Game; Manipulate (a situation), typically in a way that is unfair or unscrupulous.
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3 days.
Time passed by, a few mundane tasks being finished by Sychar. While, Mideo, unfortunately had to sign away the torturous mounds of paperwork left untouched by the General. Though, this was his supposed vacation. He groaned into his hands, as his wrist ached from the sheer repetition of signing he had done. Mideo was sure this was not a part of his job description either.
Mideo was just finally finishing up with the last of the papers, until Sychar had burst into his room. Flying the door off of its hingesー Another matter that Mideo had to inform the staff again. He was sure that he was actually losing it from the numerous times he had to gently explain to the staff of the broken doors, and dried blood stains in the furniture of the hotel rooms without making it seem like Sychar was some sort of maniac. He desperately wanted to slam his head near the closest wall.
Sychar's gaze landed on him, and with his usual stoic face. He gestured to the door, "We're leaving." he said in a monotone voice. Mideo stared back at him, baffled, before his eyes flickered towards the paperworks he had to finish. Knowing that he needed to finish signing these damned papers! Yet, he also knew any attempt in refusing the General's request would result in a deduction in his pay grade.
Mideo tried his best to muster up a smile. "Of course, General."
The pair made their way to the plaza where all of the stalls were stationed, and just like yesterday. The moment they stepped near the plaza, everyone had fled from the scene. Mideo's attention was immediately caught by the scent of delicious aroma filling the streets. He imagined all of the mouthwatering foods he could possibly eat, until he saw the General unexplainably paused in his steps. He peeked through the General's back, and saw an oddly familiar figure in the distance.
Pink hair… Mideo racked through his mind of who he had met recently, with pink hair. His memories hadn't failed, and he remembered that she was the woman who had accidentally bumped into the General.
"General, I implore you to not kill that woman!"
"Excuse me?"
"Were… you not going to kill her?"
"Of course not, do I have a reason to murder Hana?"
"You know her name?!"
"How?!" Mideo went on a long series of questions he had, like Who? When? Where? Words that barely registered in Sychar's mind. Though, the noise that did register was the annoyingly loud, and persistent voice nagging him for answers.
"You talk too much. It's a long story."
"Then are you stalking her?!"
Sychar only discreetly averted his gaze away from Mideo.
"What the fuck. General. And I mean this in the most sincere, kindest possible way, but have you not just met the woman a few days ago?" Mideo gawked at him with furrowed brows, trying to make sense of the General's extremely out of character behavior.
He knew that the General was a bit insane, that was no secret. Though Mideo has known the General for many years, there had been no moment in his memories where Sychar dared to spare a glance towards a woman, fuck, Sychar doesn't even give an ounce of his attention to any being. Much less frolicking around to search for one!
Sychar turned his head towards him, and with a raised eyebrow, said. "And?"
Mideo stared at him bewildered by the Generals: Naivety? Or perhaps, ignorance?! He might have to explain to the general, calmly, and softly, that this world wasn't a fucking fairytale, and if Sychar had ever made a sweet fairytale, where he was the prince who had love at first sight with the princess. No sane princeー Actually, scrap that, he was the dragon who'd stalk the poor princess. What a pitiful woman that had caught Sychar's eyes!
Then Mideo believed there was only one other explanation.
Sychar was still poisoned!
"General, I'll request for the deaconess to check on your physical health when we return to Konet. Perhaps there's some poison left in your system." Mideo looked back at him with a serious stare.
"I will deduct your pay."
Mideo's whole demeanor changed, and mustered up a large smile. "I believe it is completely moral to stalk women." Mideo replied. However, Sychar only stared back at him with disgust as if Mideo was a bug stuck on his foot.
"But, I'am not stalking her. I just came here for the food. Mikhail has been on my ass about the 'delicacies' of Jiyuu. Delicacies my ass." Sychar glares at the man beside him. His eyes gazing at him in pure contempt, his green eyes lingered without a shadow of sparkle in them. Anybody would have been shaking from the scorn in his eyes, but Mideo had grown numb to his glares.
"Uh huh." Mideo absentmindedly responded with, unbelieving of Sychar's explanation, but makes no prod in his words. His mind only wandered back to the aroma of the mouth watering treats near the vendors. As soon as Mideo was sure Sychar was looking away, he made a beeline towards the food. Surely the General wouldn't notice if he snuck a few snacks on his way here! He had thought about running after the food.
Sychar looked behind him, realizing that the buzzing thing who was following around him had unknowingly left his side. He brushed it off, and returned to watching her from the sidelines. Acutely aware of the way she hovered over the fruit stalls a bit longer to see which would be a better pick, or her eyes always wandered over to the store selling yukata. Everyone was seemingly greeting her, all calling her 'Hanabira' a nickname he hadn't yet heard of. Which had quickly piqued his interest. As soon as she left the section of the plaza returning to the more crowded areas, Sychar's gaze lingered on her form a little longer before tearing his gaze away.
He turned away, and stilled for a moment. The silence creeping up on him, alone, he was. He gripped onto the skin of his forearm, digging his nails into the flesh. His teeth gritting at the pain, he let go quickly. His breathing had become unsteady, and his thoughts in a scramble. Before composing himself and approaching the vendor owners.
It was stupid of him to be swept up by the moment. This wasn't who Sychar was. This wasn't what the Generals of the Grekhi stood for. They were as unmoving as stone from their high status because they were freaks of nature. They didn't abide by the morals that humans upheld, Committing sin after sin all for the sake of their individual goals. He was no different.
Then, how could he be so easily tousled over like a fragile leaf all for the sake of that woman's appearance?
"Hey." He called out to the woman in front of him. He glared, staring the woman down with a scowl on his face. His disdain is not hidden from the woman. Causing her to flinch, and back away. The badge on his pocket all the more evident in the woman's gaze, as she shakily locked eyes on the calculated glare of his.
"Why do the people here call that woman 'Hanabira'?"
The woman yelped, causing her to quickly lose balance. Flailing her arms around in search of a sturdy object to hold onto, but quickly caught herself on the heel of her feet. She steadied herself, the best she could. Though, shakenly stood from the position she was uprooted on.
"I-It's because she's from the Hana clan, and was the chosen fiancé for the former Crown Prince! Everyone here knows who she is!" Her lips quivering as the words stuttered out from her mouth. Unable to form a coherent thought in her mind.
…
The sun gazed down upon Misako, she hovered a palm over her line of sight to look up at the sun, the other with a fan covering her face. She squinted at the golden rays blinding her, before looking back down, in defeat. She had never enjoyed leaving her home, or her village. Many were hospitable to her in the plaza, all seemed to go about their days the most normal, as they could, but Misako could see the underlying message in their gazes.
'Why had she returned to the capital?'
None were interestedー or simply put, they were interested in her actions. That was what she had learnt from her former years of being one of the most known public figures. None were interested in your character, rather, your actions, which reflected your character. She found this thinking flawed, but not wrong, so she had no refute at their choices. Instead, she practiced to make her movements scarce, to always be alert of what your actions may convey.
Not even a simple wrinkle or fold, must be seen in her appearance, lest it becomes a large controversy. Even now, she was threading a much thinner line than before, since it had been years since she had returned to the capital. And before she had left, she was known as the solemn widower of the Former Prince. Leading her public image scattered, since there was no longer anything to have her image attached toー she was only well known as the Prince's fiancée after all.
She stifled a frown at the thought, mustering up all of her composure to not falter in the gazes of many. She was far too fragile in a position to make a fool of herself. She was far invested in her thinking that she hadn't realized of the strange figure approaching her. As she absentmindedly rounded the corner near the fountain, a towering shadow overcame her. Her senses, and thinking heightening. Thinking she had come across an perpetrator.
Misako hurriedly shrieked, and in her haste, had raised her handー Accidentally punching the person behind her in the stomach. Unluckily for the person she had punched, they had gone hurling straight into the fountain. Causing a large splash that reached 'till Misako, which covered her in water.
She panicked. Turning back her attention to the man she accidentally punched.
"I'm so sorryー" She hurriedly apologized, and reached her hand out, yet her words were caught in her throat the moment she looked at him.
She gazed up on him, his violet locks haphazardly sticking into his pale skin, and he raised his head to face her. "ーSir…" She mumbled under her breath as Her blood ran cold, and the color slowly drained from her face.
"Hana." His words stung into her skin like a wolf digging their claws into their prey. She stood unmoving in her place, deeply rooted into where she stood. Her eyes averted everywhere, but him. Anything, but him.
"I…" She desperately wanted to escape, but her own principles held her down; repeating in her mind that she had done harm to this man. It should be her to take full responsibility. That was who she was.
"My apologies, sir." She sincerely bowed. Though before she could speak up to leave he had simply beat her to it.
"Join me." A moment of silence, time almost completely stopping for Misako.
"What?" She quickly responded, the tone more strained, and hesitant than she had hoped.
"Join me for lunch," He paused, for a second before smiling sickeningly sweet at her. "Consider it as repayment for pushing me into the fountain. Hm?"
Misako hesitated, looking wearily at him. She knew better than to accompany a General, mostly under the gaze of the public. Her own reputation was already threading on a thin line, as it had already been years since she'd decided to step under the spotlight of the watchful eyes of the people. It wasn't going to be a good look for her to be seen with a General for lunch; When it was already the busiest time of the year where people were bound to spot the two together.
Though, she hated being indebted to someone. Any type of unsufficed debt to another person will have her gnawing at her heart in guilt knowing she couldn't fulfill the other person's expectations. Perhaps it was her judgment being dulled after years of not interacting with people, but she acquiesced his offer.
"There's a restaurant near main street I want to try." Sychar led the conversation, and joined her to the restaurant. Misako could feel the stares of people burning into her back, and she nervously paced back from him to create a fixed distance between the two. Sychar noticed the change in her behavior, and heard her footsteps being audibly duller, farther, from him.
Misako kept her mouth shut, her eyes dazedly focusing on the concrete floor. Clutching onto the basket of fruits in her hands wearily as she made a quick glance at him, before hurriedly looking back down at the floor. Being unable to bear the sight of him. It was almost as if it was a mockery of the world to her. A man who so closely resembled her first love, her only love, was a man who was vile, and cruel. She found it repulsive how a man like him could take on the face of her lover.
Sychar's gaze fell on Misako's disdain. He scrutinized each feature of which contorted in hidden: disgust, contempt, despisal, aversion. One which ran numbing shivers across his spine. But he kept quiet, not wanting her original hatred to morph into something more. He stepped up onto the hardwood floors of the restaurant, his eyes darting across each terrified look of the patrons in their seats. Each clack of his boots on the ground had the customers peeking over their menus, with distaste lingering in their eyes.
"Hello." He said, in a smooth tone. Paying no heed to the pale-blush haired woman beside him, glaring at him with utter contempt, "We would like to book a private room." and with trembling legs, the host had directed them to a room. Slowly shifting the doors to the side for them to enter, yet was coldly ignored by both. The pair simply too invested in each other's presence, whether it'd be in hatred or interest.
Rushing past the host, She sat down on the cushion beneath her feet. Her gaze shifted towards the low table then to Sychar, who was seemingly far too relaxed, compared to the tense Misako across from him. Causing her to bite the inner of her cheek, not enough to draw blood, but enough to leave a stinging pain. She was annoyed, and not in the greatest state of mind, considering the flooding emotions, and questions swirling in her mind.
Sychar suddenly went on a blabber, talking about random interactions he had through the day, and a quip about a random bee buzzing in his ear from time to time. Misako didn't bother to listen to what he was talking about, she couldn't understand how he could sit there, and yap on about as if they were old friends reconnecting. She was not interested in being on seemingly friendly terms with a General.
As Sychar mentioned wanting to go to a certain shop for their sake, and hoping to try it out, she snapped. "Cut the crap, Sychar. We do not need to sit here, and chat as if we are friends."
He did not seem all too surprised by her small outburst, instead he chuckled, "Oh, but I was assuming we are on fairly good terms, since you had decided to join me to this restaurant, and all." He motioned around the restaurant, a sign of feigning his ignorance.
She took a deep breath not wanting to cause a scene, even if they were in a private room. "First off, we are absolutely not on good terms, and second, this is only a gesture of an apology since I had pushed you into the fountain."
"Hm, then what do you propose we speak about then?"
"What business do the Grekhi have with Jiyuu?" She says, in an almost accusatory tone.
He laughs in mockery, "I don't think you know how the Grekhi maneuvers. We do not blatantly tell our intentions to others." he smiled, swirling tea in his hands.
She had enough with Sychar, his attitude, his appearance, each and every trait she despised. "Answer me." She slammed her fist onto the table, causing the objects on top to vibrate. "The Grekhi cannot be trusted, mostly with the likes of you."
"And do you believe that the Imperial family can be trusted?" Sychar's voice cut through the thick tension, causing the mood of the room to silence.
"The Grekhi may have a reputation for its brutality, but you must remember; you know nothing of the Imperial family, masking themselves as paragons. Us, the Grekhi, do not hide secrets from our people. Yet the Jiyuens will never know what is lurking within the Kokyuden." He quickly added.
Misako paused, seemingly taking in Sychar's words. He was right, in a way. The Grekhi does not hide its nature from their people, they choose to keep no secrets. But the Imperial family… not even the numerous memories she could rack up of the Imperial family in the news; she could not remember a single one where the Imperial family had been painted in a bad light.
Sychar noticed the sudden shift in Misako's mood, making him sigh, finding the current atmosphere bleak. "Look, if you want me to answer your questions then let us play a game."
"You get to ask me 2 questions. I will tell the truth once, and I will lie for the other. I can also choose which question I will lie on, so you must be able to decipher which of my words are false."
"Contrarily, I will also ask questions with the same rules." He looked back at Misako, with a knowing expression, and smirked. "Well?"
Misako knew she was being stupid, moronic even these past few days. But she simply had a nagging feeling in the back of her mind to stupidly acquiesce to the trivial game. "I agree." He smiled, placing his elbow on the table, and placed a hand under his chin.
"Well then. I shall start."
"How has it been the past few years?" He suddenly asked, the question almost taking Misako off guard. It was a rather normal question, as if a friend asking an old friend how they have been since they have last seen them. Making her wary, she knew that she hadn't been fine, if anything, it took her years to even feel this remotely sane.
"I'm fine." She curtly responded, she watched as Sychar's gaze seemed to flicker with a moment in an unexplainable expression. She didn't know how well she was hiding the truth, but for whatever reason it may be, she wasn't going to tell the truth to a General of the Grekhi.
"Where is the nicest sake you could purchase here?" He asked, both his questions being nothing like she had expected. But, she would never understand a man like Sychar in the first place.
"In the main street, there is a small couple owned by some nice folk. Their sake is of the best quality, and they are very hospitable to many of their customers. Even to… people like you." She answered truthfully. Her eyes showed no hint of hesitation, since she does believe in their small quaint store. But, she stared back at Sychar, her expression morphing one into seriousness. She knew that her questions were important, and she had to pick and choose her strategy.
She took a deep breath, her gaze unwavering in front of Sychar's poker faced smile. "What is the reason for your arrival in Jiyuu?" She asked, in a resolute tone.
"The Empress had sent me to declare war upon the Imperial family, and in extension, Jiyuu." He said calmly. Her eyes landed upon him in complete fear. There was no telling of what was the truth nor were the lies in that moment. She was terrified; of everything, and nothing all at the same time. Her breathing became erratic, as she picked up the tea in front of her.
Misako shakily held the cup in her hands before him. The steady motion of the tea restlessly sitting inside her cup with the translucent color reflecting off the surface of Misako's apprehensive expression.
"What is the drink inside of this cup?" She asked quietly in his eyes. And the look he gave answered it all to her.
Yet, even she was almost unsure of herself. She, herself, is afraid of the answer to her question which determines the outcome of it all.
"Sake." He answered without hesitation.
His gaze unperturbed, and unbothered. Be it he seemed to be enjoying himself with eager dance She stared back down to the cup of tea in her hands. Questions wandering far off her mind; He lied. Which meant his earlier answer was the truth. The pace of her breath quickened with her sight blurring into a flurry of colors, and the pounding of her heart in her ears were the only senses she could feel. She looked up, and the only thought she could formulate was the mortifying color of green that were Sychar's eyes. Her world turning teal.
Deceit; the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.