#telling the backstory of this Hoshiko... oml T-T

[poppukko]

The Queen’s Throne// Chapter 7 3/3

Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 7 2/3

Warning: Swearing

Emptiness.

Hoshiko was sitting on the kitchen floor at 2 a.m., drinking wine that belonged to her husband. She hated the stuff, but after a few drinks, she became addicted to it. It gave her the comfort she needed, something that no one gave her. I see why men drink the stuff..., she mumbled. 

The light-weight bottle of wine, almost empty, began slipping from Hoshiko’s hands, as she was lost in thought. 

Pathetic, lying bastard... 

The wine bottle eventually slipped from Hoshiko’s fingers, broken shards now on the floor. The little wine it had left reflecting the misery and betrayal she felt.

Hoshiko hazily looked at the “spell book” next to her, if it even was a spell book.

Hoshiko discovered a disturbing truth about her mother, Akane. Her mother’s naivete from her childhood never left her as she went to adulthood- the main cause her husband cheated on her. Akane was childish back then, always talking in riddles, and it eventually creeped out her husband. Hoshiko was disgusted by her mother’s behavior, but remembered that her mother’s childhood wasn’t all pink and rainbows.

Hoshiko sighed as she threw the book in the trash. True, Hoshiko was naive, but not like her mother, who couldn't tell the difference between fiction and reality.

Pathetic... 

It's been a month since she found out Ryuji was cheating on her. Hoshiko thought she could handle it, as long as he didn't divorce her. She was content with just being his wife-- or so she thought.

More days went by and it slowly gnawed a Hoshiko's heartstrings, seeing him out every night sleeping around with other woman. It hurt her, in more ways than she can imagine. Clutching the hem of her nightgown, she looked towards her phone and tapped twice, reading the time.

It’s 4 a.m... fuck, everything hurts...

She sighed and lied down on her bed. Hoshiko stared up at the dark ceiling, thinking of the many things she wanted; being held in her lover’s arms, kissed, touched, cuddled....

Feeling something wet on her eye, Hoshiko touched her cheek.

"Huh...?" Hoshiko touched her wet cheek, "T-tears...? I'm... crying again?"

Hoshiko whimpered. She put her hands over her wet eyes, and let the tears spill once more. 

She hated Ryuji, yet she couldn’t let him go.

///

A few days later, she and her husband were at the kitchen table, eating a rare meal together.

Ryuji, slightly concerned for his wife, asked, "Hoshiko, honey, are you alright?"

Hoshiko slowly turned to look at Ryuji. Hoshiko looked awful, having very obvious dark circles under her eyes, her skin very pale-- probably for the lack of sun. Her short hair was messy; as of it hasn't been combed in weeks.

Opening her mouth, Hoshiko responded, "I am fine."

Ryuji got up and leaned towards Hoshiko, checking her face a bit closer, "Are you sure...? You sure don't seem fine to me."

Hoshiko nodded. 

He's... worried for me now? Out of all times, it had to be now?

Ryuji sat back down, not satisfied with her answer, "Alright... remember you can tell me anything, I'm you're husband." Finishing his plate , he stood up and told Hoshiko, "I'm off to work! Also, later this evening we'll be going to a party. Make sure you look... presentable."

Hoshiko slowly nodded, her dark,empty eyes looking straight onto Ryuji’s bright ones. Ryuji smiled, "Well, I'm off!" and closed the door behind him.

He wants me to go to a party with him...? Maybe... maybe he wants to apologize...?

///

Hoshiko spent the day making herself look presentable. She was still depressed, but going to a party with Ryuji might just be what she was looking for.

After eating lunch, she took a hot shower, cleaning and scrubbing her hair and body. It's been a while since I last showered throughly... when was the last time I showered...? She couldn't remember.

After that, she shaved her body hair, as her legs and armpits were rather hairy. Not that she cared, but she longed for Ryuji to accept her, to truly love her. Maybe... maybe...

When she finished shaving, she began going through her closet looking for the right dress, shoes, and accessories to wear.

"What to wear... what would he like his woman to wear?" Hoshiko wondered. She began thinking what type of dresses he would usually like on a woman...

Wait, no, she shouldn't be thinking that. Not after everything he's done to her. Her family's business is going bankrupt, he's cheating on her, and...

Hoshiko shook her head. No, she didn't have time to think about this now, she had to get her clothes ready for the party.

///

After checking her closet for the perfect dress that evening, she finally made the decision to wear a long, navy blue dress, with small, glittering gems decorating the torso and the hem of her dress.

"Perfect," she smiled.

She laid the navy blue dress on her bed, and headed towards her dresser.

She sat down in front of it, and began styling her hair and putting makeup on her face.

However, as she cut her long hair a month ago, she had a hard time figuring out how to do her hair.

“I can only hope for the best now,” Hoshiko thinly smiled at herself as she styled her short hair.

///

It was 7 p.m., the time where her husband was going to take her to tonight's party. Wearing her long, navy blue dress, she walked down the stairs with a happy vibe, the bidders looking up at her in awe.

"You look beautiful, Hoshiko! Glad to see you happy!" said Baba eagerly.

"You clean up good! You don't look like trash for once!," exclaimed Ota.

"Ota!" Soryu glared at Ota.

"The kid's right," said Mamoru, "You look nice for once."

"Thanks guys," Hoshiko warmly smiled.

Ryuji coughed, interrupting the bidder’s interactions with Hoshiko. 

"You look beautiful Hoshiko, but it's time to go. We might be late at this rate," said Ryuji.

He called me beautiful...!

"Okay!" Hoshiko blushed as she grabbed her husband’s extended hand.

"Then let's get going then," he smiled.

///

At the party, Hoshiko was happy. Happy that she finally got her husband all to herself, with jealous stares and gushing couples looking at the married couple as they danced with smiles plastered onto her face.

Hoshiko was happy she danced with him, him treating her like the princess she was.

Her mood started to drop when he left her to dance with another woman much more prettier than her. She heard snickers from the group of girls 5 feet away from her. 

“Did you know? Her husband’s cheating on her with that girl!”

“So I’ve heard! I could’t care less, though, haha!”

“Don’t you feel bad?”

“Not at all! She doesn’t deserve someone as hot as Ryuji. With his neat hair and gorgeous hot body, ah~, he deserves someone better.”

Eavesdropping and the woman’s conversation, she turned to them and gave them a glare before walking away, hearing laughter.

She walked away from the crowd and went into the hall, trying to maintain calm, and tried telling herself, "He's just trying to be polite..."

He’s just being polite to the woman. You don’t even know who’s he cheating on you with.

Taking deep breaths, Hoshiko looked out the nearby window. The moon’s light shined onto Hoshiko’s face, showing her pity. Sighing, she looked back at the moon, putting on a brave face before searching for her husband.

It’s about time I confront him and come clean.

///

"What a scoundrel you are, openly cheating on your wife like this," said the beautiful woman dancing with Ryuji.

Ryuji scoffed, "If I were truly a scoundrel, I would've done much more monstrous things. She's lucky she has me."

The woman giggled, "Heh, does she know?"

"Of course she knows," Ryuji grinned, "do you want to get some fresh air?"

Ryuji stopped dancing and put his hand on the woman's back, and guided her to the balcony outside.

///

This is a really small mansion..., thought Hoshiko.

She tried finding her husband in the party hall, but he was no longer there. Her stomach turning into knots, she hurried out of there, determined to find her husband more than ever.

She continued walking through the halls until she spotted two people at the balcony.

Insticts took over her and she hid behind the pillar beside her. She peeked her head towards the balcony, squinting. She saw her husband, Ryuji, talking with that beautiful woman, the one he was dancing with earlier.

"How... how could he...," she whispered, tears threatening to spill. She concentrated on hearing their conversation.

"I love you, Ryuji... Let's run away together!" said the woman.

Hoshiko gasped, What... why is she...!

Ryuji lovingly looked at the woman, his warm brown eyes staring onto her.

A tear drop spilled onto Hoshiko's cheek. She furiously wiped it away.

I must contain my composure...! I have to stay strong!

Ryuji caressed the woman’s cheek in a loving manner. 

"I... love you too," responded Ryuji, smiling.

Hoshiko's eyes grew wide, anger surging through her.

The couple shared a hug for a brief moment, with the woman letting go first, "I've got to go now, see you tomorrow evening, my love."

“See you,” responded Ryuji.

She waved goodbye and left Ryuji alone on the balcony.

Having enough, Hoshiko made sure the woman left, and slowly walked behind Ryuji.

Taking a deep breath, Hoshiko made her way towards him. There was no other person in sight.

"...Ryuji," Hoshiko firmly said.

"...huh?" Ryuji turned around, surprised to see Hoshiko this close in front of him.

Ryuji's surprised expression returned to normal as he kindly stared at Hishiko.

What do you see in her...? Hoshiko felt her heart beat faster.

"What is it Hoshiko? Is there something wrong?"

Hoshiko took a deep breath. If only she had faced him sooner.

"I... Why... why are you cheating on me...?" trembled Hoshiko. She didn't want to cry in front of him-- no, she had to stay strong, for herself.

"Oh...? You found out?" Hoshiko felt Ryuji's aura go darker, "Why...? Haha, isn't it obvious, Hoshiko? I wanted to be the CEO of the company your family owns. Well, owned, pfft."

"Was that all I ever meant to you? Just a pawn? Did you even love me...? Every loving word you said to me... was that all a lie?"

Ryuji stepped closer and held Hoshiko's chin closer to his face.

Argh...!

“It was all a lie,” Ryuji grinned maliciously.

"So naive... to think I would fall in love with someone like you...! Haha, how pathetic." He roughly let go of her chin.

Eyes wide, Hoshiko couldn't believe the hideous words coming out of his mouth. Her emotions were getting out of control. She wanted to cry, oh so bad.

"What are you going to do now, Hoshiko? Cry away your problems? Ha, that won't work, Hoshiko. You're an adult. Act like it." snickered Ryuji.

"An adult...?"

Ryuji nodded, "Yes, yes, Hoshiko, time to grow up!"

"... I have...!"

"Hoshiko... honey, no you haven't! You have the same mindset as your mother: childish. You believe in those 'witch stories' your mother has told you? Trash."

"...! How did you know about that...!?"

"Your mother told me."

“... I don’t believe in them! A-and I’m not childish! Ryuji, I loved you...! How could you do this to me!”

"...Is that really going to work on me, Hoshiko? Your tears won't work on me, nor on anyone, it's useless.

“I never loved you, Hoshiko, get that through your thick skull, will you?”

Hoshiko looked down to the floor. Hearing this out of Ryuji's own mouth made things worse. She couldn't believe it, was she in denial the whole time? Yeah... that's it. Maybe this is just an eye opener for her. Maybe--

"Look, I'm heading back, I dunno about you--" began Ryuji. Ryuji suddenly stopped, a strong, yet delicate hand holding him back.

Hoshiko wouldn’t let him go, no matter how hard Ryuji struggled. Hoshiko’s aura turned threatening, slightly frightening Ryuji.

"Hoshiko... let go. Now." Ryuji warned.

He couldn't see her face, as she was still looking down at the ground.

"..."

Ryuji was roughly pushed back onto the stone balcony, hurting his lower back.

"Hoshiko what on earth--"

Before Ryuji could finish his sentence, he fell off the balcony, Hoshiko’s dark expression looking down at him.

///

Trying to maintain her rapid beating heart, Hoshiko quickly went back inside the mansion, making her way to a nearby restroom.

Inside, Hoshiko looked into the mirror. She looked like a mess-- her makeup was slightly, but notably, ruined. Her hands were trembling violently. She... really did it. She killed him off...!

I killed him off...!

Hoshiko fixed her makeup with trembling hands. He couldn't have survived that, no he couldn't have-- the fall was too high, no way he survived that.

Hoshiko washed her hands. That goddamn bastard should've never cheated on her in the first place. He would've still been alive, Hoshiko in his arms.

Hoshiko left the bathroom and headed towards the party hall. On the way there, she passed by the woman Ryuji was cheating with. 

Motherfucker would still be living if he chose me. I would've forgiven him! But he chose her instead of me! I hope she feels the desperation I've felt when I couldn't have him.

"Hoshiko!" someone called out to her. She turned to the direction of the voice and saw Baba with Ota.

"Hey, Hoshiko, where's Ryuji at?" Ota asked.

The godforsaken bastard is dead, Hoshiko thought.

"I'm not sure... last time I saw him he headed towards the balcony? I'm not sure," said Hoshiko.

"Are you okay, Hoshiko?" asked Baba concerned. Hoshiko sensed Baba trying to read her expression.

"Yeah, I'm fine Baba. Go on and find Ryuji. Tell him I'm going home if you find him." said Hoshiko. 

Baba hesitated and told Ota to go separate ways to find Ryuji.

I have finally gotten my revenge on the good-for-nothing bitch.

///

"Hoshiko!" Mamoru knocked on her door.

Hoshiko, a bit groggy since she fell asleep, opened the door, "What is it Mamoru...? It's 1 a.m. in the morning."

Mamoru never looked so serious, in the two years she knew Mamoru.

"You might need to sit down, Hoshiko. It's about... Ryuji."

Ah, so they found him dead.

Hoshiko sat down on the couch, inviting Mamoru to do the same. Mamoru sat down next to Hoshiko, sighed and looked into Yoshiko's brown eyes.

"Imma just go straight to the point. Ryuji's dead."

Hoshiko felt her heart beat fast. He's dead... good for him... haha.

"He... is?" Hoshiko said, pretending to feel sorrow.

Mamoru nodded,"I'm sorry."

///

The next few days passed by in a blur. With Ryuji's death, everything was chaotic. Good, as Hoshiko soon took control of her company once more.

Finally I could make some use of my business degree, she thought.

She also got her immense fortune back, and then something else.

The bidders were distraught with Ryuji's death. Although Ryuji handled the company very poorly, he brought in benefits from the auctions themselves.

Hoshiko knew about the auctions, but chose not to participate in such a thing.

Now with Ryuji's death, it seemed that his job as auction manager would fall onto Hoshiko's hands.

Hoshiko accepted it with a firm nod. The bidders promised her that they would teach her how to handle the auctions, and she would go from there.

All's well that ends well... except...

///

She would just get in the way! I can't have her meddling with what I do!

I need her to get away from me... if she doesn't I might as well become insane like her and talk nonsense! Haha!

That's it... I'd just kill her, simple as that...!

On a certain day, Hoshiko invited her mom out for tea, to celebrate Hoshiko's success.

"Congratulations, Hoshiko! I'm glad you came to your senses...!" Hoshiko's mother said joyfully.

"Thanks mom, I'm glad you're proud of me!" said Hoshiko.

Her mother giggled, sipping from her cup of tea, "Hmm, tastes weird..."

"Mother...?”

“Yes, Hoshiko?”

“How was dad like?”

Clunk!

The tea cup was roughly set onto the saucer, the air feeling tense.

“He was a weird man...,” began Akane with a tense expression, her forehead showing wrinkles as she thought hard.

“He kept a ton of secrets from me, books in a language I didn’t understand. Throbbed in his sleep... probably because of the guilt he had when he cheated on me,” answered Akane, grinning.

“He was still charming, though! In his own way, of course.”

“I see...,” responded Hoshiko meekly.

Akane sighed, “He deserved to die, like all other men.”

“...

“I’m going to go now, mother,” Hoshiko stood up from her seat, leaving her mother behind.

“Alright dearie, take care!” waved her mother.

Insane... useless...

///

"My mother's dead?" asked Hoshiko.

"Y-yes, you're mother died from an unknown cause. She wouldn't wake up this morning, no matter how hard we tried to wake her up. A doctor came in later that day and presumed her dead,” said a servant from her mother’s household..

Pretending to be shocked, Hoshiko managed an "Oh dear". She called off the servant and began making arrangements for her funeral.

"Hmph, finally. Now that she's out of my way, time to finally make my legacy,” she mumbled as she called to arrange the funeral.

///

“This will be the only time I’ll help... take this info for granted.”

///

Chapter 7 3/3 End

Finally finished, aaaaa! Sorry I haven't updated in week, haha but I’m back! Things have been getting rough in life but I’ll update it when I can!

Tagging: @catchthespade @hobo4lyfe11 @snootz33 @medievalbingeprincess69 @lone-wolf155 @kingdomzeldaquest