"Alright… So it's agreed right?"
"Yea!"
In a clearing near their viewing spot, two males were currently standing on the left corner dressed in black and brown garb. On the opposite side, a female and two other males were dressed in white and golden armor. Despite the strange sight unfolding, all will be explained once we go back an hour earlier.
----
After finding out that Charlotte had wanted to experience what it feels like to be kidnapped, all of the present members agreed with one another to hold a simulation of some sort since it would be too dangerous to hire actual kidnappers (as Charlotte wanted to suggest earlier).
Now the problem is deciding who gets what role.
"Well, since my sister is the one being kidnapped, isn't it obvious that I would be the one to save her? She is my precious family member after all"
"What? That's ridiculous! She's MY fiancee so naturally, the one to save her is the prince charming isn't it?"
"Now now, gentlemen. You are all too rough so wouldn't it be better for someone as gentle as I am to save the damsel in distress? You might hurt Lady Charlotte with your brute conduct"
"W- w- wait! I'm the one who is actually training to become a knight so shouldn't I have the role of one of the knights?"
The four men were getting into such a heated argument that Charlotte could feel herself sweating from afar. If they kept arguing with each other like this, it'll be dark soon and then they can't proceed with the simulation. There has to be a way so that everyone is satisfied with the outcome!
"Ah! I know! Gentlemen, I believe we should draw lots to make it fair" she appeared in between the four of them.
"… Fine. If the lady believes it's for the best"
"If you say so, little sister"
"I- I agree with whatever Lady Charlotte wants"
"Haha! My fiancee is indeed smart!"
Unfortunately for them, Charlotte had excluded the fact that she included herself into the lots. She is, after all, a person who believes in distributed fairness.
----
Which leads to the present moment where Caspian took hold of the role of the kidnapper, Kit (ironically) holding the role of the one being kidnapped and the other three being the knights.
'Say … isn't the whole point of this simulation is so Lady Charlotte can experience getting kidnapped (safely)?' Caspian felt his head already pounding.
"Alright. So, we'll hide over there while you guys try to infiltrate our base, is that clear? And no actual violence! You might hurt the lady if you start waving your sword around" Caspian sighed.
"Yes, we agree. However…" River trailed off.
Everyone turned their attention towards Kit who was tied up and shaking like a leaf. His face was so visibly white, he could be mistaken as a ghost. The sound of his teeth chattering was also similar to the sound of a woodpecker.
"Will you be alright, Sir Albertine?" Charlotte looked at Kit with a hint of worry in her eyes. The poor guy was probably still traumatized about his kidnapping experience. Was it alright to let him take on the role of the one being kidnapped?
"I- I- I- I'll be o- o- okay, my lady. The lots were d- drawn fair and square so, I should accept my fate. B- besides, I have gotten o- over my trauma b- by now"
Everyone looked at him with eyes of disbelief. Even though he had successfully managed to get his knees to stop trembling, the rest of his upper body was shaking so hard that it became blurry. Charlotte was mildly fascinated by this.
『 A new method of upper body exercising? 』
Finally, after Caspian had dragged Kit away, everyone had taken their place.
"I guess we should indulge the lady once in a while. Besides, doesn't this reminds you of the hide and seek game we used to play as kids?" Caspian said as he crouched behind a bush. Peeping from above the bush, he held back a laugh.
"However, I can see the lady's text bubble this whole time … "
Sure enough, Caspian could see the glowing dialogue moving from tree to tree. It reminded him of some sort of tracking pointer.
"Not much point in hiding their presence. Right, Kit?"
Kit, who had been behind Caspian the entire time, did not answer. It was then Caspian realised that Kit had not utter a word since they started the game. Finally, Caspian turned around, instantly letting out a long breath. It's no wonder he was silent- Kit was lying on his side, apparently passed out for a while now.
"Are you kidding me?"
Just as he was about to move Kit to a more comfortable position, three shadows had approached him from behind already.
"Damnit! They're here already?" (Caspian)
"Vile villain! Release the victim at once!" (Ezekiel)
"What makes you think I will comply?" (Caspian)
They were really getting into their role.
"Wait, Your Highness!" River stepped up from behind. He pushed his glasses back. Everyone who knows River Bellarose well enough knew that this was a signal that he had turned on his business mode.
Taking out a notepad and a pen from his pocket, he looked at Caspian.
"Sir, what would you like in exchange for the victim? Wealth? Fame? Position?"
"U- um… I guess wealth?"
"Would 10 million worth of jewels suffice?"
"...!"
"Alright. I assume from your silence that you agree. We will deliver it to your selected destination. Could you please fill in your name and address in this form here?"
"Yes?"
"On which date would you be free? Also, what time?"
"I guess I'm free on the weekends since we don't have school and um… maybe afternoon around 2?"
"Uh-huh. I guess we could pencil you in for Saturday at 2?"
"That sounds alright with me"
River flipped his notepad close and nodded. Then all of a sudden his expression turned smug.
"... But, that will not happen because WE DON'T NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORIST! Fellow knights, move out!"
"Wait, wh-"
While Caspian had been caught up with River's excellent acting this entire time, he had failed to realise that the other two had snuck off on their own to rescue the victim from behind his back. Alas, he had fallen into their ingenious diversion tactic…
… is what he would say, if not for the fact that both Ezekiel and Charlotte were still within their sight and struggling to carry the incredibly heavy (and incredibly passed out) Kit.
"....."
"I'll … let them have this one" Caspian closed his eyes and turned the other way.
----
It was already sunset when they had reached back to their picnic spot. Everyone decided to join hands in carrying Kit back and by the time they had arrived, all four of them were on their hands and knees, panting heavily. Heavy beads of sweat formed on their foreheads and their outfits clung onto their skin.
"We did it!" Ezekiel jumped up. He gave River and Charlotte a high five. Their plan had succeeded and they were incredibly pleased with themselves.
『 What an experience! What a day! 』
Caspian was leaning on a tree. He felt like he had ran a marathon but seeing Charlotte's subtle twinkling expression was worth it. Then he paused, a smile still etched on his face as he turned to his friends.
"I hate to interrupt the celebration but... "
Everyone, except Kit who was still passed out, stopped their cheers and turned towards him. Their heads tilted to one side in confusion.
"Didn't we come here for a cherry blossom viewing party?"
" … "
" … "
" … "
"… L- let's try again next year" Caspian slapped his hand to his head.
Everyone looked away and nodded their heads in silence.
------------
A/N: Next update will be on Thursday next week! I have some stuff to do :')