It had been two months since the incident in the arena and quite a lot had changed. First, I had spent a few days at my grandfather's estate. We had buried Ki next to my mother and covered her area in flowers.
I think she would have liked it. All of the flowers were yellow and blue to match her hair and eyes. The tomb was only for people who had the last name Akiyo, but since she was so loved by everyone the last name "Akiyo" had been given to her. She wasn't just a maid she was my friend, my mother, carer and my protector.
Ki Akiyo… Yellow White World. I think in the snowy white world that was my soul she had always made many beautiful yellow flowers grow. Ki was and always will be irreplaceable.
The Tama ceremony was a lot like the customs on Earth, it seemed that the way people mourned was multiversal. Ren hadn't spoken much since the day that Ki had passed and I too had bearly said a word.
My eyes had become sunken and my cheeks a little gaunt. I had forgotten to eat a lot as I did nothing but train, raise money and study.
I had worked with the Takahashi medical family selling herbs to them, while I sold the rest of the miscellaneous plants that I was not planning to use to the auction house. I had also sold them any useful potions I had made.
The food family had been supplying me with any seeds that were out of season at a reasonable price so I was making enough to support myself. Even the merchant family which my mother was from had decided to sign a contract with me allowing me to buy and sell at a discount.
I also in this time realised that Romeo was right my father and even my mother was still alive out there in the world somewhere. Where they were and why they left me were still eluded me.
I had found out after I checked Ki's profile. I would check it for comfort on the Lubu system from time to time as her smiling face was like a photograph I could check so I could remember exactly what her face looked like.
The only difference was that her profile was dull compared to the rest and I couldn't change anything. This was not the way I wanted to find out that my parents were alive it was bittersweet in many ways.
Finally the last and most important change was that the Vance royal and his entourage had all left. It had been my fault that they left and not only did they leave my grandfather had warned me that I had started something and that I would have to suffer the punishment before hugging me.
I tried to ask him why he lied about my mother's death but he kept denying it. It was not like I could tell him I knew because a magical system on my arm told me so. There was nothing I could do.
All I could do was prepare for whatever would happen next. I studied, trained and raised money. The money I had left with Ren to hide on my behalf. He merely saluted and carried on with his duties.
Until one day he disappeared without a word.
It was on this same day that a message had been sent to the school and Kibbles and I was walked out with my belongings by the guards from the magus academy.
Apparently, I was going to be put on trial for the attempted murder of a Vance royal. I merely nodded my head and followed their lead while Loki walked behind me. Nathan, Princess and Leo where nowhere to be found. They at least didn't have to watch as various members of the staff and students were whispering as I was lead out and placed in a carriage.
Due to my standing in society, Loki and Kibbles were allowed in the carriage with me. Since I was cooperating with the guards I was not tied or changed I merely followed and did as I was told.
I was also not placed in a cell of any sort but taken back to my grandfather's estate and placed under house arrest until the trial would begin. My grandfather was worried sick as I tried my best to comfort him and tell him everything was going to be fine.
I knew I hadn't tried to kill him. If I truly had he would have been dead. I had somehow just become a reason for Vance to try and remove the peace treaty. I just continued to study and train while Loki had become my teacher.
Unfortunately, I was allowed no visitors so not even Sestu or Riku could come and visit. The days came and gone until finally, it was the day of the trial and I was lead to the royal palace.
** Romeo's point of view **
" You promised me, you can't have him sentenced to death," I said angrily as I stared at my father.
" Are you saying that you are already aiming for my throne and crown? Since when do princes have a say when it comes to the emperor?" My father said with an acidic tongue before sipping on some wine.
We were currently in a fully armoured carriage heading for the Tama royal estate to watch the trial against Yuki Akiyo. I had never felt any malice towards the boy. My father had forced me to follow his orders and stir trouble trying to damage Yuki's reputation.
It had worked… a little too well.
But I had never thought it would lead to killing his maid.
I never thought any of this would happen.
" You know as well as I, he was just angry if he wanted to kill me .. he could have.. You were not there and you don't know him as I do!" I said trying to get my father to stop this ridiculousness.
This arguing to and fro had been happening ever since I got back to Vance. My father had become furious seeing that I was a little injured and had decided to seek revenge against Yuki. I am not stupid though… I know the truth.
It had nothing to do with my injuries my father only cares about me because I am his only son. My father and his advisors just want Yuki Akiyo out of the way so Tama will lose morale and it will be easier to take Tama from their king in future.
[ The Greed of these old men! ]
I had always followed my father's orders since I was little. He was never much of a father to be we had never shared any happy moments. He was the king of a nation first and I his subject. Everything from tricking Sora to ruining Yuki life had all been orchestrated by him.
I was not yet strong enough to take the throne and had to bide my time but trying to get an innocent kid killed was too much. Yuki raises flowers how could he possibly be a monster in future?
" Tch, your kindness makes you unsuitable for the throne. If only your brother didn't die in battle" My father said before shaking his head.
" I am not my brother... You are right and I never will be... But this... This is insanity! Just don't have him killed, Can't we just exile him or something. The fight between you and the Tama Empire has nothing to do with Yuki. Haven't we hurt him enough? How does this make us any better than Tama?" I said fuming.
[ Why does he always have to bring him up and compare me!? ]
" Silence you stupid child! If you carry on like this in the courthouse … not even the gods will be able to help you!" my father said.
The carriage was silent and I spend most of my time looking out the window. Wen Wen and Rinny were not able to travel with me. Sora and my personal guard were outside the carriage. I didn't want my father to use them as bargaining chips against me so whenever he was around I pretended I didn't care about them.
It was for the best.
When we finally arrived a grand procession was held in our honour down the streets. With all the coloured confetti and decorations anyone would think that we arrived for a fortuitous occasion and not the farce that was this attempted murder trial.
We had arrived at the Tama royal castle just in time to see Yuki dismount from a carriage. He looked hagged and nothing like the young boy I had first met. His personal guard with the long black hair was following behind him with his pet. The light haired boy was nowhere to be seen through which I found odd.
I had hoped that Yuki had tried to escape but it didn't look like he was going to even fight. Did he maid mean more to him than his life?
The guilt had begun to eat at me as my fathers attendant pushed me towards the entrance way. We were greeted by a strange attendant that had a pink bow tie and were told to wait in one of the guest rooms.
My father emperor was taken directly to see the Tama King as I was finally able to converse with Wen Wen, Rinny, Sora and my guard.
We had all sat around feeling melancholy about the whole event. Even my guard seemed to be polishing his armour more than usual.
Sora was sitting on a fine seat with a sad look on his face and I found myself unable to tease him.
Rinny finally broke the ice and said straightforwardly to my face.
" Do you want to save him?"
Everyone's ears in the room perked up as we looked at her.
I nodded.
Finally, Sora, Wen Wen and my guard had all looked at me with an eagerness I had not seen in months.
It looked like everyone felt the same way I did.
" hahaha it's stupid, isn't it... We may be enemies but I can't find a reason to hate him. " I said as I held back my head and laughed quietly.
" His fish prank was the best!" Sora said as he nodded.
" We don't talk about that…" Wen Wen said smiling.
" Alright, so what is the plan?" I said holding my tongue and ignoring Sora.
I will never be able to remove the fish smell from my mind it had angered me but in hindsight, it was childish and as far as enemies go... Yuki was probably one of the best (not that I would ever tell him that).
The room erupted into quite a discussion as we all tried to figure out the best course of action and operation " Save Yuki's Butt" as Sora had called it had begun.