A Princes Confession - 43 |
Kap 43 Shou
”Oh, stop moping around, child.” Amara said, with a sigh.
“I’m not” Shou replied. He felt the age difference between him and Amara grow now, he was a child and she an adult. He hated that.
“Your mood dropped as soon as she left the room with Lord Rias”
“Hmph, what lord?” his head sunk in his hands.
“Both of you, keep your mouths shut” Duran said, between gritted teeth. “Disgraceful” he mumbled.
Amara bit her tongue and did what he said. Amara is a bitch, after all that she done in the past, but there is still one fine thread that is keeping Shou from hating her fully. The thin thread was his respect for her. She had a lot to endure back then, with Duran.
“Lord Shou” the King said.
In a matter of seconds, Shou was on one of his knees, in front of the entire royal family. “Yes, Your Majesty?”
“It displeases me to hear about your mother recently. You have my condolences.”
Shou shook his head, “It honors me that you keep her in your thoughts” Shou said, as calmly as he was taught to speak.
“Please drop the formalities. You see, your mother and father were my best friends, in the good old days.” He chuckled.
Shou allowed himself to look up at the King, and saw how that wrinkled man’s eyes – how it was looking far away from this time. He was reminiscing about his childhood. Shou’s father had told him once about the King, it does not surprise Shou that their family were allowed to sit next to the King and the rest.
His father laughed, “Aye, we were”
The King gave him a faint scowl, “We are and will always be”
“Alyster, times have changed, we have changed. You are a King. You do not need friends, but followers. And I am yours”
“I need all the friends, especially my closest one”
The look both his father and the King gave each other, it reminded him of the friendship with Liam.
Shou moved out of the way when the King stood up from the chair. As soon as he was standing, the chattering, laughing and dancing ended.
“I must thank you all for attending this wonderful and important wedding. I am afraid that I must say it is late now. Everyone can, of course stay if they like, but they have the permission to leave as well. As you all know, tomorrow is the coronation and farewell of the Prince and Princess. The schedule of that day is in all of your rooms. Please take a good look at it. Thank you yet again, and have a good night” the King said and left with his royal guards.
Shou stayed with the rest until the king-and queen-to-be left. Before Amara was leaving, she shook Shou’s hand and he felt a piece of paper in his hand. She winked and left.
After a stride, when Shou saw nobody in sight, he looked at the paper. There was a number written on it and underneath it was written:
810
Lady Ayaka’s room number, with much love
-Amara.
Shou threw the paper away. He didn’t need that, he didn’t need to know that. What was that wench thinking about? Why would he go to her room, to see her? She was ignoring him!
His room was of the opposite and suddenly he found himself changing his course. There is nothing wrong with asking about her wellbeing right? He does, after all, have the right to ask about her and her stupid attitude today. Shou nodded, yes that is what I’ll do.
He saw the golden numbers burned in the door. He placed his fingers gently on the door and couldn’t move. It’s improper for a man to enter a woman’s room, Shou thought and turned around. But she’s not a woman, she’s a barbarian, Shou counter-thought and turned around yet again. If she’s a barbarian, then why is my heart beating? Shou stood still. Of course it’s not because of her, it’s because of how bored I was. I mean, I wasn’t moving at all so it makes sense that the heart would beat faster when-you-move-after-not-being-able-to-move- GAH what the hell am I doing!?
Shou was scratching his hair like crazy.
“Oh, Lord Shou” someone said, “What a pleasant surprise”
“Huh? Who are you-“ Shou caught himself as he saw that stupid pig come out of nowhere.
“Allow me to present myself, m’lord. I am Rias from House Tals”
House Tals, he’s heard about them. They own one of the biggest salt production, and they were in great value of many people. So he wasn’t a nobody, after all.
“Pleasure to meet you” Shou replied dully, with no emotions at all. Even Rias could figure out it wasn’t a pleasure at all.
“If it doesn’t upset you, may I ask why you are standing in front of Lady Ayaka’s door?”
Shou smiled at him, “And if it doesn’t upset you, my lord, why are you standing here?”
Rias shot the same smile back at him, “Why, I was on my way to my room and I stumbled upon such a graceful being as you. Pardon me”
Heh, he’s good, Shou thought and felt he was being a much bigger threat. He didn’t like the way the man smelled nor acted. He is too swift, not even Shou had noticed him standing there.
“You told me your reason, I guess I should tell you mine then. I was also on my way to my room, but you stopped me halfway” he lied.
“Oh my! Please accept my apologizes. Good night, m’lord” he said and went past him.
The moment Rias went past Shou, he made sure they bumped each other. To catch Rias from falling, one of his hands took hold of his shoulder and the other his wrist. “Are you alright?” Shou asked, steadying him.
“Ah yes. I’m sorry, I might have had a lot to drink” he said, apologetically.
“It’s alright” Shou said and left.
As Shou went past the corridor and turned to the left, he waited until he heard a door open and closed. That man had no pulse, there are vampires leeching the royal palace, Shou thought. All of his doubts about the man and his smell had vanished like thin air.
Amara, Duran and father can fend for themselves. He thought and went back to her door.
He placed a gentle hand on her door and looked at it, I’ll protect you.
The whole night he sat outside, listening, analyzing every sound of the room. The more he listened, the more he could hear her breathing, she was asleep. Shou’s arm was resting on one of his legs which was curled up. He rested his head on the wall and closed his eyes, placing all his attention towards the sound and smell.
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