Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction ❯ The Glaciers' Widow ❯ invisus hospes ( Chapter 8 )

~*Invisus hospes*~

*An unwelcome guest*

" I love thou Fuu-chan! It's because of thou if I am suffering in this way!"

Fuu looked amazed, almost upset, Ferio. She didn't react when he took her hand and set it on his cheek. Fuu was about to reply, but she suddenly saw Arosa runs toward a man in the shadows. Ferio too turned toward the woman, and he saw her embrace with intense fondness the man. Everybody stopped to dance and they looked at the newcomer.

Arosa putted her arms around the man's neck and kissed his mouth feverishly. The man set his hands on her sides and after a little bit; he moved the woman away and looked in her eyes:

" Arosa, thou art incorrigible: the Prince's fiancée shouldn't kiss the other men. Thou dirtied me with lipstick!"

Arosa laughed slightly and smiled sensual:

" Owen no baka! There isn't anything more innocent than a kiss between brother and sister! Well, maybe Lady Hikaru is more innocent, but it isn't a bad thing."

Owen sighs shaking the head.

" I know it, Arosa. But thy kisses art not very innocent... thou must pay attention."

Arosa showed him her tongue in a face and grabbed his arm. The couple advanced in the lanterns' lively light that illuminated the Sephirian nobility: Arosa squeezed herself to Owen and smiled as a stupid little girl.

" So, why art thou here?"

Arosa asked excited. Owen threw a quick glance to Ferio, whom was still knelt before Fuu, and said without losing his composure:

" I was going back to Panzatrippa: since the Woods of Silence were on my way, I thought to come and see thy triumph. Tell me, dost King Henry given the announcement?"

" No, we have decided to postpone the engagement."

Owen glanced doubtful at his half sister. Arosa bit her lower lip and justified:

" Aunt Heléne is sick, so mother and I must go to Varnesh for some moon: I'll explain thou later."

" Oh, Owen is here... "

Fuu whispered recognizing the man with Arosa: she had met the Count of Panzatrippa few times. To tell the truth, the first and the last time that Fuu and Owen had met, it had been at their parents' marriage: but that had been a very fleeting meeting, the two of them didn't know each other. Fuu got up to welcome her stepbrother, but a strong sharp pain forced her on the chair.

Ferio tightened his fists seeing Owen: he didn't know why, but he hated with all his strengths that alchemist. Owen was an enigmatic, dark and eerie man; it was impossible read his glassy black eyes and his face showed no emotion. The Count spent whole moons in his laboratory -who knows doing what- and then he left for as many moons who knows where: if the Duke Dessin's brothers don't take care of the feud's business, Panzatrippa would have become a desolate moor. Ferio heard Fuu's painful moan and turned toward her.

" Fuu-chan, dost thy ankle ache? Do thou want me to help?"

" No! And then how dare thee call me in that way without ask permission? Thine behavior, Sir, goes beyond every decency!"

" Why art thou speaking in this way? I would want just help..."

" Good evening, Owen: many moons have passed since the last time we met. Forgive me if I don't come to welcome thou as a sister would be obliged to."

Fuu said aloud seeing the duo approach. Owen peered his stepsister with his piercing look and said:

" Good evening, Fuu Marguerite Gabrielle, is a pleasure see thou. Even if it isn't very pleasing know that thy health isn't of the best: problems with thine legs?"

Fuu nodded:

" I have had an accident about ten suns ago, the ankle hurts if I force it too much."

The Count arched an eyebrow and said:

" Sister, in my saddlebag I have an ointment that could help thou much: I could apply it if thou want."

" No! No, it is better no: thank thou but don't bother. Besides thou will be very tired for the journey..."

Fuu smiled startled: even if Owen was her brother, she wasn't flattened by the idea that he touches her. The Count arched an eyebrow looking the girl, whom was red as a tomato, and he then looked at Ferio: Owen had the gift to see what was invisible to the other, and he didn't like what he saw in the Prince and in the Baroness. Arosa looked the three of them, asking to herself what been happening; when she heard the music get back, she grabbed her brother by an arm and asked him to dance. Ferio apologized with Fuu and invited Umi.

While they danced, Ferio bent on Umi and whispered in her ear:

" Do me a favor: ask to the Baroness to sleep in thy tent, I'm sure that thou will find a good excuse."

Umi smiled knowingly and wondered teasing:

" Why do thou want Fuu to sleep with me and Hikaru? Do you wish to spend the night with her?"

Ferio blushed slightly.

" N-no, it's that... I don't trust Count Owen, I wish that that man is as far as possible from the Baroness."

" Thee art fall in love with her, art not thou? Even if thou try to hide it, nothing escapes me!"

Umi whispered winking. Ferio sighed:

" Fuu hates me, she is always so harsh with me! I don't understand what I have done her to be treated in this way."

" If thou want, I could investigate for thee: sooner or later escape she'll says something, and I'll be there to hear it!"

" Umi, please, don't tell to anyone that I..."

Umi smiled sincerely and said:

" Even if I like gossips, make circulate this gossip is dangerous: Arosa won't give thou up so easily and the Countess Alcyone is an extremely vengeful woman. If I could give thou a suggestion, marry Baroness Fuu instead of Arosa: Sephiro wouldn't have a better queen."

After have insisted much, Umi had convinced Fuu to spend the night with her and Hikaru; Presea had joined the three girls at once to watch over on her young lady. Alcyone hadn't thought twice to give her approval: with Fuu away, she Arosa and Owen could have talked quietly; Duke Dessin was so drunk that he thought to be on a ship off shore during a storm.

Alcyone explained to her stepson why she and Arosa would have left for Varnesh the following day.

" The fact that Ferio has refused Arosa'a company for twelve consecutive nights worries me: I thought that he has an other lover, but his servants have confirmed that he dost not have shared his bed with a woman. The only rational explanation is that he has gotten tired of my daughter: Arosa must improve her ability and the distance will make understand to that stupid that he needs her."

Owen sipped his glass of pears' distillate.

" This is right, Alcyone. But the thing that worries me more is Fuu: she must go back to Acquaviva as soon as possible."

Arosa loosened her hair and brushed them vigorously saying:

" I don't understand why thou worry of that Jucher: within four suns a merchants' caravan will leave for Farhen and Fuu will join them. The Baron of Acquaviva dost not want that his dear little granddaughter stay to Sephiro more than the necessary. Besides we'll see her again when we'll announce officially the engagement and the day of my marriage with Ferio. Fuu isn't a trouble."

" She isn't a trouble until she's away from the court: but if she stays in Sephiro, I'll take serious measure of precaution."

Owen ended going to sleep.

Fuu must leave within two suns and Presea was busy to prepare their baggage: the caravan would have waited them at the capital city's main entry. Dessin was in low spirits: the preceding day his wife and his stepdaughter had left, and soon his adored Fuu would have left too. Also the Princess, Hikaru and Umi were sad for Fuu's upcoming leaving. But saddest was Ferio: after he had declared her his feelings, Fuu avoided him and didn't go out without Mokona and her nurse.

The four girls were in the music hall: Emeraude played the madrigal, Umi the viola, Hikaru the flute and Fuu the zither. Emeraude glanced at the Baroness and sighed:

" Do thou really must leave? Couldn't thou stay with us until late Spring?"

Fuu answered without move her eyes from the zither:

" My grandfather has given me exact indications, for him it has already been very painful that I am away for a moon and half."

" But thine father wants thou stay, isn't him Fuu-chan?"

Hikaru asked with her fawn-like look. Fuu bit her lower lip and she admitted:

" Ehmm... yes... my father says that he'll feel very alone after my leaving..."

" Then write to thy grandfather and explain him the situation!" Umi suggested, " At least thou will stay until his answer's coming."

" I don't know...."

" Please! Please! Please! Please! Please!!!!"

Hikaru begged jumping up and down on her chair. Fuu sighed and looked her friends: it ached her much to leave them, and if it were for them she wouldn't have left. But there was something that bothered her: Ferio.

The Baroness thought plucking the zither's strings, she then murmured:

" If you insist so so much...."

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