[YUZUKI]
"Yuzu, is Ayami our target?" Rinko asked once the Yamashita enforcer left. She knew that it was strange for the queen to come to this point and even wanted this much attention from the Yamashita enforcer.
Rinko had known her queen enough to understand that Queen Kuramitsu hated mating balls. She always despised them, and yet for this particular mating ball, she had come herself.
Granted, it was not in the regal clothes, but she had shown up.
She had left Kurayami and come to a kingdom that didn't mean much for them. Of course, there was a chance that they were in diplomatic hell with the kingdom of Yamashita, but they both knew that that was impossible.
Kurayami was the strongest of all the kingdoms, and their crazy queen was the most powerful of all the rulers. She never hesitated and never did things for the sake of it, which was why Rinko was confused.
…as to what they were doing in Yamashita.
And why the queen had insisted on going through all the reports they had about Yamashita. It was a tad too suspicious, but Rinko knew better than to ask and speak her mind about what he suspected.
"No. Her master is," Yuzuki said, her tone so cruel that Rinko flinched for a moment.
She had known that her queen was always temperamental, but the way that she spoke of Kazuya was something that had her wondering what the king had done to her to have her this enraged.
"Well then, let's get changed," Rinko said.
But Yuzuki stopped her.
"I will get changed… You are to stay in your current state."
Rinko stared at her queen like there was a lot she missed. She had questions about why they had come so far to a mission that most of the spies they had planted in Yamashita could do it and make reports to the palace.
She wondered why the queen had changed and why this was happening. And yet Rinko was not sure of how to ask about it because she had a feeling that the queen would slap her head off of her neck if she so much as thought that Rinko was challenging her.
That was the one thing that Rinko didn't intend. Not right now, and certainly not ever. She was a servant of the crown, and if Queen Kuramitsu asked her to walk into a fire, Rinko would do it without question.
"But…" Rinko trailed off carefully.
"I have unfinished business with Kazuya. No matter what happens, mingle and figure out what you can about the enforcer. Ask around and see if she really is the hidden princess of Yamashita.
"The festival will run for a whole week. If you don't see me after the week ends, go back home and continue with your duties as usual. No one must know that I am not home. Meet me at the border a day after you get back home.
"And if I don't come back in two weeks, send the army to the west of Kurayami. My father built an armory there. Let the warriors train and be ready because by then, war will be valid.
"Otherwise, try to enjoy the ceremony… Who knows… You might even get a mate," Yuzuki laughed lightly, and Rinko stared at her worriedly. She had always been beside her queen.
Her whole life had been dedicated to the service of Kuramitsu, and yet now it was like she was being dismissed. No one could tell what was going on in Yuzuki's head, and Rinko was worried.
She didn't want to leave her alone.
She didn't want to lose sight of the one who had just woken up from drowning. It was not right, and yet she was a warrior who had been given her orders. To go against that was pure suicide, and Rinko still had a family that was waiting for her.
She couldn't afford to upset the queen, and yet that didn't make her worry any less. This was the most dangerous of missions, and she couldn't even object to the order.
"Promise me you will take care of yourself, Yuzu," Rinko said, and Yuzuki looked at the worried warrior. She could tell how distressed Rinko was, but there wasn't much that Yuzuki could do to ease her worries.
No matter what happened, Yuzuki had to leave and go to the Fukada pack.
She had to see if there was anything at the place where she had lost everything.
Where had IT been sown.
She wanted to see if there was anything worth remembering there.
Her life had gotten to a sudden standstill, and she had to think of whatever reincarnation Matsui had been brought back as. It was that simple for her, even if deep down she was sure that she would lose her kind if she went back to Fukada.
But she had to.
She had to say her goodbyes.
She had to make sure that life wasn't as hard.
She had to see to it that everything was worth something.
That all those deaths had meant something, even though a part of her was aware of the horrible truth.
Her home had been taken down because of the refusal to let Matsui go.
And yet she has no regrets about Matsui.
She still lived for Matsui. Hell, her people would have laid down their lives for her and her mate if they had known what they were fighting for, and Yuzuki would see to it that it wasn't all in vain.
"Of course. Besides, I am a guest of Ayami Araki… I can go wherever I want," Yuzuki said.
Rinko sighed in distress.
She didn't like where this was headed.
She didn't like that there was a possibility for this to be a trap for the queen, and the way that Yuzuki didn't seem to mind the danger was irking her. She wanted to scold Yuzuki, but she didn't even have the power to do that, and gods, was it frustrating.
"I'm going to say this once, even though I'm risking my head and everyone I have ever met," Rinko began, and Yuzuki let out a soft laugh. It was as if she had seen the disapproval on Rinko's face, and she wanted to know what this was for her.
"Go on then. What is it this time?" Yuzuki asked, and Rinko sighed as she rubbed her palms against her thighs, the reminder that her palms had gotten really sweaty out of fear. She couldn't be named, though.
Queen Kuramitsu was the poster girl for insanity.
"If I don't hear from you when the festival ends, I will send a message home for the army to go west, but I won't leave Yamashita without you, even if I have to fight the king myself.
"I came with you, and I know there is more to what you mean to do to the king or against the king. I don't mind. I would die a thousand deaths for you. Just make sure you come back alive, or I will be doing the killing.
"Please be safe, you just woke up from a coma, and we can't afford to lose you. I know you don't trust me yet, but I have always been on your side, from the time our mothers were best friends.
"I would never betray you. And you must come back. If not for Kurayami, then come back for me, I will help you do whatever you have in mind, Yuzuki," Rinko said before she bowed her head out of respect, stunning Yuzuki.