Fates Entwined (A TodoBaku ff) ✔

LXXVII

He awoke with the dawn chorus, although instead of twittering birds on evergreen branches it was to the hustle and bustle of footsteps pattering all around the castle. The hallways were grand enough to carry each echo up and through the open window of his bedroom, and whilst in the past he would wake up to this sound and pray that the sun would set even a moment faster that evening, now he awoke with a lighter heart and steadfast determination.

He washed and dressed, finding it odd wearing more layered, form-fitting clothes after his time in the Tribe lands, but he confessed to himself the silky soft shirts and fluffy overcoats, the trimmings slowly getting thinner now spring was in bloom, were a luxury he did indeed miss. The sewn-in details, carved buttons and newly cleaned boots finished off his look, and when he looked in the mirror he found a king looking back at him. And it did not fill him with fear. 

His quarters were grand. His bedroom held large arching windows, the lattices thin, and one decorated with stained glass that when the sun hit it just right sent a rainbow and sunbeams sprawled across the walls and floor. It was a beautiful sight, according to Fuyumi, and he looked forward to seeing it himself. The bed was large enough for several people, the covers soft and pillows not too stiff, with perfect view to the garden outside when he lay on his left side. There were drawers and wardrobes full of clothes both old and new, alongside several ornaments such as paintings and mirrors adorning the walls. 

On the far side of the room was a door that led to his private suite, a large, curved bath with golden additions ready for him to use whenever he so desired, with bundles of soaps, scents, and oils lined up on shelves upon the wall. A smaller window let in natural light, but sconces lined the walls too. His bath last night was wonderful after his journey, but whilst the water was steaming and warm it felt a little empty without someone holding him from behind. It flustered Shoto how one single incident left such an impact on his mind.

His quarters were indeed luxurious, perfect for a future king yet not too decadent that it wasn't to his taste. There was more than enough space and he found not a single thing he wished to change. But the part he adored the most, his heart beating just a little faster when he discovered it, was a small hidden door behind a woven tapestry that led to a private room. Inside had a large desk, writing equipment long since untouched sprawled atop it, and pressed flowers littered between the pages of unfinished and long treasured books. There was a round table with the most comfortable armchairs for guests and a slim window which gave view of the sky, the forest peaking in from the distance. Bookshelves spanned the length of one wall, the wood a deep brown and well-kept if not for the small layer of dust, little flecks resting atop yellowing pages and floating through the cool air. 

He was curious as to whom the room belonged to, and what it was used for. It had been untouched for some time, so he also questioned if anyone knew it had existed. He thought about the layout of the castle, where each occupant resided, and the only person he knew who could have similar access to this room was Natsuo. But since it had been abandoned for a while he wasn't a possibility. He thought back into the past, to someone who may have lived in the quarters that are now his, and after a while of sifting and searching, pushing away unwanted memories and focusing on the good and the mundane, the only person he concluded was his mother. 

He remembered his mother telling him about the first time she came to the castle. Even then her voice sounded bittersweet, uneasy, her smile unable to hide the traces of resentment that lingered in her tone even then, resentment that would simmer and grow each and every year until it destroyed them all... He remembered her talking about having her own quarters, since it was improper for her and Enji to live together until they were married, and that she would sometimes play hide and seek with his father. Since Shoto was little it had sounded exciting to him, to play games with someone he cared about like his siblings did, but now he assumed that it wasn't a game, more of a method of survival, to hide and not be found.