Aging is quite similar to death. Some people stand up to aging and death as if it were nothing. Only once people deny that which they love, do they become able to create it anew.
Soujiro’s gaze lands on his fiancé, who was speaking with the elders. Indeed she certainly changed a lot. Soujiro could no longer see any distinction of that eleven year old girl who he once knew. Though when he had last seen her before this year she was only thirteen years old whereas he was at the peak of his teens at seventeen years old.
Sumire had now transformed into a beautiful young woman with waist-length brown hair and purple eyes. Her eyes interested him, it reminded him of jewels.
At first, it appeared as if she had a lofty, distant character. It became clear after he got to know her that she had headstrong personality and would do or say things without knowing how the people around her may react. She also had no consciousness of class and treated everyone she met in a similar manner. Soujiro discovered this during the night of the banquet during their first formal meeting. From the looks of it, it does still seem to be the case. However there was something about her that seemed different in comparison to before, though he can’t exactly put his mind to it.
His thoughts broke off when he watched his bodyguard wander around aimlessly.
“Naoki. What have you been looking around aimlessly for the past two hours?”Soujiro finally asked his bodyguard.
“That is …don’t you think it’s strange? Princess Ibuki’s number of guards. ….”
Soujiro glanced over at the guards that hovered not too close to Sumire but not too far. Indeed from where he stood , he only saw three in contrast to the five that is supposed to be there. “…Izumi-san isn’t here.”
Izumi Kyouya. The guy reeked of suspicion to him. The unusual hair colour aside there was something about those eyes that reeked of evil. Yet when he questioned his fiance about the grey hair guard during the earlier stages of their meeting. She merely laughed it off and told him not to worry. She is certainly a reckless woman. But, even Soujiro knew that she wouldn’t keep someone dangerous by her side.
Iwa Ran came along too clearly intending to protect her but there was also another man. He came in secretly when the party was midway.
“Naoki. Do you know how the royal guards are chosen for the Ibuki Family?” His guard shook his head. “It differs from the usual procedure. Sure there is still the test of bravery, strength and nobility rank. However the Ibuki family also requires one other requirement. A certain jewel must be engraved in a visible area of their bodies.”
“But Izumi-san doesn’t have…”
Soujiro nodded. “Which is why I was suspicious of him in the beginning..”
Naoki raises his eyebrows. “Not anymore?”
“No I am still suspicious of him. . Soujiro said. Naoki looked at him puzzled. But Soujiro didn’t feel the need to explain it. Indeed he still saw the guy as suspicious. However as long as Sumire kept him by her side then he wouldn’t question her. Yet the second that there is an opening to investigate, Soujiro knew that he wouldn’t hesitate at all to do so.
Sumire walked over to him. ” Sorry about that. I didn’t think that they’d take that long to speak with me.
“It cannot be helped. Elders Chuken and Hans haven’t seen you since the first banquet and a good deal of time has passed since then.” Soujiro knew that she seldom attended banquets or gatherings like this unless it was necessary.
“That is true.” Sumire agreed but she sighed. “But unlike back then I do not have the same reckless stamina. I am exhausted.”
At that comment Soujiro turned to her properly and saw the sweat that clung to her face.
He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. “If you are tired tell me. I can bring you to my chambers.” Soujiro offered.
He knew of her pregnancy that was why he initially tried to reject this invitation for her. But for some reason she agreed even though she clearly did not want to attend. Soujiro had yet to figure out what she was thinking. He heard from others that she was actively investigating her former lover’s death. Perhaps there is a clue here somewhere? Otherwise he cannot imagine why she would come here.
“Thank you. But I will be fine.”
Soujiro frowned at her refusal. She has become more stubborn. Even before that other woman pointed out her fatigue. He could see it himself. It’s a real wonder why no one else has noticed it, she clearly doesn’t have a healthy completion.
Rather it surprised him. In her state, her movement should be limited.
Unless she has learned to use her ability. Soujiro shook his head. Sumire has no knowledge of this stuff and it should remain that way.
“Soujiro?”
“Nothing.”
Sumire seemed unconvinced, yet luckily for him she didn’t ask any further questions. Instead turned to his guard.
“Himae-san you’re a fan of Quatro light right?”
Naoki nods. “Yes but…why does Princess Ibuki know about that?”he asked politely.
Sumire smiles. “Well I saw you during one of the venues of the first few days of the tour…”
So he went there during his day off? . Soujiro found it strange that his guard would request time off, to see an idol group huh?
“Naoki..”
The blonde hair boy’s face colour pales. “Yes?” He responded.
“If you wished to take a leave for a month instead of a mere three days. You should have at least said so.”He wasn’t exactly a fan of idols. But it wasn’t as if he disliked them. It’s difficult not to know of ‘ Quatro light’ too, especiallytoo especially since it’sthere everywhere.
Moreover Sojiro only paid attention to them because of their connection with his fiancee. It is only because of Sumire that he paid attention to something so trivial.
“I’ll keep that in mind next time sir…”
Sumire chuckles. “Don’t scare him of Soujiro. Ah but you saw me too right? Next time just call out to me.”
“I simply can’t —” Soujiro cuts his guard off by sending him a knowing look. “Very well…since the Prince permitted me to do so.”
“Please do so. I am sure Kou and the others would like to meet you.”
His guard seemed to be holding back his expression with the mention of Maon Kou, Soujiro sighs not being able to bear to watch the sight anymore. Soujiro pretended to look elsewhere. The second he does so, his guard burst into an enthusiastic conversation with his fiance. Usually he wouldn’t tolerate such behaviour, since it was among the rules he learned as an adult.
This rule was about guards separating from obility. But his own guard held a position that is similar to his own. So Soujiro never treated him in the same manner as a commoner
His thoughts retreated back on to the subject matter of the top idol group.Quatro light huh? Indeed it was quite difficult for him to feign ignorance on the group’s existence.
Although he managed to ignore all traces of all the other idol groups residing in Japan. It’s difficult to turn his attention away from groups that have connections to her. On that matter, there is the other one.
Nanairo Feather. It surprised him when he saw his fiance during the broadcast of the group’s first concert. However, even then he didn’t become interested in them. It wasn’t until that other one showed up that he truly turned his attention to the group. Soujiro too had seen it, the international concur broadcasts.
His family is fond of classical music and so during a meeting with their clients they always without fail watched the selection. He hadn’t known about the girls participation until the end of the first selection when they announced the girls disqualification for the round. His clients didn’t recognise the name. But his brother had done so.
‘So your fiance is still as mysterious as ever huh? It’s true that I once praised her for her gracefulness and manners. However back then I had already noticed that the aura around her is quite unusual for your everyday Princess. I have heard rumors of a blonde hair demon princess all throughout the Yankee groups in Japan. Want a bet brother, that the demon princess they speak of is actually your fiance?’
That conversation remained fresh in his mind. Which is why he anticipated the girl’s return. Soujiro wanted to prove his elder brother wrong. Although he was fully aware of the girls nature of not being a typical Princess. After all during their first meeting she expressed clear desires of knowing the state of affairs concerning wars.
When he went home that night and thought it through. He realised that it wasn’t as unusual as he thought. After all she is still a ruler in the end, wanting to know the situation is normal. . His brother really is convinced on the matter that the demon Princess everyone is talking about is her. Indeed the girl’s blonde hair and hairstyle certainly fit the description at the time.
His fiance’s hair style was no longer the same and the aspects of blonde she once had has been replaced by her natural hair colour. However, it wouldn’t do any harm for him to make sure.
Soujiro was about to do so and proceeded to move a step forward when the lights flickered. In that split second the brightness of the room was replaced with a pitch black darkness. Although it was dark he could still navigate himself through to where his guard and Sumire was.
“Prince!”Naoki exclaimed.
“Do not fret. It is a mere black out. It happens quite often since the building is old. It should come back in a matter of seconds.” Soujiro stated calmly, raising his voice slightly so the panicked nobles could hear him.
He often came to this building before for other business so he is used to this.
“…Asami, Ran isn’t back yet is he?”
“No. But wait hold on Sumire-chan…”
Suddenly they hear a high pitched screams, followed by several. Soujiro turned his attention to the sound.
“Come Naoki. Follow me.”
He didn’t waste any time navigating around the dark. When he reached the corner of the room, he fiddled around his pockets and found a lighter as he extended it over and lit the candle stuck to the wall. A section of the room turns bright. ” Naoki, can you see it? There is supposed to be a small hidden switch.”
Naoki shifts down.”Is it this silver one?”
“Yes.”
Once Naoki clicked the switch, the room was covered in light once again. But that clearly triggered even more panic amongst the others. Since clearly in the center of the room, the great elder Ono had been stabbed in the middle, where his vital organs were. It was a terrible wound.
He watched as all the others merely glanced over, not knowing what to do. ” Naoki, call the—” Soujiro didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence, when the brown hair girl stepped forward.
To think a case like this happened at such a grand event. It is no exaggeration to say that nearly all the nobles have gathered here. He supposes this was the perfect time to stage an attack but it is still surprising. Soujiro watched as the girl bent down. It surprised him how quickly she reacted. All the other nobles merely stood there.
“Princess….” Ono said weakly.
“It’ll be fine. Elder Ono.”
“I see….so…you’re like…him. No wonder…he was so drawn to you.”
With those words said the elder shut his eyes. Soujiro who watched the girl carefully saw a flash of something in her eyes. It was an anger that he saw once before. When she was a mere child, he saw this very same look in her eyes. No it is slightly different now, there is a flash of pain mixed in with that hate.
……..
Soujiro finally managed to escape the banquet. It took him quite a deal of time to calm the guests and in the process of doing so he had to give orders to the guards on duty. Splitting them up so that there are plenty guarding the room and the other half searching for the culprit.
He even sent his own guard Naoki to the half searching for the culprit. His guard seemed reluctant to do so, wishing to accompany him but he refused.
It’s not as though having guards was necessary. Had it not been part of the royal decree then he would never have had any. Royalty aren’t as completely puppets as people think, it’s true that they are not free.
But they aren’t helpless when it comes to battle. Especially the training that had been given to him and his brothers, protecting himself he could do just fine. Upon arriving at his destination, he noticed that the door was slightly open already.
Soujiro could only stand there and watch his fiance amazed. The girl tied her hair into a bun and was in the middle of doing a medical procedure. From where he stood it seemed to be going well. It’s not unusual for royals to have medical knowledge because even he had it. However, he never thought to apply it before.
It was because he was watching her that he noticed. She looked pale earlier but this time around something was different.
“Sumire?” Soujiro entered the room concerned.
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Ah.” Sumire turned to him and laughed weakly. “I’m sorry but I think it’s coming.”
Soujiro’s eyes widened alarmed as he watched her stagger, he extended his arms out to break her fall. The moment he caught her he saw how pale her face was, and the stream of sweat that fell from her face.
“Naoki!” Soujiro bellowed. His guard emerged from the doors. “Call an ambulance– no,” Soujiro trailed off. “Get my car, I will drive her to the hospital.”
They can’t afford to wait.
“…ru…” Sumire mumbled quietly but Soujiro heard her.
‘It seems she is still suffering even now.’ One would think now that she is dating Terashima, everything is okay. But that is not the case here. Even now her heart calls for him, calls for Tsueno Mamoru.
