《Black Swans》
Opening: The Golden Scale
The worth of a person is a measurable thing. It is not a matter requiring such depth of intellect, one need not ponder on the question of their value and waste their precious time. An individual¡¯s value is determined the moment they are born into the world and little to nothing can be done in order to change this.
What makes a person valuable? The answer is simple: work.
Everyone in the world must do their part. Every citizen of every land must fulfil their given roles in order for their society to thrive. The common men do their common work of tending to fields, the merchants expand their businesses or offer their services, and the most important of all are the royals who ensure that each and every task is given with the utmost fairness to all. They are the foundation and pride of the nation.
Balance is key. All work is distributed evenly therefore the people will be happy and content. Everyone benefits everyone and if they do not they are shunned. Cast aside by society they become misfits who turn to crime and violence rather than using this effort to become like their hardworking counterparts. To a civilization that relies on each member putting in their contribution the greatest threat is a freeloader who allows the others to do their work and benefiting from it without once lifting a finger to assist.
Disorder is disaster. It is those that threaten the peace that must be dealt with swiftly. However, this is sometimes impossible.
At the absolute bottom of the social hierarchy are the illegitimates. Precisely: the royal illegitimates. They are bastard children of unholy conception and blessed upbringing that they have done nothing to deserve. A deceptive breed wearing the skin of holy children hiding the soul of the devil. They live frivolously with no responsibility and yet because of their only redeemable halves are still leading lavish lifestyles they have done nothing to deserve. At the very least the noble illegitimates (nasty as they may be still) have a chance for redemption if they prove they can inhabit their mortal skin and renounce the devil. Any illegitimate child of any other birth could be freed from their sin however a child born of a golden spoon is nary but a trap. A royal illegitimate is something else entirely. It is a poison seeking to destroy the natural order of life.
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These fiendish creatures sully the purity of the rulers because of their demonic parentage seeking to deceive the benevolent eyes of heaven in order to further their own backwards ideologies. They are incarnations of evil pretending to be children of holiness.
The tales of old have spoken of this tragedy in a prophecy: ¡°The one who adorns head of jewel and gold parades as holy child.¡±
Mistakes must never be born. Heaven does not walk among man, it cannot see the trick hell has planted. This is the salvation of the human sins. However, if it were the choice of the people, these children would never see the light of day.
But all prophecies must see light and one can only avoid the grasp of fate for so long. It was on Winter¡¯s Day and a storm had struck.
In the East, a boy paled like the moon.
In the West, a girl woven of golden sun.
Harbingers of carnage and woe or bringers of prosperity and salvation? We are mere humans, we cannot make such conjectures. Only time will tell. Until then, both sides of the souls'' scale will gradually become heavier and heavier and the ending will be decided by the victor of this tug-of-war.
The crown does not choose whose head it lies on, it is the self that grasps its will.
Prologue I
Two long years have passed now. Years on the salty rugged terrain of the Piaba archipelago islands. These are dark times for all, and each moment that passes the more convincing it is that this war is bringing no benefit to anyone.
The Hallowed War first began when the East and West encountered one another on Piaba. There has been no precedent of any interaction between an Eastern nation and a Western nation beforehand. Upon contact the situation had quickly become hostile. Arms were bared, blows delivered, shots fired, and bodies slashed. In the flesh garden we call the aftermath the salty ocean embraced the wounded in a misguided attempt at comfort. The perishing forms of the soldiers cried out the prelude to the agony from which arises our tale.
The Empire of Tsurina and the Empire of Albine are lands that thrive from conquest. They have each conquered many of the nations in their respective halves of the world, and those they could not conquer they allied with proceeding to control them by exploiting that territory''s fear of their might. For geographical opposites it¡¯s remarkably uncanny how similar they are to one another, yet in reality they could not be more different:
Tsurina, The Ascendant Empire enveloped in the sky¡¯s embrace and favor. In their culture they believe in a method to madness, the preservation of honor, and mandates. They control themselves and their desires, presenting themselves with dignity at all times-- even in death. Their strategy was calculated and meditated, their attacks pointed and precise, with all decisions exactly as needed for the most optimal result.
"When one controls the self then the path will clear before their eyes. Temptation is unnecessary in the quest of finding true peace."
Throughout all the conflict they believed in preserving their code of honor despite all.
Albine, The Tempest of Heaven. The empire''s cold is relentless and unpredictable, much like the citizens of this country. They are underhanded, disorderly, and disruptive. Their attacks and strategies are spontaneous that, more often than not, are entirely unplanned and lacking the numbers one would expect. In similar fashion the style of fighting they employed was random and brutal as well. Their greatest weapon is the element of surprise.
"Honor is not as important as one¡¯s pride. It is desire that sets the world right; it is desire that is the essence of a person."
Over time, because of their power and their growing assets, they have developed excessive vanity. Both parties are aware that this battle must come to an end and yet they refuse to be the first to concede ignoring the pitiful state they are now in for the elation of the slim possibility of having another global power bow to them.
Perhaps it should have been predicted that two powerhouse empires would one day encounter one another and respond in such violent manner. Such an oversight has allowed for this inevitability to grow into a dreadful situation. Therefore it is only natural that the Order will come to step in.
¡°Strike a deal.¡± They were advised (and as this slang is unfamiliar to them it was translated.) ¡°Surely we can work this out? There must be something¡ something¡¡±
Without making it obvious the President bit the insides of his cheek in frustration. He¡¯d kept his body hunched forward between the two ruling monarchs of the warring empires. It nearly took an arm and a leg to even get them in the same room¨C¨C something incredibly monumental¨C¨C and yet here he is bumbling like a fool. He didn''t know how to start or, in the first place, what is there that could be done. The situation began to look hopeless.
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What can be done for them to come into agreement?
His eyes wandered from the pair to the slightly ajar door. Last anyone checked it was shut tight, this sort of irresponsibility could lead to another major conflict and his credibility doesn''t need to be put in question again. He clicked his tongue and rose to shut it noting that he ought to heavily reprimand the guards outside.
As he drew closer he realized how strange it all was: the door opening so subtly and the quietness outside. Perhaps by accident, or by will, maybe even fate, the door peeled open just enough to have a glimpse outside for a brief moment. From the opening he saw a flash of sunlight; he glimpsed into the cosmos. It left as soon as it came. That was the answer.
¡°... something you can both offer one another.¡± He finished his sentence.
At this the monarchs subtly startled to attention. The president smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkled.
¡°There is something, isn¡¯t there, your royal highnesses? Something of equal value; something valuable enough for our world to become peaceful again.¡±
This is a risk. The President hasn¡¯t established himself as of yet. While he has performed impressive feats, that in itself is hardly enough to break into high society considering the ages old traditions of monarchy, and so his words were heavy because of their implications rather than his reputation. Only so much of their trust could be offered. But their people are starving and exhausted, they''re weary, they''re losing faith, and their soldiers are dwindling. They have no options, this is an offer they can no longer resist:
An unprecedented union: the betrothal of their illegitimates to one another.
The solution to their growing issue is simple, and yet a great risk. Illegitimates are dangerous. Of course this is incredibly convenient and will bring an end to many of their pressing matters, still the answer to their problem is in itself a problem. How can they trust in this plan?
¡°What if you¡¯ll be so blessed that it¡¯ll bring glory to your names for centuries to come?¡±
The President¡¯s reasoning was simple: heaven will be appeased seeing these false children experiencing the joys of union and hell will be fooled into thinking that their plan of corruption is in motion.
"It will be the greatest age for your empires. If the heavens themselves will be pleased then won¡¯t you walk on the golden staircase to the skies? Think about it, your royal highnesses, you will be the emperors who appeased the sun!"
And so the deal was struck.
Within three eves, following their agreement, the royal families of each empire had set off for Peaceland. In their ceremonial garments they walked down the winding halls of The Pure House.
With straightened backs the Albinian royal family walked in assertive steps with their heavy adornments clinking against one another as a makeshift announcement of their presence. Their pace was swift yet the impression was lasting like the chill of a snowy day.
With bowed heads the Tsuri royal family walked obediently behind their emperor whose strides were graceful and practiced. Behind them their silks flowed like clouds shifting. They walked with the wind in their steps.
The doors clicked open. The meeting is in order.
Prologue II
Gathered here today to organize a matrimony, the imperial families of warring empires Tsurina and Albine are seated opposite one another. They have abandoned the battlefields for this very moment¡ª but their war shall come to a swift end should this congregation attain its goal.
There are three necessary rules to bear in mind when an alliance through marriage is considered between two kingdoms:
- The betrothal must come about by suggestion from any affluent party (whether or not they are entirely uninvolved, a mediator, or an active participant in the existing conflict or otherwise) and the decision agreed upon by three councils (the involved countries and a third party) which, if confirmed, will be formally announced to all of the world. If any one will oppose and provide valid justification then the arrangement will be annulled.
- Celebrations of the betrothal must be held for an extended period of time (the exact length is negotiable by the two involved parties however it must stretch into years) in order to strengthen relations between nations and assure the masses of the great benefit the country will amass.
And the most important one, a standard rule that applies to all marriages:
- The two parties arranged for the alliance must be of equal value and same/similar standing. One cannot be of higher standing than the other.
In a world where balance is key and equality the claimed mandate, must there be restrictions even in love? Let¡¯s turn that question around. When concerning the bonds of marriage, does this connection require love?
Those are curiosities for the individual to answer. In this world there is only one universal law:
The scales must always be balanced.
Albeit, those aren¡¯t necessarily considerations to be taken for bastard children.
It truly cannot be stressed enough how mismatched the betrothed pairing is¡ª or, if they were to be given the benefit of the doubt, expected to be a mismatched couple. Their homelands are oceans away from another with dissimilar climate and their subsequent behaviors are of the same fashion.
Those from Albine sat upright with their hands laid on their laps only raising when they spoke, emphasizing their words by writing expressively in the air. Their actions are always large and noticeable, made uncanny by their seemingly permanent smiles. When they had shown their acknowledgement of Tsurina¡¯s royal family, the jewels hanging off their garments giggled gleefully while their metal crowns caught onto some light giving them an otherworldly glow. Somehow they had managed to be charming despite their overly open nature.
Those from Tsurina remained as they were when they had walked: with their heads bowed in respect to the emperor. In order to sit level with those from Albine they were provided with a platform where their cushions had been laid. They bowed deeply in acknowledgement and took their seats without excessive movement. It is their uniformity that, despite their silence and sparse actions, imbues them with the impression of power.
This is a meeting meant for discussing and negotiating their alliance, the engagement to follow, and what shall be done with the Piaba territory. Typically one such event will be rather noisy but for now the room was silent. The organizer of this event is yet to arrive.
The emperor of Albine was the first to speak,
¡°How nice to see that you arrived safe and sound.¡± His voice fills the empty space, bouncing off the walls and surrounding them.
In contrast, the emperor of Tsurina¡¯s voice is quiet but their words are venomous. ¡°Yes. How nice to see your good behavior.¡±
The air is thickened by apprehension and forced cordiality. While they had ordered a ceasefire it could be said that the war moved into this space. These are two individuals who have clashed swords in the barely distant past. Underneath their garments they have wounds sustained from the other, some still in the process of healing. Their sense of decorum clung weakly to their owners who wanted nothing more than to hurry this ordeal into its conclusion. A shame that they waste such a lovely room with their indelicate desires.
Languorously the emperor of Albine dragged his eyes along those sitting before him. Some of the imperial family members held beautifully patterned circular fans with simplistic wooden handles to hide half of their faces while others had their faces exposed. From his vague recollection he remembers that they have a tradition of maintaining chastity for their princesses meaning those without are in the line of succession (although one of them would never have a chance for the throne.) If he is mistaken then at least he remembers that the young ones with the same royal garments he had slain on Piaba weren¡¯t using fans. He would know, he sent whatever seemingly important belongings they had to their emperor.
¡°I find it splendid news that you still have heirs after they were slaughtered like lambs on the battlefield.¡± He commented.
This taunt was not dignified with a verbal response. Instead of words the Tsurinian emperor took to action: a sword was now pointing to the carefree man¡¯s neck.
¡°I have nearly forgotten your needless devotion.¡± Was his casual comment.
¡°Insult a fallen soldier and you will be destroyed for it.¡±
¡°It is a futile endeavour trying to defend a dead man.¡±
¡°This is my oath.¡±
At this the Albinian emperor narrowed his eyes. To him there is no greater annoyance than to waste precious time and energy into worthless trites. His arms that were once defiantly crossed now lay on his lap.
Betraying their lessons in grace, the royals shifted their eyes nervously to the emperors before them. Even those from Albine dropped their courteous smiles.
This is not their home country and this is not their battlefield either; this is Peaceland in the Pure House. This is unfamiliar terrain. They were warned of the consequences should they sully the tranquillity of this nation. Even militaristic countries such as theirs must be careful on foreign land, especially when their monarchs are gathered on said foreign land. They¡¯d stiffened, waiting with baited breath.
In a room this still and isolated each little shift can be heard. Their safety is guaranteed by a space perfectly tailored for their circumstances as this wing of the Pure House¡¯s purpose is for conflict resolution between conflicting nations. It¡¯s white with some touches of gold lining, all provided cutlery is silver, and the room only has chairs and a lengthy rectangular table all crafted from glass. This heightened the perception of noise was brought to attention when there was the sound of a shoe¡¯s sole dragging along the marble floor.
All eyes laid on the perpetrator: the celestial demon of the snow. The one and only illegitimate child of the Albinian Emperor.
She was noticeable the moment she entered and her slip-up was, to them, an invitation to turn their attention to her. Her sunny hair cascading down her shoulders and her winter white skin hit by the chandelier''s light cast upon her an otherworldly glow. A bonny face with a button nose charmingly blushing, full cheeks (a mark of her youth,) soft brows and thick lashes batting slowly, and shapely lips shaded drops of red in pristine snow. Her big eyes holding the cosmos beyond were lidded by a mystifying exhaustion. Dangerously you are sucked into pity by her weak disposition and darling expression.
Good-looking isn¡¯t enough to describe it, and yet it feels sinful to declare her a heavenly beauty with such wicked origins. She is far from an angel. This one is the embodiment of what is terrifying about an illegitimate: the fulfilment of nefarious plans, a child born of holy and hell. An irresistible exterior betrayed by the darkness of the soul.
She hadn¡¯t spared them a glance in faux ignorance of the world and the events surrounding her. It is due to her short-lived influence that they¡¯ve come about the unexpected resolution of a perilous disagreement. The reminder of her existence reminded them of the purpose of this meeting.
Sheathing their blade, the insulted emperor took their seat. They breathed out slowly to stabilize their triggered emotions.
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¡°You bring your offering.¡± They remarked.
¡°And you have brought yours. Not that I fail to understand why but was there a need to dress it for a funeral?¡±
¡°Black is a cursed color. The most optimal.¡±
¡°We will be discussing a commitment and a compromise.¡±
¡°There is little place you can comment on the attire I choose for my dedication; see yours drowning in sticky opulence.¡±
¡°Well, if the thought consoles you I shan¡¯t pay it mind. Then let us now commence the¡ª¡±
¡°What are you doing?¡± The emperor of Tsurina interrupted with a scowl.
¡°Commencing the negotiations.¡±
¡°We are still missing a party member.¡±
The emptiness of the chair at the end of the table was placed into question. This attention to the glaringly evident issue had crumbled the fabricated serenity of the room. The emperor of Albine uncrossed his legs and propped his head on his hand. His spare hand drummed on the chair¡¯s arm in contemplation. Finally he decided to say,
¡°Tell me this, Qi, do you trust Niccolo?¡±
This question sparked a different form of terse silence to consume them. A thoughtful and contemplative quiet.
Peaceland is an unexpected and unprecedented rising world power taking a daring climb up the hierarchy of the world¡¯s most affluent countries. Their nation was built following their rebellion against their incompetent nobility with the leader of the movement becoming king: Niccolo Lauren.
He took the disorganized land and created unity for all under a new system: a country made by the people for the people. Under his rule the land thrived through innovation that they dreamed of sharing to the world. He created a society absent of caste. Through this their best people were given roles and appointed duties reserved for those of aristocratic blood. He called it a government and dubbed himself president instead of king, going so far as to destroy the crown on the day of his appointment.
This in itself was dreadful news for the world¡¯s nobility. Upon witnessing such an act their people may think to follow suit in the pursuit of glory. They had to deal with this bothersome man.
As though sensing their hostilities, Niccolo acted with haste to make himself and his new nation significant to the world. He travelled and campaigned, making many attempts to better the negative opinions of him. He made his land a hub of trade for various cultures and increased the imports and exports of many other nations. He expressed that he believed it to be his duty to create a peaceful world. The nobility, seeing that he had no intentions of abolishing them, came to accept the existence of this strange country. Through commodifying himself and his nation they were spared.
Trade and commodification was not his only saving grace. Apart from this there are his services, it must be said that providing a venue and aiding in the unification of Tsurina and Albine is his most important venture yet this is not the first of the president hosting peace talks. There were other occasions where his charming voice and excellent conflict resolution skills were put to the test.
That is the reason for the creation of the Summit: an area completely cut off from the rest of the world and heavily guarded at all times with strict rules of interactions between nations. Absolute privacy is guaranteed here. An island surrounded by sea at the center of Peaceland where meetings are held and any words exchanged remain in the room unheard by anyone other than those involved.
For that exact reason Niccolo Lauren cannot be trusted. He has heard every detail of every meet ever held here. The man hasn¡¯t been present long enough for them to see his true colors, and even when they do interact he acts like a good-for-nothing bootlicker who only knows how to suck up to his ¡°superiors.¡± They do not know him.
Despite being enemies, they at least have the guarantee of knowing one another. There is a connection between those who have traded blows before. They have bared their true natures to one another. They are aware of their animosity towards and, to an extent, their intentions.
¡°What need do we have of that man when we have acquired from him a venue and an idea to steal?¡± The emperor of Albine stopped the movements of his fingers. ¡°Is it your desire to risk our positions? To risk this union?¡±
¡°That is hardly desired.¡±
¡°Then? Is it a matter of your foolish beliefs? A pointless matter of useless respect that could very well be your ruin.¡±
¡°Leonardo Amadeo Julian Martinus Anglica.¡± The emperor of Tsurina addressed the emperor of Albine.
¡°Sonuha Qi.¡± The man responded.
A suffocating moment passed them. Emperor Anglica¡¯s eyes were unwavering and confrontational. Emperor Qi glared back with defiance, although such effort proved futile. Emperor Anglica is right.
Clenching their fists, the emperor of Tsurina sighed. Emperor Anglica smirked triumphantly.
¡°We now begin the negotiations of the alliance, the royal engagement, and the Piaba territory.¡±
While the other participants were relieved at the progression of the events that transpired, to a stony-faced fellow in the room this has no purpose. The marriage is clearly finalized and that is all he needs to know.
Responsibility and duty remain the prince of Tsurina''s sole focus. His responsibility is his fianc¨¦e and his duty is to cultivate good relations with her. He will place his attention on her and ignore others who may distract him from her.
The princess is said to be frail and prone to sickness. Her pallor and weakened frame confirm this. The heavy chains and jewels wrapped around her layered dress caused great concern along with the uncomfortable pointed silk shoes she wore. Though her shoulders sagged from the weight she maintained perfect upright posture. She stood out from the other royals because of her head absent of a crown or tiaras that the rest adorned. This may be because of her hair, golden as the sun, placating the need for it.
As her future husband, he sees their circumstantial pairing as a product of good fortune. It is important to see the good in all things. He possesses great skill in the medicinal field and a territory built on the water, a sight unfamiliar to one living in a wintery country. This union will bring a significant improvement to the princess¡¯ quality of living. The ones to be arranged for marriage will irrefutably be them as it is the most fitting and most beneficial.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed one of the members of the Albine royal family move their arm. Briefly turning his sight from his princess, he noticed them raise their cup to their mouth. Moments after their sip he saw them widen their eyes and lean forward slightly with their lips pursed tight with desperation, all telltale signs of a cough.
Culturally in Tsurina there is a respectful way to cough that must always be employed especially in the presence of the emperor: cough facing the opposite direction of your superior. The Albine royal is not aware of this.
Considering the volatile energy possessed by their monarchs, this miniscule mistake may cause yet another diversion and once again delay them. This will, in turn, get in the way of his duty.
The prince faked a cough. He had done so respectfully as per customs and after he finished his demonstration he made brief eye contact with the potential offender. Catching onto his innuendo they followed suit. While they had shown fear and disdain towards his presence it was all discarded in a moment of great need for guidance.
Relieved of the burden and the situation resolved, he returned his focus back to where it belongs only to find his attention reciprocated.
The princess saw him.
The princess witnessed what had happened.
It is only then that his thoughts are guided to a belated epiphany: interaction with another member of the same court before having any manner of interaction with your fianc¨¦e is questionable conduct. No matter how well-meaning it was there¡¯s a layer to it that lies in a sort of subtle disrespect. Naturally then this will lead to great suspicion from the princess and from this arises the possibility of their marriage¡ª or worse: their engagement¡ª to sour.
¡°With all in agreement, Princess Ellira Arie Melaine Laila Nise Orienne Pristin and Prince Yua Qi are to be married as a confirmation of our friendship and continued partnership with one another.¡±
The final decision has been made, and following this was the blood pact and signing the Treaty of Convenire. The negotiations have come to an end. The war is officially over and the dispute over the Piaba territory is settled.
Princess Ellira Arie Melaine Laila Nise Orienne Pristin of the imperial clan of Anglica and Prince Yua Qi of the imperial clan of Qi are officially engaged.
Princess Ellira broke eye contact first to stare at the emperors with their arms linked and drinking to the beginning of a fortuitous alliance. A smile¡ª so faint he strained to see it¡ª tugged on the corners of her mouth and for the first time in his life the prince felt unsettled.
What does that smile mean?
Why had she stared back at him earlier?
What are her intentions?
He cannot understand her. He cannot think of any reason for her actions. He begins to doubt his capability of enacting his duty.
Prologue III
Intelligent individuals rarely fall prey to the illness that is foolishness and yet when inflicted with desperation, even the best are bound to make mistakes. Prince Yua Qi is one of those victims. Hours after the conclusion of the negotiations, he remained agonizing over the events that transpired that day. Namely what he believes to be his transgression towards his fianc¨¦e.
Hence, when he had finished pondering, he arranged an illicit meeting between them. He is still unsure whether or not she will come, (she may be very cross with him) but he¡¯s made up his mind. She is his future wife and he has wronged her. This is necessary.
An unplanned and unchaperoned meeting between an engaged couple is shameful. It causes one¡¯s mind to wander and allows unbecoming implications to form in the mind. This is even more so for a pair of royals as standards are always higher for them, exactly why he has chosen the witching hour and the room farthest from others in order to guarantee their seclusion. He sent his most trusted aid to inform the princess of this and waited. He set no specific time and had her be informed that he will wait for whenever she would wish to speak, whether or not she should choose to attend.
Hours that felt like years carved deeper into his conscience as they ticked by. His mistake causes him to suffer under the weight of his own righteousness. What he had done and what he is perpetrating is improper. It will be no surprise if the princess chooses not to show herself. Then again, it was quite the surprise that the princess had looked his way then.
The door clicked and swung open. A barely familiar figure slipped inside the room. He was no longer alone.
¡°Princess.¡± He breathed out at the sight of her.
In the end the princess had chosen to take the risk and attend anyway. For this he felt a crushing guilt and a momentary relief.
She curtsied to him. ¡°My most sincere apologies, Your Highness. Have I kept you long?¡±
¡°Not at all, in fact I¡¡± The prince trailed off. He bit his lip.
Selfishly, he has asked of the princess to spare her time and risk her reputation because of his mistake. The terribly weak princess who is continuously inflicted with illness.
At the very least she deserved a proper apology for all she has suffered from him. Tearing his gaze from the floor, he looked into her eyes before bowing deeply.
¡°I am the one to apologize, Your Highness. If you think it¡¯s inexcusable or if you view my person with great suspicion, I understand. Allow me, if I may, to assure you that I have no and had no intention to disrespect you and that I will be more mindful of my behavior going forward.¡±
The princess blinked slowly. This scrutiny lasted longer in his perspective than it had in reality. Her lack of response suffocated him. Finally she asked,
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¡°What is it that you are apologising for?¡±
¡°I¡ I am truly sorry, I was wrong. Entirely wrong.¡± He clarified.
¡°What is wrong?¡±
¡°I am. I am sorry.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
His answers to her questions appear foolish in context, but beforehand he had thought that it was her prodding him for a better apology. As of now he believes he has underestimated the depth of the princess¡¯ anger. He assumes that it is because she was so greatly offended that she disregards his apologies and he ought to beg for her forgiveness instead.
¡°In providing assistance to your court member, I failed to take your position in consideration and thus created a presumption of disregard of you personally and possibility of infidelity.¡± The prince confessed to his mistake.
At this she said simply, ¡°Ah.¡±
There was a lasting moment between them. Taking yet another risk, he lifted his head and was graced by her undivided attention for a second time since they first encountered one another. This roots him from where he stands and he notices something he has never noticed before:
The swirling of her irises.
It is a curious trait for one to possess. They seemed to shift and change along with the one they belonged to.
Darkening like the eve. Brightening like a clear sky. Golden flecks dancing, fading, and shining. Always full of depth that he cannot yet surmise. If he learns every change in those colors, will he come to understand his fianc¨¦e?
They were on him. Fixed on him.
Her hand drops down for a moment and motions him up. He notices the colors of her eyes die down and a shiver runs down his spine. Her next words fill him with dread.
¡°Worry not, Your Highness. After all,¡± The princess furrowed her brows and smiled widely with narrowed lids in sarcastically patronizing kindness. ¡°We are not a loving couple.¡±
A sense of dread fills him. His responsibility and his duty have been drained from him. If she can see this turmoil she has created she says nothing of it.
¡°Please do not concern yourself with such matters any longer. If that is all I shall take my leave.¡±
It takes him some time to process what she said and when he had all he gave her was a weak nod. Once she received confirmation of her request she wasted no time in leaving. The door clicked behind her. Her choice of fleeing from the scene as soon as possible was wise and he was relieved that they have evaded controversy. His apology may have failed(?) but her unsullied reputation holds greater importance.
Sunlight prickles his exposed skin and seeps past his white hair to fry his scalp. Still he does not move. When he watched her leave he did not move. He cannot find it in himself to.
His purpose feels like it has gone far, far away from him. How everything managed to be this convoluted in a matter of mere hours and a total of two meetings, he wonders if it would be dishonorable to name his fianc¨¦e as the cause. After all, she is a complicated matter that causes complicated happenings.
The princess is a mystery yet to be solved.