Chapter Seventy One In The Queen’s Care
Of Fate and Future.
The white walls made the room feel larger than it actually was; it looked large enough for three more beds, but mine was the only one. There was also a small sink and bathroom, but my legs didn't feel like working; my eyes only worked half the time.
"See, Jade. I told you that his eyes were beautiful," Christina said, sitting on the right side of my bed.
I focused on the TV screen, which was off, yet it provided a decent reflection of the room. Jade stood by the door, arms crossed. She, or her likeness, has haunted me since she attacked the school before I made my second wish.
"If you like green eyes," Jade replied.
Two other women were in the room with them, wearing noticeably different uniforms. I glanced at Jade, but quickly looked away.
Well, she doesn't look exactly like my nightmare; she's too young.
I glanced again, and Jade smirked; I shivered.
"Why do you keep looking at her, Hani? Do you know who she is?" Christina said.
I watched her reflection in the TV screen; Christina was leaning forward, her armor scraping against itself, reaching for my face. Her hand felt warmer now, or maybe it's because of my brush with death.
My eyelids grew heavy, my jaw slackened, and I could see an eerie red glow from the void.
"No, no, no. Please stay with me," Christina whispered.
I wanted to stay, if not for her, to avoid the shard waiting for me. It had been the largest shard I've ever seen, and its glow made my stomach twist into knots.
I struggled between fluorescent lights and the shard's glow.
Suddenly, a soft sensation against my lips and the smell of something floral energized me.
When I could see from the cracks in my eyelids, Christina was kissing me again; her golden hair created a thin veil between us. She held my chin with one hand and stroked my hair with the other.
"Ooo," unfamiliar voices said in unison.
"Oh, grow up. Aren't you both older than us?" Jade asked.
I pulled away, trying to see who was talking, but Christina followed, kissing me again.
At this rate, I won't have anything left to give.
"I didn't come here to see you make out, Christina," Jade said.
Christina pushed her lips into mine before backing away, catching her breath.
I groaned, breathing harder than I should after being stabbed.
Footsteps from my left broke whatever lull held me. Was it Jade or one of the guards?
"May I?" Jade's voice was too close, like she could read me—
A hand reached across my face, pulling my chin to the right. Just like that, I was eye-to-eye with the queen of Crimson.
I broke eye contact and swallowed saliva. My eyes returned to the TV.
She tugged at my chin. "Don't run from me, rude boy," Jade said in an amused voice.
"Be gentle with him," Christina said, pushing Jade's hand away. "You're going to hurt him; did you even pass softness training?" Christina said, watching Jade's reaction.
The two shared a stare that lasted far too long. In the end, Christina looked away.
"Come here," Jade whispered.
I gripped the bed sheet as Jade reached over, pulling me closer, resting my head on her shoulder.
"You were so brave, so my friend and I have decided to reward you with two queens. What could be better than having two royal ladies?" Jade softly squeezed my head between her shoulder and chest.
Close up, Jade's armor looked more ornamental than Christina's; its luster proved it.
"Oh, you can't find the words to express your elation—"
"No queens," I whispered.
I felt Jade's red eyes searching for a reason as she held me in her arms.
"I don't know if I… can do that, but you'll have one, for sure." I glimpsed their reflections again. Jade was nodding at Christina.
Suddenly, Jade pushed me over to Christina, who embraced me, pushing my face into her chest.
Why do I feel like I'm missing something big?
"Well, I’ll be off then. I think that I’ve spent enough time around the sick and dying," Jade said, and then the mattress’s weight shifted.
"Interesting use of a television," Jade said.
She walked toward the door, signaling the guard in red armor, and then she—
Golden locks blocked my view of the TV as soft lips pressed against my forehead.
Enough with the kisses!
The door closed.
"Excuse me, your grace. Should I step out?" Yua, the remaining guard asked.
No!
"Yes," Christina said, still holding me close enough to hear her heartbeat. The door opened and then closed again. And we embraced without word or sound, just the soothing rhythm of her gradually increasing heartbeat as my mind began to drift.
I looked up, hoping Christina would breathe life back into me, preventing me from sleeping, but her soft eyes and floral smell only promised my gentle submission into a cold void like space.
"It’s okay, Hani. I'll keep you safe, so sleep, my prince."
Shit.
The space felt heavy, though I knew it wasn't. A sanguine red replaced white lights as the massive red shard forced itself into my proximity.
***
While Antwon slept, Christina stepped into the hallway.
"Antwon," I whispered, but he had already fallen to sleep. I gently placed his head on his pillow, gracing him with more rest.
I'll ask him why he ran away when he's fully recovered.
I circled his bed and headed for the door. Antwon's father was in the hall; hopefully, he had finished filling out the transfer-of-ownership papers so I could take Antwon home.
I opened the door, gently closing it behind me.
***
Moments later.
Stepping into the hall was a treat. Instead of being greeted by my guards, they were across the hall from the room Antwon was staying in, warming up to his father, who had retracted his arms and legs, almost balling himself up in the green chair.
"Don't be shy," one of my guards said, playing with a loose strand of Antwon's father's hair. He had the same ropy hairstyle, but my guards know discipline.
I stepped forward, but Yua blocked me with her body, facing away.
Such impudence!
I cocked my fist back, preparing to strike her lower back for impeding me, but she knelt.
A silent warning. But why would I need to proceed with caution in a hospital?
"You could teach us how to make these, right? After all, your son and our queen will bond soon."
I had not considered his hair. Come to think about it, it did look frizzier than normal. Was it ever frizzy?
I touched Yua's shoulder, inviting her to stand. I fought back the urge to laugh because I had never thought we would use field training in a hospital.
"I…guess." Antwon's father said, eyes scanning the room before settling on my feet.
I rolled my neck, working out the armor-induced stiffness, and then slowly, deliberately placed my left foot forward. Yua moved aside.
Walking to Antwon's father, I considered extending my hand as if to rescue him, but I didn't have a flair for the dramatics. Instead, I positioned myself in front of him, staring down at his bowed head as he sat with his arms crossed over his chest, cradling papers.
Yua tapped me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear.
"Your grace, I think that you are being too intimidating for Antwon's father."
I held back my sigh and waved the guard sitting next to Mr. Carter away.
A guard stood and stepped away, so I took her seat. Mr. Carter made himself smaller by folding himself inward. I reached over and gently touched his shoulder, and he flinched, and I yanked my hand back.
How do I comfort him when he's like this, like when Antwon was crying in the bathroom…
"It's okay, Mr. Carter," Yua said.
Yua knelt, bracing herself with her left hand, making herself smaller than she was, and meeting his downcast gaze, even though he was most likely taller than all of us.
"I'm sure that this isn't the end of you and your son's relationship. Instead, it's the beginning of something fantastical because he will be treated like royalty, and you by proxy."
I leaned enough to watch his eyes find Yua's knees. His breathing steadied out.
"I'm also sure that if you ask Ms. Tetsusen, he can spend some nights at your house."
Mr. Carter's eyes shifted toward me.
I swallowed saliva and searched my mind for an appropriate response. Looking past him, many of my guards nodded.
"Y-yes, that is correct. Whenever you yearn for his company, simply notify me, and he will be with you."
My skin tingled as Mr. Carter met my eyes. He unfolded his arms and extended them, presenting me with documents.
I took the papers and cradled them the way he had.
A smile found its way onto my face as my heart drummed a victorious tune.
My guards, my sisters, stood and circled me, cutting me off from Mr. Carter, as I watched.
But what happened?
I looked down at the papers, scanning for his name and mine.
Upon signing this document, the following individual, Donte Carter, relinquishes all custodial rights of Antwon Carter. Henceforth, all legal obligations, monetary necessities, or burdens, if any debts are accrued while in the previous household, shall fall upon the following: Christina Tetsusen, who acknowledges…………
A drop of water fell onto the paper. I looked up and expected to find a hole in the ceiling, but there was no hole, and we were on the fourth floor out of six.
I smiled and wiped my face.
Let's go home, hani.
***
Meanwhile, at the Moonlace Pavilion…
The Moonlace Pavilion was lined with red silken cloth draped around the ceiling, and velvet loveseats lay out in a circle called the pleasure ring. Each couch had a series of veils, creating a sense of privacy in the dimly lit room. However, if you listened closely, you could hear moans of pleasure, exclamations of joy, and encouragement through the silk walls, drowned out by the soft, rhythmic instrumental tunes from the pavilion's speakers.
A loud, satisfying moan emanated from a veiled couch on my right. I turned, a victim of curiosity, and the towel worn around my chest, draping to my legs, started to slide down.
I slid and corrected myself on the sofa that I shared with Trish.
"Why am I here again?" I asked, but Trish, eyes closed, was too busy, jamming out to the instrumental of some popular song.
I aggressively patted the space on the sofa between us to draw her attention.
She opened one eye, winked, and returned to dancing while sitting.
I slid next to her and whispered, "Trish—." Trish shoved her hand in my face, pushing me away.
I frowned for more reasons than I care to admit.
A sharp shriek, followed by a low guttural moan from another direction, sent cold sweats down my spine.
I leaned in once again and whispered, "Etsuko, I understand that Akemi pissed you off when she sold me questionable information, but why do I have to be here?"
Trish’s eyes opened wide, and she gave me her attention. Pressing a finger to her lip, she took a sip of her wine. She placed the glass on the table.
"Rika, why can’t you just have some fun?" she said.
I pushed the glasses Etsuko gave me onto my face.
"I’m a high school teacher, Etsuko. I have to consider my image in the public eye."
Trish rolled her eyes and adjusted her towel. She closed the remaining space between her and me. Wrapping her right arm around my lower waist, she pulled me closer to her and started smelling my neck.
"Rika, baby, why can’t you shut up and just share a man with me as we used to?"
I panicked and pushed her away, but I didn't get far before she was on me again.
I adjusted my glasses and pulled my towel up.
"Etsuko, there are too many people here for you to be with in that kind of way," I whispered. The smell of lust permeated.
"Rika, the way I see it, you've already paid Akemi ¥50,000 when she sold you questionable information," Trish said, holding my waist again.
"Yeah, but it led to useful information about Antwon—" She traced my bottom lip with her thumb
"You got your ass kicked over shitty information." I grabbed the hand, tracing my lips and weakly tugging at it.
"I wouldn't call it 'getting my ass kicked,' Etsuko," I said, with faded resolve. "So, why did you invite Matsuyo and her crew?"
She brought our faces closer, and a tint rose in my cheeks.
"W-what about Christina? She won't be happy that you lied to her about Antwon being dead."
Etsuko slid her hand from my lips to the back of my head, lacing her fingers through my hair, touching foreheads.
"Fuck that spoiled brat, and stop looking for excuses; you're not going anywhere, Rika," Etsuko said, closing the gap between our faces and brushing her lips against mine.
I squeezed my legs together in an attempt to contain the rising warmth surging throughout my body.
We parted, and her face was softer than a moment ago.
"There," she said with a smirk. "Now, you're ready for my reward for keeping him alive. Akemi, send him in; she's ready!" Etsuko shouted.
I turned to my right to see the veil breached by a young man dressed in black lace. Etsuko stood up and walked to him, pulling his hand, guiding him over to me.
Etsuko touched the back of his head and led him to his knees.
I gasped, "Yuto! Etsuko, I-I can't do this; he was my student—"
Yuto rubbed my knees to my thighs, reaching beneath my towel. I grabbed them, removed them from within my towel to prevent any future immoral actions.
"Listen to me, Yuto. We cannot sleep together," I said to Yuto, holding both his wrists.
"I can't be here anymore." I stood up to leave, and Etsuko pushed me back onto the couch. I held my towel down between my legs.
"You deny my gratitude?" Etsuko said, pushing my legs open.
I reached for her face; she leaned in and whispered, "You would dare deny your queen?"
"No, but my image," I whispered back, between moments of pleasure. "I…I also met a guy, and I want to…give him a chance."
"So," she said, kissing my chin. "Give him a chance, but tonight you belong to me."
I'm so sorry, Yuto.
End of Rika's Arc: A Fate Deferred.