Of Courts and Courting

[viceofvoices]

Traveling beyond enemy borders is no easy feat no matter who you are. It takes some finesse and knowledge and maybe even a generous amount of luck. And if you're trying not to be found? Doubly tricky! But Hild managed. After all, her love life was on the line.

Since their botched wedding, Hild and Krichevskoy went about life much the same way they did before, only now the tensions between their two clans of demons was focused primarily on a third threat: the monsters and lesser demons who had risen up much earlier than anticipated thanks to Hild's secret meddling. And while that meant Hild and Krichevskoy no longer had to get married, it seemed she had less and less time to even spend time with him out of her own free will. War councils and spell preparations, magic training and scouting missions...really, all she wanted to do was sneak away and spend time with...

Pausing under a tree in the forest lining this border of Krichevskoy's kingdom, the cloaked Hild paused and grinned to herself, swept up in the memory of their last encounter. He'd actually kissed her back, which was more than he'd ever done before. Hands to her cheeks, one of the most powerful demons in the universe squirmed in bashfulness as she recalled the event, oblivious to her surroundings.

Comments

[beautifulrondo]

Krichevskoy opened his mouth, having been about to say more, but he was cut off before he could even begin by Hild's sudden loving assault. "But of course," he said weakly, deciding to keep the fact that his simple arrival seemed to have been enough to deter the bill pusher to himself.

After all, she had stated he was a natural. He was probably just even more of a natural than he had given himself credit for.

[hells_ceo]

Hild's lips by his ear, she murmured quietly, "Then let us adjourn to your private chambers." She glanced sidelong at their audience, the smile still on her face. "We have much to discuss yet, and your kingdom has eyes."

Without waiting for a response, she took his hand and lead him away from the main hall and towards what she assumed would be his quarters. Technically speaking, she had yet to actually be invited there.

Not that a lack of invitation necessarily kept her away.

[beautifulrondo]

Luckily for them both, Krichevskoy's familiarity with the castle managed to kick in on the way to his room, and though there were a few missteps here and there, he managed to lead them both to their destination... and discovered where a few of the bathrooms were.

"Forgive me for that. In my eagerness I had forgotten that the walls tend to have ears," he said as he wandered around the room. He reached up to touch the fine, pale purple silk curtains around the bed with a small smile. My but he had excellent taste, didn't he?

[hells_ceo]

"Uuaaah, so flashy...," she murmured as she slowly turned to take in all of the decorations. Marble pillars? Gold accents? Was that animal print? Roses everywhere of course. Hild chuckled, making herself at home by flopping into one of the overstuffed armchairs. "You do enjoy surrounding yourself with signs of wealthy and beauty, don't you?"

[beautifulrondo]

"So it seems," he said, considerable pride in his voice. "Somehow it seems only natural that it would be so grand. An unparalleled taste in luxury..." He took a moment to bask in it all before resuming his walk around the room. Even if it was dangerous, the king's life was truly grand, wasn't it?

[hells_ceo]

Chin on her hand, she watched him with a smile. "There are definitely perks to being the one on top." Her smile dropped as she allowed herself to relax and feel her weariness.

"A demon left your assembly in quite the rush when you appeared. Such a guilty display, but I wonder if they came up with this idea all on their own?" She opened one eye. "Don't let yourself relax too much. There are still far too many unanswered questions."

[beautifulrondo]

"I don't doubt he was not working alone," Krichevskoy agreed. "He seemed shaken by the fact that I had arrived at all. I wonder if whatever group he works with was attempting to take advantage of my 'holiday' or if it was something else they had been hoping happened."

Maybe he had learned to quickly to be suspicious of others, but he couldn't deny the coincidence of it all, either.

[hells_ceo]

"If we're assuming that those pushing this bill worked in tandem with your would-be assassin..." Hild trailed off, staring into nothing as her mind worked. "That would be quite the risk on their part. As noble and righteous a king as you are, darling, your power is still primarily why you're king. Not just anyone risks your wrath."

She narrowed her eyes. "Which means whoever is smart enough to stay in the shadows and direct these pawns has something worth the risk. Equal power? A promise? How many of our clans are working under this unknown enemy?"

[beautifulrondo]

"That is another thing I was wondering. It was a demon from this Netherworld who shot me, correct? Why would they choose such a dangerous curse as their tool? It might have been to ensure my death at the hands of some other due to the curse, but I do not think any demon in this realm knows of your divine realm," he mused.

"That man, Dagr, said that the curse had the possibility of wreaking havoc upon this world if left unchecked. I don't see why they would pick knowingly pick such a risky method, if not for this world's preservation, then their own."

[hells_ceo]

"When the attack came, I sensed another presence. An energy signature unlike any of your kind emit...but something similar to me." Hild rose up off the chair and stepped in front of Krichevskoy. She looked into his eyes for a moment and then went to her knees in front of him, bowing low.

"It has taken me too long to say this -- I am sorry, Your Majesty, for the pain and danger my kind have put upon you and your kingdom." Her elegant voice was formal and precise as she bowed her head, eyes closed. "My neglect and lack of preparation cannot be excused. I give you my vow that I will seek out this betrayer and see them punished."

She lifted one arm over her chest, her fist on her heart.

"Upon my word as Daimakaicho."

[beautifulrondo]

Krichevskoy only stared down blankly at her. "Er... what are you doing?" He glanced around the room as though trying to search for some sort of answer on his own.

[hells_ceo]

Her eyebrow twitched. "I am giving you a formal apology, as befitting royalty. In a show of great respect and equality, I am promising to lend you my aid and my protection, you profoundly dense oaf."

She shot to her feet, flushed a bit. "So thank you very kindly for your response!"

[beautifulrondo]

He winced inwardly and offered her an apologetic smile. "It... did not suit you--for us being... close, I mean," he tried to explain. Being so formal feels strange when we are alone."

[hells_ceo]

"I'm rarely formal even when I should be," she sighed. "When I am, you will know the depth of my conviction." But then she broke into a somewhat embarrassed smile. "I suppose I should know by now not to try and look cool in front of you."

[beautifulrondo]

"You make it sound as though I am a hopeless case..." Krichevskoy might had made a misstep there, but... "I will do my best to keep that in mind from now on."

[hells_ceo]

She shook her head and patting his arm. "No, no...it's fine. Truthfully, you and I have not had much chance to really talk and really get to know each other." Hild chuckled softly, looking down as her touch lingered on his arm. "Ironically, you have learned more about me during this ordeal than you ever had with your memories."

[beautifulrondo]

"Is that so?" he asked, voice quiet. Did they just never get a chance to spend this much time alone together? Or was it that he had just never asked the right questions? "If that is the case, I suppose that there are some positives to be had about this situation in the end."

[hells_ceo]

Her smile was warm as she looked up. "Yes. Our date did not go as I'd planned, but I cannot argue with the end result." Hild then moved away.

"As much as I'd like to stay here with you, I must return to my own realm. Ma-chan has probably got it into her head that you've kidnapped and ravished me, and I should touch base with Dagr. Not to mention investigations within my own castle."

She sighed wearily as she headed toward the door. "Aaah~ No rest for the wicked."

[beautifulrondo]

How he wished that woman would stop coming up with such awful ideas of him. Krichevskoy just couldn't see how she could think of him like that! Yes, their outings seemed to have been having more than a few difficulties the last few times, but that could hardly be said to be his fault. "If anything is to be said about that woman's imagination, at least she has made it obvious how highly she thinks of you."

He walked over to meet her at the door. "I look forward to when we meet next. And I shall do my best to ensure things work well here while you are gone."

[hells_ceo]

Hild laughed. "Ma-chan is a big idiot, but...yes. She does." She paused for a moment, a flicker of something like shyness passing over her face as he joined her at the door. Then she leaned forward, hand on his chest, to place a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Be well, darling. I shall be thinking of you." Then she turned and exited his chambers.