Chapter 24
Chapter 24
THROUGHOUT history war ravaged the three countries existing on the continent of Aridol. Despite constant skirmishes across their borders, the three countries remained in equilibrium. Rvydom being absorbed into Maruk was the first ever recorded fall of a nation in Aridol’s history.
Vigo mulled over what he could do to help. A country with a long history had met its demise and he was forced to survive in war-torn times. Crushed under the weight of the way the world turned, his love and national pride never faded as he continued the core of his lost nation’s research.
“So? What should I do?” he asked.
“We want to make Adolunde our ally,” Galian answered unswervingly.
Maruk’s tributary territory, Rvydom, would request support from the Kingdom of Adolunde that was currently at war with Maruk, essentially joining Adolunde’s side in the war.
“What are the chances of them siding with us?”
“One of Adolunde’s princes is going to cooperate with us.”
A prince is? When did they manage to get that card up their sleeve?
Little time had passed since Galian’s escape. His imprisonment had lasted years.
Galian smiled ruefully, sensing Vigo’s disbelief. “You see, the one who rescued me was Rvydom’s princess, and her Knight is a prince of Adolunde.”
Vigo jumped out of his chair, the momentum sent it flying backward and clattering against the wall behind him. “What did you just say?! The princess saved you?!”
Princess—that word brought to mind the girl Rifaenotis entrusted into his care. However, she didn’t possess the ring that stood as proof of a bond between Knight and Master.
Is there another princess? Is she not the princess? Who are they talking about?
“Is Lord Cahn’s daughter still with you then?”
Shock flicked across Dante and Galian’s faces.
“What do you mean is she ‘still’ with us?” Dante questioned, Vigo’s lack of surprise at the mentioning of the princess furrowing his brow.
“What else is there to mean by my question? Rifaenotis has currently entrusted me with the protection of a girl. She looks about fifteen or sixteen in age. We have no solid proof, but it appears she may be Lord Cahn’s daughter.”
“The girl’s fifteen? She’s not a girl of ten? With violet eyes?”
“No. She can’t be much younger than fifteen. Her eyes are black. It should be noted she was in the presence of the Rose Witch before meeting Rifaenotis, which begs to question whether this is her true appearance.”
“…What is the girl’s name?”
“Yuki.”
The doubt on their faces all but vanished at her name.
“…She still lives then…” Galian rasped emotionally.
“Do you gentlemen know of Yuki?” Vigo asked.
“The Yuki we knew was an eighteen-year-old girl with violet eyes who was ten in appearance. We were under the impression she had been executed at the stake by Maruk, but I see…so she lives. The change in her appearance is likely the Rose Witch’s handiwork.”
“If you say so…”
How could an eighteen-year-old look like she’s ten? Then look like she’s fifteen? For a moment, Vigo thought they were the delusions accompanying senility in the older gentlemen, but the serious, self-aware gleam in their eyes kept him from questioning them aloud.
“Where is Lady Yuki now?”
“She is staying at the orphanage a few hours’ ride from here. She said something about going to get someone important to her out of Adolunde. Should I bring her to you?”
“No. She may contract the Ten Day Fever if you bring her here. I see…so she plans to go to Adolunde…”
Vigo still couldn’t see the whole picture. “I believe you have your own agendas, but Rifaenotis requested we allow her to do as she pleases,” he brought up and glanced between the two men. They treated his remark and gaze with silence as they made their own conclusions.
“I have no doubt she is going to rescue Lucat.”
“Vigo, you said you’re traveling around the continent handing out medicine for the Ten Day Fever, correct?” Dante asked, a smile tugging at his lips.
“I am.”
Vigo had no clue how their minds worked or what they were planning, but he resigned himself not to care if it meant helping the country he loved.
“Good, we’ll have you prioritize heading to Adolunde. Use the medicine and your medical knowledge to garner favor with the people. We’ll progress things on our side here. Oh, and teach us how to refine the Ten Day Fever medicine too.”
“Are you planning to use it in negotiations?” Vigo inquired, realizing the underlying meaning in what they wanted him to do.
“Rvydom no longer has a national treasury or funds of its own. The only thing we have of value is the wonder drug for the Ten Day Fever our researchers have worked on for decades.”
Vigo sighed. “Aah, yes, that is true. You are putting the result of my hard work and years of trial and error on sale for your cause. Yes?”
“Don’t be that way. You will be rewarded if Rvydom is rebuilt.”
He didn’t need any reward for what he meant to be a free medicine, but saying so would be tactless.
“With that said, take Lady Yuki to Adolunde. I believe she will bring Prince Lucat from where he’s imprisoned, so help her in any way possible. Put your life on the line if necessary to keep her out of harm’s way.”
Every single one of these old men are too naïve in how to handle her, is what Vigo thought, but that too sounded tactless, so he kept his opinions to himself.
An erratic voice sounding close to a scream from the adjoining room quickly ended the men’s discussion.
***
THE sun quickly started its descent behind the mountain range acting as the backdrop of the orphanage and outlying areas. A short game after their naps and the children were ready to beat the trail back home. Getting some rest helped Yuki recover enough to walk alongside the children. They spotted Vigo who left in the wee hours of the morning at the fence surrounding the orphanage to keep out prowling wildlife.
“You went out?” he asked from atop his horse. “Do you feel well enough to be outside?”
Pasch stepped in front of her before she could answer she was in tip-top shape. “She passed out from anemia. Examine her please.”
Vigo knitted his brow and mumbled something indecipherable under his breath.
“What?”
“Nothing. You’ll get better with sleep. And sorry to break this to you now, but we’re leaving here tonight. Get some sleep once you get your things together. Oh, and don’t use a pillow. Keep your head down,” Vigo instructed and turned the neck of his horse toward the stables.
“…You’re supposed to keep the head lowered with anemia?” Pasch muttered in shock and ran his hand down his apologetic face. “Sorry. Seems like I had it in reverse.”
His guilt-ridden expression brought a laugh to Yuki. “Don’t apologize. I’m okay. I’m all better thanks to you letting me rest. I can still play the day away with the kids!” She posed with both fists in the air to show how healthy she felt.
Pasch smiled wryly and ruffled her hair. “Stupid. You still look like death. Get some sleep… You leave tonight, right?”
“…Yeah.” Her head drooped.
Living a self-sustaining life where everyone supports each other and smiles—being in such a place almost caused her to forget.
I have things I must do. After the pieces I’ve glimpsed of this world, I’m starting to see what I might be able to do for it.
“I have something I have to do no matter what,” she said with a smile.
Pasch’s smile didn’t fade as he continued messing up her hair. “Having something you have to do sounds about right for a softhearted soul like you. You’re headed to Adolunde after you make your rounds in Rvydom, yeah?”
“Yeah… Are you still against it?”
“Honestly? I am, especially when it comes to Adolunde.”
“Because Adolunde is an enemy nation?
“You’ve got that right. Adolunde is a mess because of the Ten Day Fever right now, which is why the war hasn’t begun. There’s no telling what will happen once things calm down for them,” he said and suddenly snickered derisively. “I’d prefer things to just stay the way they are.”
Those words echoed in Yuki’s lightheaded brain. Her eyes widened at his unbelievable proclamation. Lips trembling, her question came out in a hoarse voice, “Are you saying you want everyone to die from it?”
“What?” Pasch asked, his eyes locked on hers.
“From what you said, you would be happy if the Ten Day Fever spread, killing everyone in Adolunde.”
“I did not—”
“You did say that. You just said you’d prefer it if we didn’t stop the Ten Day Fever. Soldiers die in war. The Ten Day Fever kills soldiers and commoners without discrimination. Innocent people will die in large numbers at its hand. Don’t you love the people of your country, Pasch? Don’t you want to prevent their deaths?”
The young man in front of her used those very same round lips to provoke and intimidate her into dying for this country and its people. Now he dared to cower from what he set her aflame for?
“Wasn’t it out of love for the people under you that you wanted to stop the war? It was from that impetus that you…”
That you repeatedly told me to die. Yuki’s face contorted with the pain surging from the burns on her chest. She held her hand over it and took a deep breath to keep the aches at bay.
“Sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight,” Pasch apologized, bowing deeply to her.
“You don’t have to apologize to me for it.”
“I lose my head whenever I’m with you,” he admitted.
She fabricated a forced smile to keep the stabbing pains from showing on her face. “I’m sorry for acting all high and mighty too. But war and the Ten Day Fever are two sides of the same coin.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you set out to stop them, you can. Stopping the war is out of our league, but Vigo, Selena, and I can stop the Ten Day Fever. If it were possible, I’d love to stop the war too though,” Yuki said and shrugged her shoulders. Pasch watched her in surprise. A few moments passed before he started chuckling and ended up laughing so hard he doubled over.
“H-Hey! What’s so funny?! I was being serious too!”
“Sorry. I was just thinking I’m a fool for only realizing it after you put me to task.”
“Realizing what? I’m lost!”
Finishing off his bout of laughter, Pasch rubbed the tears from his eyes and looked at Yuki. “I can’t stop the spread of the Ten Day Fever, but I can strive to put an end to the war. I’m still a prince, you know?” he teased, some of the burden leaving his shoulders. “What good is there in giving up hope just because the war started? Proposing a truce is still possible.”
“Pasch…”
“I’ll head back to the castle today. And then I’ll talk things over with my father.”
“Good luck!”
“You’d better go all out and stop the Ten Day Fever in its tracks too! It’s no laughing matter if I stop the war only for everyone to die of illness.”
“You make it sound like I’m more likely to fail! I’ll do my part well!”
Pasch chuckled, his grin more in line with his age than any she had seen before. “You’d better come to see me.”
His sincere eyes pierced through her, rendering her immobile.
“……”
During their conversation, the sun had settled behind the mountains leaving an indigo sky in its wake. The early summer breeze prickled their skin with gooseflesh. Was it the cold or what he said that gave her chills?
“…Okay,” she finally managed to get out, despite the awkward twitch at the corner of her eye.
“Can you tell me your full name so I’ll know right away when you come to the castle?” Pasch asked, smiling as innocently as ever. Yuki was captivated by him just enough to fight back the horror of going to Maruk’s castle after what had happened in Cele.
“Um…I’m Yuki Kasuga,” she said softly.
“Yuki Kasuga. Right, I’ll remember it. May Aridol’s blessing be with you.” Pasch stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to him. She squeezed her eyes shut as his opposite hand loomed toward her. He pushed her bangs away from her face and lightly touched his soft lips to her cheek.
“…?!” Her eyes sprang open as his warmth parted from her, and she was left with his beautiful smile.
“I’ll go as soon as I greet the headmaster. Rest up before you go. See you again soon,” he said, innocently avoiding the fact he just kissed her and ran off after patting her head.
It took a good ten minutes before she realized he kissed her.