Reia groans as she turns over with a wriggle on the other side of the bed. She can hear the claps of thunder in the distance, the rain pattering down onto her rooftop like pellets. It's impossible to sleep in this kind of weather and yet she tries her best, squeezing her eyes shut in an attempt to even out her breathing.

In, and out. In and out. That's what her mother has trained her to do.

She can almost feel her mother's hands combing through her hair, a habit she'd gotten used to during her younger days when her mother was still around. She can barely see her now that the older lady is always under medications and strict restrictions to rest as much as she possibly can. Surely a bit of sunlight will do her some good, Reia had argued with him during Queen Lin's latest doctor appointment, but the man behind the mask had only shaken his head and told her that any drastic changes or injuries could be fatal for her mother. And so that had shut Reia up.

Fuck it, Reia swears inwardly, she can't sleep like this.

Throwing off her cover and slipping on her satin slippers -- the last of the good ones that she'd received when she'd been a bit younger. They're all worn and torn down at the sides now, but Reia had grown into them and was not going to let them go -- the princess pries open her door and heads for the only place that can give her some peace in the dead of night.

Sure enough, a familiar face whips around to look at her when she pushes the door open as quietly as she can.

"Again?" he throws her a disapproving frown, though he doesn't protest when she slips into the wooden stool next to him, "you can't keep doing that you know."

"Give it a rest Eight," Reia says as she lets her head fall upon his shoulder, "you'll miss me when I'm gone."

Eight snorts, but he doesn't say anything and instead looks out at the roaring ocean. Even presses his own head against hers as he lets out a comfortable sigh.

"What happens when the waves swallow us whole?" Eight whispers, "what then?"

Reia's eyes flicker up to his. It's the same dark brown as Eight's, the siblings sharing their mother's features, "that's why we're moving to Sol."

"What if the waves get us before then?"

"Papa wouldn't let that happen."

"You'd be surprised at what Papa would want to do, if not for the fact that Ma's still alive." Eight's tone is dismissve and holds an air of resentment, one that Reia can understand all too well. Their Papa has been a bit off the rails ever since their mother's diagnosis. Colder and more aloof, always wanting to get things done rather than having productive conversations.

"Anyway, you should get some sleep sister," Eight continues softly, "it's going to be a long day tomorrow."

Reia lifts her head to throw him a scowl, "do I really have to go?"

"I think you'll find that Sol is a really nice place once you get to it." Eight smiles thought it doesn't reach his eyes. Instead, she spots the worry that flicks in them and concern slips into her belly, tightening it into a worrying knot.

"Somehow, that sounds way less convincing."

"I'll come and visit you whenever I can. And you know Kuno is always close by."

Reia can't help but snort, "Kuno is only concerned with girls that can give him easy access to their beds. I wouldn't count him as a reliable source of support."

"Give him some more credit Reia," Eight replies, though a chuckle slips past his lips, "he's desperate for a way to forget. We all are."

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"I know," Reia mutters, "I know."

The pair sit and keep gazing out at the ocean waves crashing onto the sides of the castle wall, listening to the sounds of the pebbles grating the earth every time the current pulls back into the sea, as the rain keeps on pelting down until the air is smoky with water, until it's thick with the scent of acid.

They both know well enough not to venture outside at times like this.

Because they both know how easy it is to lose someone this way.

——

"It is time to leave, your highness."

Reia's eyes are stuck to her mother's fragile figure sprawled out on the bed like a rag doll. Lifeless, her eyes glassy and dull as she stares up at the ceiling. It's almost like she's not there, but then again, she rarely is these days.

Reia leans forward, elbows digging into the foam mattress they'd gotten especially for the Queen's comfort, "I'm going to Sol, Ma," she murmurs, "I'll be Queen of Sol soon, if the Prince wishes me to be."

"Reia," Eight's voice permeates the air behind her and she sighs. Reia leans in to press a soft kiss to her mother's forehead, pushing away a few strands of sticky hair, "I'll miss you Ma. Feel better soon."

It takes everything in Reia's willpower to stop herself from crying as she exits the Queen's chambers. Outside, her personal bodyguard appointed for this journey bows low to his waist, dark strands falling into his face as he does so.

"This is General Nathaniel Kun," Eight says as Reia offers a half-curtsy in response. As if things can't get worse, there's a total stranger accompanying her carriage. Some part of her wants to just throw her body on the ground and beg Eight to stay with her, to cry until he proposes for her to stay instead.

But Reia doesn't do any of those things. Instead, she presses her lips together and nods.

"He'll be accompanying you till Sol and will stay until you feel comfortable enough to be alone," Eight continues, "he's one of my most trusted men and he's sworn to protect you with his life."

"Thank you dear brother," Reia murmurs, "although I'm not sure such words are appropriate."

"Reia," Eight looks at her pointedly, "don't make this more difficult."

"Apologies, I'm just trying to understand why I—" she motions towards herself, "out of all siblings, am being sold off like a mere country horse."

"Prince Symeon would be delighted to have your company, as should you." Eight's gaze has turned steely, firm, "make sure to remember that."

Reia deflates. It's useless even if she wants to fight it. She can't run away, her destiny is already sealed off like a lover's promise, with her head — and all her family's — hanging on the line that promise is broken.

Everything has already been packed by the maids and the bundle of suitcases greet her when she walks through the royal doors for probably the final time in this life. Word is that princesses barely make it back to their homeland after marriage, merely due to their work duties and marital chores. So it's very unlikely that she'll see all of her siblings again. Even Eight, apart from if he decides to visit her.

They're all lined up now; the two girls and the three boys that all share the same dark eyes and hair, pale complexions and east asian features, some bolder than the others. Reia says goodbye to the youngest first, makes her way up to the oldest until she stands right in front of Eight's figure.

Reia's throat suddenly closes up. Emotion thickens her voice-box as words fail her. Nothing seems right in such circumstances.

"You take care now, sister," Eight says gruffly, but his blasé tone hides the layer of pain and worry in his voice. He reaches out to grip her shoulder, "and come back whenever you wish. The Palace is always open for you."

Reia can't help it. She bursts into sobs.

"Shit," she hears her older brother mutter before she's being swept into his arms and pressed to his chest. His scent makes her cry even harder, for she knows it's one that she'll miss terribly. Who is she going to visit late at night when she can't sleep? Her hands find purchase along his waist and she hugs him tight, so tight in hopes that this moment doesn't end.

But it does at some point, for Eight pulls back with a wobbly smile before he pushes a strand of hair away from her face, "you'll be fine. Don't forget to write to me."

"I hate you for making me do this," Reia mutters, "you won't hear the end of my complaints."

"I trust I won't if it's coming from you," he laughs, pulls her in for a quick kiss on her forehead before he lets her go all too soon. Cold air wraps around Reia's frame but she doesn't even have time to ponder on it before she's being bundled away into the carriage. The door is shut in her face by her bodyguard and she can only look out at her siblings surrounding the gate, all those white faces looking back at her, Eight's holding as much emotion as she's ever seen.

A sob echoes up her throat and she struggles to find the handkerchief in her bag.

"Ready to go, your highness?" The call comes from her driver seated up front of the carriage.

"Yes," her bodyguard answers for her and soon enough, the horses neigh as they pull the carriage forward and away from the Castle of Hai.

Away from home, away from everything that Reia has ever known in her life.