Chapter Text

Chapter One

The breeze rushing through his hair. The feeling of cold saltwater misting up against his cheeks. The sound of the crashing waves surrounding him. The glow of the moon illuminating his wide sunset eyes.

Tsukasa breathed in deep and let out a content sigh, finally feeling the freedom of being out in the great unknown.

“Your highness? What’re you doing out here so late!”

…Or at least he could pretend he was.

Tsukasa reluctantly stepped back from the giant open water to take a few cautious steps onto the old dilapidated dock that he frequented. Looking up, he was hardly surprised to see a concerned Mizuki with their arms crossed and hips jutting out to the side.

They were in their full knight attire, sending a pang of guilt to Tsukasa upon realising that they were working far beyond their hours.

“You didn’t need to come find me,” Tsukasa tried, knowing it’d have no effect.

Not to his surprise, Mizuki shook their head adamantly. “Your parents would have my head if something happened to you! Can you please stop running off without a guard?”

He listened to their plea in one ear before turning his head back to the restless sea behind him. It was so mesmerising that he found himself wanting to sit at the edge and let his feet soak in the icy cold, just to feel the rush of the water. 

Mizuki softened slightly upon seeing his wistful expression and sighed. “I promise you, I’ll come with you next time so long as you tell me where you’re going.”

Tsukasa lit up. “You really mean that?”

With a tired huff, they nodded. “O’course, your highness. Just remember, if your parents decide to execute me for you getting a splinter out here, you’ll probably get stuck with a real stick-in-the-mud of a knight. Someone way less cuter than me.”

Tsukasa tilted his head innocently. “Like Akito?”

“Pffft,” Mizuki didn’t bother concealing their amusement. “I’ll tell him you said that. But no, I mean it. You gotta be careful, the more you push your parents buttons the more you risk losing the tiny bit of freedom you still have.”

The young prince winced but reluctantly followed Mizuki past the rocky border between the sand and the water. Taking a relatively hidden and old stone staircase up the cliffside, the two made it to the servant’s quarters where Tsukasa had effectively snuck out of.

“Thank you, Lady Mizuki,” Tsukasa said earnestly, gently grabbing their sleeve to stop their swift stride. “I really mean it.”

They laughed a little. “You don’t need to thank me for doing my job.”

“You and I both know your job doesn’t exactly involve chasing me down after I’ve already escaped.”

“Eh,” They shrugged. “It keeps things interesting. I guess I’d prefer indulging you on these adventures than having to sit in on boring meetings or lessons.”

“Oh? It wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with a certain royal artist that I often keep at my side?”

Mizuki stiffened before shooting Tsukasa a glare. “Don’t think that just because you’re a prince I won’t kick your ass.”

“Surely you wouldn’t attack the young, helpless prince?” Tsukasa teased.

“I’ll make it look like an accident. Maybe you tripped on some stairs, hit some rocks.”

“All that to avoid admitting you have a crush…”

“10. 9. 8-”

“What’re you doing? Why’re you counting?”

“That’s how long you have to run. 7. 6.”

With a shriek, Tsukasa bolted past Mizuki, and past the many servants who were well accustomed to their shenanigans and hardly bothered by the unprincely behaviour he was exhibiting. 

Mizuki had been assigned to Tsukasa since they were both 12, and Mizuki was just a fresh-faced kid trying to work their way out of the slums by joining the royal guard. They had almost been refused due to how small they were at the time, seen as far too delicate and dainty to be of any worth to an army. 

Tsukasa had adamantly insisted that Mizuki be a part of his own personal guard, claiming that their unassuming appearance only made them better for an incognito knight. 

Ever since then, Mizuki had been a dear friend that Tsukasa wasn’t sure what he’d do without.

Mizuki had also ended up proving all of those senior knights wrong. While it’s true that they never managed to become particularly bulky like the rest of the guard, Mizuki’s strength was hidden and aided by their speed and agility. They easily had become one of the most skilled knights in the guard, all while happening to look cute in their bows and skirts.

Tsukasa could always appreciate a good eye for aesthetics.

When the prince finally made his way back to his quarters, he was out of breath and desperately trying to catch it as he leaned against his wall. Mizuki strolled in not long after, looking no worse for wear and rather smug.

“Tired?”

“Not… Not all of us are trained knights,” Tsukasa huffed, groaning all the while.

“Aw you’re so dramatic, your highness.” Mizuki teased. “Maybe you need to get into better shape. You’re just as bad as Ena.”

“Hey!” An indigent voice called out, as the young artist strolled into the living quarters in her already paint-stained apron holding a canvas in one hand. “I don’t need to lift weights like you to be in good shape.”

Mizuki raised a playful brow. “Are you sure about that? With those noodle arms of yours I’m surprised you can even carry that canvas-”

“Wh- Ugh Mizuki!” Ena stormed over and whacked them on the shoulder, ignoring their giggles and laughter.

Tsukasa smiled at their display. He was sincere, albeit a tad melancholic. Their playful teasing and easy banter was hard not to envy. Tsukasa wasn’t allowed to keep very many people close to him, let alone friends or… crushes.

Ena had been a birthday gift that Tsukasa demanded at age 13. He saw the way his favourite knight made heart eyes at the royal painter’s daughter, a young girl with a drive for art despite her father’s clear disapproval and lack of support.

After watching him tear up one of her pieces, Tsukasa threw the tantrum to end all tantrums until his parents reluctantly allowed him to have his own personal artist. Ena would follow him through his day-to-day activities alongside Mizuki and whichever other knights were assigned and sketch his daily life.

Anything Tsukasa found interesting, the new people he’d meet, the sights he’d see - Ena would capture them all.

He had shelves upon shelves of her completed sketches that he loved to look back upon during his rare moments of spare time. Tsukasa would reminisce and admire her interpretations, feeling as though these sketchbooks were something like a personal diary to him.

While having Ena and Mizuki by his side lessened Tsukasa’s loneliness significantly, he still found himself feeling isolated. Afterall, the two of them had at some point grown much closer to each other than either had to Tsukasa. He tried not to feel bitter about it, about being the third wheel to their dynamic, but he couldn’t stop the envy from clouding his mind.

And not to mention the fact that at the end of the day, they were still his servants. No matter how much he’d like to pretend otherwise, they worked for him, and were only there to perform their duties. It was an obligation.

Still, he wouldn’t trade them for the world. They were the closest things to best friends Tsukasa would ever get, though he’d consider them more like family, at this point.

“Anyway,” Ena said once she had successfully wrecked Mizuki’s ponytail and played with the elastic of their bow in victory. “Where were you two? I had to lie to your mother and tell you were sick in the bathroom. That you ate some really bad seafood for dinner.”

Tsukasa grimaced. “Ew. Wait, why was mother asking for me?”

Ena looked a bit solemn. “I think something happened? I’ve been hearing whispers from all the staff but nothing concrete. Your mother seemed concerned, but she wants to talk to you soon.”

Oh. That was never a good sign. Tsukasa scratched the back of his head idly, looking at his bed mournfully before reluctantly making his way back into the castle corridors. “Will you two accompany me?”

Ena rolled her eyes affectionately. “Like we have anywhere else to go. Of course, Tsukasa, we’ve got your back.”

Smiling brightly, Tsukasa waited for Ena to put down her canvas and snatch her current sketchbook. She playfully stuck her tongue out at Mizuki’s pout, as they tried to straighten out the hair that Ena had ruffled so thoroughly.

As they made their way to the royal meeting chambers, Tsukasa felt an unease as he passed by castle staff. They all looked at him with a sad expression, something akin to pity.

It only made him all the more nervous, feeling a deep unease in his bones. 

Trying to keep his head up high, Tsukasa waved and smiled at them just as he normally would, and tried to ignore the dread that crept up inside of him.

His mother was already waiting inside, looking rather impatiently as she sat on a loveseat sipping some tea. 

Tsukasa dreaded this spot in particular. This was always where he’d have family meetings with his parents when they were about to drop some awful news on him, it was a bad omen.

“Mother, I apologise if I’ve kept you waiting long.” 

The Queen didn’t say anything, waiting until her son took his seat across from her. Mizuki stood dutifully behind him while Ena vanished across the room to draw from a distance - a stipulation set by his parents, since they didn’t want mere servants to get too close to royal officials. 

“Tsukasa. We need to speak about your engagement to Princess Shizuku.”

Oh, that was certainly not what Tsukasa had been expecting.

Out of the dozens of suitors and potential wives thrown his way, Shizuku had been the only one to catch his eye, for the sole reason that neither of them particularly had any interest in the other.

It was a mutual understanding almost immediately, made known after Shizuku confessed to having feelings for her lady-in-waiting, and Tsukasa confessing he’s never been able to feel anything romantic for women.

So of course he proposed at that very instant.

It was the perfect plan, a way for the two of them to be able to live their lives freely without the burden of an unwanted spouse and appease their families and kingdoms all the same.

“Is something the matter?” Tsukasa asked with an anxious shake in his voice.

There was a cold expression on his mothers face - one he did not see often. His mother, despite being a serious ruler, was still kind and affectionate. She was nothing short of loving and supportive towards Tsukasa.

“It would appear that former-Princess Shizuku has… eloped with her servant.” She spat out.

Ah. This would be the one thing his mother would never be supportive of.

Tsukasa swallowed nervously. “S-She did?”

His mother scoffed, as if speaking about a lowly criminal rather than the girl she was ecstatic to have as her daughter in law only days ago.

“A servant. A woman servant no less. Her parents are rightfully furious, but apparently neither woman has been anywhere to be found. All search parties have come up empty. It’s likely she’s already fled to one of those countries that encourage that kind of illicit behaviour.”

“I-I see.”

“Of course this complicates things greatly for us.” The Queen softened. “I’m sorry, my son, I know you liked her very much.”

Tsukasa’s devastated expression was sincere, though not for the reasons his mother was assuming. As happy as he wanted to be for Shizuku, if she had eloped then that meant Tsukasa was going to be married off to someone else, likely someone who wouldn’t come to the same understanding that he and Shizuku had.

“I um, I just-”

“Don’t stutter, dear.”

“Right. Sorry, mother. I suppose I’m just in shock.”

A sympathetic nod. “I understand. You needn’t worry though, we will find you an appropriate and much better suited bride. There is still Princess Shiho-”

Tsukasa shook his head adamantly. “No! I’m not marrying Saki’s best friend.”

His mother sighed as if Tsukasa were being completely unreasonable. “Alright, fine . There are many other young princesses who’d be honoured to be chosen by such a handsome prince as yourself.”

Tsukasa reddened, but once again not for the reasons his mother assumed. The last thing he wanted to do was spend more time going on boring lifeless dates with women he had absolutely nothing in common with. 

“This may be a blessing in disguise,” The Queen murmured offhandedly. “I’ve been speaking to the King of Otori, and his youngest daughter Emu is around your age.”

Wanting to lean back into his seat and cry, Tsukasa forced himself to sit up straight and nod stiffly.

“She’s a… very eccentric girl, but her kingdom is incredibly rich in resources and gold, it’d be a valuable alliance.”

“Of course, mother,” Tsukasa responded dejectedly, defeat dripping off his voice - unnoticed by the Queen. 

The Queen stood up and walked forward until she was standing in front of Tsukasa. Gently lifting his chin with her manicured hand, she smiled sympathetically. “You’ll have nothing to worry about, my little star. I know you’ll make a magnificent King when the time comes, and you’ll have a capable Queen by your side.”

With a weak smile that would’ve been plainly unconvincing to anyone who knew Tsukasa better, he stood up and accepted an uncomfortable hug that felt far too performative to provide any real comfort.

After what felt like far too long, Tsukasa was finally dismissed. He sped past a concerned looking Mizuki and Ena and bolted as soon as he was out of sight from his mother. Feeling the angry tears well up in his eyes, Tsukasa took the same path down to the beach that he had just returned from, storming past servants and knights and not caring about the sand that clung to the bottom of his pants.

When he got to the edge of the dock he dropped himself down so that only his feet hung off the edge, pulling his hair before crying out in frustration. 

The thick sound of the waves were enough to muffle the noise. The constant misty spray of the water concealed his tears.

With a tired sob, Tsukasa curled up his body so that he could hug his legs in some weak form of comfort. He was certain that Mizuki and Ena would be there soon to try and console him, but for now he just wanted to sit here and pretend that he had any control of his life. That he wouldn’t be forced to marry someone of a gender he’d never love, that he wouldn’t be moulded into the perfect pawn of a King, that he wouldn’t spend the rest of his life trapped in this God's awful gilded cage of his. 

In a moment when Tsukasa felt lonelier than ever, he was far too upset to notice the presence of someone else watching him from the waters, a sympathetic frown etched on their face, and a glittering massive tail concealed deep within the sea.