It Was All Arranged [R. Sakamaki]

Signed Documents

The room was dim, the only light being the brightness of the moon blessing the desk which stood before the uncovered window. The Queen sat at that desk, her long hair plaited and her gown as dark as the night as her left hand danced across the parchment before her.

"It's late." His voice cut through the quill's scratches as the Queen's head lifted, meeting the eye of her ex-husband.

"Oh, Good Evening Reiji," she greeted with a small smile before she returned to the paper before her, dipping the dark quill into the ink pot.

"When are you planning to sleep?" He asked, moving from the shadows to stand in front of her desk. "Shall I light a candle?"

"I am quite alright," replied Athena as she shifted in her seat, crossing one leg over the other, "I must finish this letter."

"Whom are you writing to?"

"I don't see why that could possibly be your concern." She retorted, scowling at the man who'd tried to peek at her loopy writing. "I am not satisfied with my last words to Ruki; I wish to apologise properly."

"You're still thinking of him?" Reiji's eyebrows frowned as his small smile dropped from his sharp face. Her eyes met his.

"I broke his heart, Reiji." She said softly as she placed her quill down, lacing her fingers together as she angled her chin to look up at him. "He deserves a proper apology."

"Is this why you don't sleep?" He asked.

"No." She placed the glass lid on her inkpot as the wind blew through the windows, shuffling her papers.

"Then why?"

"Reiji," she took a deep breath, "I appreciate your concern, but you should retire for the night."

"I cannot rest," he replied, "not when part of me knows you're struggling."

"I will cope."

"You will burnout."

"You've done enough for this Kingdom."

"I've done nowhere near enough."

"Darling," his breath caught in his throat as her sharp eyes softened, her smile gently on her lips, "you have done more than three generations of Kings - two of which reigned for centuries and one of which who was a mere fool."

"You were not a foolish King," she sighed.

"I was a rather useless one." 

"You ended a war."

"No, you ended the war."

"Is there something you need, Dear?"

"I would like to invite the Queen to dinner with me tomorrow evening." His thin lips lifted at the corners as a slight blush tickled the top of Athena's nose.

"That would be lovely," she said, "but I am busy."

"Please," he whispered, "drop the responsibility for one night."

"Ironic coming from you."

"I miss the woman I married."

"So do I."

-_-_-_-

The carriage was bumpy as it carried the Queen and her consort to their elegant destination. They sat opposite one another, both dressed in black. The Prince wore a simple suit with a simple red tie, his hair was sweeped back and his glasses pushed up his nose by his ungloved hands. "You forgot your gloves," said the Queen, "perhaps we should return."