Princess - Chapter Six: Tuberose
Chapter Title: Tuberose
Author: creative_kiss
Characters: Teru, Yuki, Hizaki, Kamijo, Jasmine You, Yozora
Chapter Summary: The princess encounters Jasmine You for the first time, but it is Kamijo's spell that ought to be feared the most.
Table of Contents
~Six~
Tuberose
Overflow of the light of truth;
it was enveloped by love
The king reluctantly approved Yozora’s attendance at the spirit-reading of Jasmine You. His conditions were simple and definite: all in Yozora’s court were to attend as well, and it was a once-only privilege. Princess Yozora was quite pleased with these conditions, for she feared the gypsy’s presence. She had only heard rumors of them as a young child in the castle, but they had never reached these parts of the world. They were already ridiculed in their homeland. However, Yozora had heard from Yuki and Hizaki that the witch had attended the grand ball and made a good impression amongst the guests. They had flocked to her for fortunes.
Teru was immensely pleased with the king’s arrangement as well for his own reasons. Not only did it provide another opportunity for the joker to be with his princess (one that wasn’t forbidden); it also allowed Teru to keep an eye on Prince Kamijo and Jasmine You. He had seen Jasmine You at a distance at the ball, and even then he had been uneasy.
Typically it was custom for Hizaki to walk beside Yozora, often with linked arms and sisterly affection. This time, to impress the prince, Hizaki kept in place beside Teru, Yuki following close behind. Hizaki’s pride had certainly been hurt as she was not a servant but a respected lady in the castle. No one treated her as anything less than Yozora’s equal except the king, and even still he cherished her. Teru offered out his arm to Lady Hizaki as a means of consolation, and she took it. Together they approached the second-floor library and were greeted at the door by members of Prince Kamijo’s court. These men stepped aside to allow the court through, bowing at Yozora as she passed by.
The library, which was normally illuminated with large torches and a fireplace was mostly dark with various candles flickering about the room, incense permeating every breath. All of the candles’ flames burned with variegated colors, immediately giving the air an aura of witchcraft and speculation. Yozora could hardly mask her fright as she looked about the room, puzzled. Teru felt Hizaki stiffen as well, and she covered her mouth with her gloved hand as if to protect herself.
“Please don’t,” Teru begged in a whisper. “You’re being too obvious.” Hizaki slowly removed her hand from her mouth and instead looked down at her feet. There were not any other guests, simply members of Kamijo’s court, the prince himself, and the lady of the hour.
Teru immediately recognized Jasmine You as being the fortune teller that caused such a spectacle at the grand ball. To him, her presence was a bad omen, and he felt shivers all over. She was seated at a table positioned at the head of the room with a crystal ball and many talismans upon it, dressed in gaudy purples and reds with a headdress atop her head. The skirt of her gown, just barely visible beneath the table, was made up entirely of fabric roses, and her curly brown her was pinned up just above her shoulders. Unusual makeup completed the look. The crystal ball changed colors as she calmly tapped it with her fingers as if she were bored.
There was a group of five finely-dressed young women seated at Kamijo’s feet. Most of them were of European descent; one would assume the prince had accumulated them over the course of his travels. Teru noticed Yozora hesitate in approaching Kamijo, and Hizaki cast Teru a knowing glance. Kamijo’s arrogant display of power had surprised and humiliated Yozora, who, while in love with Teru, was trying to perform her duty as the loyal princess.
Yozora quietly calculated how she might step over these women to reach the prince and kiss his hand, the proper custom. She was certain that she heard Yuki snort in disgust. Just when the princess began to panic, Kamijo dismissed his harem with a wave of the hand and stood, approaching her. Yozora bowed to kiss his hand when the prince seized hers and kissed it, his lips lingering as always. As he stood up straight, he took notice of Teru “the fool” and the arm he had linked with Hizaki’s.
“Beautiful princess,” Kamijo began, clearly amused. “I see that you’ve brought your entire court.”
“At my father’s insistence,” Yozora quickly explained.
“We’ll enjoy ourselves still,” Kamijo said, taking Yozora’s hand once more. He led her to the table at which Jasmine You sat, and he seated her. Yuki cast Teru a silent warning, the ice of his stare, and moved to stand beside his princess. Teru understood completely.
“Let’s stay together, Lady Hizaki,” Teru whispered. Hizaki nodded silently, squeezing his arm. They took seats on plump floor cushions and watched the scene above with curiosity.
Teru calmly observed the harm sitting off to the left of the room. He couldn’t imagine the arrogance required to invite a harem of women to the same event at which he hoped to woo the woman he would someday marry. Was Kamijo trying to advertise his wealth? His power? Perhaps he thought that by these means he might show Yozora how well-traveled he was. It still appeared a foolish decision.
The girls began giggling mischievously, startling Teru from his thoughts. He realized that he must have been staring at them while his mind had lost itself in the sky. Embarrassed, he looked down at his lap with a red face until Hizaki tapped him on the shoulder and pointed toward their beloved princess. Princess Yozora was trembling all over, and it killed Teru inside as he fought to sit still. He feared that the fortune teller might read his thoughts if he displayed them on his face. He and Hizaki watched Yuki discretely place a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“When you invited me here, I had not imagined that my fortune would be read,” Yozora commented, trying desperately to mask the uncertainty she felt.
“I thought it appropriate that our fortune be told,” Kamijo explained. “Don’t you wish to know what our future blessings will be?”
“I think I’d enjoy the uncertainty,” Yozora replied lamely. “To uncover them as our time together progresses. That’s the beauty of life, isn’t it?”
“I like to be certain of my wealth and future,” Kamijo said. “As an heir, I long to determine and secure the blessings that belong to me.”
“I see.”
“Are you frightened, my princess?” the prince asked, taking her hand.
“Only nervous,” the girl whispered.
“You have only your naivety to fear,” Jasmine You said. Yozora started, looking up at the gypsy with confused eyes.
“Is... is that my fortune?”
“It is the truth,” Jasmine You replied. She looked into her crystal ball as Yozora held her breath, then suddenly, her gaze shot up to meet the wide-eyed princess once more. “Breathe.” Yozora exhaled, and allowed some time to calm herself.
“Now, what sin engulfs your heart with fire?” Yozora frowned.
“What? I don’t... understand.” She stammered.
“Your heart burns with a passion for someone close to you,” Jasmine continued. “It isn’t the prince, dear?”
“Come play with us, little joker!” the harem cooed, beckoning Teru over eagerly. Teru’s eyes were fixed in his lap while Hizaki’s gaze, usually calm and unaffected, now danced with amusement.
“I mustn’t, ladies,” the joker mumbled. The women were all incredibly attractive, and rather tempting to such a simple thing. However, Teru’s heart was completely devoted to Yozora. Apart from this, it would have been incredibly irresponsible, as well as a dereliction of duty for him to leave his place for personal matters.
“Oh, but you must!” one girl pleaded.
“You absolutely must!” cried another. They all joined in.
“And the lady must play too!” another chanted over the crowd. She waved eagerly at Lady Hizaki, who simply smiled wickedly. Teru looked up at his lady uncertainly.
“You can... uh, you can go ‘play’ if you wish,” he muttered. Hizaki continued to smile, but she did not accept nor refuse the invitation.
“Do come play!” the women continued to beg. Hizaki teased the women with her smile, then shook her head and looked away. Teru had never seen such devilish behavior from Hizaki before.
Before Yozora could respond to Jasmine You, everyone at the table, excluding the gypsy, jumped. The frazzled princess turned around in her chair to see Hizaki on her feet with a wicked grin, and Teru toppling backwards covered in women. He squirmed and shoved, trying desperately to fight off Kamijo’s harem.
“Ladies, please get off of me!” Teru begged, still struggling against the women to sit up. They assaulted him with kisses all over his face and neck, as well as groped him all over his body. “Lady Hizaki, help!” The lady only covered her vibrant smile with her gloved hand and watched.
“Ahh, please don’t touch me there!” Teru yelped.
Yozora’s first instinct was jealousy, but fearing the gypsy’s perceptive powers, she forced the thought from her mind. Then realizing how amusing the situation really was, she started laughing. Kamijo placed his hand on her knee calmly. It was clear he found no amusement in the interruption.
“Let the ladies amuse him,” he said coldly. Yozora stopped laughing. She watched Teru gasp and begin swatting hands away from his groin.
“He does not look very pleased,” the princess pointed out. Teru was forcing the women off of him one by one, only to have them launch themselves back on top of him.
“Don’t allow him to distract you,” Kamijo scolded, turning back to the table. “He’s like a puppy. Once he plays a little, he’s bound to become like the dog he is.” Yozora looked up at Yuki with pleading eyes.
“Yuki, assist him.” Yuki nodded obligingly and approached the mound of flailing bodies. He seized the defenseless joker by his collar and roughly hoisted him out from beneath the girls. They broke into a fit of groans, pouting at the stolid knight.
“You’re no fun,” one of them whined. The knight refrained from rolling his eyes.
“Pardon me, ladies, but the princess does not condone such frivolous behavior in her court,” he told them. Teru was panting pathetically but was exceptionally glad to be back on his feet.
“Thank you, Yuki!” the joker managed to gasp. Yuki was chuckling. “What is it?”
“It’s just that... most men enjoy being covered in women,” Yuki replied. Teru could only blush.
“Now answer her!” Kamijo ordered once the commotion had subsided. The prince appeared quite concerned with Yozora’s interference. He could hardly understand why she cared so much in the first place. In turn, it was obvious to Yozora that he was jealous.
“I have great affection for all of those close to me,” the princess replied carefully. She turned to Kamijo. “I cannot yet say the same for you. I have only spent three separate occasions with you, all of which have been brief.” Kamijo frowned in the direction of Yozora’s court. His harsh glare fell on Teru.
“I have known my knight and lady my entire life,” Yozora continued. “And my father gifted Teru to me three years ago.”
“Your affection for him is of another kind,” Jasmine You interrupted.
“He is a gift from my father!” Yozora repeated, exasperated. “I love my father very much, and every gift from him is especially precious to me.”
“Pardon me, Yozora-hime,” Yuki interrupted. “That hour has approached.” The king had instructed that her court properly excuse themselves at midnight.
“My prince,” Yozora said softly. “Would you please excuse us for the night? It is quite late.” Kamijo stood first and helped Yozora to her feet.
“Perhaps you’ll join me for breakfast in the morning,” Kamijo suggested eagerly. Yozora shook her head apologetically.
“I have a special breakfast with the king,” she replied. The dejected prince nodded his understanding. “We shall meet again, prince.” With that, the princess slightly curtsied Jasmine You and left with her court.
After leaving Yozora, Teru wandered down the dimly lit corridor to his room. His heart was still pounding from all of the excitement. The joker knew he ought to fear the king’s wrath more than anything, but right now Prince Kamijo and his gypsy were Teru’s enemies. He found himself seething as he untied the laces on his boots, and abruptly those feelings morphed to paranoia when he thought of how foolishly he had responded to the harem’s advances. He had quite humiliated himself, and he only hoped that Yozora did not believe he had enjoyed himself instead. This of course led him to wonder whether or not Yozora had enjoyed herself at the gypsy’s table. The princess’s nerves were quite shaken as well, so much so that she could not even kiss him goodnight for fear that the omniscient witch might see it through the walls and inform her master. And Teru had wanted that kiss so badly.
“That was awful,” Yozora whispered, huddling against her cousin in the bed they shared. Hizaki kissed her cheek silently. “She was so suspicious of me!” The princess’s cousin frowned.
Her eyes seemed to say “But doesn’t she have reason?” Yozora took note of this look and scoffed.
“She is beneath me!” she hissed. “And those filthy girls that Kamijo was covered in - What did he hope to achieve with them? His audacity!” Hizaki shook her head matter-of-factly. She sat up in bed and fumbled for paper and a writing instrument. Hastily she scribbled something and held it up for her cousin to see.
“What awful calligraphy!” Yozora mused, sitting up. She lit a candle. “Really now, I can hardly -” The poor princess gasped.
The harem had nothing to do with impressing Yozora with Prince Kamijo’s wealth. It was all a ploy to keep the princess from her joker. The attack on Teru had been staged!
The question remained: Did Kamijo know of Yozora’s love affair... or did he only think he knew?
Author: creative_kiss
Characters: Teru, Yuki, Hizaki, Kamijo, Jasmine You, Yozora
Chapter Summary: The princess encounters Jasmine You for the first time, but it is Kamijo's spell that ought to be feared the most.
Table of Contents
~Six~
Tuberose
Overflow of the light of truth;
it was enveloped by love
The king reluctantly approved Yozora’s attendance at the spirit-reading of Jasmine You. His conditions were simple and definite: all in Yozora’s court were to attend as well, and it was a once-only privilege. Princess Yozora was quite pleased with these conditions, for she feared the gypsy’s presence. She had only heard rumors of them as a young child in the castle, but they had never reached these parts of the world. They were already ridiculed in their homeland. However, Yozora had heard from Yuki and Hizaki that the witch had attended the grand ball and made a good impression amongst the guests. They had flocked to her for fortunes.
Teru was immensely pleased with the king’s arrangement as well for his own reasons. Not only did it provide another opportunity for the joker to be with his princess (one that wasn’t forbidden); it also allowed Teru to keep an eye on Prince Kamijo and Jasmine You. He had seen Jasmine You at a distance at the ball, and even then he had been uneasy.
Typically it was custom for Hizaki to walk beside Yozora, often with linked arms and sisterly affection. This time, to impress the prince, Hizaki kept in place beside Teru, Yuki following close behind. Hizaki’s pride had certainly been hurt as she was not a servant but a respected lady in the castle. No one treated her as anything less than Yozora’s equal except the king, and even still he cherished her. Teru offered out his arm to Lady Hizaki as a means of consolation, and she took it. Together they approached the second-floor library and were greeted at the door by members of Prince Kamijo’s court. These men stepped aside to allow the court through, bowing at Yozora as she passed by.
The library, which was normally illuminated with large torches and a fireplace was mostly dark with various candles flickering about the room, incense permeating every breath. All of the candles’ flames burned with variegated colors, immediately giving the air an aura of witchcraft and speculation. Yozora could hardly mask her fright as she looked about the room, puzzled. Teru felt Hizaki stiffen as well, and she covered her mouth with her gloved hand as if to protect herself.
“Please don’t,” Teru begged in a whisper. “You’re being too obvious.” Hizaki slowly removed her hand from her mouth and instead looked down at her feet. There were not any other guests, simply members of Kamijo’s court, the prince himself, and the lady of the hour.
Teru immediately recognized Jasmine You as being the fortune teller that caused such a spectacle at the grand ball. To him, her presence was a bad omen, and he felt shivers all over. She was seated at a table positioned at the head of the room with a crystal ball and many talismans upon it, dressed in gaudy purples and reds with a headdress atop her head. The skirt of her gown, just barely visible beneath the table, was made up entirely of fabric roses, and her curly brown her was pinned up just above her shoulders. Unusual makeup completed the look. The crystal ball changed colors as she calmly tapped it with her fingers as if she were bored.
There was a group of five finely-dressed young women seated at Kamijo’s feet. Most of them were of European descent; one would assume the prince had accumulated them over the course of his travels. Teru noticed Yozora hesitate in approaching Kamijo, and Hizaki cast Teru a knowing glance. Kamijo’s arrogant display of power had surprised and humiliated Yozora, who, while in love with Teru, was trying to perform her duty as the loyal princess.
Yozora quietly calculated how she might step over these women to reach the prince and kiss his hand, the proper custom. She was certain that she heard Yuki snort in disgust. Just when the princess began to panic, Kamijo dismissed his harem with a wave of the hand and stood, approaching her. Yozora bowed to kiss his hand when the prince seized hers and kissed it, his lips lingering as always. As he stood up straight, he took notice of Teru “the fool” and the arm he had linked with Hizaki’s.
“Beautiful princess,” Kamijo began, clearly amused. “I see that you’ve brought your entire court.”
“At my father’s insistence,” Yozora quickly explained.
“We’ll enjoy ourselves still,” Kamijo said, taking Yozora’s hand once more. He led her to the table at which Jasmine You sat, and he seated her. Yuki cast Teru a silent warning, the ice of his stare, and moved to stand beside his princess. Teru understood completely.
“Let’s stay together, Lady Hizaki,” Teru whispered. Hizaki nodded silently, squeezing his arm. They took seats on plump floor cushions and watched the scene above with curiosity.
Teru calmly observed the harm sitting off to the left of the room. He couldn’t imagine the arrogance required to invite a harem of women to the same event at which he hoped to woo the woman he would someday marry. Was Kamijo trying to advertise his wealth? His power? Perhaps he thought that by these means he might show Yozora how well-traveled he was. It still appeared a foolish decision.
The girls began giggling mischievously, startling Teru from his thoughts. He realized that he must have been staring at them while his mind had lost itself in the sky. Embarrassed, he looked down at his lap with a red face until Hizaki tapped him on the shoulder and pointed toward their beloved princess. Princess Yozora was trembling all over, and it killed Teru inside as he fought to sit still. He feared that the fortune teller might read his thoughts if he displayed them on his face. He and Hizaki watched Yuki discretely place a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“When you invited me here, I had not imagined that my fortune would be read,” Yozora commented, trying desperately to mask the uncertainty she felt.
“I thought it appropriate that our fortune be told,” Kamijo explained. “Don’t you wish to know what our future blessings will be?”
“I think I’d enjoy the uncertainty,” Yozora replied lamely. “To uncover them as our time together progresses. That’s the beauty of life, isn’t it?”
“I like to be certain of my wealth and future,” Kamijo said. “As an heir, I long to determine and secure the blessings that belong to me.”
“I see.”
“Are you frightened, my princess?” the prince asked, taking her hand.
“Only nervous,” the girl whispered.
“You have only your naivety to fear,” Jasmine You said. Yozora started, looking up at the gypsy with confused eyes.
“Is... is that my fortune?”
“It is the truth,” Jasmine You replied. She looked into her crystal ball as Yozora held her breath, then suddenly, her gaze shot up to meet the wide-eyed princess once more. “Breathe.” Yozora exhaled, and allowed some time to calm herself.
“Now, what sin engulfs your heart with fire?” Yozora frowned.
“What? I don’t... understand.” She stammered.
“Your heart burns with a passion for someone close to you,” Jasmine continued. “It isn’t the prince, dear?”
“Come play with us, little joker!” the harem cooed, beckoning Teru over eagerly. Teru’s eyes were fixed in his lap while Hizaki’s gaze, usually calm and unaffected, now danced with amusement.
“I mustn’t, ladies,” the joker mumbled. The women were all incredibly attractive, and rather tempting to such a simple thing. However, Teru’s heart was completely devoted to Yozora. Apart from this, it would have been incredibly irresponsible, as well as a dereliction of duty for him to leave his place for personal matters.
“Oh, but you must!” one girl pleaded.
“You absolutely must!” cried another. They all joined in.
“And the lady must play too!” another chanted over the crowd. She waved eagerly at Lady Hizaki, who simply smiled wickedly. Teru looked up at his lady uncertainly.
“You can... uh, you can go ‘play’ if you wish,” he muttered. Hizaki continued to smile, but she did not accept nor refuse the invitation.
“Do come play!” the women continued to beg. Hizaki teased the women with her smile, then shook her head and looked away. Teru had never seen such devilish behavior from Hizaki before.
Before Yozora could respond to Jasmine You, everyone at the table, excluding the gypsy, jumped. The frazzled princess turned around in her chair to see Hizaki on her feet with a wicked grin, and Teru toppling backwards covered in women. He squirmed and shoved, trying desperately to fight off Kamijo’s harem.
“Ladies, please get off of me!” Teru begged, still struggling against the women to sit up. They assaulted him with kisses all over his face and neck, as well as groped him all over his body. “Lady Hizaki, help!” The lady only covered her vibrant smile with her gloved hand and watched.
“Ahh, please don’t touch me there!” Teru yelped.
Yozora’s first instinct was jealousy, but fearing the gypsy’s perceptive powers, she forced the thought from her mind. Then realizing how amusing the situation really was, she started laughing. Kamijo placed his hand on her knee calmly. It was clear he found no amusement in the interruption.
“Let the ladies amuse him,” he said coldly. Yozora stopped laughing. She watched Teru gasp and begin swatting hands away from his groin.
“He does not look very pleased,” the princess pointed out. Teru was forcing the women off of him one by one, only to have them launch themselves back on top of him.
“Don’t allow him to distract you,” Kamijo scolded, turning back to the table. “He’s like a puppy. Once he plays a little, he’s bound to become like the dog he is.” Yozora looked up at Yuki with pleading eyes.
“Yuki, assist him.” Yuki nodded obligingly and approached the mound of flailing bodies. He seized the defenseless joker by his collar and roughly hoisted him out from beneath the girls. They broke into a fit of groans, pouting at the stolid knight.
“You’re no fun,” one of them whined. The knight refrained from rolling his eyes.
“Pardon me, ladies, but the princess does not condone such frivolous behavior in her court,” he told them. Teru was panting pathetically but was exceptionally glad to be back on his feet.
“Thank you, Yuki!” the joker managed to gasp. Yuki was chuckling. “What is it?”
“It’s just that... most men enjoy being covered in women,” Yuki replied. Teru could only blush.
“Now answer her!” Kamijo ordered once the commotion had subsided. The prince appeared quite concerned with Yozora’s interference. He could hardly understand why she cared so much in the first place. In turn, it was obvious to Yozora that he was jealous.
“I have great affection for all of those close to me,” the princess replied carefully. She turned to Kamijo. “I cannot yet say the same for you. I have only spent three separate occasions with you, all of which have been brief.” Kamijo frowned in the direction of Yozora’s court. His harsh glare fell on Teru.
“I have known my knight and lady my entire life,” Yozora continued. “And my father gifted Teru to me three years ago.”
“Your affection for him is of another kind,” Jasmine You interrupted.
“He is a gift from my father!” Yozora repeated, exasperated. “I love my father very much, and every gift from him is especially precious to me.”
“Pardon me, Yozora-hime,” Yuki interrupted. “That hour has approached.” The king had instructed that her court properly excuse themselves at midnight.
“My prince,” Yozora said softly. “Would you please excuse us for the night? It is quite late.” Kamijo stood first and helped Yozora to her feet.
“Perhaps you’ll join me for breakfast in the morning,” Kamijo suggested eagerly. Yozora shook her head apologetically.
“I have a special breakfast with the king,” she replied. The dejected prince nodded his understanding. “We shall meet again, prince.” With that, the princess slightly curtsied Jasmine You and left with her court.
After leaving Yozora, Teru wandered down the dimly lit corridor to his room. His heart was still pounding from all of the excitement. The joker knew he ought to fear the king’s wrath more than anything, but right now Prince Kamijo and his gypsy were Teru’s enemies. He found himself seething as he untied the laces on his boots, and abruptly those feelings morphed to paranoia when he thought of how foolishly he had responded to the harem’s advances. He had quite humiliated himself, and he only hoped that Yozora did not believe he had enjoyed himself instead. This of course led him to wonder whether or not Yozora had enjoyed herself at the gypsy’s table. The princess’s nerves were quite shaken as well, so much so that she could not even kiss him goodnight for fear that the omniscient witch might see it through the walls and inform her master. And Teru had wanted that kiss so badly.
“That was awful,” Yozora whispered, huddling against her cousin in the bed they shared. Hizaki kissed her cheek silently. “She was so suspicious of me!” The princess’s cousin frowned.
Her eyes seemed to say “But doesn’t she have reason?” Yozora took note of this look and scoffed.
“She is beneath me!” she hissed. “And those filthy girls that Kamijo was covered in - What did he hope to achieve with them? His audacity!” Hizaki shook her head matter-of-factly. She sat up in bed and fumbled for paper and a writing instrument. Hastily she scribbled something and held it up for her cousin to see.
“What awful calligraphy!” Yozora mused, sitting up. She lit a candle. “Really now, I can hardly -” The poor princess gasped.
The harem had nothing to do with impressing Yozora with Prince Kamijo’s wealth. It was all a ploy to keep the princess from her joker. The attack on Teru had been staged!
The question remained: Did Kamijo know of Yozora’s love affair... or did he only think he knew?