Chapter 29
Chapter 29
HOW long has it been since Maruk’s prince left? Yuki wondered absentmindedly. Her mind was inevitably drawn to thoughts of her upcoming execution, the intense pain of her burns, Orga, and the friends she was separated from.
This isn’t working. I need to break my situation down.
How had she ended up as Orga’s captive? Why were the other countries so obsessed with controlling Rvydom’s surviving citizens? Was there any way for her to return home? Would anyone come rescue her?
By the time she saw the sun rise to its highest point through the window in her room, Yuki was mentally exhausted. She sat up straight—as if that would help—as her mind drifted to the next set of questions plaguing her.
First things first, why was Orga in the grove? Hadn’t Ain told me that Orga is the first in line to inherit the throne? And, as such, is always cooped up in the castle? Yet he set foot into the enemy country of Maruk. And he seemed to be on somewhat friendly terms with Maruk’s prince. Didn’t they say they were at war with each other? Are they actually on good terms?
Yuki shook her head.
I don’t get it. Why would they go to war if they’re on good terms? Ugh, it’s no use. I can’t solve that one. Next topic.
Yuki glanced down at her chest. The necklace her father—Kaito—gave her was gone. Kaito said to never let the ring dangling from the necklace out of her reach.
I’m sorry, Papa.
She lost Kaito’s ring and her own ring.
That reminds me, when he said to use the ring in times of trouble, he didn’t mean to sell it, did he? I totally thought he meant to use it in the place of money if the need arose. I wouldn’t be in this big fat mess if he had told me to search for a Knight with it or taught me how to search for a Knight.
Well, even if he had me search for his Knight, Galian was imprisoned, so finding him would have been impossible without help. Which reminds me…
Yuki had the feeling Kaito had told her something else important.
What was it?
Before even five minutes passed after Kaito suddenly came out of the closet about being from another world, he pushed Yuki off the balcony. The hectic days and constantly changing circumstances over the months after that made it hard for Yuki to remember much of what he said in those brief few minutes.
I remember he said something that sounded like it was straight from a high-fantasy novel. Yuki placed her head on her hand and racked her brain. He said something about his name in this world, right? What was it? If I’m not mistaken, it wasn’t Kaito.
Lord Cahn—Yuki remembered Galian calling out that name when her ring reacted to his.
That’s right, it was Cah something. I’m not too far off.
Yuki was relieved she could remember a piece of what Kaito told her. Then it hit her.
That’s not it! That’s not the important part! Remember! Remember, Yuki Kasuga!
She rolled around on the bed mumbling, “Hmm,” when she suddenly heard a familiar voice.
“So Yuki, if you happen to manifest powers, you mustn’t use them indiscriminately in front of others. Promise me you won’t.”
The voice sounded so real, as if he were speaking in the room with her, she jumped out of bed. She searched the room several times to make certain Kaito wasn’t there.
“As if he would be,” she sighed.
That’s right, he mentioned something about powers. I didn’t believe him one bit when he told me, but this world is something right out of a fantasy novel. Witches and monsters exist. Knights, mages, and perverted men with fox ears exist. With all of that, it wouldn’t be too strange for there to be something like super powers.
“If you happen to manifest powers…” Kaito had said.
Does that mean I haven’t manifested them yet? What kind of powers? Is it something along the lines of what the Knights receive when they bond with a Master? Or will I end up something akin to the Witches? Either way, I haven’t the slightest idea what it may be. I wish they would manifest now and allow me to fly right out the window.
The curtain hanging over the window billowed in the wind. Yuki went out onto the connected balcony, but her prison room was up higher than her condo in Tokyo—it didn’t look possible to scale the wall down. She considered pulling down the curtains and tying them into a rope, but even if she connected it with the sheets it wouldn’t be long enough to reach anywhere near the ground, so she gave up on the idea.
Where is this place? Yuki couldn’t tell where she was, because all she saw when she looked down were mountains extending as far as the eye could see.
In the end, I’m ignorant and powerless. I haven’t a clue about where I am right now or the severity of the situation I’m in. I can’t do anything.
Yuki rubbed her right hand’s middle finger where Luca’s ring once rested. Even the ring that once sat on her finger was gone now.
I really have lost everything. I’ve lost my connection to this world and what connected me with Luca and the others.
“This sucks…” Her voice came out hoarse and sounded funny.
It really does suck. I’m ignorant and powerless. No matter how I struggle to do my best, I can only get in their way. I’ve been with Luca for such a long time now, but I don’t even know his age, hobbies, or what he likes to eat. And yet…and yet—how could I want him to come and save me this badly?
She felt dizzy, and decided to return back to her bed. Did her burns cause a fever?
“This sucks.”
Was it because of the fever or because of self-loathing that heat and tears rose to her eyes? Yuki fell back onto her bed and breathed shallow breaths until she finally fell asleep.
***
A precise border existed between the three countries on Aridol. The mountain range divided the entire continent. Shaped like a large Y, the mountains created a border across the continent of Aridol. To the west was Adolunde, the east was Maruk, and to the confined north nestled at the top of the Y was Rvydom. Since ancient times countless wars between the countries occurred, but in the end the mountain range always remained the dominant borderline between the countries.
It was necessary to pass over the mountains to return to Adolunde from Cele. Cele was Maruk’s southernmost city, so it was possible to travel by ship on the sea, but regrettably Luca did not have that kind of time. He informed Tita and Nasette to be considerate of the elderly Dante and Galian and travel by ship instead.
Luca and Ain were racing through one of mountain passes and over the border by horse. They ran into a messenger at a small village they stopped at to rest on their way. It must have been quite the urgent message, because Luca soon realized that other messengers were stationed in nearly every single town and village in the vicinity.
The official notice read: “The deliberation will be held at Adolunde Castle ten days from now on the night of the new moon.”
Ten days would definitely not be enough time to make it from Cele to Adolunde Castle by normal means. Furthermore, while the official notice stated it would occur in ten days, the new moon was only nine days away from the time Luca came across the notice.
“Brother is merciless,” Luca said with a derisive snicker.
Ain nearly said, “Please share some of your composure with me.”
I’m glad I didn’t say it, Ain thought.
Ain was relieved, because while Luca laughed, his eyes weren’t laughing at all.
Prince Luca is his usual self.
Rather than a sour look on his face, he was expressionless. Only the glint in his eyes was abnormally sharp. This was the Luca Ain was used to always seeing. Recently, and likely because of Yuki’s presence, Ain felt the air about him had started to mellow. However, there wasn’t even a glimmer of a soft expression on his face now.
Or is it for Yuki’s sake he’s become this frantic?
As usual, Ain hadn’t a clue what his stiff-faced master was thinking. However, the speed he galloped his horse was several times faster than usual. It was like torture to Ain who didn’t travel well on horseback—he failed his horseback riding lessons before. By the time he realized it, Luca had galloped quite a distance ahead of him.
“Wait, Prince Luca! Please, please wait just a little bit for me to catch up!” Ain cried rubbing his sore unused thigh muscles.