The morning sunlight peeked through the open window, casting a bright, and blinding rays upon her pale face. Chiyo's eyes fluttered open. Her head throbbed, and she instinctively reached for her neck, fingers brushing against a tender spot.
'Where am I?' The room was unfamiliar, it walls rough-hewn and cold.
She squinted her eyes, trying to remember what had happened to her, then the memory slammed into her like a battering ram; she remembered being at the greenhouse, the king and queen was there, secretly mocking her with their eyes. The assassins intruded over the place. Flung away — Hachiro came. Her mind raced as bits of memories came to her mind, filling up the puzzles that connect the schemes.
Yes. She remembers now. Hachiro's sudden attack had sent her into darkness, leaving her vulnerable and disoriented.
The blanket slipped from her body as she stood up, her anger simmering. What game was Hachiro playing? Is he a foe or an ally? Anger fueled her steps as she crossed the room and pushed the door open.
Beyond lay a vast expanse — a warehouse, its cavernouse space filled with crates, and shadows, and death. The air smelled of damp wood and old blood. Chiyo's gaze swept the room, and her heart clenched. Two figures sat in the corner, their presence unmistakable: The duo — the black-haired executioner, and the crimson killer.
Did they succeeded with their mission? Is the king dead?
The assassins glanced up at her. Their eyes were like shards of ice— silent, cold and deadly, assessing her every movement. Chiyo did not back down either, she matched their stares — ice and fire, both challenging. A minute passed and the two went back to their hushed conversation as if nothing happened. Smirking, she walked ahead, wanting to get out, but she could still sense their attention remained fixed on her — watching... following. Her skin prickled; inside the warehouse, she was an intruder, a lone rabbit — a prey. Her hand fumbled around her kimono, searching for a weapon. But the dagger was gone, she was left defenseless.
And then, Hachiro stepped into the room. His blond hair fell across his forehead, and he wore a casual smile that did not reach his eyes. The same eyes that had watched her body fall on the snow as she fainted.
"Chiyo," he said, as if they were old friends meeting for tea. "You're awake."
She clenched her fist, the anger boiling over. "Why am I here?"
"You fainted and I brought you here." Answered by Hachiro, his voice as smooth as silk. He sat up on the wooden crate, his hands steepled — gaze never leaving her.
"Thanks to what you did. Do you think I'm dumb?" Her eyes darted around the room — preparing — looking for any weapon she could wield to protect herself. "Who really are you, Hachiro?" She demanded.
Hachiro leaned forward, his gaze deepening. "No need to worry about me. I am not planning to hurt you. The king's death is my goal."
"Do you wish to take the throne?"
"No." He rose, and Chiyo instinctively took a step back. "I wish for you to claim the throne, Princess."
Her heart thumped in fear. He knows who she is, but she doesn't know his. "I need to leave. Kaito's waiting for me." She said, her voice steady.
She walked past him, but his next words halted her.
"Kaito? He already left."
Chiyo spun around. She faced Hachiro, panic clawning at her. Her eyebrows drew together — asking.
"They left last night to kill the Vogarax."
She almost forgot. She was supposed to be back before sunset, but what concerns her is that he did not look for her. However, her trust for him is not something that easily break. Something must had happened.
"Then why are you still here?" She asked.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the two assassins move silently. They strolled around the warehouse, only stopping in front of the door — guarding the only exit. The warehouse seemed to close in, and her gaze turned colder. They are not planning to let her leave.
She was trapped.
"Elric begged to switch with me." Hachiro's smile widened, revealing a glint of steel. "But you know what I found out weeks ago? Elric has been raising an army of Oni. Treason... that's what he's aiming for."
"And you joined him?" She said, raising an eyebrow.
"As if."
"You know he has become a traitor, yet you switched with him?"
"It wasn't part of my plan as well, but it was perfect timing. Why do you think he switched with me if he's planning treason?" Hachiro stepped forward, closing on her. "The cadre. Whoever wants to steal the throne must defeat the cadre first — the guardians, and who is the strongest amongst us? The commander."
"What are you implying?"
"Elric took that as an opportunity to kill the commander, leaving the path open for his coup. That's what I mean."
"Yet you switched with him." Chiyo repeated, her voice laced with danger. "You denied that you are cooperating with him, but here you are... holding me hostage."
She squared her shoulders, meeting Hachiro's gaze. Her eyes burned like wildfire, fueled by a tempest of emotions.
Kaito is her bottomline.
"I have a different goal. For you to claim the throne as destined, Kaito must die." Hachiro shrugged his shoulder, and her anger surged. "Stay here for a while and wait for the game to end."
Chiyo's lip tugged up in fury, revealing a cunning smile. One thing was certain: She would not be a pawn.
"Don't think for a moment that I won't fight back." She warned, eyes glinting with unknown darkness.
Kaito has always been there to calm her madness — he anchored her sanity, but now, no one's there to control it and it's been so long since she unleashed her bloodlust. Chiyo prepared to play her hand. He wants her to be a queen? To claim the stolen crown?
Fine.
She will not be a pawn, but a queen in a deadly game of thrones.