Chapter Text
Mere seconds ago, Airi had cherished the smile gracing the princess’s face. She hadn’t seen Shizuku smile like that since the night they danced in the palace gardens under the full moon of her sixteenth birthday, right before she kissed her for the first time. Airi had sworn to herself that she’d make Shizuku smile grow brighter for every day to come, if she could help it. It was her duty, not only as Shizuku’s personal retainer, but as her friend.
She’d failed her princess. She’d fallen in love with the girl destined to be married for power and status, the girl desired by nearly anyone who laid eyes on her and beheld her otherworldly beauty. That part wasn’t fair—No one saw Shizuku like Airi did, saw her past her flawless features. The moment she realized her feelings, she should’ve run, because it would’ve made every moment after more bearable for the both of them. When she didn’t run after the princess claimed to return her feelings, Airi branded herself both a coward and a damned fool. A servant girl had no place beside royalty, especially someone like Princess Shizuku. Shizuku would make the history books while Airi’s memory would fade with the turning of the century, but as she stared down at her bloodied hands, a new tightness formed in her chest. Her future promised a much darker fate.
“Princess,” Airi nearly choked on her words. She stared down at the dagger in her hand, letting it clatter to the ground. Shizuku’s body crumpled to the ground.
Airi rushed to her side, propping Shizuku’s head against the cradle of her arm and hauling her upwards. She coughed violently, blood splattering across her dress. “Princess!” Airi shouted once more with clawing urgency, her voice cracking. Shizuku’s eyelids fluttered, threatening to close forever. Panicked, Airi called out to the emptiness surrounding them. “Someone, please! Get a healer! The princess, she’s—”
The sudden movement of Shizuku’s body against her own cut her off. Shizuku grasped weakly at Airi’s forearm, a groan escaping her chapped lips. “It hurts…” she muttered, burying her head in Airi’s stomach.
Tears welled in Airi’s eyes, and she blinked rapidly to stop their escape. Her mind whirled with confusion, anger at the horrid act committed by her own hands. She never wanted to kill the princess. She would never kill the one she loved so dearly, yet here she laid, clutching at the weakening body of her liege. No one was answering her calls, and she could’ve sworn they were the only two people left in the universe.
Airi ripped at one of her sleeves, tearing off enough cloth suitable for a bandage. “I’m going to try my best to patch up the wound, so just hold on for me, okay?”
“Airi, please,” Shizuku muttered. “Don’t waste your time. It’s too late.”
“No,” Airi retorted. “This is my damn fault, and I’m going to fix it. You’re going to be okay.”
“Airi.” Shizuku looked up at her with that face, the one she’d let herself fall for like a helpless fool. Even the blood speckled across her cheeks couldn’t mar her beauty. A tear inched down her cheek. “I… I love…”
“Don’t say it. Please.” Hearing such proclamations she was unworthy of was too painful. Tears welled in Airi’s eyes, and she didn’t bother to wipe them, letting each tear fall to join Shizuku’s. No matter how she tried to bandage the wound, blood seeped through the cloth, staining her palms. She winced at the sight, nerves pooling in her stomach.
Shizuku lifted her head, letting out a drawn-out sigh. “I love you,” she mustered, and her head drooped, her body going limp in Airi’s arms.
Airi couldn’t move, not even to close Shizuku’s eyes. Her entire body shook with anger, clutching at the lifeless girl in her arms. She muttered her name again and again as if begging the gods to bestow life upon her once more. The dagger sat at Airi’s feet, staring back menacingly at her, reminding her of her sins. The entire world seemed to close, pulling her into a dark void as she screeched out in pain.
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Airi jolted upward with a scream. She panted, cold air filling her lungs. A quick glance around her quarters told her she was alive, and this wasn’t hell. Her instincts brought her to her feet, shoving her boots on. She took a lantern from where it flickered on her bedside table, carefully pushing her door open. First, she needed water—anything to ease her mind back into reality.
The scene was far too clear; Shizuku’s pale face, her limp body in her arms, the blood staining her hands. A shiver trailed down Airi’s spine. She crushed the fear with her clenched fist.
The halls of the servants’ quarters were bare, dark with the shadows of dawn. Usually, a maid or two scurried along the halls, and Airi prided herself on knowing the names of every one of them. From firsthand experience, she knew the loneliness of acting as nothing but a nameless working hand all too well. If only someone else was up at this hour, as conversation was a perfect distraction.
She pushed the doors open to the kitchen, the smell of stale bread greeting her. A mess of flour and chopped vegetable remains graced the tabletops, telling of a night of hard work with little rest. Someone would clean around here later, but Airi didn’t mind the mess. She took a cup from the back table, groaning when she realized no one had fetched water yet this morning. The fresh air could do her a bit of good.
The well sat just outside the kitchen, conveniently enough. As Airi pushed the door open, the sun barely peeked over the edges of the far-off mountains, casting faint light atop the surrounding stone brick paths. She appreciated the hint of daylight to aid her. Taking the nearby bucket, she carefully fastened it to the rope hanging in the well, letting the bucket lower. Birds chirped around her, as if in welcoming. It lets Airi breathe, to appreciate her surroundings. The castle could be soothing when the princess’s pressures didn’t consume her.
As she tugged the bucket back upwards, grunting with the weight, Airi caught sight of a couple of guards emerging, taking their places by the gates. If she had a spare hand, she would’ve waved, but they didn’t seem to notice her. They stood almost too rigidly, dark, hollow eyes devoid of any life. Airi shuddered; working for the crown took a different toll on anyone unfortunate enough to work directly under the king.
Once she dragged the filled bucket back to the surface, Airi took the handle with both hands to haul it back to the kitchen. She hoped anyone in the kitchen would appreciate her efforts, even if it just saved them a trip to the well and quenched her own thirst. Fresh water was a miracle on her throat, aching as if she felt every scream she let out in her nightmares. The moment she tidied herself up, she’d return to the princess’s side. If she could even trust herself.
No. Shizuku needed her today. Her father requested her audience that evening just the night before. He rarely called her forth to speak to her directly, so it must have been important. Shizuku hadn’t said a word regarding the meeting, even if Airi wished she would share her worries. Neither pretended to stay unaware of the king’s intentions. The entire kingdom overflowed with whispers of the princess finally taking the crown, and the anxious mutterings across the kingdom expected her to marry within the year. Many didn’t know that Lord Tenma rejected the king’s offer to allow his eldest son Shizuku’s hand, a humiliation in its greatest right. The king was beyond desperate to find a suitable replacement for his daughter, another with power like the Tenma house held, and his grasps slowly reached past his own land. Rumors said that he was looking to House Aoyagi for his next request, and hearing of Lord Aoyagi’s ambitions, Airi was positive he would accept.
Airi couldn’t imagine marriage. Maybe she was simply immature, but such an important commitment seemed far too out of reach. She loved her princess above all else, so devoting her life to anyone else was unfathomable. A life on her own didn’t feel so terrible either, as long as she was at Shizuku’s side.
Airi saw how Shizuku feared marriage. She’d never uttered such words, but Airi saw the way her perfect posture shattered at the mere mention of it. Still, her flawless composure never broke. The princess was strong. And Airi loved her, loved her far too much to watch her heart break like that.
With the discussion of marriage, an announcement spread across the whole kingdom. The noble houses anxiously awaited the knowledge, especially after the king felt it necessary to keep a name vague during the ball, surely thanks to Lord Tenma. It was almost laughable until Airi remembered that Shizuku’s hand was still promised to some fortunate noble out there.
Maybe the princess needed someone who loved her at her side.
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“I had a nightmare last night,” Airi said as she ran a brush through Shizuku’s wavy blue hair. She’d toiled with whether to tell the princess, but the two promised not to keep anything from one another. Shizuku’s burdens were too heavy for one person to shoulder, and she’d promised to offer the same support for Airi.
Shizuku’s brows furrowed in concern. “Again?”
“It was different this time. You were killed.” Airi grimaced at the thought, letting the brush run over a tangle. Shizuku flinched.
“You always say I die in your nightmares.”
“You do.” Airi struggled to even admit what she’d seen. What horrible acts she committed with her own hands. “But usually I’m not the one who does the killing.”
“It was just a dream.” Shizuku sounded much more convinced than Airi could muster a belief about. “You’ve dreamt of my death countless nights, yet here I still remain. This one isn’t any different.”
In many ways, she was right. She’d watched Shizuku die through countless dreams, waking up with the same fear. The dreams always told her that she was powerless, useless in protecting her princess. It only reinforced the dread that occupied her mind, the fear that begged her to run and leave the princess to a better life without her. Airi clenched her fists, crushing the cowardly thoughts.
“What if I killed you?”
“You’d never kill me.”
“You don’t know that.” Airi’s gaze remained fixed on the mirror, on the sight of herself standing over the princess.
Shizuku whipped her head around, nearly taking Airi’s brush with her. “I beg your pardon?”
Airi bit her lip. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“You’ve never even killed anyone before,” Shizuku said. Her cheeks flushed. “I trust you more than anyone I’ve ever known.”
Shizuku reached forward, brushing her fingers against Airi’s cheek. Every time the princess touched her, a prickling sensation shot up her neck, and Airi had to divert her attention from her. Nearly anyone in her situation would’ve reacted the same, hell, anyone within a short radius of such a pretty face, but she would’ve hoped that by now she could grow used to the feeling. She was the same flustered servant girl held hostage by the perplexing beauty of the princess.
Shizuku muttered softly. “Airi, don’t let such foolish thoughts plague your mind. I’m not going to die, and you’re not going to kill me.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “We’re going to escape here together. We’ll run away to the countryside and live in a quaint little cottage on a river with a flourishing garden, remember?”
Heat extended to the tips of Airi’s ears. She almost felt silly hearing the proclamation aloud, and it took her back to her own dreams as a little girl. She had looked to the palace with such longing, childish dreams of a noble’s pampered life, yet now that she was here, she wanted nothing but to escape, just as Shizuku did.
Airi rubbed at the back of her neck. “Of course I remember. That’s why I want you to stay safe.”
“This castle is impenetrable. You know that I’m safe here. That we’re safe here.” She offered a light smile. “And I have you to protect me, right?”
“My life is yours, your majesty.”
“Please don’t say it like that. You’re worth more to me than that.” Shizuku’s hand traced Airi’s arm before she laced their fingers. “I thought I told you not to call me ‘your majesty’ either.”
Airi swallowed hard. She hadn’t slipped up like that in a while. “I’m sorry.” She wanted to say more, but her throat went dry; she couldn’t argue with the princess, not with those crystal blue eyes of hers blinking back at her. Her heart caved in so easily with the princess, and she hated it with every fluttering beat.
“So, can we let this go? Let your mind rest, my love.” She squeezed at Airi’s hand.
A twinge of guilt struck. “Of course. I’m sorry for bringing it up.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I appreciate that you’re talking to me about your worries, and I don’t want you to feel alone, ever. I’ve dealt with those feelings long enough to know.” Her eyes met Airi’s, and a blush crept up Airi’s neck. “But now I have you.”
“I’m only performing my duty,” Airi countered. She hated focusing any of that attention on herself. The princess had saved her enough times to make up for anything she returned.
“In that case, what about my hair?”
“Oh, right.” Airi flushed. She’d focused too much on Shizuku’s hand in her own to bother resuming. Within the hour, Shizuku’s father expected her in his chambers for an important discussion. She wished she could attend in her place, maybe to allow the princess a well-deserved and proper nap.
She carefully pulled the top section of Shizuku’s hair to the top of her head, taking a golden clasp to secure it. The rest of her curls fell lightly below her shoulders like a crystalline waterfall. Shizuku was gorgeous when she dressed up, but Airi could admire her at any time, even in the moments after waking in the morning when her hair fell sloppily over her face, her eyes stained with sleeplessness.
“You look beautiful,” she said, letting Shizuku admire her work in the mirror.
“Everyone always tells me that,” Shizuku muttered. She looped a curl around her finger, letting it fall against her neck. “I know that you’re the one who means it.”
Airi cracked a smile. “People don’t rave about your beauty for the sake of your confidence, Shizuku.”
“But you see something else, right?”
Of course she did, or she wouldn’t be standing over the princess right now. “I see everything else, and if you wish, I’ll list every perfection about you to soothe your mind.”
“Oh, Airi, you’re going to make me blush.”
Airi’s chest filled with warmth at the thought that she could have such an effect on the princess. “Your dress is waiting on your bed.”
Shizuku took the dress, holding it out to admire it: a darker purple dress picked by her mother. The color complemented the light hues of her hair nicely, but Airi knew that Shizuku would look stunning before she ever saw the dress itself.
Rising to her feet, Airi made her way to the door. “Good luck, Shizuku.”
Both knew all too well that she would need it, especially with every day she aged closer to queenhood.
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Working directly for the castle provided less time for leisure than Airi had enjoyed as a young girl, even when working as Lady Ena’s personal handmaiden before. Ena was generous, treating Airi more often as a friend than someone she saw below her. Judging by the harsh words of her father, Airi could only figure that Ena simply needed a friend more than a servant.
Shizuku was the same, in many ways. Of course, a princess of her esteem required much more work. Airi was on top of her schedule, every private dance lesson or sword instruction, and she was intended to be at the side of her lady with every passing breath. The hard work didn’t bother her, at least. She enjoyed being with Shizuku enough to distract herself from the strains of labor. Whenever occasions brought her with an evening to herself, she found herself lost.
Part of her wished to speak with Ena once more, to catch up after a couple of years of going their own separate ways. Even if miles separated them, whispers of Ena’s disappearance told her she wouldn’t be seeing her former friend for a while, or ever, possibly. While she hated to consider that her friend could be dead, some filthy assassin had attempted to take her life before, and if they’d finally succeeded in a second attempt, Airi couldn’t allow herself to even fathom the possibility. Ena was out there somewhere, at least she hoped.
Tonight, Airi found herself in the neighboring town of the palace. She’d stumbled into the famous tavern a few times, often chasing the stories of the former general, Ken Shiraishi, as many did. Rarely could anyone crack a word from him, instead persuaded to buy a drink and spill their own sorrows to the now-occupied bartender. She could only admire such a careful strategy.
Airi pulled her cloak tightly around her shoulders, lowering her hood. If the princess were to show her face in town, she’d need to disguise her identity, but Airi could pass around unnoticed, at least by the common folk. Anyone familiar with the castle may have recognized her, as she stayed glued to the princess’s side day in and day out, but judging by the bustle of the tavern, many weren’t to be relying on their better consciousness tonight.
Taking a table in the back corner, Airi folded her hands. The bartender’s daughter, a fiery girl called An, was singing tonight. Her voice often drew out a few more customers, for good reason too. She carried in her voice a power that her sword arm could only match, or so the rumors said. Until tonight, Airi had never actually heard her sing, but for something as fickle as a rumor, this one was believable.
A waitress, a tall woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a folded choker on her neck, set a large cup of water in front of her. “If you want to order anything, just call me over,” she said, winking as she walked back to the counter. Airi graciously took the cup to her lips, the water refreshing on her parched throat. She had stressed about Shizuku’s meeting all afternoon, hardly realizing how she neglected her own needs.
After nearly downing the glass in a single gulp, she thought to wave down the waitress again, perhaps for a bite to eat, but a figure stood over her: Haruka Kiritani, current captain in the cavalry force and a prodigy in nearly every right, from her lance skills to her charisma. She often advised Princess Shizuku, acting doubly as a friend whenever she could spare the time. It shocked Airi to see her outside the palace with a workload like the one she carried.
“Captain,” Airi greeted, dipping her head respectfully.
Haruka waved her hand through the air as if denying the gesture. “We’re not in the palace. Haruka will do just fine.”
Airi raised a brow. “I’m not looking to be disrespectful.”
“You call Her Majesty by her first name, do you not?” She cracked a smile. A spark flickered in Airi’s heart. Haruka knew how to get to her, even from only their previous, always brief conversations.
“May I sit down?” Airi didn’t bother to respond, letting her seat herself on her own permissions.
“To what do I owe the honor?” Airi leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms across her chest.
Haruka’s eyes flitted around the room. Most every customer was occupied in their own conversations with one another, either that or much too drunk to make sense of their current surroundings. Spies often frequented places like this, though, and someone of Haruka’s importance had to stay on guard.
“I simply wanted to sit with a friend. That’s all.”
“Friend?” Airi snorted. “I mean, I guess, but you’ve hardly talked to me before.”
“You’re close with Her Majesty, at least enough to call her by her name, so I trust you.” Haruka’s stare remained fixed on Airi. No front she put up now could mask her apparent desire for something else.
The tavern erupted with the sound of clapping and laughter, raising Airi’s head to the source of the noise. An Shiraishi waved out from the small stage she had assembled in the back of the tavern, although it looked more like she’d shoved a couple tables to the side and called it a day. Haruka retreated into her cape slightly.
“What? Are you not a fan of live entertainment?” Airi teased, nudging Haruka’s foot from under the table.
Haruka kept her expression composed. “An’s singing is beautiful.”
“An? First name basis, huh?” Airi pressed.
Haruka’s grip tightened around her glass. “Let’s push that aside, shall we?”
Airi smirked. “If you insist.”
An broke into song, and Airi caught Haruka tapping her foot along with the words. She must’ve heard them before, because whatever An was singing was unfamiliar to Airi, at least. Questioning Haruka on her relationship with the mysterious singer girl would’ve offered plenty more entertainment, but something about Haruka’s constant nervous glancing told her that she was here for more.
The waitress from earlier stopped by again to deliver more water; this time, Airi noticed it was hinted with lemon. More interestingly than that, the waitress’s eyes seemed to linger on Haruka, and Airi couldn’t tell if it was some sort of instinct from working in this kind of atmosphere for so long.
“Something’s up, and you’re doing a horrible job of hiding it,” Airi finally broke the ice.
Haruka looked up from her drink. “An and I grew up together,” she offered.
“No, not about her. There’s something else, or you wouldn’t be wasting your time with me. I’ve been around enough nobility to know that people usually have ulterior motives.”
“My status is nothing of nobility,” Haruka countered. Getting a word out of her was proving much more difficult than she expected, and Airi couldn’t help but applaud the princess for picking someone like her to trust. Someone so stubborn ought to make a reliable advisor.
Airi sighed loudly, rising to her feet. “You’re starting to piss me off, you know? If you’re just going to dodge every word I throw at you, I’ve got no reason to stick around.”
She instantly felt Haruka’s fingers curl around her wrist. “Wait,” she whispered harshly. She took Airi’s wrist, pulling her back to her chair. “You need to stay here.”
Airi opened her mouth in protest. Haruka’s expression hardened, her eyebrows creasing. She muttered something under her breath, but Airi couldn’t catch it.
She ran her fingers around the rim of her glass, humming to herself to fill in the awkward silence. The bar’s noise buzzed about in the background, and it took every ounce of trust Haruka had mustered to earn from Airi to keep her in her seat. Shizuku could’ve been at the castle waiting for her by now. Maybe she needed a shoulder to cry on, an ear to hear her sorrows. Airi grew restless with the thoughts, tapping her foot to subdue the uncomfortable feelings.
Haruka’s gaze darted under the table, then back at Airi. “Anxious?”
“Aren’t we all during these times?”
“You raise a fair point,” Haruka sighed. “I promise we’re almost done here, but—” Glancing up, she paused, a smile forming on her face. The singer from before had wandered over. Dark curls cascaded down her back, and up close, the lanterns lighting the tavern shone in her eyes, pronouncing their amber glow. “Long time no see, An,” Haruka greeted, dipping her head in respect.
“And here I thought you’d never show your face here again,” An returned, crossing her arms. She held firm eye contact with Haruka, but within seconds it broke, leaving her in a fit of giggles. She lunged for Haruka, tackling her in a tight embrace. Grunting, Haruka’s hand flew to the table to brace the impact.
Haruka gently pushed An off herself, offering a flustered smile toward Airi. “I’m sorry, I know it’s been a while. Tonight was just important.”
An raised an eyebrow. “So that’s how you’ve decided to say that you’ve missed me.” Haruka flushed, and about a dozen new questions piqued Airi’s curiosity. She’d never seen someone have such an effect on the dignified soldier. In many ways, it was entertaining.
“I wish I could afford a visit on such a trivial affair,” Haruka admitted, and An’s entire expression seemed to droop. “And truly, I do wish the times allowed fate to play out differently tonight.”
Haruka’s hand fell to her scabbard, her fingers curling around the hilt of a dagger. An paled, stepping back. “You’re always so serious. Can’t you afford to loosen up a little? I can get you anything you want from the back; it’ll be on the house too!”
“Why don’t you fetch the thief you’ve been housing?”
An’s eyes burned back into Haruka’s. “Thief? There are plenty of those in here, so take your pick.”
Haruka pressed. “You know exactly who I mean.”
Airi considered taking her leave, granting the two some privacy. She couldn’t fathom who Haruka was talking about, but if she had to guess, it seemed to be someone connected to herself and An. Either way, it was a matter Airi didn’t need to bother herself with. She rubbed the back of her neck, glancing awkwardly around the tavern. None of the customers looked back at her, much too interested in the drinks in front of them, save for one figure seated in the back corner. A dark cloak concealed their entire body, and they hunched over a mug on the table, hands folded around it. The veil of mystery surrounding such a figure was curious, but as Airi watched, their head seemed to bob between the mug and their table. In a way, it was unsettling, even if most of the customers were interested only in An.
An might have been the only person in the entire kingdom to not crumble under Haruka’s questioning. In her situation, Airi surely would’ve gone to shouting, as she typically handled most situations leaving her vulnerable, but An could keep a steady composure.
“So, are you going to talk, or do I have to force it out of you?” Haruka threatened. An’s lips curled into a mischievous grin.
“I’d like to see you try.”
“Airi,” Haruka hissed her name under her breath, jolting her upward. “Back there.”
Airi’s gaze flickered back to the figure in the back, staring directly at her. Her hand fell to the dagger at her thigh, and as if mirroring her, the figure’s hand traveled to their back, out of sight.
“Who in the hell?” Airi muttered to herself.
An shuffled in front of Airi, obscuring her view. “Wait. You have no idea what you’re getting involved with,” she said under her breath. “Please, just be on your way.”
Within moments, Haruka flew to her feet, dagger in hand. She tossed the dagger with near perfect precision across the tavern; the blade tore through the air with a hiss as it whizzed past dozens of unaware heads. It flew toward its target, hoping to embed itself in the breast of the mysterious customer, but with a crash, they’d leapt up on the table, rattling the entire tavern. They glanced at Haruka before diving backward, crashing through the glass of a window and out onto the streets.
Screams filled the once jovial tavern, customers running desperately for the door or taking hold of their own weapons, dead set on the blood of the cavalry captain. Haruka tackled An to the ground, throwing her body atop hers to secure her, ignoring An’s yelps. “Akiyama, that damned criminal” she hissed toward Airi. “What the hell are you doing? Go!”
Airi cursed, fishing for her weapon. She hadn’t caught sight of the thief, overwhelmed by the chaos of the tavern. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, her mind whirling. Mizuki Akiyama, the infamous assassin wanted for the attempted murder of Lady Ena Shinonome, the very noble Airi was previously employed under. She’d longed for their blood, for proper punishment dished out to such a foul person. Even if they’d parted ways, Airi’s heart still ached for Ena, for her former friend. The fact that anyone tried to take her life while she lay sleeping so peacefully disgusted her.
She sprinted through the darkened streets on the trail of the assassin. The night concealed their dark attire effectively, and Airi wished she’d noticed the obvious warnings sooner. She had hardly a trail to follow except her own logic and the faint outline of Mizuki, cloaked by the night.
The town boasted many a dark alleyway, perfect for quick getaways, but they’d be found within days if they tried to hide in the streets. Mizuki was smart enough to keep running. Outside of the town only lay the castle nearby or a thick forest separating it from nearby estates. Airi sent a quick prayer to whatever gods could hear her, hoping her feet carried her quickly enough.
Blood pounded through her head as she ran, blocking out every sound echoing around her. Branches and thorns tore through cloth, scraping at her legs. She didn’t care. She had an assassin to catch and blood to spill. Airi yelled, something between a screech of anger and a threat. They had to have killed Ena. Ena would never just disappear, no matter how pain drove her from her father. They killed her in cold blood, and they were going to pay.
The navy tinted skies offer no light, nothing to spot a running assassin except the crackling of twigs and leaves under footsteps. Airi could practically feel them. They slid under fallen trees, over rocks to roll against the forest floor. Airi felt her feet nearly give out under her, but adrenaline kept her head high and her eyes sharp. No one could run forever.
Mizuki was tricky. They’d risked themselves by jumping over a gap above a stream. A fall would have broken an ankle and guaranteed their head to the hands of the king if Airi didn’t have it first. Airi cursed whatever foolish gods watched over them, protecting such a wretched person.
“You monster!” Airi yelled out, voice cracking with fatigue. Mizuki didn’t bother to turn to face her, only digging in their cape to throw an unidentifiable object back toward her, presumably a knife of some sort. Dodging was unnecessary when their aim was weakened by poor sight. Airi could’ve laughed. “You can’t run forever!”
They finally stopped in their tracks. Airi nearly crashed into Mizuki, but instead, they charged toward her, knocking both of them off their feet. Mizuki tackles her to the ground with a yelp. Airi batted back at them with her nails in an attempt to scratch at their face as they fished for a knife. They rolled around until Mizuki was on top of Airi, pinning her down with their knee.
“You know nothing,” they hissed, their breath hot against Airi’s neck. “She’s going to die, and you’re powerless against it.”
“How could you kill Ena?” Tears prick at Airi’s eyes. “How could you kill an innocent like that? How?”
“I didn’t kill her.” They dug their knee toward Airi’s neck.
“You fucking liar!” Airi screamed.
“Quit the yelling, or I’ll slit your throat.”
Airi swallowed, her throat dry but her eyes wet. “Why…” she muttered. “Please—”
“I already told you that I didn’t kill Lady Ena. I don’t even know where she is,” Mizuki confessed. “Please, cut the accusations. I’m trying to help you, or someone close to the princess, at least.”
Blood pounded unsteadily in Airi’s ears. “Don’t fucking touch her.”
Mizuki sighed loudly. “You’re never going to trust me. I didn’t expect it, but I love nice little surprises.” They got up, releasing Airi from underneath them. “Fine. Go, if you wish.”
Airi could hardly stand, let alone run. Adrenaline was the only thing keeping her from toppling to the ground. She couldn’t leave, not when such a dangerous assassin was standing before her. She felt stupid for even considering fighting back, but she lunged for Mizuki once more, bringing them both back to the ground with a loud thud and a crack.
Mizuki dropped their dagger in shock, letting Airi scoop it from the ground. She pressed the blade against their neck, driving their head into the cold dirt below them. She could practically taste their sweat and blood.
“You know something, and if you don’t speak up, I won’t hesitate,” Airi hissed. Mizuki trembled under the weight of her body, yet they still tried to crack a smile even in the face of death. Airi wanted to rip it off their face.
“I know everything you’d ever want to know about your precious princess,” they admitted. “I know who you are, and I know that you’d do anything to keep Princess Shizuku safe.”
Airi pressed the knife closer to their neck, enough to draw a drop of blood. “Then tell me, or—”
“Or you’ll kill me. Like I’m not going to die anyway.”
“I hate you,” Airi snarled.
“Everyone does.”
Airi’s eyes flamed. “You have one more chance.”
“Okay, okay, fine.” Mizuki raised a hand in an attempt to grasp Airi’s dagger hand, but she quickly pinned it back to the ground. “The king is planning a banquet, isn’t he? To announce the princess’s marriage.”
Airi tilted her head. “I’ve heard nothing of the sort.”
“But you know that he will. Every noble house will attend, and the entire kingdom will buzz with the news that the princess finally has a husband!”
“I don’t want to hear about that.” Airi’s heart tightened in her chest. She didn’t need Mizuki to give her one more reason to hate them.
“Have you heard about the reappearance of magic? Supposedly more than just House Ootori boasts such a power. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, and so will you,” Mizuki sighed. “Protect your princess. That’s all.”
A mixture of confusion and fright washed over her. Magic was a taboo subject around the kingdom, and she’d never heard of anyone capable of spells with more power than simple pranks. As she knew it, House Ootori, the most powerful and influential of the noble houses, issued threats to anyone foolish enough to practice such an act openly in public, so most were smart enough to comply with their strict warnings. This could only be the work of one of their bloodline, assuming the Ootori house was alone in their capabilities following the slow fizzling out of magic across the kingdom. Airi knew better than to poke her head in those affairs.
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because Lady Ena is in the care of the Yoisaki family, and she misses you.” Mizuki smiled, a tear trailing down their cheek. Airi could’ve choked on the air.
She sucked in a long breath. A slight dizziness passed over her, but she was back on her feet before she could form a new thought. Her mind whirled with overwhelming black, a small voice hissing from the back of her head, begging for blood. To indulge. She couldn’t, not when she recognized that look in Mizuki’s eyes.
“Go.” Airi’s expression darkened. “Go, before I change my mind.”
“Whew! I was a little worried I wouldn’t make it out of that one alive, honestly!” Mizuki teased. Airi tensed, pushing back the violence beating through her veins.
They loved her, and she knew better than to interfere in such matters. She couldn’t let anyone else lose the one they loved most, not when Ena was the victim, and Airi knew that feeling all too well.