The White Darkness

By Helbaworshipper

False Treaty Arc: The Seno Signature 2

There were times Mayura thought of less complicated times of her life. There had been many times she truly adored spending time with her sister. When they were younger, Alice knew all the best hiding spots in the castle. When hiding from the pesky bullies that tried to make fun of her, Alice cheered her up a bit. When had that started changing? Perhaps… Perhaps it was when Tutoring was being decided.

Currently in her bath in preparation for another very busy set of events, she brought her mind back to the present. She hadn't intended to stop Alice from getting the dress weeks ago. It had initially been Kazuki's idea to delay it so Alice did not outshine her. She had felt quite guilty when the deadline for Alice's time had passed and her dress was going to be late either way.

Still, a part of her wondered why she should worry at all. She was getting the dress now and it was certainly never going to outshine her. She lifted her hand with the Lotis bracelet lightly in the air. It wouldn't be right to assume such horrible things. Why was she so wary of it now? Alice couldn't marry Kyo. She was already set up with a man far above her station in power. Yet a part of her felt like it was gnawing at her.

"Your highness," the Countess, speaking of all the messes. "His highness Wakamiya is asking what tea you prefer for the signing ceremony."

"Will she be attending?"

"She will be busy with the dress, your highness."

"Perhaps a nice rose hip then." She slowly got up from the bath while the maids quietly dried her body. "Though I do wonder why you came personally."

"There were some messages to deliver to other servants. I simply chose not to delay."

"Isn't it you wanted to catch something? Perhaps the seeds of tragedy?" The Countess' face looked a bit pale at the insinuation. Ah, the woman wanted her to be ruined. She kept her charitable gaze. "How could you think such a thing? I'm pure."

"It is so, then." She turned slowly to exit the room. Her curtsy felt clunky, but she had learned her lesson. If only Eric was so easily dealt with.

While this ceremony had a lot of higher up nobility and royalty, it was not a large celebration. In particular, most of the Seno nobility were given Ball invitations. The Wakamiya nobility must have varied in regards to whom they could bribe. She noted that the lack of heirs at the ceremony made it right to have Alice stay out. A part of her was relieved and happy about it. Yet, she was confused. Shouldn't she want Alice to get some sort of ideal of what she couldn't have?

Her mind might be a mess, but the mess was not the point of the event. At the moment they were in the official ceremony area for Lotis Tests. It was used for many ceremonies. A peace treaty required power to make sure it was working properly. She took a deep breath of the air around her and focused.

"We gather here today in regards to the signatures of the most sacred Lotis treaty." An older, weathered down master spoke. "The Seno Kingdom and the Wakamiya Kingdom will one day be united by marriage. Until then, this treaty will put together the powers that will help with ending this war." The man lifted his hands in the air as his Lotis robes formed. While she could use her robes at any time, it was recommended not to for Kyo's sake.

She hadn't met Kyo's mother often. Even when she could, the woman was old and worn down despite her young age. Yet, the woman never seemed to adore her more than her sister. If anything, it felt like her sister was simply loved too much by that woman. So why should she-

"Mayura," her father was speaking for a moment. "Please keep focusing on the creation." She realized her flow of energy had stopped. She took another deep breath and put more power in. Each person who could form a Lotis flow of energy would form a sacred document. It used to be more often done without a ceremony, but with the lack of users… It was more necessary to make a reason to justify them not being in the battlefield for it.

She couldn't feel the power she had put into her Shibi earlier. She focused on putting more to see if the quality would become it. She was certain it had been her that had made that storm go out. Yet that man… She had to let it go for now. There was no way someone of Frei Weilhausen's level had simply gotten in without notice.

"Yugu," the head master spoke, the paper radiating lotis as it descended onto a table made from one of the trees Lotsuan used to use for his lectures. The wood itself didn't look that impressive, but one could feel the power of it. Without hesitating, the royal heads of the family stood to approach the table.

A part of her felt more drained than usual. Yet, Kyo never seemed at all drained despite his use of power. She had to learn how he could do so. Perhaps it was in the teaching his mother could only provide. For a moment she felt like something was looking at her. She blinked, turning to see nothing. Why did something feel off? And who had she…

Priding oneself on how they could handle everything was strangely hollow. Certainly her capability in regards to handling political affairs was amazing. However, her personal affairs were often an organized mess. Settle in for another look at the condition the Seno Kingdom was in made her quite wary.

On paper, the Seno Kingdom was perfect. Two heirs to the Lotis power and two very promising unions. The problem was in the dwindling army numbers. That and the protest from the Weilhausen Kingdom because they did not form a treaty with them. She quietly took another sip of her tea and began to pick up her quill when she heard the tell tale secret knock.

"What is it now?" She asked without looking up at the figure inside. It was a simple maid from her side.

"Her highness, Princess Alice's dress is finished."

"You don't come here for such simple reports." Her voice let out a bit more annoyance than earlier. She began to write down a few lines on the document. Though she was not officially married to Kyo, Kyo could not examine Lotis land values. He was still learning some of the things she had been forced to learn before she was ready.

"Baronness Ooishi tried to confront her. When she returned, she said that for some reason Alice was suddenly helped by her tutor."

"Was Eric at the ceremony?"

"No one can make a positive or negative report of it. We tried to ask everyone, but it was as if his presence was obscured by something."

"And Kazuki?"

"He was properly at the ceremony."

"Very well, is there something else you have to tell me?"

"His highness Kyo has assigned his own maid to make sure of Alice's preparations. He will be escorting you as planned." Her mind felt a sigh of relief at the second sentence.

"And why is the maid so important?"

"She's the only maid he keeps by his side."

"I knew that already." She commented, lifting her head up. "Does she have something against me?"

"It would seem so," her eyes widened a little as she saw something beyond the maid. "She was talking about such things as you were going to do something to-"

"Stop," the woman stopped as Mayura got up and moved to the door to open it. There was no one there. She was certain that she couldn't sense anything there. "We can continue now." She tried to calm her mind that things were okay. Yet, ever since entering the Wakamiya Kingdom… It felt like it was harder to do so.