Chapter 3: Concern for the Future
“SHUT up! This is my decision!”
I shot up out of my futon when I heard men yelling first thing in the morning. Nervously, I threw on a haori and darted into the hall. No one could commit violence in an inn full of imperial guards, but I still needed to see what was going on.
I was heading for the staircase to the lobby when I spotted Prince Adelberd and Siraiya staring out a window together. Both were wearing their yukata, though they had shirts on underneath, like me.
Siraiya…looked downright handsome in a yukata. He hadn’t styled his hair yet, either, which made him look younger—like he did in our academy days.
“Cynthia,” he addressed me once he spotted me.
“Oh, you’re here. We’re sightseeing,” Prince Adelberd said next.
“What’s going on?” I asked them.
“Prince Rutherford said he’d limit his numbers to three guards in total, but now they are defying his will. They say it’s not safe enough for him to remove them.”
Siraiya’s explanation helped me understand the situation. When I looked outside, the second-born prince was speaking to his group of guards.
“Three guards…? That’s not very many, is it?”
When I said that without thinking, Prince Adelberd brought his hand to his chin.
“I appreciate having fewer guards around, personally. I have more freedom to do as I please that way. But Rutherford has always done as his guards told him. I wonder what’s changed now? Oh, maybe this is his ‘rebellious phase.’ Most fascinating.”
I left Prince Adelberd to amuse himself with his brother’s antics and stood next to Siraiya. We watched over the proceedings.
“I’m just here to visit my sick brother! There’s no need for a whole platoon of armed men trailing behind me! Now do as I say already!” Prince Rutherford was shouting.
“Your Highness! This too could be the enemy’s trick! What if he’s feigning his illness as part of some nefarious plot?!”
When one of the guards suggested that, Prince Rutherford grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt.
“That’s my brother you’re talking about! Don’t ever call him the ‘enemy’ again!”
“M-… My apologies…”
The prince thrust the guard back and strode into the inn.
“What an excellent show. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must return to my room before my dear brother finds me.”
As always, it was difficult to tell how Prince Adelberd really felt about what he had just seen. But regardless, he headed off toward the room he was staying in with Siraiya.
“I need to go too. But…”
“But what?” I repeated, looking up at Siraiya. He laced his fingers with mine and smiled sadly.
“I don’t want to leave you… We were supposed to be together this entire trip, and I miss you terribly…”
“I miss you too… We’re finally together, but now we already have to separate.”
I returned his sad smile and squeezed his hand. But it wasn’t enough. In the end, I leaned my weight against Siraiya’s sturdy chest. I felt his body heat through his yukata. It was a much thinner garment than what nobles usually wore, and I loved how it felt like we were closer together than normal.
“The yukata looks so good on you, Siraiya.”
“It’s much more beautiful on you, Cynthia.”
We embraced and exchanged words of praise, still unwilling to part. But then…
“Acting so disgracefully first thing in the morning…”
We jumped backwards at the sound of a displeased voice. Once we turned, we saw the second-born prince glaring at us.
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
As Siraiya greeted and bowed to the prince, I mirrored his gesture, since I couldn’t curtsey in my yukata. I hoped a bow was acceptable in these circumstances.
“…Lift your heads. Tell Big Brother I ordered my guards to go home.”
“As you wish.”
The prince passed us after Siraiya responded to him. But then he froze, turned back to look at us, and said one last thing. “Are engagements really that amazing? Magical enough to change a person’s whole personality?”
“…Pardon?” I couldn’t help but respond. I didn’t understand what he was asking us.
Prince Rutherford broke eye contact, muttered, “No…never mind,” and took off walking again.
I wonder what that was about? My engagement to my beloved Siraiya was amazing to me, but his remark about “changing a person’s whole personality” remained a mystery.