Chapter 14

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 14

THE night wore on as the five of them talked, resulting in their decision to stay in the same inn instead of returning to the inn Luca booked elsewhere. Inside the inn room Luca, Yuki, Nasette, and Ain sat around the table. Tita sat elegantly on the edge of the nearest bed.

After hearing the explanation of how Nasette rescued Yuki because he happened to be staying where the kidnappers took her, Luca only said, “I see,” and silently went to the room Nasette left the kidnappers. Disturbing noises came from the other room for several minutes, before Luca returned to their room with a refreshed expression.

All he said upon his return was, “They didn’t know much. Apparently, they were ordered to kidnap a girl named Yuki, who was supposed to have violet eyes and a Witch’s Seal on her body. They were unduly well-informed on the small details.”

Tita stood from the bed in shock. “She has a Seal?”

“Yuki doesn’t have a Witch’s Seal anywhere on her. I can attest to that,” Luca declared definitively.

Yuki knew there wasn’t a Seal birthmark, brand, scar, or anything else of that nature on her flesh, but she didn’t understand how Luca could attest to the fact.

She eyed him suspiciously, when Ain whispered in her ear, “Remember when the maids changed your clothing back at Adolunde’s castle? Prince Luca had the head maid check you for a Seal.”

“But doesn’t that mean the person who ordered those men to kidnap Yuki suspects she is a Witch? Do they suspect her because of what she did at Fol Castle?” Ain asked Luca.

“…The information spread too fast if that’s the case,” Luca remarked.

“Yes, which would make the mastermind someone capable of obtaining information quickly—and most likely someone in our ranks,” Ain hypothesized.

The room fell silent. They were in a situation where they had to suspect those closest to them first.

“Doesn’t your rotten Older Brother fit the criteria? Don’t you all think it’s him too? Why don’t you mention him?” Yuki asked.

Luca heaved the heaviest sigh yet. “Your boldness is admirable, but my brother holds the true reins of power over all of Adolunde. People are too frightened to even whisper his name.”

“Is that really the reason? …Then why am I the target? Aren’t I the target because you’re a prince and I’m your Master?”

“If he were seriously targeting my life, he would have taken me out when I was much younger. Brother suspects you’re an orphan from Rvydom—essentially, Rvydom’s imperial princess.”

“Huh?” The teacup nearly slipped from Yuki’s hand.

“Do you know why the war started?” Luca asked her.

“No idea,” Yuki answered, carefully placing her teacup back on the saucer. Luca grumbled with exasperation.

I’m not from this world, so of course I wouldn’t know! She was about to say spitefully, when Luca explained.

“A long time ago—well, it’s not long enough to have faded to the back of people’s memories and history books. About twenty years ago, Maruk’s king died, and Rvydom’s king went missing,” Luca said matter-of-factly. “Fifteen years ago, Maruk’s new king invaded the unstable Kingdom of Rvydom that was still searching for its missing king. Rvydom’s king had no children, leaving no successor to the throne.”

“…I see. But why not find someone else to inherit the throne? If they have a royal family, why not just hand the crown over to a relative or something?”

“Rvydom is different. Didn’t I tell you before that they have special eyes? Rvydom’s royal family members are the only people in this world with violet eyes. Only those who inherit violet eyes can become king or queen—and since the disappearance of the king, no one else with violet eyes has appeared in Rvydom.”

“I see,” Yuki muttered.

Luca took a sip of his tea before continuing, “And then ten years ago the war came to a complete end. Rvydom’s missing king never reappeared, nor were there any rumors of his death.”

“Is that why your rotten Older Brother thinks I’m possibly the missing king’s child?”

“Pretty much,” Luca answered. “The reason for the war—well, there are several different reasons—is that Rvydom’s citizens excel in the healing arts, and Maruk wanted that ability for themselves. But there was much they couldn’t accept about Rvydom. Not to mention the economic issues…oh, and religious differences.”

Yuki found it odd he paused before mentioning the religious differences. “Are religious differences why Adolunde and Maruk are at war too?”

“After suppressing Rvydom, Maruk instigated a war with Adolunde to further its reach. Maruk’s forces were exhausted from the successive battles, and Adolunde was firmly against the war, so a cease-fire pact eventually formed. With the ceasefire pact over now, both sides are fumbling around for what they really want, which is why it’s not a full-blown war yet,” Luca spat out with disdain.

“I…see.”

“And now you have come into play as a useful pawn in this war.”

“Huh? Me?”

Luca looked at Yuki with a bitter expression. Everyone stared at Luca.

“No longer is there a clear reason for this war now that the ceasefire’s timespan has concluded. Eight years have passed since it was first instigated after all. It’s only natural past grudges have faded into obscurity. Meaning there’s no just cause to rally the people behind to invade the other country—for either side.

“That’s where you come in—he is trying to paint the picture that Adolunde has taken Rvydom’s lost imperial princess under its wing. They’ll spread the information Maruk persecuted and tortured the princess. This allows him to fight Maruk under the just cause of punishing them for what they did to a young princess, and if Adolunde wins, it will receive not only indemnities, but Rvydom as well.”

“Wait—” Yuki jumped out of her seat. “What’s with that logic!”

“Don’t you think it’s foolish? It’s as worthless and foolish as you think. They want to go to war badly enough to fabricate a story.”

“Why?”

The flickering lamplight danced shadows across Luca’s blond hair.

“Because countries are envious of each other. That country is prospering; that country has wealth, military might, technology, and the like. And thus other countries want to steal what they envy and make it their own. They want to be the ones to advance, expand, become prosperous—human greed is limitless,” Luca said, his eyes rounding with surprise.

Yuki was curious what surprised him, but he abruptly stood with a grim expression and turned for the door.

“Prince Luca?” Ain was just as confused by Luca’s sudden change.

“I’m leaving. I’ll be back tomorrow morning,” Luca said curtly, quietly closing the door behind him.

Yuki, Ain, Nasette, and Tita were left in confusion. The heavy silence was suffocating. Nasette stood saying, “I’ll check on him,” and left the room.

The looming silence made it dawn on Yuki that it never even crossed her mind to question what started the war wreaking havoc throughout Aridol. What she thought was a war occurring on some distant land and had nothing to do with her, was actually happening all around her.

And now they’re telling me I might become the catalyst to make it a full-blown war? I’m not even from this world. Yet they expect me to believe I’m at the center of their problems? Her head spun from how surreal it felt.

“…Long time no see,” Tita said, gazing out the window from where she sat on the bed. Yuki wondered who she was talking to, until she spotted Ain staring at Tita.

“Y-You have changed quite a lot in the five years since we last saw each other,” Ain stuttered.

Tita turned her attention from outside to Ain. “Obviously—but clearly you haven’t changed in the slightest, Ain.”

Oh? Tita’s acting weird. She smiled like a doll at me earlier. She was really nice too. But now she seems cold… Yuki thought, watching their exchange.

“If I had to say what changed, it would be you lost your cuteness and charm,” Ain said. She standoffishly turned her head toward the window. “You really are as irritating as ever! Will anyone even take you as their wife?”

“Hmph, that’s none of your business! Why don’t you think about your own lack of wife prospects before you harp on my love life?”

“What’s with that! I came all this way to look for you too!” Ain bolted from his chair. Tita spun back around and stood glowering at him.

“You came looking for me? Oh dear, what great pains you must have gone through to do that! My condolences for your time. But isn’t Luca the one who came looking? You’re just his chamberlain, Ain! You only came because he did!”

“It’s the same thing!” Ain shouted.

“It is not the same!” Tita yelled back. “I mean haven’t you always been like this, Ain? You always, always clung behind Brother and Luca and followed them everywhere!”

“The same can be said for you, Tita! You skipped your lessons to play with us.”

Yuki stared in a daze at the sudden argument. She didn’t understand why they started fighting. Nasette opened the door and came inside while she was still perplexed.

“Sir Nasette?”

“Yo, what’s up? You can just call me Nasette—whoa, they’re goin’ at it again?”

“Again?”

“Ah, well, how do I explain?” Nasette scratched the back of his head, forcing an awkward smile as he watched Ain and Tita argue. “It’s one of those, ‘the usual’ situations.”

Yuki looked at Ain and Tita. They were fighting, but she didn’t find it unpleasant or scary to be in the same room. If anything, their behavior was endearing enough to make her smile.

“Oh, it’s one of those, ‘they get along so well they fight’, situations, huh?” Yuki summarized.

“We do not get along well!” Ain and Tita objected at the exact same time, leading to them berating each other with another set of sarcastic criticisms.