Chapter 31
THE following morning Yuki’s fears were confirmed when she looked in the mirror and saw her red, swollen eyes. A dry laugh escaped her. Still, she found herself waking up feeling refreshed.
Nothing has changed between today and yesterday, but I feel better. I’ll save worrying about things I can’t help for after I secure Luca.
Some people may say she was escaping reality by focusing on finding Luca, but worrying about things she could do nothing about was unhealthy. Panic often accompanied her thoughts about Luca. She needed to rescue him soon. The faster she could meet him and apologize, the better. Faster, sooner, quicker—those words raced through her, bringing with them frustrated impatience.
Luca was smart and skilled—he should be fine. A prince wouldn’t be treated poorly by his own country. Such thoughts did little to comfort Yuki though she tried. The mounting panic swelled inside her until she refused to look at it or touch it these past few weeks.
With Adolunde only a stone’s throw away, the itch to see him as soon as possible came back with a vengeance. She kept her feelings at bay by convincing herself he wouldn’t go down without a fight, but the effectiveness was reaching its limit. Seeing him in person and confirming his well-being was what she wanted most.
“I can’t cry anymore.”
I hate war, fighting, and everything related. But kicking up a fuss about how much I hate something and doing nothing about it is no different from the kid I look like.
“That’s why I am going to start doing what I can,” Yuki told the sixteen-year-old reflection of herself. The serious expression was ruined by her swollen eyes. She laughed at her appearance.
✦ ✦ ✦
YUKI tidied up her bed and headed to the foyer with her packed bag. A ready Vigo and Selena stood at the door with Touta and a few other men there to see them off.
“I-I’m sorry,” Yuki quickly apologized, tugging the quiver strap over her shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it,” Selena answered her with a grin that faded as soon as she saw her eyes. “Whoa! Yuki, your eyes look terrible!”
“Ahaha. They swelled,” she dismissed and placed her bag on the floor to bow to Touta and the other men. “Please forgive me for the horrible things I said yesterday.”
Their eyes were locked on her when she lifted her head. She bashfully twirled her finger in her hair.
“I wasn’t aware of the cruel and inhumane treatment Rvydom’s people have been put through… I guess that comes off as a poor excuse, huh? I still don’t want it to come to war, but that’s nothing more than my childish hopes. I know there’s nothing I can do about it.” Yuki looked around the foyer at everyone present.
“However, I do not want to see the people I know suffering and getting hurt. So…” she paused and clenched her left fist to her chest. “Please be careful. Please don’t get hurt…”
She bowed deeply this time, her long hair cascading over her head. When she straightened, Selena stood in front of her with her arms wide open and pulled her face into her voluptuous chest.
✦ ✦ ✦
THEY finished their farewell exchange and stepped outside. A listless Vigo stroked his chin and turned to Yuki. “Er, about where we’re going from here…”
“Where are we going to circle around from? The south? Or are we taking the west side route to keep from the frontline battles taking place to the south?” Yuki interjected. She eagerly swung her bag onto her back and unfurled her map.
Vigo smiled wryly. “No, we’re headed straight for the capital.”
“Pardon?”
Yuki had prepared herself for the long-haul of visiting various regions at a semi-decent pace to the capital. Vigo’s words took her completely by surprise.
“…Why?”
“I know you’ve been itching to get to the capital. Sorry for dragging it out by taking you around Rvydom with us.”
“But…”
Weren’t they going to travel around treating people with the Ten Day Fever in Adolunde like they had in Rvydom? Suspicion was roused in Yuki by the unusual change in course. Were they going to bypass all the sick people on the way to the capital for her?
I mean, sure I want to get to the capital as soon as physically possible, but… Yuki stared at Vigo and Selena. Selena tilted her head at Yuki’s questioning gaze. Don’t they want to cure everybody of the Ten Day Fever? Is it okay for them to skip people to take me to the capital? I should just go to the capital alone. I can head on to the capital and they can go on their rounds.
With that decided, Yuki looked to Vigo who doused her hopes with an exasperated face. “Don’t even think of something as stupid as going to the capital alone. You’ve been warned of Adolunde’s dangers. Their capital is no exception.”
His correct guess almost made her drop her bag. Selena was shocked to see her react that strongly. “Oh my gosh, Yuki, were you actually thinking of going alone?”
“Eh? No. I mean…I shouldn’t trouble you guys any longer…” she fumbled over her excuse and tugged at a loose string on her dress. Vigo karate-chopped her head twice.
“Just as you have circumstances taking you to Adolunde, we have our own,” he said, surprisingly kind for him.
“You have your own reasons for going?” she asked, letting go of the string to look up at him.
“Yeah, we do. It’s not like we’re going to the capital out of the goodness of our hearts to help you.”
“…Really?”
“What good would come from lying about this?” Vigo quipped, exasperated by her doubt. She wasn’t sure whether to feel grateful or apologetic.
She settled with, “Thank you.”
“The capital is relatively close to our current location. Let’s make haste. Selena, pull Yuki onto your horse if she starts to fall behind.”
“Gotcha.”
They started securing their luggage to their horses’ saddlebags. With only one large jute bag and her quiver for luggage, Yuki didn’t need to go through the same lengths as they did to secure her stuff.
They really are spoiling me, she thought as she handed stuff from the ground to them. Perhaps their close age to her parents was why she felt like these almost complete strangers allowed her to depend on them like parents. Happiness came from them looking out for her. They always put her first, treated her kindly, and let her have her way.
They’re like Papa and Mama.
How long had it been since she was last in the tender embrace of those two kind people who always cared for her?
Are they well? Pain stung the depths of her heart. Would she ever see her true parents again?