“Keith Rowadan. He’s a man with his head screwed on backward.”
“You’re so harsh, MiZUha. You should have introduced me as ‘the man who loves me more than anyone in the world.’”
“As you can see, he is not someone you can hold a conversation with.”
“I-I can see that.”
Nady is more put off by Keith than even the Mizuha Fanatics. I don’t blame her. I felt the same way when I first met him too. And I still do.
Cia steps in front of Keith with her eyebrows turned down in a stern scowl. “Lord Rowadan, I believe I gave you a firm warning not to pester Big Sister Mizuha.”
“Why, if it isn’t Her Highness, the Princess. I apologize for not greeting you sooner.” Keith sweeps his arm under his chest in a gallant bow, paying his respects as a noble, before cheekily dismissing her warning. “As for MiZUha…she and I are bound by the red thread of fate. Alas! We have been since the day I received that heavenly blow that shook me to my core and saved me from the depths of darkness with a godly light!”
“Yeah…that was just the purification light,” I demur. “Everyone else experiences it too.”
“Even so! I am absolutely positive no one else experienced the same hard blow that I did!”
True...I might’ve hit him twice as hard as everyone else if he was just as persistent as a zombie. Though that has absolutely nothing to do with affection or positive emotions…
“All right, MiZUha, why don’t you come away with me? I have prepared a superb lunch for you today!”
“No thanks. I’m not going anywhere with you ever.”
He never listens to a word I say. Keith reaches for me to whisk me away with him, but Nady grabs his arm before it touches me.
“Sorry, but Mizuha is uncomfortable with you touching her!”
“What’s the deal with you, cat?” Keith scoffs. “Where did you come from?”
“I have been here from the start.”
“I only have eyes for MiZUha, you see.”
Apparently, Keith’s eyes are still experiencing zombie rot.
“Does that mean you have forgotten whose presence you are in, Lord Rowadan?”
“N-Naturally I always see you too, Your Highness.” Even Keith falters before Cia’s pointed remark. It doesn’t make him back down though. “Wh-Whoever you are, release my hand! Only MiZUha’s pure hands can touch me.”
“No. I refuse to let go.” Nady stubbornly holds on. She must have some serious grip strength because Keith can’t shake her off.
She cares about me enough to do this even with her timid personality. I’m thrilled she likes me that much, but I don’t want her invoking Keith’s ire. He’s a weirdo down to the bone, but still a noble. I can just see this taking a troublesome turn if things go too far. I have to do something.
“Lord Rowadan, that is enough out of you.”
Lex arrives just when I need him. Keith has lost to him countless times and his face twists with disgust knowing his time is up.
“Lex Irvine… You dare to tear me from MiZUha yet again?!”
“We aren’t close enough to be torn apart,” I point out.
“Lady Mizuha has made her feelings clear,” Lex states dryly.
“She’s only being bashful because there are onlookers.”
“I see. It appears Lord Rowadan has business at the library. Escort him there.”
Two knights appear behind Lex and begin dragging Keith away.
“U-Unhand me! I have no business at the library! It is you who should hit the books, dumb brutes! Who do you think I am?! Grr! I’ll remember this, Lex Irvine!”
Keith disappeared around the corner leaving behind an awfully villainous one-liner. I’ve seen him carted off more times than I can count, and he always kicks up such a fuss on the way.
“I owe you one, Lex.”
“Nonsense. I merely did my duty as your knight, Lady Mizuha. Call if you need me again.”
It seems like he took protecting me from the shadows as the rule of the day, since he walked away to give us girls space again. I don’t know why, but he seems a tad cooler today. Nah, it’s just me imagining things.
“Thank you for standing up for me, Nady.”
“You don’t have to thank me. We’re…friends, after all.”
I was a little worried that I had forced her into being my friend. So hearing her affirming our friendship makes me extra happy.
“Thank you too, Cia.”
“I simply did my part as your younger sister.”
We ran into two obstacles in the beginning, but the rest of our stroll through the capital went off without a hitch. Now we have finally arrived at our destination: a plaza near the entrance into the city. Various flowers are blooming in the sea of green. But the flower in the center of the plaza stands out in particular. It has four large, pristine, white petals. Each of the petals curls upward at the tip while the flower itself has a natural droop.
“Is this the flower you were talking about, Cia?”
“Yes. It is called the holy flower.”
“…I don’t like the sound of that.”
“It is believed this flower was born of your purification as it is a variety we have never seen before. The people are calling it the holy flower because it comes from the Holy Priestess.”
“I knew it!” I figured when I heard the name, but I hate when I’m right. I can’t look at it the same way now that I know it grew out of my spit.
It’s still pretty—in an uncomfortable way.
I hadn’t realized it, but a lot of people have gathered in the plaza to admire the Holy Flower.
“Beautiful…”
Nady is entranced by it. I guess if it makes her and everyone else happy, it doesn’t matter where or what it came from.
“AGHHHHHHHH!”
A loud scream in the distance interrupts my flower appreciation. Not only are there no more zombies inside the capital, but we are also surrounded by tall, thick walls. The one usable gate is guarded by anti-zombie trained soldiers. Little gets by them. Even more so during the day when zombies are slow.
But the zombies have adapted in ways I couldn’t imagine several times before. I won’t discard the notion they’ve done it again.
I spin toward where Lex is. “Lex!”
“Let’s head straight there!” he responds.