Later in the day, Sol was forced into a slow walk in the garden with her mother and, unfortunately, Elashor.
Sol loosely held on to Elashor's arm, only because it was expected of her. Her mother was uncharacteristically friendly with the dreaded 'fiancé ' and seemed to never stop talking. Even Elashor was giving sparse and nearly uninterested responses while keeping an obviously fake smile on his face.
Sol spotted Kobayashi, a little farther in the garden, presenting their case and presumably explaining why they should be voted for in front of a small gathering. The two made eye contact for a moment. Kobayashi looked at her and then at Elashor. Something in their gaze changed.
The warmth and love in the usual way they looked at her went from shock and then resigned into an unfamiliar sense of coldness. They turned away as if she were a stranger to them.
Sol looked down at the ground, tears welling in her eyes. She felt the burning stare of Elashor on her neck. She barely managed to look up at him, but when she did, she met his eyes. Intense, and settled in a glare of disgust.
Sol attempted to pull away, but he held his grip tighter.
He said nothing, but he didn't have to say anything.
She knew what he was thinking.
She didn't know what Kobayashi was thinking,
And that was most terrifying to her.
--
Late into the night, Sol gathered her courage and snuck to Kobayashi's apartment.
Since the two were familiar with each other, their maid let her in without Kobayashi's knowledge.
They only knew she was there when one of their other servants notified them.
Kobayashi walked in. They adjusted their poet blouse just enough to make it lie correctly on their body. Their chest was exposed, a rare treat for someone like Sol.
She was happy to see them and talk to them again, but sad for the reason why she was there. Worst of all, she was terrified that they wouldn't understand her.
"Koba-"
"We don't talk for a week, and you're already easily swayed by someone else?"
They never spoke like this.
And usually, she would be the last person to be spoken to like this by them.
"No. I would never abandon you like that for any reason."
"Well, clearly you would. I saw it with my own two eyes."
"It isn't what you think it is."
"I think I'm smart enough to know what it is." Kobayashi's accusatory tone morphed into more of an angry one. A hurting-angry tone.
"I'm tired of being mistaken for an idiot, and I certainly won't be talked to like that by the one person that I thought didn't think that way about me!" Kobayashi's voice cracked, and their breathing became audible. They began to pace around the room.
When Sol got the chance to look at their face, she noticed that their eyes were red.
"I never said you were an idiot; I said you were misinformed." Sol softly responded.
Kobayashi stayed silent. They tinkered with a figure on one of the drawers in the main room. Their back was turned to her.
"…Remember when I told you a long time ago that… I didn't want to marry anyone?"
Kobayashi remained quiet.
"Do you remember Elashor?"
"So you've changed your mind?"
"No- please calm down. No. I haven't changed my mind. I'm trying to figure out a way to get out of the betrothal." Sol nervously began to speak.
"Resting your head on this man's arm doesn't look like you are too unwilling to marry him." Kobayashi's tone became more stable, but still had the undertones of betrayal.
"It's an image thing… I have to keep up this image to him and my mother. My mother is trying to strongarm me into a marriage, and… and… Elashor…" Sol's breath began to shorten, and her heart began to race. She couldn't get her mouth to say anything.
Kobayashi possibly already hated her.
How much more would they be disgusted by her if they knew how weak she was?
"I risk humiliating Elashor… w-which could cause my already shaky reputation to crumble. If no one respects me, I lose everything. But… But no, I don't want or like him. I don't want to be married to him, and I'm trying to avoid marriage… I am.. I'm just… stuck. And to an extent, maybe he's right… I did wait too long. I caused too many things because… It's just that I-…"
Kobayashi briefly looked at her. The fear in her eyes wasn't indicative of a liar desperately trying to resolve a situation, but of someone standing alone, with their only ally about to turn on them.
"You're not telling the complete truth," Kobayashi commented. Their tone was even.
"Yes, I am."
"No, you aren't. It's obvious. If you're trying to get me to listen to you, lying is the worst way to do it." Kobayashi gripped the side of their pants. "I… do remember the name Elashor. But what is a ruler like him to someone of your caliber? So what if he is embarrassed?"
"You don't understand." Sol quietly said.
"I can't tell you everything. But please, you have to believe me. You know me better than this. I would never do anything like that to you," she begged.
"Is he threatening you?"
Sol stayed silent.
"A-a while ago…" Her eyes began to well, and she felt the painful lump in her throat begin to form.
"He visited for the first time in a while. He got angry at me because I hadn't planned a wedding within the five years I've been reigning now. I took too long."
Sol's breath began to quicken again.
"I told him outright that I didn't want to marry him because- well… n-now it sounds stupid. It's something every man in power does, I guess... I never loved him, and I didn't want to be humiliated by having a husband who was just going to publicly cheat on me."
Sol stood there, nervously pulling at her fingers. Her eyes began to well with tears again.
Sol's ears began to ring, and her legs gave out. Her tears were so numerous that a damp spot formed in the soft linen of her nightgown. Kobayashi's heart softened to her, and they knelt beside her. They took her into their arms and nestled their head close to hers. She hugged them tighter than she ever had in the time they'd known each other.
Kobayashi stayed quiet. They were still angry, but not at her anymore. How could they be so rash?
Especially accusing someone like Sol of something like that.
Still, they didn't know what to think.
Something isn't right.
--
Sol sat on the couch in the drawing room. She wore an ivory gown with embroidery and black accents. The lace on the cuffs, hemline, and rim of the dress was black. Her choker matched.
She sat next to her twin sister, Sunniva. Sunniva's skin had a more sun-kissed tone than Sol's did. Her smile was brighter, and her hair billowed out in brilliant curls. Only she kept hers completely down.
Her eyes seemed to catch the light whenever she laughed, smiled, sang, talked… anything. Even her voice was like a rainbow cutting through a gray sky.
Her dress was sky blue with baby yellow accents. She had a baby yellow lace around her neck, and matching roses in her hair.
Sol's nose scrunched at the sound of Sunniva and her mother laughing and talking together. Sol sat far from the two, unconsciously leaving a spot for her father. But he never came.
She would zone out for most of their conversation, only being brought back to reality when Sunniva would call out to her. Sol would give a half-hearted response with a tone that held a not-so-hidden irritation embedded in it.
"Sol," Sunniva softly grabbed her attention. She reached over and placed a hand on Sol's.
"What?"
"Why don't you tell me about your engagement to Elashor? I know it must all be surprising to you." Sunniva beamed. Sol furrowed her eyebrows.
"Engagement?"
"Yes- He proposed to you, right?"
"…Proposed?" Sol numbly repeated. Her heart dropped.
"You- you must be referring to his visit here. He didn't propose to me; he discussed wanting to move forward with the wedding." Sol corrected.
"…Well, everyone's been talking about it, Sol." Sunniva awkwardly replied.
"The court?"
"…Yes."
Sol gripped the couch. She suddenly went silent, and her mind raced.
"Ah, well, maybe it's in anticipation. Maybe he'll do it soon?" Sunniva tried to calm her down.
Gosh, she hoped not.
"I think-" Sunniva was suddenly shushed by her mother with a stare. Sunniva cleared her throat and paused.
"…Soon enough." She finished.
Sol shook her head and took her hand from Sunniva.
--
Later that evening, Sol and her sister were made to change into more elaborate gowns. Sol wore pink as always. Her silks shone in the soft light of the dining hall. Her dress was large and commanded much attention with its train and the roses carefully embroidered in beautiful swirls.
Sunniva wore blue, and her dress was like her sister's. However, she had daisies and white lace to decorate hers.
Sol, her sister, and mother were the first ones to sit down at the grand table. Everyone else—the nobles, other members of the royal family, and other general royalty- sat down rank by rank. Highest to lowest.
Elashor walked in, and some fanfare of the less-than-astute women seated followed his entrance. He lightly flirted back with them and forcefully took his seat next to Sol.
Sunniva made eye contact with her sister and gave a 'he's a good catch' smile and nod to her. Sol just sighed and gave a tight-lipped smile back. If only she knew. How could she not know? Was she dense?
"I take it that you're doing well?" Elashor asked. His strong voice pulled Sol out of her thoughts. She turned to face him slightly and nodded. She continued to eat silently.
"Tired?" He laughed. The audacity of this-
"Talk." Sol spotted her mother mouthing to her with the sternest of expressions.
"Yes. I will be retiring early."
Sol kicked herself the second the last five words left her mouth. Great, now he was going to accelerate whatever strange flirtations toward her.
Sunniva playfully elbowed her and did a suggestive raise of the eyebrows. Sol wanted nothing more than to bash her face into the table.
"Oh, that's a shame." Elashor feigned pity. "I hope my flower isn't feeling too sick." He caressed her cheek and moved an invisible hair out of her face.
His flower.
A sickening lurch in her stomach took hold.
She forced herself to swallow back any bile that threatened to rise.
"Besides, I heard there was dancing later. You like that, don't you?" He continued.
She didn't respond.
"Don't you?" Elashor took her hand, mimicking a tenderness that he completely lacked. Sol felt his fingers digging into her skin, making her muscles and bones ache. She still stayed quiet and pulled her hands away from him. He let her go. Only to save face, of course.
Sol picked at her food with her fork. Her shoulders slumped, and she felt a painful lump in her throat begin to form. At the same time, an uncontrollable flame erupted in her chest. She gripped the fork's handle until her knuckles went white.
It seemed like time flowed right by her like a river, but she was the rock splitting the streams in two.
Her food went cold, and her eyes dulled. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and dream of a different reality for herself.
How was Kobayashi doing?
She wondered if they were still campaigning or coming up with some new scheme to win over votes.
At some point, they might have to go to their home realm to campaign in the presence of their own people, right?
What would she do without them?
It would be such a long time without seeing, hearing, or touching them.
Somehow, she'd managed to clear things up between them. Yet, when she realized exactly what she had admitted to, a burning sensation crept up on her cheeks. Again, she wanted to cry. She cringed at the memory of herself collapsing into Kobayashi. She couldn't even complete her explanation without crying.
Why was she so pathetic?
The music swelled, and the guests began to excuse themselves from the table to dance or socialize.
Before too many of them left, Elashor stood up and raised his hands.
His booming voice yanked Sol back to reality. Still, she did not look at him. Or anyone. She only looked ahead.
"I'd like to first thank you all for having me. It has been a pleasure being in the presence of your lovely Empress." Elashor began. The glass of champagne caught the light of the chandelier, creating a mesmerizing effect in its shadow.
Elashor, without warning, grabbed Sol's wrist with his free hand and lifted her upward. Her body went stiff with the force of the ascension. She felt like her heart was going to beat out of her chest.
She stumbles onto her feet and nearly falls into the table.
Elashor beamed.
"As a small token of my appreciation, I've commissioned a play from one of her favorite tales as a child. I'd like to invite you all to its very first opening at my palace."
Sol went pale.
How would he know that?
Cinderella?
Cinderella?
Who would have told him something like that?
How did he know that?
Not even Kobayashi knows that.
Sol slowly turned to look at her sister.
Sunniva beamed ear to ear.
Sol wanted to gut her and smear her entrails along the walls of that damn dining hall.
Stupid bitch.
The last thing Sol wanted was to be anywhere near his home, let alone inside it.
It was like giving a prisoner a tour of his cell before he was even sentenced.
For a moment, she understood why some chose to take their lives. It was never out of weakness or selfishness, as her mother would lead her to believe, but because of hopelessness.
A part of her feared that once she stepped foot in the palace, she would never be let out again.
"The play will be two weeks from now… I will send for you all, and I would be absolutely honored to see you all here. Especially, my bride's mother and sister." Elashor barely finished speaking before everyone started clapping. Some of the guests doted over the 'couple' and how cute and nice their future children were going to be. Then, it spiraled into who the child would favor the most, boy or girl, their future, more children… Sol wanted to perish.
But not before taking her stupid sister with her for causing all of this.
Sol had to find a way out of this fast. As fast as possible, and with as little friction as possible. But how?
How?
Would she even be able to do it?
Was it even worth it at this point?
Or should she just…give in?
And… if it's just inevitable that infidelity will happen to her,
does that mean that even if she were with Kobayashi instead, they'd betray her too?
Between being betrayed by Elashor and Kobayashi, she knew which one would destroy her.
If… what Jakob said was true…
Maybe she could just pretend like Elashor didn't exist.
--
A week later.
Kobayashi finished the last bit of campaigning for the week. The sun had finally begun to set on this quiet Friday. Kobayashi let the rays of the sunset wash over them as they neatly organized their belongings.
Kobayashi got up from their desk. Their first thought was to just have a private dinner in their bedroom in their nightclothes. Maybe while they read. Something quiet, where they didn't have to talk at all. Their cheeks were sore from the constant jovial attitude they'd forced themselves to keep up in front of their potential voters. Kobayashi was half-sure they'd lost their voice with the amount of explaining and convincing they did.
Maybe some tea would help that. And, maybe to stave off a potential cold, some broth and chicken would do the trick.
But then their mind wandered off to Sol. The two hadn't spoken to each other since her confession. Even though their body begged them not to utter a single word for the rest of the evening, their heart pushed for its own agenda.
After sitting on their bed, wandering about all of this, they got up.
Their feet ached with each step they took. Their shoulders were stiff, and they just now realized they were a little lightheaded. No matter. They could just ask her for water whenever they found her. A massage would be nice, too.
'My hands aren't firm enough to do that!'
They could already hear her complaining. It made them smile.
Kobayashi eventually found the strength to leave their living quarters and return to the ornate trash bin they considered the courts. After a bit of eavesdropping, they figured that she had retired to her own space already. That was fine.
They made their way to the other side of the palace. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal if it were the size of a normal castle. But no— it was like walking from one end of a small town to the next. By the time they even made it to the wing Sol resided in, they felt like they were going to collapse.
Exhaustion made itself apparent on Kobayashi's face. They still stood tall and crossed their arms, but their head leaned over to the side ever so slightly.
They walked, and walked, and walked.
They passed another person.
Weird. Usually-
Wait.
Kobayashi snapped back around.
"Syther?"
The man stopped in the middle of the hallway. His name echoed off the vaulted ceilings.
"Kobayashi," Syther responded after a moment.
Kobayashi's mind blanked. Then, adrenaline began to wake them up.
"Why are you sponsoring Artemis?"
Their relaxed tone was replaced with a biting one. Kobayashi attempted to remain calm, but his irritation seeped through his outward appearance.
"Kobayashi—" Syther sighed.
"No. You're not going to put me off like you always do. Answer my question."
Syther turned around. Rolling his eyes, he walked over to his child.
"This—" Syther motioned with his hand at Kobayashi, "Is why I didn't sponsor you. You are just too emotional. You've always been this way. Such an unstable person will bring our downfall and humiliate us."
"I'm not emotional or unstable, but I have a righteous anger. You betrayed me." Kobayashi countered.
"It isn't righteous. You're angry that I'm letting you compete on your own merits."
"No. You aren't. If that were the case, you wouldn't sponsor anyone. You are backing my political rival. You are literally hoping for me to lose!" Kobayashi unintentionally began to speak louder.
"Calm down."
"I'm not angry. When you say that, I'm never fucking angry." Kobayashi balled their fists. "You have always been my worst enemy, and I don't know what I did to make you hate me this much. All I did was be born. You chose for me to be here, so why are you sabotaging me?"
…
Silence hung in the air.
For just a breath.
Then,
"You fall short of all of your other siblings. They've achieved great things— generals, rulers, leaders… and you? All you've done in your twenty-five years of life is chase after some unstable girl, and you're just now trying to start a full career in politics. You didn't even consider that until you and she met eyes again at the parade." Syther's tone darkened, and his stare pierced Kobayashi.
"I knew it from the moment you looked at her, and you couldn't just look away. But since you want me to father you so much, you useless child, let me give you a harsh lesson: In the state that you are in now, you will never be good enough for anyone, and especially not someone like the Empress. Leave her as a political alliance and let it be that. You've lowered yourself to the level of a common prostitute just for her sake. You are a kept mistress, you imbecile! Why the hell would I sponsor someone who openly parades as her puppy? You are an embarrassment to my name!" Syther shouted.
He stormed to where Kobayashi was and got in their face. Kobayashi shoved Syther off of them, and Kobayashi got pushed into one of the tall windows of the hallway. Kobayashi's head bounced off the glass with a loud THUD. When they got up, they felt the cold air on their head. They reached over to the spot where it had hit the window. They felt around, and after bringing their hand back to themselves, they saw their white gloves covered in striking red and pink blotches.
"See?" Syther's condescending tone rang out. Kobayashi continued to look at their hand.
"You didn't even try to fight back. And you want to be chief?" Syther scoffed.
"My disgrace of a child is a glorified courtesan. A concubine, even. That's why, between you and Artemis, I chose him."
Syther stood there for a moment, towering over his injured offspring. Then, he walked off.
Sol sat at her vanity. She stared off into a different world within her reflection.
Her linen robes draped over her, the seat and onto the floor like a cascading waterfall.
Her heart was heavy.
Her mind raced with possibilities and excuses not to go to that stupid play.
How could she avoid it without causing trouble?
Fake a sickness?
He would just reschedule it.
A mysterious burning of the theater? An 'accident' by one of her servants?
"Your Imperial Majesty-" One of Sol's maids came running in. She did a quick curtsey and fought to catch her breath.
"Someone is here to see you."
"Who?"
"Kobayashi."
"Let them in. Tell them to come in here." Sol stood up. She closed her robe for decency.
Kobayashi limped in. One glove was missing, and they looked all around, rustled.
"Kobayashi? What happened to you?"
Kobayashi didn't respond at first. Instead, they sat down in a nearby chair.
"Kobayashi?"
Sol softly called to them. Kobayashi looked back. Their face began to flush, and their eyes followed suit.
Sol sat next to them.
She let the silence rest on both of them.
Kobayashi replayed the entire confrontation in their head again. Each time they fought against the temptation to believe Syther, the realization that they'd come running into Sol's arms almost made it impossible. Syther… Syther…. Syther..
He was right about one thing.
They'd been happy to be her lapdog and didn't care about the lasting impact it would have on their reputation. Maybe it wouldn't have been so if Syther had just loved them like the rest of his children. Maybe if they hadn't been discarded and left behind by both parents, things would be different.
The worst part is that they didn't even mind whether or not they were being used or paraded around like her object. They couldn't let go. If they did, they would have nothing. They would leave the world as they entered it— alone.
Their lip trembled, but they worked tirelessly to control themselves.
"…What happened to the back of your head?" Sol reached over to touch the spot. Kobayashi leaned away.
"Please don't."
"What happened?"
"…I fell," Kobayashi mumbled. They wanted to lay their aching head in her lap so badly. To smell the soft floral perfumes she always wore, and to lie on her tender skin.
"…No. You didn't." Sol corrected. Kobayashi sighed.
"Did you get into it?" Sol asked again.
"Yes," Kobayashi confessed.
"Who?"
"…My father." Kobayashi quietly answered. Their voice broke. They gripped the arm of the chair to keep themselves from falling apart.
Baffled, Sol furrowed her eyebrows. "What? What is he doing here? Why?"
"…His name is Syther. He's one of the chiefs, remember?" Kobayashi said.
"Yes… Why did he hurt you?"
"…Well… I was… coming to see you—"
All you've done in your twenty-five years of life is chase after some unstable girl.
"…And I saw him. Um. And I-… I-… Basically, he sponsored a rival instead of me. I know it sounds incredibly selfish but- I just felt… I felt like if he was going to sponsor anyone, it should have been me. I…I am-"
My disgrace of a child is a glorified courtesan.
"…His child. His last one, too. You know- I always hear about the youngest children always getting… getting spoiled and looked after t-the most but… I've learned that… that it isn't always true." Kobayashi ranted. It did nothing but make the pain form a lump in their throat.
You will never be good enough for anyone, and especially not someone like the Empress.
Sol gently parted their hair and began to clean the wound.
"..I..I asked why he did that- why he sponsored someone else, and especially someone like Artemis over me. He… basically told me that I was spineless and… and…" Kobayashi hesitated, "-That I was spineless." Half truth.
You are a kept mistress.
Leave her as a political alliance, and let it be that.
Sol put a small bandage on the wound. Luckily, it was a small cut that looked worse than it was. She covered the bandage with their hair again and sat on their lap. She took off the other glove and rested her head on their shoulder.
Kobayashi grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to them. They buried their head in her side. After a moment, they quietly let their pain seep through their body. They cried silently; the only noise they made was the gasps for air they had trouble taking. Sol gently rubbed their head, careful of the fresh injury. She stayed silent.
Artemis stood just outside the door. He'd slipped in through one of the open doors of the quarters. He silently followed Kobayashi just before they met with Sol again.
He was finally proven right.
It came straight from their father's mouth, and he didn't even try to deny it.
And here they were, finding solace in the bosom of their owner.
Damn.
How much more pathetic could they get?
Their first instinct wasn't even to care for themselves; it was to run to her.
He was right all along.
Such an effeminate, so-called 'bringer of a free world'.
At this point, maybe their plan would work,
Artemis chuckled incredulously,
Maybe they could buy their freedom with how well they could service her.
The public has a right to know the moral character of its leader, right?
Once their shameful grovelling at the Empress' feet is exposed, their career is dead.
Rightfully so.
The last thing the Shenxailites need is another weak-willed creature of their own kind.
They have enough of those.
Maybe this will be the final push to bring everyone to their senses.
Kobayashi is weak.
--
Sol sat on the swings.
She decided to hide in the garden today.
It was only a few days before she was set to leave for Elashor's realm.
She swayed only a little as she stared at the flowerbeds.
Kobayashi made more of an effort to swing, but accidentally fell backwards. They hit themselves in the face with the seat of the swing.
Sol snapped her head toward them. "Are you okay?!"
Kobayashi groaned and held their face.
"…Yes…I- I don't know if I like swinging that much."
"You can't let go. I don't understand how that keeps happening to you."
"I'm not letting go!"
"Your grip must not be that great then."
"It's fine. I don't know why I keep falling off the swings."
"Maybe you're too aerodynamic," Sol smirked. "I need to force feed you more sweets, so you'll be heavier."
Kobayashi shook their head and sighed. "You know it would only burn up in the furnace that is my body. I can't keep anything on!"
"It's because you're so active."
"No… Even when I was revelling in slothfulness, I was still skinny. When I was a child, I was bony. My siblings joked that they could use me as a Halloween decoration."
Sol's eyes widened, then she closed them. She controlled her face and tried to regain her composure.
"Stop laughing," Kobayashi narrowed their eyes.
"I'm not! It's just- that's horrible." Sol tried to save face, but she cracked a giggle. Kobayashi huffed, stood up, and began to walk away.
"No, don't leave!" Sol begged, beginning to laugh a little more.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because you said it in such a funny way. You said it like it was a fun fact! You're a natural comedian, I couldn't help myself!"
Kobayashi shook their head. They gave a slight smile and took their place behind Sol. They gently pushed her as she went to and fro on the swings.
It was peaceful.
The soft blue sky was clear,
The sunshine embraced the two in warmth,
And the birds sang their song.
Kobayashi hoped that someday, every day of their life would be like this, with her."
"I have to leave for my campaign back in my home realm."
"What?" Sol let the swing come to a gentle rhythm. "What?"
"I have to leave for a while… I'll only be gone a few weeks. There aren't that many of us, so it won't take long to get my message out there." Kobayashi tried to reassure her.
"…When do you have to leave?"
"Tomorrow."
Sol bucked her eyes. "You're just now telling me!?"
"I-I forgot." Kobayashi tried to deescalate.
Sol held her face in her hands. No tears or wailing came out, but she began to shiver uncontrollably.
"What's wrong?" Kobayashi asked.
Sol opened her mouth to reply, but she couldn't bring herself to. Were they going to be gone? for a month or so? And on top of that, she had to go to this stupid play with him?
"Sol?"
"I'm being made to visit Elashor. For a play he 'commissioned' for me. A 'gift'. A stupid gift that he gave to me in front of everyone, so now I have to go."
"Why do you have to go? You don't have to if you don't want to."
"…You don't understand."
"What don't I understand?"
"Everyone loves him! That's the problem!" Sol snapped. "Even with everything he's done, it seems like no one cares about that. But they would definitely care if I turned him down or rejected him. Still, for some reason, I'm expected to be glad I was chosen." Sol gripped her dress until her hands shook.
Kobayashi stayed quiet. Then, after a few minutes, they spoke again.
"I'll go with you."
"The play is a few days out, you couldn't make it."
"I could push it back."
"Don't do that. Take care of your business, and don't give anyone else another reason to put both of us down."
"What do you mean?"
"Kobayashi, do you not see how people talk about you? Elashor even referred to you during an argument. He thinks I'm having a liaison with you."
"I've resolved to not care about what others say about me, and you should adopt the mindset too. You are in danger, and I cannot claim to care about you and then leave you in such a precarious situation by yourself." Kobayashi firmly rebutted.
"What about your ambition?"
"What about it? My career will come and go, and other opportunities will arise, but there is only one you."
"…Give it some thought. It's selfish to ask you to defend me every single time something happens."
"I'm just as selfish as you think you are, maybe even more. I started my ambition for my people, but the first reason was to see you again. I'd rather die along with my race than to lose you."
"Kobayashi."
"I'm not changing my mind."
"Please."
"No."
"As much as I know you care about me, I will not let myself be ordered around… anymore- Not even by you."
"It isn't an order. It's a concern for your safety."
"I'm asking you not to do something, and you're overriding my will. I can handle myself."
"And if something happens to you?"
"My death is my own fault."
"No. As someone who knew better, the guilt would be on me."
"You don't know better. I haven't told you all of it."
"You told me enough to see how evil Elashor is."
"He is. But as I said, I will be fine. Do not destroy your ambitions and throw away what you're fighting so hard to achieve."
Kobayashi stayed silent. Sol looked at their face. This was… one of the rare times when they bore a look of both worry and irritation.
Sol considered their words.
I've resolved to not care about what others say about me, and you should adopt the mindset too.
Words.
She had been torn down and controlled by them her whole life. They were, and still are, just as real as blades.
But she resolved to become like a shield. The cuts and scratches are still visible, but the shield remains. The cuts are nothing but evidence of triumph.
She hated the idea of being at the mercy of some and being indebted to others.
Even to people, or the one who said to care for her with their whole being.
It isn't that she was incapable of defending herself; she was disabled from doing it. She was made to believe she couldn't. She was made to believe that she couldn't have her own will.
But really, it's all an illusion.
The foundation was set by her mother, made steadfast by the court, and exploited by the likes of Elashor.
You can take away a lot of things from a person, but you cannot take away knowledge once it's obtained.
Truth is the catalyst for change; that's why it's always suppressed.
It's the path to freedom.
"I will be fine." Sol gathered her dress and walked out of the garden.
Kobayashi was left standing there, gazing at the blades of grass blowing in the wind.
---------------------
"When the Empress leaves for the play, disguise yourself as one of her maids. Go with her. Do not leave her side. Conceal yourself if you have to. Alert her advisor if anything happens. But do not leave her completely alone. If you succeed, I will double your pay."
The maid curtsied.
"Yes, Master Kobayashi."
-----------------------
"Kobayashi seduced Her Imperial Majesty into a torrid affair, despite her engagement to Elashor. This highly improper arrangement has tarnished the moral character of Her Imperial Majesty and has forced undue stress onto a woman as fair as herself. This, I worry, would serve as a terrible example to the fairer sex of her realm of acceptable behavior, and by extension, teach my own people that this kind of improper relationship is perfectly acceptable. Not to mention, Kobayashi has degraded her by reducing her to a means of an heir for their own belongings and estate. They are not married and have no desire to be. Only to have someone pass their name. Syther can be criticized for many things, but not for his ability to judge character. This is why he would not sponsor his own child. We, as a people, must examine these strange happenings. It is rarely because of a strange coincidence, but because of a deeper reason. If Kobayashi were elected as Chief for our council, we would be accepting disgusting, degrading, and improper behavior from a child who was abandoned by its own father. They would bring us down with them."
Jakob read the small pamphlet for Sol as she finished preparing her hair for the evening.
Sol had stopped halfway through the second the first line left his lips. She could only stare at him in disbelief.
"Seduce? affair?"
Jakob shook his head. "Galivanting around with a secret lover was always a terrible idea, Sol."
"I- we are not lovers!"
Jakob raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You aren't?"
Sol opened her mouth, but hesitated.
"…I thought so. I haven't seen anyone visit you nearly as frequently and leave dazed as Kobayashi does."
"We've known each other since we were teenagers. They are my closest companion."
"See, that word. Companion. You two are companions… This is beyond a friendship. I'm not sure if you were aware of it, but friends usually have never seen each other naked before."
"Okay, that was an accident!"
"Still. Kobayashi is in love with you, and I don't know how you haven't been aware of it."
Sol felt roses bloom at the pit of her stomach. Her heart quickened its pace, and her face began to flush. A glimmer of hope sparkled from the depths of her mind.
"Who wrote the pamphlet?" Sol tried to change the subject, but her mind was still half in the world of daydreaming.
"It's… Anonymous. We don't know."
"So how can it be credible information if the author won't even put their name on it?"
Jakob shrugged. "My guess is a political rival wrote it. It's too obvious."
"…You mean Artemis?"
"Possibly. Although I don't know what kind of vendetta he has against Kobayashi."
"I… thought they were friends."
"That may be, but power is like wine to every intelligent creature."
Sol sighed. She looked down at her hands.
"Am I the last one to hear about this rumor?"
"Unfortunately. It only came to my attention after I heard your mother having a meltdown."
"What did Sunniva say?"
"She was mostly quiet. I don't think she knew what to say."
"Has Elashor heard?"
"That I am unsure of. I would hope he hasn't."
Sol groaned.
"The court talks too damn much. They'll expose me the second I hit his soil."
"It's not an exposure if it isn't true." Jakob raised an eyebrow.
"I- you know what I mean."
Jakob nodded to the side. "Well, your best bet is to pretend everything is fine. If he asks, tell him it's merely a rumor to ruin a political rival. And that, in reality, you two are only acquaintances. I will back you up."
"This is the first time I've heard you willingly lie on someone's behalf— half lie, I mean." Sol corrected herself.
Jakob curiously gazed at her and then shrugged.
"My priority is to look out for your interests."
Sol smiled softly at his words.
"Is there anything I can do here? at home?"
"…Try to ignore it for now. Maybe play into the character Artemis has set up for you; it's an easy way out— the righteous woman who was led astray."
Sol turned up her nose at the thought. "If I'm led away, it's because I wanted to be."
Jakob put up his hands. "That's the narrative he's going with. There is a lot of power in being covert."
"And if I choose to double down?"
"Well, you risk your reputation."
"I am the Empress."
"I know. But you need the approval of your court-"
"I do not need that." Sol thought for a moment, then she clicked her tongue.
"It's about time someone knocked the court down a peg. They are under the impression that they themselves are the rulers. They're nothing but rich pigs decorated in mud and pearls. And I'll will them like the pigs they are." Sol continued.
"After this controversy passes, I will draft a law for lowering the taxes for the people, and I will balance it with taxing the nobles. They are under my law, not the other way around." She finished. She then got up and smoothed her dress and hair.
"I will be going to dinner. I want you to come with me."
"Alright. Any particular reason?"
"I want to discuss more of these matters, but I need someone to 'overhear' it. " Sol admitted.
"Don't you want this revelation to be a surprise? It would sting more if it were sudden."
Sol thought for a moment. She nodded.
"You're right. Still, in that case, come and eat with me." Sol smiled. "It is an invitation; I am not forcing you to do anything."
After a moment, Jakob obliged. He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten with anyone, especially living here. Once every couple of months, his younger cousins would visit along with their mother. Every winter, he would visit his father. But most of the time? He was alone. He didn't have a problem with it, but… a change would be nice from time to time.
"Alright." Jakob nodded. She gave a slight smile back at her. He never really was the best at showing friendliness.
Still, it didn't matter to her.
He'd been through many things with her and had always been a friend to her.
And she was a nice break from the monotony of the court, even with her antics.
He was proud of who she was becoming.
To him, she was almost like a little sister he'd always wanted but never had.
And that was enough.
--
The sky filled with pastel watercolors as the sun arose to take hold of the horizon.
Sol stood by quietly as she watched Kobayashi. They brought a small suitcase with a few changes of clothes. They had always been somewhat minimalistic. They didn't need much to be comfortable.
Sol wore a high-collared dress that bloomed at the skirt. The color scheme was predominantly royal blue with cream-yellow accents. Her hair was completely pinned up in beautiful curls, which was unusual for someone who almost always had most of her hair down. Her silver jewelry sparkled in the sunlight, almost blinding Kobayashi.
"Could you put that away until I leave?" They joked. Sol slowly turned away.
"Please don't be like that. As I said, I'll be back soon, okay? I promise." They firmly grabbed her shoulders and gently made her turn to face them.
"You better be writing to me." Sol crossed her arms and pouted. "I don't want to go more than a few days without hearing from you. Understood?"
Kobayashi grinned. "Understood."
They pulled her in for a hug. They had always given the best hugs. Or, maybe she was touch-starved. Two things could be true at once.
They embraced for a long time. Then, Kobayashi slowly pulled away. Sol groaned, but they reassured her.
They waved to her, and she waved back. Kobayashi hiked up into the carriage, and before she knew it, her closest companion had left.
She stood on the dirt trail that gave way to foreign lands. She sighed, gathered her dress, and re-entered the gilded cage.
--
Sol returned to her living quarters and went limp on a couch.
"Sol, I arranged for your carriage. In about an hour, we will leave for Elashor's realm. Your main dress and a few changes of clothes have already been taken care of. Are there any special requests you'd like to make?"
"No. You took care of everything." Sol rubbed the bridge of her nose.
Jakob sat beside her on a chair opposite her.
"Did Kobayashi say anything about the pamphlet?"
"I didn't want to ask. I didn't want to leave them with anxiety or anger."
"That will be a terrible thing to come back home to."
"…I won't tell them immediately."
"So you'll let this rumor fester? The longer a rumor is out there, the more it spirals out of control."
"…Maybe I'll inform them in a letter or something. Just… not right now. Not for the first week, at least. Actually, Artemis might have already published it in their home realm, too. Kobayashi might hear about it then."
Jakob shrugged. "I guess we'll hear about it soon. You asked for frequent correspondence, right?"
Sol nodded. Silence rested in the room for a few minutes.
"After we return from the play, I would like you to arrange a gathering of the court. By my word, and my mouth alone, I will enable taxes on the nobles, including myself. I already figured out how to enforce it. Also, I'd like you to gather military force to seize property if noncompliance happens to be their plan."
"Already? Don't you want to slow down or focus on one thing at a time?"
"No. If I don't do it now, I'll never do it."
"Sol-"
"I have already made up my mind."
Jakob sighed.
"If that is what you wish, I will do it."
The day came and went like a half-remembered dream. Sol had spent two hours readying herself, with the help of her maids, of course. She nearly fainted a few times. It was like her body was fighting for control over her mind. Her toes dug into the soles of her heels each time she took a step closer to leaving for the play.
Sol picked up her fan and a flask. She downed a few gulps and felt her face buzz. A part of her regretted doing it, but she felt it was the only way to get through the night.
"Are you ready, my lady?" A maid came up to her. She quickly curtsied after realizing she had forgotten. The girl was a little younger than the rest of Sol's maids. Sol felt like she had seen her somewhere else before, but she didn't quite remember where.
"Yes… Are you?" Sol gently smiled. The maid nodded and smiled bashfully.
Jakob came and escorted her and her entourage to the carriages.
--
The night sky barely lit up with stars. It was cloudy, and the fog was just as dense as smoke.
Sol felt a little scared of the dark. A part of her enjoyed being scared, though. She felt safe in her carriage and in her own mind. Sol fiddled with a locket Kobayashi had given her of themself. Very humble, Kobayashi.
She wondered how they were doing. If this were a regular play, she'd drag them there with her. They loved plays. In their youth, they had a terrible habit of surprising her with tickets to see plays just before she went to bed. They fully expected her to quickly dress in her best. She absolutely hated it when it happened, but that bitterness turned into a sweet, lovely recollection of simpler times between them.
One day, life will be like that again. One day she'll be free. Free to be who she wanted, do what she wanted, and love who she wanted to love.
The carriage rustled and bumped along the uneven paths guiding it. She heard the galloping of the horses and the occasional crack of the whip.
She rested her head against the seat, careful not to smush her hair.
Sol kissed the locket and held it close to her chest.
She let her thoughts take over her mind about a possible future if she did stay strong. She passed through many forests, clearings, rivers, distant mountains, and towns.
For the next couple of days, the entourage would take breaks to eat, relieve themselves, and attend to whatever little need Sol had.
By the third day of traveling, Sol had made herself comfortable with sleeping in the carriage. She eagerly awaited the moment she would finally be free to return home. Maybe just before she left, she would break off the arrangement and quickly shut the door of the carriage behind her before fleeing home. Maybe she would embarrass him by announcing the breaking of their engagement.
The carriage began to slow as the image of a palace made itself more apparent on the horizon. Sol couldn't bear to look for too long. Her stomach dropped, and she felt a heavy tiredness come over her.
She slumped in her seat as the carriage got to the palace. Then, it came to a halt.
Elashor was in front of the small crowd. Presumably, he had his family, other nobles, and some servants ready to wait on her hand and foot. She knew he was looking at her, but pretended not to see him.
Jakob eventually made his way to her carriage. He opened the door for her and offered his hand. When she finally stepped out of the carriage, her ears perked at the subtle noises Elashor's family made. Some would 'aww' at her, and others whispered to each other. The servants rushed to her as Elashor took his time making his way to where she was.
Elashor gave a low bow. Sol forced herself to curtsey to him.
"Ah, my dear. You've made it." He softly smiled at her and offered his hand. Begrudgingly, she took it.
"Indeed." She gave a tight-lipped smile.
"You must be exhausted. The play won't be for a few hours. Why don't you rest a bit? I'll have my servants guide you to your future bedroom."
Future bedroom.
Sol nodded and thanked him. She let the servants whisk her away and hoped that Jakob was paying attention to where she was headed. Although the younger servant girl kept following her around like a puppy. She wondered if she had been hired on recently or been given to the palace by a family. She said nothing. Maybe she was as scared of the new place as she was.
Sol passed out on 'her' bed. Despite the heavy resisting and convincing herself she would 'only rest a moment', she couldn't make herself stay awake for much longer.
The servant stayed in the other room, occasionally checking to see if Sol was still there.
All day, she slept. Her body cocooned her mind in a deep sleep. Anything— anything to keep her away from him.
------------
The sun retired for the day.
But now, its daughter must arise.
Sol was woken up by the young servant.
"My lady, the play is in one hour. You must start getting ready." She quickly informed her.
Sol groggily struggled out of bed. She wiped the dry spit from the side of her mouth and rubbed her eyes. She sighed heavily.
Some of her ladies-in-waiting began to help her change. They redid her hair, freshened her makeup, and more.
Her dress had diamond-encrusted fleur-de-lis patterns on the bodice and near the hem of the dress. The dress itself was a light silver, with silk to make her look even more like a precious metal. Again, her hair stayed up. Her earrings were three-tiered teardrops. Everything on her, from her tiara to her shoes, was silver and diamond. She sparkled under the chandelier light. She sighed to herself.
With Jakob, she began to make her way to the theater. She flapped her fan to keep herself from passing out. Between the heavy dress, hair, anxiety, and hatred for Elashor, she felt herself slipping into the primal instinct to run away.
A few minutes later, as they'd gotten lost by accident, the two made it to the theater. Elashor kept a composed smile and greeted her with restraint.
"Did you get lost?" Elashor disguised his interrogation as a joke.
"Your palace is quite big with many hallways, so we asked around. At home, we have servants who show the guests around, so this was an adjustment." Sol slyly countered.
Elashor turned his back to her. And there she was. In the highest booth of the theater, the best view possible. An empty seat next to him, and she was expected to take his side as his bride. Jakob stood behind her, as did Elashor's advisor.
Sol hesitated, and after some coaxing, sat down beside him.
One thing Sol could appreciate about the play was the costumes. Every single costume, especially the one worn by Cinderella, sparkled and shone so brightly that it reflected onto the audience. The dancing shimmers of the light created on the jewels mesmerized the young Empress. It was almost just enough to make her forget about her troubles.
Sol vaguely remembered being enchanted by ballerinas as a child. How they lept so freely and gracefully always filled her with a sense of wonder. Around Christmas, her father always took her to plays just like these, and especially her favorite, The Sugar Plum Fairy. Sol's heart ached at the memories. Then, her mother's words about him came up. As hard as she tried to suppress them, their shadows loomed over the once warm and bright memories.
Sol wondered if the same would happen to her if she went through with this marriage.
Wonder is a funny word, isn't it?
But it doesn't fit here.
She knew her fate if she stuck around.
And she would become soured by righteous anger and betrayal.
Elashor briefly touched her shoulder and then her neck to 'move hair out of the way'. Sol's body tensed, and she pulled away, which only made him reach farther for her. He reached again, this time his hands travelling to her hand. He held hers, and she only seldom held it back.
Elashor stuck his foot under her dress and began to lift the fabric. She kicked her feet to free the dress from his foot's hold, and tucked it under the chair.
Sol felt a stare dig into her. But it was… different this time.
Suddenly, she was aware of how her bodice pushed up her chest.
She was aware of her exposed skin; even her hands didn't feel safe.
Sol attempted to subtly pull the lace at her dress's neckline over some of her cleavage, but it was already sewn in place. It was no use. It only served as a show of struggle.
The play ended. Suddenly, Elashor stood up and began to clap. The trial was over.
Sol sat in her seat, staring off into the crowd. Her face was paler than usual, and she could barely bring herself to stand.
She attempted to hoist herself upward. But each time, she came right back down into her seat. The very last time she tried to do it, she ended up falling into Jakob.
The room spun,
Then it was blurry.
The voices of the concerned muffled, and the haze of darkness took over.
That was the very last thing she remembered.
--
Sol woke up in her guest bedroom again. She slowly came to as she answered the infrequent questions of her maids. Jakob came and checked on her, but left just as soon as he came. Poor man, he looked quite tired. She couldn't blame him— after the journey, the play, and aimlessly stumbling around the palace, she felt tired too.
She resolved to skip dinner and lie back down peacefully in her bed.
She tussled and rustled about in her bed. Despite the luxury, silken sheets, and the soft bed, she couldn't allow herself to be enveloped in its softness.
Occasionally, half asleep, she would hallucinate terrifying shadows that taunted her.
The fear was exacerbated by the occasional run-in with sleep paralysis.
Constantly, her body restarted the rush of fight or flight inside of her.
She couldn't be around people, and she couldn't be alone.
She felt like something wicked was coming her way.
The final time she woke up from a terrifying, fleeting dream, she resolved to illuminate her room. She burned a few of the candles inside and quietly recounted a prayer she was taught as a child. She crossed herself and retreated to her bed. She pulled the covers over her head, seeking some sort of childish sense of security.
If only Kobayashi were here.
They would make her laugh and release her body from this fear.
Or maybe they'd read to her if she asked.
…
She felt the gentle trace of a finger outline the curve of her body.
It isn't real,
She convinced herself.
It is only your imagination again. You are safe.
…
Then, the finger turned into a hand and began to massage her thigh. It got closer and closer to the most sacred place she had. She jumped when she felt the hand squeeze her body.
She tore the cover from over her eyes.
"Elashor?! What are you doing in here?! It's so late!" Sol yelled. Elashor forced his hand over her mouth, narrowing his eyes at her.
"Listen, woman. I've been patient enough with you. You will let some low-class creature like that touch you, but I can't touch my own wife?"
"We aren't married!" Sol struggled to get out of his grip. He grabbed her wrist and yanked her close to him.
"I'm tired of playing these stupid, childish games with you," Elashor growled.
"So, since your feeble mind cannot decide what is good for you, I will have to step up and fulfill my role before I'm given the proper title of husband and keeper." Elashor got in her face. She could feel the hot breath and the tangible danger emanating from him.
Sol used her free leg to knee him in the back. During his writhing in pain, she fell headfirst onto the cold, wooden floor. She saw a white, bright light flash for a moment, and her head spun. She stumbled upward and took hold of a candelabra.
Elashor stormed over to her. He grabbed the candelabra by its body and tried to yank it away from her, but she forced her body to move with each pull and twist he attempted to use to pry it out of her hands.
Sol ended up falling into a console and a vanity, knocking expensive perfumes and vases over.
The clashing and crashing coming from the room jolted the young maid awake. She had fallen asleep just outside her door, allowing Elashor to slip by unnoticed. The maid skidded to her feet and ran away.
Sol grabbed one of the half-broken perfume bottles and, with her free hand, tried her best to jam the sharp glass shards into his face. Surface-level wounds weren't enough to deter him, and it only made him more forceful.
He shook the candelabra with enough power to make her lose her grip. She slammed into the bedpost, arm first. Leaving her arm weak and in pain. Tears began to form in her eyes, and she gasped in pain. Bent over and holding her injured arm, she was painfully aware of how this wicked thing loomed over her. Her eyes widened, and she began to tremble with the weight of impending doom.
Her hand bled from the perfume shards,
Her arms were tired from holding on,
She bit her lip, unwilling to let this demon revel in her pain.
She looked him dead in his eyes, even as her body screamed for her to run.
And he stared back at her, still gripping the candelabra stand.
She turned her body to face him.
She had no choice but to survive. For her own sake.
He raised the stand over her head,
Ready to bring it down like a judge brings down her gavel.
Sol narrowly avoided her fate and ducked. The stand fell apart at the top, and the candles fell onto the bed, setting the bed ablaze. Elashor stumbled back in surprise from the eruption. For this small gleam of an opportunity, Sol snatched the stand from his hand and began ruthlessly beating him with it.
Each hit was worse than the last,
He thrashed around,
He stopped moving.
…
His blood spilled, and he groaned and cried.
…
Like a bitch.
…
His blood stained her white linens.
…
The light from her eyes left as the strength in her arm returned. She lifted the stand high above her head and came down with the same consideration he'd only shown her during their one-sided 'partnership'.
With the sharpest end of the stand, she raised it above her head and-
"Sol?!" Jakob rushed in. The young maid trailed behind him. Jakob called for Sol's name again, but the smoke hindered him. He wheezed and coughed, and the maid covered her nose with her hands.
He frantically looked around, and his eyes darted between a barely conscious Elashor and a Sol who was not there. Jakob instinctively helped Sol up. She held the weapon close to her chest, and no matter how much he tried to pry it away from her, she wouldn't let it go.
"Call for a medic and arrange for her return home IMMEDIATELY!" Jakob frantically yelled.
The young maid rushed off, and some of the other maids and, eventually, guards came in. Elashor was taken away.
The bastard was lucky to have even survived.
Sol's loyal advisor rushed her outside and just barely managed to get her to stay in her carriage. If he were there, she would stay.
If she left, she went with him.
Everyone was able to board the carriages they'd arrived in before it was too late. In the rush, Sol had left almost all of the belongings she had brought with her. But she wasn't aware enough to care about it.
She entered a cycle of falling asleep, dreaming about her near-death, and waking up frantically thrashing and kicking around. At some points, Jakob had to temporarily restrain her.
Jakob's chest ached with stress and fear. How could he have been so blind?! How long had this been going on? Of course she hated Elashor; of course she avoided him!
Jakob knew the evil bastard would take this as a means to try to invade their realm. The whole reason he was even trying to marry Sol was to obtain her power and control, but this just gave him a more direct 'right' to do so.
He had to tell her mother. She must know.
Her own daughter almost perished at the hands of this monster,
And now their people might pay for his rampage.
He must do something.
Now.
-----------------------
The Dowager Empress, Sol's mother, sat opposite Jakob. Cross-legged and with a stern stare, she commanded him.
"Speak. Explain this."
Jakob cleared his throat.
"I speak with the utmost urgency when I say this: Elashor is a violent man." Jakob began with a low but firm tone.
"He attempted to kill Her Imperial Majesty last night, and we were forced to flee. She cannot marry such a man, else she might die before she's even able to unpack her belongings in her new home. There are plenty of powerful men she could marry, but just not this one. I'll even do the scouting myself, but please don't force her into this." He pleaded, hands clasped and completely at the mother's mercy.
She was silent for a long time.
The incremental, quiet tick of the grandfather clock gave rhythm to the tension.
Then, she finally spoke again.
"Sol is the bringer of her own misery. She has been unfaithful; what husband wouldn't be gripped with anger?"
Jakob was bewildered.
"Your- your daughter—" He began to reason.
"No." She put up her hand to silence him.
"She has been talking to that bastard child her whole life, despite my warnings and discipline. I told her this would happen one day, but she is, despite her wisdom in every other area of life, too dense to understand." She continued.
Jakob's mouth hung slightly agape as he tried to grasp at understanding.
That—
How?
Sol was her baby.
If he had learned his cousin's husband had nearly killed her, Jakob knew for sure that he would take her away from him as soon as possible. Status and wealth were, and are, nothing when life is in jeopardy.
"What do you mean?" He finally asked.
"Don't act dense. The letter? This— Kobayashi sent her? With that amateurish poetry it wrote her? She entertained a bastard child; no wonder Elashor was angry."
"Why are you more concerned with a private letter I sent to a friend than the fact that this out-of-control pig almost ended my life that night?" Sol seemingly appeared in the doorway of the room.
Her mother shot up and stormed over to where Sol was standing. She raised her hand, brought it back, and nearly slammed her into the wall.
"Do you realize what you have done? The shame you've brought upon our family? An impending war? Because of your selfishness?!" She towered over Sol, her shadow enveloping her like it so easily did all those years ago.
Jakob stood helpless.
Sol held her face, and defiantly, she straightened her back. "I realize the consequences of my actions, but I don't regret them. To accuse me of selfishness after everything you've forced me to endure for the sake of power is fucking hilarious." She spat. Her mother's hand stung her face again. Tears formed and some even fell, but her face stayed the same.
Her mother expected pleas of forgiveness. Flinching, attempting to flee, crying, anything… But nothing came.
Years of being told to 'suck it up' finally had its work perfected in her daughter.
And yet,
in the absence of emotion,
The mother's piercing rage colored the vacancy.
"Fix your face."
"I have already fixed mine, and I'll fix yours too."
The hand came down a third time, but Sol gripped her wrist with white-knuckle strength.
"I'll fix everything about your life. This will be the last time you will ever see my face. I never want you to set foot in this palace for the rest of your days. You will die in the unnamed countryside of this empire."
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊⊱·✶·⊰₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
July 29th, 17XX
"My dearest Kobayashi,
I hate to inform you of such matters while you are away, but I felt it necessary to notify you. I couldn't keep it a secret any longer, and I apologize for keeping it so quiet.
Artemis has defamed both of us in a pamphlet he published about a week prior. It has made its way around the court, and I haven't released a statement. I do not feel like I can, because it's primarily directed toward you.
I'm asking that, for your own reputation and on my behalf, you defend us both.
On the back of this letter is attached a copy of the pamphlet.
— Sol"
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊⊱·✶·⊰₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
Patissere Palace sat over a vast hill, surrounded by dense forests. The rarest, most delicate flowers blanketed the lush fields. It was a little slice of heaven for a once small and restless kingdom, but now, it was its crown. Its pride and joy.
The sun family, as they were called, were said to have illuminated the night during their old tale of revolution with their might.
None have seen such a strong king since Solaris.
Like an ever-consuming fire, Elashor and his men tore through the major towns and cities leading up to the bastion of light and triumph. They worked day and night tirelessly, pillaging and slaying anyone in their path. They knocked over stalls and trampled over produce and small children with their horses.
For days, they reigned with terror. They left a trail of blood and sometimes the entrails of their victims. The sheer brutality of Elashor stained and bloodied the carefully curated image of a charming, kind Emperor. For the first time, his true wickedness was on display.
Nuns gathered freshly orphaned children off the streets and hid them in the inner chambers of their churches.
Nurses worked tirelessly in dark and damp alleyways to save what was left of their community.
It didn't matter if shopkeepers begged for their lives,
or if the poor and lame person gave them what little change they had,
the bloodthirsty troops, drunk off the terror they caused, would murder those they deemed 'lesser' than them.
All in the pursuit of their leader's scorn against the Empress.
The cries of terror soon reached the daughter of the nation, and she took up her sword just as the men who came before her.
Over the horizon,
and over the gentle sway of the flower field,
The hardened and fierce gaze of the half-burned Emperor pierced through the air. If it were full of any more fury than it already was, it would set the palace ablaze. He pulled on the reins of his horse, coming to an abrupt halt.
The Empress stared back at him.
Her long hair flowed in the gentle winds of the early morning. Her white military uniform bloomed in the intense light of the sun. It haloed over her and illuminated the flyaways the wind created.
The gold epaulettes and accents of her uniform nearly blinded Elashor and the men closest to him. She lifted her sword nigh to her, brandishing it. Elashor grimaced. His remaining eye watered at the sudden beam of light sent into his retina.
"What is this?" He scoffed. "You think you can step to me by pretending to be a man?"
"I already stepped to you. Your skin is scorched and peeling, and you only have one eye." Sol kept her tone steady.
"The blood of your people is on your hands, you stupid bitch." Elashor growled. "Your silly, deficient mind can't comprehend that you've already lost. You are my wife, and when I'm done with you, that will be the only thing you can comprehend."
She stayed silent. Then, she spoke again.
"If might makes right, stop talking and fight me."
Elashor tossed his head back with a manic laugh. It was an uncontrollable kind of laughter that gave way to an inconceivable amount of rage.
"I'M TRYING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE!" he yelled, gripping the reins of his horse.
"You said with your own no more chances, you damn idiot. You don't even remember your own threats. You're so focused on—"
Elashor charged toward her with his horse, knocking her off of it entirely. She dug her sword into the ground and hoisted herself up. Elashor bent over, still on his horse, and attempted to decapitate her.
Meanwhile, both of their military forces began to clash. A soldier was stabbed in his side, making him immediately collapse to the ground. Another had his temple pierced through, and one more saw the immediate end of his existence.
Blood dripped off the ends of each sword and shield that had seen the midst of the battle.
Sol pulled her sword out of the ground and resisted his attempt, just narrowly avoiding it by a few seconds. Her own horse had been spooked and had deserted her, leaving her open and more vulnerable to Elashor's attacks.
Elashor circled her with his own horse, then yanked her onto it, making her drop her sword. He held the sword up to her throat, his attention now fully on her.
"I should end you right here, right now, for the shame you caused me. Surrender, or you'll lose your life."
Sol said nothing, and only struggled against him more and more. She slowly lost control over herself, letting her adrenaline take over. She thrashed around even more when he pressed the cold blade of his sword against her neck.
She gripped his hand with all the strength she had.
Her breath quickened,
and sweat began to weaken her grip.
Oh no,
No,
No, no, no, no, no.
It can't end like this.
He cannot have triumph over me,
I cannot lose all that I love to him.
She threw herself backward, sending a sharp pain into his jaw. The force of her throw knocked them both off his horse, and his sword tumbled from his hands. On the uneven patch of the terrain, Sol's leg had bent in the wrong direction. She didn't even notice the throbbing pain of the fall and took this opportunity to grab her own weapon, but she limped and stumbled. She looked back and saw Elashor quickly pushing himself onto his feet again. Sol quickened her pace and ripped the sword from the ground. She turned around just in time to catch his blade with hers.
The sun's light bounced off of the polished blades as they clanked in opposition. Elashor brought down his sword on her shoulder, but she slid to the side just enough for the fabric of her sleeve and her skin to be caught by the sword instead. Blood stained her already dirtied and ruined uniform, and the tears made her injury more apparent.
Sol cursed under her breath as her near-deaths became more and more frequent with Elashor's strikes.
She slashed Elashor's uniform, the blade barely catching his collarbone. She cursed herself for not being stronger, or cutting deeper than she did.
Elashor lunged at Sol, but she just barely side-stepped him. The earlier injury made her leg ache when she dodged him, and she bit her lips as tears stained her eyes.
Still, the Empress pushed forward.
Elashor scraped his face on the rocks and pebbles in the small ditch he fell into, cutting his body up even more. His freshly burned skin tingled and stung at the sensation. Her tactics only fanned the ever-destructive fire of his fury even more.
Sol ran into the ditch and darted toward him. She raised her sword high above her head and tried to pierce his head. Before she could, he turned over on his back, knocking her over to the side.
He then got on top of her and tried to do the same to her. Every other cut he made was artificial, leaving scornful scars on her once clear and pristine skin. Sol struggled to get him off of her, but he dug his heels into the dirt.
Finally, she threw him off of her. She scrambled upward, using her sword as her only support. She backpedaled, and Elashor dealt two lightning-fast strikes at her ribs. She wheezed and looked down to see an outpouring of life from her body. She gave a shallow gasp for air in an attempt not to let panic take over. She held her right rib to keep herself from bleeding out.
Her knees buckled, but her sword just barely kept her from falling in defeat. Her eyes began to blur, and Elashor stood tall over her.
"Look at where flying above your station gets you." He commented. A small, wicked laugh spilled from his lips like poison to her courage. "The lion-hearted Empress," He mocked.
"If—" Sol wheezed and coughed up blood. "…Killing me does not defeat my purpose. You will have only proved me right… E-even in death, I triumphed over you. With my military, I avenged my people. In death, I will never be… be ordered around by the likes of you again."
"Ahh, so superficial. You let your people die because of a thoughtless whim? For your pride? You have a womb, and your strength is lesser than mine. I've done more than enough to prove that. I would have taken over the burden of ruling for you, but, as always, your kind cannot fully think for itself. I'm sure your lover would've loved to puppet you." Elashor snarled. He raised his sword above her head and brought it down with the force of a thousand gods.
Sol slightly bowed her head, accepting her fate. But the darkness never came.
She opened her eyes to the noise of a third sword and a thrust to the side.
She saw the bones and the meat of Elashor's shoulder exposed to the air, and a missing arm next to her feet.
Kobayashi stood there, breathing heavily.
"Sol! Why the hell—"
"How did you know— Where did you come from?!"
"I felt like something was wrong. I-" In rage, Elashor threw himself at Kobayashi, knocking them to the ground. With his remaining arm, he picked up his sword and slashed and tore at Kobayashi, who just barely dodged his attacks.
Reinvigorated, Sol took up her own sword and battled Elashor, taking his attention from Kobayashi.
"GO AND LEAD THE TROOPS!" She yelled at them as she fought.
"YOU ARE INJURED AND NEAR DEATH. I CAN'T LEAVE YOU HERE!"
"LEAVE!! THEY HAVE NO LEADER AND THEIR COMMANDER IS DEAD!"
"I CAN'T—"
"KOBAYASHI, DAMN IT, JUST FUCKING GO!"
Kobayashi hesitated, but obeyed. They ran into the throes of the other battle nearby, sword in hand and trying to stay focused on the larger battle at hand.
Still, their mind went between Sol and her safety, and commanding her troops in the best way possible. Reading about war was one thing, but being responsible for the outcome nearly made their heart sink.
The constant clashing, yelling, cries of pain and agony, and the galloping of horses weren't enough to drown out the fear of losing the Empire to a crazed man set on revenge.
But they couldn't give up.
They wouldn't desert her.
They wouldn't let her down,
And they would give it their best shot,
Even if it meant that they died during it.
Dying here means dying in her honor,
And that is the highest honor they could be given.
"You're such a fucking idiot; you reject help when you're CLEARLY about to perish?!" Elashor barked out a laugh. Still, she said nothing. Her sword charged at his side, jamming as deep as she could bear to make it go in her weakened state.
The rage bubbled over, and gave Elashor the last kick of adrenaline his dying body could bear. The beating from last night, the burning, the embarrassment, the defiance… Was all too much for him to handle. A woman. A woman did all of that to him, and put him to shame in front of his whole court, and then his own empire, as the news of her 'affair' became wider spread.
Worst of all?
He was the last to hear it.
Elashor began to swing wildly at Sol, his sword warping in the air as her eyes struggled to keep up with the speed and force of his rage. She hopped and stumbled back, but couldn't keep her luck for too long.
His sword cut and dragged across her face, taking a part of her vision with it.
Sol collapsed on the ground in pain, writhing as blood spilled from her eyes and soaked her hair. Tears mixed with her blood, and she wailed in deep pain and fear. Her sword fell from her hands.
Elashor stood over her, savouring the final laugh he'd gotten out of her pain. To him, it wasn't even a third of the pain and humiliation he was forced to endure. Who was she to him? She was nothing. Here she lay on the ground, whining like a slave, begging its master not to beat it.
The army of the Sun-Empress began to overpower Elashor's troops. Some ran away, and others began to succumb to their fatal wounds. Kobayashi slowly found their stride in their newfound position. Still, their mind shifted to Sol, then back to the battle at hand.
Elashor pinned her torso to the ground with his foot and traced the blade of his sword on her forehead.
"I'll parade your naked corpse through the streets of my country. You are a feeble, stupid woman in life, and I will make sure to reflect it in death." He mocked her.
As he revelled in her pain, Sol reached for her sword.
As the sun rose further in the day, Sol felt one of the only comforts she was afforded in her life shine upon her face.
Remember who you are,
Remember your name,
Go farther into the light,
And seize victory and triumph over fear.
She had one chance,
One more shot.
She gripped the sword in her hand with her remaining strength.
She quickly lifted her sword and held its sharp end to his throat.
Sol lifted her stronger leg and kicked the leg Elashor was standing on.
Elashor's descent began slowly, like a boulder tipping the edge of a hill.
Then,
The blade stretched Elashor's neck into his body like rubber,
But ultimately, it completed its journey.
Blood sprayed from his neck, and the last look she gave him was one of terror.
A young man frantically waved a bloodied white undershirt at Kobayashi. Most of his comrades' bodies littered the once colorful field.
Only less than a hundred of Sol's military force remained.
Kobayashi cautiously made their way to the young man.
Blood sprayed and splattered onto Sol's face, and some into her mouth.
She shoved Elashor's lifeless body off her, leaving her sword in his neck.
She sat herself up against the edge of the ditch and began to vomit violently.
A sharp pain in Sol's ribs echoed throughout her body.
A knot in her throat formed, but she didn't have the strength to resist.
Her tears watered the near-wilted flowers, giving new life to them as the sun nourishes all of life.
She caught her face in her hands and wailed.
Kobayashi followed the sound of her distress. They bound her wounds with their coat.
They helped her up onto her shoulder and gave her their sword.
Carefully, they marched her up the hill.
Standing tall, in front of all of her men, with her head still low, she raised her sword in victory.
The light from the sun reflected and created a reflection of starlight on them.
Their roars of celebration, hailings, and blessings were muffled by her exhaustion.
But she won.
Go farther into the light,
And never stop.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊⊱·✶·⊰₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
Elashor was the only son of an already dying dynasty. Any eligible relatives had already fled, had been killed by Elashor, or simply died. No one could inherit the crown.
As for the empire, even a few thousand fewer men dead was enough to weaken and eventually kill the Myitan dynasty. The surrounding empires took advantage of its near-dead state, and warred over territory.
Elashor tended to blame everyone else for his mistakes, but really, Elashor was his own instrument in his downfall, and the reason for his bloodline's disgrace.
As his people starved, he pursued and warred with anyone who even dared to challenge his desires.
And when he was told about the state of his people,
Do you know what he said?
Let them eat cake.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊⊱·✶·⊰₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
Sol's eye ached at the sunlight flooding her eyes.
When she eased the pain by rubbing her eyes, she recoiled in pain. The pain from her injury jolted her fully awake. She covered her eyes, sighing.
"Sol?" She felt a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder.
She jumped at the sensation and turned to see Kobayashi sitting next to her bed. Then, the light began to make her eyes ache.
"Can you please close the curtains?" Sol strained. Kobayashi obliged and dimmed the room for her. Then, they sat back down.
"…How long have I been out?" Sol asked.
"A few days. Luckily, your injuries weren't fatal… How does your eye feel?"
"…Fantastic." Sol flatly responded. Kobayashi sighed, and Sol cracked a smile.
Sol looked at her hands, tracing the lines with careful thought.
"…You saved my life," Sol spoke again. "... T-thank you." She struggled.
Kobayashi's heart began to race.
"Of course."
"What happened to my military?"
"They died defending your crown, but their efforts weren't in vain. A vigil will be held for everyone affected by his reign of terror in a couple of weeks."
Sol's heart dropped. She gave a wistful breath.
"He's gone. He can never do what he did again."
"I know, Kobayashi, but… so many people needlessly died because of his cruelty. That is something that can't be taken back."
Kobayashi nodded. They stayed silent.
"I will attend the vigil. I will ask Jakob to prepare medals of honor and compensation for their families. What else can I do?" Sol's eyes pleaded with Kobayashi, but they simply had nothing to say.
…
"Acknowledge them all. Name by name at the vigil." They finally responded.
Sol nodded.
They sat together, comfortable in the silence.
"…T-the pamphlet. Did you see my letter-"
"I have no desire to respond to schoolyard taunts." Kobayashi sternly responded.
"Your career…? And my reputation…?"
"My career will be fine. I've already won a battle."
"— Because I put you in command."
"The fact still stands." They reasoned.
"But what about my reputation?"
"They are all just words. I thought you freed yourself from being subject to words?"
"I did… but… these words do dictate my respectability."
"The solution is to become so powerful that even when these things happen, you can say: 'Yes. And?'"
"Kobayashi?"
"Hm?"
"Tell me the truth. Do you enjoy the implication of us sleeping together? Be honest."
"Of what everyone else perceives of us…?" Kobayashi swayed their head from side to side, feigning debate. They already knew their answer, and smirked.
"I enjoy the thought of people knowing that you chose me."
Sol flushed red. "What?" She softly said.
"It's true." They hummed.
"But for your sake, I will address it during the next debate I have with Artemis. I'll save your reputation."
Sol sighed the first breath of relief in a long time. "Thank you."
Then, Jakob's words returned to her.
"Kobayashi is in love with you, and I don't know how you haven't been aware of it."
"Kobayashi?"
"Yes?"
"When is your next debate?"
"…In two weeks. Why?"
"…Do you still have to campaign?"
"Yes… Why?"
"…Will you come and visit me before you go? I still have a ways to recover, but… I missed you."
"Of course I'll visit you," Kobayashi enthusiastically replied, firmly holding her hands close to their chest. "I'll even write if you wish."
"..Y-yes. That would be great." Sol breathlessly replied.
Kobayashi hesitated. They lowered their lips and placed a gentle kiss on the back of her right hand. Sol could hear her heart beating out of her chest, and her ears burned.
"…For… For now," Kobayashi tripped over their words, "I can stay here with you. I have nothing else to do. If- if you please."
Sol nodded and rested her hand on theirs.
In that very moment, they had created their own little pocket of happiness. Nothing else mattered, past or future. It was just them.
And that's all they needed.
------------------
In the presence of the court, including the still-recovering Empress, the next debate between Kobayashi and Artemis was held. The council had seats in the front row, closest to the actual debate itself. To make it even, Sol sat in the middle of them.
"The topic of this debate is our economy," Muirthan began.
"As of right now, the way we handle our economy is beginning to become unstable. Inflation is at an all-time high, and the poorer among us are unable to afford necessities. How would you handle this?"
"Artemis," Emuphas spoke, gesturing to hear him first.
"Expanding our military at its core would provide more jobs for our people. We can even reference other foreign governments and give benefits for joining to incentivise the people to join. This kills two birds with one stone, as we are weaker militarily. Having more people in our roster would eliminate that issue."
"Yes, but that requires money," Muirthan emphasized.
"What is your plan?"
"Well, this is connected to our first debate. If we lower the standards for having and raising children, the economy wouldn't be a problem. There are too few workers because we are too picky."
"Well, you're not accounting for potentially disabled people being born because of the lower standard of genetic material being brought in by other species." Muirthan countered.
"Are you arguing for eugenics?"
"No. That would be segregating people who are deemed undesirable, who are already born, into a separate group from the rest of us. Anything can kill us, since we are so few. We don't want to accidentally wipe ourselves out."
"You are arguing for eugenics. Having more workers would actually support those who are born disabled, because more often than not, able-bodied individuals are mostly born."
"Your main point?" Muirthan started to get irritated.
"My point is that first, having more children would provide more workers. More workers means more economic activity, and more activity means more money. Then, we could expand our military and strengthen our defenses while also providing jobs for our citizens. Thank you."
Artemis stepped back from his podium and rested his hands behind his back.
"Kobayashi?" Muirthan called.
"The problem of our economy is that there is a demand for essential goods that does not match our current population." Kobayashi began, making sure to make contact with the crowd every so often.
"The prices are high because demand is high, but they are higher than demand. This is leading to a surplus of essential goods. As a result, inventory is either outdated or goes bad if they are perishables. This would be fixed naturally if the supplier lowered the prices of the goods, but they are unwilling to. The simple fact is that our current form of governing the economy, laissez-faire, is hurting the average Shenxailite." Kobayashi emphasized their last sentence with their hands.
"The solution is to stop government assistance with businesses over a certain income bracket or when they exceed a certain employee count. This will incentivise them to cater to the average person rather than the government. This would also solve the issue of unemployment, because if more stock is being sold, more is produced, you will inevitably need more workers to produce the product. Purchasing power would also be given back to the consumer with lowered prices, encouraging the buy-and-sell cycle. This may even help with our problem with birth rates, as if more people can afford to have children, the more of us there will be." Kobayashi gave a bow and stepped back.
A five-minute recess was called.
Kobayashi nervously looked over their notes. Occasionally, their eyes would meet Sol's, and they'd feel even more nervous. Sol thought about both Kobayashi and Artemis' arguments. In all honesty, she agreed with both of them, but Artemis to a lesser extent. She didn't want to say anything to Kobayashi, for fear of offending them. However, she kept what they had both said in the back of her mind.
Sol kept her cool composure in front of the court and sat up straight. After the recess had ended, a thick silence fell over the audience.
Emuphas stood up.
"We've decided to call a draw between you two. Neither of you won the discussion. However, we have decided that you two will do a lightning round. Whoever has the most convincing argument wins. The topic at hand is…If we, the Shenxailites, had a revolution against the Xailites, how would the military force be handled?"
"Well," Kobayashi spoke first, making Artemis glare at them.
"First, we should take a census of all the people who can fight. Then, we measure their abilities." Kobayashi clasped their hands.
"Depending on their strengths and weaknesses, we should put them in roles best suited for them. This way, everyone can contribute. Some people will be nurses, others soldiers." They continued. "I also noticed that with the evolution of some of our technology, the old ways of doing things will be obsolete soon. I think it would behoove us to research these possibilities. Depending on the findings, I would prepare and teach our troops through a training program on these new weapons or tactics."
Emuphas and Muirthan nodded, while the other members of the council gazed on. The court mumured amongst themselves, and Sol was thoughtful.
"Artemis? Any thoughts?" Muirthan put the spotlight on him.
"What Kobayashi said is a painfully oversimplified plan." Artemis, brash and bold as always, stepped forward.
"What happens if we don't have enough people who are qualified to be boots-on-the-ground? What happens if nurses are short-staffed?"
"We can and should educate nurses so there will be more of them. Nursing is a discipline. As for soldiers, we are allied with the Patissere Empire. That's the whole reason why we are, so we have plenty of soldiers. I am concerned with preserving as much life as possible while being as efficient." Kobayashi shot back.
The audience turned to face Artemis again to see what he would say.
"See, this is what I mean. You have no idea what you're talking about, Kobayashi. You've never fought in a battle, let alone a war. Those kinds of plans would wipe us all out."
"I literally used this exact tactic in Her Imperial Majesty's battle against Elashor. She made me commander as she faced him head-on." Kobayashi countered flatly, keeping their composure and overall manners aloof. Although, on the inside, they jittered at the thought of finally proving Artemis wrong.
Artemis was at a loss for words, and some members of the audience gasped.
"Well, of course The Empress would put you in charge of her army, even with no experience— you are having a full-blown affair with her!"
The audience went into even more of an uproar than before. Sol felt her face burn at his words. It was true, but it didn't mean anyone else had known it was true. Sol silently prayed that Kobayashi would have enough sense to counter the rumor, and that their response was satisfactory. Otherwise, Sol would be ruined.
Once the audience had been successfully simmered, Kobayashi spoke up.
"Only half of what you said is true. While, yes, I have been pursuing Her Imperial Majesty, she has not ever disgraced herself in any way, shape, or form. She is just as chaste and upright as they say— I would know, because I've gotten rejected by her several times under the pretense of being 'too proud'. I wouldn't expect anything less from a woman like herself. Now, my question to you is why have you brought up salacious rumors on a stage that's meant for political progress? Not only that, but you attempted to disgrace our only ally? Do you know what that would mean for us if she took offense to your words?"
Artemis looked nearly pale and went quiet. How the hell did Kobayashi just so easily deflect something true? And they're all just going to believe that?
But what could he say?
The moment he steps off the stage, his political career is finished.
He would be ruined.
"You- That's-" Artemis attempted to counter, but it only came out as choppy stammering. He couldn't think of anything to say.
Emuphas put his hand up, motioning for silence.
"That's enough. You've already embarrassed yourself enough."
Then, he stood up to face the crowd.
"This will be the final gathering for this election. Everything said here has been recorded and will appear in news records across the empire and our own country. From tomorrow and onward, everyone has exactly thirty days to vote for which candidate they favor. Results will be announced two days after the thirty days are up."
As everyone dispersed, the council began to make their way out of the auditorium while talking amongst themselves. Once everyone else had left, and under the impression that they were alone, Kobayashi approached Sol right before she left the room. The two talked in hushed voices. Sol absolutely lit up when Kobayashi spoke. Light touches and brushing hair out of the face, squeezing of the hands, and the look of something deep in her eyes.
Artemis began to breathe heavily.
He balled up his fists and, without thinking, stormed his way over to Kobayashi. He grabbed them by their shoulders, forcing them to look at him.
Kobayashi looked back at him. The only consideration they gave him was a look of slight irritation.
Artemis felt like he was going to lose his mind.
Kobayashi?
Kobayashi, out of all people, bested him?
No shadow of a doubt, they were going to take his rightful position.
All because they prance and preen in the spotlight, and the idiots eat it up, including Sol.
Despite only doing a portion of the work, if even that, Kobayashi had gotten everything he wanted. Everything. Despite even convincing their own father to sponsor him. It still wasn't enough.
And now, Artemis's world would change forever the moment he left the auditorium.
He was ruined.
Indeed, he was.
A month later, almost on the dot, everyone returned to the auditorium.
Kobayashi's votes were about a million more than Artemis's. It's funny how quickly things change— Artemis and Kobayashi were considered rivals before Artemis' pitiful downfall.
And there Sol sat, looking on lovingly at Kobayashi, her one and only. They stood proudly as they were presented with a special sash. They were now the seventh member of the council. They did it.
That cute smile Kobayashi once had turned handsome, still with the same softness to match their disposition. Sol couldn't be any happier than she already was. She stood and clapped for him, and the audience followed suit.
Artemis stood in the background on the darker part of the stage, forcing himself to clap. His expression was unreadable. When Sol looked at him, she felt uneasy. When Artemis's eyes finally darted to hers, she quickly turned her attention back on Kobayashi. She spotted Muirthan in the audience, who seemed pleased.
As for Syther?
Nowhere to be seen.
And Kobayashi kept staring at that empty seat.
Their toothy smile rested into a grin.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊⊱·✶·⊰₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
Once Kobayashi had been sworn in, Sol noticed a new light in their eyes. A rigorous ambition consumed their Sol, but their passions for her had only intensified.
The two walked in the garden, careful of who was there and watching. They both walked in a comfortable silence, as Sol held her frilly umbrella on this sunny day.
"Savour it, rosepeach. The last sunny day we'll see for a while." Kobayashi smiled at her.
"I am, I am… that's why I dragged you out of your office."
"Drag?"
"Yes, silly. Drag. You think just because you're a chief now, you don't have to listen to me."
"So you do enjoy ruling over me." Kobayashi hummed. To which they got a light tap on the back of their head. They only laughed in response.
They continued walking along the path. Eventually, they made their way into a more secluded section of the garden. Many lily-roses freckled the soft blades of grass, and only a little bench and a fountain were present.
Kobayashi sat down first, and Sol followed.
They held her hand, and then reached for her other hand.
The two looked at each other for a long time.
Kobayashi's mouth went dry, and their mind began to blank.
"…My…The heart of my reason for doing the things that I do is for you. I have learned recently that… these feelings of adoration, companionship, affection, and even jealousy go beyond a friendship. We are not friends, Sol… S-so I ask…"
They took a deep breath.
"…No one else can replace you. You are the only person I desire to spend the rest of my days with, and I want to prove it to you… Will… Will you please let me court you?"
The world around Sol stopped.
Her face began to heat up,
and the sparkle in her eye returned.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Her hands trembled, and her vision became blurry with tears.
She hugged Kobayashi with all of her might, nearly sobbing. Out of everything she's seen or witnessed. No one, absolutely no one, had ever made her so willing to hand her heart to them.
But Kobayashi did.
Kobayashi tightly hugged her back. They could feel the heat emanating from Sol's body, and Sol could feel Kobayashi's clammy palms on her back.
They pulled away from the hug.
Kobayashi opened their mouth to ask for her response, but Sol kissed them before they could even speak. That was their answer.
Then, in that moment, Kobayashi knew that feeling.
That feeling that had bloomed in their chest all those years ago when Sol lay next to them in their garden.
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