Chapter 8. The curse of having to see her at least once a day
****
"Brother. It's me. I was going to surprise you...."
The person who appeared smiling was unexpectedly one of his twin brothers. The one born five minutes earlier.
Kalos's eyes widened slowly.
"I... I must have done something wrong."
Rute’s expression didn't seem to be his usual self, and he quickly turned to him with a serious face that had lost its playfulness.
"Rute. You're back today."
Kal os's tone was his usual self again, welcoming Rute back after months of wandering. After a moment's awkwardness, Rute settled back into his normal demeanor and smiled his trademark wry smile.
"I just got here, and I ran all the way here because I wanted to see my brother."
In private, Rute would call Kalos "brother" and be gentle with him. Of course, Kalos had given him permission.
"Brother just looked so disappointed, I was worried that something was wrong."
Perhaps he was disappointed that he wasn't the one who was going to scold him. He actually welcomed Rute now more than ever because of that woman.
She's not worth your time, I’m just a little sensitive because I didn't get enough sleep.
Howllll….
Then they heard Lamu's cries again.
"What's wrong with her?"
Rute, standing beside him, began to walk with him out of the stable.
"I know. That's why I'm worried."
"No wonder my brother can't sleep anymore."
Rute also began to worry about the snow that was still falling. He agreed with Kalos that something must be wrong.
"I've got some good liquor, a hard-earned and precious one. They say it's good for insomnia."
Everyone who cared about Kalos was concerned about his insomnia. Rute’s words brought a rare smile to his face.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. The country is at peace when you sleep well."
Conversations with Rute were always lighthearted. It was the opposite of his twin brother, Roman. What a relief to have one at ease.
"Good. Did you enjoy your trip?"
"Yes. I'm playing an important role in this traveling troupe......."
Rute, a free spirit, was the younger brother who lived for the fun of following the traveling troupe around and seeing where they went without revealing their identity. Of course, Kalos allowed it, but he thought it was better for Rute, with his quick temper and mood swings.
Rute knew it. Roman, who was born five minutes after Kalos and him, had secretly given him a bodyguard, but even if you were royalty, you couldn't travel alone, no matter how well-meaning.
Rute didn't hate the knights who secretly escorted him. On the contrary, it was nice to be able to wander in peace, but the two men had very different goals.
Whereas Kalos had retained the knights for his own safety, Roman's was more for the purpose of surveillance, to know everything that was going on. Rute may have been a foolish prince, a castle-abandoned prince, but he was not beyond the pale.
"I was supposed to pick on bad lords...."
Kalos walked alongside him, relaxing as Rute continued to ramble.
***
Night was falling. Now, thanks to the ample supply of firewood, they would have a warmer night.
Lying down on her bed, Trisha glanced at Tanya, who was already asleep in the bed a few feet away, and slowly closed her eyes. Then she muttered her usual goodnight to herself.
Aaron. Sleep well. We'll see each other soon, so please be safe....
Ah!
She had gotten that far in her mental prayer when suddenly the center of her chest started to feel hot. It started out as a small dot, but it was getting bigger and bigger. It's him!
It's Aaron.
It was one of his powers. It happened when he thought of her and prayed for her. She felt a warmth at the base of her chest, like hot water spreading. She often felt it when she was back home.
Back home, she could almost feel the warmth of Aaron saying goodnight to her, even though they were in separate rooms. But this was a first for her.
She had given up on it being possible, this far apart.
Trisha sat up, the warmth fading and stopping, reaching out to her unsteadily, which meant that where she was lying now was either too far away or in the wrong direction to receive Aaron's energy.
There had to be a better place to feel it.
Trisha quickly pulled on her thick cloak and crept out of the room. Her mind was racing. It would be so sad to lose contact with Aaron. Even if she couldn't see him, this feeling was so welcome and invigorating right now, she wanted to feel it just a little longer.
Aaron. You're here.
Trisha called out and walked quickly toward where the sensation was stronger.
Trisha and Aaron were so close that it was no secret to anyone in their entourage. It would be hard for both of them to be separated so suddenly.
She hurried to the north palace, where a passageway led from the outer palace to the inner palace.
She found it.
The balcony at the end of the hallway on the second floor of the North Palace. Thank goodness it was unguarded up here.
Gingerly opening the door, she was greeted by a whipping snowstorm. Still, she pushed through it, stepped out onto the balcony, and turned to face the scenery.
Oh, thank goodness. With nothing in the way, more of Aaron's aura was reaching her.
Aaron. You miss me, and I miss you too.
We must survive and meet again.
Even though she couldn't see him, she felt like he was right next to her. Suddenly, her eyes felt hot and she felt a pang of sadness. But she didn't cry.
If she showed tears now, how would she survive in the future? She held it together as best she could.
She clasped her hands together and stood on the edge of the snowy, empty balcony, happy for a moment to share a moment of communion with Aaron.
***
Kalos placed his foot on the staircase and slowly lowered it back into place.
Having just parted ways with Rute and found the north palace alone, Kalos was making his way to his study, but at the end of the long hallway, a door was slightly ajar, with a pile of snow underneath it, and the snow had rushed in through the open door, but why did it bother him?
After waving off any of his escorts who tried to approach, Kalos walked slowly toward it.
A single torch hung on the wall, extinguished by the wind.
Even as he approached the door, something felt familiar. Not in the stables, but no way.
It didn't take long to confirm.
That's right, it was her.
Kalos didn't understand. He'd bumped into her at the most ridiculous times and places, but she'd always come first. Silently watching her back, his smooth brow quickly creased.
He wondered if he was cursed to see her at least once a day in some way.
How could she appear in a place like this?
Maybe she's a witch.
All sorts of things went through his mind.
Even stranger, she didn't look like she was waiting for anyone. She didn't seem to be waiting for him. It wasn't her usual route, so how could she know he was there? Besides, it looked like she was praying. Maybe... maybe she was cursing from there.......
No. He stopped thinking about going any further. It didn't feel like that at all.
It couldn't be normal to be out on a balcony like that in the middle of nowhere on a cold night like this. No matter how cold-resistant she was, she was crazy to be out at this hour. Well, maybe not completely crazy.
Kalos shook his head. She's troublesome in many ways.
This princess. With a grunt, Kalos turned away.
But as he made his way upstairs to his study, he caught a glimpse of the woman’s rather pathetic back as she stood outside in the snow.
Running a hand through his hair to clear his mind, Kalos entered his study and flopped down in his usual chair. It had been a long day, as usual, and he just wanted to get some rest.
***
The next day.
Kalos had lunch with his twin brother. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had one. It might have been the first time the three of them had one.
"Princess Flora is said to be the most beautiful woman in Izef. What do you think?"
The talkative Rute balanced between the silent Kalos and Roman, which was what made this luncheon possible.
"How come you’re so much better informed than the rest of us?"
Roman responded in a dry voice.
"Well, I'm a wanderer, so I'm a little quick on the uptake. Hehe."
Rute had been a very curious and inquisitive prince from a young age, and it had led him to this wandering life, but he couldn't stay in one place.
"How pretty is she? I'm so curious, it's driving me crazy."
"Well."
At Rute’s sanctification, Kalos rummaged through his memory a bit, but he wasn't really sure.
Was the esoteric princess that pretty? He didn’t know. He don't think she was. What about the other two? Uncharacteristically for Kalos, he tried to think of them, but their faces didn't come to mind at all. That's normal.
But the face of that annoying princess....
That didn't sit well with him either, and his frown deepened.
***
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