Luna and Umi left the room, determination evident in their steps. The castle's corridors were mostly empty as they made their way towards the cells, their footsteps echoing softly. Luna's mind was racing, trying to piece together the fragmented memories of the incident.
Upon reaching the cell area, they were stopped by two guards.
"Princess Luna," one of the guards said, bowing slightly. "You awake...?"
"Yes I am awake now and where is that knight?" She said firmly
"Who do you mean?" The first guard said curiously while the other guard nudged his shoulder "Is her personal knight idiot" he said quietly annoyed
"Oh that knight, who doesn't show any manners of a knight right?" He ask
"Yes It is"
"Can you two stop talking for a moment and obey the Princess order?" Umi said tiredly but still gave them a sharp stare at both of them
"Ah right okay okay, but let me ask you a question first-" before the first guard could say anything his friend covered his mouth "Are you dumb in asking back the princess Idiot!?" He replies
The Princess stands there really annoyed by them arguing "Are you two done? Stop wasting my time I want to see that knight" she said firmly "Now"
The guards exchanged glances but complied, leading them down to the cell where Light is held
***
As I wake up suddenly by some footsteps on the hallway to my cell I then get up from the bed stretching my body a bit as I wonder "hm... Maybe It's the guard that is going to give me food I suppose"
As I was wondering I heard someone pull out the key and open the door to my cell I then take a look back as I see the princess is standing there with the maid and the other two guards behind them
"You two can go now..." Luna speaks quietly to them order them to leave as she expected the two guards then leave without questioning
Umi spoke first "I thought you were dead by now Light!" She said in her cheeky tone like she did when I met her earlier but there is a hint of tiredness in her voice
I then stand up and look at Umi "I also think so..." I said calmly then Umi walked to me and punched in my arm playful "heh... You are still calm to say that heh~"
"Okay that's enough Umi let me have a private chat with Light" she said calmly
"Yes Princess!" She said as she went out the cell letting me and the princess alone
I then look at her "You have woken up huh...?"
"Yes I am what you think I would be unconscious for days huh!?" She said annoyed by my question
"Eh... Sorry I don't know what to ask..."
"Tch... You still like that don't you after everything happened?" She said firmly
"Um yes..."
"Okay then let's get straight to the point where I asked you, Are you the one make me unconscious?" She ask
"No" I said blankly and without hesitate
Luna looks at me closely and sees if there is a lie in my voice but she has a hard time knowing what I'm thinking right now
"When I first arrived at your room you were tied up and gagged by the guard which I don't know his name"
"We were having a fight until the leader Tsuji walked in and immediately the guard who I was fighting accusomed me for tying you up"
Luna nods at my explanation "Do you know who that's guard it?"
"No I don't know him" I replied "I don't know his face either"
Luna spoke annoyed "I know you would say that but can you describe him for me?"
"I don't know either"
Luna then gets annoyed more and looks at me in a threatening look "You have a memory issue when it comes to this kind of situation huh?"
I nod and look at her with my blank eyes she really annoys me now I should do something or else I will the one die here If she thinks I am the one who did this to her I take a long minute to think
Luna starts to get impatient I then speak to her "You can ask the king or the leader about that guard... He was brought along with me to the throne room so the king and the leader may know about him..."
Luna then looked at me clearly please after I said something useful to her "Okay thanks for your suggestions"
She then looks at the empty hallway "Guards!" After a few moments the two guards come back and look at the princess "Yes Princess?" They both speak in unison
"Lock this cell again"
Heh? I was thinking earlier that she would rescue me or something she just came here to ask the guards to open the door of my cell and ask me some questions then see the guard to lock me again
I was wondering if the guard had locked the door of my cell I then looked at Luna through the bars
"What didn't expect that?, You have to stay here I still don't believe you completely you know?" She with the two guards walking away leaving alone
"At least give me some food..." I said quietly without anyone hearing
***
Luna and the other two guard leads are back from the cell and Umi was waiting for her she then looked at Luna "So got any evidence?" Umi ask curious
Luna said "Yes we know described that he is not the one who does it to me"
"But he doesn't know his face clearly and his appearance so he asked me to ask the King or the leader Tsuji"
"Hmmmm" Umi takes a moment to know what she says before replies "So he is not the one who does it, but do you believe him?"
Luna looks at Umi eyes "Well I don't know yet... I don't know If he lied or not"
Umi quickly nods then says to her "Well we need to go to the throne room to meet your father now for Investigate"
"Right let's go there now" She said as she started walking to the throne room with Umi following close behind her
As she walks she wonders who that's guards It's guard and what's his intention If he were the one did It to her... Everything will be known after she asks her father about this
After that she walks to the throne room where the King and the Queen sitting at their throne are talking to a knight...? She then walks in and the Queen notices her first and stands up from her throne and runs toward her and hugs her close
"You wake up! You scared me to death" she said softly but there's a hint of happiness when she sees her daughter finally wake up
The King then looks from the guard to his daughter and smiles happily "Oh you wake up!" He said as he slowly walked to her daughter and hugged both of them close
After a few moments they break out from the hug and Luna looks up at both of them smiling before she speaks "Father do you anything about the guard that the leader Tusji brought him earlier with Light?"
He speaks softly "that guard? He has something and goes away now, why do you ask that"
"Because he is the one who tied me up!"
The King and Queen are shocked after hearing this but the King seems not to believe her while the Queen is believed to be her words
The King asks "Who told you this!?" He very curiously told this
"It's Light!" She speak firmly
The King's eyes are narrow as he hears the Light name He doesn't believe it because after what happened in the throne room earlier
"You really believe that's brat?" He said angrily
Luna feels a bit trembling by her father's sudden change of tone She stays silent a moment before speaking again "Y-yes!"
The King shake his head showing a bit disappointed by her daughter's word The Queen then looks at her then back at the King Not wanting to say anything
The King took a deep breath, clearly trying to maintain his composure. "Luna, I understand you want to find the truth, but Light has shown himself to be untrustworthy. His words cannot be taken at face value."Luna, undeterred, replied,
"Father, I know it's difficult to believe, but we need to investigate every possibility. We can't afford to overlook any details. Light mentioned could hold the key to understanding what really happened"
The Queen, sensing the tension, gently placed a hand on the King's arm
"Dear, perhaps we should at least follow this lead. If Luna believes it's worth investigating, we owe her that much."
The King looked between Luna and the Queen, his resolve wavering "Very well" he finally said "But I will not let Light go free without concrete evidence"
"But before that I would like to introduce you to the new knight to replace the Light"
"Huh!? What?" Luna said as she was very surprised to have another knight to replace Light
The knight was standing behind the King and he moved aside for Luna take a good look it's the knight they was talking earlier he wear a amour and has a blonde hair carry two sword behind him "Greetings my lady~" his voice is smooth and confident with a small bow
"This is Sir Alaric a highly skilled knight and he will be your new protector from now"
Luna is still surprised but recover and look at him "Father why you replace Light so quickly!?"
"Well because his actions still have not been revealed yet and he will be in the cell long so I have to replace him with this knight" he said calmly
Luna then glanced at Alaric "Okay ... It's an honour to meet you Sir Alaric I hope we will get along well"
Alaric then nods quickly "I'm sure we will get along well my lady~" said confidently
The King then says "By the way, Tsuji is in his training ground If you want to meet him, he's there"
"Yes father!" She said as she turned around leaving with Alaric follow beside her while her maid Umi walked behind them
During their walk Luna couldn't shake the sudden replacement of Light, she then look at Alaric a moment see his confidence and respectful like a true knight not like Light who has black face and emotionless and he a bit forgot how to respect other But she didn't hate him actually...
As they walk she then wonders should she go out to see the outside world again? After what happened in the past or should she stay inside the castle and tell Alaric to bring Tsuji here...
She stop and look at the window and notice it's about to sundown Alaric then turn back and look at her "Is there something wrong~? My lady?" He said cheerful
"No I'm fine just wonder something" she then sigh a bit before the she notice Tsuji is walking on their way
Tsuji notice and walk to them and greet Luna first "Well greetings Princess" he bow toward him as she smile to him
He then turn his glance toward Alaric and take a quick look at him "And who may you be?" He ask curiously
"Heh~ I am Alaric a skillful knight that in charge of protecting my lady Luna~" he said confidently at one of the skilled leader in the kingdom
"Shortly you are her new personal knight right?"
"Yes~"
His eyes narrow a bit "Well so why he your new knight Princess?" He said
"Uhh because my father replace Light with him to be my personal knight" she said softly "and so uhh" she struggling to find the right to say somehow?
Umi then walk closer to her from behind and her lips on Luna's left ear and whispers to her "Ask about that guard that he was encounter along with Light"
Luna surprised a bit by her actions but recover and look at Tsuji directly "So the thing I want to ask that do you know that guard you encounter along with Light?"
"That guard" he put his hand on his chin stroking trying to remember "Oh I remember him what do you need from him tho?" He ask curiously
She sigh and replies "Well the things It's Light said that he the criminal in this situation"
"It's that so do you have any clues?"
"No I don't have but I want you to bring him here for me can you do it for me?
He thinks a bit before answer her order "Yes princess, I will bring him tomorrow morning!" He said confidently
"Exactlent I will wait for your good news!" She said then Tsuji bow to her before greet her and leave
"He looks confidence right?" Umi said softly to Luna
"Yes he is" She then turn to walk away before saying "Umi you can go rest now" Umi nods as she head away Alari and Luna walk in the hallway heading back to her room because It's now late night
After few moments Luna is standing in front of her room while Alari is behind her she then speak "You can go now don't worry about me" she said softly
"No I wouldn't do that If I were you after you got tied in a chair once" he said concerns about her
Luna smiles as his concern "It's alright you can go now I will be fine I promise..." She said as she walk in her room and closed down the door and locked her inside again
She then lays on the bed wanting to take a nap she look around her room there is a bowl of food on the table near her It's would likely her mother who bring it here for her in case she don't want to eat dinner
She then get up from the bed and look at the bowl of food it's still hot as she look at it, it is her favourite food miso soup, she look at the miso soup feels hungry immediately as she starts at the bowl before starting to eat it, she eats the tofu slowly to enjoy the taste of it after that she starts drinking the whole bowl she put down the bowl feeling full now
She then take tissue that's was put near the bowl and start wipe her lips after that she then put the tissue there and lays back down on the bed as she look out the balcony from her bed the stars start to appear in the sky make a glorious scene but she slowly closed her eyes and drip to sleeping peacefully
***
Meanwhile... In the cell I then wake up suddenly by footsteps again I wonder why these times there are still people walking to the cell here? While I am the only one in here as I rub my eyes I hear a voice
"Here is your food"
As I stopped rubbing my eyes my vision blurred a bit before it stopped I looked down at the person and placed the disk under the bars of my cell I then looked up at the person looking at me
"Oh uh... The leader" I said
"It's Tsuji idiot how are you forgetting my name huh?" He said annoyed
"Um sorry my bad" I said as I take the dish is a dish of white rice and a delicious steak on it based on the smell I feel I then take spoon of the rice and taste it, It's delicious then I try cutting the steak using a fork and a spoon
As I do it Tsuji then sits down and looks at me with curious eyes "Hey I know this is a bit sudden but are you telling the truth?" He ask
As I was trying to slice the steak I then said "What truth?"
"About you not the criminal"
"I am but no one believes me including you, you know?" As I speak I finally cut a piece of steak and put it into my mouth using the folk
"I know"
I chew the steak until I swallow it then I speak "but why did you ask that?" I then put another steak in my mouth
"Because Princess Luna seems to be believing you saying the truth" he said firmly
I then stop before putting a spoon of rice in my mouth "Is that so and what's she doing right now" I then back eating again
"She ordered me to bring Henry to the throne room for more explanation after she had woken up"
"Who's Henry" I said blankly but there is a hint of curiosity in my tone
Tsuji then gets annoyed again when he has a serious conversation with me but ends up by me asking the name "He is the guard you were seen"
"Oh that guy now I know his name..." I said as I was slicing the piece of steak
"Well that's what she said to me but there is something I would like to tell you"
"What?"
"You got replaced by another knight" he said firmly
I stopped eating "It's so... To be honest I wouldn't be surprised because now I am in the cell while she doesn't have anyone to protect" as I complete my answers I am back to eating
"Yeah, well, it's not like The King had much of a choice," he said quietly. "After what happened, trust is... hard to come by."
"What do you mean?" As I looked up from my meal
"People need to feel safe, and right now, having a knight in prison doesn't exactly inspire confidence," he explained, his tone hinting at frustration.I nodded slowly, absorbing his words.
"Yeah, well, that's what Princess Luna seems to believe. I think..."
I finished my meal before looking at him "Tsuji... Do you believe me?" I speak calmly waiting for his answer
Tsuji doesn't answer immediately "After what has happened during the day I don't, and right now I still don't believe you" he says as he stands picking up my empty dish "We have to wait for the Princess decisions, but if you are the criminal I won't hesitate to end you..." He said before he walked away
After that's conversation I start to wondering what will happen to me when tomorrow coming will I see the light of sun or I will death but when I wonder I remember one thing forgot to ask Tsuji
"It's thirsty without water after eating the bowl of rice" I said quietly before laying on the bed dripping to sleep waiting for tomorrow to begin...
As the next day arrives I then wake up and don't know what time It is now as I am wondering about the time but I start hearing footsteps coming towards my cell, I then look through the metal bars and see the two guards that I met yesterday walking toward my cell
They stood there looking at me the calm one then spoke first while the other was unlocking my cell
"You will have to go with us to the throne room as the king ordered..."
"Is that so?" I said not surprised because I know this will be coming soon or later
The other then open my cell and I walk out the cell the calm one speaks first "Turn around..."
I hesitated a bit before turning around then they tied my hands from behind preventing me from doing anything
They then start leading me out of the cells area going upstairs to the hallway I look at the way and I think that's I haven't walked on this hallway for a long time but it's just yesterday
As we walk on the hallway to the throne room , I then look out the window and see the sky I think that's about 7 or 8 am by now I start curious then I ask the guards "What time is it?" I said calmly
The calm then spoke first "It's now 10AM now..."
"Oh um thanks..."
Wow I thought it would be 7-8AM but now it's 10AM I slept that long? And I don't have breakfast... My stomach grumbles a bit I hope after this I will have time to eat...
As the time I wonder we finally reach to the throne room the two guards hold me and lead me to the room I then see various guards standing side by side and I see Luna is sitting at her throne also with her new person knight I then see the guard named Henry is knees there in front of The King and The Queen, and Princess
The other guard released me as the calm one standing next to me in case I do something stupid
The King then looks at me first with a serious face he then orders "Knees down Light..."
I start kneeling both legs the blonde personal guard standing next to Luna looks at me closely like if he knows something about me
As I kneel down the tense of the room start heating up the King then speak "Do you anything to speak Henry?" He ask Henry is kneeling beside me
"U-um my majesty... I swear that knight was the one do it not me I swear" He speak fearfully his tone almost the same as the tone he speak in our previous time here
"What about you Light? Do you have anything to say?" The King ask me in his cold tone
I hesitate a bit before speak to the King with my calm tone "I don't have anything to say because once I said you won't believe me after all" I said as I narrow my eyes look down at the floor
Luna look at me with worried look "Light..."
"See even him not believe his words even make you trust him! So the King is him the one who did it!"
Tsuji in the corner yells at him "Silent you can't say without the King order!" He narrowed his eyes while looking at him
Henry then stay silent, the Queen then speak "Light at least tell us what do you have in mind and we may consider it..." She said softly
After hearing the Queen the calm guard then speak to me "Rise your head up the Queen is order you now"
After I hear him I rise my head toward them and look at them a moment before I speak in my calm tone "What happens If I not telling you?"
"Then you will be the criminal..." The Queen speak
"And we will execute you afterwards" The King speak
I know that's my life is on the line If I not speak I will end up die but... I always wonder how I would die in my life but this may be the last moment I then speak up
"Well... Let's say I am innocent but why do you believe a worthless guard is knees beside words than mine huh?"
While I speak my first sentence the guard stand beside me is about to stopped me but the King make a sign for him to stop and let me continue
"Oh right... You always thought about that previous knight that's harm your daughter huh? So you think I would like that right?"
I start hear whispering in the room from other guards
"How did he know that?"
"He just a new knight why he know this secret??"
They clearly surprise by my knowledge even Luna drop her mouth a bit while her personal guard is looking closely
"Well then why you choose another knight for your daughter huh? You don't scare about your daughter will fall into that's kind of situation again?"
"And look you even replace me with that's blonde knight huh?"
I then stay silent a moment notice everyone surprise by my words no one there to speak but then The King then stand up from his throne and look at me before speak calmly
"Well you sure show no manners toward me in this death or alive place but I have to admit your bravery..."
But before I was about to speak my words Henry then stand up looking down at the floor before addressing the King, his voice trembling
"Your Majesty, he's lying! He's trying to confuse everyone with his words I saw him do it with my own eyes!" Henry protested, his voice quaking with fear and desperation.
The King raised his hand silencing the room. He looked at Henry with a stern expression.
"We will find the truth Both of you will have a chance to speak your mind"
Luna still seated on the throne look at her father before look back at me "Father, May I speak?"
The King nodded let her to continue "I know one of the two of them is the criminal but I believe Light is innocence because he don't have any intention to that's kind of things to me"
"And for the guard I don't ever met him or interact with him before but... I remember one thing before I become unconscious that's I saw his sadistic face not that blank face of Light"
The King and The Queen nods before Luna speak again "So If Light were the criminal he would not be here to excuse himself not the criminal"
I look at Luna with my usual blank face after she finish her speak everyone in room silence a moment before the King speak "but that's doesn't show that's Light isn't the criminal-"
The moment he speak Henry then burst out in anger as he pull out the daggers and dash toward Luna before he could touch her Alari pull out his sword and block it easily "No touching my lady without her allowance ~" he then knock the two daggers Henry was holding
The Queen then orders "Guards arrest him now!" As she speak five guards surround him and hold him in place prevent him from doing anything
"Well now we know who is the criminal huh?" He speak calmly "Put him to cells now" as he ordered the guards then lead him out the throne room Henry turn back to glance at the Princess saying "You will have to pay..." In cold tone before leaving the room with others guards
The King then look back at me seeming pleased "I'm sorry Light for not trusting you... You will be free now" as he raise his hand order the calm guard next to me untie my hands after couple of second my hand finally free
I then look at the King as I stand up "Thanks for not executing me..." I said calmly I bow a bit not knowing how to show I'm a knight tho
Luna and The Queen chuckle as my usual behavior The King then speak "Well then... Because you got replace now I don't think you will be back at Luna's personal knight I know you replace me with that blonde dude..." I glance at Alari
"Hey~ I have a name you poker-face!" He said playfully "My namd is Alari, you can call me Sir Alari~!"
"Yeah I won't call you that" Alari then gets frustrated
Luna then look at her father "So what will Light do now father?"
The King take a moment to think "I think he will be in the guards? I guess so... What do you say Light?"
I stay silent a moment before I replies "Sure I guess..."
"Great!" The King say quiet happily about my answer
Afterwards I am outside the castle eating a bread that's I bought from a stall near the castle looking at the river from the bridge it's now afternoon as I am eating Umi then walk to me from behind and taps on my shoulder
"Isn't that Personal Knight, Light~ who got demotion to a guard~" she said as she laugh softly
"What's funny about it? I said calmly
"Well duh you got replaced during yesterday and now you demotion to become a guard~ that's the funny part!" She said cheekyly
I continue eating my bread ignore her
"Hey don't ignore this maid" She said as she nudge me
"You were pretty bold back there when you debate with the King there!
"But I am clad that's you weren't the criminal and I believe you wouldn't because I don't see you have any intention in doing such a things to our Princess~"
"Well thanks for believe me I suppose"
"Oh I have time for Princess dinner I will go now I will seee you tomorrow in your guard armor ~" She said giggling before walking away
I looked down at the river then the sun was setting I then said quietly to myself "Well prepare for my first again as a guard"