Chapter Text
“I’ll
kill
her. I’ll slit that
goddamn Via bitch’s throat
ー!"
A meeting between Royals was going just as one would expect: horribly. Arguments were frequent and logical conclusions were rarely met. In this particular case, two couples were circling around each other, trying to determine the fate of a Princess. Her father, Tsar Ivan Braginski, had an aura of murderous intent surrounding him. His soft, round face was hidden behind his long scarf, and only his piercing purple eyes were visible behind the cloth.
A Chinese Empress, Chun-Yan Wang, placed a hand on her raging husband’s shoulder with mild alarm wrinkling her otherwise perfectly regal face. “Ivan, please.” She did her best to soften her tone once she had his attention. “I’d do anything for our daughter, but murdering a reaper would be...problematic.” Her long brown hair fell over her shoulders, and her large sleeves fell back as she rubbed Ivan’s shoulder, hoping to give him some form of comfort.
“I do not care. She’s going after countries nowー”
“ーand your daughter, as unstable as she is, would naturally be the next target.” Another voice chimed in, King Arthur Kirkland, his bushy eyebrows furrowed in discontent. All three royals stared at each other, imagining the worst case scenario. “You know what happened to Elizabeth. At the same time this reaper appeared was when she vanished without a trace. We can only assume Via was the cause. If you want to keep your daughter safe, you must stop wasting time.”
When it seemed like Ivan would murder Arthur for insinuating that his time was being wasted, Queen Francine cleared her throat. She’d been watching her husband and the worried couple go in circles for too long, and it was time someone put them all in their place. “Why doesn’t she stay with us? Our public is rather welcoming. She’ll be safe.” Her thick, distinctly French accent almost made the words sound melodic, a stark contrast to the angered tones from before.
Ivan seemed to consider this idea, murmuring to himself under his breath. “Hiding in plain sightー”
“Francine!” The exasperation in Arthur’s voice was clear. “How can she come stay with us? England has more of the supernatural than the rest of the countries combined!” His voice lowers, the tone growing more somber. “And you know what happened to the last Queen of England. I’d never be able to live with myself if something happened to you.” His eyes were pleading, emerald green meeting sky blue, but Francine wouldn’t budge.
“The last Queenーforgive me for speaking ill of the deadーmade an enemy of the wrong person.” Francine smiled slyly, knowing full well her husband was aware of what the was insinuating.
Dread crept up the back of his neck, and Arthur found his throat clogging uncomfortably. “No...no, you can’t possibly meanー!” The words were a struggle for him, and he sounded like he was choking on them.
“Mean what?” The Empress asked curtly, brown eyes surveying the Queen with suspicion.
“There is a boy she could stay with,” Francine replied. “A demon who commands one even stronger than him. Alongside the maid…I’m certain your daughter would be safe”
“Boy?” Ivan’s lips curled in disgust. “And who might this boy be?”
The Queen smiled.
“Phantomhive. Earl Ciel Phantomhive.”