Chapter Text
“ My sincerest apologies. But you need to understand that this is for everyone’s sake. Tomorrow, when…”
Ena’s father’s words get immediately muted out of Ena’s ears. Whatever he had to say to her is irrelevant, and stupid, and dumb— and a brew of nonsense lies sugarcoated with the term love so that it looks like its worth chasing over.
She groans, turning away from her father’s chair. She feels herself digging her nails into the frilly sleeves of her pale-colored plaid dress, dappled with lace and ribbons and anything that you would expect from the monarch’s cherished and beloved daughter. Designed customly by the country’s one and only top couturiere, unmatched by anyone else.
Actually, Ena has met them before.
Light pink hair tied up, a playful hint in their tone with every word that slipped out, taking Ena’s measurements as they circled around her body and got out their handful of measuring supplies. They would make some pesky comments like “Maybe you’d look more like the monarch’s first child if you stopped pouting all the time.” or anything else that seemed to gain a reaction.
They stopped when Ena had shouted at them, crossing her arms and being so loud that her brother had stepped in to interfere. Akito always seemed so much more gentle and charming with guests or newcomers, but in reality he was an annoying prick— to Ena.
“So,” Ena’s father clears his throat and Ena stops fidgeting. “Maybe if you could have an arrangement with their daughter..”
“Arrangement?” Ena cocked her head to one side, brown side bangs following it. “What kind?”
“Marriage.”
“With their daughter ?”
The monarch huffed. “Were you not listening to what I was saying?”
Ena clenched a fist. “I’m not marrying anyone’s daughter. I’m not marrying anyone, actually.”
“So you want our country to die? You want everyone to be obliterated?” Ena’s father challenged, voice beginning to raise while the two began to mutually lose their patience with each other. “What about that Airi girl you’re friends with? You want the Asahina bloodline to kill her too? You want to attend her death ceremony?”
“Shut up!” Ena shrieked, rising up from her chair and refusing to look at anywhere except the ground. She marched away towards the door, throat somewhat aching from how noisy she was. Tears welled in her eyes at the thought of one of her bestest friends since so long ago, bloody and bruised while her flesh was cut open with a sword.
Fine. If not for herself, then she’ll marry this stupid Asahina descendant for Airi’s sake.
Her father remained in his seat, not bothering to go after her. Another weekly disagreement led to Ena shutting her father’s door behind her to emphasize her anger before she rushed into her room.
She swept past the hallways, white walls and pillars engraved with patterns. Furniture was polished to the point it felt as if it’d blind Ena herself sometimes. When Akito had brung over his partner, to which Ena remembered his name— Touya Aoyagi; Touya remarked on how clean and tidy the place was.
To be fair, Ena never really bothered to analyze it like that. She was raised here anyways, nothing really shocked her.
Speak of the devil. Ena thought, annoyed while she dodged Akito walking in the hallway.
“Hey, what’s up with you today?—” Akito paused, watching as his older sister ignored him as she turned a right corner which would be the hallway down to her room, tall decorated windows aligning the walls so that whenever there was sunlight or moonlight it would seep through.
The brunette located her room and twisted the doorknob open. Once she got inside of it, she immediately slammed it shut before making her way towards her four-corner canopy bed to lie down on and reflect.
Asahina this, Asahina that, that’s all her father had been talking about. It’s always how the Asahina bloodline descendant around Ena’s age was like some sort of godsend straight from the skies of heaven. She earned good grades in her academy and was the top student in her side of the country. Not only that, but she gained countless achievements for her archery abilities.
Hell, she probably had all sorts of other hidden talents that she could grab out of nowhere. It was so exasperating.
Maybe she’d feel a lot better if she took a quiet visit to the courtyard. No stupid family member of hers would bother to go there and go on a long ramble about how talented and amazing this Asahina descendant was, and how Ena could never compare to her knowledge and skills.
She’d just be isolated with herself. That didn’t sound too bad right now.
However it was pretty much the dead of night. She could really go for some cheesecake instead of attempting to deal with annoying invisible flies or mosquitos trying to eat her alive. If Ena could, she would capture every single annoying insect and make them extinct so they never bother her again.
Oh well. She could always draw if she wanted to.
Getting up from her bed, weight lifted off, she began to scavenge around her room for her art supplies. She forgot that she had some arrays of dried lavender that she was supposed to include in one of her art projects laying by her alcove. She reached out for it then continued her search around for the rest of her supplies.
A bottle of murky paint water on Ena’s nightstand scattered with paintbrushes below it drew in her attention, and she quickly cleaned up the area. Especially the water. That was gross. Maybe she’d get Akito to drink it.
After collecting all the things she needed, Ena got out a blank canvas and was ready to paint.
…
“Great.” Ena murmured to herself in a sarcastic manner. “I don’t have a single speck of inspiration right now.”
It was only when a masculine figure that was soon recognized to be Akito had opened Ena’s door, completely forgetting to knock. “..You alright?”
“Knock first!” Ena scolded. “Yes. I’m fine.”
Akito had a plate in his other hand, which held cheesecake. He was eating it while he was strolling around the palace as if he wouldn’t get anything messy.
Obnoxious . Ena groaned. I can’t believe that someone like Touya Aoyagi finds interest in my annoying younger brother.
“Just checking.” Akito remarked after swallowing another piece of his cake. “Oh, speaking of which, I heard you’re getting married to that Asahina girl that you’re meeting tomorrow.”
Ena slumped over her art set-up in vexation. “Yeah. That one honors student who literally aced all her final exams in her private academy. She sounds like a show-off.”
“Show-off, huh. That’s a hypocritical statement for someone like you to make.”
“Just get out of my— wait ,” Ena froze, sitting upright in her stool which had freckles of dried paint that was most likely from years ago. “I’m meeting her tomorrow ?”
Akito nods in confirmation. brushing some of his fire-colored bangs to the side of his face.
Oh boy. Ena thought as she swallowed a lump of anxiety, sent down her throat. She was going to meet Mafuyu Asahina today. That intelligent, knowledgeable and skilled mistress that everybody hasn’t shut up about. Her bloodline was cluttered with historical accomplishments, and she was going to succeed in that pattern.
She adjusted the laced ribbon on her new dress today— medium length, and a velvety color sewed with white accents along with a small, milk-colored flowery headpiece that perched by her head.
If she was going to meet this superior girl that she’d have to deal with for basically the rest of her life, she may as well look good. It’d be awkward if in the future they went through a conversation about what they first thought of each other and Mafuyu thought she was dumb or something.
Ena elegantly made it down the main stairs that split into two different paths, but led to the same first floor of the palace. Her black shoes clacked against the marble flooring until she reached the giant secured doors of her home.
Mafuyu was outside. She was waiting.
Ah, well. Screw it.
Ena placed on her delicate and pure-hearted façade for when meeting new people before opening the doors herself, her servants and maids were busy with arranging things for Mafuyu’s week long visit.
The absolute second that Ena had peered outside and revealed herself to the visitors, she felt as if she was going to screech. Not in the bad way, but more in the holyshitholyshit -in-a-positive-view way.
“Hello.” A girl dressed in dark clothes, carrying a black parasol with what seemed to be a carved snake-like shape around the handle over her head. Her eyes were like the edge of the night on winter, violets and gentle blues mixing in with each other.
That must be Mafuyu.
She also contained elegant butterfly clips that clung onto her deep amethyst locks; which were also very lengthy. Her hair was long and looked like an endless stream of dark lavender flowing off of her shoulders.
Typically, for visits like these she’d have a butler or two sent with her. But for some reason, Mafuyu Asahina had shown up alone.
A sign of vulnerability from the Asahina Empire? Ena pondered. Why would they send me their goddess of a descendant without any protection?!
It wasn’t until Mafuyu tilted her head to one side that Ena realized she’d be unconsciously gazing at her for the past few minutes. She shook her head and then cleared her throat.
“Hi. I’m Ena Shinonome..” She felt panicky already. Mafuyu was basically sending daggers straight at Ena’s soul with how dead her eyes looked at her. How could something seem so oddly intimidating? “Come in. We’ve prepared things for you.”
Mafuyu dipped her head low to symbolize her thanks before mutely going inside. She glanced around the palace, probably taking in the sight and features for the first time.
Ena attempted to read her face, but couldn’t find anything. She seemed almost dull in a sense— like a doll, pretty much.
“Oh, by the way,” Ena began, wanting to eliminate the awkwardness. “We have a courtyard if you want to see that.”
“Sure.”
“Right this way then.” Ena signaled for the other girl to follow her, still feeling weirdly embarrassed. Back in the more traditional and older eras of the country, if you were marrying someone you would meet them and their parents at the same time. But this time, it seemed Mafuyu and Ena’s parents agreed on meeting separately.
That’s why they were left alone, and that’s why Ena’s father was probably not in his office right now.
Ena remembers her father saying it was for a more sincere ‘bonding’ but to her it just feels all the more awkward. Maybe Mafuyu was shy too, and that’s why she isn’t speaking?
The brunette stopped in her tracks in the long, polished hallway suddenly before looking over her shoulder before Mafuyu caught up.
Mafuyu met her eyes. “Is there something wrong?” her voice was near to emotionless, yet it still sounded soft like silky fabric.
“You could be a little more social.” Ena admitted.
“Okay.”
Ena blinked at her before continuing to lead her through the hallways. Unfortunate for her, said hallway was Akito’s hallway.. the only direction and route towards the courtyard.
His room from the outside was pretty regular, all fancy like the other entrances. Except his had a shiny, real golden nameplate with his name carved into expensive material by the top of his door. It looked really stupid to Ena.
“Right, and this is the courtyard.” Ena opened the gateway to it and showed Mafuyu the vast outside area of the palace. It was scattered with all types of flowers such as orchids and lilies, paired with a neat stone path cutting through the fresh grass.
“It’s pretty.” Mafuyu commented.
“Is that really all you have to say?” Ena felt frustration and disappointment curling in her stomach. “You could at least be a little appreciative.”
“…I don’t know what else to say.”
Seriously? Ena sighed, grabbing Mafuyu’s wrist to steer her into the direction of the room that was prepared for her since yesterday by Ena’s maids.
To her silent surprise, Mafuyu’s hands were actually— very pretty. They were pale and long, her knuckles were subtly visible and each finger ligament could be very easily seen underneath her soft skin.
Ena made a low sound of almost what seemed to be fury before she dragged the Asahina descendant to her room, not looking back.
She was really pretty.
And that really bothered Ena.
She didn’t know what it was, but everything just made her absolutely incensed.
After the duo reached their destination without exchanging any other words, Ena calmed down a little and stopped holding Mafuyu’s wrist. “Sorry.” Ena apologized swiftly.
“Sorry for what?”
“Your wrist. But anyway, this is your room and whenever you want to visit the palace overnight then you’ll sleep here.”
Mafuyu bowed slightly, her parasol lightly being fidgeted by her admirable fingers. “Thank you, Ena.”
Ena placed a hand on her hip. “Yeah, now if you’ll excuse me I have a painting I need to get to.”
“You paint?” Mafuyu chimed in curiosity.”
“…I do, yeah. But it’s not anything too good. My father does it too.”
Mafuyu rested a finger on her chin, tapping it lightly for a minute or two while deep in thought. “Well, if your father does it then you must be equally as talented.”
“ Right… ” Ena cleared her throat, trying to suppress what seemed like an ocean of bitter memories and emotions. “Anyway, if you need me you already saw where my room is. If you get lost, locate a local butler or maid— or my brother if you’re in a situation that dire.”
Mafuyu nodded. “Very well.”
Ena could finally go to her room and rest. She began navigating down the hallway, the tips of her fingers dragging along the shining walls as she proceeded further and further. That girl…
Was she just shy? Or was she disappointed? What if she thought Ena was weird, or too talkative?
“Dammit.” Ena cursed under her breath, shaking her head. She would deal with Mafuyu’s week length visit later, right now she needed to gather her jumbled thoughts.
Even if she was going to marry Mafuyu, Ena couldn’t help but feel a sting of guilt infused with confusion.
Maybe it was because she was marrying another girl.
None of the books in the library, or any of the stories she had read involved two girls being in love.
But Ena and Mafuyu weren’t in love. They were just assigned to be ‘lovers’ to prevent warfare from happening.
Maybe I should fix up more clothes or headpieces of mine first. Ena suddenly remembered.
She stopped dead in her tracks before turning around, ready to find that playful, pink-haired matched with a strawberry gaze couturiere that she has to deal with almost every month.