Chapter Text
A knight.
Not just any knight, an appointed knight. Whatever that entails for me, I know this is going to be horrendous. Since when did my father decide I was in enough trouble to need a guardian? I’m perfectly capable– no, more than capable of taking care of myself. Plus, all I do is sit around the palace, what might I possibly need a knight for?
Whatever has been decided for me, more like whoever has been decided for me, I have yet to meet this mystery man. I’ve heard he descends from a line of impressive knights. Whether that means he’s some stuck-up ‘I’m better than everyone else’ type of guy or not, I’m not particularly interested in meeting him. Despite all my resistance to this, it isn’t necessarily my choice in a matter such as this. Though my mentor, Satoru Gojo, has many optimal things to say about this man. Though he isn’t supposed to tell me anything about him, to avoid bias, of course, he has told me the knight is rather a boy of my age.
‘Make some friends!’ My mentor enthusiastically tells me. I believe Gojo is also one of the advisors who suggested such a ridiculous idea to my father. However, I’m not quite sure why, unless he has plans for me to continue my research outside the castle. Even then, it’s not like I’m a terrible fighter, I can go on adventures by myself. Despite all that, I usually do have two or three knights that accompany me if I ever decide to leave the palace outside class hours. So I suppose it won’t be all that different, except he’ll just follow me. Everywhere.
God, this is infuriating.
The ceremony is in a fortnight’s time, so I’ve got some time to figure out who exactly it is that I’m meeting.
A fortnight, that’s sooner than I thought. Does that mean he will be accompanying me to the spring ball? I pray not. Those have always been miserable. Hopefully, he has some personality, or none at all, so I don’t ever have to interact with him besides following me around all day and night.
“Your highness?” A servant calls from outside my study. I sigh and pause my thoughts, closing my journal in which I bottle them in.
I stand up and straighten out my undershirt, temporarily debating if I should keep up a better appearance rather than simple trousers and shirt, but by the voice of who calls, I can tell it’s the maid Kugisaki.
My attempt to fluff my hair out falls flat, or rather the opposite, as it spikes up. The door opens to whom I expected, Nabora Kugisaki, one of the maids of the castle. She stands reverently, hands politely behind her back as she addresses me.
“It is time for matins in the chapel, your highness.” Her message is short and simple.
Every day around dawn, or a bit thereafter, I am forcibly required to attend matins in the morning unless I’m so sick I can’t move. Which has happened on one or two occasions.
With a grumble, I mutter, “Understood, thank you.” She walks off to wherever her plans and tasks take her for the rest of the day, while I escort myself to the chapel.
Reverend Nanami is a highly respected man and the head of the church here in the capital. I believe. Obviously, before entering the chapel itself, I put on some more formal and appropriate outer attire fit for daily mass. Here, high-ranking nobles who reside in the palace courtyard or outer court also attend service. My father is unfortunately drowned in meetings for the rest of the day, so he rarely attends mass here.
An overly decorated church with excessive icons and symbols is one of the most distinct memories from my childhood. Early morning light shining through the stained glass windows, directing the focus and attention of any congregant to the middle front of the chapel, pointing to the altar.
Words of silent prayer are whispered amongst the quietness of the room, all waiting for our highly respected priest to begin the service. The dust I see as fractals in the sunlight carries a sort of freedom I wish to acquire for myself. A freedom of being only seen in the light, to float and land where it pleases. Though I believe I am rather similar to it, am I not? Easily disturbed and it is not my will if I will be unsettled or not. Though I wish I could remain as a simple particle hidden in the shadow of a far corner in a library, never reached by uncaring eyes.
The steeple bell tolls its loud anthem, echoing through the sanctuary as it signifies the beginning of worship.
Empty words cling to my ears, they don’t really hold a meaning to me as my brain shoos them away like dust bunnies. Of course, I understand everything Reverend Nanami is preaching. In fact, I might be one of the best people to regard and understand his complicated phrases –as he rounds about an obscure subject of philosophy according to the Holy Word– after all, I am one of the highest educated men in the nation, this I know for a fact. With endless resources of books and knowledge at my fingertips, rows in the library which I spend my days reading, everything he speaks of is usually a specific reference to some text here or there, nonetheless I don’t… really care for it. So seeing the puzzled look on faces is nonetheless quite amusing. It’s difficult to listen to a sermon when I already know everything in it. Whether or not I believe myself to be genuinely knowledgeable does not matter, after all despite my age, dozens of men have come to me seeking advice. Though I must admit, I don’t particularly believe I am the best person to give advice. I’m still only seventeen.
Service ends and I make my way to private class and lessons with my mentor, Satoru Gojo.
“Megumiii!” He chirps excitedly, at a pitch way too high for seven o’clock in the morning.
“Teacher,” I address him as I enter the classroom. Which is really just an empty room with a few bookshelves, and a window facing the courtyard.
“You look like you slept well,” He winks sarcastically, and before I could address the reason behind my eyebags, he continues thus, “I’ve got news for you my boy, you are going on a tour!”
I blink plainly and can’t help it when my nose scrunches in a slight hint of disgust and disregard. Ugh. A tour. How fantastic, not really, I’m being sarcastic of course. But a tour? I haven’t gone on one since I was around eight, when my grandfather campaigned for war funding and used me, the heir, as reasoning to give money to the all holy and completely just kingdom. That’s a joke, we’re corrupt obviously.
“A… tour?” My words echo his own.
“Yes, a tour. Of course it will not be scheduled until after the ceremony for your knight’s anointing in two weeks time. Lord will, weather permitting, I will have him accompany you across the nation.” He finishes and hoists himself up on the desk, leaning back on his hands.
A sigh falls from my lips as I ruffle my hair to try and calm the spikey nature of it.
“Of what is the purpose for such an event? I’ve nothing important to do these days, and I needn’t spend time away from the palace and castle town if necessary.”
“Naturally, you do have no need to, but I want you to. Plus your father places no objection in regard to this matter. So I want you to go around and observe the state of our nation, write reports, and come back. It will take approximately a month long to complete.” He smiles as the morning light reflects off his snowy hair, leaving purple toned shadows where too much hair lays on each other.
I take a seat on the ground and just flop backwards onto the hardwood floor.
“That’s… splendid, teacher.” I mutter. Is there really no way for me to get out of this?
I make no further attempt to try and escape his plans for me, after all he is the Satoru Gojo, only the highest ranking –beside my father– in the nation. He comes from an impressive lineage of dukes and princes, descending with unnatural strength and wit to lead and advise the king. I heard he was never raised by his parents, but instead by the castle staff and his own teachers, all to become a future advisor to the king. Though supposedly my father had taken not a single liking in him at first, he unwillingly had to get used to him. And with age, his skills, senses, gut, and this limitless effect of always knowing what was happening, sharpened. Everywhere he went it was like he could scout everything out and lay out each specific detail. He’s said he has great eyes, or something. Hopefully, though I’d never tell him this, I can be as good as him.
If anything, I value him as a model more than my fath… nevermind. Those thoughts needn’t be expressed, even merely to myself.
The rest of the day I spend in grueling lessons, and around noon I skip lunch to attend meetings beside my father. Though I find it slightly unfortunate that my mother or sister never attends, my sister Tsumiki is incredibly intelligent. But because of something nature has control of, and not her own will, she is a woman, and therefore has no importance in royal proceedings.
Despite that, I voice any of her concerns and problems she tells me about in private conversations. Her kindness and soul is so gentle, and so loving to a point that it becomes sickening. I truly wish the world could inhabit her being and lovingness more, even if just an ounce, the world would then become a better place.
Alas, she’s a woman. So what does her vote mean in the say of anything? I wish the world wasn’t as such.
–
These past few days have been draining, whether it be meetings void of any solutions and instead full of arguments, or lessons with Gojo that confuse me more than anything else, I can’t seem to get a good night’s rest.
The Kamo clan, another thing that weighs my mind with relentless thoughts. As of late, they’ve been so pushy and relentless with their requests. ‘Fund this!’ or ‘Fund that!’ Honestly, it’s become quite frustrating. People look to the royal family, my father King Zen’in, and overlook the amount of stress it puts on the entire family and rest of the chamber when they pile us with an endless amount of wants and needs. God, can’t they just shut it for a day?
But as I stare up at the ceiling, a habit I find myself repeating day after day as the sun sets, I hear some cheering outside my window.
Whether or not I investigate it is-
–Clack!
“What…” I mutter under my breath as I walk over to my balcony. I open the glass doors right as I catch the last tail of knights running off, shouting insults at each other for their stupidity to both me.
I look down and notice a rock. It obviously wasn’t on purpose, they were probably just drunk and messing around, after all I believe a quarter of the regiment gets the weekend off. Accident or not, it’s still quite a nuisance, and could get them in big trouble. But… I don’t really care that much. I do believe one of the men had strawberry blonde hair, it seemed almost pink in the dusk light, that was rather peculiar.
I believe I’ve seen that pink-ish colored hair before somewhere…
My bed comforts me while I settle back into it, thoughts running all over the place. Where has he… oh!
Right. I believe he won an awards ceremony this year, as well as the state fair, and the tournament at the colosseum, two years in a row. Though I heard his wits are rather… dim. But I needn’t make an assumption of a man I’ve hardly met.
Knights. Highly renowned knights. Right. The ceremony. Only in a week’s time will I have an annoying piece of driftwood glued to my side. I wish I could at least learn the name of the knight who will be stuck with me for god knows how long, at least that way I know what to expect and prepare for. I pray it isn’t Sir Muta, he is such a pest. Nor Sir Todo, he is quite an interesting gentleman but definitely not one I’d prefer to guard me day after day. In fact one time I had snuck out, donning the outfit of a servant for fun, and the very first thing he asked was my type of woman. Naturally I was incredibly off put and didn’t answer for a few moments, and then he went ahead and told me I was boring!
Can’t I enjoy someone’s- well, a lady’s presence without caring for looks? I feel like personality is quite possibly the most important and attractive trait anyone could have. The ability to have an unwavering sense of morals, a sort of unshakable character, is what I value most. Though of course, only in women.
God, I need to go to bed. It’s already the twenty-second hour of the day… at least if the sun has now set.
–
“Tsumiki?” I ask as we drink morning tea together out on her balcony.
“Yes, Megumi?” She takes a sip of her tea, the perfect picture of a princess. It is incredibly unfortunate that nobody takes her intelligence seriously.
I pause, not even finishing my breath as I hesitate to ask my question. But I shoot for it anyways. “What is it like having a personal guard?”
She smiles and laughs softly at the question, speaking from experiences as she tells me, “I’d say it’s like having a companion. It is enjoyable having someone to speak your frustrations to. I mean, at first with Ijichi, it was awkward because of his silence, but I found out he had a soft spot for one of the ladies in the medicinal ward. But we got along quite well, and he has a rather comforting presence around him. Sort of like… well there isn't a good comparison, sort of fatherly? I suppose.” She smiles and sips her tea.
Her words echo in my mind. Fatherly? I suppose that makes sense as Sir Ijichi is quite a few years older, I believe the same age as my mentor.
“Well, thank you for your guidance.” A sigh falls from my lips. “Oh, did I tell you what was discussed in the general tax meetings yesterday?” I ask, not remembering what I told who, or when yesterday. She simply shakes her head, so I laugh at the ridiculous plans they’re proposing.
I continue, “As always, it seems they leave their brains in their closets while getting ready-”
“Megumi.” She reprimands me gently, I scoff and roll my eyes.
“Anyway, as I was saying, they’re raising the income tax to fund military spending. I mean- first of all, it’s already quite funded, secondly it lowers the average income of the households. What do we even need to fund? Shooting aimless blanks out at sea?”
She sets down her teacup and politely folds her lands over her lap, looking off into the sunrise as she speaks, introducing a new perspective. “And you’ve yet to consider that we are at risk of war with the bordering southern kingdom?”
Oh. Well…
“I have not.” I mutter, embarrassed I neglect the most basic assumptions on hand. God, I am not ready to be a king.
I clear my throat and continue.
We talk for maybe another hour or two, it’s a pretty slow moving Saturday anyway. A weekend to relax, for at least most of the nobles and residents at the castle, besides the working staff of course. Tsumiki is always so wise, and it’s simple to understand why she hasn’t been wed yet. Most men prefer her words to be kept to herself, and most of her suitors are… men I really despise. I try my best to scare them off, even if it may prove a difficult task.
Good people deserve the best, which unfortunately most of the world lacks this balance. And to see Tsumiki, my own sister, with an evil man just feels… wrong. Though I needn’t worry myself with such vain thoughts. She’s smart enough to go adventure the entire world alone.
Adventure, my mentor did mention that I’d go on tour. God, that’ll be exhausting. Smile and wave, speak prewritten speeches which I had no part in writing, maybe have dinners with dukes and lords, all while having a little knight follow me. Now all I have to do is sit and wait around for the ceremony, where my father and the captain of whoever is assigned to me, speak for a long time about the knight while I sit there. Thankfully this next week is relatively uneventful.
Hopeful.