Shameless!
A cup smashed a mirror, breaking it into tiny pieces - each piece carried a fragment of her fractured soul, its reflections a witness to her unraveling. Walking towards the broken mirror, she saw how ugly her expression was. She was seething in anger, her jealousy erupted like a tempest within her - her regal demeanor gone, replaced by a frenzied madness.
Even after becoming the queen, deep inside envy gnawed at her like a parasite. Just because of a simple prophecy - a tradition followed by royalties, she has to do the impossible to steal what's meant for the promised queen. And now, that girl, whenever she sees her, it makes her itch like ants crawling stubbornly on her skin. Nonetheless, she may be the one chosen by fate but she was a seductress, one laced with poison, and she coveted it all — love, power, and everything. Her desires coursed through her veins, a venom that consumes her, the deadliest poison of all.
"Why am I not enough?!" She yelled, her voice echoing throughout the drawing room. "Why?!"
She paced back and forth, her emotions unstable like an angry waves crashing into the shore — ebbing and surging.
She witnessed how the king praised her with those soft voice and it bothers her the most. He treats her like she was still his.
Closing her eyes in frustration, a knock on the door broke her train of thoughts. It was Elric who came in — uninvited, he came in a hurry when he heard the yelling, thinking that someone else has intruded. Scanning the room for anything unusual, what he saw contradicts his expectation —broken cups, smashed mirror, and the queen — alone and eyes throwing dagger.
"I apologize for intruding, Your majesty." He said, bowing his head to show his sincerity. "I thought something bad had happened." Elric said.
The queen , Emi, narrowed her eyes knowingly. She noticed how his eyes lingered on her body — on the untidy kimono, probably a result of a bit of her madness. A part of chest , white and supple, was visible, leaving the rest to imagination — a tease and invitation.
And Emi saw it all so she reveled in triumph. She was already thinking about how to get rid of Chiyo, now, someone else was caught in her web.
Her heart quickened in excitement. Ruby red eyes met those fiery red pupils of Elric. Their own reflections showing each other hidden desire. Jealousy gone — it was replaced by something that can satisfy her.
"Sir Elric." She said, her voice soft and seductive, enticing him in an instant. "Would you mind locking the door behind you?"
His hand unknowingly reached for the lock, turning around, he was surprise to see the Queen's face so close to him. All arrogance lost, he licked his lips as he stared at her curvy figure, showing her what he really wanted — not knowing that he was already trapped in her web of desire. Emi stepped closer, her chest almost touching his.
"Your majesty," he gasped. The queen grazed the hilt of his sword, removing it next from his waist. "How... may I serve you?"
The queen's hand moved upward, it traveled smoothly on his back and onto the nape of his neck. She gripped it hard, pulling his head closer - nails digging into his skin.
"However you want." Her voice trailed, her whisper a seduction to his ear and it tempted him to do bad. So he kissed the King's beloved wife — a forbidden taste of danger , but he wanted her more to think of anything else. His mind went blank the moment she neared him,her breath mingling with his, and his resolve crumbled like a frail stone.
Emi kissed him back with the same intensity, her tongue fighting with his- both hungry for each other, and his rough hands went inside her robe, touching the warmth of her skin, exploring the curves of her body. Emi moaned in satisfaction and she urged him to do more, to take her whole like a monster he was.
Fabric fell on the floor, nakedness shown to each other.
"Be my blade - a shadow." The queen whispered seductively. "Then I shall grant you pleasures beyond your imagination."
Words were not needed. Elric answered with a rough kiss.
Both bodies tumbled at the couch, and Elric positioned his self on top of her. He kissed her neck, his lips leaving trails down to her chest, while the other arched her body, letting him taste it all.
"Do it." She moaned in between her breath. "Satisfy yourself."
In the brightly lit room, where the mirror witnessed it all, they both surrendered - lost in the throes of their poisonous passion.
***
Outside the King's palace, where snow continued to fall — footsteps were leaving imprints on the snow-covered ground. Both husband and wife, strolled side by side, their hands intertwined — seeking warmth on their bare skin.
"Chiyo," Kaito started. "I don't think you should be letting the king touch you like that again."
When he touched her unpermitted, his possessiveness kicked in. He silently glared at the king — a warning — no. It was a threat. She was his wife, and king or not, blood will shed if he ever decides to steal her away.
"I'm sorry. I did not expect that either so I just let him be. I was just trying to get a reaction from the queen." Truthfully, what the king did, it was nothing to her. She just want to provoke someone as her way of revenge.
"Why would you do that?"
Chiyo shrugged her shoulder.
"Just because. She's kinda annoying."
"Why does everyone annoy you lately? Are you pregnant?" Kaito jokingly said.
"How did you know?!" She gasped, her other hand landed on her flat stomach. Surprised, he faced her, his expression filled with worry.
"Look at your face. Do you not want a child with me?" Chiyo let go of his hands, pretending to be mad at him.
"It's not like that. Your body is still young." He said.
It is not that he doesn't want to have kids yet, but the situation is not ideal for both of them yet. Threats still linger around, and Kaito can't afford losing his family.
"I'm 28."
"And I'm 256. No need to rush. We have all the eternity with us."
"You're saying that. But look at your gloating face. Are you that proud of your age?" Chiyo laughed, she really liked it when he talks about how long he has been living. His eyes would light up, and the smirk on his lips always make her heart quickened.
"What's wrong with my age?"
"You're old. I bet your skills are getting rusty as well."
"Wanna bet?"
"Race?"
"Let's do that. On count of three - two..."
Chiyo's eyes alighted with mischief. She pushed off without waiting for the last number, and Kaito was helpless. He watched her blurring figure, then he followed suit — their kimono fluttering with the wind. Within a second, he was able to catch up to her, running side by side, his lips touched her temple.
"See you at home." He said and he was gone.
Her lips lifted to a smirk. She knows every shortcut, and hidden trails in the city, but today she prepared something that will guarantee her victory. She adjusted her speed, swift and determined, her feet landed on every rooftops and balconies. On the other hand, Kazuki ran with measured grace. He looks like he was gliding over the snow, leaving no trace at all. Chiyo peeked from above, Kaito was one step ahead of her - his face of serene calmness. But his calmness was deceptive; beneath it lays a deep understanding that matched her cunning.
They ran through the city, not minding the biting cold air that hit their faces. Fueled by their competitiveness, they urged their legs to go faster until they reached another small forestry where bamboos loomed over them. Chiyo was certain she was going to win. The path that he would always take whenever they raced, a trap was laid to slow him down.
She smiled when the roof of their house became visible, but her steps faltered — almost falling to her knees. Atop the house, Kaito was there to see, snowflakes swirling around him like confetti. His golden eyes dancing in amusement.
"I win." He declared. "Was it 30 wins 3 loses now?"
"How?"
"Oh you mean the trap? I would be dumb not to know there's a hidden trap there, otherwise, why would you be so confident to challenge me to a race, despite the fact that you only won... thrice." He raised his three fingers, and her eyes twitched in disbelief.
No wonder he became the commander. He is very perceptive.
"What? Are you that happy you won against your wife?"
"Kind of. It is not everyday I get to tear that arrogance of yours." Kaito jumped down from the roof. When he landed, the snow created a white mist around him, temporarily concealing his figure. "So... what's my prize?"
Chiyo walked towards him. Her pale hand reached out to his head, brushing off the snow.
"What do you want?" She asked, then a hand snaked its way around her waist, pulling her closer.
"Depends. What can you offer, wife?" Kaito looked down at her, his eyes deepening.
"Depends." Matching his playfulness, her hand wrapped around his neck. "What do you really want, husband?"
Both gazes lingered at each other, hands being mischievous —teasing. Kaito lowered his head, while Chiyo — cheeks blushing, shut her eyes closed.
Their lips slightly touch — tingling their heart, but such a stolen moment was immediately interrupted before it even started.
"Ehem..."
Surprised, Chiyo pushed her husband while the newcomer averted his gaze, waiting for the two to compose themselves or rather for Chiyo to clumsily fix her robe. Kaito, still calm as water, put down her hands. He was the one who slowly fixed the clothes. Making sure she was presentable. He then pulled her inside the house and the tengu physician quietly followed from behind.
"How is he?" He asked.
"Actually he already woke up a while ago, sir." Answered the physician, his head lowered. "I do not see any other danger to his life anymore. He was healing fast, except for the broken hands. It will at least take a week for it to recover."
Waking up after only a day was really doubting. Falling off a cliff and splitting his head open on the stone where it landed, they were all astonished to see him still breathing. He was also lucky he survived, even the physician said that it was very rare for someone like him to heal within a day.
Entering the guest room, only the made up bed greeted them. The child was missing.
"H-he was here a while ago!"
"Maybe he roamed around." Kaito paid no heed to the nervous physician. Taking her wife's hand, they entered each room, only to find the child on the master's bedroom.
His back was facing them and he was studying the blade on the wooden table — a precious heirloom. The small dagger glints mysteriously, its hilt adorned with crimson rubies.
Kazuki turned around. The first thing he saw was the hands that were intertwined together. Then his eyes lifted, disgust showing on his face as he pointed to the commander of the king's cadre.
"Who is that mongrel?" He said in controlled anger, confusing everyone in the room.