Chapter Text
There were few things Shouta loved in the world. He loved his family, despite their meddling ways. He loved the big cats that roamed the palace, largest than life prints left in the snow of the courtyard. He loved the silence of the surrounding mountains just after a blizzard, before the trees begin to snap from the weight of ice and snow heaped upon them. However, he loved the experience of watching a student of his grow into the warrior they have the potential to be the most. There was nothing quite like watching them win their first sparring match, just for them to run to him in excitement and hoping for his praise. He would never admit it to a soul. He has a reputation to uphold as a harsh and uncaring mentor.
Shouta listens with half an ear to his student ramble about how she just took down her sparring partner for the first time, excitement clear in her high-pitched voice. She’s a young thing, only 12, but he has been training her for the past year. Most of her chatter flies over his head but he nods where it seems expected while keeping an eye on the other students spread out across the courtyard as they continue their practice. Two of the palace’s resident cats, two large white tigers that roam the halls of their own will, lounge not far off from where he stands observing his students. Their eyes flicker between the pair of students sparring. His own eyes flick back to the youth by his side who seems to be coming to an end of her chatter.
“Good job out there, but get back training,” Shouta threatens. The bright smile he receives before she turns and leaves says everything he needed to hear about her reaction to his seldom given praise.
“You sure are getting soft with these kids aren’t you,” a familiar voice behind him teases. Shouta turns his head lazily to the sound, shooting an irritated glare at Hizashi and his smug grin. His childhood friend and personal servant stands a ways behind him and to his right, his entire stance and appearance displaying the respect he is supposed to show Shouta, but his shit eating smirk gives away to the familiarity between them. He takes a moment to bend at the waist, bowing as he speaks. “Prince Shouta, Her Highness summons you to her quarters. She demands you come at once.”
Shouta turns back to his students and barks a few orders, commanding them to take this time to complete their sparring matches and then perform their cool down workout, before he turns on his heel and stalks past Hizashi and back into the palace halls. As the doors close behind them, all pretense of respect and professionalism drops and Hizashi scrambles to catch up and fall in line beside Shouta.
“Man, you don’t have to give me that look, everyone know’s you actually care about those kids more than you let on.” Hizashi chuckles out a half laugh as they walk side by side towards the Queen’s chambers.
Shouta rolls his eyes at Hizashi’s teasing. “That doesn’t mean you need to let them know that. God, the last thing they need is to think I’ll start going easy on them,” he grumbles into the thick fur collar of his cloak. “Do you know what my mother needs me for?”
“She didn’t specify, only told me to come get you and make sure you didn’t disregard her summons like you so often do,” Hizashi replies with a shrug and a grin. “She made it very clear that I was not to let you weasel your way out of this.”
Shouta can’t deny that more often than not he does tend to disregard her summons and arrive late to her calls. He simply grunts in response, signaling his ending of the conversation. The short silence of their walk is filled with the clicking of shoes on cold marble floors. Several possible scenarios of why his mother is calling for him so urgently flit through Shouta’s head, ranging from a new suitor she has picked out for him to her being deathly ill. She calls upon him often, daily even, but never does she demand him come so urgently.
His mind is still coming up with wild theories and scenarios when they step up to his mother’s door. Hizashi steps forward and knocks thrice on the heavy wood before opening the door and stepping aside, bowing whilst gesturing for Shouta to enter. As Shouta steps forward into his mother’s private chambers, he comes face to face with the devil itself; his mother Kami and younger sister Mieko together, whispering in hushed tones with their backs to him. Clearing his throat to announce his presence, as if the creaking of the massive door’s hinges is not enough, he stands far enough away to not hear their conspiring, hoping against hope that if he doesn’t hear them, it won’t involve him. That hope never has and never will come through.
“Ah! Shouta, my dear son, come come, sit with your sister and I, we were just talking about you,” his mother exclaims as she turns toward him in a flurry of overstuffed skirts. “You may stay and listen in as well Hizashi, this pertains to you as well!”
Hizashi visibly deflates from her words, and Shouta grins to himself that at least he isn’t alone in his suffering. If he was to deal with their meddling, conspiring ways, at least his friend would have to endure the torture as well. Once the three royals are seated within his mother’s private sitting room, Hizashi standing by Shouta’s side, his mother delves headfirst into the topic of the day.
“Shouta, you are aware that this year’s Alliance Festival is coming up, and this year it is Taikyohiro’s turn to host the festivities, are you not?” She doesn’t even hesitate for his answering, jumping right into her next sentence. “This year you will be attending in our stead.” Shouta visibly jolts to attention at her words, previously disinterested eyes turning on her sharply.
“What? No, I refuse, I have too much to do here to waste my time on some silly festival while my students lose track of their progress.” His eyes flit back and forth between his mother and sister, and can clearly tell there is more to this little seemingly harmless trip than it seems.
“Shouta, you never spend enough effort and time in political matters, and we need you to be more proactive in making these appearances. If you are ever to inherit the throne you must put effort into maintaining these connections Yuuei has made over the centuries.” His mother shares a brief glance with his sister, pursing her lips before she continues. “Not to mention the matter of you finding a proper suitor sometime soon. You have denied every suitor that has come calling, and you refuse to even look at the suitors I have taken into consideration for you.” Shouta groans in frustration as she continues on, ignoring him looking pleadingly at Mieko and Hizashi. “Shouta, listen to me, Mieko just had her first child and you are still denying suitors a chance to even attempt courting you. While you are in Taikyohiro for the festivities, I don’t want you scaring away any potential suitors.”
“Mother, there is absolutely no need for me to be looking into suitors at this time. I have many more important things on my plate than playing house with some idiotic fool who thinks they can get an easy life through some twisted romance story meant for little girls who want to grow up and meet some Prince Charming who will make their dreams come true. I have no need for any suitor or partner. You yourself ruled Yuuei for several years before you even met father.”
His mother sighs softly. “Shouta, I was young when I came into rule, and at your age I had already begun courting your father. And I am not asking you to stoop to just any suitor who comes knocking.” Her eyes flit between Mieko, Hizashi, and him, glittering with dangerous amusement. “King Toshinori has been denying suitors in much the same way you have Shouta. I know you have not met him since you were much younger, but I was hoping a familiar face would spark the both of you into some sort of courtship!” She giggles, watching Shouta’s face drain of color.
“No. Absolutely not. If that is the only reason you are sending me there then send Mieko because your little plan to try and set me up will NOT happen.” He spouts out quickly, his volume quickly raising from his normal hushed tone to an almost frantic denial. “I am not the child I was back then.”
“Even if this was not the reason, I could not just send Mieko. She just recently had Hitoshi, there’s no way she is making a trip like that so shortly after labor.”
“But-”
“No buts, you are a grown man and you will do as I say without any childish rebellion.” She says forcefully. “I will be sending you in two days time with Hizashi and Nemuri as your escorts. I want you to behave whilst you are there, which means no sneaking off and no being rude to others no matter how stupid you may think they are. Which includes Hizashi and Nemuri, at least in public.” Her wry smile is appropriate, knowing that the three grew up together and would in no matter act differently from siblings to each other. “Now go and start making preparations for your students. Tomorrow I want you meeting with Nezu to discuss what you will be responsible for during the festival. Now shoo.” She waves at him like one would shoo away a child.
Shouta could feel the dread sitting heavy in his stomach as he stood and left her quarters, arguments on the tip of his tongue just barely held back. Distantly he can hear the doors shut once more, and Hizashi bursting into cackling laughter at the situation Shouta has found himself in.
The next few weeks are going to be hell, he can feel it.