King Xander of Nohr (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
advancements) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sranks2019-09-23 03:02 am
advancements) wrote in sranks2019-09-23 03:02 am
advancements) wrote in sranks2019-09-23 03:02 am
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It's not like she doesn't know Xander's voice. He isn't someone she could just forget, after all. He was someone who went out of his way to befriend her--Camilla, one of the many wretched children of Duke Garon who populated House Krakenburg. He was kind and considerate, someone she tried to look out for because they overworked the poor boy to his limit sometimes. He was one of the few children of the house that she trusted, even when the her mother told her not to associate with him. Camilla, quite simply, adored him in kind and she had hoped things in the house would settle once, long ago.
Everything changed the night that Camilla's mother had decided to try and leave. Camilla remembers the night too well, being told to pack her things by her mother because she had seen something and she wanted to go back home. Camilla had gone back upstairs to grab her last bag, simply hoping to make one last quick trip for a memento that Xander himself had given her, a small black crown, but there was somebody in the room. Somebody that Camilla deeply feared, who descended upon her the moment she entered.
Camilla remembers letting out a choked scream for help, and her mother had come to her aid--the magic, boosted by the aid of her crest forcing Xander's mother to let Camilla go as the girl hid behind her mother in fear. Camilla barely remembers the words exchanged (only that wretched woman talking about 'her Xander' and how he couldn't have 'any competition'), but she remembers her mother falling, telling her to run away, and something inside Camilla snapped and there was blood, there was so much blood--
Camilla was on the carriage to Gloucester territory by the time she came back to reality, all clean as if nothing happened. As if all of those terrible things had been a dream. She had spent years repressing those memories, hoping they would never dare resurface, and yet...
All she could think about when she heard Xander's voice was that shrill woman. That selfish woman. She was the reason her mother had died, and he was the reason it became necessary. All Camilla would have to do is make it look like an accident and she'd never have to deal with him again, but...
No. That would reflect poorly upon Lord Lorenz. Camilla stands rigid as she turns around, looking at Xander like she sees right through him. Her expression is tempered, as one would expect a servant's to be, and she's as elegant and composed as one would expect of a former noblewoman. It's her gaze that look like pure ice, a barely restrained glare holding back any and all fury she feels as she crosses her arms and simply looks at the reason her mother died.]
That is my name, yes. To whom, exactly, do I owe the pleasure?
[Camilla's words are as tempered as ever. Practiced, as if she's been waiting for this moment for years. They'd almost be a simple inquiry, were it not for her gaze.]
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Relief quickly turns to ice in his veins at her expression. There isn't anything really off about it - it's exactly as it should be, aside from her eyes. He has never seen anyone look so angry and calm at the same time, so furious and enraged while keeping their expression tempered exactly as it should be. He's certainly never seen anyone level a gaze like that at him.
For a brief moment, he wonders if it really is her. There's no mistaking it, but...
It's difficult to tell if she wants to sweep their past together under the rug or if she'd greatly prefer to kill him right now for... some reason. Why? He struggles to remember the night Camilla disappeared, when Garon told him that she'd been killed... But his memories of that time are hazy at best. One day she'd been a permanent fixture in his life, the next she was supposedly dead.
Maybe father hadn't known. Maybe her death had been faked to escape House Krakenburg. He can't really say that would be all the surprising. Some of his other siblings have gone missing (or worse, ended up dead) so maybe all of this was a ploy to get Camilla away. Perhaps she blames him for everything that happened to her and her mother. It's hardly fair, but it's not as though it would be the first time Xander's been blamed for his father's actions.
To his credit, he doesn't wither under her gaze. He does look confused - both at her words and her demeanor. He isn't sure what's causing that intensity in her gaze, but he needs to find out.]
...I thought you were dead. I was told— That doesn't matter now. Camilla, what are you doing here?
[He's not going to start playing some stupid game of pretending not to know her. There isn't anyone around right now, otherwise he'd reconsider his stance on that. No, she's his sister and he desperately wants to fit the pieces of this puzzle together in a way that makes sense. And perhaps just as importantly, he wants to know that she's okay.
It's kind of hard to imagine she's doing okay when she's glaring at him like that, though.]
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[Camilla's words are incredibly pointed as she keeps her gaze on him, expression tempered as ever yet icy. He thought she was dead, did he? Perhaps that would have made the most sense, as a cover story--a cover-up of what had happened that night, to sweep it all under the rug. Sweep her under the rug, like she was nothing but a useless dead end--]
I suppose I should not be surprised. His Grace was always quite adept at sweeping any and all matters under the rug.
[Another pointed, barbed statement; even the title is said through gritted teeth and entirely too venomous to be respectful. Her expression hasn't shifted in the slightest, however.]
I should think that my reason for being here would be obvious to the true heir of the von Krakenburg family. Surely, you can deduce it yourself, if you're so intelligent?
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Now isn't the time to start questioning his father. Now isn't the time to show any weakness.]
I'm not here to play games, Camilla. Who did you come here with? Were you taken in by another house?
[Perhaps her mother was a noble? That could explain why she's here, though he can't for the life of him remember her mother's name. She's not from one of the Empire's houses, almost all of them have a representative here in the Black Eagles class. So if he's right, she left the Empire entirely and would be in one of the other classes. He could speculate all day and still be no closer to the truth.
What happened that night? He wants to ask. Why are you so angry at me? They're questions he cannot give voice to. He can't assume that any of what she says is true - as much as it pains him to think like that. She is Camilla, certainly, but the anger and hatred make it difficult to know what to do or how to approach her. She could say anything she wanted, and he has no idea if she's being honest or not. So it's best to tread cautiously, to try to work out what is riling her up so badly.]
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[Camilla's expression takes on a smile that's all teeth and no warmth. Surely, he's a noble, and she has always been taught to respect those of a higher position than herself. But there's not a soul around, and not a single person to stop her--just the words of two bastardized von Krakenburg children.
There wouldn't be nary a soul to care about such a petty squabble.]
My reasons for being here are of no concern to one of murderous lineage. My circumstances? Even less so. I don't need you sniffing about for our dear father. [Camilla's look settles from that smile into something grave and serious, anger barely restrained behind a tempered expression that she's all too used to forcing.] I would sincerely stop acting as if you are owed any answers from me.
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He should let her go, completely forget about her. If he's feeling really generous, maybe he won't tell father that she's here and maybe he won't question Garon about any of this. It's in everyone's best interests for him to leave now.
He's aware of all of that, certainly. It doesn't stop him from raising his voice in turn.]
I don't know what happened that night you vanished, and I don't see why you insist on acting as though I am at fault for anything that has happened to you since. I didn't know you were alive until just now.
In case you've forgotten, you too come from that "murderous lineage". Like it or not, you are my sister, and I do not intend to turn a blind eye to that or to your presence here.
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Oh, I've long accepted that I won't be able to get rid of our father's stench. But that's far from what this is about, oh esteemed heir, and you'd do well to never say such a thing again.
I'm talking about your wretched mother. The entire reason my dear mother was taken from me--
[Camilla should walk away. She truly should, before she winds up strangling him to death. It'd be unfavorable to Lord Lorenz if such a thing got out, after all, and she'd rather not compromise her lord's position--
So she calms. Forces herself a step back, staring at him with that icy expression again.]
I hold no ties to that house anymore. I serve my lord in his territory now; that is the reason that I am here. Is that a satisfactory enough answer for you?
[He better not start being obstinate--]
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It's probably just to throw him off. Katerina was... a bit of a strict and distant woman, but she always did everything she could to help him whenever he needed it. She was always there to help him with his studies and all things involving House Krakenburg. She was never taken as father's wife, but most people recognized her as important to House Krakenburg despite her status as a lesser noble. She wasn't a perfect mother, and some of the things she did to try to help him were a bit... much, but she's someone he loves dearly.
Her death - ten years ago now - was brutal. Father had told him she was killed by an assassin, and he was lucky enough to have missed witnessing that or being killed himself. Father had speculated that they were after himself or Xander, and Katerina had been in the way. Regardless, she had died and left him almost entirely alone in the world.
So it hurts, to hear Camilla claim his mother is somehow at fault. His posture tightens at that, his hands curling into fists, but he makes no move to lash out physically. Even if he cannot control his words, he can at least control his actions.]
Leave her out of this.
[That's all he has to say about his mother, and he's content to move on immediately.]
I see, so you were brought here as a vassal. [Like Lady Edelgard's rather terrifying shadow, or the prince of Faerghus' companion from Duscur.] I have no intention of dragging you back to House Krakenburg, if that is your concern. Your life is yours to live as you see fit. Should you prefer to spend it in the service of another house, I won't stop you.
[Father might, but that really isn't his concern right now.]
Do what you will. I only wanted to know why you were here of all places.
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But he moves on, all too quickly, and Camilla forces herself to straighten up with a sharp glare, and the click of her tongue.]
You couldn't stop me even if you wished to. I will never go back to that wretched castle. My service to my lord is the highest priority I have, and I shall never leave him behind.
[That's firm. Incredibly so, and incredibly threatening at that. It's unspoken, but if anything should befall Lord Lorenz because of him? Well...it's not going to end well.]
You should truly mind your own business from now on, and keep your nose out from where it's not wanted.
[...Of course, Camilla being the petty, angry woman she is, smirks. She's absolutely not leaving behind that first bit.]
I will not leave her out of this, however. Tell me, did you have any inkling of just how jealous of a woman that wretch was? Just how obsessive she was to keep her position, and ensure your success--at the cost of any and every wretched child of that castle? [Camilla sneers.] She tried to kill me, you know. If my mother had not gotten there in time, she would have succeeded.
And we wanted nothing to do with any of the power of House Krakenburg anymore. Not that your mother truly cared, despite my dear mother's insistence.
[It could be kind, to let him know just what happened. Just how much of a wicked woman Katerina truly was, underneath her appearance. But nothing about what Camilla is saying is kind; it's a decade spanning grudge that she has held so very close to her heart, that's finally getting the chance to explode.]
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But Camilla doesn't leave it at that and she continues. The words that come from her are completely and utterly unbelievable, and he can't imagine why she would ever spew such lies about his mother. She had always been harsh with Garon's other mistresses, but that's certainly no reason to claim that she tried to kill a child, and Xander's only friend at that.]
I can't believe you would stoop to something so low.
[There's genuine anger there, unchecked and hidden only by the tight expression he's wearing. His shoulders remain squared and firm, but goddess, he wants to shake. Why would she go after his mother like that? It doesn't make any sense, none of this makes any sense.]
Do you intend to spread these lies through your house and to anyone who will listen? What do you hope to accomplish with this? My mother has been dead for a decade; smearing her name will do you no good.
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She's not surprised that he's calling her a liar. Really, she isn't. But she's absolutely not going to let go of this.]
Stooping, dear brother? Don't make me laugh. It's hardly my fault that you wish to spend your entire life burying your head under the ground and eating every pretty lie out of our father's hands. He likely fed you a pretty little story to explain all of our deaths to you, didn't he? And you bought every word of it.
[Camilla shrugs, debonair and without a single care.]
Truly, Xander? I almost pity you, and your closed-minded nature. You're likely going to meet the same fate as the others; to be used until there's nothing left, and tossed aside like everyone else in father's life.
[But, to the point.]
I don't intend to spread lies. Truthfully, I intend to keep the truth of the events that transpired that night close at hand, because I saw the truth--I nearly died to keep that truth to myself. My house does not need to know my past, other than my allegiance to my lord.
But one day...one, sweet day...I will tell the whole world the truth. I care not about what happens after, but I will have vengeance for my mother.
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But it is improper and she is his sister like it or not, so he doesn't. His hands clench and unclench at his sides for a moment before he moves by her toward the door. He almost leaves without saying anything.
Almost.]
...Despite what's become of you, I'm glad you're alive.
[The words are bitter, angry, but no less true. She's his sister, and while that might not mean anything to her anymore, it certainly does to him.]
As long as you keep your mouth shut, we won't have a problem.
[And with that he's gone, refusing to look back at her for even a moment.
He has a very important letter he needs to write to father, after all.]
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...
Why is he glad that she's alive? That's the last thing she wants to hear from the man who she's very certain is her sworn enemy, and Camilla scoffs at his words. They're pretty lies with no meaning behind them, nothing at all.]
I suppose I'll keep that in mind.
[That's stated long after he's gone, and quite frankly, Camilla could care less about him. She'll keep her mouth closed so long as he keeps his, after all.
...She's not going to look forward to explaining why she's so tense to Lorenz later, but it's fine. It'll be fine. Camilla just needs to keep calm, that's all.]