"You called for me Lady Kieri?" I pondered as I met her right outside the castle, a small smile played at her lips as she saw me, her eyes narrowing with a glint of warmth.
"Yes, yes I have" She spoke in her regal tone that I knew all too well by now was fake, but looking at her even now, she was elegant and poised, a far cry from the girl I had once met that night…
"You shall accompany me today," she commanded softly, leaving no room for argument as she already started to walk ahead,
"Accompany you–" I muttered in confusion at her out of nowhere request, before rushing to catch up with her.
"Yes, I have to buy a present to celebrate the birth of my baby brother," The princess affirmed, her stride unbroken and her head straight ahead, not looking back.
Oh right, her brother was born today, young lord Souta, future heir to the Aokaze throne.
"I see…" I hummed, looking to the blue sky that stretched overhead as we made our way to the city near the castle, hearing a soft hum coming from the mouth of the princess.
"Truthfully I'm glad," She spoke out of nowhere, grabbing my attention once more.
"Why's that?" I pondered, watching as she stopped and turned to me with a beautiful smile that almost left me shellshocked. She rested properly in front of her as she spoke.
"Well it means I wouldn't be forced to marry," She giggled, her hand raising up to her face as she cupped her flushed rosy cheeks, her black hair swaying behind her as she thought of how nice it would be to choose the one she wed, before looking at me with a sideways glance.
"I guess you could say the Young lord was a blessing to us all then," A said giving her a soft smile as she returned it with a bolder one.
"I also heard from my father that you will be holding off on wars for the time being…correct?" She probed, watching me intently for my answer.
"Well I mean… yeah but—" I muttered, I already planned on using that time to train or something…
"Good, then you shall accompany me until then," She stated, leaving no room for refusal, prancing ahead before I can even refuse or protest.
"H-hold on a second–" I walked up after her, hoping to change her mind but she shot it down immediately.
"Oh no you don't" Lady Kieri interrupted, turning to me with her hands planted firmly on her hips. And her face scrunched up in an unprincessy pout.
"You skipped out on our outing last time but never again!" She drove her finger into my chest as she spoke.
"I've already given you my apologies, it was so sudden I had to go," I argued, my hand raised lightly as though that would help her see my point but she remained stubborn, her arms crossed as she continued to glare at me through her pouting face.
"You had a choice and you picked your poison!" She muttered, turning away from me with a huff. "I'll have you know many warriors would be honored to accompany yours truly!"
"I rather keep the nation safe than accompany a bratty royal like you," I muttered with a soft groan, watching as her hands fell to her side and a dramatic gasp escaped her lips.
"Excuse me?! I'll have your head for that!" She fwiped around, the two of us glaring at each other now.
A few silent moments pass, the grass dancing in the wind around us before we both burst into joyous laughter, clutching at our sides. Kieri wiped the tears from her eyes, looking up at me with a goofy smile I know way too well.
"Idiot…" She muttered before straightening her posture,
"Like you're one to talk," I went to playfully shove her but stopped myself mid way, her eyes widened softly at the action softening as I rested it by my side, walking ahead and not saying much more.
The day went by as we searched for what could possibly be a good gift for the lord, her eyes scanning the wooden stores and stalls as the commoners watched her in awe as she walked past, admiring how put together she was, admiring how composed she was…
But that's not her at all—
Ricecakes filled the air along with the drifting incense from a shrine that lingered by. The sound of countless feet tapping against the cobblestone roads adorned in soft flower petals filled the air, though it all couldn't hold a candle to her soft, gentle voice.
"Fushiguro-san," She called out to me, her hand holding what seemed to be a flower made of gold shards that formed its petals. "What do you think of this?"
"A bit sharp for a newborn, isn't it my lady?" I pondered, watching as she held it close to her heart with a soft smile.
"I know, but when he grows up, I think it'll look great on him, he's going to be beautiful I know it…"
"I'll be the best older sister I can be, for the boy that saved me…" Her fingers lightly traced the petals watching as it glimmered in the morning sun.
"That'll be three Ryo," The shopkeeper announced as I counted the funds we had and gave it to him, watching as Keiri raises the flower to her head.
"You're not planning on trying on the young lord's gift, are you?" I pondered, a level of playfulness lingered within my voice as I watched her jump from the sudden break in her intentions.
"N-no not at all," She huffed, turning away to leave while still keeping her regal composure, "I was just making sure it's real is all, this city is known for scammers."
The shopkeeper jumped at the accusation, not because it was him but because she thought he would dare to even do such a thing.
"Thank you for having us," I said to the shopkeeper before following, watching as her strides begun to seem larger than normal.
"You oka—"
"Fushiguro-san!" She said slightly louder than normal, her gaze turning to me with a determined look over her blue eyes.
"Don't you ever feel weird?" She questioned, her eyes furrowed with confusion at my seemingly relaxed demeanor.
"Weird?" I questioned, confused by her question.
"Yeah…being a tool— something for the nation to use at a whim." Her hands drift to play with the fabric of her kimono, eyes softening with concern and something else I couldn't quite tell.
"I can't say it didn't bother me…but—" I murmured, scratching the back of my head.
"But?" She urged.
"I feel like I have a debt I must repay," I announced softly with a determined look, watching as she looked away and started to walk once more.
"Oh please you owe no one anything—" She muttered, her voice almost low.
"But I do!"
"..."
"I do…"
"Especially you, I owe you the world, Lady Kieri" There was a soft silence between the both of us, though there was something I couldn't make out, no, rather a sentence she said that I could hardly make out.
"That's not what I want…don't you see—" Though it was so soft, so small, so silent, i didn't press on it, i could only watch in concern.