who had to fall to rise again
"A bodyguard ?"
Chiori seemed surprised. Her arms were crossed, "Yes, a bodyguard," said The King, Chiori's father. "What for? I can protect myself. You know that," Chiori said, disagreeing with her fathers idea. Chiori scoffed, "I'm perfectly fine on my own, I don't need one, " her father would usually let Chiori go, the words, ' That's just how she is ', made him hold back. Yet it seemed this time he wasn't holding back, "Even if you could you would end up injured. What if someone hunts you down?" He said, Chiori sighed, "I'd end up hurt both ways."
The King sighed, not wanting to argue with her any further, "It's to make sure you're safe. How about that?" He asked, even if he mentioned that many times. Chiori was silent for a moment, she knew that her father really does care, he probably was worried that Chiori would do something dangerous when he wasn't watching. "... Fine."
"Chiori, this is Chevreuse," said The King, "She'll be your bodyguard like we agreed," Chiori observed Chevreuse for a moment, Chevreuse had long purple hair with white strands, tied into a low ponytail, it's not tied well, but it was a good attempt. She had a brown vest, and inside was a white shirt. She also had metal shoulder pads, and a red skirt with long brown pants. Chevreuse bowed, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Royal Highness," she said, "Likewise," Chiori replied. "How about you two find an interest together, I have a meeting to go to," The King said, then leaving. Chiori stared at Chevreuse, who seemed unsettled by her expression.
"Is it your first?"
"Oh--uhm, yes, Royal Highness,"
Chiori sighed, "Just call me Chiori, you don't have to be formal when my dad isn't around," she said, Chevreuse nodded, "Come, I'll show you around," she continued, and offered her hand to Chevreuse, which she hesitantly took. The hallways of the kingdom were big, many photos, candles, and banners hung on the walls. They soon stopped at the first doorway,
"Here is our dining room. The long table here is for us and important guests,"
"' Us '?"
Chiori nodded, "It'd be awful if we let the bodyguard starve as they stood and watched us eat, wouldn't it?" 'Ah--right," Chevreuse chuckled, "If I were to guess, you'd probably be sitting next to me," she said, Chevreuse nods, however, Chiori seemed to had noticed something of her, "You're trembling," she said, "What's wrong?" She tilted her head, Chevreuse shook her head. "Well, I've never eaten in a proper...manner?" Chevreuse seemed to struggle with her words.
"You never learned proper dining etiquette?"
"...No,"
Chevreuse seemed embarrassed, "Why not?" Chiori asked, curious. "Ah, well...that I don't really know..." Chevreuse said, "But that doesn't mean I don't know any manners! I do, it's just uh..." "No one tried to teach you," Chiori said, "From my memory, yeah..." Chevreuse hesitantly replied, "That's fine, I'll help you," Chevreuse was surprised, "Eh? Won't that be embarrassing..??" Chiori shook her head, "If you happen to have a poor situation when you were younger maybe they would understand your issue," Chiori went to hold Chevreuse's hand again, which surprised Chevreuse, "Come, let's continue."
Chevreuse was surprised over how nice Chiori was, even after telling her something most people in royalty would highly dislike. Chiori, however, seemed to not mind, willing to help even without a reason, or maybe that was more dependent on the situation. Hell, she even introduced her to some things she didn't know in the kingdom. Soon, they were outside. "And here is our garden," she said, "We have gardeners who take care of all the flowers here. When they bloom, we could pick a few," she continued. "It just so happens that some of these just bloomed this morning," Chiori said, pointing towards a rainbow rose, "Stay here," she let go of Chevreuse's hand and walked over to one, picked it, and walked back to her, taking her hand again and putting the rose in her hair, "It looks pretty on you," a compliment, Chevreuse blushing to the point even Chiori could notice, "You're red," she said, "Oh, uh-- sorry...." Chevreuse let go and buried her face in her hands, "It's fine, don't be embarrassed," she said, taking both her hands away from her face, "I want to show you our garden," Chiori said, holding her hand once more.
"Oh wow..." Chevreuse seemed mesmerized, "I've never seen a tree so big before," she said, staring at the tree in front of her. "I like to invite my friends over to have a tea party or picnics here," Chiori looked over at Chevreuse, "You should join sometime," she said, Chevreuse nodded, "Oh, sure!" Chiori smiled, then looked back at the tree, "My mom saw this tree and thought it'd be nice to have a garden with it."
Chiori looked at Chevreuse again, "Let's rest for a while," she said, Chevreuse nodded, and they sat under the tree's shade. The rays of the sun seeped through the tree's leaves, and they felt the cool breeze of the wind. "It's...so nice here," Chevreuse said, "Isn't it? That's what I like about it here, it's easy to get away from stressful situations," Chiori said, Chevreuse looked over at her, she was staring out, watching the birds bathe in its bird bath. "Can I ask a question?" "Go on."
"Why have you been...holding my hand?"
"That's hard to answer, unfortunately."
Chiori said, Chevreuse guessed that she did have a reason, just didn't know how to explain, "If you're uncomfortable, I can stop," she said, Chevreuse shook her head, "Oh, no, I was just curious...I don’t mind" Chevreuse said, her answer seem to peak Chiori's interest. "Alright then," Chiori said, then reached to take her hand and hold it again.
"I think you'll be sleeping here," Chiori said, a room next to Chiori's, small but spacious due to the lack of furnishing, even if, it seemed well maintained, clean. "Did my father ever tell you what to do in the morning?" Chevreuse shook her head, "Oh, then, you'll have to wake up by 5 in the morning. And you'll wait outside my room until I come out. Then we'll go to eat together," Chiori said, Chevreuse nodded, "What about lunch?" she asked, "Well, I'm usually outside. So I don't go back to eat, I eat with my friends," Chiori said, "You'll just follow me until we have to go back."
It was time for dinner.
The long table was barely filled, and only Chiori and Chevreuse sat on the chairs of the table. Only they had their cutlery and plates, every empty seat had none. Chevreuse looked over to the big empty chair, signifying that it's The King's seat. Not anyone else's. But there was no cutlery. No plate. It was empty. "Does your-- The King, usually eat with you?" Chevreuse asked, Chiori shook her head, "No. Or at least not often. And because of that I usually eat on my own," Chiori said. She seemed to be used to it, as her tone wasn't sad sounding, but like it was a usual conversation.
They were suddenly in an awkward position. There was nothing to make conversation about. But Chiori seemed curious. "Was being a bodyguard an ambition of yours?" Chiori asked, Chevreuse chuckled, "Not really," she said, her smile didn't seem like a genuine one, it's like she's forcing herself to. Chiori didn't dare to question, and ended it at that.
Throughout the entire night, Chevreuse was thinking about that day.
Chiori, her main thought.
Everything about her, something, brings her a weird feeling. A feeling she never felt before, nor even knew how to explain.
She couldn't help but wonder what these thoughts were.
And then, she finally fell asleep.
The next day, Chiori had plans with her friends, a sleepover. Her father unwillingly agreed, but forced Chevreuse to stay the night there with her. Chiori didn't mind, and seemed happy with that idea. When they were just in front of their house, Chevreuse had stopped, and let go of Chiori's hand, Chiori turned, "Are you alright?" She asked, "Yeah, just...nervous, I guess," she said, “They’re friendly, you’ll be fine.” Chevreuse nodded, and Chiori knocked on the door.
Knock, knock!
The door soon opened, and there stood Navia. “Hey Chiori! How’ve you been?” She asked, “I’m doing fine. I brought a friend with me today,” Chiori said, and turned to Chevreuse, but before Chiori could introduce her, Navia stopped her. “Chevreuse? You’re her bodyguard??” Navia seemed excited, “Yeah, I am,” Chevreuse said, “Oh, you know each other already,” Chiori looked back at Navia, “Yep! But it has been a long time since we’ve seen each other,” Navia said, then offered them to come inside.
Inside had Clorinde, Lyney and Lynette, they all seemed to be playing a Tabletop Troupe game. There was also Wriothesley, who sat on the couch, drinking tea and watching them play. After seeing Chevreuse, they all seemed surprised. “Someone seemed to finally decide to show her face! With a new role to her name, too!” Lyney said, Chevreuse laughed, “It’s really no big deal, Lyney,” she said.
Navia had apparently baked some treats for them to eat, like macarons. They were still in the middle of a game, but eating a few snacks wouldn’t hurt. Wriothesley turned to Chevreuse, “Hey, Cherveuse,” Chevreuse looked back at him, tilted her head, as she was still swallowing the food. “Since when did you want to be a bodyguard? I thought you told us you were going to be a part of the Special Patrol,” he said, “I know it’s been a while since we’ve last seen each other, but it’s because you had to train, isn’t it?” Chevreuse shrugged, “Oh, some things just happened,” she said, “It’s not something you need to worry about, though. Being a bodyguard isn’t actually that bad!” She continued, Wriothesley sighs, “Alright.”
A while later, Chiori had found Chevreuse outside, staring into the scenery as dusk came. And it was even drizzling outside. “What are you doing?” Chiori asked, Chevreuse turned, and saw Chiori stand at the doorway. She could hear the others chatting, “Oh, I’m just watching the scenery,” she said.
“What for?”
“Nothing in particular.”
Chiori’s expression was pensive, and she sat down next to Chevreuse. “What did you mean when you said “something just happened” earlier?” Chiori asked, Chevreuse hesitated with her answer, “I don’t really know how to say it,” she said, “I was just dragged down I suppose,” she continued. Chiori tilted her head, “Elaborate,” she told, Chevreuse took a deep breath, “ I wasn’t “ready”,”
Chevreuse’s sentence made Chiori curious.
“Ready?”
“My conception of justice, it wasn’t good. Thus, I wasn’t “ready”.”
Chevreuse sounded as if she was defeated, and the rain grew harder. “Why did you give up?” Chiori asked, “I don’t know,” Chevreuse said, “I don’t know why I did.”
“I wish I didn’t.”
Chiori was silent. Not sure how to respond. “Let’s go inside, it’s getting cold.”
When they went inside, everyone was gathered and playing Tabletop Troupe, however, Chevreuse was somewhere else, reading a crime novel. Chiori remembered that earlier, Navia said Chevreuse loved food that had grease and sugar, even if she doesn’t particularly eat them on certain times. And Chiori thought that maybe she should make some, if it would help Chevreuse feel a bit better.
Chevreuse could smell it, the smell of Feast O’s being made. But she didn’t bother, thinking that maybe the others only wanted some for a snack. She continued to read her novel, which was The Two Musketeers.
Then she could hear footsteps going her way. “Here. Navia told me you liked them,” Chiori said, placing them on the coffee table in front of her. “Go on and eat,” she said, then left to continue the game. Chevreuse stared at the food, “...Thank you, Chiori.”
Chiori turned, and smiled. “You’re welcome.”