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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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.]