A rather plain woman dressed in a lady-in-waiting's clothes glanced subtly to her sides before inconspicuously towards the only way in and out of the Inner Courts. Clutched in her arms is small bag that produces a soft jingling sound as she walked. She once again looked over her sides and over her shoulders as though looking out for someone and the quickened her pace before stopping short as she ran head-on with a what looked like a palace official and immediately gasped and tried to back away when the man spoke.
"Who are you? And what are you doing scuttling about in here?"
"Scuttling about?" The woman huffed. "I am Miyano Hikaru, lady-in-waiting to His Majesty's consort, Luna-sama. I am here on her orders so how dare you block my path? Do you want to be reported to Her Highness and be punished for your disrespect towards the royal family?"
"How dare I? Do you know who I am?" At the girl's dubious look, the man smirked and continued. "I am Her Majesty the Empress, Mikan-sama's older brother, Yukihira Rei. "Now then, let me bring that question back to you, do you want to be dragged to the dungeons and be punished for your crime of disrespect towards the royal family?"
Hikaru gasped and stuttered. "I-I am sorry. I did not recognize you My Lord. Please forgive my blunder."
"You change attitude fast. On Luna-sama's orders you say?"
The woman nodded slightly. "Yes My Lord. I have somewhere to be right now so please excuse me and let me pass."
Rei looked around the grounds until he spotted a pair of palace guards on their way to them and called out in a loud voice. "You over there!"
Hikaru's eyes widened as he saw the guards run towards them and glanced nervously to the empress's brother. "My Lord, what are you-"
"Escort this woman back to her mistress's palace and make sure she gets there." After, he turned to the woman. "Go back to Her Highness and tell her that everyone in the Inner Courts is forbidden from leaving this place until further notice."
"W-what? Forbidden? But why?"
"Surely you know of the incident a few days ago wherein Nobara-sama was poisoned, yes?" At Hikaru's nod, Rei continued. "As the investigation is still on-going, it is His Majesty's strict orders that no one will leave the Inner Court until the probing is well and done."
Hikaru paled as the words rolled around in her mind. "B-but-"
"I'm afraid that not even a consort's orders will be able to exempt you from this one. However, if it is really important then you can bring the matter straight to the emperor."
"NO!" Hikaru shouted while Rei merely raised his brows. "I mean, no, it is not that important. Surely Her Highness will understand. I will be going back now."
She made a move to bow to the man in front of her and turned to leave, mind racing fast as to how to get out of the palace undetected, however, Rei's voice stopped her. "Guards, escort her back to the consort's palace and stand guard there." Hikaru's eyes widened as she once again faced the man. "I will call more guards to protect Luna-sama's palace." The empress's brother addressed her once more. "It will be in your best interest to accept this protection; surely you do not want anything to happen to your mistress?"
Hikaru slowly exhaled before nodding, already subjecting herself to the fact that she will not escape this. "Of course, My Lord. Thank you for your kind consideration."
At that, she once again bowed and turned with the palace guards trailing behind her. Looking back she saw that Yukihira Rei has also turned and made his way towards the entrance of the empress's pavilion. Knowing full well that she will not be able to run without being caught, she simply walked and thought of how she will survive her mistress's wrath.
The emperor sighed, carrying his daughter while making their way towards the gazebo to enjoy a warm afternoon tea. "I wish I can make them all go away. They won't stop bothering me with their affairs."
His wife laughed and squeezed his arm that is clutched in her hand. "Well it's your own fault, you know? It's because you skipped out on work and slept instead."
"That was three days ago and yet they are bothering me even now." Natsume sighed again and looked at Ryuu. "Son, when you become king, appoint smart officials who will be able to get their job done even without you."
Ryuu nodded even though he was obviously as amused as his mother. "Yes otou-san, I will take note of that."
Sayuri huffed. "Tou-chan, why are we walking so slowly? I'm hungry and I'm sure Hotaru-baa-san will be there already."
Mikan smiled and pinched her daughter's cheek who whined. "It's because kaa-san tires easily nowadays, be patient alright? Right now, I'm walking for two."
"Okaa-san, is the baby heavy?" Ryuu asked curiously. Natsume and Sayuri both looked at her, waiting for her answer.
The brunette smiled again and gesture in front of them. "We're here already, let's get settled first then I'll answer your question."
"Natsume-sama, Mikan-sama, Hotaru-sama sent word that she will be a little late." Michiko said. "It appears that there is some issue in the upper clans regarding the incident in Nobara-sama's palace. She said not to worry and she will handle it first and come here after."
The emperor sighed before nodding and Michiko retreated to the side while the royal family settled around the table. "Of course there will be issues; a consort has been poisoned right inside her palace."
"Yes, okaa-san came by yesterday all worried and anxious. I assured her that I will be completely safe in my palace though, the security has increased especially since you started sleeping there with the children." Mikan replied. She sighed wistfully before lowering a hand to her stomach. "It will only be a few months before I give birth; I hope everything will be settled before then. I want our child to be born in a time wherein the palace is peaceful."
Natsume took her other hand looking at her long, slender fingers before answering. "I hope so too, Mikan. When the child is born, we can start anew. You and I, along with our children, we will leave happily together for a long time."
Mikan smiled a bit. "Yes, we will." Subaru had advised her against too much stress and fatigue. She has also been taking tonic in order to strengthen her heart and the baby. Although she still have chest pains from time to time, she has not lost consciousness from it unlike the before. She and her husband have been optimistic over it, which she thinks is better than thinking negatively about it since it frightens Natsume so much to think about something bad happening to her and the baby and gets so mad when she tries to talk about it.
"Kaa-san," Sayuri called, wanting her mother's attention, which she immediately had. "You said you would tell us your answer once we're settled."
Her mother laughed. "Are you that curious about it?" Sayuri nodded enthusiastically to which her mother laughed again. "Alright then, about my answer, yes, the baby is heavy. But it's not really just because of that that I am careful." She smiled a bit at the curious expression on her children and their father's faces. "As the baby gets bigger, naturally my body has to adapt in order to accommodate the baby better. It is not the stomach that gets bigger; it's the uterus inside my stomach. As the uterus grows to accommodate the growing baby, it pushes downward my body and if I am not careful, well, the baby can slip."
"Slip?" All three asked.
"Yes, if the baby slips then I will lose him or her and I don't want that so I'm being extra careful." Mikan explained. She quietly observed the faces of her family, smiling slightly at the play of emotions in them.
"Then I will never hurry you again, okaa-san." Sayuri said after a moment of silence. "You should take your time and walk carefully."
"No," Ryuu interjected. "Perhaps you should just stay in your palace, okaa-san. That would be better right, otou-san?"
"As much as I want your mother to just stay inside, she always complains that I am keeping her confined and she can't even get a breath of fresh air." Natsume glanced in exasperation at her wife who merely laughed at their response to her statement.
"Natsume-sama, Mikan-sama," Michiko called. "Rei-sama is here."
"Rei-ojii-san!" The children immediately jumped up to embrace their only uncle. It is unfortunate that they cannot acknowledge their father's half-brother as uncle, thus knew their mother's brother as their only one.
Rei quickly bent down to catch both children as they tackled him. "How have you been Sayuri-sama? Ryuu-sama."
"We have been well, jii-san." Ryuu replied. "It has been a long time since you visited us here in the palace."
"Yes," Sayuri added, pouting a bit. "And we still have not seen our baby cousin."
Rei laughed lightly, stroking his niece and nephew's head. "Forgive me, Your Highnesses. I have been very busy with clan matters that I had to postpone visiting you for a long time." The two nodded, appeased for a while and their uncle smiled before standing up and turning towards the emperor and empress. "Your Majesties, have you been well?"
Mikan smiled and took her brother's hand in hers and led him to sit in front of her and her husband while said husband merely nodded in acknowledgement. "We have been well, nii-san. How about you? What matters have you been attending to?"
"The nobles have all contributed into building a welfare office for the lowborn where they can bring their problems and complaints. It's usually about their jobs, though, issues like they are not being paid enough or on time. There is also a new welfare office where the poor can ask for food when they have none, as of now, it is only porridge that we can give them but once more nobles offer their house servants for voluntary work, we can offer them some more." The empress's brother explained.
Natsume nodded before replying. "Tell them that I appreciate their help to the people. I will send palace servants to you tomorrow so they can be of help."
Rei bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty. That will be a big help."
"I will also send some servants from the Inner Court. However, they will have to be cleared from the inspection first before they can go out of the Palace grounds so it will take longer. I can send them the day after tomorrow." Mikan added, counting in her mind the servants she can send.
"Speaking of servants of the Inner Court," Her brother mused. "As I was on my way here, I ran into a palace servant, she said she was a servant from Luna-sama's palace and she insisted that I let her pass."
"Please tell me you didn't, Rei-nii." A voice called out from behind them. The three adults immediately looked ate where the voice came from and saw Hotaru and Ruka with the latter assisting his wife by the arm.
Upon reaching the table, both husband and wife bowed in respect to the emperor and the empress while Rei stood up to pay respect to the estranged prince. The servants pulled up chairs for the emperor's brother and his wife and the two immediately sat.
"Of course I didn't, Hotaru." Rei answered once he was also seated. "Mother informed me of the happenings in the palace and she told me that there is an on-going investigation regarding the poisoning of Nobara-sama. And so, I sent her back to her mistress's palace accompanied by a pair of guards. For a moment I saw contemplation in her face, like she was thinking of how to get past me and the guards, so I decided to have her escorted back."
Hotaru and Natsume glanced at each other and the emperor nodded, signalling Hotaru to speak. "The consort, Kouzumi Luna, is the prime suspect of the poisoning of her fellow consort." The raven haired woman took a short glance at her best friend before continuing. "She is also guilty of hurting Mikan-sama and her unborn child."
Mikan immediately snapped to look at the other woman in confusion. "What are you talking about? Luna tried to kill me and my baby?"
Natsume took hold of his wife's hand and answered her question. "You have a servant named Ayame, right?" Mikan nodded and was about to ask the connection but her husband continued instead. "Luna has been using her to hurt you; she made the servant give you food that will worsen your condition and make you lose the baby."
The empress opened her mouth but closed it again and was silent for a long time with her eyes closed. Mikan tried to collect herself as to not be swallowed by the flare of anger that burst within her. Ayame has been with her for a long time and she knew that the child cared for her so she asked what she wanted to know the most. "What exactly did Luna do to make that child work against me?" When no one answered, she opened her eyes and set them on her best friend, knowing that there is no possibility that she doesn't know the answer.
And as always, Hotaru never lets her down. "She offered help to Ayame, who, at that time was in great need of money for her family and instead of telling you, she kept it to herself. How Luna found out about Your Majesty's servant's problem, even I do not know, and apparently neither does Ayame. I suppose she has been looking into your palace and your servants for a long time, but that is only an assumption." Rei and Natsume both hissed at that while Ruka merely remained silent. "When all of Luna's orders have been done in exchange for money, she started blackmailing her that she will go to you and report what she has been doing and told her that compared to a servant's testimony, a consort's has more weight, thus, no one will believe her over Luna."
"Ayame," Mikan said in a quiet voice. "Where is Ayame now?"
Hotaru did not reply immediately, instead she gauged the empress's mood first. After a moment, she replied. "She is in my home. A few days ago, before the poisoning, she has stopped coming to Luna's palace and I hid her for she fears that Luna might do something in order to stop her from talking."
"Is she alright?" Mikan asked, and Hotaru nodded. "And her family?" Hotaru once again nodded. At that, the empress smiled and nodded as well. "That's good. That child is very kind, and I know that she is loyal to me. Her mistake is that she did not think that I am loyal to her as well. Tell her to go to my parents' house instead and stay there until I call for her again. In time, I will bring her back here in the palace."
"Are you sure about that, Mikan?" Natsume asked, obviously not in agreement of her decision. "She did try to harm you."
Mikan looked at her husband and nodded, smiling softly. "I am sure; she is not the kind to betray me. She was just in great need that time and Luna used it to manipulate her. And that is something that I will never allow to happen again."
They were silent for a few moments and Michiko used this opportunity to bring in the snacks that was served for the royal family as well as their guests.
"Yay! I was starving!" Sayuri exclaimed. Ryuu tried to shush his sister to no avail. "I want cookies!"
The servants quietly poured tea for each and retreated to the side once more. Once they were settled, Ruka spoke for the first time, addressing Rei. "You said you ran to Luna-sama's lady servant?" Rei nodded and took a sip of his tea. "Did you get her name? There are many lady servants here."
The older man thought about it, and tried to remember the name that the girl gave him. "Ah yes, she said her name is Miyano Hikaru. She introduced herself as Luna-sama's lady-in-waiting and told me to get out of her way or be punished for delaying her mistress's business." Hotaru smirked, already guessing what comes next, knowing that the Rei is the exact opposite of his sister. "So, I told her that I am Her Majesty, the empress's brother and asked her if she wants to be dragged to the dungeons and be punished for her crime of disrespect towards the royal family and she immediately started calling me 'My Lord'."
Natsume snorted with Hotaru while Ruka merely cracked a smile. Mikan, however, frowned in contemplation. "Surely she knows that the Inner Courts is currently on lock down and no one is allowed to go out and only a selected few are allowed to go in, right?"
Her best friend nodded. "There's no way Luna was not informed of it. And yet she took a risk and sent a servant out, though she waited three days after the incident before she moved." She looked at the emperor and continued. "This is the chance we need. Whatever it is out there that she needs done so urgently might be what we are currently looking for."
"Yes, there is nothing else she needs outside the palace except for the girl." Natsume replied, leaning forward and propping his elbows on the table with his fingers interlaced. "We need that girl on our side as she is the only one who can testify against Luna's crime to Nobara."
"So we need to take that servant, HIkaru, and make her admit where they are hiding the other servant." Ruka said, looking at his brother who nodded.
"No," His wife disagreed. "If we take her, there is no guarantee that she will speak against Luna. Ladies-in-waiting are chosen servants brought inside the palace by their mistresses themselves. Like Michiko, who has been by Mikan-sama's side since childhood. They are extremely attached and loyal to their mistresses and won't even think of betraying them." Mikan looked up and caught Michiko's eyes. The two women smiled warmly at each other, emphasizing Hotaru's point.
"Hotaru is right." Rei interjected. "They are extremely close to their mistresses. Mikan-sama trusts Michiko more than she trusts me." Mikan laughed at her brother's exasperated tone. "Anyway, it's not her that we need, it's the other girl. We merely need her to show us where they are hiding her and it's done. And there are ways to make her show us without her knowing."
"You mean you will have her followed?" Mikan asked before taking out her handkerchief and wiping the crumbs on the hands that Sayuri is holding out to her. "Darling, use your utensils please. Hands are dirty and you shouldn't use them to pick up food."
"Yes," Hotaru replied, watching as the young princess nodded at her mother's admonishment. "Tailing her secretly is the best way to do it. Rei-nii, you have a lot of men who can do it, right?"
Rei nodded. "I will have some of them come here and watch Luna-sama's palace until she sends the girl out again, then they will follow her." He then turned to the emperor. "Natsume-sama, please retract your order forbidding everyone from going out. I have no doubt that there is only one who will attempt to leave the palace and it will only be from Luna-sama's palace."
"Hiroshi," Natsume called, and his servant immediately came closer. "You heard what my brother-in-law said. Inform the palace guards immediately." The man nodded and left to do his orders.
Meanwhile, Michiko came over to her mistress with her tonic. "Mikan-sama, your tonic, it's time for you to drink it." Mikan did not respond, and was absently staring at her cup of tea. "Mikan-sama?"
"Mikan," Natsume called, taking her hand to catch her attention. Mikan jolted and quickly looked at her husband who was staring at her worriedly. "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
The empress looked around the table and so that everyone was looking at her in concern. "I'm fine. I was just thinking of something." She replied, smiling to ease their worry. She took the tonic and thanked Michiko before sipping it slowly.
Her husband patted her hand, watching her drink before asking. "What was it that you were thinking about that had you so worried?"
"I," she paused and placed the empty cup down. "I was thinking of Akio, actually."
Natsume glanced at Hotaru and saw that she was also looking at him. Their conversation about Ruka flashed through his mind.
"Luna, whatever happens now, know that this are the consequences of your actions."
Again, I must apologize to all of you who have been waiting for a very long time. I'm sorry I wasn't able to update immediately as I have been very busy here. I plan on finishing this story before I go back to school next year and I am confident that I will be able to do it as we are nearing the end of WIATL. So please hang on for a bit more, I swear that I will not abandon this story.
Thank you :)