Chapter 13
Flashback
Outside, in the Palace White Rose Garden, under a Gazebo;
"Do you know what the difference between a jewel and love is, Rosalia Harborn?" Rosalg stared at the redhead Noble, sitting across from him, over the rim of a porcelain teacup.
"One is valuable while the other is rare, Rosalia humored her with an answer, something I am sure you could not comprehend" she end snarky, sipped her tea, glaring at the silverette.
The servants present grew tensed at their conversation sudden deviation. They subtly glanced nervously at the calm silverette who placed her teacup down without a word, sapphire reptile eyes narrowed slightly in amusement at the uninvited guest.
"That maybe so but love and jewels have value only when they are real, Rosalg overlooked the snide easily, no matter how beautiful a jewel, if it is fake what is the use of keeping it and is love not the same?" he smirked, tone a mocking chide of a scolding mother.
Rosalia's face grew red with rage, slammed the teacup down forceful on the table, "Do not delude yourself in thinking His Highness infatuation will last, you are nothing but a plaything until he loose interest" she stressed, trembling, fist clenched in lap, trying to stay calm.
"Kaname proposed to me, Rosalg words stunned everyone, of course I turned him down gently, at the time, he continued in sadistic glee, but he never gave up asking again and again, getting rejected each time, he signed in mock wistfulness, it has been, he faked being thoughtful, index finger under chin, what two years now since we met, do you truly believe your own words" he rested pale chin on interlaced fingers, elbows resting on the table, enjoying their various reactions and expressions.
"Surly you jest, even if you are currently close to Prince Kaname, it is a crime to make false claims about the Royal Family, and to casually address him by first name!"
"I finally agree to be his Empress last night, though it is a secret, for now, he ignored her words, Kaname will announce the good news in a few days, his tone radiated satisfaction, eyes gleaming, remember girl, you were chosen as a fiancé candidate by the Empress, not Kaname" Rosalg smiled, smug.
'Did Prince Kaname really fell in love with a woman like her, is this his type?!' Rosalia stood suddenly, slammed her palms on the table, glowering at the gloating silverette.
'What could he possible see in her, unlike this woman, who came out of nowhere, I practically lived in the Palace since childhood, even the Empress whom the Emperor cherish, adore me, I Rosalia Harborn was meant to be future Empress NOT some low life from a country side, she took a deep calming breath, no, I am sure this is only a temporary setback, I have known the Prince for a long time and the Emperor especially the Empress will never approve of Lilith Nogard being future Empress-if she is telling the truth!'
Rosalg raised a brow at Rosalia's spiraling thoughts amused.
"You will never be Empress, the Nobles will never approve, the Crown Prince may fancy you now but I am still the one he escorts to every Royal Event instead of other fiancé candidates, at the end of the day, I am most favored to be Empress not a commoner like you, the redhead ranted with crazed grey eyes at Rosalg, losing composure, I am the only daughter of a Duke in this Empire, know your place!" she straightened pointing a index finger at the smiling dragon in disguise.
Rosalg chuckled, unlaced slender fingers then stood, 'such a spoil child' "Know my place you say, the temperature suddenly dropped, every exhale became visible despite the hot sun, calm yourself child, Rosalg walked to stand behind the redhead's chair then forced her to sit, hands firmly held on Rosalia's shoulders, you are truly pitiful, clinging to a male that does not want anything to do with you, frost formed under Rosalg's palms, getting rid of you now would be no fun, watching you fumble in your pathetic attempts at assassinating me is highly entertaining, he whispered in the now scared girls ear, who did you think convinced Kaname to be your escort, you seem so desperate for the attention" he chuckles.
The servants didn't dare interfere. They've heard gossips about Lilith Nogard being a Mage. But thought nothing of the matter believing that's all it was, rumors. Except the silverette's personal Maid, watching silently, Beatrice.
Rosalia Harborn started to re-evaluate her situation, realized too late she'd made a mistake in trying to provoke Lilith Nogard, not believing the rumors and that she knew about her hiring assassins. Earlier when she'd tried to slap Lilith, in close proximity, Rosalia realized she couldn't move, then being forced to sit and listen to the silverette's words induced fear.
"I can tell this is your first time in this Garden, yet you boasted about practically living in the Imperial Palace, barging in here the second you heard I had access to something you do not, this little display could get you executed but since I am benevolent I will overlook it, Rosalg removed his hands, simultaneously melted the frost, going back to his seat gracefully, the one who needs to know their place is you dear child, the temperature returned to normal, you two, he addressed Rosalia's two, fear frozen, personal Maids, picking up a cookie from his plate, what are you just standing there for, he waved the dessert at them, come escort Your Lady back to her carriage, he grinned, she seem unwell" he bit into the cookie, staring at the pale and trembling redhead.
"Yes, Your Ladyship" they quickly moved forward, helping their Lady to her feet, fearful.
"This is not over" Rosalia stated, shivering cold, and from fear, shoved off her Maids then stormed away, her Maids hot on her heels.
"I would be disappointed otherwise" Rosalg muttered, watching them leave, finishing his treat.
"Was that adequate punishment, my Lady?" Beatrice asked, surprised Lady Lilith let Lady Rosalia off so easy.
"I did let her off with a slap on the wrist, considering our history, he palmed pale cheeks, I enjoy watching the characters in my plays, but being the puppet master pulling strings can get boring and predictable after a while, he sighed heavily, so I let them move freely occasionally, getting natural reactions to scenarios I set, it is more fun that way, as you just witness, improvisation" he smirked at Beatrice.
"That is very conniving of you my Lady" Beatrice deadpanned, refilling her Lady's teacup.
"I will take that as a compliment" he chuckled amused.
Flashback ends
As Kaname brings Yuki back to her room, elsewhere, in the female Sun Dorm, Senri indulge in feeding on two students. Takuma watch, incase the possessed vampire goes to far. The window burst open suddenly, the scent of pure blood and Yuki's change, catch their attention.
"So Yuki Cross turns out to be a pureblood vampire" Kain states, seeing Kaname approach with the unconscious girl.
"She's your...sister then" Aido claim hesitant.
"Hanabusa, Kain place a hand on his cousin's tense shoulder, no daughters were ever born to the Kuran family"
"Actually, Kaname continue pass, Yuki is the true daughter of Haruka and Juri Kuran" he let them draw their own conclusion.
"So the source of the threatening atmosphere at the Academy, Kain trails off watching Kaname pause at the door, is coming from the person after her"
The pureblood glance over his shoulder, "are you not going to ask who it is?" he raise a brow.
"We don't obey you simple because you're a pureblood, Kain lower his gaze, we'll keep watch no matter the threat"
Kaname turns away, open the door using telekinesis, "how reliable" he chuckles enter then close it behind.
Hanabusa looks away silent, spotting a familiar figure between the trees.
'That girl is Lord Kaname's...' Ruka, watching nearby, feels conflicted.
"You look unhappy Ichijo, the possessed redhead states, standing out-front the main building, you don't want me to sacrifice that girl to resurrect myself, he fold his arms across his uniform covered chest, or perhaps its because you've betrayed Kaname or, he loosen an arm, raise it to his neck with sharpen nails, is that look a respond at the fact that I've taken your little mate's body hostage" a light press draws a line of blood down arched neck.
Takuma grabs his wrist pulling it away, "Please, enough" he glares.
Senri chuckles, "there's no reason to keep hiding up there, he pulls his wrist from the blonds hold, come down, Rima" mix-colored eyes glance to the tree on his right.
"So, Rima shows herself, staring down at the redhead, just who are you?"
Senri grin in answer.
"I won't stand by and let you get away with this" blue eyes narrow.
Back at Kaien's house, Yuki wakes with an unbearable thirst, eyes glowing crimson.
"Yuki, Kaname's voice gains her attention, don't fight it, its alright" he watch her sits up slowly on the bed, knees tuck under, long brown hair pools on cotton sheet.
"Kaname, I'm so thirsty" dressed in plain pajama, Yuki reach for her beloved.
"Its alright, I know what you want" catching thin wrists in one hand, Kaname pull Yuki on his lap, back to chest, pins her hands down then bites into his wrist, bringing it to her lips.
Yuki latch onto the offering, gulping greedily, disappointed it isn't his neck, eyes close.
Releasing her wrist, Yuki raise both hands grabbing Kaname's to prevent retreat.
Kaname watch tears slip close lids, "don't cry, he wipes them away, voice soothing, this day was inevitable"
'Kaname's blood-I'm drinking-Kaname's blood is filling my body, its like we're becoming one' she gasp as images of a sealed creature floods her mind. 'what is that?' Yuki release his wrist, 'a fragment of memories?'
"Did you see it?" Kaname shifts her off his lap onto the bed then wipes the excess blood from his wrist using a handkerchief in his coat pocket.
"Yes, she shift to face him, a frightening creature, Yuki wipes her mouth with the handkerchief Kaname hands over, but I'm not human either, am I, brown eyes lower, I remember that night, mother sacrificed her life to seal my blood and father said he'd protect me from the bad intruders then left, she grabs her head at a slight ache, they were both strong but they're gone now, the window fracture under pressure from her distress aura, why did they do it, the walls began to crack, what exactly were they trying to protect me from?"
"Relax, Kaname pat her head gently, you need to calm down, Yuki"
The window shatters, startling her and the two nobles standing guard out-front.
"I-I did that?" Yuki stares at the damage in surprise awe, lowering trembling hands.
"Yuki don't ever question your parents love for you, Kaname remove his hand, for ten years I've watched over you in their place, a child that forgot everything"
"Kaname, I think there's something wrong with me?" she raise brown eyes to meet burgundy.
"Why do you think so?" he raise a brow curious.
"Because this whole time I've been in love with my brother" her cheeks turn pink.
"We aren't humans Yuki, his gaze shifts outside, we don't live by their morals" he gloss over, steering conversation from anything intimate.
"But I've been living as one for so long" Yuki lowers her head, concealing a pleased smile.
"That doesn't change the fact of what you are, a pureblood" burgundy gaze observe the falling snow.
"You and I, we're going to be like mother and father when we grow up" a young Kaname informed a young Yuki, lying in bed together.
"You really mean it Kaname?" she asked excited.
"Of course" he confirmed with a smile.
"Mother and father were also siblings but Kaname you realize that's something" she pause, hesitant.
"Something beasts would do, Yuki gasps when he finished her sentence, exactly, as I've said we aren't humans" he sigh.
The scent of blood drifts into the room through the broken window.
"Is that blood, Yuki's gaze shifts outside, who's is it?"
"Yuki, Kaname stands, still staring outside, I need to go, stay here until I return"
"What-but-wait brother!" Yuki's head whip around, only to watch her beloved leave, closing the door behind without a backward glance, baffle.
'Seriously, what's more important than me!?' she glares gripping the sheet in frustrated. Heaving a calming breath, brown eyes shifts back outside annoy, 'that unpleasant presence and the sent of blood, is that what has his attention?'
To be continue…