Chapter Text
The room was silent, only the birds could be heard through the open window. With his long legs over the armrest of the couch and a book in his hand the twelve year old Hanamaki Takahiro read. Across from him, with her head hanging down from the armchair was his younger sister Akari while Eiko, his older sister, occupied the other armchair. She was the only one sitting in a proper way. His sisters were reading as well, it was one of the few hobbies all three of them shared. The door opened and a maid with blond curly hair and thousands of freckles peeked inside. Three pairs of eyes fixed their attention on the disturbance and the maid bowed her head.
“I am searching for duchess Hanamaki, may I ask you where she is?” the blond asked with here blue eyes fixed on the floor.
“No need to be so formal, Mei. Ma might be in her study,” Takahiro replied and turned back to his book, while he played with his long strawberry-brown hair. It was a version of the fairy tale of King Thrushbeard full of witty jokes and pranks. He loved funny stories and would sometimes sneak out of their fortress to watch a comedy play by some travelling artists. His mother would scold him, if she found out, but it never stopped him. His whole family enjoyed any kind of humour even though there were great differences between the three siblings. While Hanamaki loved dumb pick up lines and jokes, his older sister had quit a dark humour. There had been incidents, where their butler read the news to them while the whole family sat at the breakfast table, and Eiko suddenly started to giggle and laugh until tears fell from her eyes onto her reddened cheeks. She had a downright dirty gallows humour and found enjoyment in the most serious situations. Duchess Haruna would also start to giggle because her children’s laughter had that kind of impact on her, while her wife would just smile or grin and later tell them to get their act together and that there was nothing funny about a group of thieves that had been run over by the cattle, which they had tried to steal. Duchess Ichigo, the head of the Hanamaki duchy wasn’t a strict or serious woman but she had the authority to silence people if needed.
“Hiro, you shouldn’t be so casual! I know our mums don’t care how we behave around and with the staff, as long as we are respectful, but sooner or later you will marry and be part of the noble society, where you have to behave accordingly. You can’t behave like a country pumpkin or peasant,” Eiko scold and her younger brother pursed his lips and started a staring contest with her. The maid at the door was a little lost what to do, because the three Hanamakis ignored her presence. Akari was to absorbed by her older siblings non-verbal fight, which was without hard feelings.
“May I enter?” asked a soft voice and the maid jumped. Behind her stood duchess Haruna with a book in her arms and a smile on her lips. She was a gentle woman with a melodious laugh and wrinkles in her eyes, when she grinned. Her hair was a light strawberry-blond, that her youngest pub had inherited, while her eyes were a light blue.
“I am so sorry for standing in your way,” the maid mumbled and stepped aside, so the Omega could enter the room. Her children had not yet noticed her until Eiko turned her blue eyes, similar in colour to Haruna’s, away from her brother to see who had entered the room.
“Hah, I won,” Takahiro triumphed and stuck his tongue out. Eiko gave him the middle finger, she might be the most proper of the three children, but she could be just as childish as her siblings, even though she was already seventeen.
“Now children, what kind of behaviour is this?” Haruna asked with a serious voice but she winked at her youngest and Akari giggled. The duchess went over to the couch, her only son occupied, and pinched Takahiro in his calves. The boy yelped in surprise and removed his legs from his mother’s reach. His sisters laughed at him.
“Mum! What the heck?” Takahiro asked and rubbed the spot she had pinched.
“Your legs were in the way,” his omegan mother explained as if that was reason enough to pinch him.
“You could have asked,” the boy complained, but he made space for her, so she could sit down next to him.
“Um, excuse my interruption, but there is a letter, milady,” the blond maid said. She was still standing at the door and looked a little lost.
“Really? Bring it here,” Haruna said and put her book on the coffee table, next to the flower arrangement. Mei hurried over to the duchess and gave her an cream white envelope with a red wax seal. Then she backed away, unsure, if she should leave or stay. Akari leaned towards her mother and almost fell from the armchair, just to see who was the sender of the letter.
“Look at that, a letter from the royal family,” Haruna whistled but she didn’t sound impressed at all. Sometimes Takahiro forgot, that he was the son of duchesses, because his mothers rarely behaved like such. There were dinners where Ichigo would complain about the king and they would make fun about him. The boy was sure the king would have hung them as punishment but their staff was loyal to them and the Hanamakis kept their gossiping and antics inside their residence.
“What do they want?” Eiko asked as if some peasant asked for aid and it was their decision to accept it or deny the plea. The duchess unfolded the letter inside the envelope and started to scan the content. Her carefree attitude vanished and her fingers gripped the paper until her knuckles turned white.
“What’s up mommy?” Akari asked, because she could clearly see her mothers distress. Her mother’s blue eyes lifted form the paper to set on her youngest pub.
“Nothing darling. It just seems, that prince Oikawa presented as an Omega and the queen is throwing a party. He is finally debuting,” their mother said, but her tense features weren’t lost on her older children. It was clear to see that Haruna was not taking the news calmly, but was worried about it.
“Mei, could you please send word to my wife, that she should join us?” the duchess asked and the maid nodded, even though she still didn’t know where exactly the other duchess was. Mei would follow Takahiro’s advice and look in the study first. She gave a shy smile before she left the room to fetch the duchess Ichigo.
Haruna didn’t say a word or gave the letter to her children, not even when Akari started to whine and that meant a lot. Normally Haruna could rarely withhold anything from her children, especially the youngest. She masked her tension with a soft smile and teasing words in order to keep her children calm. Eiko and her brother exchanged meaningful glances but decided not to say anything. There had to be a reason for their mothers behaviour and they were old enough to wait for their answers.
Only minutes later the door banged open and Ichigo marched in. She was a tall woman, with brown hair, which she wore in a simple ponytail. Her eyes were a light brown as well and she liked to wear pant-suits because she felt that male Alphas – or knot-heads, as she called them, when she was only in the company of her family – took her more seriously in them. With few steps Ichigo was at her wife’s side and imminently took her wife’s face into her palms and nestled their noses together.
“Calm down, sweetheart, everything’s gonna be okay,” the taller woman said and squeezed the soft cheeks of her spouse in her hands. Haruna looked her deep in the eyes and took a deep breath, Ichigo was right, everything would be alright.
“I know, it’s just . . . it’s just . . . I’m a little scared,” Haruna confessed and gave the invitation letter to her spouse. The Alpha read the letter attentively and then looked at her family.
“We’re attending,” she said in a clam voice and finally gave the letter to her oldest child, so the three pubs could read for themselves what the letter said. Akari scrambled out of her armchair and set on the armrest next to her sister. Takahiro decided he didn’t need to crowd his older sister, so he stayed on the couch.
“Invitation to the debut ball of prince Oikawa Tooru,” Eiko began and she looked at her mothers with confusion in her eyes.
“Shouldn’t it be crown prince and not prince?” she wanted to know and both their mothers gave her a forced smile.
“Seems like the king imminently stripped that title from the boy as soon as his heat started,” Ichigo answered and her smile turned sad. All the nobles knew, that the king wouldn't let an Omega or a woman be the ruler of Aobai Johsai. Soon after Tooru’s birth he had changed the law, so only a male Alpha could inherited the throne. That’s why princess Aiko had no right to it, even though she was beloved by many and a strong-willed Alpha. She had presented only two years after her brother’s birth, and the law wasn’t fully established jet, but the king didn’t change his mind. Even though the young Alpha lost her rights to a toddler, she didn’t turn sour or started to hate her younger brother for what he had stolen from her. Instead she became a very doting older sister and still strove to improve herself. Sadly her father had send her away to marry a nobleman in Shiratorizawa. Many nobles had pleaded the king to keep his daughter in Aobai Johsai and not send her away to the enemy, but the king didn’t yield and the queen also agreed. It was a hard parting and there was little communication. No one really knew what had become of the princess and if she was happy in her marriage.
Now the crown prince lost his right to the crown as well. Hopefully his father would not get rid of him by sending him away like his sister. At least until his eighteenth birthday the boy would be able to stay at the royal palace, at least that’s what the duchesses hoped after reading the letter. They also wondered who would be the next in line to the throne. King Oikawa’s younger sibling had married into the Kageyama family and there were two pubs, a girl and a boy. By law the boy, Kageyama Tobio, would be the next king, but the Hanamaki duchesses doubted that the king was willed to give the crown to his nephew. That’s why they felt a certain unease after reading the letter. A delicate balance that had existed was now out of whack.
“Wow, that’s harsh. I’m glad, I turned out to be an Alpha,” Eiko commented and ignored the glare her brother send her. Takahiro had presented only months ago, as an Omega. Unlike claiming the throne, female Alphas were allowed to rule over a duchy. The reason why the law only applied for the rule over the kingdom but not over the duchies was, that some duchies were in the hands of female Alphas, that gave way for the law but only if it didn’t apply to their own territory. Overall, there was a big dispute about the law. Takahiro wasn’t sad or disappointed, that he wouldn't rule over Hanamaki duchy, because he was an Omega and his sister was an Alpha. Deep inside he was glad, because the way they both presented made the order of succession clear. There was no one who interfered or even tried to manipulate the siblings, so they would turn against each other, because he wanted the younger sibling to inherit the duchy. It allowed Takahiro to be the carefree person he was – he really wasn’t made to rule and was glad the responsibility laid with his older sister. Their parents didn’t mind as what their children presented, they loved them anyway. But that didn’t seem to be the truth for every pub, as could be seen with the behaviour the king displayed towards the prince.
“Well, anyways,” Eiko commented and continued to read the letter. “I hereby cordially invite you to the debutante ball of the recently presented omega prince Oikawa Tooru. It is my honour to invite all our allies with their presented children to this event. Please let me know, if you’ll attend and with how many people, sincerely the queen,” Eiko read and Akari groaned. She was only six and really, really wanted to go to that party, but she didn’t present jet. Takahiro jumped up from the couch and cheered, he would go to the palace for the first time. When he had his first heat, he wasn’t so thrilled about it, he didn’t mind being an Omega, but he could have waited some more years before presenting. Now he was glad, that it had happened already. His debutante ball had been small, only with low nobles of their own duchy and some relatives. A grand ball, like the one for prince Oikawa sounded really exciting.
“You lucky bastard,” his younger sister insulted him and pouted. Her eyes were a little glassy from the angry tears she held back, it sometimes was frustrating to be the youngest and not be included in activities or discussion.
“Hey, no swearing,” Ichigo scold and folded her arms in front of her chest. The youngest pub glared at her big brother and he noticed, that she really was frustrated with the situation. Akari was the biggest fan of queen Hanako and wanted to meet her, but the Hanamaki family rarely travelled to the capital and if they did, only the duchesses or sometimes Eiko were going. The young girl was clearly upset, because she missed a chance to meet her idol and Takahiro felt bad for her. He didn’t really care for the queen or the king or even the prince, he was just excited to get to know other people his age. But he had sympathy for his sister and tried to calm her down.
“How about you help me with my outfit and hair?” he asked and crouched down so he was at his sisters level. She still pouted a little, but he could see, that she was about to give in.
“Isn’t that a wonderful idea?” Haruna asked and leaned into her wife. Akari wasn’t over the whole thing jet, but even though she was dotted on by her whole family, she wasn’t too spoiled to ignore the kind gesture of her brother.
“I really want to meet the queen,” she whined and some tears fell from her eyes, but she didn’t start to throw a tantrum. She was biting her bottom lip and looked around the room as if she was searching for a way, that allowed her to go to the palace, even though she wasn’t invited. Eiko had started to pat the small girls back, but Akari didn’t really respond to that. Her light brown eyes fell on the letter in her sisters lap and it was like it gave her an idea.
“Do you think I can write her a letter, that you could deliver?” she asked as she wiped her tears away and everyone in the room smiled at her with fond eyes.
“Sure darling, I bet she would be honoured to receive a letter from you,” Haruna answered. Akari gave her a toothy grin and then she turned towards her brother, her smile growing mischievous.
“I’m gonna make you the most beautiful person at the party,” she declared and Takahiro already regretted his words. Now it was his turn to groan, but that didn’t stop his baby sister from jumping down from the armrest next to Eiko and walk over to him.
“I don’t think the prince would like it, if someone looked better than him at his own debutante ball,” the male Omega tried to defend himself, but it was in vain. When his sister set her mind on something, she was usually hard to dissuade. Her stubbornness had often pushed her siblings to their limits. Without wasting any more time, Aiko grabbed her brother's arm and made him stand up and follow her.
“Let me join,” Eiko exclaimed and hastily stood to not be left behind by her siblings. Nothing in the world would stop her from joining the fun and torture his brother by dressing him up. She gave the invitation letter back to her parents, as she left the room to follow her younger siblings to Takahiro’s room. Ichigo looked down at the letter and than at her beautiful wife.
“Let’s hope, the prince’s second gender won’t lead to any kind of bloodshed,” she said and kissed the strawberry-blond hair of Haruna. The Omega leaned into her and sighed.
“Yeah, let’s hope for the best.”