Chapter 9: Light and Shadow (Rutherford’s Perspective)
EVERYONE was looking up at the fireworks show above us. I watched, too, for a while, but then… I noticed something. Almost everyone watching the show was nuzzled up against either their lover or a family member.
I knew there had to be people who were alone, too, but everywhere I looked, I could only see townsfolk enjoying blissful moments with significant others. My stomach boiled with envy. I didn’t have anyone in my life like that. Ever since my birth, no one had left a special place in their heart for me and me alone.
I gazed at her red hair, glowing in the bit of light coming from the nearby food stalls. She wasn’t going to look my way—not until the fireworks were over. But if she had just looked at me… If she had just loved me… I would have never made the mistakes I did.
“This way, Your Highness,” my guard whispered into my ear.
I squeezed my small bear plushie before following in the direction he was gesturing. I turned back once, hoping Lady Cynthia would notice I was leaving, but she kept her eyes up on the sky, never letting go of Siraiya’s hand.
I was horribly jealous. If only I had someone at my side to hold my hand like that… Maybe they would have stopped me from leaving.
I stepped into the dark alleyway and found a familiar man waiting for me. He was one of the guards I was supposed to have sent home.
“She wants to know if you found the book.”
He glared at me. I squeezed the bear in my hand and glared right back, refusing to let him get the better of me.
“Not yet. Don’t rush this, or else Big Brother will get suspicious.”
“But I need to bring her good news as soon as possible.”
“I know that!”
Angered, I raised my voice as much as possible without being overheard. The man and the other guard stood opposite me and stared me down.
“…You’re not thinking of double-crossing us, are you?”
“What?!”
It was unthinkable for a prince’s guards to question him like this.
“You’re here to protect me, aren’t you?” I thought about answering with a question of my own, but then I stopped. These men were employed by her, not me. My words had no power over them.
“…Of course not. Just tell her the search is underway.” I practically spat those words at them, then I left the alleyway, rushing to return to Lady Cynthia.
By the time I finally spotted that red hair, the last of the fireworks had already faded into the dark sky.
My happy day was over.
“…Lady Cynthia.”
“Yes?”
She turned around when I called her name. That alone was enough to light a faint hope inside of me. Maybe it’s not too late to turn back.
“I have… something else I’d like to talk to you about. Can we speak privately tomorrow, before nightfall?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to disrespect Siraiya, so I don’t believe we should meet in private any longer. Would you allow Siraiya to join us? He’s a good listener, so perhaps he could be of help.”
Her smile was brighter than any fireworks. But I’d exhausted the time she was willing to share with me. My few mere days of happiness had run dry.
“…No, never mind. Forget it.”
On the way home, the sky was pitch black—devoid of any color.