Yuki looked around the table and noticed Rhad’s eyes on her. “Wh-What’s up?”
“…I want to ask you: who are these people?”
“What? You know who they are?” Yuki couldn’t figure out the reason for his question, but tried to offer who they were to her. “Selena and Vigo are the people who brought me from Rvydom to Adolunde…”
“For what purpose?”
“For what? Well, they were traveling around Rvydom curing people of the Ten Day Fever and were going to Adolunde as well—”
“They are going to do the same for Adolunde? For people who are supposed to be traveling around curing the sick, they sure haven’t done much traveling outside of Fol. Or is it just me?”
Yuki’s mind latched onto that doubt. Now that he mentioned it, he had a point. Looking back over their time in Fol, Vigo lacked the assertiveness toward helping the people of Fol as he had for the people of Rvydom. The one who pushed for them to help Fol was Yuki.
“You should’ve just stayed in Rvydom then. You’re both born and bred Rvydomners.”
They said they had their own reasons for going to Adolunde, but Yuki couldn’t remember ever hearing what those reasons were. She had no reason to pry when their situation benefited her own. Once again, she felt ashamed of her ignorance.
Vigo stroked his beard once and sighed. “As I get older, simple discussions have become foxhunts without ever catching the fox.”
“I have to agree with that,” Rhad conceded with a cynical smile.
“Let’s stop beating around the bush. I’ll be frank: Rvydom needs Prince Lucat’s strength. We desire a face-to-face meeting with him,” Vigo divulged and glanced at Yuki. “She is…Prince Lucat’s Master.”
Rhad looked at Yuki with an indecipherable expression. “Yes, I am aware.”
“I thought so,” Selena quipped.
Rhad sent a look her way and turned to Yuki. “Were you aware?”
“Aware of what?”
“Were you aware these people were seeking a face-to-face meeting with Prince Lucat on Rvydom’s behalf?”
“I-I wasn’t.” Yuki shook her head and squeezed her hands on her lap.
Why? What do they need to meet with Luca for? Doubts tickled at the back of her mind. What connection does Vigo and Selena have with Luca?
She searched their faces for the answer.
Rhad spoke for her, “Prince Lucat’s own Master wasn’t aware of what you wanted. Explain yourselves.” The sternness to his tone implied they had no other choice. The casual, lightheartedness he approached the conversation with until then gave way to an austere manner.
“Will you cooperate with us if we tell you?” Vigo asked.
“Depending on what you say.”
“You don’t leave much room for compromise.”
“I am military man after all.”
Vigo sighed loudly. “Fine. I’ll be the one to compromise here. If telling you earns your cooperation we may make an ally out of you in the long run.”
“You almost make it sound like cooperating with you would be the natural path should I hear your story.”
Tired by the long conversation, Vigo rolled his aching shoulders as he said, “The war between Maruk and Adolunde will intensify soon. Rvydom will take advantage of the situation to reclaim its independence. We will have Prince Lucat’s full support behind us. Lord Galian Manotant obtained the promise of Prince Lucat’s backing when he was rescued by him.”
“Do you have documents to prove this promise?”
“There are none. It was a verbal promise. We’ll ascertain where he stands during our meeting with him.”
“The probability of what you are saying holding out to be true is slim.”
“Yeah.”
Rhad fell silent. Vigo and Selena also refrained from saying more. Left out of the loop, Yuki pondered what they said.
Luca is going to back Rvydom’s break for independence? Meaning he’s for Rvydom going to war again. Why? War after war only leads to tragedy. What is the point of all of this?
“We are presently healing the people at Fol Castle but when the time comes we’ll cease doing so,” Vigo pronounced.
“…Are you trying to drag the higher officials out of their holes? Or are you threatening me?”
“I can’t deny either of those accusations.”
Rhad laughed. “Hahaha! What’s this? Looks like we’ve got the same thing in mind.” Relaxing like the source of his tension had been severed, Rhad crossed his legs. “You know, Prince Luca’s retainers such as myself want to see him as well. But his Highness—or should I say the Queen—is turning away everyone who wants an audience with him. ‘Lucat is too busy assisting us to meet with you.’ Who would believe such a blatant lie?” Rhad scowled. “Moreover, I’ve heard Prince Luca’s condition is worsening.”
Yuki leapt to her feet, sending her chair skidding across the marble floor and flipping onto its side. A loud clatter echoed through the room. Rhad glanced at Yuki and smiled.
“And then she appeared. I had my doubts, but it’s a fact you three have saved the people of Fol. So I got the idea—”
“…The royal family will get involved if the miracle of Fol Castle became known across the land?” Vigo filled in.
“Bingo.” Rhad smiled sweetly at Yuki with his handsome face. For some reason, his smile made her want to cry. “Lady Yuki, your exploits have already reached the nobles—as you could already tell—and the royal household.”
“Pardon?”
“It appears we think alike. It resulted in us remaining in Fol, but the outcome is more favorable than if we had traveled all of Adolunde.”
“Wait a minute. Vigo, is that why you had Yuki do all the work?! I can’t believe you!” Selena bellowed. Vigo pretended not to hear her as he drank his chilled tea. “Hey! Are you listening to me, Vigo?!”
“Lady Yuki, I will help you see Prince Luca in the near future. Please hold on just a little longer,” Rhad told Yuki, addressing her formally.
“R-Really? O-Okay,” she answered, flustered. The sudden change in the way he addressed her and looked at her was jarring.
“Getting back on topic. Lady Yuki’s exploits have already spread by word of mouth through the commoners. I will have you cease abusing her as a menial servant. She will continue to use her powers to care for the patients, but will be removed from all other duties. Any complaints?” Rhad asked Vigo.
“No. That will do.”
“Hey, Vigo! You can hear!” Selena fumed, whacking him on the back.
“With that decided, I will have a proper room prepared for Lady Yuki. Please bear with the short wait, m’lady.”
Yuki reflexively smiled back at Rhad. “Um—”
“Now tell me this!” Selena blew up at Rhad with her hands around Vigo’s neck. “How are you so quick at this?! You only just recently learned Yuki is Prince Lucat’s Master, right? You haven’t left for Adolunde since we returned. How did you get word to the nobles so fast?”
Rhad sighed, as if to say the answer to her question was nonsense. “Well, I have my ways. Anyway, is it all right for you to be choking your Master? Are you not Vigo’s sword, shield, and dog?”
“Hm?” Yuki tilted her head.
Selena turned red with fury. “Hang on! Y-Y-Y-You overheard everything we said?!”
“Aren’t you the one at fault for holding such an incriminating conversation somewhere littered with the dangers of being heard?”
“…Wait, wait, wait. Then does this mean you knew almost everything from the start?!”
“What do you think? Keeping quiet about where one learns his secrets is the way of the gentleman.”
“S-Selena?” Yuki was completely lost.
Selena put her head in her hands and yelled, “What piece of you is a gentleman?! Aaaah, for Rvydom’s sake! You are a despicable man!”
“I am quite all right being despicable. Lady Yuki, you will see Prince Luca very soon. Please do not grow impatient or depressed. Stay spirited enough to give his face a nice slap when you see him.”
“O-Okay?”
Satisfied by her response, Rhad smiled and strut out of the room.
✦ ✦ ✦
YUKI felt as if she had been left in the dark. No matter how much she wanted to see Luca, she was grasping at straws on how to get to him. Difficulty surrounded determining what information circling around was true and what was false. It was as if she had been walking through the darkness with no exit or searching for gold dust in a desert. The prospects of finding him seemed bleak. And then suddenly a light shined into the endless darkness.
Everyone was taking action while I was unaware of it. She felt left out, but it was only testament to her ignorance. But thanks to them, I can finally…
“…See Luca,” she muttered.
The memories of him she had suppressed came rushing back to her. He was so tall looking up at him in a ten-year-old body hurt her neck. His stunning hair and eyes seemed to mock the world with how perfect they were. The chiseled contours of his face made him look like a perfectly crafted doll. The chilly touch of his large hand wrapped around hers was still vivid.
Luca. Luca.
She squeezed her right hand to her chest—it was the same hand his large hand always grabbed and where the proof of their contract once sat. The ring had been the sole proof she had that it was okay for her to be in their world. Her selfish complaints and arbitrary actions resulted in the loss of that ring and the gaping distance between her and Luca.
Once more she heard someone cackle—a dark twisting sound of cackling laughter echoed through the recesses of her mind.