The White Darkness

By Helbaworshipper

False Treaty Arc: Seno Kingdom Preparation Part 2

The dark night was almost suffocating as she stared out of her throne room. The figure in front of her was speaking, but she couldn't tell what it was saying. It was a person in a dark cloak who seemed to smile beneath the dark hood. She could feel the words without needing to hear them, it seemed. She lifted a hand, but it felt almost as if it was being chained down.

"What is it you wish to have?" She asked, sounding more scared than she expected. "I do not know what you are asking for." The figure smiled as its hood over the head, smiling as her eyes seemed to almost grin from ear to ear. As she spoke, her gaze seemed almost too gentle for the words being said.

"For such a powerful woman, you have no particular power that is dangerous enough to face me." The woman's green eyes matched hers and she could feel some sort of dread. As she attempted to begin fighting, the woman's voice spoke out clearly. "Jata!" The castle began to fall down around her, the rubble beginning to make the throne fall from beneath her. She could swear that she knew the face in front of her, but who… Who was it?

The stars were bright in the sky as the woman in the bed woke up. The dream she just had kept her still as she gained her current surroundings in a full picture. Her blonde hair flowed as she adjusted her position on the bed. She could feel the cool wind as she drew the thick blanket from her body. She looked towards the figure currently beside her. As usual, he was clinging to her in some attempt to show how much he loved her. The heir to the Seno Kingdom was not someone who would have simply given the time of day to a man like this. Still, Mayura Seno needed to be able to feel the power she should have. This was only one way of doing it.

She simply pulled the arms from around her waist and walked naked out of the bed. She let the cool air of the night pull her from the sleep she had been almost afraid to go back to. The fighting on the battlefield had been harsh, but this dream was something different. The kingdom she ruled in this dream. And that figure had not only somehow invaded it but broke it with one word. The haunting green eyes were probably the worst part. Was she staring at herself? She couldn't remember most of the details of the figure's face.

She turned towards the basin full of water, probably cold, she simply cupped it and splashed her face. This was no time to be afraid. She had almost everything she could want. She was almost to the position she truly desired. This should not stop her any further. She grasped the nearby cloth and wiped off the remaining water. The stars would be gone soon. She had done this task enough to just trust her instincts. She simply moved to the nearby closet and grasped a thick fur robe. Bringing it around her body, she approached the bed.

"The sun is up." She simply stated, watching the figure react with a sudden urgency. No emotion was present in her motions. She seemed almost doll-like as the man nodded once to show he understood. He grasped his clothes but did not make them look immaculate. It had to look as if he had been unable to sleep during the night. If he looked any bit prepared, they might think he was doing something to gossip about. Still, she would see him in a few hours. His preparations done in a time where she wouldn't be 'angry' at him, she simply watched him leave the door.

It was tiring to pretend she wouldn't be capable of such things, but it was necessary. Even her father, she figured, must have such things he did. Still, she couldn't exactly allow others to see her in this sort of position. Taking a moment to think, slipped under the covers and drew the bell near her bed. Simply ringing it would bring an end to all of the night's events. Letting the sound resonate, the hall filled with her personal servants. A knock lightly informed her of the incoming schedule for the day.

"Good morning your highness." The maid spoke, bowing lightly and approached the bed to begin folding back the blankets. To keep the illusion that she had been sleeping, she never let the bed have any of her undergarments or nightgowns. She didn't want them to know she had been having relations with anyone before her own marriage. She let herself be guided to her vanity, where she gave them gracious words and gentle encouragement. The irony of her situation… It made her laugh a bit.

"I heard that your wedding with Prince Kyo is almost here."

"Perhaps they will have it right after you sign?" One of the maids spoke as she gently adjusted the gown on Mayura's body. Her hair and makeup looked flawless as usual. If only… If only looking like this with her usual encouragement worked on the man she truly wanted. Even though she made sure to take a second bath when seeing him for even tea at home… He could not be around her finger. She could have any man she truly wanted, but why could she not have him?

"If only I could be so blessed." Her voice came out with a sweet, calm tone. "I have still to wait until the war is over to truly have a discussion of it. If only we could have it a bit earlier."

"The war is almost over and yet they make you wait." The woman spraying her perfume lightly on her earlobes sympathized with her. "It would give Princess Alice a chance to marry her fiance, would it not?" It took a few moments for Mayura to actually respond.

"I'm certain it will simply be a matter of time." She spoke, doing her best to lose what she had felt in her mind.

Alice. One word was all she needed to feel all the pain she currently felt to flood in on her. The woman who was closest to the man she desired the most. Being friends with him as a child… How dare she be second place? Yet, she couldn't find a reason to blame her sister. After all, Alice had not been engaged to Kyo before. She might have if the Weilhausen house had not backed out. Perhaps being informed they were going towards the Wakamiya Kingdom had soured their position.

Still, that word was the only thing she could understand. If she had simply stood in the way of her desire, it would not be as bad. No… It was far worse than that. She had even gotten her truly desired tutor. Her own, less talented sister. Granted… she could feel love for the girl. The pity, however, overpowered her. The pity of how little her sister could do anymore. She wanted to take everything away from her and yet… Yet she wanted to love her sister more than she could right now.

She looked like an image from a painting despite her conflicting thoughts. A lavender gown draped over her body seemed to endlessly flow in the morning sun. Her hair pulled into an ornate bun, she walked almost effortlessly down the halls. Her own lesson was done for the day.

It wasn't the Kazuki had no talent. It was simply that he was far too annoying to be hers for long after her marriage. Even though he was the true heir to the Lotis Tutor house, his brother was far more talented. She had asked in her usual way to have him. And then…

That man had humiliated her. He had given her a test. A test to see if she could endure something very specific. Given she had gone into battle already, she couldn't see any reason he could be better than those she fought. She had been wrong.

"Your power cannot handle this for even half a day." Eric's voice was respectful despite what seemed like an insult. "Then how do you plan to take my lessons?" He seemed to chuckle at her struggle to form words to speak back to him. She was in so much pain despite having had only one lesson from him. "The power of the Lotis is the power of light and intentions for that light." His hand seemed to simply stay in the air, above where he had placed the marker for her test.

"I have..." Her voice was weak as she tried her best to form the words properly. "I have only the best intentions for the kingdom..."

"Then you're lying to yourself, isn't it? You're not even thinking of them when you use your words." He placed his hand on her neck, speaking softly. The release from the pain was almost too convincing to her. She could feel her Lotis again. It flowed naturally as he whispered into her ear.

"Aren't you simply being selfish until you can get rid of the burden?"

Mayura shivered as she remembered the words he had spoken to her then. It was almost… She wouldn't even remotely forgive that man. Eric being Kazuki's brother had nothing to do with it. It was that somehow that mark was still on Alice's neck and he was… He was still teaching her. How in the world did Alice manage such a feat?! Her shivering calmed as she noticed a few of the servants passing by.

She had to quickly intercept the man, like usual. Even if she only had Kazuki as her tutor, she already had her mirror. It would be simple… Simple to wear the man down.

The tutoring room, also known as the Lotis Library, was just ahead. She knew what time Alice took her lessons. She also knew that her sister was often late to them, which gave her a few spare moments to disappear. With no servants around, she gained a bit more of her calm gaze and prepared for her conversation. She had turned just as he would usually appear.

"Your Highness?" How could he be so calm and expecting or her visit? Respectful and calm but there was that look and slight tone. It made her feel quite on edge.

"Good morning," her voice was almost a bit too calm. "Is your lesson not canceled?"

"Of course it is not. Even if we must delay, I will teach her if her heart is in it." His tone almost annoyed her again. What was it about her sister? Still, she could tell he wasn't at all upset on the delay.

"Perhaps you should teach my fiance." She tried to be somewhat playful in her tone. If she could convince Kyo to pass his Lotis test sooner, they could put the wedding up faster. Still, he didn't seem to be at all convinced however many times she spoke of it.

"You must be mistaken." The tone was… It was edging to that whisper. She could not show that fear or she would show her weakness. "I am not employed by you, your highness." His gaze slightly darkened. "It is your mother and father, the honorable King and Queen of the Seno Kingdom that employs my services."

"One day…" her voice started to shake a bit. "One day you'll stop this nonsense." She couldn't quite gather the authority in her stature and gaze.

"Perhaps," his tone never quite left being respectful. It was his win for today, it seemed. Today he seemed even more annoyed, though. A feeling similar to that day tugged at her mind as she felt almost locked into place. "Until then I will be sure to offer the best of services to your family."

Her body felt released when he entered the tutoring room. Her eyes closed and she vowed to push it as much as she could. The sooner the treaty was signed, the sooner the turmoil in her own heart would get taken care of. She could not bear to lose anything she had now.