🐅 🐅 🐅
AS usual, Ryuho slipped out of Angelina’s room during study time. He hadn’t been able to perfectly assume his human form today. A tail sprouted from his lower back, and tiger ears popped out of his head.
He and Angelina had been about to start letter practice—Ryuho’s least favorite subject. Since he spent so much time with paws, he wasn’t accustomed to holding a pen. Thus, he struggled to write and didn’t like reading either. He preferred having Angelina read out loud to him. To make matters worse, he hated sitting still in human form, and he had no interest in history.
When Ryuho reached adulthood, he could become a Flame Tiger or a Nanranese prince. Either way, learning about Jinlong seemed pointless. As a result, he’d gotten into the habit of always ditching class.
When Junshi spotted Ryuho, the latter tried to flee as fast as his legs would carry him.
“Have you heard about Prince Hisame, Ryuho?” Junshi asked.
Ryuho suddenly deflated. Junshi hadn’t come to scold him for skipping class.
“He’s going to study abroad here, right?” Ryuho asked in a huff. “He should just stay in Anda!”
Junshi’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “You know that Hisame is the sixth prince of Anda, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I heard that from Kyril.”
Junshi lowered his voice. “Royalty often marries other royalty.”
“Is that right?” Ryuho asked, puffing out his chest smugly. “I’m a prince too, y’know?”
“Yes, both you and Hisame are princes. That’s all I wanted to say.”
“Huh? You’re not gonna scold me for ditching class?”
“Nope. Well then, Ryuho, please return to Angelina’s room for snack time.”
Junshi left with a smile on his face.
What a creepy guy, Ryuho thought while pondering the significance of Junshi’s words. Why would he tell me something so obvious? But come to think of it, Kyril said the same thing, didn’t he? How come?
Ryuho scrunched up his face, straining to come up with an answer. When he thought his head might explode, his ears suddenly shot straight up. “Wait! Does this mean Angelina and Hisame could get married?!”
When Ryuho recalled Hisame’s letter, a chill ran down his spine. His penmanship paled in comparison to Hisame’s beautiful handwriting. Though Hisame’s letter had been short, anyone would have considered the contents well-written. Also, he’d expressed his wholehearted desire to see Angelina again.
Since Ryuho spent most of his time with paws, penmanship wasn’t his forte. He still couldn’t write beautiful letters like Hisame.
Lina seemed pretty happy when she got Hisame’s letter, Ryuho thought, the memory of her delight springing to mind. I’ve never written her a letter myself… But then again, we’re always together! There’s no reason for me to write her a letter!
Another realization dawned on Ryuho. If Hisame began living in the Canopy, they would be on equal footing. This brought the festival back to mind. While Angelina and Hisame had walked around holding hands, Ryuho had merely watched over them in his feline form. He recalled the sadness, loneliness, and frustration of being a third wheel. The festival alone had been agonizing enough, but if Hisame moved here permanently, Ryuho would have to endure that over and over again.
Hell no! Ryuho shouted internally, panic seizing his chest. Over my dead body!
Currently, he alone served at Angelina’s side, and she’d placed her full trust in him. For this reason, Ryuho had been confident that they were each other’s best friends. Yet, once Hisame moved into the palace, how might things change?
On the final day of the festival, Hisame acted with perfect decorum during the farewell ceremony. While Ryuho had participated as a Flame Tiger, Hisame had attended as a prince. Just as Kyril had protected Angelina from the older Andan prince, Hisame could also protect her through words, not just strength.
Ryuho imagined Angelina as an adult, bedecked in the finest garments as the imperial princess. While Ryuho stood boldly by her side in his feline form, Hisame stood by her opposite side in Jinlongian robes. As Angelina and Hisame peered down at a difficult book together, Hisame wrapped his arm around her shoulder, fangs exposed and horn growing from his forehead.
Instantly, Ryuho’s ears pinned back, his tail puffing out in fright. His heart ached. He didn’t want to imagine that future.
At this rate, I won’t be the most important person to Lina anymore! I remember how much fun she had listening to Hisame’s stories! And what’s with what he said in his letter?! “I hope we become friends with an even stronger connection than you and Ryuho!”
“I-I’ll start studying like I’m supposed to!” Ryuho shouted. “I swear! Wait for me, Junshi!”
Junshi came to a sudden halt and turned around. He nodded slowly, a gentle smile on his lips. “That’s the spirit, Ryuho.”
“Yeah, I’m gonna give it my all this time!”
Ryuho’s tail stood straight up. Assuming a perfect human form still seemed like a distant prospect. Even so, his crimson and gold eyes burned with fiery resolve.
When Angelina saw Ryuho and Junshi returning together, she squealed with delight. “Welcome back, Ryuho! I was waiting for you!”
“You were?”
“Yep! It’s boring when you’re not here. Studying is a lot more fun when we’re together, y’know?”
As Angelina cocked her head, Ryuho responded with a toothy grin, his tail wagging smugly. “Then let’s study together!” he cried, his whole body swelling with joy. When he squeezed Angelina in his arms, she wrapped her hands around his back. Rather than beginning their studies, the pair embraced each other tightly. Junshi couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched them, his heart singing with happiness.