Miyuki and Leonidas sat in a carriage being pulled by large reptiles. "Damn, some of these street vendors are scamming people with prices like this." Miyuki pointed to an applemelon stand that had a sign. The sign had "300 Yon per melon" written in it. "Also, what is yon? Is it yen?" He questioned while staring out of the carriage window. "What's yen? Doesn't matter at the moment, we just need to get to the town center. Miyuki, you don't get scared infront of crowds easily, do you? Because most of the kingdom will show, and you're going to give a speech on behalf of Princess Evelyn."
"Fuck!" Miyuki exclaimed loudly, startling nearby pedestrians. "Do you kiss your mother with that mouth!?" A demi-woman shouted, covering her child's ears. "Oh, sorry." Miyuki apologized and quickly turned back to Leonidas.
Whispering loudly, "Dude, I've been in a bed for two weeks, you could have told me sooner." "Sorry about that, I had to run it by the people holding the election, and they only gave you the 'go' earlier today."
Miyuki was understanding, but now he had very little time to think of a persuasive speech for the rally.
*****
They finally arrived to the town center, the crowd around them was colossal in size. Miyuki was beyond nervous, knowing he has to talk infront of all these citizens. But once members of the crowd saw the heir of the Archer family, Leonidas, the people parted to make way. As the two steped from the carriage, Leonidas turned to Miyuki after waving to the crowd.
"It's okay Miyuki, you can calm your nerves, the people will listen to you with an open mind. If you tell them that you're filling in for Princess Evelyn as she recovers, they'll understand, hell, be relieved." Even after reassuring Miyuki, his nerves still hang over him.
***
Miyuki and Leonidas got closer to the large stage that held numerous people, presumably of the 3 families participating.
"Who is that behind Sir Leonidas?"
"Is that the kid who attacked Mr. Josephine?"
People around the two in the crowd started speaking about Miyuki, which made him even more nervous than before.
Miyuki got to the stage's steps and saw large banners, representing each family with a logo on a banner and their house name.
The Valis family had a red banner with yellow and orange accents, with a dragon on a shield symbol. Miyuki quietly asked, "Why is the Valis logo a dragon? Are dragons real!?" Miyuki got excited.
"There's about 3 reasons, 2 being a rumor. The first is that Lord Valis can fly, which I'd true, as myself and the people have seen it countless times. The first rumor suggests that he stole the mana of his pet dragon, and that is why he can fly. And finally the second rumor suggests that the first is a lie, and that his dragon is still alive and hibernates under the castle. Though I have never seen her."
This world just kept getting weirder and weirder. "Well, that's kinda cool." Miyuki shrugged. He then noticed that no one was underneath the Valis banner. "Her mother and father are gone, now she's in a coma, it's really up to me now"
The Leonidas family had a white banner of a blue bird, with a sword behind it, facing blade down.
The Eloise family had a grey banner with a orange snow monkey on it. "A Japanese macaque! The national animal! He really has been iseaki'd!" Miyuki felt glad there truly was someone else in this world who he truly knows how it feels to not be from Valis.
The Pratt family had a green banner with a yellow lion-looking animal on it. "What animal is that?" Miyuki asked Leonidas. "It's a maned-panther. It's a very large feline." A maned-panther????
Miyuki kept walking on stage, he looked around at all the people. "Wow, this really is the whole kingdom." He glanced over and noticed another banner on stage. With a name he dreaded.
A name he could never forget, even if he deathly wanted to.
Josephine. A blue banner with a purple gecko on it.
Miyuki started shaking and hyperventilating. "No. No. No." He repeated. "Why are…why are they here?" He could feel his heart beat out of his chest, his breaths getting shorter.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry, I had no knowledge that the Josephine family would be participating." Leonidas looked almost as shocked as Miyuki. He then spotted someone. A man who was casually talking with his family, as if he hadn't almost killed the princess two weeks prior.
A man who Miyuki hated more than himself.
Isaiah Josephine.
Miyuki collapsed onto his knees. Fear and dread filled the expression in his eyes. Leonidas saw him fall and looked his way. He noticed the terror on his face and glanced towards where Miyuki was looking. "Oh no. Why is he here? Did he get bailed out? What the fuck." Leonidas stood there in disbelief.
Leonidas quickly kneeled down to comfort the shaking Miyuki. "Miyuki, it's okay, the people will know what he did, you can tell them. I will help you if you want me to."
Miyuki couldn't hear him, as he sat there, his mind filled with the pain and trauma he faced that night. "Why… Why… Why…"
"Miyuki, you have to calm yourself, it'll be okay. Princess Evelyn is okay. You can calm yourself, he'll probably make a public apology."
"I'm, gonna kill him." Miyuki uttered. "If he tries anything, I will cleave open his skull." Leonidas was taken aback and slightly frightened by his words. "Miyuki, you can't, you'll be imprisoned. Just make it through this rally, you will be okay." Leonidas continued to comfort him, then he embraced Miyuki with a hug.
"It's okay Miyuki. You can do it. Do it for Princess Evelyn."
Evelyn.
That's why Miyuki is here right now. For Evelyn.
"You're right."
"You're right."
"I can do it."
"Thank you Leonidas." Miyuki stood up, Leonidas followed after. He brushed himself off, he stared at Isaiah.
"I can kill you the next time I see you, but I have a speech to give." Miyuki thought quietly to himself.
"I can do it."
"For Evelyn."