Around lunchtime, there was a disturbance in the castle. Someone managed to slip past the guards and knock over one of Inei's terracotta statues. They also managed to topple over a bookshelf, which—for lack of a better term—pissed the king the fuck off. He sent Jisoo down to investigate, and with a glimmer of bronze, the general returned with a girl brooding beside her. I couldn't make out her features from the angle I was at, but as soon I saw her blonde hair…
"Koharu! What in the world are you doing?"
*I thought you were coming later than this! Or did you mean night for *you*? We've got to get these time zones worked out!*
"Geez, pardon me for getting lost, Lia." She scratched her ear, scrunching up her face. "I'm used to meeting Akiyoshi at the front."
Jisoo looked at us, and she was somewhat unamused. "That would explain a lot."
"What?" I had no idea what things she was privy to.
"She seemed to be searching for something." Jisoo shrugged. "I know she's a princess, but the king would still fancy knowing who barged in uninvited."
"Oh." My lips formed a circle. "Koko, at least let someone other than me know, for goodness' sake." I reached to grab her shoulders, but I then retracted my arms.
*We didn't discuss that yet for when we're in front of other people.*
"I was *trying* to be subtle," Koharu argued, but she looked more joyful than annoyed.
Jisoo raised her eyebrow. "You failed miserably, miss, but… you knew about this, Ophelia?"
"Yes, I did. We had a meeting a while ago."
"Kindly follow us up to the king's room, then? I would like to give him some closure," Jisoo requested, and I nodded to her.
*Technically, it's also my responsibility.*
I glanced over to Koharu behind Jisoo, and we both grinned in relief as our hands grazed against each other.
***
"You mean to tell me you walked on my property and messed up all my decorations?" Inei asked furiously. I was surprised by how territorial he was, even when it came to his own family. "Haru, you navigate about as well as your father, and he'd get lost in the dining hall. At least clean up after yourself, and ask Yoshi next time!"
Koharu stared at the ground. "He said he didn't want to see me because he's feeling sick, Dad."
*Since when does he refuse to see his sister?*
Inei appeared particularly puzzled as he fiddled with his gold wedding ring with a sour expression. Jisoo and I stood to the side as the bantering ensued, aware we were accidentally caught in the crossfire of parental scolding. We shared knowing glances and light chuckles at some of the comments and sheer awkwardness.
Koharu, who frowned, invited my attention more so than usual; I wanted to hug her and figure out what exactly was wrong—swaddle her in attention and care until her spirits improved. Images of pretty tears and a broken countenance were branded on my eyelids, and I wanted to scrub them away.
"Why would your brother not want to see you?" Inei asked. "You've always gotten along."
"I don't know. He usually lets me check on him, so he's probably feeling awful." Koharu shrugged, trying to appear unbothered but failing.
*Please, I don't want you to worry by yourself.*
"Your Highness," Jisoo spoke suddenly, and she drew my focus away from Koharu, "the prince has had his room locked since this morning if you would like to know. I'm certain he's just sleeping and doesn't want anyone to wake him up. Not a peep has arisen every time I've passed by. He usually taps his feet against a table if he's awake and reading."
"Then, I guess we should all respect his privacy today. I'll go in there myself later." Inei scanned his daughter suspiciously. "Why are you here if not for your brother?"
"I wanted to meet with Ophelia and Leo about some matters," Koharu answered clinically. It seemed she only acted so coldly around her dad. She was even bright towards Hikaru on the occasions he popped into our lunches.
Inei grinned. He knew something. It was evident in his expression, but he was hard to decipher.
"I shall let you kids be. I will send Seiji to rearrange the living area for you all when he gets back from checking on Mirai, but know that, if this ever happens again, I will not hesitate to embarrass you in making you clean up the entire building. Have fun!" he said just a little too cheerfully.
*He ought to think of a better punishment for magical children. Or just none at all for stupid shit.*
Koharu nodded and grinned, and that told me she was a little better. Mild relief swelled in my chest, though the concern I felt was not completely alleviated. Before we exited side by side, I smiled along with her from behind. The questioning glare of Jisoo on my back was haunting to the point of freezing my spine, but I ignored her prying glances.
*She doesn't have to know.*
***
"Now, Lia." Koharu gripped my hand.
*How simple was I that so simple and innocent of a gesture flustered me until I had butterflies in my stomach?*
She asked, "Where is Lele? He hasn't left, has he?"
I shook my head and peered at her. While white streaks illuminated her face, I was stupidly in awe. She was just as gorgeous under the moonlit setting of this kingdom as she was under the brilliant rays of the sun as we waited in the courtyard. (We reasoned that going to a place with blackberries for Leo was like waiting for bees by flowers.)
"I saw him last in the morning when he stole your letter from me, so I have no idea. He said he'd come, though."
That was when Koharu's cheeks turned rosy as well. I didn't expect that to be the thing that flustered her.
*Slowly, I'll find out how to get under your skin—starting with that.*
She mumbled, "Oh, he read it?"
"Yes."
"Did he read the bottom part or…?" The princess smiled bashfully, hoping I'd fill in the statement in my head.
I appeared to pinch the air as I brought two fingers together. "He was this close to reading it for the entire castle to hear, so yes. He also read your comments about him and wanted revenge."
"Joy," she said sarcastically and rolled her eyes in good nature. "I think I'd prefer that to anything my dad would do, though. He was about to have me dress up in a maid outfit and work the job of a servant for the day after seeing the mess I made."
"How dense is—"
"I'm going to stop you right there," Koharu cut me off, and we both chuckled.
A weight suddenly crashed onto my shoulders until I almost struck the ground.
"How are the lovebirds doing?"
"Leo, for once I'm glad to see you!" I grinned at him, especially giddy with Koharu around.
Leo gawked at me like I grew two heads as he backed away. "Do you have a cold, Fifi?"
I pointed in the direction of the town center. "I could always go jump in the fountain if you'd like me to have one."
"Sweetie, stop," Koharu butted in, and I was both embarrassed and surprised. She couldn't help but laugh as she called me that name, not taking it seriously.
Leo snickered as he smoothed out his tight pants. "Oh, you're not living that one down." He pointed. "Either of you."
"You wanna—"
Koharu placed a hand over my mouth and stuck her other arm in front of my waist, which caused me to fold over like a taco as I advanced to confront Leo.
*Now, I sympathize with tortillas.*
"So Leo, can you bring us to the Galaxy Meadow?" Koharu asked.
Leo was about to speak.
"Alone, please," she added.
"Yeah, sure." He moved his head around. "Come on my turf and walk in my garden and play with the unicorns and kick me out, why don't you?"
*I thought you'd actually be agreeable for once! You seemed like it earlier!*
Koharu sighed, that impatience of hers becoming prevalent. "What do you want from me? There's no way I'm winning this argument."
"Tell Sinclair to stop by, or threaten them with relieving their duties." Leo raised a menacing eyebrow. "They'll do it."
"Lele, that's cruel," Koharu said with pity in her voice.
"And what you're doing is not?"
"The difference is between killing a person—fairy—and trespassing for a minute," she reasoned. They were hardly similar offenses.
Even though Leo mentioned this to me before, my eyes widened in shock when the rule was nearly applied. "Excuse me?"
"Fine. Just ask them for me," Leo conceded.
Koharu displayed a blank expression before her lip tilted up slightly. "Deal."