…"Kagetsu was not sure what he meant by that.
Did they have fun without me…?
Of course, he did not want to imagine them morose at the lack of his presence. Or maybe he did… Regardless, he must take care never to get sick again so that he would not miss a moment with his friends!
They arrived at Princess Ivy's door after a brief stop for some unsatisfactory porridge from the dining hall. Miss Tansy opened the door and beamed at them.
"Sir Kag, Sir Zel! Good morning! You're looking well, Sir Kag."
"Thank you! I am filled with vigor this morning with much thanks to your kindness."
Her cheeks reddened. "It was my pleasure. Your stories were so funny!"
"Ah! I have many more. Perhaps we should go out sometime, and I can tell them to you."
"You want to go out with me?"
"I'm sorry, Tansy, but we really must go," said Princess Ivy. "I — Kagetsu, what are you wearing? No, nevermind. It will have to do. I can't be late."
"Of course, ma'am. Of course."
Tansy curtsied several times, then ran out the door. She paused to wave at Kagetsu before darting down the hallway. Ivy began walking swiftly the other way. Kagetsu and Zelkov fell in behind her.
He was about to ask Princess Ivy if she had enjoyed the party, but she spoke first. "Kagetsu, do you really mean to go out with Tansy?"
"Certainly! She is my friend. Is that a problem?" He scratched his neck. "Oh, do you mean that it is too cold to go for a walk outside? Ah, you are probably correct about that. Hmm."
"I… believe you may have misinterpreted the situation. You see, Tansy likes you."
"I like her too. She is my friend."
"What I mean is… She would like to be more than friends with you."
His heart sank. "Oh, it is romance that you are referring to…"
"Yes."
He sighed. Why was romance always complicating friendship? Why was it "more than" friendship?
"And when I said I wanted to go out with her…"
"She believed you were trying to court her," said Princess Ivy.
He put his head in his hands. "This misunderstanding is grave! Her feelings will be dashed upon the rocks!"
"Ah… yes, probably so. But I can only imagine that it is best to tell her as soon as possible so she doesn't build her hopes up too high."
"I see that is so." He frowned and shook his head. "Thank you for your wisdom and compassion, Princess Ivy."
"Oh, um… It was nothing, really."
She did not turn around, but plucked at the scarf she was wearing. They had arrived at the doors to the throne room.
As her presence was announced, she whispered to him out of the corner of her mouth, "Remember to stay still, Kagetsu. You are representing the crown princess of Elusia."
Stay still. She sounded like his father. And she was not lecturing Zelkov like a child! Though, come to think of it, he was detecting some very strange energy between his two friends. They refused to look at each other. What had he missed last night? Had they argued? It did not feel quite like anger.
Despite his restlessness, he did his best impersonation of an empty suit of armor as Princess Ivy received petitioner after petitioner. To disappoint a friend would be the greatest of tragedies.
As the last petitioner straggled out, Zelkov caught movement from the corner of his vision. Only a messenger. They stopped and bowed to Princess Ivy.
"Princess Hortensia has arrived, Your Highness."
"Hortensia! She's home from school?"
"She's in the entrance hall."
For what he believed was the first time, he saw Princess Ivy's face light up with true happiness. If some unnamable feeling arose in his chest, it was mercilessly smashed back down. He and Kagetsu followed as she picked up her skirts and hurried to the entrance hall.
As they crossed the threshold, a high-pitched voice cried out, "Ivyyyyy!"
A girl with her hair in loops atop her head darted across the room and into Ivy's arms. Princess Ivy laughed and clasped her sister in a tight embrace. It appeared that their bond was closer than Zelkov had assumed. The two chattered excitedly in a way that he had not thought Princess Ivy capable of.
The simple joy of talking to one's sibling…
Here he was staring like a fool, when he should be on guard. The entrance hall was filled with nooks and alcoves where assassins could be lurking. Of course, there were pairs of soldiers stationed at either end of the room. The king stood to the side with the captain of the royal guard. The lines on King Hyacinth's face had deepened of late, but his smile was warm as he watched his daughters' cheerful reunion.
Zelkov next turned his eyes to the two strangers behind Princess Hortensia. He was unaccountably reminded of sweets. One had honey-colored hair and the unassailable poise of an empress. The other had long candy-colored ringlets and a fresh face. He would investigate these two at the earliest opportunity.
The royal family made their way toward the western drawing room for tea with their retainers in tow, but as they reached it, King Hyacinth stopped.
"You girls go on ahead. I'll be right there."
They acknowledged him and went on. As Zelkov started to follow, King Hyacinth gestured to him. The king led him to an unused side room. He gazed out the window at the snow-capped mountains for a long moment before facing Zelkov.
"You know, when I said to take care of my daughter, that wasn't what I had in mind."
Zelkov's insides turned to ice. The king began to laugh uproariously.
"I had no idea you could make that face. That most definitely confirms my suspicion."
"I… Your Majesty… What gives you the impression that…"
"I am an observant man. It's how I've lived this long. And I know my daughter. Though she tried to hide it last night, I could see where her eyes were drawn. And today she was wearing a curious accessory. Ivy was never fond of scarves. So was it an intriguing new fashion choice, or is she perhaps covering something?" The king smirked. "And you must admit you did not have the reaction of an innocent man just now."
Zelkov shifted uneasily. What consequences would befall him? As long as it was not imprisonment…
"I hope dear Ivy didn't abuse her power," said the king.
"...I would not say that was the case."
"It's a difficult situation for royalty. If someone pursues you, you wonder if they merely want your favor. If you pursue them, you wonder if they capitulate out of fear of reprisals," the king mused.
"Oh, don't worry, Zelkov. I'm not going to punish you. At least Ivy had the wisdom to choose someone… discreet. I have no room to scold her. If I tried, she would have every right to laugh in my face — though she's much too dignified for that. There is no need to tell her we had this conversation. All I ask of you is… that you don't let her make the same mistakes I made. Help her." He turned back to the window. "I have done many things wrong in my life, but I swear that I will do anything to ensure that my daughters inherit a peaceful, prosperous Elusia. Anything."
"Kagetsu, could you wait here? I would like a moment with Hortensia."
"Of course, Princess Ivy! I will take up my post outside the door."
"Thank you."
Ivy's footsteps echoed in the portrait gallery. She had always hated this room. Her mother would take her here to lecture her while her ancestors gazed down in disappointment. She was sure the place was haunted.
In pride of place was a huge portrait of the king and queen with a young Ivy sitting between them. Her father was making that unreadable smile of his. Her mother's smile was perfect, charming — the dazzling smile that had brought the whole court to heel. It bothered Ivy how much she looked like her mother. The same features, the same pale skin, the same figure. Like most things, her mother had instructed Ivy to use beauty as a weapon. If beauty was a sword, Queen Hedera's had been honed to a razor-sharp edge.
To anyone else, little Ivy's painted face probably seemed placid. To Ivy, she wore a look that said "get me out of here." This was probably more from her memories of the never ending sittings, stuck between her parents' simmering animosity.
She turned her eyes from the looming official portrait to a smaller one in an oval frame. It was her father as a young man, roguish and handsome. He would have been second prince of Elusia at that time. There was a dark patch on the wall beside it in an identical shape. Once upon a time, her uncle's portrait would have hung there. The former crown prince had gone into exile before Ivy was born. She had never met him, but she had seen that painting.
"Papa, why do you have this picture of you in your drawer?"
The king sighed. "Ivy, it's rude to go through other people's belongings. And it's not a picture of me."
"It looks like you. The nose is the same. Oh, but the eyes are different."
"Yes, Hydran had blue eyes. 'Has' I should say. He's still out in Solm somewhere as best I can tell."
"You mean… my uncle?" It was a subject Not Talked About.
"The very one." Her father took the portrait and sighed again. "He was a kind man. Too kind. Too naive. He trusted all the wrong people. So I did what was best for Elusia. If I teach you one thing, let it be that, Ivy. You must always put aside your personal feelings, and do what's best for your country."
She never saw the portrait again after that.
Far from the bubbly persona she usually maintained, Hortensia hadn't moved as Ivy approached. Ivy had known which painting her sister was looking at before she had even walked into the room. It was small — tiny, in fact, when compared to the royal portrait. A lovely woman sat with a child on her lap. They both seemed so… happy.
"Hortensia…"
"Do you think I'm like her? My mother, I mean…"
"You have her smile. In fact, you seem to resemble Lady Viola more and more each day."
Hortensia's face lit up. "You think so? I'm flattered… I'm really glad. It's only thanks to her I get to call you my sister in the first place."
Ivy sighed.
"Ah, I don't mean to dig all that up. I don't hold a grudge or anything."
"I know. Even so, it is because of my mother that you…" She saw Hortensia's face and changed what she was going to say. "When I was given Belladonna, fresh out of the egg, you were so excited. You begged Father for a wyvern of your own, but Mother forbade it. So Lady Viola went out and found you the most beautiful pegasus."
"I was too little to even ride him, but I would get the stablehands to put me on his back every day."
"I must admit, dearly as I love Bella, even I was a bit jealous."
The smile returned to Hortensia's face, but turned wistful as her eyes went back to her mother's portrait.
"Do you remember much about my mother?"
"Of course. She was quite memorable."
"Maybe you could tell me a little about her… What do you remember most?"
"My clearest memory is her smile. My mother hated all of Father's… other women. Your mother especially. So she was badly mistreated by my mother and by all who sought her favor. Yet even through all of that, she never seemed to stop smiling.
"Yeah…"
"By her charm and wits, she eventually won even my mother over. She turned her biggest enemy into a friend through sheer determination. It left a powerful impression on me. It made me realize how strong a parent can be for a child."
"How strong?"
"Yes. It seems to me your mother fought all those battles to carve out a niche for you."
"For me?" Hortensia looked thoughtful.
"Yes. She was the sort of person who shone a light on everyone who knew her. And you were the reason she shined so bright."
"...This was something I needed to hear. Thank you, Ivy. I'll make them proud. Father and my mother. I'll show everyone that I belong here."
Hortensia ran from the room. The Dragon only knew what her plans might be. Had Ivy exaggerated in order to bolster her sister's confidence? No, not really.
The queen had tried to force Hortensia's mother out of the court. She had done it to many of the King's other women. but Lady Viola had held her ground. She had been so audacious that Ivy's mother had had to acknowledge her as a fitting rival. She had used every advantage at her disposal — her wits, her charm, her connections and noble bloodline — to have Hortensia accepted as princess. The queen grew to respect her. They had more in common than just bearing the king's children. And in the end, it was Mother who stayed by Lady Viola's side during her final illness.
Though the queen would never accept Hortensia as family, she did not attack her position as second princess.
Ivy watched from the window as another wagonload of corpses was carted from the Brodian border into Elusia castle. It was covered so that the gruesome cargo wasn't obvious, but rumors were already flying about the undead soldiers the Fell Princess was creating.
Some were as horrified as Ivy was. Others were all for it. The opinions of the populace could not matter less to Lady Veyle. She spent days raising Corrupted until she collapsed from exhaustion and Zephia carried her off to her bedroom. Not even the servants were allowed in. One of the Hounds stood guard at all times.
The squadron of Corrupted stood in the cathedral, unmoving… dormant. They were wreathed in the incense of the rituals that the priests carried out as Zephia had instructed.
After her confinement, Lady Veyle emerged and began creating more Corrupted. How many would she make? It now seemed chillingly possible that she could make a whole army of the undead.
Ivy did everything in her power to shield Hortensia from all this. She tried to keep her away from the cathedral. But Ivy didn't have that luxury. Her father spent more and more time there, pacing and muttering to himself. That left the innumerable problems of the kingdom on her shoulders.
Ivy delegated what she could to the councilors and even to Hortensia. Her little sister excelled at public appearances and raising morale. She could talk to anyone with an ease that made Ivy envious.
She was surprised to find that she had come to rely on Kagetsu. Of course, he performed tasks like delivering messages for her, but he had also become a sort of moral support. One would think that his constant cheerfulness would be grating, but it had become a ray of sunlight in a rapidly darkening world. Ivy found herself drawn into conversations with him about silly, inconsequential things. Sometimes it felt like the only thing stopping her from going mad.
Her other retainer though… She certainly felt her sanity slipping when she was around him. Ever since their… encounter after the ball, she felt embarrassed and awkward and stupid. How dare he make her feel this way! She was the princess of Elusia, known for her beauty, dignity, and intelligence. And he was just… just…
I can't even think of him as "just some man." Whatever he may be, it's not that.
Still, it wasn't fair. She wished she never had to look at him again, yet she wanted him near her at all times. If her intention had been to quench the flames, she had instead poured oil on them. She desired a repetition of their time together.
There. I admitted it. Happy?
Of course not. Aside from perhaps a reluctance to look her in the eye, his attitude toward her hadn't changed in the slightest. Always distantly polite. Always just doing his duty.
She would not ask him for any favors. She would not bring it up. If he wanted her, he could do the asking. If he didn't want her…
Oh, that man would surely drive her insane. Yet, it was much better to toss and turn at night thinking of him, than deal with the nightmares of corpses chasing her down unending hallways.