Chapter Text
The morning started off great in the shirayuri kingdom. It was the brightest day it's been in the last few days, the sky was a great pink and orange mix that spread across the morning sky. The soft wind was blowing through the windows through Tenma's castle.
Tsukasa woke up to the nice breeze with a soft stretch of his arms and a squeeze of his eyes. The young blonde prince sat up on his bed so he could get a better look at the beautiful light that was trying to shine through his curtains and spill onto the floor in his room. The birds were chirping in the tree right outside his window, and the sound of the leaves moving brought great peace.
With how peaceful and clean it smelt already, Tsukasa presumed it to be a great day. He got out of bed with his soft satin light yellow pajamas. On the breast it had a small star embroidery on it. The prince slipped on his slippers, to avoid the cold floor on his feet, and walked over to his closet. He got changed and carefully put away his pajamas to keep his room tidy. He didn’t like to admit it but Tsukasa Tenma was a clean freak.
Everything he touched was clean to his standards and he wouldn’t leave until it was. He smiled as he looked in the mirror that was placed carefully onto the middle of his door. He didn’t think anything could ruin his morning. Today was already so great with the wonderful sounds of nature, the bright sunrise that he woke up to, and the calming smell of the wind and the graden below.
He quickly walked out of his room after putting his boots on and putting his hair up into his signature low, side ponytail. Tsukasa was beaming with light almost. But when was he ever not almost glowing as bright as the sun itself? It was really hard to not notice Tsukasa, not because of his improper behavior—... Well how loud his voice is.. He is considered improper when he speaks. Besides that, Tsukasa Tenma was the most elegant person in Shirayuri. He was kind, well kept, and always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. Tsukasa stopped in his tracks as he saw Miku talking to Saki.
She was his little sister, but first in line to get married. Tsukasa thinks it's because he’s next in line for the throne.. But it's because they can’t find any royal woman willing to marry him. Miku heard his footsteps stop a little ways from them, so she looked over. “Prince Tsukasa! I was about to come and get you. Your presence is requested in the throne room.” She bowed towards the twins before taking her leave to finish whatever she was working on before. Saki sighed and brought one of her hands to rest on her head.
Tsukasa was always good at reading his sister’s face, but she was never deliberate with expressing how she felt. He could tell that she was clearly upset or distressed about something — seeing that she was talking to Miku a second ago, it had to have been something she said. “Is everything okay Saki? You don’t seem well.”
He frowned and rested his hand on her back. Her dress made him unable to give her a full hug, so he just rested his hand reassuringly. “It’s about why mother and father want to talk to us… I’m getting married.” Tsukasa blinked. They are already marrying her off..? Saki turned 20 a few months ago. How could they have possibly found someone so fast? Not that Saki isn’t lovable— what isn’t there to love about her— but don’t they think it is a little soon?
He swallowed as he looked down at her. Even though he has to bend oddly to give her a proper hug, he did anyway. He could see that she really needed one. Saki always said she couldn’t wait to get married so why was she so sad now? That didn’t matter right now.
The only thing that truly did matter right now was that she needed someone. Tsukasa promised her that he would always be that someone. Once she seemed to be more calm he broke the hug (and his back) to look at her properly. “You seemed so excited to finally get to this moment.. How come you don’t seem so happy now?” He asked with concern laced in his voice.
She swallowed hard but looked up at him. “Who I'm getting married to is.. Prince Kamishiro Rui.” Tsukasa froze. Was she serious? There is no way someone, or anyone for that matter, would marry Kamishiro Rui of all people. Judging by her reaction he was either the only option or she didn’t have a say in who she married. The perfect day Tsukasa had going on shattered, how could he ever be okay with his sister marrying the prince of Kuria!?
Saki is scared of the dark for goodness sake! Tsukasa is too, but for Saki he will.. Try to pull through. He quickly grabbed her hand and marched over to the throne room, fuming with rage. Did their parents finally go mad!? The Kuria kingdom is our enemy! How could they simply marry Saki to them so easily!? Tsukasa burst the door down as he walked through the long hall over to his parents — who were sitting patiently waiting for the two to arrive.
“Have both of you officially lost all sense of knowledge!? Marrying Saki off to the Kuria kingdom!?” He yelled, his voice projecting throughout the hall and making an echo. He couldn't be more furious with his parents. He has never questioned or defined them, but this was outrageous! “To the prince of Kuria!?” Their father just glared down on him.
“Tsukasa you do not get any say in who your sister marries.” Their mother nodded in agreement with him. Tsukasa couldn’t believe their incompetence right now! The guards were trying their best not to stare at them but the ruckus he was making made it hard not to notice him. Saki stayed standing behind him like he was her protective shield from the horrors of what was to come.
“Tsukasa.. Saki… We made a deal with the queen Kuari. Since she is now widowed she cannot run a kingdom on her own. Prince Kamishiro has been taking over his father's studies and preparing to become king. Now that the both of you are of age it is time for you to marry.. In exchange, we will no longer need to be at war, instead, allies.”
“So you are using Saki just so we have peace with the Kuria kingdom for what? A few years?”
The king narrowed his eyes as he spoke, “Enough Tsukasa. Saki is getting married and that's final!”
His voice echoed through the hall. Everyone went silent. The hall was full of tension and betrayal. Tsukasa couldn’t stand the silence and idiocy of his parents. All his mother could do is let out another small sigh before she spoke again, but in a softer tone.
“You both will be going to Kurai today to meet with the royal family. Your father and I are unable to make it.. The wedding is in a few months, so it needs planning.” Their father nodded and looked over to their mother to see if she was done speaking. It was silent for another long while before their father finished what the queen was saying, looking towards Tsukasa now.
“You will be going with your sister. It is a few months stay so please pack appropriately. Including for the moon festival a few days before the wedding.” The blonde prince sighed in defeat as he loosed up and bowed before his parents. He couldn’t defy his parents orders, especially if it consists of protecting and being there for his little sister.
“Yes mother, yes father.” He swallowed his pride as he stood up to look at the king and queen. He couldn’t believe they would actually do such a thing as marry their daughter off to the enemy kingdom. Once they dismissed the twins to go pack and get ready— as the carriage would arrive soon—, Tsukasa was the first to move out the door. He was still furious with their decision.
When Tsukasa ever brought up how we could make peace with Kurai he was told it was not an option. What could possibly be going on that's so bad, his parents who resent them are willing to make peace. He knew there was a bigger picture to all of this and he was determined to find out. Considering prince Kamishiro is possibly a stand in king, he will just ask him what's going on once they arrive.
That’s when Tsukasa paused in front of his bedroom door.. Why would he trust him? He knew he would not be able to bring himself, nor could he ever actually trust him. It would make him a disgrace to their nation to put his trust into his enemy. “Looks like I’m doing this on my own.” he mumbled as he opened his door. Once the door was open he saw Len finishing packing his stuff.
Len was his personal butler and was always one step ahead of Tsukasa when it came to kingdom affairs or matters that he needed to take care of. Tsukasa was always thankful for him, because he knew if he was ever in need, Len was right there. “You really didn’t need to do that for me Len.” Tsukasa softly smiled as he walked into his room. The curtains were now moved to the sides to fully let the natural light fall into the castle walls.
“Not to worry your highness! You need to hurry. There is only so much daylight left for you to make it today.” Len spoke as he finished zipping up Tsukasa’s last suitcase. The yellow haired butler stood up right and dusted himself off. “This should last you a good 5 months.. But if you need more send me a letter by dove and I will send more your way” He always knew how to take care of Tsukasa and he appreciated it a lot.
“Thank you Len..—” He was going to continue talking but the sound of horns sounded through the castle. Their carriage had arrived to take them to the other side of the Wonderlands. “We should get going” He finished off his sentence instead.
As they walked out the castle doors Tsukasa saw Saki already in the carriage with her bags being thrown into a wagon in the back. He turned towards his parents, or to where they would be, and saw it empty. They must be awfully busy to not even come say goodbye. Len moved past Tsukasa to start quickly putting his things in the wagon next to Saki’s.
He stared at the carriage that held his sister, then back to his home, the castle. He can’t believe they are actually being sent off to Kurai for Saki’s wedding. He frowned as he turned back and started walking towards the carriage, slowly getting in and sitting across from his sister. Once him and everything else was loaded they started towards their destination. Hell. Tsukasa could only think of one thing.
“This is going to be a long year.”
Once they arrived at the castle it was dark, a big contrast from the morning glow of what feels like days ago, showing just how long their ride was. It was a very long day's adventure and Tsukasa was already tired as it was. Unfortunately for him, he still had to introduce himself, be escorted to his room, eat dinner, and just be on this long ‘vacation’ in general.
He was already so tired of the dark colors that were the kingdom. Yet a little part of the blonde prince couldn’t help but feel out of place in Kurai. Everything about him was so bright compared to everyone else, so he stood out. Tsukasa loves to stand out, but it feels so wrong for him to be standing out here.
As Tsukasa looked around he expected the streets to be filled with gloomy looking people. To his shock, the streets were thriving with people chatting and talking like normal people.. A few people bowed towards the carriage as they passed and some let out small waves of greetings to the siblings. Saki gasped and quickly started to wave back to everyone that was on the streets. They truly are just.. Normal people. Tsukasa felt a sudden pang of guilt settle into his stomach as the carriage kept moving towards the castle entrance.
Once the carriage finally arrived, Tsukasa was the first to step out to help his sister down. As they were thanking the coachman for the very beautiful and scenic route, the queen walked out of the big castle doors. The big grey-black academia doors. They looked rough, but also well kept..? It confused him and made his brain spiral from ‘clean’ to ‘its clean’. “Hello, Princess and Prince Tenma!”
She greeted them with a graceful smile and soft sounding voice. She looked elegant, even though they were royalty, Tsukasa was still surprised. He swallowed as a sweat bead rolled down his face, he felt so bad that he thought less of this kingdom. “Your majesty.” Tsukasa put his hand on his chest in a fist as he kneeled in front of her. The queen gave her small bow to him also.
“No need to bow in such ways. You are royalty also.” She moved to help him off the ground. She smiled a small cat-like smile, kinda freaked Tsukasa out. He nodded and dusted himself off and looked behind her. He expected to see the prince right behind her.. It was weird he wasn’t there.
Why wouldn’t he come to greet his guests? Tsukasa just decided to shrug it off as he was busy right now. He shouldn’t be caring about what Kamishiro of all people is doing.. “You both must be starving from your travels.. Let me treat you to dinner. I had our best cooks in the kingdom whip up something just right!” She beamed as she clapped her hands together beside her face. Tsukasa’s smile came back immediately,
“How could I ever pass up food! Let me try all your dishes!” Saki giggled and nodded along with her brother’s words. As the carriage left, the twins followed Queen Kamishiro into the castle. It had a beautiful, yet rough, dark interior. The soft glow of fire lit up the inside of the castle, leading the way down every hall.
Tsukasa couldn’t help himself from taking in how beautiful the castle truly was. It looks rough, on the outside from afar anyways, but the closer he was, the more detailed and delicate it was. The inside was greatly lit up despite the eerie look it gives. Once the doors to the large dining room were open the smell of food flooded over Tsukasa and Saki.
They have been hours without food and the great table filled with it looked like heaven to them. Tsukaksa swears the table started to glow and he heard angels singing.. The twins quickly sat down and started to gather food onto their plates. The queen smiled as she sat down with them to eat also, looking around at the table for someone. Her eyes narrowed as she saw that someone was missing from the table, prince Kamishiro.
She called over a blue haired butler and whispered in his ear, making him nod and leave the dining room and into the hall they came from. Tsukasa watched closely, with suspicion. He hasn’t forgotten his true motive here, Find out what his parents are hiding. His eyes moved from the door, to the queen, then back onto his plate full of food. He felt almost guilty for going behind their back, but he is their enemy.. He shouldn’t feel bad. He swallowed and was about to speak before a tall purple haired man walked through the door. His long jacket and large top hat threw Tsukasa off.
This was nothing he imagined the prince to look like. His boots were loud against the floor as he moved to sit at the table, across from Tsukasa. The blonde looked the other up and down before he started to eat once more. “Thank you for joining us, Rui.” The queen spoke. The young man just nodded and carefully grabbed stuff to put on his plate. He was quiet and treated everything with soft hands. Tsukasa couldn’t help but stare at him with curious eyes, unfortunately for him Rui could tell.. Because he wasn’t even trying to hide it.
“How long are you going to stare?” He asked as he looked up from his plate and to the blonde boy across from him. Tsukasa stiffened and his cheeks flushed a light pink color. “S-Sorry.. You just look so different from what I had imagined.. N-not in a bad way!” Tsukasa nervously tried to compliment. A small bead of sweat rolled down his face, and his hand went on his neck. “I’m sorry I don’t think you look bad, in fact I think you are a fine looking man!”
Saki choked on her food at his words, trying to hold back a laugh. Tsukasa took a second to process what he said and once he did, he turned into an even more red mess. He covered his mouth as his eyes went wide and his cheeks went even redder than they were. “N-not like that though! In a way where you look good, but not to me..?” Rui just stared at him with a blank expression on his face. Tsukasa didn’t know what to do or say anymore, so he just ate more food.
How did he mess up that bad! He didn’t want to have the queen thinking he was queer and that he was going to steal Rui from Saki! He would never steal his sister’s ‘soon to (forcibly) be husband’, what kind of brother would that make him!? Or any man for that fact, he isn’t even queer! Tsukasa sank into his seat as he nervously continued to shove all the food possible in his face. The table was silent after Tsukasa embarrassed himself. It was a very very uncomfortable silence. It felt almost.. Tense? It wasn’t from Saki, but from Rui and his mother.
Is it possible that Rui didn’t want to marry either? Tsukasa shook his head and looked over to Saki. As much as she tried to hide it, she didn’t want to be here. In fact, she looked miserable having to sit at this very table. Tsukasa frowned at the sight then turned to Rui. “So, prince Kamishiro.. Since you’re going to marry my sister, why don’t you get to know her? My sister is quite extraordinary, you know?” Saki smiled and blushed a little bit from the compliment. Rui didn’t answer and just kept eating his food. He didn’t even acknowledge that he had said something!
The queen noticed how Rui didn’t respond to Tsukasa and shot him a glare— warning him to respond. “Rui, why don’t you talk with your guests.” She formatted it as a question but meant it more as a statement.. The purple haired prince ate a few more bites of his food before putting his fork down on the plate. He moved his head up to glance around the room at everyone, stopping at his mother. “If you excuse me, I must get back to my work.” Rui stood up as he pushed his empty plate away. He glanced at everyone at the table, taking in their expressions. “Uhm.. Sure..” Tsukasa mumbled as he shot Rui a glare of suspicion. Rui moved his eyes to meet him and they locked eyes for a while.
“I wasn’t asking you ‘knight in shining armor’..” He scoffed and turned to walk away, “More like a knight in blinding armor.. You’re so bright.” He grumbled as if looking at the other gave him a headache. Tsukasa sat there with an insulted expression, I mean what does that even mean!? Saki couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at Rui’s joke. Tsukasa cleared his throat and stood up as he spoke, “If you excuse me, I will be following Prince Kamishiro.
Maybe he will even be kind enough to give me company.” He spoke in a mockling-ly kind tone. The queen nodded and looked at Saki with a soft smile. “That’s alright. Me and Saki can get to know each other better.” She rested her hand on Saki’s. Tsukasa was too busy watching the scene to notice that Rui had already left the dining room. He only noticed when he heard the door slam shut, cueing him to follow behind. It wasn’t a cue sent by Rui on purpose but by Tsukasa himself.
He still needed to find out the secret his parents were keeping from him. He thought that maybe he could corner Rui and question him. But to Tsukasa, Rui looked scary.. He wasn’t much taller but he was more slender and his outfit was so dark it was almost hideous. Tsukasa wasn’t going to say anything but the way Rui looks like royalty but unkept makes him look older and dusty.
He is Tsukasa’s age yet he looks almost 4 years older than him! Maybe it was just the way he was raised.. Tsukasa huffed as he walked through the long hall, spotting Rui at a door not far down. The blonde prince quickly made his way over and put his foot between the wall and the door to keep Rui’s door open before he could close it. “Prince Kamishiro..” Tsukasa kicked his foot towards the door and opened it back up fully. He almost felt a sense of dominance because he thought he looked cool doing it— little did he know— Rui didn’t even spare him a look. When he noticed, Tsukasa quickly made his way into the room so he was able to corner the other.
“Why are my parents hiding the affairs between the two kingdoms? I know something deeper than a king’s death is going on.” He spoke with a strict and heavy voice. Each word he spoke he tried to lace with threatening intent, but that was kind of hard for him since he is so… colorful.
The only thing that scared Rui was how he thought that looking at Tsukasa would melt his eyeballs. “And since you are ‘playing king’ for now, I know you know about such affairs.” Tsukasa crossed his arms and got closer to the other. Rui looked down at him with warning eyes. Or just an eye since one of his is covered by his hair. The blonde crown prince almost felt small compared to Rui, not knowing what he could do to actually defend himself.
The tension between them rose as the silence grew thicker by the second. “Playing King..? Is that all my status means to you? I am taking over this kingdom. I am the King. Once I marry your useless sister, I will finally take over and do what my father couldn’t do. Do you understand me?” Tsukasa’s eyes narrowed with Rui’s and his knuckles turned white as he clenched them hard. “My sister is not useless!
Speak such things again and I will throw my hand across your face!” He raised his voice. Tsukasa couldn’t believe the audacity Rui had already.. They just got there and he is already insulting them!
“Get out, Tenma. Now.”
“Apologize for your words!”
“Tenma, I swear to the heavens, if you don’t get out.”
“I’m not moving until you tell me your apology.”
Rui groaned and ran a hand down his face as he looked up at his ceiling. Tsukasa thought he was finally getting somewhere. That was until Rui spoke again, “Do you ever think that your parents don’t involve you in any kingdom affairs because you are just too naive? You are 21 years old, but you aren’t married so you can take on your kingdom.
You should have done that a year ago now. You are foolish, childish, and you don’t know responsibility. If your own parents don’t involve you in our affairs then I won’t either. Mature some and just maybe they will start to hand you the kingdom.” Rui’s voice got lower as he spoke, his feet moving himself closer to Tsukasa. The blonde froze, the air going tense and uncomfortably silent.
Tsukasa didn’t know what to say to that. What was he supposed to say? His hands clenched into fists. “You think you know me Kamishiro? I will find out what it is you all are hiding on my own. I don't need help from a lousy king like you.” His voice softened and got harsher as he spoke. Rui scoffed, “Oh yeah?” He smiled like a cat.. It was just as eerie as his mother’s, but somehow his felt more sinister and threatening. “Y-Yeah..” Tsukasa mumbled.
Rui kept stepping closer until he was hovering over the smaller boy in front of him. “I don’t care about your sister. I don’t want to marry her just as much as she doesn’t want to marry me. That's all I’m telling you Tenma. Out of my room.” His voice was a whisper. Tsukasa could only freeze and stand there like he was out of place. He already knew that, so it doesn’t give him any hints whatsoever. Tsukasa let out his own scoff before turning around to face Rui’s bedroom door.
“I’ll find out what's going on Kamishiro. This is your last chance to tell me.”
“Get out.”
It was a long silence before Tsukasa spoke again.
“Fine.”
With that Rui’s bedroom door was opened then slammed back shut, leaving Rui alone in his room again. Tsukasa couldn’t believe how arrogant Rui was! He stared at the opposite wall for a few moments before glancing back at Rui’s door. Tsukasa let out a small defeated sigh before he started to walk down the hall to his room — which he had no idea how to get to.
Everything he learned about this family was right. They are all creepy and pessimistic. Now, he had to somehow find his way to his room with no help since Rui was clearly not going to show him. Tsukasa was angrily mumbling to the floor, with his head down, as he walked through the dark halls of the Kurai kingdom.
What exactly am I looking for? Tsukasa thought to himself, his brows furrowing in frustration. He stopped in his tracks and looked out the window by his side. The window overlooked a garden that stretched farther than Tsukasa could see.
He expected the gardens of Kurai to be just as dark and depressing as the rest of the kingdom, but the sight almost made him stop breathing. His hand slowly came up to rest against the window, his eyes widening as he stared down at it. For a moment, he completely forgot what he had been thinking about. It was beautiful. Not in the bright, colorful way the gardens back home were, but in a much quieter and almost eerie way.
Small stone pathways twisted throughout the garden, most of them covered in a thin layer of soft green moss. They disappeared underneath overgrown vines and reappeared between flower beds, making the garden seem almost impossible to navigate.
Yet despite how wild everything looked, Tsukasa could tell it was carefully maintained. Nothing was truly out of place. The vines were trimmed where they needed to be, the flowers were taken care of, and the pathways were clear enough to walk through. It was almost as if someone had carefully planned for the garden to look overgrown. Tsukasa's fingers tightened slightly against the window as he leaned closer to get a better look.
Dark lilies grew in large clusters along the paths, their deep petals almost blending into the shadows around them. Small white lilies of the valley grew beneath them, their tiny bells looking almost ghostly against the dark greenery. Farther into the garden, bright red spider lilies stood out against everything else, their thin petals looking like small flames in the darkness. Tsukasa's eyes followed them carefully before moving farther into the garden.
He could even see several ponds scattered throughout the garden, each one filled with still, dark water and large lotus flowers floating peacefully across the surface. Tsukasa blinked slowly. He didn't want to admit it, but he was impressed.
There were no bright lights anywhere. Instead, small lanterns hung from old iron posts and branches, giving off a soft golden glow that barely reached past the paths. Fireflies floated between the flowers, their tiny lights appearing and disappearing throughout the darkness. From where Tsukasa stood, it almost looked like little stars had fallen from the sky and gotten trapped inside the garden.
His expression softened without him even realizing it. The tension that had been sitting on his shoulders since arriving in Kurai slowly began to fade. He let out a quiet breath, his forehead nearly touching the glass as he continued staring. Even though the garden was surrounded by darkness, there was something strangely comforting about the little pools of light scattered throughout it. The entire place reminded him of the old books in his father's library. There was something ancient about it. Something that made him feel like the garden had existed long before the castle and would probably remain long after everyone living inside it was gone. Even the stone benches scattered beneath the trees had strange carvings etched into them, some of which Tsukasa couldn't recognize.
He swallowed and pulled away from the window, only to look back again a second later. It was beautiful, but there was something unsettling about it too. The garden wasn't the kind of place Tsukasa would normally want to spend his time in. It was too quiet, too dark, and far too different from everything he knew. Yet he couldn't bring himself to look away from it. His hand remained against the window as his eyes wandered through the winding paths.
There was a strange feeling settling in his chest now, one he couldn't quite explain. Tsukasa took one more glance at the garden before pulling his hand away from the glass and continuing down the halls. The warmth of the window slowly faded from his palm as he moved farther away, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished wooden floors.
The longer he walked, the more he began to realize that he had absolutely no idea where he was going.
The castle seemed almost designed to confuse anyone who wasn't familiar with it. Every hallway seemed to lead into another, with tall arched doorways branching off in different directions. Dark wooden panels covered portions of the stone walls, and old paintings hung between the windows, their subjects staring down at him with serious expressions. Lanterns cast a soft amber glow across the floor, creating long shadows that stretched between the columns and furniture. It was beautiful, but there was something almost unsettling about how quiet it was.
Tsukasa slowed his pace, looking from one hallway to another as he tried to remember which direction he had originally come from. He could still remember the route from the dining hall to Rui's study, but everything after that had become a blur of corridors and staircases. He had been too angry to pay attention when he left. Now, standing in the middle of the castle with no idea where he was, he regretted that decision immensely.
"Wonderful," he muttered under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Absolutely wonderful. I managed to get myself lost in a castle I've been in for less than a day."
He turned down another hallway, hoping it would look familiar.
It didn't.
Tsukasa stopped again, staring at the unfamiliar corridor ahead of him. He sighed heavily and ran a hand through his blond hair, already beginning to feel embarrassed by the situation. He could hardly return to the guest wing and admit that he had somehow gotten lost after wandering away from dinner. He was a prince, for goodness' sake. Tsukasa was supposed to be capable of navigating a castle. He turned around with the intention of retracing his steps. That was when he nearly walked straight into someone. Tsukasa stumbled backward, catching himself before his shoulder could collide with the stone wall behind him. His eyes widened as he looked up at the person standing in front of him.
The man was dressed in the formal uniform of a butler, though there was something slightly different about him compared to the servants Tsukasa had seen earlier. His clothing was dark and impeccably maintained, with subtle silver details along the edges of his jacket. His dark hair was neatly styled, and not a single part of his appearance seemed out of place. Even standing in the middle of an empty hallway late at night, he carried himself with an almost effortless composure. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then the man gave a small, polite bow.
"Are you lost, Your Highness?"
Tsukasa immediately straightened, his embarrassment turning into defensiveness. He wasn't going to let some stranger catch him wandering around the castle and then openly admit that he had no idea where he was.
"I am not lost," he said quickly.
The man's eyes flickered over him, taking in the slightly disheveled state of his hair and the uncertain direction Tsukasa had been facing only seconds before. There was no judgment in his expression, but there was a faint amusement that made Tsukasa's face heat.
"I see."
Tsukasa crossed his arms. "I simply don't know where I am."
The man's lips curved into the smallest smile.
"So you are lost."
"I said I don't know where I am," Tsukasa repeated, his voice becoming more defensive. "There is a difference."
"Is there?"
Tsukasa stared at him. The man remained perfectly calm, his expression polite enough that Tsukasa couldn't even accuse him of being rude. Somehow, that made it worse.
"You are a rather sarcastic butler," Tsukasa finally said.
"I have been told that before."
There was something so casual about his response that Tsukasa couldn't help narrowing his eyes. Most people in Shirayuri became noticeably more formal around him because of his position. Even servants who had known him since childhood tended to be careful about how they spoke to him. This man, however, seemed completely comfortable treating him like any other person.
Tsukasa studied him for another moment before asking, "And who exactly are you?"
The man straightened from his bow and gave him a calm smile.
"Kaito. I am Prince Rui's personal butler."
Tsukasa's expression immediately shifted.
"Rui's?"
"Yes."
Tsukasa couldn't help looking at him again. Somehow, that explained the strange confidence. If this man had been serving Rui for years, then he had probably seen more of Rui than almost anyone else in the castle.
"Then you must know him quite well," Tsukasa said.
"I suppose I do."
Tsukasa's curiosity immediately got the better of him. He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice as though he were about to ask for some great secret.
"Then perhaps you can tell me something."
Kaito tilted his head slightly, patiently waiting.
"Why is he so unpleasant?"
There was a brief silence. Kaito's expression barely changed, though Tsukasa noticed the slightest twitch at the corner of his mouth. It almost looked as though he were trying not to laugh.
"That is a rather broad question."
"Well, it's accurate," Tsukasa replied, throwing his hands up in frustration. "He called me naive, foolish, childish, and irresponsible. Then he told me that I had no business involving myself in anything happening between our kingdoms, even though my own family is directly involved in it."
Kaito's expression became more thoughtful as he listened. He didn't interrupt Tsukasa or tell him that he was overreacting. He simply watched him with the same calm patience he had shown from the beginning.
"Did he?" Kaito finally asked.
"Yes."
"And you're surprised?"
Tsukasa's mouth fell open slightly. "Why wouldn't I be surprised?"
Kaito's smile returned, faint but unmistakable.
"Prince Rui has always been rather blunt."
"Blunt?" Tsukasa repeated incredulously. "He practically insulted me for an entire conversation."
"I didn't say he was right."
Tsukasa paused. Then, despite himself, his shoulders relaxed slightly.
"Good," he muttered. "Because he was being completely unreasonable."
Kaito gave a quiet hum before turning down the hallway.
"Come. I'll take you back to the guest wing before you become even more lost."
Tsukasa hesitated for only a moment before following him. As they walked, he found himself glancing at Kaito every few seconds. There was something about the man that made Tsukasa curious. He was polite without being overly formal, calm without seeming emotionless, and somehow managed to tease Tsukasa without actually crossing the line into disrespect. It was strange. Most people either treated Tsukasa like a prince or treated him like a child. Kaito seemed to do neither.
For a while, neither of them spoke. Tsukasa followed a few steps behind Kaito, his hands folded behind his back as he continued looking around the castle. Now that he wasn't focused on finding his way, he began noticing even more of the small details scattered throughout the halls. Some of the windows were decorated with intricate stained glass, casting faint patterns across the floor whenever the moonlight managed to reach them. Small candles burned inside iron holders along the walls, their flames flickering whenever they passed. Even the furniture seemed older than anything in Shirayuri, with dark wooden tables and chairs that looked as though they had been passed down through generations.
Tsukasa wasn't sure whether he liked it.
There was something beautiful about Kurai's castle, but it was the kind of beauty that made him feel as though he needed to be careful around it. Everything seemed to have a history. Every painting, statue, and carved doorway looked as though it had been there long before he was born.
He glanced toward Kaito.
"Have you lived in the castle your whole life?"
Kaito shook his head. "No. I came here when I was younger."
Tsukasa's curiosity immediately returned. "From where?"
"Another part of Kurai."
"Oh." Tsukasa looked around again. "So you've known Rui for a long time?"
"Quite a while."
Tsukasa hummed thoughtfully. "That must be strange."
Kaito glanced at him. "What is?"
"Watching someone you knew grow into a king."
Kaito was quiet for a moment before answering. "I suppose it is."
Tsukasa expected him to say more, but Kaito didn't. Instead, he continued walking, leaving Tsukasa to wonder about it.
They reached a large window overlooking another section of the castle grounds. Tsukasa slowed down as he caught sight of the moonlight spilling across the gardens below.
"This place is much prettier at night," he said quietly.
Kaito followed his gaze. "The gardens are one of the oldest parts of the castle."
"Really?" Tsukasa stepped closer to the window. "Who takes care of them?"
"Several gardeners. Though Rui tends to make changes himself."
Tsukasa looked over in surprise. "Rui?"
"He's always had an interest in plants."
Tsukasa stared through the glass again.
For some reason, the idea of Rui carefully tending flowers didn't fit the image he had formed of him at all.
He quickly pushed the thought aside.
"Shirayuri has huge gardens too," Tsukasa said. "Ours are much brighter, though. There are flowers everywhere."
"I've heard."
Tsukasa smiled slightly. "If you ever visit, I'll show you the rose gardens."
Kaito looked at him with mild surprise, as though he hadn't expected the offer.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Tsukasa nodded before continuing down the hall.
After another few moments, he noticed Kaito carrying a small silver tray tucked beneath one arm.
"What are you doing with that?"
"Taking it to the kitchen."
"At this hour?"
"The staff still have work to finish."
Tsukasa glanced at the tray before looking back at Kaito. "Does everyone here work this late?"
"Not everyone. The castle tends to stay busy long after dinner."
Tsukasa nodded slowly. "I suppose that makes sense."
Kaito continued down the corridor, the silver tray catching the warm candlelight with each step.
The conversation eventually shifted toward the upcoming Moon Festival. Tsukasa had heard about it from his parents, but they hadn't told him much beyond the fact that the celebration would take place shortly before the wedding.
"Are you going to the festival?" Tsukasa asked.
"If my duties allow it."
"You should."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because it would be boring if you spent the whole thing working."
"I'll consider taking a break."
"Good."
Tsukasa smiled to himself.
For the first time since arriving in Kurai, he felt as though he wasn't constantly walking on eggshells. The castle still confused him. The kingdom still confused him and Rui Kamishiro remained at the very top of his list of people he didn't understand, but Kaito was different. He didn't treat Tsukasa like an important guest who needed to be constantly watched, nor did he treat him like an inconvenience. They eventually reached another staircase, and Kaito gestured toward the lower floor.
"The guest wing is this way."
Tsukasa looked down the stairs.
"Wait. I recognize this."
Kaito nodded.
Tsukasa stared at him suspiciously before realization slowly dawned on his face.
"You've been leading me in circles, haven't you?"
Kaito's expression remained calm. "I wouldn't say circles."
"Then what would you call it?"
"A longer route."
Tsukasa groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I can't believe you."
"I thought you might appreciate seeing more of the castle."
Tsukasa looked back at the hallway they had just walked through.
He couldn't even argue with that.
By the time they reached the guest wing, Tsukasa's irritation had mostly faded.
"There," Kaito said. "Your room."
Tsukasa looked down the familiar hallway and sighed in relief.
"Finally."
Kaito gave a small bow. "Goodnight, Your Highness."
Tsukasa watched him begin to leave before calling after him.
"Kaito."
The butler stopped and looked back.
Tsukasa hesitated before smiling.
Then he turned and walked away. Tsukasa stood in the hallway for another moment, watching until Kaito disappeared around the corner. He didn't know what to make of him yet. Kaito was strange, but not in the same way Rui was. There was something calm about him that made it difficult to tell what he was thinking, and Tsukasa had a feeling there was more to him than he let on. Still, he was probably the first person in Kurai who hadn't made Tsukasa feel like an unwanted guest.
That didn't mean Tsukasa trusted him.
Not yet.
There were still too many things about this kingdom that didn't make sense and after everything Rui had said to him, Tsukasa wasn't about to suddenly start believing that Kurai was some innocent kingdom misunderstood by Shirayuri. He had questions. A lot of them and if no one was going to give him answers, then he would have to find them himself. With that thought, Tsukasa finally turned toward his room and disappeared down the hallway.