Chapter 59
CANDLE flames flickered as Luca leaned into the high-back, leather chair in his office. Ain sat across from him, his expression grim.
“Sorry for calling you here at this hour,” Luca apologized.
“Please do not let that bother you.” Compared to earlier, Ain was the epitome of calm and collected.
“Tomorrow at noon we’ll depart from the capital and head to Rvydom. I’ll have the Knights informed first thing in the morning. They can have until noon to decide what they want to do.”
“Tomorrow? Do you not think that is too soon? It is a given the Knights will be in disarray. Can’t you at least give them a day to—”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the time.”
“Hah…”
Yes, Luca was out of time. He lamented the months, days, and hours wasted away idly sleeping, but regrets wouldn’t make up for anything without action.
“Besides, I doubt there are many crazy Knights willing to throw away their kingdom to follow me.”
The faces of his men came to mind. Some followed his command despite not being in support of him, while others worshipped him like some sort of god of the battlefield and followed him blindly. Little time had passed for Luca, but months had gone by without them seeing their commander. Time had a way of changing how people felt and where they stood.
Especially in times of war.
Unfamiliar faces increased and familiar faces slipped away.
“…War isn’t a good thing,” he muttered.
The tear streaked face of the girl asking him why war happens replayed through his mind. Luca had been convinced she was nothing more than a child, but while he wasn’t watching she had acquired knowledge and experience he could only guess at. Frequently, he caught her pensively lost in her thoughts.
“…It isn’t. I resent war too,” Ain whispered. “Prince Luca, I have something to discuss with you before we get to business.”
Ain looked straight into Luca’s eyes. The raven black depths of his eyes sent gooseflesh across Luca’s skin.
Did something bad happen? The majority of incidents wouldn’t surprise Luca too much, but the unusual grimness about Ain had him prepare himself mentally.
“What is it?”
“…Liberat has not returned.”
Liberat—the once powerful noble family. In the war twenty years ago, the Liberat Family was annihilated and the remaining members were captured and forced to live in Maruk as feudal lords in some sort of sick game. To this day, Nasette and Tita still possessed that scarred last name.
“They were supposedly last spotted on the frontlines at the border…. Their whereabouts since have been shrouded in mystery…. Apparently, someone discovered corpses resembling them near Cele.”
✦ ✦ ✦
THE accumulation of stress, fatigue, and exhaustion coupled with the chaotic events of the day had Yuki falling asleep within seconds of her head hitting the pillow. A good sleep was a worthwhile use of her time as it removed her exhaustion and let her wake up feeling refreshed in a way she hadn’t while looking like a teenager.
She slid out of bed and went to the bay window where a ray of sunlight seeped through the curtains. Moving the curtains aside, she cracked the window open. The sun had risen fairly high in the blue sky and filled the room with its warm rays. Fresh, chilly morning air blew inside. From her room, Yuki had a panoramic view of the flower gardens. Gardeners busied themselves tending to roses and trimming perfectly shaped trees below.
Yuki sucked in the clean air. It filled her lungs and spread through her. She held her breath to let the cool air revitalize her before exhaling.
“…It starts from here.”
Everything was going to happen from here. They were heading to Rvydom. They were going there to tell the people they didn’t need to start another war to gain their independence. But what could they do aside from waging war? How could Rvydom regain its independence? Yuki didn’t have the answer.
“That’s why I have to find the answer from here.”
She slapped her cheeks and changed into the clean clothes left on the armoire for her. Last night Luca told her to come to the saloon when she woke up, so she washed her face and left her room. On the way, she came across a servant who showed her the way and had food prepared for her in the saloon.
“By the way, where are Luca and Ain?”
“They have plans to go somewhere and are handling the preparations for their journey,” a maid answered her, smiling as she stared at Yuki’s food.
“I see,” Yuki responded, putting the last piece of cake in her mouth. She had only eaten two meals at Luca’s mansion, but it appeared to be customary for a different dessert to be served at the end of every meal. Moreover—
“Lady Yuki, would you like another slice of cake?”
“Ah, no, thank you. One slice is enough for me…”
“Is it? There is still so much cake leftover though,” the maid said longingly, hungrily eyeing the almost whole cake but for one missing slice. From the look of things, the whole cake was meant for Yuki just like how Luca always had whole desserts to himself.
“Um, please eat the remainder with the rest of the staff.”
The face of every servant in the room lit up.
“Are you certain it is all right?! Not once in my seven years here has Prince Lucat ever offered us his desserts! You must be the goddess of kindness, Lady Yuki!”
Uh, I don’t think you can call this kindness. Luca is just greedy when it comes to sweets. Yuki forced a smile in reply. The saloon doorknob rattled and the door opened.
“Prince Lucat.” The maid curtsied, her delighted smile schooled by the serious mask of a royal servant. Luca nodded to her as she passed, his eyes following the cake as it left before he slowly looked to Yuki.
“You slept a long time,” he commented. Luca was armed and clad in leather armor and a cloak. “We’re leaving.”
“We are? Where to?”
“Rvydom.”
“Excuse me?” Yuki thought they were heading to the castle or Rhad’s manor next.
“We are departing for Rvydom,” Luca repeated.
“Wait. We’re leaving now?”
“Yeah. We’ll stop by Rhad’s manor first and depart from there.”
“Uh, okay…”
“Mei, tell the others to get their stuff together sooner rather than later.”
“As you command.” The maid named Mei curtsied again from the hallway.
Luca grabbed Yuki’s right hand.
“Wh-Why are we leaving so soon?”
“We’re short on time.”
Yuki’s heart throbbed. …Vivi.
Luca twined his fingers with hers and walked. She tightened her lips and nodded.