“I got something for you,” he speaks.
“You didn’t have to.”
I turn back to him and he holds a box out to me.
“The aquarium is being repaired.”
“Were the fish okay?”
“All except one.”
Someone got hurt. Maybe the glass shattered after we left.
“Maybe you don’t mind nursing it back to health.”
He put a fish in that dark box! I take it from him and rip the wrapping paper. The tape tears away and I’m left confused. He smiles at me and I love him even more.
“A shark,” I say to him.
He got me a stuffed shark. It fits right in my arms like a baby. Such big eyes and exaggerated teeth.
“Thank you,” I say to him.
“No fish were hurt. No need to worry. I’m sorry if I scared you that night.”
I nod to him. Of course he’s forgiven.
“And it wasn’t my intention to hit you. I would never hurt you; you have to know that.”
His voice is so sweet. It’s easy to tell when he’s genuine. I hug the shark close and he reaches over and pets his head.
“Can we get a real pet?” I ask him.
“You’re easily distracted.”
It really is a long ride. Now that we hold hands again it’s fun. Today’s going to be a great day. Nothing bad will happen.
“I thought about it for a while,” he speaks.
I look back at him. When did he get so close to me? I lean back to the window and he leans in. I put the shark between us and he takes it from me.
“W-what?” I ask him.
“I was immature,” he says to me. “We’re both young in love. There’s bound to be mistakes.”
“Y-yeah.”
“But it’s easy enough to figure out what your heart wants.”
He kisses me. It starts light but then he pushes himself deeper. His body covers mine and my heart flutters. All at once I feel his protection, his love, his obsession, and his warmth. In his embrace with his lips on mine, I feel his love for me.
I start to cry. He pulls away and I’m in silent tears.
“Did you feel something?” he whispers.
I nod.
“That’s all that matters to me.”
I nod to him again. He leaves me alone for the rest of the ride allowing me to hug my shark close. I cried cause of all the love I felt from him but also….I cried cause of all the pain I made him feel. And also….briefly, I wondered if Ayato-san could make me feel that.
“When we start our tour, I want you to look concerned but feel satisfied with everything,” he says to me. “Make sure you stay near me but if I walk away stay near Kantarou.”
“Okay.”
“If you’re asked to speak, say they deserve it.”
“What? No, I can’t.”
“I’m not going over this with you again.”
“Those people are not terrorists. Do what you want but I will not say those words.”
“Setsuna-”
“I won’t.”
He sighs and goes back to thinking. He’s asking too much of me. I rather stay silent.
“Can you say, “Kyoya’s doing the right thing.” Can you say that at least?”
“If I have to. That’s vague enough.”
We arrive and I see the tall steel walls. It’s as high as the buildings in there. Barbed wired fences and cameras on the posts. The press is already here. Our car pulls into a circle of theirs.
“There are so many people here,” I say.
“Only one station had rights. The others are just piggybacking.”
He pulls out his phone and starts talking. He wants the extra cars to disappear. So stern when he gives commands. Part of the thick wall has a chain linked window. I stare close and see a girl inside. Tattered clothes and muddy face. She’s younger than me.
“Oh my.”
“They’ll leave soon,” he tells me. “I gave Lisa-san the exclusive since she was so kind to you.”
“She was nice.”
“I reward people that treat you well. It will be good for her career.”
He has so much power. More than me it seems. I hear the cars leaving now. Just with a call he made people disappear. Father couldn’t even do that.
“Um….have you met her husband?” I ask him.
“I met both of them before I chose her to interview you. He’s nothing special. He fixes printers.”
“I would like to meet other couples.”
“In time.”
That’s what he always says. He opens the door and reaches his hand back to me. Time to start smiling.
“Setsuna-sama, I’m glad you made the trip,” Lisa-san comes up to me.
“Nice to see you again.”
Kantarou-sama appears beside me. She seems a bit intimidated but smiles at me and continues forward.
“And the commander is here,” she says. “You were the one that designed the containment.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
“Such a talented family.”
We walk along the perimeter as she talks. I take a peek behind us and see guards trailing. She stops at one of the windows.
“It’s nice to see the school yard is still in place,” she says.
There are children in there running around and playing soccer. All their clothes are tattered.
“I guess they don’t know the seriousness of things. Don’t know how their parent’s ideals have put them in danger. Regicide sympathizers have no place in a kingdom, don’t you agree,” she says to me.
She looks cautiously at Kyoya-sama then scans my face for an answer.
“Yes,” I say to her.
“Setsuna-sama!”
One of them notices me. A young boy runs up to the window. His muddy fingers grab the chains reaching out to me.
“I saw you on t.v. the other day. You came to free us.”
“Back,” Kantarou-sama says slapping his sword on the fence.
“I came to make things better,” I call out. “I promise you.”
“Stop,” Kyoya-sama whispers at me.
I break away from him and claw onto the fence. Lisa-san’s camera looks on. I don’t care. I have to have some power here to make things better.
“I came back to make things better,” I say to him.
“Princess,” Kantarou-sama warns me.
“I’ll be your queen soon. I’ll find a way to remove all these walls.”
Kantarou-sama quickly slides his sheath between us. He pushes me away with his sword. He’s harmless; why can’t I get closer to him.
“You think I haven’t tried,” Kyoya-sama says behind me. “I see their faces every day. It doesn’t get easier to look at. But look closer.”
The boy runs away and joins the others. Kantarou-sama flips his sheath over and I see a knife stuck in it. That little boy tried to kill me.
I step back and Kyoya-sama holds my shoulders.
“Best not to get too close,” he says to Lisa-san. “But you can continue.”
“That was….um.”
She’s as stunned as me. My life really is in danger. But why would these people hate me.? I want to help them. They go back to playing soccer so easily.
She clears her throat and we start walking again.
“Are you okay?” Kyoya-sama whispers to me.
“I could have died.”
“My brother will always protect you. You don’t have to worry about that. He’s commander for a reason.”
He really is good. I should pay attention to what Lisa-san is saying. It’s something about the construction.
“It only took two months for this to be constructed. It was a fast and accurate process.”
“V-very impressive,” I say to her.
I’m stilled stunned from before; I’m not present at all. As we walk the perimeter there are more chain linked windows. I grab Kyoya-sama’s arm each time.
“Don’t be afraid,” he tells me.
This glimpse in has a temple. I wonder if they still have service there. That’s the place of our ancestors; it’s inside this prison too. I bow my head and pray.
“So everyone wants to know if you feel these people deserve….”
Please allow me a way to fix all this. Tell me how to support my husband and protect my people. Han ways are just so different. Their justice is harsh. Their punishments are cruel cause they feel pride in it.
“Setsuna-sama,” she calls to me.
No answers come to me. They never do. The ancestors never talk back; they want me to figure this out myself.
“Kyoya-sama is doing the right thing,” I say to her.
She wraps up production after getting her answer. The guards relax a bit and I step away and look into the opening. The temple is pristine compared to everything else. They still worship; they’re praying for answers. It’s been about three years and it looks like a decade of decay in there.
“Why the windows?” I say to myself. “It’s hard to look in and out."
“Princess,” I hear.
I look back. No one behind me said that.
“Princess,” a raspy voice says again.
A rose peeks out of the whole. Someone’s standing on the side. I can’t see him.
“Take it,” he says.
“Who are you?”
“I’m glad I get to see my princess in my lifetime.”
“You still see me as your princess?"
“Of course.”
I take the rose from him. It’s just the bud. It’s nice to see a flower. Something pretty can grow in there.
“When you pluck a flower you should grab the stem so it can support itself,” I tell him.
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“You have no appreciation for flowers.”
I look down at the bud. Roses will dry and still look pretty. I’ll keep it.
“I never said I did.”
I stare into my hand not noticing the chain fence creaking back. He pulls me in and smothers his hand over my mouth. The rose bud drops. Something is seeping into me. I take another breath and I feel lightheaded. Reaching out for the temple does nothing.
Chapter 79: Kyoya
“Did you see what just happened?” Kan-nii asks me calmly.
“I did.”
“Why aren’t you running in there to get her?”
“Why aren’t you?”
We both know the answer. Seems we were the only ones that saw. If we alert everyone else then that camera will turn back on and this will become a national emergency. Kan-nii turns away quickly. With his back to me he speaks.
“You know they’ll kill her,” he whispers to me. “We don’t have time to waste.”
“But we can’t barge in there and alert everyone that Setsuna-san is inside Highland Row.”
“Then I’ll go in myself-”
“You’re too well known. Walk back to the car as if she’s in front of you. Get in and stay there. I’ll get rid of the news crew.”
I got someone that can handle this. I pull out my phone and dial him; he always answers on the first ring.
“Kyoya-sama,” Ayato-san speaks on the other end. “I was gonna check in with you a little later-”
“You need to come back now.”
A guard comes up to me and I signal him away. No one must know about this.
“Now? Did something happen?” he asks.
“Setsuna-san’s in danger.”
“You’re at the quarantine site-”
“She’s inside. Someone took her.”
“I’m on my way,” he says.
“Wait. No one must know about this. No uniforms involved. Do you understand?”
“I know what I have to do. I’ll track her, find her and kill anyone that gets in the way.”
He knows how serious this is. She’s an easy person to blame. I turn to the chain linked window. I should have kept her closer. It’s my fault.
“Kyoya-sama,” Lisa-san calls to me. “Setsuna-sama was just here, wasn’t she? I wanted to thank her.”
“I’ll thank her for you. She was a bit shaken up so my brother took her back to the car. We’re going to head back to the palace so she can rest.”
“It’s understandable. I’m a bit shaken up myself. I’ve never seen a soldier act so quickly and quietly.”
“My brother will appreciate the compliment.”
“I’m told the ratings were excellent. Setsuna-sama really is good on camera. The audience finds her adorable, and loyal.”
“Very accurate. Since the story is done it’s best you and your team get out of here so the security can resume.”
“Of course. Thank you so much. I hope you allow me to interview her again.”
She bows and goes back to her news van. As they pack up I walk closer to the gate and stare inside. She started to pray while she was standing here. It’s the temple that prompted her. I never met a more spiritual person. But I believe she talks to her ancestors so much because she never had anyone else to talk to when she was trapped in her palace.
Someone must have spoken to her while she was here. Maybe she thought she could save them. I push on the fencing. It has some give; likely secured from the other side. I gave them a view to the outside cause I didn’t want to be cruel. I’ll be sure to take them all away when she gets out of there.
They’re all still watching me; I have to continue to stay calm. I walk back to the car and stop the driver from getting in.
“Go back with the others. Kantarou will drive.”
“Yes, sir.”
He scurries off. I look back and see security has resumed. The guards pace back and forth and take their place inside the tower.
“So who’s going in there?” Kan-nii asks as I open the door.
“Ayato-san.”
“I see why you keep him around.”
I step in the car and lock the door behind me. My hands are shaking; I guess I’m angry.
“Hey,” he says to me. “It’s okay to let it out. I know you’re angry at me. I should have watched her closely.”
“You’re not to blame.”
“Still I’m sorry.”
“She could die in there.”
Die. Saying it makes it all come out. She could die. I wouldn’t be able to see her again. I grab my mouth to keep from screaming. Panting heavily I look over at him.
“It’s okay,” he says to me.
I scream all my frustration.
“If she dies, I’ll kill all of them. I’ll burn this country to the ground!”
I hear her voice calling me. She’s asking me to save her. And I’m here. I should go in there myself. He stops me from jumping out. I scream louder pushing him away.
“She needs me! I have to go!”
“Kyoya!”
I break away from him. I know I can’t do anything. I know. I smash my head on the window and he pulls me back to him. Cradles me in his arms like we’re kids again. She’s my love; I want her beside me.
“I can’t lose her,” I say to him. “She’s my-”
“You won’t lose her. Put some faith in her. She’s a tough kid. And put some faith in Saki. You know he always comes through for you.”
He’s right. I’m nothing if I don’t keep my composure. I have a strong team. He’ll come through for me. I’m such a coward for sitting here and letting him go after her. She’s already torn; she’ll love him even more. She won’t see me as her hero for much longer.
“Let’s get home and wait this out. I’ll pour you a strong drink.”
“No, I wanna remember all this.”
“At least have a smoke.”
“No, she hates when I smoke.”
I pick her stuffed shark off the floor. She’ll be back. I wanna she her smiling face again. I wanna see her hold this toy in her arms and smile at me.
If she’s taken from me then I’ll fall into darkness and take this country with me.
“You can dri
ve now,” I tell him
As the car drives away my heart feels heavy. I guess it’s twice I’ve abandoned her. How can I make all this up to her? She’s supposed to be confined to the palace. I should have never allowed her to leave. That’s the only way to keep her safe.
She doesn’t want it but I have to chain her there. I close my eyes refusing to look back at the hell I created.
Chapter 80: Setsuna
“Why would you bring her here? Do you know how much trouble we’ll be in?”
“Trouble? They’ll kill us to get her back.”
“Then why bring her here!”
“It’s not my idea, okay. We’ll just kill her before the soldiers come in.”
“She’s still our princess!”
“She’s that monster’s slave. She’s no longer our princess.”
I don’t know where I am. I woke up some minutes ago but feign sleep so they don’t bother me. Sounds like two men arguing. One is sympathetic and the other is harsh. This appears to be an apartment; it’s small.
“Yee,” the sympathetic one says.
Yee? That’s the name of the false killer that was executed. I believe it’s a last name; they could be related.
“The princess is innocent,” he continues.
“Innocent?”
“Just look at her. Killing her won’t bring your father back.”
His father! No wonder he hates me. He thinks I’m responsible for his father’s death. Footsteps come closer. I close my eyes.
“She’s just a kid,” the sympathetic one says.
“Just go. And don’t tell anyone.”
Yee doesn’t sound like the man that grabbed me. Maybe he was disguising his voice earlier.
“I’ll go get some food,” the sympathetic one says.
A door closes. I guess I’m alone with Yee. I continue to feign sleep and he drops down close to me. I can smell mud from his boots.
I open my eye slightly. Seems like a slender guy. He has tattered clothes too. I can’t see his face just yet.
“You always wanted to meet her,” he mumbles. “Why, old man?”
He places a gun down near my face. I look down the barrel; this can’t be the end. He leaves his hand on top of the gun.
Should I talk and reason with him? Would it be best to run? I can’t lose my head with this. I’ve had training. He doesn’t look too hardened. He’s tapping his fingers on his gun and mumbling to himself. Shows he's hesitant with all this.
The Last Princess Page 33