Chapter Text
“Where are we going?” Akutagawa asked after a while.
“I have an appointment with people of the Court for the opening of a shop. My father cannot go and Chuuya is already busy elsewhere, so the job is up to me.”
“What kind of shop?”
Dazai did not have time to answer since Tachihara and one of their dormitory mates went to them.
“Hello again, Sir. Please, excuse us for disturbing you. Akutagawa, your sister went to the dormitory and offered to play cards with the guys. Want to join?” Proposed Tachihara.
“Go ahead.” Dazai assured after a look from his guard. “I will be surrounded by a good twenty people. Either nothing will happen to me, or there will be witnesses.”
Akutagawa thanked Dazai then followed his companions. Seeing his sister would probably help him to empty his head a little.
When they arrived in the dormitory, they found Gin talking with the young blonde, while the last tenant of the dormitory was beating the cards.
“Of course! When he does not play for money, mister flirt with his fiancee in front of everyone!” Laughed the guard who accompanied Tachihara and Akutagawa.
The two concerned jumped a little and turned to the newcomers. When she saw her brother, Gin's face lit up for a moment before she frowned, a worried look on her face.
“Is something wrong, Ryuu?”
“How can you know if something is wrong when he's doing exactly the same face as usual?” Asked the one beating the cards, without even raising his head.
“I know my brother by heart. Ryuu?”
“Everything is all right, Gin.”
Since she did not look convinced, he added a good news.
“I did not have time to talk to you and Mom about it, but I became the full-time guard of Sir Dazai.”
“Yes, dad told us. I also heard about what Sir Chuuya and the Queen invented from that.”
A gleam passed in her eyes, indicating that she had just understood. Then, as a game started and, to everyone's surprise, Akutagawa agreed to play, Gin sat next to him.
“I think I know what it is about.” She whispered.
“Sure you know.” Her brother answered in a sad voice.
They played a good part of the afternoon, Gin and her fiancé winning almost every games, the others being won by Akutagawa, surprisingly gifted at games.
Then came dinner time. Gin insisted on eating with the boys rather than with her parents. Akutagawa, who had not seen his sister for a long time and wanted to spend time with her, asked that they wait for him while he goes to find Dazai. Finally, it was decided that everyone should go.
They quickly found the Prince, arguing with his half-brother.
They did not have time to grasp the object of the dispute since the King arrived from the opposite corridor, cutting short the quarrel. After greeting his audience with a brief smile, the King spoke.
“My sons, I have to talk to you about something again. You are both twenty-two years old and one of you will become king shortly. You must find a woman to marry. Really soon, if possible.”
“You want us to marry someone?” Dazai said, indignantly. “Father, marriage does not interest me!”
“Especially with women.” Chuuya laughed.
“Stop with that, I am not into men!”
“But you have never shown interest for a woman.”
“Certainly, but that does not mean I like men! I am attracted to women!”
“Yes, but the only person for whom you seem to have some feelings is your guard.”
“I do not like Akutagawa!” Dazai shouted, on edge of nerves, still angry about his previous argument with Chuuya.
Gin glanced quickly at her brother, who, with pursed lips, was staring at the floor.
“So... I knew what it was about.” She whispered.
“Sure you knew.” He answered.
With a tight heart, he thought about accepting the fact that Dazai would never hesitate to shout that he felt nothing for him, even in front of him. Gin pressed his arm, indicating her support.
“It does not matter.” Said the King. “I decided to organize a party to find you someone. It will take place tomorrow night and many princesses will be invited. It is absolutely impossible that you do not find your soul mate at this ball. You will dance with these girls while talking with them, which will allow you to get to know them. And I want to see both of you dancing with someone you could marry. Understood, Osamu?”
“Wait ... So you want to organize that tomorrow night? Father, are you sure that the employees will have time to prepare everything?”
“Chuuya, who tells you that I just had this idea? I have been thinking about it for several months already! Of course, we will have time to prepare everything. The only thing I'm not sure about yet is the identity of the people in charge of the security, but this problem will be solved tomorrow. Your outfits for the ball will be brought to you tomorrow morning. Once again, I want you to find someone, or else I am going to be really disappointed. Well, now that you're aware of this, I will let you go. Chuuya, the meal will be ready shortly. Osamu, I wish you a good meal with the guards. Good evening, children!”
And the king went off again.
The two princes looked at each other, speechless.
“You make fun of me but ... Do you want to get married to someone you will meet tomorrow?” Dazai asked.
“Not really, no ... We are still young. Why should we get married to someone now?”
Akutagawa was just as stunned as they were, but not for the same reason. His sister quietly took him aside, making sure they were far enough to not be heard.
“Ryuu ...”
“He is going to get married. He will meet a woman tomorrow night and get married to her because he obviously has no other choice. And he told it so many times that I think I understood that he does not like men.”
“Ryuu, you know that I adore you and that I really want you to be happy, especially if it's with Sir Dazai loving you. But we both knew that there was a good chance that things would end up that way.”
“I know, Gin.”
Akutagawa sighed.
“After all, if he came to meet a woman tomorrow night and was happy with her ... Would not that be the main thing?”
Gin smiled.
“You will always be his dearest friend. The whole kingdom is aware of the importance you have for him, and no woman will ever be able to take it away from you.”
Akutagawa thanked his sister.
Gin, two years younger than him, always had the words to cheer him up. She was also the only person aware of his feelings for the Prince. And even if the siblings weren't able to see each other a lot, she was without a doubt the most important person in his life.
Soon, Dazai and the four guards were by their side and all seven left to eat with the army. Discussions went well, Dazai talking with everyone, asking to be treated not as the Prince but as one of them.
After the meal, Gin said goodbye to the boys and went home. The guards, apart from Akutagawa, went to their dormitory. Then Dazai and Akutagawa organized their night in the same way as the previous one.
Once the prince asleep, Akutagawa found himself alone with his thoughts.
After several hours of thinking, he finally agreed with a conclusion: he could certainly never be with the Prince as he wished, but he would always be there to protect him, be it from conspiracies of his detractors or an ill-intentioned woman. And if Dazai came to find happiness ... It would be great for him. Akutagawa could be happy enough with his role as long as he was at his side.
Shortly after these thoughts, Dazai woke up and left his bed to Akutagawa who fell asleep quickly enough.
In the morning, during lunch, Akutagawa's father came in and demanded everyone's attention.
“Tonight, the King is holding a ball in order to make his sons meet women for a possible marriage. I will name those of you who will assure the security and join me after the noon's meal in the throne room to receive their orders. The others will have the day off to find a decent outfit, since the King kindly invited all the people of the Court and of the Guard to participate in this ball.”
He looked at his list and called those who would not have the chance to dance during the evening: twenty guards among whom Akutagawa and Tachihara.
“What a luck, I'm not among you!” Rejoiced Akutagawa's blond comrade. “Mind if I ask your sister to go with me?”
“You decided that you were going to get married when we were ten. Do I really have a say today?”
“Thanks Ryuu!”
“The appointed guards, your tonight's outfit will be your uniform.” Said the army chief before leaving.
Shortly after breakfast, a tailor knocked on the door of Dazai's flats, the Prince's suit in his hands. Dazai thanked him with a smile, invited him in his flats, then tried his evening outfit.
When he appeared in front of Akutagawa and the tailor in his suit, Akutagawa could only admire the Prince and curse the craftsmen who had worked on this outfit: to force him to see Dazai better dressed than usual was a torture that he was not sure he could endure. It was also certain that this outfit would leave no princess indifferent.
“So?” Dazai asked.
“It suits you very well, Sir.” Replied Akutagawa, trying to look more flattering than admirer.
“Yes, yes, divinely. However ... Do not move.”
The tailor approached the Prince, with his tools in his hands, and made the last modifications, correcting something too long here or something too drooping there.
Finally, they had finished at lunchtime. Once Dazai in a daily outfit again, Akutagawa and him joined the guards in their canteen. Tachihara invited them to sit next to him.
“Have you had the opportunity to see the palace this morning? Everyone is busy and you cannot walk more than three steps without disturbing someone! Besides, Sir, your father wants to see you to sort out some details. And Akutagawa, do not forget that we must go too to receive our orders!”
“Of course, Tachihara.”
The redhead spent the whole meal talking, often alone. Akutagawa, on the other hand, looked puzzled at the Prince's plate, which the latter did not touch. Instead, he was staring into space.
“A problem, Sir?” Asked Akutagawa.
“It's nothing.” Dazai assured with a smile. “Simply, the ball of tonight does not really delight me. As I said yesterday, marriage does not interest me. As for partying, I do not see the point and I do not like it. But I do not have the choice, so if you are done eating, let's go.”
Akutagawa nodded. Tachihara, the Prince, and him went to the throne room, accompanied by the other designated guards. There they found Akutagawa's father, the sovereigns and Chuuya. Dazai broke away from the guards to see his father, while the army chief approached the knights.
“For tonight, since the ball will be in three halls, you will be separated into four groups of five: the first two groups will be in the rooms with the buffet, the third group, the most important one since the royal family will be there most of the time, will watch over the ballroom. Finally, the last group will wander through the halls to ensure that no malicious person spoils the evening. If a problem arises in a room, you have the obligation to immediately inform one of the members of this last group, who will then inform the leaders of the other teams.”
“Captain, can I be named group leader?” Asked a guard.
“They have already been appointed. But yes, you are responsible for your group. However, let me calm your nascent enthusiasm: the soldiers designated as responsible will only ensure communication between the groups if a problem occurs.”
He then announced the groups. Akutagawa and Tachihara found themselves in the ballroom with Akutagawa being responsible.
'So I'm going to have to bear to see all these princesses turning around him. Great ...' Akutagawa thought.
But after all, it could also allow him to keep an eye on them, which was not a bad thing.
Dazai joined the guards just as the captain finished telling the various teams.
“Excuse me, Captain, my father told me that the guards will eat at their canteen tonight. Is that so?”
“Yes, it is. Would you rather eat with us than at the buffet?”
“Dairy products will be in a good part of the dishes, I do not want to take the slightest risk.”
“Good. In this case, you will all come to eat an hour earlier than usual so that you'll have time to be ready when the party begins. I want you all dressed before dinner.”
“Right, captain!” Answered the guards.
In the evening, as requested, the twenty guards dined in uniform. When they saw Dazai in his refined outfit, several guards took the risk of making fun of him. Seeing that it made the Prince smile and even laugh, they did not deprive themselves of their comments. Finally, the meals with Dazai were as fun as before.
The chief who, for once, ate with them, urged them to finish. Then they went to the ballroom, a huge white room in which only a scene was present. The room was surrounded by two slightly smaller rooms where the buffet had already been set up, hot dishes on one side, desserts on the other, drinks on both sides.
The sovereigns and Chuuya arrived, some of the most popular music composers were already there, ready to play, the guards went to the rooms they had to, and the captain called the patrol group for some more advices, also reminding them to check the guest list.
The said guests arrived shortly after. Soon, the three halls were full of people who greeted their acquaintances and the royal family. The princesses, in particular, were never far from the two princes, although none had the courage to approach them.
“Who is this woman?” Chuuya suddenly asked, his eyes fixed on a girl who must have been his age.
“Princess Takako, from the Ueno family. She is twenty-two years old and...”
“She is very beautiful...” Commented Chuuya.
Thin waist, long black hair, brown eyes, pale skin, a pretty face ... This girl had indeed everything to please Chuuya.
“She is also very intelligent and incredibly kind.” Said the King. “Moreover, her kingdom is extremely rich and powerful. Therefore, she is too.”
“She is perfect for you!” Dazai exclaimed.
“Do ... Do you really think so?” Chuuya asked smiling, surprised by the kindness of his half-brother.
“Sure, she definitely is your soulmate! Look, she is smaller than you!”
Chuuya gave a slap to his brother.
“You, big peasant's shit!” He said as the other prince laughed, proud of himself.
“Chuuya, if you think that you will like this girl, you should go see her. And Osamu, try to find a woman before the end of the evening, rather than making fun of your brother.”
“Right, father. Chuuya, I apologize for this joke of bad taste.”
After that, Chuuya invited the young princess to dance. Dazai, meanwhile, suddenly became a lady bait: having noticed that Chuuya seemed caught with another, all the princesses rushed on Dazai.
Akutagawa sighed as Dazai finally gave a dance to one of them and then promised others, a large smile on his face.
Nothing interesting was happening in the room. Neither in those next door, obviously. Akutagawa was bored. Watching people dancing did not interest him much, but he didn't have anything better to do. He saw his sister dancing several times with their friend, Chuuya, who had apparently decided to spend his evening with the young princess, Tachihara who was visibly bored as much as he and Dazai, dancing with a different princess each time, talking to them, smile on the lips, sometimes even laughing.
After a moment, he did not see the Prince anymore. The moment he wondered where Dazai was, he appeared in his field of vision.
“I cannot stand it any more!” He complained, his smile no longer on his face. “They are all incredibly boring. Real fools! And you, good evening?”
“I am bored too. Nothing happens.”
“Oh ... I was hoping you would have one or two stories to tell me.”
Dazai remained pensive for a moment.
“You should go back to dancing, Sir. It is not by staying with me that you will find someone to marry.” Said Akutagawa.
“But I have a lot more fun with you!” Protested Dazai. “You are much more interesting than all these princesses who, besides everything, are there only for my rank. But I guess you are right. Even though I am resigned to not find love tonight, if my father does not see me dancing any more, he may not be happy. At least I should dance one last time with someone...”
Then, after a moment of thinking:
“Say, do you want to dance with me?”
Akutagawa coughed. He felt his face warming, hoping it was only in his head.
“Sir, your dances are supposed to allow you to get to know these women and find the one that suits you.”
“I know, but they do not interest me. What can I do?”
“But you cannot dance with me, Sir.”
“So you do not want to dance with me?” Dazai asked, looking disappointed.
Akutagawa needed all his mental strength to concentrate and refuse this dance that he wanted so much to accept.
“I want to, Sir, I promise, but I ... I have to do my job.”
“Of course, I understand. Right, so I let you do your job while I am going back to this boring ball again!”
Akutagawa sighed. As he was about to return to boredom, his sister came to talk to him.
“So? Is your Prince finding love?”
“Fortunately for me, he is as bored as I am. Apparently none of these princesses suit him.”
“Did he tell you why?”
“According to him, they are not interesting.”
“And what made you so embarrassed?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I saw you blushing from where I was. So?”
“I ... He offered me a dance.”
“A dance?” Gin repeated, laughing. “Guess you may still have a chance!”
“Gin, it's wrong to make me hope.”
“Yes, but he came to ask you for a dance when his father said yesterday that he has to dance with people he could marry.”
“You are wrong, it's nothing like that! He... He just is boring and I am his best option right now.”
They couldn't debate more as Gin's fiancé came back for a new dance with her.
The evening became boring again for the poor guard. He had seen Dazai only once since their discussion, and it was when he was talking with a woman, looking a bit happier than with the others. And, although he had accepted this possibility, Akutagawa was worried that he might have met a woman who could please him.
When it finally came to an end and all the guests were gone, Dazai motioned for Akutagawa to follow him.
Once in the Prince's flats and the latter in pyjamas, Akutagawa asked the thing that was beginning to torment him.
“So, Sir, did you ... Did you find a woman worthy of your interest?”
“They are all completely stupid. Having a conversation with them is impossible. They only care for unimportant things. And even when you think that one of them is pretty and smart, she turns to be a disrespectful person towards people that are not from high society.”
Dazai sighed and sat down on the bed.
“It would have been better if I had spent my evening talking to you.”
Akutagawa, relieved, had a discreet smile.
“And your father did not say anything?”
“Not really, but he noticed my efforts. He is also very proud of the son who managed to find a young woman to marry.”
“So Sir Chuuya spent the evening with this princess?”
“Yes, they get along very well. Good for him! I must admit that they look good together.”
“Are they going to get married?”
“Yes, probably in few months. My father has even planned to organize some event so that they can see each other again before the wedding.”
Dazai stretched and lay down in bed.
“And you, your evening?”
“The guards were useless. I was bored for the duration of the ball.”
“See? You would have done better to accept my dance.” Smiled Dazai.
“With the rumours that Sir Chuuya and the Queen have made, it would not have been good.” Said Akutagawa, a hint of regret in his voice.
“You are probably right.” Dazai confirmed. “But still, my evening would have been much better if I had spent it with you. You know, I think I do not care about what Chuuya and his mother say. I am just really glad to have a friend like you by my side.”
“I'm flattered, Sir.”
And he sincerely thought so. Although the Prince did not love him, knowing that his company and their friendship pleased him already made Akutagawa hot in the heart. However, he had to admit that he rejoiced that Dazai did not meet the love of his life tonight.