I woke up early in the morning and stretched, I looked down at my weak yet pale legs, slowly becoming accustomed to the sight. I think back to my old life, to my lack of friends, average grades and imagine what I could have done to live a little happier.
[ I could have at least told my best friend I loved him before I died. ]
I clenched my fist.
Ki comes in with my usual bowl of slop. She feeds me a little while I wash down the taste with a pot of tea. I have never been much of a tea enthusiast, but the taste makes an excellent pallet cleanser.
I finish the mysteriously thick substance in the bowl and Ki puts it down. She spent the next few minutes explaining to me my schedule for the day. Which included no free time mind you.
Apparently, my father was excited that I wanted to study the sword and has gone about hiring an instructor. Not only that but I also needed to learn etiquette, my general studies with Riku and even sessions with Doctor Ishi since I have started to walk more. I guessed they plan on some sort of rehabilitation for my lack of exercise over the years.
Finally, I found out that I can only practice breathing exercises for magic until I am stronger as my body wouldn't be able to cope with any backlash training may have.
[ They really don't give a ten-year-old a break do they? ]
" Young Master a letter came this morning from the palace. Apparently, Princess Rosli has been worried about you. Here, please take this, I am sure she has written you something to cheer you up" Ki said excitedly.
Ki produced a fine gold emblazoned envelope from her apron pouch. I took it from her and noticed the tiny detailing of dragons lining the sides. It had Yuki Aikyo written in bold letters on the front. I flipped it over and saw that there was a sophisticated seal stamped on the back with what I can only assume is the royal families coat of arms.
I opened it slowly and began to read.
Aikyo Yuki,
It has come to my attention that yesterday you bullied my dear sweet sister. She came back to the palace in tears claiming that you are going to die. She also mentioned that you would like to cancel the potential engagement with her. I would hope that as a man seeing a young lady in tears let alone the only princess of Tama would cause you distress, she is also the most perfect child I have ever seen. You want to cancel the engagement?! Do you have rocks instead of a brain? I wrote this letter to tell you if I see my dear sweet Rosli crying even one tear again by your hand that I will come and visit your household PERSONALLY.
You have been warned.
Ps. If anyone else finds out about this letter, I will make your life even more miserable. I hope this letter from my "sister" makes you smile.
With sincere regards,
Crown Prince Leopold II of Tama
Reading the last lines a sick feeling welled up in the pit of my stomach, the little hairs on my arms raised up and every cell in my body screamed danger. My body involuntary shuddered. I looked at Ki, and she looked back at me absentmindedly smiling. I hid the letter as quickly as I could and plastered on my best plastic grin.
" How was it, young master? Hiding the letter so passionately its content must have been thrilling! Ahh to be young and in love! " Ki held her cheeks with a dazed expression. I stared at her blankly in an attempt to hide my fear.
[ If I get engaged to her I die, if I don't, I die! What is with her brother, is he crazy? A siscon maybe?]
" Yes, I will be sure to thank her brother properly for writing such a fantastic letter on the princesses behalf," I responded after calming myself down. I put the letter back into the envelope and placed it under my pillow.
It turned out that it will take a few months for my magic and sword fighting trainers to arrive at our door. So Ki handed me two thin books. One with basic sword movements and another with breathing exercises.
She stated that if I have any issues, she will ask the guards on my behalf for answers. However, because my heart is weak, I can only swing the wooden sword in a chair for now.
My morning lessons with Riku were fantastic. I spent half of them learning the ways of this land and the other half staring at him. I only do it when I know he is not looking, however, so I seem to get away with it.
I thought that perfecting my staring technique will come in handy as I have to stay closeted. Who knows what the people here feel about homosexuals.
I tensed up at the thought.
By midday I had lunch and I met a lady called Yuzu. Apparently, she even taught the young women in the palace how to walk, talk, sit and stand. With my limited physical strength, I can only get through so much before I had to take a break and start again. It must be annoying to my teacher, but it cannot be helped. Her beady eyes scared me.
Come evening time I had a real dinner with the family, my father seems to be missing, my mother said he is on a business trip. She told me about her day, and the room seemed to be full of calmness. I was grateful for the change of pace, and the meat reminiscent of chicken. I say good night to my mother and she hugged me tightly.
I think this is the second time I have been hugged since I got here. In my previous life, I rarely got embraced even by my parents.
[ It is nice to have people who care about you. ]
Finally, I was taken back to my room by Ki as she placed the books she gave me in front of me.
The breathing techniques seem to be simple enough but trying to convert the basic sword movements into positions where I could sit down was confusing. Ki seemed to be rather good at instructing which I consider quite strange for a maid.
[ Maybe she has a brother or lover that is a guard here? ]
I spent a good chunk of the night breathing and swinging my sword in accordance with the manuals given to me. I kept having to take breaks in between, but I started to feel proud. I am sure the previous owner of this body would have been proud too.
[ Don't worry Yuki, I will live a life good enough for the both of us. ]
Just before it is time to rest, I opted for a bath, Ki brought it into the room as I was struggling to move after all of that exercising. She filled up the tub and checked its temperature.
" Young master the bath is ready. Would you like me to scrub your back?" She beckoned me seductively, her soft curves move against her maids' outfit. All my dreams of having a sweet older sister figure were instantly shattered. I try not to cry.
[ Hell No! ]
" No thank you, Ki, as much as that would be delightful I am rather tired, I will make my way out myself. I appreciate the offer, however." I said with a straight face.
" Please call me if you need me Young Master" she giggled in response.
I shuddered.
[ I take back what I thought earlier, I need a handsome butler. Maybe my teacher as a butler, NO! My teacher and a butler. When I am a master swordsman I will make my own Harem!]
I shook my head at my stupid thoughts and made my way into the tub, The warm water soothed my aches and pains, ridding me of today's stresses. Before I could fully relax, however, my mind wandered to the letter that I had received this morning.
[ What to do about prince danger zone and princess marriage mistake? Should I run away? Play dead, talk to someone? No, I can't, he will know that I said something and come to me with a sword at my throat. Maybe I should go visit and talk to him directly. Ahhhhh I can't do that, he seems scary. Perhaps I can bake them a sorry gift? … that's stupid. ]
My thoughts went around in circles until the bath water went cold and I was dizzy. I made my way out and dried my hair, before getting dressed in my pyjamas and laying in bed. The moon was high up into the sky before my mind stopped its excessive worrying.
That night I dreamed about my old world, my favorite activities and foods, my old family and finally my best friend. He seemed to whisper something to me, but I was unable to make it out before he smiled at me.
I was then teleported to an open field, the hills and mountains seem to stretch on for miles. I felt at peace. A warm feeling overcame my body like a child sitting in its mother's womb.
From behind me, I heard a voice calling to me, yet when I turned around no one was there. My hand began to glow, and a symbol appeared on the back.
It was a bow and arrow with the tip of the arrowhead shaped like a heart. It was super cheesy looking. A young man suddenly appeared in front of me. Wearing tight pants, no shirt, and covered in tattoos. He had a fantastic body, I tried not to drool.
" It's alright Senri Yuta, you can stare as much as you like, I did create this form just for you" The low mellow voice of the man in front of me made me breathless, My cheeks turned red, and I was unable to respond. His long black hair gave him the look of a wild man. It took me a second to notice there was a bow and quiver on his back.
" Mm good response it seems I still have it," he said out loud rather smugly. Followed by "I have many names, but you can call me Cupid, cutie." He winked at me.
" So do you want the good news or the bad news?" Cupid asked.
I snapped out of my daze and stared at the man seriously.
[ Can't it just be good news? ]
I sighed and shook my head, I knew I was dreaming so I played along.
" The bad news followed by the good news please" I replied, he already knew my name, so I didn't bother to introduce myself.
" Ahh good, I like a straightforward person. The bad news is.. I screwed up some paperwork. You were supposed to end up with Isayama Anzai, that young man you were friends with... But I didn't fill in the forms, and it caused a glitch, so your old universe corrected itself by killing you. So that happened, Sorry about that." He said in a blasé tone like he was discussing the weather while scratching his head.
I stared at him with my mouth opened wide.
[ Anzai and I were… we were meant to..]
My heart was a mess.
[I loved him for as long as I could remember, pined for him like a lost puppy and because of this idiot, I was killed with nothing but regrets?]
I was furious.
" Cupid or whoever you are what..." I started to speak, but I was cut off mid-sentence by the man with long black hair. He made a motion with his hand, and I found myself unable to speak. I held my mouth attempting to pry it open.
" No one likes people who complain okay, it isn't cute. Hear me out okay. So Yuta, you died pretty miserably, and I know it was somewhat my fault, so I am making it up to you. In fact, the world you are living in was something I made just for you. Everyone and everything is just as real as you are. Consider this I made 6 billion people in an alternate universe just so you could start again. So you should be grateful. " Cupid paused for a moment making sure that I took in every line.
I looked at him questioning my entire theory of how the universe works, my head began to churn.
" Ahh yeah, now you see my greatness," he said and chuckled before he continued.
" However, just giving you everything you want would suck right? Ever seen a man get everything he ever wanted and be fine with what he has?. "
He paused before saying " I haven't. "
He then smiled and said "So I am challenging you to survive your ordeals find someone you love and try not to get killed. I mean this world would be fine with or without you. To make your life easier, I have added a system of sorts into your brain. You can figure it out when you wake up. Just think the word menu to yourself, and you will figure it out. Good luck Kiddo!"
He waves at me, and everything around me goes black. I wake up in bed just as the sun is rising. I stare down at my hand.
[ It wasn't a dream ]