Chapter 60
WITH the sun high in the sky, the cool, gentle early autumn breeze felt nice on Yuki’s cheeks warmed by too much walking. Things were strangely chaotic when Luca and Yuki arrived in front of Rhad’s manor. Three horses were tied to the gate out front and luggage was strewn about the manicured lawn.
Spotting Selena amid the luggage, Yuki ran past Luca and shouted, “Selena!”
Hearing her name, Selena turned around. Her mouth fell open when she saw little Yuki running toward her. “Yuki?”
Oh yeah, I forgot. Realizing she was no longer sixteen, but ten in appearance, she mulled over how to explain herself. But Vivi seems to have cast a spell to allow others to notice I’m the same person…
Yuki came to a stop directly in front of Selena and hesitated about how to proceed, when Selena put her arms under her armpits and lifted her into the air like a mother playing airplane with her young daughter.
“Whoa!”
“You. Are. TOO. CUTE! Yuki, you’re so tiny! Aaaah, tiny Yuki is so precious I’m going to have a nosebleed!” Selena brought Yuki down to her chest and hugged her, crushing her head against her bosom. “Do you feel better now? Seeing as you ran over here without tripping or looking like death, I’d assume you’re okay, but I need to check.”
Selena pulled Yuki back from her chest and held her at a level she could check over her face.
“I’m better now,” Yuki said with a smile.
“Oh my,” Selena muttered, suddenly turning serious. “Your eyes are violet, Yuki. Why didn’t I notice until now?” She carefully put Yuki on the ground and cocked her head, sending her hair cascading over her shoulder. “The Yuki I know had a more developed, taller body…and your eyes looked black at the time. But now I understand the real Yuki is small and has violet eyes.”
“S-Selena?”
“Had I known your eyes were violet things would’ve been settled much sooner. Why couldn’t I tell they were violet?” Selena rambled on. Noticing Yuki’s curious eyes on her, she grinned and stroked Yuki’s short hair. “Well, I’ll leave the heavy thinking to Vigo. I’ve got something much more important to do right now!”
“Geh!” Yuki squeaked as her face was buried in Selena’s stomach.
“I am so terribly, extremely, utterly relieved you are feeling better! Aww, sheesh, I was losing my mind thinking something might happen to you, Yuki! It was only worsened when you never came back! And then that worthless man came back in the middle of the night. What do you think he said when I asked about you?! ‘I fell asleep.’ What the heck kind of sick joke is that? And to make matters even worse, he dared to say he didn’t know what happened to you! Can you believe it?!”
Squeezed tight enough she heard her ribs pop, Yuki desperately smacked Selena on the back with her freed hand to let go of her.
“And then there’s this morning. The most handsome man in the world showed up out of nowhere to see us! Just when I was wondering who he could be, he declares he’s Yuki’s Knight! I was all smiles from there. He told me the good news of you being safe and sound and said he’d go to Rvydom without us telling him anything. Oh! I can totally understand why you were so desperate to see him again! Just one conversation with him and I was entranced!”
The most handsome man in the world was walking up behind them—Yuki wanted to tell Selena, but she was suffocating.
“Why don’t you let her go now? Yuki is suffocating. Plus, the most handsome man in the world is watching you kill his Master.”
Yuki had seen him yesterday, but the voice sounded nostalgic to her ears after all she had been through. Selena loosened her grip, allowing Yuki to suck in air.
“Vigo!” Yuki looked at Vigo standing behind Selena like he was sent from the heavens to save her. Surprise flickered across his face when he saw her, but was quickly replaced by exasperation as he turned to load the horses.
“Are you ready to leave?” Luca asked Vigo, speaking formally.
“Once we get the luggage on the horses we’re ready to go.”
“Is that so? My soldiers will be ready to leave soon, so I came to pick you up.”
“I feel so special a handsome prince went out of his way to directly pick us up,” Selena said, releasing Yuki and handing her the jute bag she had left at Rhad’s. “Here you go, Yuki. I want to revel in our heartwarming reunion a little longer, but we need to rush.”
“Th-Thanks.” Yuki hugged the bag to her chest.
Selena smiled at her and returned to packing the remaining saddlebags with supplies. From the first time they traveled together, Yuki realized Selena and Vigo traveled light and were fast at packing up and leaving. They quickly packed their bags and mounted their horses.
“We’re riding too,” Luca said to Yuki.
“We are?”
“That’s my horse.”
The remaining horse next to Vigo and Selena was a gorgeous black warhorse.
“I thought that was Rhad’s horse.”
“I won’t be going.” Rhad came out of his manor and walked toward them. “I came to see you off. It looks like I have impeccable timing.” Rhad bowed to Luca.
“Why aren’t you coming, Rhad? Are you coming later then?” Yuki asked, rushing over to Rhad. Luca’s horse neighed.
Rhad knelt on one knee before her and shook his head. “I cannot accompany you,” he said in his sweet, baritone voice, setting her heart aflutter. Rhad looked fondly at Yuki and bowed his head to her. “Lady Yuki, please forgive my many indiscretions toward you.”
“Indiscretions? I’ve never thought you’ve acted inappropriately. Tell me why you can’t come.”
“…You see, I am Prince Luca’s advisor and servant. However, I am his advisor because he is royalty and I—the Mende Family—has served Adolunde’s royal family for generations. I cannot accompany you for that exact reason.”
“…I don’t get it.”
“To sum it up for you, while I am Prince Luca’s advisor I am also Prince Orga’s advisor. Since Prince Luca is going to throw away his title and country, he ceases to be the master I must serve.”
“…Excuse me?”
Luca is throwing away his title and country?
“The Mende Family planned to support Prince Luca as long as he was going to fight Prince Orga as another prince. However, if Prince Luca is going to disappear and throw away his name, then we have no reason to take his side. Such is the existence of a noble. Have you come to despise me, m’lady?”
In other words, Luca is throwing away Adolunde. By throwing away Adolunde, the nobles have lost interest in him. Is that what Rhad is trying to tell me?
“I am the next head of the Mende Family. In order to protect the family, the people who serve us, and our title—I cannot join you.” Rhad’s ashen eyes watched Yuki for a reaction.
“…I don’t think this would happen, but…if Adolunde and Maruk joined forces and turned against Rvydom…”
“Naturally, I would turn my blade and soldiers against you and Prince Luca.”
Rhad had a lot to consider in making his choice. He had worried after Luca’s health and did as much as he could to save him. From what Yuki could see during their time together, Rhad cared deeply for Luca.
But at the same time, he had a family and servants to look after and made the choice to protect them over his feelings for a friend. How could Yuki despise and blame him for his choice? Seeing the determination and lack of any hesitation in his ash-gray eyes kept her from begging him to join them. His determination to protect his family was such that Yuki could do nothing to change it.
“…I understand.”
Rhad bowed his head to her and didn’t raise it. Yuki turned on her heel and left for Luca. He had already mounted his horse. He must have known Rhad’s decision beforehand. With an unreadable face, he grabbed Yuki’s hand and pulled her up on the horse in front of him, neatly tucking her between his arms. He picked up the reins and kicked the horse into a trot. Yuki glanced back at Rhad who remained unmoving with his head bowed to them as he knelt.