The Princess and The Devil - Karma Akabane x OC

F O R T Y - E I G H T : Not hers?

Normal's POV

Hime doesn't know how long she has been standing in that room, staring at pictures and portraits of her mother. She has lost count on how many times her lip quivers and how many times she has to wipe her stray tears away. She couldn't help but fall in love with the kindness in her mother's asparagus green eyes and couldn't help but feel like home under Shiragiku's gaze. She doesn't know how many times she has twirl around the room, looking at the pictures as if she hadn't done so for the past hundredth time. No matter how many times she takes a look around the room, she couldn't help but come back to the same picture; the biggest one in the room, facing the black piano.

Hime's eyes glows with love and longing at her mother's sharp features, her mother's ivory skin, her long, fingers that is adorned with hints of blue and green of her veins that are hiding beneath the skin. She loves her mother's eyes most; probably it's because that's the most dinstinct feature that differentiates them both – something that doesn't remind her of her father whom abandoned her when she was young. Her mother was wearing a golden chain with a ring – presumably her wedding ring since the ring situated in between Shiragiku's pinky and middle finger is a plain gold band – is embellished with diamonds and precious rubies.

"Pretty, isnt she?" Hime twirls around when she hears her father's voice from the door. Natsume is leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed against his chest. He takes a deep breath before breaking eye contact with his beloved princess to look at his queen. "I have never loved anyone as much as I loved her." He smiles unconsciously as he walks towards the picture Hime has been staring at. He reaches out to Shiragiku's painted hand over the glass and sighs. "And I have never loved anyone more than I love you." Natsume said, finally looking at his daughter. Hime's breath hitches at her throat. "Princess," Natsume drops his hand from his wife's hand to take Hime's hand. He has never felt so alive when he finally gets to take her hand in his.

The warmth of her skin makes Natsume smile. It is proof that he's not dreaming. This isnt like the many dreams Natsume had for the past years after leaving Hime to pursue something far greater and bigger to ensure her life doesn't get taken away like mother. Hime is truly his life for she is the only proof he has in the world that he was once happy and in love living the life he has ever dreamt. Shiragiku has given him everything he ever dares to dream and more. Even till her last breath, she gave him something to live for; their beautiful daughter who goes by the name Higanbana Sakuragi.

"You are such a blessing to both your mother and I." Natsume said, bringing both Hime's hands to his lips. Hime stays still as she watches her father kisses the back of her palms. "I wont let you face the same fate as your mother. I love you so much, Hime. I know I cant turn back time to undo my mistakes but if I could, I would do it. If I had known you would hate how little time I spend with you, I wouldn't have become king, I wouldn't have married Akahana.." Natsume said and Hime has never been so hurt by her father's words. She snatches her hands back.

"Don't say that." She whispers.

"What?"

"I said, don't say that!" She raises her voice, startling both her father and herself. "Don't say you regret marrying mother."

"I never regretted marrying your mother. She gave me-"

"I'm talking about Akahana." Hime said, shutting her father up. Natsume is greatly baffled when he was told off by his daughter. All children hate their evil stepmothers, don't they? "If you hadn't married mother, then haru wouldn't have been born." And that's when realisation dawns upon him.

Of course, natsume thought, closing his eyes as tightly as possible. It's not like he doesn't love Haru. He does love Haru but Haru is a different case. There is nothing more important to Hime other than Haru.