Chapter Text
King Raphael Geerk Oriana died by his daughter’s hand; he was a puppet of the Cult.
So too was his successor, Perv Asshat.
Behind both lurked the Cult of Diablos.
Now Oriana had a legitimate queen… and yet stability stalled.
Ironically, by the very people she relied on to rebuild.
She now sat at the head of the table.
When she looked to her council, not one of them met her eyes.
The seat once occupied by Lambda was empty again.
This time, by Rose’s own request.
Shadow Garden had complied.
“Someone,” Rose's voice was glacial, “explain this to me.”
She saw her chancellor glance over to their Master of Coin, Munny Mann.
So, is he the cause?
“Your Highness,” Munny began carefully, breaking the silence, “please; The presence of Shadow Garden… it recalls the image of the last two rulers.”
His words made the empty seat beside Rose feel more jarring.
“Unlike them, I personally invited Shadow Garden to help rebuild.” Rose replied, “they were the ones who helped us get rid of Asshat.”
“Their efforts are noted, Your Majesty.” Munny took a breath, knowing his next words would sound seditious, “but it concerns us that you have become another puppet ruler.”
Rose’s hand clenched under the table, but her face remained a mask of royal calm.
“A puppet,” she repeated quietly. “You believe that I have traded my soul for a leash?”
“I mean no disrespect, Your Majesty.” Munny had his head bowed, “not to doubt your judgement, but we cannot be sure of their end goals.”
“We have to be practical.” Rose looked to everyone at the table, “the last regime had effectively emptied our coffers, we had to root out any remnants of the sympathizers, and we need organisation.”
Munny nodded, “They did well in removing the remnants but now they should go, lest the other powers take us too closely aligned with Shadow Garden.”
"So that's the goal of the instability?”
“The goal was to convince you to see how ineffective Shadow Garden was in rebuilding Oriana.’ Munny appreciated the nods of agreement by the rest at the table, “we were hoping you would see it and relieve them on your own.”
Rose's lips pulled thin.
Their heart was in the right place. But…
“We needed a stabilizing partner to rebuild. We need capital, organization and logistics support.”
“Your Majesty, if that is what we're looking for, “ her chancellor said, “why don't we work with Mitsugoshi?”
…
Rose could only hold back a smile at the irony, “That is a good suggestion.”
Thus, Shadow Garden had gone back into the shadows, while a commercial giant stepped into its place.
Master of Coin Munny Mann had praised the efficiency of Mitsugoshi. The transition seemed… seamless.
Cid Kagenou ran a hand through his black hair, while scolding himself.
Butter fingers.
He had left a bag of stones in a place that would be hard to get.
For a mob, at least.
He didn’t want to return as his previous role.
He had already made such a cool exit, it would be a waste to return there to pick it up.
Got to keep up the aesthetic.
Which was why he now stood at the base of the palace, under Rose Oriana’s office window, thinking about how to get up there.
Climbing up there would be a pain.
And, using his other “other” character was putting a hat on a hat.
No. The trenchcoat exit was too clean. Ruining it for pocket change would be a crime against eminence.
…
Oh well, just try the front door.
And if there's a guard:
Act blur.
Live longer.
He passed the main doors unchallenged.
Strolled the halls as if he owned it, at times stopping to admire a painting.
He thought he heard a muffled “HEY!” from down the hall.
When he turned, the corridor was empty.
Hmm, Oriana castle security seems very lax, he thought as he entered Rose’s office.
Meanwhile, Nu watched Cid close the door behind him, then spoke quietly into the shadows.
“Good work, everyone. We have cleared the way for Lord Shadow.”
Without a word, the numbers dispersed like smoke.
The guards remained slumped where they were: breathing, just unconscious.
In Rose Oriana’s office, Cid went searching for his bag of stones.
Truth be told, he had not peeked into it yet, having to meet Rose Oriana immediately after lifting it, but it has to be something of value.
It’s not on the tables.
Perhaps she has kept it in her drawer?
He pulled the drawers open.
Not this.. nor this…maybe thi-
He paused at the drawer at the bottom right. There it was:
A pair of bunny ears.
Oh, it seems even Rose participated…
Must be fun.
But still no bag of stones.
He pulled back to recall his motions when he was there. Here was where he pulled out the flyer; here was the bunny ears; here was the costume. And by estimate, it should be-
Oh! There it is!
Cid, seated in Rose’s chair, fished out the bag from its hiding place, satisfied with himself. A nagging feeling bugged him to check the contents to see if this was worth the effort.
He tipped the bag's contents onto the desk. A cluster of clear, glittering stones spilled out. Cid blinked. Not river rocks.
Diamonds.
Nice.
And with prices where they are…
Double nice.
Just enough to retire quietly forever.
Or loudly. Preferably loudly.
While doing cool eminence level things.
Those pickpockets have done well. Cid nodded with respect. Well it now belongs to-
“Cid?”
Cid froze, looking at the voice. There stood Queen Rose Oriana in a cloak, with the nightwear peeking from under it as she held up a lantern.
“Cid!” Rose approached closer, unable to believe her eyes, "What are you doing here? Is it really you?” She reached out, resting a hand on his sleeve, as if worried he might vanish again.
Fudge brownies.
Cid felt like he was caught snacking by someone he never expected to see.
Knock her out? Run-away-no-jitsu? “You're imagining this”?
Too much hustle.
Too non-mob.
He simply looked up at her. “Hi.”
Rose lit up. Then noted the things he had on the table, her eyes widened. “You’re preparing a surprise for me with diamonds!?” her voice turned excited.
She saw the Mitsugoshi ads.
She knew what they represented:
He was going to propose to her!
And for him to prepare so many as a gift to her, working on a pattern for their reunion…
Maybe a heart?
“Cid… I never knew…” she blushed deep red, heart leaping for joy.
Meanwhile Cid never knew what she was thinking.
For the next moment, she swept it all up, giddy and excited. “Let's do this right; I'm going to prepare!"
And she left. Clutching the haul like a bouquet of flowers.
Cid was left there, stunned. Only one word came to mind:
Wut?
If there was one perk to being the Queen’s guest, it was the generous accommodations.
A huge generous bed, plush carpeting, attached marble bath, luxurious everything.
And, apparently, his room also came with a cat.
He found her sitting on the bed, slightly leaned back, legs crossed.
The girls really commit to the bit, huh.
“Zeta.” Cid greeted as he shrugged off his outer night shirt.
“Master.” She literally purred.
Cid grunted in response, not really into playing now.
He was still mildly upset about the diamonds getting confiscated.
Royal whims. A mob would have rioted by now. As a mob of one, he could only wait for a chance to steal it back.
For now, it’s late.
He lifted the thick blanket and slid in.
Zeta slinked closer, voice low and playful. “I saw through the window, Master. You gave Rose Oriana something.” Her eyes glinted. “What is it?”
Eh? Not good. If Zeta found out about the diamonds, she may ask for them too. Then word would spread and the other six would want it too.
“Those were… seeds.”
Zeta blinked, “Seeds?”
“Yes, seeds.” Cid nodded, satisfied with his plausible substitution.
Solid cover. No one asks follow-up questions about seeds.
A playful cat grin formed on Zeta’s lips, tail swishing, “Then, I want your ‘seeds’ too.”
“Uh huh, ok, I’ll give you my seeds.” Cid yawned, eyes closed.
Zeta’s heart skipped a bit, ears flicking forward. She thought to tease that idea to him but never thought she would come this far in her request. Her heart was not ready.
“What about the others?”
“I’ll give them my seeds too.” Cid was preparing to sleep now. “Later.”
Zeta’s tail froze mid-flick.
…He said yes. To all of us.
Of course, Zeta thought, he can’t show favour too obviously. We just need to be patient.
Her heart hammered once, hard. Then she smiled wider than she meant to.
With that settled, Zeta slinked fully under the blanket, pressing her cheek against his chest like a cat claiming a sunbeam.
Her tail curled lazily over his hip.
…
“Hey Zeta.”
“Yes, master?”
“It’s warm.”
Zeta snuggled closer, feeling content. “I know.”
Alongside lunch and dinner, breakfast is the most important meal.
Cid was enjoying a leisurely breakfast that was spread across the table.
What was slightly unnerving, was the way Queen Rose Oriana was staring at him: it came with the intensity of a thousand suns.
Perhaps she was glowing from having gotten away with his stash of diamonds.
He would hold a hand up to block his eyes from her stare. Unfortunately, his other hand was being squeezed by the very same person.
A tad bit… intense isn’t it?
Without warning, the doors burst open, with the chamberlain protesting.
White twintails, red eyes, and in travel attire that suggested an overnight rush, accompanied by a faint smell of salt water.
Princess Alexia Midgar.
She marched up to the two of them, Eyes roving down to Cid, then the connected hands.
Rose tilted her head slightly.
Cid simply looked up at her, half eaten sandwich in hand. “Hi.”
Alexia's shoulders dropped in relief for a moment, finally finding Cid alive and well after a long search. It was via hearsay that she headed straight to Oriana.
She then straightened up, grabbing Cid’s hand, pulling him out of Rose’s grasp. ‘I have been looking for you.”
“Princess Alexia Midgar, what is the meaning of this?”
“Queen Rose Oriana, I should be asking you: why are you holding my consort’s hand?”
…
“What consort?” Rose asked, frowning, “I had blocked all matters outside Oriana for a while.”
“Is that why you haven't heard?” Alexia smirked, “Cid Kagenou is to be my consort.”
Rose’s eyes widened, turning to Cid, “How could that be!?”
“Didn’t you tell her?” Alexia turned to Cid, “that you were going to be my consort?”
“Er…”Cid’s eyes shifted left and right, finding the two girls staring at him, expecting an explanation.
Act blur, live longer.
“I… didn’t recall?”
A pregnant silence filled the room.
“Of course, you must have bumped your head when you fell off that cliff.”
“Cid fell off a cliff!?”
“While defending the Kingdom with me.” Alexia shamelessly embellished the account of events. “He had been washed out by the river then drifted to Oriana.” Alexia positioned herself between Cid and Rose, “Thank you for hosting him while we searched.”
Rose stared at them for a long moment. Things have gotten a little complicated.
If what Alexia said is true, then Rose would be the third party to an existing relationship, and perhaps also taking advantage of poor Cid who lost his memories.
If she refuses, this may cause a rift between Midgar and Oriana.
Then again, if Cid with his memories lost, came to seek her out, this would suggest where his heart truly lies. She had to ask.
“Cid, what do you think about going back to Midgar?”
Cid thought about it for a moment. While Oriana is cool, Midgar had the comfort of familiarity. But both options were alright. So he answered plainly:
“I can’t complain.”
Rose was shocked, eyes flicking to Alexia, then back to Cid.
It's worse than she expected.
He can’t complain because he’s being held hostage!
“We shall take our leave. My father is expecting to meet Cid once we’re back in Midgar.”
“Cid!” Rose called out.
Cid looked at her, puzzled.
“Wait for me.” Rose said with conviction, “I’ll get you out of that.” With Cid free, she could finally choose without constraint.
Cid was speechless, as Alexia pulled him towards their carriage. He thought: perhaps this is an out to get back into the mob life.
___
Later, in the carriage ride back to Midgar, Cid thought he saw his sister on galloping horseback, going in the opposite direction.
He dismissed it as his imagination.