Guardians of the Prince - CH 4.2

(warning, this chapter contains non-consensual molestation. if that sort of thing affects you, you might want to skip the section that starts “Eventually, I’d have to go back to the room.”)

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The prince must have been exhausted from his first real trip, because when we got back to our room, he tottered over to the bed himself, and fell asleep instantly.

I watched him sleep for a while, but eventually stood up and headed into the adjacent room. I knocked and then opened the door, and called out to Mr Kahzam, who was in his human form, and Mr Lahzt, who was reading a book.

“I think I’m going to head back to the baths for a while. I didn’t really get to relax much before.”

“It’s kind of late, you alright by yourself?” Mr Lahzt asked, closing his book. Beside him, Mr Kahzam of course looked concerned. He must have washed up in the room’s bathroom since he couldn’t go to the baths, his hair was wet.

“The baths aren’t far, and I won’t stay long. Look after the prince for me, please.”

I left for the baths alone.

I exited the hotel without going to the baths, and turned my feet toward the Shiinium.

When I passed through the arch and entered the tower, the miniature planet and the basin were glowing a pale blue, still bright enough to read the seals that had been carved all over the walls. The sky above felt even wider than it had during the day.

Shin still floated up from the mini planet, and were sucked into the walls like shooting stars. There were still a few people in robes around, who seemed to be doing research.

I sat down on one of the stone steps that connected to the one arch, and sighed. My left hand was on my knee, and I touched the ring on my ring finger there.

Tomorrow I would meet with Lemonina, consult with her, possibly even find a way to put a name from this world onto my hand. I wondered if I would end up entirely a local.

The prince was very very precious to me, and if it was my coming here that had saved him, then I was glad. Being next to him and protecting him were important roles I played in my life right now, and I hadn’t been lying about how I felt when I’d said that I’d like to be his nurse if I could.

But… I’d been yanked into this world without notice, cut off from every connection with anyone from my original world, from Koaya, from Nanao, and I hadn’t even been able to say goodbye. It hurt.

My body had come to this world, but fragments of my heart were still in my original world, left behind with the family I loved.

Whenever I started to have these thoughts with the prince was asleep right next to me, I was seized with something that felt like guilt, so I wanted to be by myself for a little, to think about the world I’d come from.

Just as I was thinking of Nanao, I suddenly noticed something, and looked around at the Shiinium. I got to my feet, and went over to the ladder next to the entrance.

I noticed a Shin a little ways up the wall, and climbed the ladder a few rungs to get closer.

A little gasp flew out of my mouth.

This single seal represented something that meant a name to me. “Nanao.”

I remembered when Nanao was born.

I’d been surprised to learn I was going to have a sister sixteen years younger than me, but Koaya and I waited eagerly for the birth together. Our father was hardly ever home because of work, but Mom did love him very much, and did everything she could to ensure the baby would be born safely despite her being relatively old for an expectant mother.

But when the time actually came, there were problems, and Mom was confined to bed. Koaya and I worked hard to take care of the baby in her place. One day she looked at us and said, “You big sisters have been such a help, and everyone else too. Thank goodness.”

That suddenly made me think, and so I did some investigating. There was a network of people protecting my little sister, there had to be a name that meant something like that.

And so I found the word “Nanao,” which meant a bundle of strings or cords. A name that represented my wish that this bundle of connected people, tied together, would protect my little sister.

Everyone in my family liked it, and so I ended up the one to name my little sister.

And now, right before my eyes, was a Shin representing that same meaning, carved into a wall.

“Excuse me, miss? Did you find a seal that caught your eye?”

Someone called out suddenly and surprised me, but when I turned around, clinging to a ladder below me was a gentle-looking old man in a robe. He was going cleanly bald, his bare head reflecting the blue light, but he had cultivated an abundant beard instead.

“You can write them down. Maybe they have some role to play.”

This tiny old man handed me a single sheet of high-grade paper, so thin you could almost see through it.

Was this the paper they made from cutting the grass in the Garden of Stars?

I thanked him and accepted it, and the old man smiled and went back to his own work.

I snuck a glance out of the corner of my eye, and saw the old man press the palm of his hand to the wall and then gently release it, and then press his hand against the paper.

Is that how you put an image on this paper?

I put the palm of my hand on the seal of Nanao’s name, just like I’d seen the old man do. After a few seconds, my palm got warm, and when I took it off the wall and looked at it, the seal glowed faintly on my palm.

I pressed my hand to the paper as the old man had done, and the seal appeared on the paper. I thought I saw it glow for a second, but the light immediately faded, and I realized the character was fixed to the paper.

I folded it in half, and slipped it carefully into my pocket.

I wouldn’t let this paper off my person.

It didn’t really settle anything, but I felt like my emotions had been somehow clarified.

Eventually, I’d have to go back to the room.

I went back into the flagstone plaza that glowed with streetlamps, and turned towards the hotel on the road that ran along the circumference.

There was hardly anybody else on the street, but many of the buildings that encircled the plaza still had their lights on. People must be up late doing research.

Suddenly a thin shadow jutted out towards my feet. I halted in surprise.

It was a black cat with a long tail. How cute! There really were a lot of animals in this city!

“Well good evening,” I greeted the cat, and the cat rubbed up against my leg. His glossy black fur was nice and smooth against my bare feet.

The cat immediately stepped away from me again, and headed into a grove of trees a little further on.

My eyes followed him, and– huh? I could see a figure in the grove, like something snagged in the trees. Long fabric… A robe?

Someone must have forgotten it, I guessed. Or it blew away in the wind maybe? I should take it to the reception desk at the hotel.

With that thought, I entered the dark grove.

As soon as I did, the black cat from before walked just in front of me, like he was trying to lead me somewhere… and then disappeared on the other side of the robe that was caught in the tree.

Now at this point, I really should have remembered. In this world, people can transform into animals.

As I reached out to grab the robe, I suddenly felt a warmth inside it.

By the time I realized it, his dark grey eyes were right in front of me.

“Hey. You came, I’m glad.”

This person encased in the robe was the man we’d met in the dining hall earlier, Idine. His eyes were the same color as the black cat’s. This man had changed into the black cat.

“Ah… Good evening.” I greeted him casually, with no clue of the danger I was in.

“Come a little closer.”

He suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me further into the grove. His eyes glowed in the blackness.

“Uh…?”

“Shh. You don’t want people to notice, do you?”

What? What did that mean? Okay, so he really had been hiding in here, but…

In the end, we only walked a small distance, still hand in hand. I turned back a little, but I could only faintly see the lights from the plaza.

He gripped me suddenly by both shoulders, and just as I realized I was face to face with Idine, I felt the bark of a tree on my back.

He was pressing me into a tree? A chill came over me.

“You smell nice.”

Idine slowly… buried his face in the nape of my neck, and inhaled. With his brown skin and his navy blue robe, he looked like just another patch of darkness, and I started to feel like I was being held prisoner by the night.

It was at that point that I finally realized the situation I was in. If it had been light out, Idine probably would have been able to see the blood drain from my face.

I knew humans could turn into animals, and I had followed a black cat into a deserted area…

But did that make this guy’s invitation suddenly okay!?

What was I going to do? What was I going to do. I could feel my pulse pounding all over my body.

As I just stood there in shock, both of Idine’s hands were roaming my back and hips, like he was trying to make sure what shape my body was.

If I suddenly resisted, that would be clearly unnatural, right? I mean, I couldn’t really say, “I came from another world, so I feel like, once an animal, always an animal. So sorry!”

And that didn’t even take into consideration the fact that he was from the Crown Prince’s faction. I couldn’t let him suspect me. If I responded badly, Mr Lahzt might end up in real trouble. A million thoughts swam round and round in my head.

Was making no response like this the most suspicious? It was, wasn’t it. I was an adult woman, currently free, so what was the problem? A one night stand was perfectly fine. Maybe I should just give up and go for it?

Yeah, sorry, that was constitutionally impossible for me! I mean, with a guy I’d just met this afternoon! And anyway, I didn’t have much previous experience, I only had one ex-boyfriend!

That was right, Mr Lahzt had even said that romantic relationships were the same in both worlds. It would normally be fine to refuse, I knew that. There were even ways to refuse an offer at first accepted. We’re adults.

So if I knew all that, why was this so hard! Help me, Koaya!

While I was in full panic mode internally, Idine whispered in my ear. “You’re with Lahzt, aren’t you. Going out with him?”

“No… We’re not… I mean…”

I don’t know how to answer. But Idine’s hands were still moving, and I couldn’t think straight. This guy was awful!

Well, no, it wasn’t really his fault, he was just inviting me. After all, I thoughtlessly said okay. –Jeez, why was I still trying to defend this guy in my head at a time like this?

“It’s cute, the way you talk. You from the continent? Tell me all about yourself.”

His chilly hands slid up my chest. As I was still overthinking everything, he started in on my buttons.

I hunched over in surprise, and I ended up allowing even this invasion by his hands. Idine was touching my body. He giggled.

Hey, oi. Why are you giggling touching me there?

I take it all back, this guy really is the worst! He must have some kind of complex. Well I knew now why Mr Lahzt had said he was nasty.

That’s right, Mr Lahzt… Maybe he’d notice it!

I was desperate now. I straightened myself up, lifted my chin, and squeezed out some words as I put my hands behind me.

“No.. this isn’t…”

I bit my lip. Shit, stop trembling, damn lip.

My right hand searched around for my left hand behind my back, so Idine wouldn’t be able to see it in the space between us. I remembered Mr Lahzt saying that only Lemonina would notice when he used the teleportation arts.

The letters wrapped around my left hand were the remains of the arts Mr Lahzt had used, so maybe Mr Lahzt would notice if I used them.

I concentrated on my left hand, and traced the characters with my fumbling fingers. Instantly, I felt the Circle Art start to engage… And then immediately return to their coil around my wrist.

Wait, it wouldn’t work like this? Admittedly, all I’d done so far was to re-coil the unfolded circle, so there wasn’t much to do about that, but… Anything was fine, just do something!

Idine gave another short laugh, and suddenly lifted his face.

“The way you don’t like it is cute too.”

Something damp and soft hit against my skin. Every minute felt so awfully long.

Eugh. Don’t, don’t go any further!

My brains were totally overloaded and I froze up. I scrunched my eyes shut.

“Kohme!”

I berated my stiffened body, and when I somehow managed to look in that direction, Mr Lahzt was standing there gasping for breath.

“Let her go, Idine.”

Behind his restrained tone, I felt an urge to violence. It was the first time I’d heard Mr Lahzt sound like that.

Idine rearranged us both so he could embrace me from behind.

“Why should I? Don’t get in our way. She came on her own, you know.”

That is technically true, I’m sorry! But still, help me!

I was about to cry.

“We just had a little argument. Let’s make up, Kohme.”

Mr Lahzt’s tone changed into something quite gentle, and he quietly offered me his hand. “Come here.”

Realizing Mr Lahzt was putting on an act, I wanted to recite some great lines too, but I couldn’t think of any.

At any rate, I had to apologize properly. Twisting myself within Idine’s arms, I looked up and said, “I’m sorry.”

Idine’s eyes opened a bit wider… and then he gave a huff of a laugh, and relaxed his grip on me.

“Well, she apologized, I guess there’s nothing I can do. Until next time, Kome.”

Excuse me… Will you please not condense my name. If you can manage it.

When Idine was a few steps away, Mr Lahzt suddenly rushed up to me and wrapped his arms around me, and my face slammed into his chest. Ah, ow.

“Don’t hang out in a place like this with a girl in tow, Lahzt.”

Idine flashed a cynical smile and then melted right into the night.

Oh yeah, Idine… The fact that he’d just changed into a human from a cat… He was naked under that robe… I mean, whatever, just…

Mr Lahzt immediately righted my disheveled clothing. “Are you hurt?” he asked, and I silently shook my head. And then I rubbed my forehead against his chest… Like a child.

Someone at twenty five years of age should already be plenty adult, but god what a mess I was. Really, seriously miserable.

“Let’s go. Kahzam’s worried. I left him to take care of prince.”

“Not mad, then?” I asked, not looking at Mr Lahzt’s face.

“Prince wouldn’t leave him alone… as a timp.”

“That would do it.”

Mr Lahzt sighed a little, and then asked me a question. “What about you, Kohme, aren’t you mad?”

What? I lifted my face. Mr Lahzt was making a pained expression.

“The reason you ended up in such a dangerous situation is because you don’t know things that are common knowledge over here. That guy probably had his eye on you because you were with me. It’s not your fault. And I know you’ve been keeping things to yourself, for my sake, for the prince’s sake, right? You’re not mad at me?”

Aw, Mr Lahzt…

So I guess it wasn’t enough just to forgive him, huh. Maybe Mr Lahzt wouldn’t be convinced unless I scolded him right here and now. But I’d never scolded a grown man, I didn’t know what to say.

I looked up and managed to put a smile on my lips and whispered, “Let’s call it even, shall we?”

That instant, Mr Lahzt hugged me tight.

Okay, so he would let me call it even. I let out a sigh of relief.

“Honestly, I’m just glad it was you that reeled me in… and not Idine.”

“Kohme… Shit, just to hear you say it…”

Mr Lahzt’s arms went stiff, and his breath seemed to catch. Did I, uh, did I say something bad?

“Even beyond that, I don’t want to ever be the cause of you having a horrible experience. No matter where your heart ends up, I think… I’d like to protect it,” Mr Lahzt said, and planted a kiss on my ear. My face went full red right there, and my head started spinning. That was definitely totally a love confession or something…

“My heart… you say…”

With absolutely no clue how I was supposed to respond, I just parroted his words. Mr Lahzt blew out a shaky breath, and carefully let me go. And then, he sort of looked away.

“I just mean… No matter what road you choose, I’ll use whatever strength I possess to help you, is what I meant.”

“Ah, yes… I’ll be counting on you then.”

Mr Lahzt was one of very few Shiinoce physicians in this world, being able to rely on him in the future actually did make me feel better.

Mr Lahzt took my left hand, and went back to speaking in his regular tone of voice. “Good thing these were still here, huh.”

“Good thing you told me about them… A memento of your arts.”

“A memento of me, huh,” Mr Lahzt said, walking hand in hand with me. “Leave them there forever.”

The instant we entered the bright room, relief washed over me, and my legs gave out.

Mr Kahzam rushed over to me at incredible speed, and he and Mr Lahzt supported me so I didn’t fall to the floor completely.

“Oh no, I’m sorry, I’m really fine!”

I sort of panicked, and the two of them sat me down on the sofa. Mr Kahzam knelt down in front of me, so those dark green eyes were the same height as mine.

“May I ask, what happened?”

Oh yeah. I’d have to confess.

I almost shrugged, and told him too, about how an adorable fluffy black cat turned out to be Idine.

Now that I looked back, I’d been overly naive. I’d wanted to be alone so much, I ended up acting like some tourist wandering the shops.

“But Mr Lahzt came to save me, so I don’t think I revealed anything. And I’m okay. Idine probably just thought I’d had some lover’s spat with Mr Lahzt, and that if I had an affair with Idine in the heat of the moment, Mr Lahzt would show up and try to reconcile.”

Mr Kahzam listened to my story, and exchanged a surreptitious glance with Mr Lahzt, who was standing beside the sofa. Mr Lahzt looked away awkwardly.

What was that? That weird mood.

Mr Kahzam sighed briefly.

“At any rate,” he said, “I’m glad you’re not hurt. I’ve been negligent, too. I’m your bodyguard, I shouldn’t have let you out alone.”

“That’s not– You have to protect the prince. Besides, it’s my own fault, I told you I was going to the baths. I won’t be walking around on my own anymore.”

Mr Kahzam smiled at my flustered apology.

“It’s not just prince. Let me stay by your side, please. So I can protect you entirely.”

Something about those words made my heart skip a beat, and it was all I could do just to nod.

Tonight had been nothing but heart-stopping moments.

After a bit of a breather, I finally went into the room where the prince was sleeping, changed into my nightgown, and got into bed.

I pressed my cheek to the prince’s warm hand, and he rolled over towards me, snuggled right up to me. I could feel his tiny sleeping breaths on my cheek, and finally felt calm.

I was suddenly exhausted, and fell asleep before I breathed out again.