Chapter Text
“This place is as noisy as ever, I see.”
Gasps followed Claude as he crossed the courtyard full of bustling fairies. The silence rippled, laughs and chatters trailing off starting as all eyes turned to him. The music stopped all at once as if the strings of the instruments were cut off in the middle of the note.
It was a whim, coming here himself. He could have just sent an envoy even if he wanted to have a little fun and spook the fairies--Felix, for instance--but Claude was feeling rather drearier than usual. It was not often that he wanted to leave, but even the Lord of the Underworld gets bored sometimes.
Now that he was here, though, he was starting to regret it. On top of being noisy, the Fairy Realm was at the height of spring, and the air was so heavy with the sickly sweet scent of flowers that he could practically taste it. Everything in this place was giving him a headache. He should have just taken a stroll in the human realm.
The Fairy King noticed him immediately as soon as the music died. It was hard to miss Claude, even if one didn’t know his face. The Lord of the Underworld exudes a cold presence that sent a shiver down one’s spine, making him easy to spot in a crowd even when he’s not actively being scary and decaying everything under his feet. The Fairy King’s frown immediately turned into surprise, then caution.
“Lord Claude. This is a surprise.”
The current Fairy King was almost a millennium, but as their kind don’t age much in appearance he looked about as young as his subjects. His long green hair was braided and draped over one shoulder, his thorny crown precariously sitting atop his head. Claude wondered how much time it would take to make that thing rot, or if it was even possible to make it crumble into ashes with all the magic protecting it.
Claude didn’t pause, didn’t hesitate as he stepped up on the dais despite not having the invitation to do so. Only the Council of Gods would dare criticize him, because the other creatures were too scared of him. No matter how arrogant the Fairy King was, he still knew to be wary of a deity.
It was amusing, their fear. Claude was powerful, and an immortal, but despite not having known him personally they all acted as though he was going to ferry their souls off to the underworld if they so much as breathed in his direction. In truth, Claude had never done anything terrible if it was unwarranted, and though he was irritable it wasn’t easy to offend him with trivial things. It was Felix they really should be afraid of since he was the one who reaps souls.
Nevertheless, Claude didn’t dislike their fear. It saved him from being trapped in enthusiastic or tedious conversations. Everyone pretty much falls silent in his presence, and it suited him just fine.
The Fairy King crafted a seat of honor beside the throne, putting in the effort to make it worthy of the lord. Nature moved with his magic, and in less than a minute a wooden seat almost as majestic as the throne rose from the ground. Claude took in the vines and flowers all over it and grimaced a bit, but he still sat nonetheless.
“It’s the second Spring Festival,” explained the Fairy King, talking conversationally as if they were old friends. “We celebrate spring at the beginning and at the height of it, when everything is in full bloom. You showed up at the right time, since we’re just about to begin the dance.”
Claude didn’t respond, only resting his head against his fist. He didn’t really care about their festivals. He was starting to regret his decision to come. He hadn’t been here for half an hour and he already wanted to retreat to a quiet place.
Not that quiet places gave him peace, either. Really, there was no quiet place for the keeper of souls.
Claude’s other hand absently tapped against the armrest as the Fairy King went on with small talk. His forefinger brushed against a yellow blossom, and he looked at it for several seconds before touching it. It immediately withered under his fingers, and the decay slowly spread up the whole armrest. Come to think of it, the whole seat was covered with vines and different kinds of flowers, and the scent was making him irritable. Does the sickly smell dissipate as soon as the petals wilt?
He was reaching for a cluster of multicolored bloom on the top of the seat, just above his head, when his wrist was suddenly snatched up. Everyone in the courtyard had frozen, even the king, and when Claude turned his head his breath caught in his throat. His cold gaze met fiery eyes, a shade of red that was not seen in all the fires of the underworld. It warmed him, thawed his icy temper. He was lost in it, in this fire that didn’t burn.
A woman was leaning into him from behind the seat, in the space between him and the Fairy King. Her head was slightly above his, golden locks falling over her shoulders and hanging down like a curtain that shielded both their faces. Her lips parted with a breath but no words came out. Both of them were suspended. Captivated.
Claude didn’t know how much time had passed, if any time had passed at all. Everything was calm, quiet, even the constant noise of the dead that he could hear everywhere. There was nothing but warmth--in the eyes holding him prisoner, in the palm encircling his wrist.
“Diana?” the Fairy King asked bemusedly, breaking the spell. The woman stepped back quickly and dropped Claude’s hand as if she was burned. She bowed her head, adjusting her posture so her back was neither to her king nor to Claude.
“I beg your pardon, my lord. Your majesty.” Her voice was as gentle as a breeze. It was soothing to the ears, the kind of sound that could easily lull one to sleep. “I did not mean any disrespect. I only meant to save the flowers.” She gestured towards the bloom that Claude was reaching for seconds--had it only been mere seconds?--ago. “They’re a rare kind, and this is the first time they bloomed in seven years. At least allow me to take it away if it’s not to your liking.”
Everyone was quiet, waiting with bated breath as Claude stared at the woman--Diana. No one had caught him off guard like this in the last hundred years, and he was both shocked and refreshed by it.
“Go on,” he finally said. The smile that lit up Diana’s face rivaled a ray of warm sunshine. She immediately took the flowers, handling them with gentle but deft hands.
“Thank you for your generosity, my lord.” She bowed to him, then to her king, and quickly retreated as if scared that he would change his mind.
“Do forgive our lovely Diana, my lord. She’s passionate about flowers,” said the Fairy King. Claude waved his hand dismissively. After a beat, the king finally asked, “What business does the reclusive Lord of the Underworld have in the Fairy Realm, anyway? I’m guessing it’s not merely to join the festivities.”
I was bored, but now I’m intrigued.
“No,” Claude answered, snagging the goblet of wine and taking a drink. The music changed, and Claude watched over the rim of his cup as bodies cleared a space in the middle of the courtyard to give way to sparkling fairies that Claude assumed were there to perform.
“There’s been a breach in the underworld--forbidden fairy magic that stole a soul from the Fields of Punishment.”
That seemed to startle the Fairy King. “Forbidden fairy magic. Are you certain?” Claude cast him a cold glance, and he immediately retracted his words. “Oh, I didn’t mean to cast doubts to the lord’s abilities. I only meant that I would have known if a fairy performed such a powerful and dangerous spell, but this is the first I’m hearing of it.”
Claude snapped his fingers and a memory stone materialized in front of the Fairy King. The king narrowed his eyes at the sudden appearance, but he took it right away and viewed the contents. “The spell traces back to the human realm, but the magic is imprinted with fairy mana. If a fairy is powerful enough to successfully execute a spell that pulled a soul from the underworld, the Fairy King ought to know them regardless of their location.”
The Fairy King frowned but didn’t answer, calling his aide instead. They discussed in low voices, and Claude intended to eavesdrop because he didn’t buy this king’s innocence, but his attention was snagged by flowing blonde hair and a gentle smile.
Diana gracefully danced her way across the space, moving around in nimble feet. The other fairies slowly melted into the background, giving her the spotlight as she twirled and dipped along with the music. Claude was too stunned to notice earlier, but she was wearing a soft green two-piece clothing--a lacy, off-shoulder top only wide enough to cover her full breasts and sheer pants that showed off her shapely legs. She was barefoot, her steps seeming light against the lush grass.
Claude was transfixed by her, this soft and elegant woman. She kept her eyes closed as she danced, kept a gentle smile on her lips, and when she moved she did it in precise steps as though she knew the terrain by heart despite the bodies crowding around. When she lifted her hands, Claude followed the gentle curves of her silhouette.
She was beautiful.
Enchanting.
She had the full attention of the lord of the underworld.
“I will review the memory stone and look into this matter. When we find the culprit, I will present him at court,” said the Fairy King, breaking Claude’s reverie for the second time.
“Which court?”
“What?”
“You fairies cannot lie, but you love to play with words and twist the truth around. I have neither the time nor the patience for such nonsense.”
“Ah, of course.” There was amusement in the Fairy King’s voice. “What of the stolen soul?”
“It is now bound to the spell, and your blasted fairy magic is concealing it from Felix. Nevertheless, he is searching for it.”
“Relentlessly, I’m sure. Nothing escapes the Lord of Death in the long run.”
The performance came to a close, the dancers dipping into a curtsy before disappearing into the crowd. Claude finally looked at the Fairy King then, when Diana was out of his sight.
“You will turn the culprit over to my court, alive and in sound mind, as soon as you find them, and I will have them serve a sentence in the underworld for their audacity. Say it, king.”
“The circumstances warrant a thorough investi--”
“Regardless of the circumstances. I will not accept any excuse for stealing a soul from my domain.”
“Ah, but as their king, it is my duty to dole out punish--” The ground beneath Claude’s feet decayed, and it slowly spread out towards the throne in warning. “Alright, alright. I will turn them over to your court, alive and in sound mind. Do spare the flowers, my lord. Diana loves them dearly.”
Claude narrowed his eyes. “You will turn them over as soon as you find them, not after centuries of whatever punishment you bestow upon them.”
“Are you going to nitpick everything I say?” The Fairy King dared to grin, but Claude was not amused.
“This case will be turned over to Felix. He will keep you in check, king.”
“He is certainly scary, but that’s not much of a threat. After all, even I know that it is forbidden to claim a life before it is due, even for the Lord of Death.”
“I will have the Furies accompany him.”
“You’re relentless.” The Fairy King sighed in resignation, and in the end he agreed with Claude’s terms.
Claude was tired. He had no desire to bicker with the Fairy King any further, so he got to his feet. A hush fell over the crowd once again, but Claude paid them no mind. “I would presume that whoever is stupid yet powerful enough to steal a soul from the underworld and risk my wrath may be a threat to your rule, king. You best look into it.”