Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction ❯ The Glaciers' Widow ❯ Illecebrae #2 cladesque ( Chapter 10 )

~*Illecebrae #2 Cladesque*~

*Temptation #2 and Defeat*

The yellow and red leaves danced in the cold wind: the Autumn dyed the woods with thousand hues. Wrapped by gorgeous velvet cloaks, Princess Emeraude and Baroness Fuu walked in the royal gardens.

" I didn't think that the Autumn is so beautiful in Sephiro."

Fuu said looking the fountain's water covered with dead leaves. Emeraude glanced a robin chirping on a bare branch: she stretched a hand and the little bird alighted on her fingers.

" Uncle Nicholas is sad." Emeraude said watching the robin " Do thou really must leave, Baroness? Could not thou spend the Winter with me?"

Fuu sighed: in seven moons she had learned to love that country, but there were things more important than the Princess' friendship.

" This will be my fifteenth winter, the winter in which I will learn my people's Mysteries: a Jucher that dost not know the Mysteries is considered a child. Perhaps I will stay the next Winter."

" Ah, I understand. In which day is thy birthday?"

" I have born the sun before the Ides of December. The Mysteries' Ceremony will be held ten suns before the Winter's Solstice, that is the sun before my birthday."

Emeraude looked a little bit confused her friend. Fuu laughed and explained:

" By Sephirian calendar it would be December 12th."

" I thought that in Llamayana Pharenian calendar was used."

" Oh no," Fuu smiled " my people has elaborated a very exact calendar."

The Princess looked her for a long time, and then she said:

" I would like to assist it, the Jucher ceremonies art known for their grandeur."

"Lady Umi has told me that for a Miargios go to Llayamana is like a sentence: we could not allow the lowland's folks' same luxuries."

Emeraude smiled:

"I don't consider a sentence pay a visit to a friend for her birthday. And Lady Umi often talks through one's hat: we don't have still found a remedy to her glib tongue! If thou must really leave, I will come."

Fuu smiled to the Princess and then lifted her eyes to the leaden sky; she breathed deeply and whispered:

" The air scents with rain... "

The two found covering in a pavilion: a light and thin rain fell regardless and the rotten leaves floated in the puddles as ships' wrecks.

Emeraude sensed that Fuu had upset by something: she was a very secretive and silent girl, but her reservation rose when they were talking about men. Perhaps Fuu fell in love with anybody, or anybody tried to seduce the fierce Jucher. In each way it was Princess' duty find out what upsets her friend before she goes back to Acquaviva. Emeraude peeped at the young girl and decided to take advantage of the moment.

" Anyone is coming."

Fuu said more to her than to Emeraude. Emeraude turned and saw anybody run toward the pavilion, to take cover from the rain as them. The Princess wide opened her eyes recognizing the man and she greeted him shaking one hand:

" Hey Ferio! What art thou doing under this rain? Art thou looking for thy love?"

" Emy, don't tease me. Ah, good afternoon Baroness."

Ferio said with politeness; Fuu stooped her eyes and bowed nervously. Ferio looked her turning toward the castle, and would have watched her still if his sister wasn't there. Emeraude peered the two young's behavior: Ferio was unusually cautious with Fuu, not the least flirty - as he used with a pretty lady; Fuu didn't raise her look from the puddles and trembling tightened herself in the cloak. Emeraude guessed broadly the situation between her brother and her friend: inside her she thanked the gods for the girl loved by Ferio, thousands time better than the imposed one. Smiling, Emeraude decided to support that relationship that would have made everybody happy.

" Don't thou have still told me how is going with thy beloved: do thou have been able to know what she feel for thou?"

Ferio looked Fuu painfully: that was the less opportune moment to gossip about his sentimental life.

" I am convinced that she hates me: she thinks that I am just joking."

" That's no true, I know well it! Thou could lie to whoever, Ferio, but not to me: thou never lied me!"

" I know it, but it looks as if she is not able to understand my feelings' honesty: I don't want to have met her! By now I don't sleep from seven moons!"

Emeraude embraced her brother peeping at Fuu: she listened without be seen, more disturbed than before. Emeraude sighed.

" Don't tell this, brother, perhaps she is just afraid. What do thou think, Baroness?"

Fuu started turning: Emeraude smiled softly and was impossible lie to her. Fuu went back to look at the puddles and said with a whisper:

" Personally I share this lady's behavior: considered thy precedents, Prince, is logical that she doubts about thy genuineness. But thou shouldn't ask a seem to me, thy future /sister-in-law/: my sister would be heart-broken if she knows it. In her way, Arosa loves you."

Without other words, Fuu pulled on her head her cloak's hood and went back alone to the castle under the autumn rain.

Ferio watched her to fade away in the whitish screen of the rain. The young man embraced his sister and laid his head on her shoulder sighing: they didn't need words. Emeraude stroked her brother's wet hair slowly.

" She is she, isn't she?"

" Each time she leaves in that way: running away."

Umi Marina Ruyzaki, Marquise of Trullia, walked quickly toward the Baroness' apartment with the intention to speak with her about the Prince: perhaps it was too direct, but soon Fuu would have left and she would be been engaged with that Innova August Palmers guy! Just before dinner, the Princess in private had called Umi: Emeraude had explained her the situation and -knowing that Ferio had addressed to her- she had asked her to intervene that evening.

Umi stopped before the door, she knocked with energy and she entered without wait answer. Presea had let her embroidery on the table and had gotten up to open the door while Fuu was writing a letter. The nurse looked dismayed the young woman and bowed clumsily.

" Lady Umi, why...."

" Ehm... Mokona is turning Hikaru's closet upside-down and we art not able to stop it: Presea, catch that marshmallow with a stupid face drawn on!"

Presea opened her mouth for the amazement and runs away swearing. Fuu watched amazed Umi, whom had locked the door and sat on the walnut wood sofa's pillows. The sapphire-haired girl's glances terrorized Fuu.

" Fuu, what art thou doing?"

" I... I am writing a letter."

" No! I want to know what thou art doing with Ferio! Emeraude has told me what has happened today in the gardens."

" I... "

" It is useless pretending nothing: that poor boy has told me all the torments that thou give him! Thou treat him worse than dirt: he declares his feelings, he try to be kind with thou and what do thou do in change? Thou slap him, insult him and run away as if the devil chases you!"

" He annoys / me/: /I/ have done him nothing, if I has been disrespectful with him it is because he deserved it."

" Ferio loves you!"

" I am too young for these things! For him I am nothing more than his precedents lovers! He has fun teasing me!"

" That's not true: thou art almost fifteen winters old! In Sephiro, our age's girls..."

" Must I remember thou, Marquise, that /I am/ a Jucher, and not a Miargios? Must I remember thou that his Majesty the Prince is tied up by a marriage promise to my sister Arosa?"

Umi got up standing and said aloud:

" These art just silly excuse and nonsense! For what concerns thy sister... well, Arosa worth very less than thy right foot's little toe's fingernail's tip! Do thou know what they say about Arosa? They say that that whore has fucked with almost the whole guard, from the officers to the stablemen! Even kitchen boys have slept with her."

" Gossips! They art only gossip! Besides... besides I would never have imagined that thou used such words."

Umi snorted tossing her hair:

" Gossips?! Want thou to know how many times she have tried to seduce Lantis, the man that my cousin loves? When thou meet him, ask him it. Also Lafarga, the Captain and Lady Caldina's husband, has often found that sow dressed only with her hair to wait him in some dark hallway! Ask, ask to whoever and then tell me if they art gossips: anybody has the proofs too of what I say!"

" I don't want to fight with thou, Umi, really! I will stay few suns in Sephiro and I want to keep a beautiful memory of these days."

Fuu whispered massaging her temples. Umi let herself fall on the sofa sighing: she had been too much harsh with Fuu; she was taken by the anger, anger that went quickly fading away. Umi raised the look on Fuu, whom trembled slightly, and asked her with more peaceful voice:

" But what thou feel for Ferio?"

No answer. Umi re-phrased the question observing the girl's expression.

" Do thou hate him?"

No answer. Fuu was closed in a maddening, obstinate silence; doing violence to her instinct, Umi asked again with calm voice:

" Then do thou love him?"

" He is my sister's future husband."

" I haven't asked thou what Ferio is: damn, everybody knows that unluckily Arosa will be his wife! I want to know what thou feel for him."

" Ferio... the Prince is my sister's future husband, this is the only important thing."

" Stop to be stupid!" Umi exclaimed raged, " I want know what thy feelings art!"

Fuu became small, trembling more.

" What I feel dost not have importance, neither now nor in future. It is.... very cold tonight, I want to take a bath to warm me up a little bit, Umi: we see us at dinner."

Umi sighed and left; but when she opened the door, she said without turn:

" We will resume this talk in the library after the dinner: I'll wait thou."

Fuu heard the door close and then she ran in her bedroom and stretched on the bed searching comfort in the covers' warmth.

Umi and Ferio sat in front the library's fireplace: they waited Fuu from more than two hours and in two hours they hadn't exchanged a word.

" Do thou think that she will come? At dinner she was more silent than the usual. "

Ferio whispered looking the last flames dance on the embers, absorbed in his thoughts: within fifteen suns, Fuu would have left, and if things would have kept in that way, he wouldn't ever have known what she felt for him. Umi's interrogation had conducted neither to faint idea of Fuu's feelings, perhaps it had worsened the situation: the Baroness of Acquaviva's answers had been inconclusive; better, she had deliberately avoided to answer. So Umi had organized that nighttime meeting between the two of them, hoping to could close that business.

" I don't know if she will come, but Fuu isn't the stand-up-kind."

The Marquise answered getting up and walking toward the window: the afternoon's rain had changed into a storm and electric lightnings followed by deafening thunders ploughed the sky heavy with clouds. It wasn't the ideal frame for a romantic meeting, Umi would have preferred a starry night with a beautiful full moon; but perhaps Fuu really hated Ferio, and therefore that nasty weather was perfect. The girl turned suddenly hearing the door open and close. Rustling silk and light footsteps. An unsure and shy voice.

" Art thou her, Umi?"

Ferio jumped and opened his mouth to answer, but Umi told him to be quiet with a sign of her hand.

" I am here, Fuu, near the fireplace: thou art very late."

" Sorry, but Presea didn't let me and..."

Fuu froze noticing Ferio's silhouette sitting near the fireplace. Umi approached her and laid a hand on her shoulder.

" I let thou alone: take advantage of this occasion to tell him freely what thou feel for him. Anything is, don't be afraid to tell it." Then she addressed to Ferio," Highness, this is thy last occasion: don't waste it."

Fuu gripped nervously her skirt's fabric, not knowing if stay and talk or go away and keep silent. It looked as if a seal of silence had set in the library: she didn't know what do; he was afraid to scare her with his own words. After long minutes Ferio showed the other armchair and said husky:

" Sit Fuu, come here: I haven't intention to do thou anything, I would want just... just speak."

Without answer, Fuu approached the armchair and sat watching the red-hot embers. Ferio watched sadly her beautiful profile lit up by that reddish shine, the shirt and skirt's silky whiteness shone in the dim light. A lightning made her a black shadow on a white electric background for an instant. He was spellbound by the constant tide of her breath that worked on her breast. She resembled to a sacred virgin's painting. At this thought Ferio jumped: Fuu wasn't like any girl he knew, she was like a priestess of the ancient rites. Fuu was a Jucher and as such too young to love, in each way. But Ferio was sure that she had born to love and to be loved. Loved by him.

" I know that thou couldn't stay here too along, thy nurse would worry: thus forgive me if I am too direct. I would want know if thou hate me or no."

Ferio whispered looking her. Fuu settled some pleats of her skirt and sighed:

" Thou art my sister's promised husband..."

" Don't repeat this play with me," he said shaking his head " I want to speak about nothing but thy feelings for me. If thou hate me, tell it and set end to this torment and I won't annoy thou anymore. I have declared my feelings to thou more times -this afternoon even before my sister, whom I couldn't lie- and it seems permissible that I know thine. Do thou hate me?"

Fuu raised her eyes looking the man for the first time, and then she shook her head:

" Hate thou? I bear nobody a grudge. Thou ar-art my sister's promised husband, I could not hate thou."

Ferio got up, and then knelt in front of her and he took her hands whispering:

" Then thou...."

But he wasn't able to finish the question because anybody went in the library. Ferio took Fuu by her wrists and dragged her toward the fireplace, pressing a hand against her mouth with delicacy.

Presea went in the library opening wide the door: the Baroness was away from much, too much time and her nurse instinct told her that that night something would have happened to her lady. The nurse heard a light noise and ran toward the fireplace, but the armchairs were empty and nobody was there.

" My lady, where art thou hidden? Thou art too big to play hide-and-seek: it is very late and thou must go to sleep."

No answer. Presea drew near the fireplace and examined it: but the light was scarce and she had forgotten her eyeglasses in her bedroom.

" Is anyone here?"

Presea asked still gaining as answer the roar of the rain on the windows. With much caution she walked toward the door, suddenly turning a couple of times, but nobody appeared.

" I don't like this room..."

The nurse grumbled leaving.

Ferio held back his breath until he was sure that Presea was gone away; then he relaxed and smiled to Fuu, pressed between the wall and his body. Also Fuu relaxed: the idea to be caught alone with a man by her nurse terrorized her to death and she addressed a shy smile of thankfulness to Ferio.

" Where we art?"

Fuu asked in a whisper when everything became calm. Ferio moved some locks from her forehead, unconsciously pressing more his body to hers.

" A secret passage: going through the fireplaces I could reach any room, we could come in thy bedroom before than Presea..."

Fuu blushed and moved her look on the embers. She was perfectly conscious of the situation's indecency: alone in the dark, with the man that had declared more times to love her, tight to each other without any decency. With great surprise the young woman understood that she didn't care: at that time she didn't care if anybody rushed in the library and has seen them in that way; she didn't care who and what they were. Also the inflexible Jucher laws about that topic were nothing. The fact that she has not ended her fifteen winters and she didn't know the mysteries didn't have any importance for her. The only, true important things were Ferio's arms around her body, the sweet and sad caress of his amber eyes and the mighty hollow feeling inside her.

" If thou don't hate me," Ferio risk with low voice," perhaps do thou love me?"

Fuu bite her lower lip and whispered:

" Thou art my sister's promised husband, I wouldn't ever..."

" Whoever has said that must I marry Arosa!? I don't love her, I love thou!"

" Don't thou understand it therefore?" Fuu exclaim desperate" Thy father take an engagement with the Count of Panzatrippa, and it is a point of honor to keep the given word! I don't hate thou, but I couldn't love thou in the way thou mean."

" Is this the matter? My father's promise? Therefore, if there weren't this damned promise, would thou love me? Yes or no?"

Fuu kept silent thinking over the question. After a endless time she admitted:

" Things would be different. But there is the engagement and it must be respected."

" Fair, very fair: my father took the engagement and /he/ must respect it. I don't have any engagement, neither I have promise to keep: thou forget that the engagement hasn't been officially announced, therefore I am free to love who I want! To spend my time with the woman I love! To engage me seriously with her... Really Fuu-chan: I would want thou to be the last person I see before fall asleep and the first just awaken..."

Ferio whispered the last phrase in her ear; he then kissed her with passion, almost sure that that would have been their last kiss. Unexpectedly Fuu kissed him back, before unsure, then more passionate: with impulse she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him to her and pressing more and more her body to his. Suddenly she broke the kiss and took off a footstep, confused. Ferio grazed her swollen lips with his fingers and said pleading:

" At least for me, at least for once, would thou make...? "

And he was not able to say anything else

" No, I won't make...."

Ferio looked her, feeling his heart broke in thousand pieces, but he continued to look her hoping in an explanation.

Fuu glanced again at the dying fire in the fireplace and sighed:

" I won't do it because thou ask me. I will do it for myself: because, despite my efforts to avoid it, I love thou too."

================================== TO BE CONTINUED =================================