Chapter Text
“Haru-sama, Haru-sama!!” The child with the midnight black hair had inquired, running around the too-big-for-him bed to face the kingdom’s heir. To him, interacting with what others may call influential, intimidating, even-- was the norm.
“Yes, Daisuke-san?” The young prince replied, sitting on the side of his bed. He crosses his legs as he waits for Kambe to sit beside him and ask.
“Why do you never cut your hair, Haru-sama?” Daisuke addresses the prince by his first name, making the latter feel like the question is directed personally. “Your hair’s so long, PLUS you have to keep it neat.. Isn’t it too much trouble??”
On instinct, the prince touches his hair and smiles at Daisuke. Before he could answer, the smile on his face faltered slightly due to the distinct shouts and swearing from outside Daisuke’s room.
The royal advisor is so vulgar, Haru thinks. He could only imagine how much Daisuke has to go through just to keep his father satisfied. Haru longed to be able to tell Kambe Shigemaru to cut down on the arguments with his wife and family so his best friend wouldn’t come to the palace, crying while asking for Haru about twice a week.
Anyway, Haru answers. “My mother was really sick when I was in her womb, and they feared that we might both die and the kingdom would end with a broken king and without an heir. But they found a magic flower that had could heal my mother!! And and!! The best thing is that now, my hair has magic powers!”
Daisuke’s mouth is now agape. “A magic flower?!”
Haru bursts into giggles, nodding before he continues. “My hair glows when I sing, and it can heal people. If I cut it,” Haru reaches for hair strands with his small fingers, pulling it out of the hair tie to show Daisuke. Unlike the other hair strands, it was shorter, and it was as dark as Daisuke’s hair. “It loses its magic and it turns black.”
“Oh, so that’s why. Thank you for answering my question. Now,” Daisuke jumps down from his bed, running to his bookshelf. The black-haired kid pulls out a few books and a box of assorted colour pencils and crayons. “Do you want to draw with me outside, Prince?”
“Yes, I would love to! We haven’t done that in ages!” Haru excitedly jumps down from the bed as well, running to Daisuke’s side and grabbing his hand. “Come on!”
The two kids quietly ran out of Daisuke’s room, each holding a bunch of colouring materials while giggling. They decided to use the staircase intended for the staff in order to avoid Daisuke’s arguing parents. Thankfully, nobody took notice of them, and the sneak out was successful.
As soon as the two boys got in the gardens, they lost whatever formality was there to begin with. They sat on the ground and drew— small bugs they saw, the flowers growing near them, each other —and it was wonderful.
Haru thinks he’s very lucky to have a best friend like Daisuke. Daisuke’s even going to be Haru’s advisor once he becomes king, like the way his dad was to Haru's father. They were literally going to be best friends forever and Haru could protect Daisuke from everything! As soon as I grow up, Haru thinks, I’m going to kick Kambe Shigemaru out so he can’t hurt Daisuke or Mrs Kambe anymore!
“Ah, I need to go back inside. I left my handkerchief inside your room.” Haru says, standing up. Daisuke doesn’t spare him a glance, too engrossed in whatever he was drawing.
“Just be back, alright?!” Daisuke yells, in hopes that the prince could still hear him.
“Okay!”
Haru uses the same route he and Daisuke used to go outside secretly. He tried to keep his footsteps quiet and his presence clandestine. He did NOT want to get in Daisuke’s parents’ argument. Quickly. Quickly, quickly, quickly, quickly, and then back to Daisuke—
“—would be better! For us, for your son! Imagine all the riches we would get once we’re sitting on the throne! How your son won’t have to look pathetic beside the prince, how he would be so happy with everything he’d ever want!”
“Do you think that’s nice, Shigemaru? Yes, we would have the throne, but it wouldn’t truly be ours! We ripped them out of their position! How would you feel if someone impeached you from the Advisor position, huh? Plus, Their Highnesses trust us. I would feel terrible if I ever betrayed that!”
Daisuke’s father sighed, throwing his head back as he melted on his seat. Haru gasped and hid behind Daisuke’s bedroom door.
I shouldn’t have eavesdropped.
“Do you see him, Shigemaru?” Sayuri asked, running a hand through her locks. She was beautiful, but she looked stressed. Haru is reminded of his mother. “The prince. He and Dai are the best of friends. Do you really think Dai would be happy without Haru?”
“What do you want me to do then?!” Shigemaru roared, lifting his head to glare at his wife. His voice was as loud as thunder, that even Sayuri flinched. Haru was scared, and he wanted to run and tell Daisuke about this, but —wouldn’t it be better if he doesn’t see this? So he doesn’t make a move.
“That is an innocent child that you will be stripping out of a wonderful life if you go on with your plan. Please, stop this madness. We’re alright with what we’ve got.” Sayuri pleads, standing up and approaching his husband. The kind woman placed a hand on her husband’s shoulder, and Shigemaru grabbed her wrist.
No, the advisor’s gesture was not reassuring at all. Shigemaru secured a tight grip on her, and flipped her over—surprising Sayuri. Haru shivered. Yep, he definitely wouldn’t want Daisuke to see his own mother writhing in pain on the floor, while his father looms over his mother.
“You’re simply a nuisance and a problem I should have gotten rid of a long time ago.” Shigemaru mumbles, before turning around to stare directly at Haru. The kid was petrified. “Ah, Prince Haru. You heard everything, did you not?”
Haru closes the door immediately, dropping down to his knees and crawling under Daisuke’s bed. He knows that this isn’t the best hiding place, but the prince takes his chances anyway.
Haru hears the doorknob click open.
“Well, you’re already here. It’s the perfect time to get rid of you.” Shigemaru’s voice sounded dangerously close, as if he was just beside Haru. Haru looks to the side, shaking, to find the royal adviser staring back at him, an evil smirk on his face.
Before Haru could scream for help, for Daisuke, Shigemaru had gotten ahold of him and he was far, far, far from safety.