The Selfish Queen and A Secretive Judge
Summary: Himeno doesn't feel comfy during one of Gira's Tests to become King.
Himeno doesn't get jealous.
Or at least she thinks she doesn't.
Especially in the current situation the Kings are finding themselves in.
Now that Gira has usurped the Shugoddom throne from Racles through the Trial by Combat, the other Kings weren't exactly sure if he was fit to rule.
She did have to hand it to him when it came to his personal growth since his last duel, but he lacked many qualities that would allow him to be an acceptable King to them. Especially given how he's never exactly given them his true answers as to what he wants to do as King.
It was why the remaining four Kings approached him to challenge him on his role and if Shugoddom can have him as King or they find a suitable replacement. Troublesome, but it was a concern they all shared despite their combined efforts of taking the crown away from Racles.
But what bothered her now was one of the tests they've agreed on prior to challenging Gira.
Her gaze never left Rita who was going over the rules with Gira as the two stood at the platform the four usually sat during meetings. What she's hearing kinda irked her and she couldn't figure out why her heart kinda clenched at the idea.
"Understand?" Rita asked, earning a smirk from Gira.
Curse being placed to stand behind Rita.
"Bring it on, Judge!" Gira proclaimed.
Jeramie stepped up, looking between the two. "Are our competitors ready?" he asked," First to laugh loses, a-pu-pu!"
Gira scrunched his face up in a funny way, earning an amused raise of the brow from Himeno. But her attention was then diverged when she saw Rita's hands moving their mask to uncover their face, only for Gira to stumble back and cover his mouth to stop himself from laughing. Yanma, on the other hand from behind Gira, snorted at the sight. She also heard a bit of a chuckle from Kaguragi who had a view of both of them.
Another pang in her chest at this, her hands clenching. What was the face Rita was making for those two to laugh? Why couldn't she be positioned to witness such a sight as well?
Wait.
Is she feeling jealous of the others just for seeing Rita's face?
She tensed at this, now realizing why she's feeling the way she is.
But that's impossible. She's seen Rita's face before. She was the one who gave them medical attention after Desnarak attacked all of the kingdoms as a warning. She was the one who unmasked the judge to tend to the injuries on their face.
So why is she feeling this way now?
"Round One goes to the Supreme Justice!" Jeramie said as Rita fixed their mask, snapping Himeno from her thoughts.
"There's no way that's fair! Their face is always covered!" Gira exclaimed.
"As both King and Protector of your country, you can never let your guard down," Rita said simply, earning a groan from Gira.
"I'm not losing to this!" he said defiantly, smacking his cheeks to concentrate before facing the Judge again. He paused. "Wait. Has anyone ever made you laugh?"
"That I will not disclose," Rita said, prompting him to turn to the others.
"Dude. This is the first time I'm seeing this, myself," Yanma said," Legend has it that the Supreme Justice smiling is one of the Seven Wonders of the world."
Gira thought for a moment before putting his hand at his face with a hmph, a smirk on his face. "I see. So if I make you laugh, I will be allowed to rule your country as well!"
Now that's a sight Himeno would like to see.
Jeramie took his position, allowing the two to ready themselves. "The first to laugh loses, a-pu-pu!"
~
Gira fell over as Rita zipped up their mask. "I lost...!" he muttered, slamming his fist against the ground.
"On the contrary," Rita said," Your resolution improved every round and have managed to recover in a more timely matter each time. It's enough to prove your resilience."
Gira looked up to the Judge at this, surprised. "Eh?"
"It means you've passed, octomush," Yanma said, slapping a hand against his shoulder.
They've all went to the raised platform, standing before the young King. "Well you still have much to learn, but this is enough to show us you're willing to become a good King," Himeno said, offering a small smile," But we expect more progress as we keep working together as a team."
Gira got to his feet, looking at the four. "You mean it?"
"Just know if you pull anything that will put your country in danger, we will not hesitate to step in," Rita said sternly," There are high expectations that come with being a King. Do not disappoint your people."
Footsteps were heard as Duuga and the other retainers ran into the throne room. "Himeno-sama! Bugnarok is outside!" Sebastian called.
The six exchanged knowing looks before heading outside to deal with the issue.
~~
"Rita."
Rita turned at the call, having been stopped from walking to God Papillon to return home. "Hm?"
"Gira's Test. Never thought yours would involve you removing your mask."
"It's the most appropriate for the situation. You've never expressed concerns when we've discussed such tests." They remained unmoving when Himeno approached them, allowing their faces to be mere inches from each other.
"Last I remember, you only allow your mask off when in private or for medical purposes."
Rita's brow twitched at this, recalling events during the tests. "Himeno. Are you feeling jealous of the others for seeing my face?"
The Queen's face flushed at the accusation, making her step back. "N-no. Of course not."
"Your reaction says otherwise. You act as if you've never seen my face."
Himeno only became redder at this. Even if their tone remain unchanged, she would easily tell the judge was messing with her. She turned away with a huff. "There's nothing wrong with that. I was the only one who couldn't see while everyone else had a good laugh. Who knows when will be the next time you'll ever perform such tests?"
"If that's what you believe."
She heard Rita's boots hitting the stone walkway.
The others be damned.
She turned before swiftly chasing the judge, grabbing their shoulder to turn them.
"Wha-" Rita was cut off when their mask was pulled down and their face pulled closer to Himeno's by the Queen's hands cupping their face.
"Eh?!" "HAH?!" "Otto...!"
Himeno pulled away, swiftly pulling Rita's mask back up. Her cheeks were tinged pink and she noticed Rita's face being red in her peripherals as she tried to avoid their gaze. "I just thought I'd be the only one you'd show it to out of the five of us..." She swiftly walked away, heading to God Kamikiri before setting off back to Ishabana.
Rita stood there, tugging on their mask to cover more of their face before heading to God Papillon in a rushed pace.
The four men stood there as the two Shugods flew off. "We all saw that, right?" Gira asked, turning to the others.
"Yep." "I believe so." "What a plot twist."
Kaguragi looked towards Gira. "I hope you find a way to make your coronation more interesting than that, Gira-dono."
27 notes
·
View notes