I remember he was acting odd for about a week. I knew him well enough to pick up on his subtle changes. One night, while we were at the academy, I followed him. He snuck out of the gates and went into town, right up to this apartment.
“Ayato,” I call to him as he opens the door.
“I knew you were following me,” he speaks amused. “Come inside.”
I follow him in. Who’s place is this? Why does he have a key? He goes to the kitchen and pulls a soda. Why lead me here? Is this some sort of hang out? Looks like a lady’s place.
“What are you doing here?”
“I know you’re not like me but you’ve always been accepting of me. Since we’re out of the palace I can do a lot of things.”
He walks over to another door and opens it smiling. I immediately hear whimpering.
“What have you done?”
Inside is a woman tied up to her bed naked. Cuts all over her body. She turns away seeing two of us.
“Her name is Saya. She’s been letting me explore her body.”
“No,” I say to him.
“What do you mean “no”? I said she let me. She saw my uniform and invited me up right away.”
She had no idea who she was messing with. I grab the blanket off the floor and cover her up. How can I fix this?
“You can’t do this to people,” I tell him.
“I was just going to kill her when I’m done. It won’t cause any problem for you.”
“No,” I say to him again. “You’re at the academy to become a person that protects people. You can’t torture them.”
“If we release her, she’ll tell.”
She shakes her head furiously. She will tell but I don’t want to kill her. I’ll have to figure something out.
“I thought you accepted me,” he says.
“I do accept you but you told me you would stay out of trouble.”
“I know! I just….I needed this.”
I better keep quiet. I close my eyes as he throws a lamp across the room.
“Everyone else there is so content looking at magazines and kissing and whatever. I just-”
I grab his shoulder before he can throw something else.
“You’re mad at me, aren’t you?”
He hugs me and I sigh. I can just try to control him the best I can. He was doing well but every now and then he has to release his frustrations. He’s some sort of psychopath but he’s my friend.
“Kyoya-sama, I tried.”
“One day we’ll get you a nice girlfriend and she’ll accept you. And you can do whatever you want with her. So save it all for someone special, okay?”
“Okay.”
“And we’re gonna let Saya go. She won’t say a word cause she knows you have no problem tying her up again.”
He lets go of me.
“I’m not mad at you. But next time tell me. I’ll find a willing participant.”
“She was willing-”
“I’m sure she was. Now let her go.”
He struggled with his desire to kill her and my order to let her go. In the end he released her. Looking back at him now we seem the same just twenty-three instead of fifteen. Since I found out about his ways I knew I always had to keep him close. If he’s away from me his actions will be unpredictable.
“Are you behind this?” I ask him.
Just like I’ve neglected to see Setsuna-san, I’ve neglected him as well. His eyes widen and he looks down to the floor.
“You know I would never hurt her,” he says.
“Why’s that?”
“Cause I’ve sworn to protect her. She’s your future wife and-”
“And?” I urge him.
“You know the rest.”
“You love her too?”
His idea of love and affection are different. He keeps his head down. I can’t focus on him anymore. I take off towards my room.
Chapter 48: Setsuna
They’re all growing nicely. I think I have a talent for growing plants. Reading those botany books really helped. Whenever he comes back he’ll be happy to see full grown plants on his balcony. Down below I see some guards checking in the shrubbery. They’re looking for me.
About a week ago I woke up in my room with bandages all over me. I survived. That’s twice I had that sigh of relief. The killer wasn’t near me this time; I was alone. When the king asked me what happened I lied. Seemed easier than telling him that the killer returned. That would mean Kyoya-sama made a mistake and he would be hated for it.
So I’ll keep it to myself. I’m still covered in bandages but no one can tell because of my robes. The king said not to tell anyone my story. The birthday party is coming up soon and it would only make the palace look bad if they knew the princess was suicidal.
There’s so much I can’t say and it’s starting to hurt. Captain Saki hasn’t been near me much. I overheard a palace guard say that he was in a lot of trouble for taking me away and allowing me to hurt myself. I want to apologize to him but I’m not allowed to leave my room. I manage to sneak into Kyoya-sama’s room often. They never look in here.
It’s not Captain Saki’s fault. I don’t want them to punish him.
I stay low on the balcony. It’s dangerous for me to leave the palace but I still want to know what’s out there. Also…I want to understand that man, the killer, a bit more.
I turn around to go back inside.
“Uh!”
Am I dreaming? I stand stiff not believing my eyes. I imagined his face before but it seems so real now. Kyoya-sama stands in the doorway just like I remember him. Handsome like always and powerful with his hair slicked back and his tie loosened.
“Setsuna-san,” he says to me.
My heart beats uncontrollably.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be here.”
I push pass him and run for his door.
“Stop,” he calls to me.
I fumble with the door knob. When I get it open his hand slams it. I tremble underneath his frame.
“Please, just talk to me. Are you okay?”
It’s been so long but his voice erases all my doubt. For so long I just wanted to run into his arms. Am I even allowed? Feeling my hesitation he takes the lead like he always does. He reaches for my hand and leads me back to his chair. He sits down and stands me to look at him in between his legs.
His hand grazes my neck touching my bandage and I shiver. I haven’t felt his soft touch in so long.
“Why did you do this?” he asks me.
“I…don’t know.”
I can barely focus. His hand traces me; he moves the hair from my ear and tilts my head to look at him.
“You’ve been lonely, haven’t you?” he asks.
I nod.
“You’ve missed me?”
I nod and my eyes start to water. I can’t believe he’s here. I fall to him and cry on his shoulder.
“Kyoya,” I cry to him.
“I know.”
“Why did you abandon me?”
The tears won’t stop. I spend what seems like hours crying into his shoulder. My makeup stains his expensive clothes but he doesn’t say anything. He just allows me to cry.
“Those are some pretty plants you have out there. Did you grow them for me?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I sniffle. “They’re like the ones in your books.”
“This whole time, you haven’t forgotten about me?”
“Of course not! I thought about you every day.”
I pull away from him and see him smile.
“I thought about you too-”
“Then why-”
“It’s complicated. Right now, I’m just happy you’re alive.”
Complicated? What’s so complicated about talking to me? He grabs my chin and pulls me to look at him.
“You really are beautiful,” he says to me. “It’s nice to look at you again-”
“I won’t forgive you.”
“Forgive? What do you mean?”
&nbs
p; “I won’t forgive you for abandoning me.”
“Then I’ll work hard to make you fall in love with me all over again.”
He pulls me closer to his face and I stare at him. Still I love him. I love him despite everything. But I hate him for leaving me. But I love him for coming back. It’s all so confusing.
“I’m having a palace built just for you. When we marry I’ll move you in and let you decorate. You won’t have to hide your interests anymore.”
My own palace. It sounds like a dream. A place for me to start my legacy.
“It will have a garden and lots of birds and butterflies. I figured you would like that.”
His voice is like a whisper tempting me to forgive him. He’s just trying to make me forget. His whispers come close to my face. I pull away when he tries to kiss me. I refuse to forget how I spent every night yearning for him. He can’t take all those tears away with a promise of birds and butterflies.
“I’m sorry but I can’t let you abandon me and think a kiss makes up for it. I’m going to go back to my room. I’m supposed to be under surveillance.”
I push away from him and close his door behind me. Part of me wanted to kiss him and stay but I couldn’t. Then he’ll know what he did was okay.
I stand at his door for some time and the smell of his cigarettes comes to me. It’s like he’s right on the other side of the door calming his nerves.
Chapter 49: Yumiko
It’s so ominous around here like someone died. I can’t find anyone. I’m told Setsuna-chan is sleeping at this hour. Its only 3pm so I don’t believe that. The palace is hiding something.
As much as I want to see her, my legs are taking me another way. The birthday party is soon so we’re all reuniting at the palace. Kantarou-sama must be here somewhere. He’s not in his usual places.
“Welcome back, pretty lady.”
I look up. I know I’m supposed to feel protected around him but he creeps me out. Captain Saki stands looking at me; I swear it always seems like he’s checking me out.
“Setsuna-chan isn’t allowed visitors. Has she been okay?” I ask him.
“Of course. I’m I charge of watching her after all.”
He wanders to my side and I pull away.
“You’re boobs have gotten bigger,” he says to me. “Setsuna-san will look like you soon enough, right.”
Such a creep. But somehow it’s flattering. I thought I was looking a lot shapely lately.
“I know what you’re really looking for,” he says.
“And what’s that?”
“My commander.”
“Well, tell me where he is.”
He walks off silently. Is he taking me there? I contemplate following him then he runs around a corner. He’s probably playing with me.
“Wait,” I call back to him.
When I turn the corner I bump into him.
“Or maybe it’s this way,” he says to himself. “He’s in the middle of a marriage meeting but is it in the east wing or the west.”
“He’s in a marriage meeting now?”
He nods amused. So there’s a prospective mate in the palace. I’m sure all the women he meets are pretty; what’s his preference? Blondes maybe. I’ve been wearing this purple dye too long. Would he like my natural black hair?
“Well let’s get going,” I tell him.
“What do you plan on doing when we get there?”
I don’t know. I just want to see it for myself. But I get the feeling the captain is playing around. We’ve been traveling around in circles.
“Do you know where we’re going?” I ask him.
“I’m just wandering around on purpose.”
“What! Why?”
“Cause I can’t play with Setsuna-san. Genetically, you’re second choice. Sexually active too; we’ll find out later where that comes in.”
“Who said I was sexually active?”
“A man can tell. And with you…a man imagines.”
He walks backwards still checking me out. I hope Setsuna-chan doesn’t go through this. It looks like we might be getting somewhere. This is the security wing.
“You won’t be able to intervene but you can watch the recording.”
He opens the door and signals the men away. The room clears out and it’s just the two of us. He sits down wheeling himself to the back of the room. On the monitor I see Kantarou-sama. He looks different outside of uniform; nervous too.
I sit down ignoring the weird captain. Kantarou-sama says something but I’m unable to understand. The king stands next to him and they exchange in a foreign language.
“What are they saying?” I call back.
“This should be fun. During marriage meetings the participants speak Hangese.”
“Do you speak it?”
“Surprisingly, yes.”
He wheels his chair next to me. I feel like I’m spying. Like I’m some crazed jealous ex-girlfriend. I wasn’t even good enough to be his ex.
“Why does it have to be a Han woman? Yumiko-san was sufficient,” he says to me.
“Really? He said that!”
“Haha, no. He just asked why the woman is running late. He says it’s disrespectful.”
That sounds about right. I can’t believe any of his translations. I really thought Kantarou-sama would think about me and say all these other women don’t compare. Hearing him speak in his country’s language makes me feel like he’s very different from me. Of course he would be expected to date a woman from his country.
The woman enters. She’s small and very pretty. Beautiful wavy brown hair and simple style. Her skirt touches her knees and her heels are low. She’s not the most fashionable but I think she has the edge.
“She’s apologizing and he’s telling her to forget it and sit.”
She looks nervous.
“What’s her name?” I ask him.
“Chiyo.”
I don’t need him to translate anymore. Kantarou-sama smiles at her and I’m certain he likes her. He even laughs with her while she gives a shy giggle. I get up and leave. I’m done. I have to be done.
“You look so sad,” the captain says stretching out the door.
“I just need to move on.”
“I can help with that if you want.”
He’s offering a rebound. All the men I met in college were rebounds. The captain is handsome in a gothic sort of way but it’s too close to the family. And it would be entirely too slutty of me to be with him.
“Why don’t you wear that royal dress of yours and tie your hair up and-”
“You trying to make me look like Setsuna-chan?”
Really gross. Why would Kyoya-sama choose this guy to guard her?
“It’s a stretch but-”
“You’re disgusting.”
“I’m sorry,” he says tilting his head. “I assumed you didn’t have morals. Well…the offer’s still open.”
I will never take that offer. I’m not that desperate. It’s flattering to know I can catch a captain’s eye. I go up to Setsuna-chan’s room. Now it feels like all the guards are checking me out; must be his words in my head.
“Setsuna-chan,” I call at the door.
She opens it fiercely.
“Yumi-chan!”
She hugs me tightly. I guess it has been a while.
“Come in,” she says to me. “I had no idea you were here.”
“I came with Kyoya-sama,” I tell her.
She turns silent. Don’t tell me he didn’t see her yet. She goes back to her bed and sits.
“Is it true he hasn’t seen you this whole time?” I ask her.
“He’s been busy. But I rather talk about you. I got your last picture. You looked so happy on the beach. I wish I could go to one.”
“I was just hanging with some friends.”
“You have more than one friend?”
It’s time to enlighten her a bit. I collapse on her bed and she starts stroking my hair. I can tell with her line of questi
ons that she’s always admired me; always wanted to see what I see. But it’s overrated.
“How many friends do you have?” I ask her.
“Well there’s you, Tomoko-sama, Eri-sama, Ayato-san, Kantarou-sama, Kir…..I mean…”
“Kira-sama, right?”
“I didn’t mean to say him.”
“You two aren’t friends?”
“No,” she mumbles.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
I sit up and she turns away. I know he liked her but she seemed oblivious of it.
“I don’t get along with Kira-kun anymore.”
“What did he do?”
“He’s been mean and he’s trying to break me and Kyoya-sama up.”
“That’s bold of him.”
“You knew that he liked me, didn’t you. Why didn’t you say anything?”
I figured it was innocent. She seems traumatized by it.
“You’re a pretty girl,” I tell her. “Boys will like you; boys that aren’t your boyfriend. You’ll need to know how to handle it.”
“How do I handle it?”
With the way Kyoya-sama’s been acting it seems he feels comfortable in his position; he thinks she’ll always be interested in him. Time to shake him up a bit.
“Go see Kira-sama,” I tell her.
“But I don’t-”
“And perhaps if Kyoya-sama finds out, he might get jealous and know he can’t keep his eyes off you.”
“Make him jealous? But that’s not fair to Kira-kun.”
“Just give Kira-sama a little of what he wants but not all.”
She stares at me confused. This is how I would handle a man that can’t behave. He needs to be shaken up.
“So how has it been with that guard of yours?”
“Captain Saki? He’s a great friend.”
“He doesn’t seem weird to you? Ever done anything inappropriate?”
“No. Well maybe sometimes but it was funny. Like one time when Kantarou-sama came back to the palace. I made tea for him and we replaced his sugar with salt. He drank the whole cup with a bitter face. When he saw us laughing at him he chased after us. Captain Saki got away but I was caught. I couldn’t stop laughing and…Kantarou-sama just smiled at me. I see why you like him. Kantarou-sama is really nice.”
The Last Princess Page 17