(Leo)
***
With hardly a single button closed on my royal shirt, I teleported to the Moon Castle's courtyard by dragging fairy dust across my lips. I searched the area fervently, digging my nose between leaves and branches. I surveyed every crack, twig, and brick in sight.
The clearing was as empty as the space inside the bushes.
I cursed and kicked at the dirt as it caked on my shoes. There was no telling where Sinclair was or if they were even at the castle currently.
Determining the next best thing to do was to head inside (as any other outdoor areas were boring as shit with maybe one crape myrtle for good measure), I darted to the king's chamber, shrouding myself in a cloak of magic to hide from the aristocrats. Sinclair, with their ability to sense magic intact, could still notice me; consequently, I banked on that prospect.
Inside the room, I only found Inei and a few of his sleepy employees slowly sipping on cups of tea or coffee—as if not to upset the delicate balance of the king's mood at that very moment. I did not wish to join their silent, burial-like summit or—for that matter—incite one, so I quickly removed myself from the premises.
Thinking of the numerous cubicles in the castle prompted an unconscious groan from the back of my throat. Ideas that once flowed like a fountain experienced a heavy drought.
I was going to be lost for days if I checked every single nook! Though, I figured the library was another logical place to explore since I had brought Sinclair there several times for drinks and sweets. (Fuck the library rules.)
Disregarding the thumping of my wings and footsteps, the facility was as silent as ever when I arrived. It was impossible to tell whether this was from the general etiquette of the place or from it being empty, only housing small bugs in corners that hadn't seen the light of day for years. A gentle thud answered my question, however, and I darted along the rows of bookshelves arranged like tight rows of crops.
"Sinclair!"
My mouth opened to a toothy smile.
"I've found… Akiyoshi?"
The prince turned his head nonchalantly as he grabbed a blue novella from the floor. One of its corners was molded from a sharp edge to a dull curve. He pointed to the crown of his head.
"Do I appear to have curly hair? If so, have you thought about getting yourself a monocle from one of the civilian markets?"
He placed the book in its usual home, snug between green and red titles of varying thicknesses.
"Pardon me," I complained after my face reverted to a fairly normal state, overemphasizing every syllable, "but I don't make a fuss every time you can't find your *dear sister* in this castle."
"I don't have any reason to search for her these days when she's always with that quiet advisor." With a dismissive huff, he shrugged. "Well, on normal days when she's not zapped to some unknown place and is merely lost in the courtyard. However," he stated as he narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously, "I'm shocked you and the messenger aren't standing shoulder to shoulder exchanging glances right now."
Unamused with him, I scratched the nape of my neck. "I would certainly be just to annoy you if I could—you know—*find* them."
He took the subsequent silence as an indirect inquiry. "I have no hints to offer you if that's what you're trying to squeeze out of me."
"Helpful," I muttered, though I could tell he was still upset from a few days ago and bogged down by the anxiety of his sister and an administration member missing.
"Indeed. Ah, I do know one thing," he said off-handedly.
I tilted my head. "What's that?"
"I did see them this morning in my dad's chamber. I doubt they've left as it wasn't more than an hour or two ago—if that's any use to you."
My eyes lit up slightly. "No, no. That's very useful. It rules out me having to search the kingdom or waiting for who knows how long."
"Then, continue with that. I'd like to be able to read this imported novel… something anonymous about an assembled creature who was neglected by his human creator," he rambled on.
"Bookworm," I spat derisively. "I know you've been talking about that novel forever, so I'll leave you be. Thanks for the help."
Though I didn't wave, I held up a hand.
I flew off before he could utter another word to me, hearing the crashing sound of thin stories pounding against the ground in my wake. Eh, he would clean those up to keep his mind busy after he blasted through five books (at the minimum).
Even a vase made itself acquainted with the floor—shattering into countless pieces—as I raced across the castle.
I stopped several feet past the chips to hover in place. Where was I even planning to go? An aimless boat would be cast away by a storm, and I didn't want to become a pirate missing at sea.
The sound of another piece of porcelain breaking led to me snapping my fingers—snapping something in my head. I knew where to check for Sinclair next as a wicked grin adorned my face.