Just You Wait by rui

Chapter 05

Chapter 5

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"Stop fidgeting or I'll never get this on straight!" The maid huffed.

Van continued to finger his cape, helmet, and anything else within reach. In the public eye, he always kept his cool, never wanting to seem like he was weak, nervous or anything less than what a King should project.

In private, he was a fidgeter.

"I can't help it."

"Yes, you can. You just think you can get away with it here." Rai reprimanded as she tugged on his coat sleeve. "If this looks too long in the arm, I will not be held responsible," she added under her breath.

Merle wasn't in any better of a mood as she sat on a window ledge, flicking her tail in a choppy rhythm.

Today, of all days, he wished the neko wasn't in a one of her famously troublesome doldrums. Van needed all the positive reinforcements he could sponge up.

The coronation wasn't a worry. He'd been groomed to be king since he was barely able to walk. Without his brother to take the throne, Van's lessons were stepped up several notches in intensity to make up for lost time.

It was the wedding.

The wedding had him ready to chew off his nails, not that he was ever a nail chewer, but he was willing to learn. The coronation would be at high noon when the sun was at its peak and then, at sunset, the wedding would be held.

Hitomi wasn't horrible, she was a bit—pushy and irritable but seemed to be able to grow on people(at least according to Rai). During the brief times he was in Hitomi's presence, she was blushing, glaring, or avoiding someone. Her appetite was wonderful though, he thought amused. She was always the first to finish and leave, though she was a bit slow at leaving because of stomach cramps that followed after inhaling one's food.

Sighing to himself, Van started to become slightly depressed.

His parents were fated together and the council couldn't tell his father what to do, but Van? The council told him who to marry whether he thought it was or wasn't fate. Maybe, since his parents were so happy together, the balance of chaos had to be preserved and he was destined to be miserable.

Gee, that was a bonus thought.

"Are you okay?" Rai asked, several straight pins sticking out of her mouth.

"He's moping." Merle threw over her shoulder in an annoyed voice. "Because he's being dumb!"

"Merle," Van admonished, exhausted with having to deal with her.

"She's a nice girl, Prince Van," Rai reassured. "Now stand still or I'll rip your arm off."

Before he could put words into his open mouth about her comment, a body burst through his chamber's doors and began to pick up clothes, moving chairs, and grumbling under his breath about something. As the intruder stalked by Van, the Prince cleared his throat to gain the enraged one's attention.

The distraught man glared at the person who had interrupted him. Once his eyes landed on the Prince, the man's annoyed look dissolved into something one step above terror.

"Armand?" Rai asked, poking her head from behind Van.

The chestnut-haired man's eyes flickered around the room in a nervously.

"Y-yes?"

"Is there something you need?" Van inquired with an arched eyebrow.

His fidgeting tempered down greatly in the unexpected arrival of Armand and Rai took this opportunity to get the correct measurements for his arms.

"No, your majesty." The man gave a laugh that indicated he was lying. "It's just that I lost—something."

"I'll help you look. It's better than being in here." Merle stated pointedly as she bounded up to Armand's side. She began to sniff the air and eye the large piles of discarded clothes from when the maid attempted to find the right jacket.

After taking thorough inventory of the setting, Merle crossed her arms and cocked her head to the side as she stared up at the brunette.

"So, what did we lose?"

Sweat started to bead on the man's forehead.

"Oh, it's a-about yay tall," he touched his hand to his shoulder. "And has green eyes and blonde hair," Armand could almost count down the seconds as the three minds worked on the details.

Reluctantly he muttered under his breath, "and it was also supposed to be in a silk white wedding dress."

"You lost her!" Rai and Merle shouted in unison.

"How did you lose her?" Van demanded as he tipped his head forward enough to cast his eyes into the shadows of his bangs. Through the curtain, Armand could clearly see a ruby iris staring at him with a disgusted glint.

"It's just that she was there and then she wasn't." Armand swallowed audibly.

"Find her," Van ordered flatly.

Merle and Armand shot out of the doors before he could utter another word.

Van slipped off the jacket, handed it to Rai and stepped down from the wooden stool he had been standing on.

She collected her things before turning to her ruler, "I guess this means you care for her some."

The Prince had to stop himself from snorting, "It would be more embarrassing for me to be stood up at the altar by someone I don't know than married to her."

"True enough."

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"Lady Hitomi!" Armand screamed, weaving through the bushes and flowers of the royal gardens.

Merle had taken to the roofs, claiming it was a quicker way to travel and she could see more of the grounds from the height.

In a desperate act to find the runaway bride, they sought the help of any servant who wasn't on duty for the coronation.

Allen, upon hearing the somewhat embarrassing news, decided to aide in the lost-and-found wild goose chase.

Allen and Armand, after two hours of searching, met up at the top of the steps.

Breathlessly, Armand grabbed Allen's shoulder.

"If I die, wheeze before we find her," Armand sucked in another long breath, "kill her for me."

Allen's face scrunched slightly at the odd humor. "What would make the Lady run away?"

Seemingly recovered, the instructor stood up with his hands on his hips and head cocked to the side.

"She has two legs and fast dragon-sized feet. Apparently that is reason enough for her to run."

No wonder she ran away, Allen thought before starting down the stairs.

Armand as well as the rest of the staff had already admitted she could have left this morning or last night, they weren't sure. It was just as Armand had said, she simply disappeared. No matter what, Allen assured himself, he was going to get the lady back.

Watching the long blonde hair disappear in the distance, Armand tapped the tip of his finger against his chin.

"Or could it be that I told her what she'd have to do tonight with our dear Prince." He turned his head to the other side. "Or that she'd have to pop a baby out in two years?"

Armand smiled the most sadistic smile he possessed. "Guess I should leave some mysteries for the dear prince to disclose."

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"I present to you, Van Salanzar de Fanel, King of Fanelia."

Because of the uproar from crowd when he walked into their sights, Van's heart warmed with pride. With their noise of joy, all years from his youth spent studying and sweating found its worth for this moment when just his presence made a crowd jubilant.

He unsheathed the sword of Fanelia, and held it up in the air for his countrymen to see. That sent them into another hysterical hue and cry. Two of the men below looked at each other, Allen sighed and Armand put his hands back on his hips.

"At least something is going right," Armand pouted and stormed off in the crowd.

When Van was finally pulled away from being put on display like the latest fashion, Merle was waiting for him with a big hug and bad news.

"Still haven't found her?"

The neko shook her head glumly.

"No. We've looked everywhere!" Her ears and tail both sagged, displaying her disappointment in not being able to be of service to him. "Sorry, Lord Van."

Shucking off the heavy armor, Van patted her head affectionately.

"I'll help. We still have about four hours before everyone notices she's gone, and not just the palace staff."

Merle grabbed onto his shirt, "but Lord Van! We've looked everywhere."

"Check the gardens again; I'll check the west wing." With that, they parted ways.

Van decided to check her room again, there had been a lot of chaos there for the past few days due to the packing and purging Armand had issued. She was to live in the same room as the king, as was Fanelia custom to do—Van felt his cheeks heat up— to assure no mistress was had and an heir would be produced.

Shaking his head as if to clear the thoughts, he quickly made his way to her room and found the door open. Her chamber was nothing less than an organized disaster. There were several piles of dresses and how they were divided, Van didn't want to guess. Instead of picking up the dresses, he decided to poke them with his sheathed sword.

No jerking or yelping, so no Hitomi.

Someone butted the door open further and with an eep, bowed low.

"I'm sorry, your majesty." The servant girl said softly.

"Who was the last one to see her?" He studied the girl as her head snapped up.

"S-sir? I wasn't working this morning." She answered timidly. "But Miss Orley was!" Pleased to have an answer for her King, the girl added that she'd fetch the other woman quickly.

When the middle aged woman came into the room, she gave a once over to the king and bowed.

"What can I do for you, highness?"

"Who was the last person to see the Lady Hitomi before she went missing?"

"That would've been Millie, sir. She picks up the lady's morning laundry, by the time Andra was here, the lady was missing and Armand was being troublesome."

Van gave her permission to leave after she gave instructions so he could find Millie. Orley assured the King that Armand had already thoroughly interrogated Millie but Van knew he had a bit more push and pull than the other man.

The girl was just where he was told she would be, up to her elbows in suds and soap in the laundry room. Millie was shy toward the newly-crowned king as he stood before her.

As the time passed, he was getting more and more irritable with the missing Queen-to-be.

Van only asked the servant girl one question.

Her blue eyes grew large, but she answered him faithfully.

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"I wasn't running away from the commitment," Hitomi defended herself. "I was getting away from him."

She pointed accusingly at Armand who did everything but stick his tongue out at her.

"You made us waste the day looking for you, selfish girl!" Merle threw in her two cents through gritted teeth. "And you made me miss Lord Van's becoming king."

Hitomi crossed her arms and glared out the window.

She was shocked when Van had found her, herded her out of the hiding spot she found, and made her go back to her room. Armand had been gushing over her loudly while reprimanding her harshly in her ear. Allen had been happy she was safe and secure, Merle had been herself and unashamed to call it like she saw it.

"We have a wedding to prepare for!" Rai roared, making everyone jump in shock. "So everyone who isn't the future Queen or going to help her dress—get out."

Armand had been the only one allowed to stay. "You really should learn to take a joke, girl."

"It's not as if I wasn't going to come back." Hitomi pointed out. "I just wanted to get away from you."

Armand's eyebrow twitched, grabbing the lacing of the back of the gown, he yanked it tightly causing Hitomi to gasped and squeak.

"Apparently you should run more often, darling. You're getting rather thick around the middle."

Hitomi would have turned around to glare and give a piece of her mind but the tight lacing made movement almost impossible.

Not everyone can have your girlish figure, she thought bitterly.

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Van wanted nothing more than to rip his collar open and be able freely breathe again.

Collars, who invented these 'fashionable' torture devices, he'd like to know.

The crowd was impressive, full of royal families and diplomatic representatives spanning from all over the known world.

The church was nothing less than awe inspiring when the guests were seated. Van, in full formal attire, had been placed in front next to the altar where the high priest waited patiently for the bride to enter.

Van wasn't as impatient. To think, she had been washing dishes in the kitchen like a maid! And when he had found her, she immediately began to scrub harder.

As the thunderous music sounded, the main church doors opened dramatically to frame the lone figure standing in the doorway. As the figure drew slowly, yet steadily, closer, Van prepared himself. This was it. Nothing she or he could say at this moment would change what was pledged to happen by the council.

Van was amazed as he silently walked down the few steps in front of the altar. When Hitomi made it to the end of the aisle he could clearly see her face as she gave a small bow before the altar.

The young King's mouth gaped open as his eyes became large.
The scullery-maid acting girl was a sight he had never witnessed. Her short hair was smoothed back as a tiara of rubies and diamonds was situated on her head with her veil cascading down her back. Her green eyes were bright and accented with some sort of glittery silver-blue color as her lips were the shade of the red jewels on her head.

Someone cleared their throat, and the trance Van had found himself in fell away. He held out a hand to the bride, which she took delicately, and then both climbed the steps gracefully.

Once on the last step, he took her hand and looped it through the crook of his arm, resting her hand on his forearm and his hand on top of hers. They turned to face the priest and the congregation was told to be seated.

"You look nice," Van whispered to her, trying to be formal and remembering what Rai had instructed him to say.

"And it only took a few hours." Van glanced at her through the corner of his eye to see a small smile on her lips. "How long did they take on you?"

The priest began the ceremony, and before the couple could process much, they had already slipped the rings on each other's fingers and recited the vows as instructed.

Then came the most awkward part, the priest's instructions to 'kiss the bride' made Van go cold inside. Bracing himself he turned to Hitomi, who was also having a mental battle with herself, she tipped her chin up as he lowered his head and with a brief touch of the lips, it was done.

It was just as if he was shaking hands, Van insisted in his mind. Yes, it was with lips but this was a very unique handshake— that was all.

With barely contained pride, the high priest was able to give the second biggest announcement that day. "My lords and ladies, I am pleased to present to you, Van and Hitomi Fanel, King and Queen of Fanelia."

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The reception was immense; there was food enough to feed several kingdoms and enough liquor to create a steady flowing river. The guests were quick to congratulate the young couple. The entire time Hitomi had stayed on her husband's arm, much to the husband's amazement.

Hitomi had stayed at Van's side because she was afraid to move away from him and be swamped by the throngs of girls who wanted to coo over the dress and ring. Not to mention every guy felt it his duty to ask her to dance and she would have to accept and then her feet would swell under all the punishment. She'd turn into a regular ogre footed person which, last she was aware, was not very attractive.

"Such a lovely ceremony!"

"I hope the two of you will be very happy together."

"You'll have many beautiful and strong children."

The compliments just went on and on. Whenever a child was mentioned, Hitomi would close her eyes so no one would see her roll them. They were fortunate enough to get her to the ceremony but if they thought that an heir would be here in nine months, they'd be sorely disappointed.

"You two must dance!" Came a cheerful voice. "It is the best players in this land, come! You must dance!"

The two politely declined and Hitomi shot Van a warning look as he suggested that the happy man take the new bride to the dance floor instead. As Hitomi was being escorted away, Van had a hunch that he'd hear all about it later.

After a few hours more, the guests had run out of repeated phrases and words of congratulations to the new King and Queen and busied themselves with the entertainment and food. The couple though truly grateful for the lack of direct attention, stayed on opposite sides of the room.

Van had been able to sneak into a slightly more secluded part of the room, but when Allen came walking up, he figured he hadn't gone far enough. He liked Allen, he was a good swordsman and had proven to be an excellent sparring partner, but Van wanted to be relieved of people for a few moments. There were only so many hands one could shake before one's arm became tired.

Allen, never being completely subtle, launched into one topic Van had no desire to pursue—Hitomi. They had gone back and forth for a bit before the blonde sighed.

"Perhaps if you talked to her," Allen suggested gently. "She's a nice girl."

Van wanted to just nod and walk off but everyone had been tottering on thin ice around him about this topic. Except Merle, but she had been going on about how much she disapproved of the match, not much help since the match was a set and sealed deal.

Sealed with a kiss and a few vows deal.

"Talk to her?" Van clarified looking over at the bride who appeared to be overwhelmed with well-wishers and other females fawning over her for whatever reasons girls' will fawn.

"You make it sound detestable."

Van flinched, he didn't mean to come off like that, but every time Hitomi and he got in the same room she'd play the glaring game or they'd talk and end up snapping and snarling (figuratively of course) at each other. It wasn't like they hated each other, it was awkward to meet someone for the first time and know that this person, who you have never seen before, is going to be your future spouse.

"Yes, milord, it's only talking, it's not like we are asking you to-"

"Marry her?" Van finished dryly, an eyebrow raised.

Allen gave an encouraging smile and opened his mouth to continue the gentle debate, but Van caught the gist before the knight could do anything.

"I'll try."

An approving nod and the man walked away, promising another sparring session before he left to go back to Palas.

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As Van made his way to his bedroom, Armand was coming away from that direction with a smirk and an evil glint in his eyes.

"You're majesty!" The man bowed low and Van sighed.

"Yes, Armand?"

"I have good news. The Queen has already been escorted to your bedroom and I made sure all the windows were securely locked and posted male servants to attend to her. So no more switcher-roo like before, also I have two guards outside your door until you get there."

Van nodded and continued down the hall.

"Good luck your majesty! Have fun!" The brunette added. "And may we hear the pitter patter of little feet within a year!"

Van's face went red at that thought.

She was in his room. Everyone was snickering and smiling about what they thought was going to happen this night, but Van was exhausted and Hitomi probably would simply wither up and die if she knew. No need to rush, Van assured himself.

After dismissing the guards, Van walked through the door and shut it securely to make sure Armand didn't come back to cheer him on. There was very little anyone in the castle would put past Armand, coming into the bed chambers of a newlywed couple was one of the things he would do just because—well, Van wasn't as talented at coming up with inane reasons as the other male was.

"Hitomi?" Van called, knowing this was going to be a long, long night.

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