“Oh, don’t look so shaken.” The prince clasped Yuzuru on the shoulder. “I’m sure she had to keep her identity from you a secret. It’s safest for both of you that way.”

“Yes,” Yuzuru said. “Because that’s what I’m most alarmed about.”

“Your Grace,” Gweyn said, turning to address the prince. It had the added benefit that he couldn’t hold onto her waist anymore. “It’s late. If you don’t mind, I’d much prefer to have this discussion tomorrow.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

“W-why not?”

The prince reached into his breast pocket and retrieved a silver chain. At the end was a locket with a blue gem in its center. He beckoned for Gweyn to come close. Slipping the locket over her head, he said, “Because tomorrow, we’ll be getting married.”

All the air inside the room was gone. Yuzuru sat down on the bed, feeling like he’d just been punched in the gut.

“This medallion belonged to my grandmother. I want you to wear it to the ceremony tomorrow.”

Gweyn reacted more calmly, though her voice shook when she said, “Surely there isn’t need for such haste, Your Grace. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Oh, I doubt that,” laughed the prince. “But that’s not it. Your father, the Mad King, is on his way here.”

Gweyn’s face fell. “He’s been caught?”

The prince grinned triumphantly. “Perfect timing, no?”

Gweyn closed her eyes before opening them again. “Very well,” she said. “I will return to my chambers… to prepare.”

“Good,” said the prince. “I knew you will see the reason behind the madness. Do not worry, my princess. Tomorrow, you will be a Tachelm. The world will open to you and before long, you will forget whatever hardships you faced prior to my embrace.” He kissed her on both cheeks, bowed and then left the room, snatching his gloves off the table before turning from the opened door.

“Ah, one last thing.” He addressed Yuzuru directly. “While I thank you for bringing my princess to me, I do not wish to ever see your face in my kingdom again. The Calamity Dragon is not to be trifled with lightly, and I can already tell you have neither the wits nor the strength to be anything but a speck of sand in the ocean of its powers.”

Yuzuru tried to keep the snarl off his face as he said, “You’re very welcome.”

The prince nodded to the opened door, where on the other side his guards stood ready. “Princess?”

“If my prince allows,” replied Gweyn, curtsying once more, “I wish to say goodbye.”

“Make it quick,” said the prince as he closed the door behind him.

As soon as the footsteps receded, Gweyn marched over to the door and stuck a chair under it.

When she turned around, her face was ashen.

Yuzuru stood up and held his arms open. Gweyn rushed into them without hesitation. She was trembling.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Everything the prince said… it’s all true.”

Smoothing down her hair, Yuzuru asked, “You’re not actually going through with this, are you?”

Gweyn pushed away. She was biting her lip.

“Oh, come on, Gweyn. This is insane.”

“I wish there was another way,” she whispered back.

Yuzuru let go. Shaking his head, he went to the window and threw them open, expecting a cool breeze to sting his face and ruffle his hair. There was no wind. The air was humid and the sky a heavy blue. It smelled of ice and rain.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“We failed,” said Gweyn. “With the Stryde King as good as dead, I am the only one who can save the kingdom. My people might not have admitted I was their princess, but as long as my father can legitimize me, there is still a chance.”

“Your people?” Yuzuru asked. “Since when did you give a shit about anyone other than yourself?”

Shock ran across Gweyn’s face. “You… what?”

“I never should have trusted Loops,” said Yuzuru. “No. Before that. I shouldn’t have even been on that ice. I should not have agreed to come with you on this crazy goddamned mission.” He slammed the windows shut, rattling the panes. “I shouldn’t have let you join the party.”

“You don’t mean that,” said Gweyn. “You can’t say all we’ve been through was for nothing.”

Yuzuru walked over to the door, took the chair off and set it aside. “You need to get ready for tomorrow.”

Gweyn’s shoulders fell, but she made her way over.

“Maybe I’m out of my depths,” she said as she stepped past him into the hallway. “But at least I know what I want.”

“And I don’t?” Yuzuru asked, but she had already closed the door.

The silence had a life of its own. It wormed around Yuzuru’s neck, filling him to the brim with things he didn’t want to think about.

He remembered the dream he had about Honoka. Their graduation. It was the last time he’d ever seen her. It was cruel. Their futures were just beginning and yet, it all ended overnight.

He started walking towards the door, his feet moving faster and faster. The last few paces he lunged, grabbed the handle and yanked it open so fast he nearly hit himself.

The boy standing on the other side jumped. “Oh,” he gasped. “Um. Here, sir.” He held out a backpack.

Yuzuru turned his stare from the boy to the bag.

“It’s your reward,” said the boy. “Take it. Please.”

Yuzuru kept staring.

“The Queen sent it. Please. Take it. It’s heavy.”

Yuzuru reached out, grabbed a handful of the bag and tossed it straight over his shoulder. It crashed into the bedside table and spilled its contents all over the floor. “Tell the queen I said thanks,” he told the horrified boy, then pushed out into the hallway.

He caught up to Gweyn at the bottom floor of the living quarters, just as she was walking out into the yard.

“Wait, Gweyn.”

Gweyn didn’t turn. She placed both hands on the double doors and pushed her way out into the night.

“Wait!”

Yuzuru grabbed a lantern off the wall and shoved it through the doors as they were closing.

The autumn night was frozen in stillness. Not even the stars were twinkling.

Staggering along the footpath, Yuzuru swung his lantern back and forth, trying to make out where Gweyn was.

He saw her further down the hill, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

“Gweyn!”

He took off running but his foot caught against a root. The lantern in his hand slipped and smashed against the ground, the wick inside sputtering.

There was no moon. Yuzuru felt around the heavy darkness, calling out Gweyn’s name. Then, far below the hill, he saw a faint glowing orb to his left. It was another lantern. He went to it, moving as quickly as his feet could find the road.

He saw Gweyn again, emerging into the orange orb.

She bowed to someone.

Yuzuru slowed, watching as she straightened. She seemed to be saying something, her voice a murmur through the distance and trees.

Another figure entered the spotlight. It was the prince. He held out his arm for Gweyn to take. When she did, Yuzuru’s heart sank. He pushed through the narrowed space trees. The track turned sharply left, then down. Overgrown roots marred the dirt like mines.

The light dimmed, taking Gweyn and the prince with it.

Yuzuru fell forward, his head cracking against a tree. Stars danced in front of his eyes as he pulled himself up. Through the foliage, the light was now moving upwards, towards the main castle doors.

I’m going to lose her.

The certainty of it hit him all at once, that this girl who had tried to grind his bones into fertilizer, was going to disappear from his life forever.

In as loud a voice as he could, he howled to the sky, “I am the winning team, Gweyn!”

His voice echoed through the trees, shaking sleeping birds from their nests.

Gasping in the cold air, he listened for a reply.

None came.

Yuzuru continued pushing his way down the hill. “I never wanted to meet you, Gweyn,” he said, staggering as the ground beneath him turned back into hard dirt. “Because I never thought I could hurt like this again. I thought losing Honoka was bad enough. But this… this is a pretty good runner up, Gweyn!”

The path widened as trees thinned. On Yuzuru’s left, glowing skulls hung off the castle’s outer walls, the light of their flames like little stars. A long flight of steps emerged, leading up to the castle’s back doors.

Light spilled out from the doorway, but it was blocked by a figure looking out.

“Hold on!” Yuzuru cried out, running faster. “No, don’t-”

The servant didn’t give him a second glance. He brought the door closed, shutting out the light.

Yuzuru dashed up the steps, slamming into the door. He pounded on it with his fist and kept at it, hammering the freezing iron until he bled. He still didn’t stop, even when his voice was gone and the sun peaked over the horizon.

Finally, drained and mute from exhaustion, he slumped against the door. He was delirious, so almost didn’t register the door opening until he was lying on the cold floorboards on the other side. But even in his dimming consciousnesses, Queen Kathryn’s soothing voice was unmistakable.

“I will never understand your kind,” she said with a gentle sigh. “Guards? Show this traveler where the exit is.”

Hands locked around Yuzuru’s arms. They pulled him up and began dragging him away, back towards the steps.

Yuzuru tried to speak but his voice failed him. Even as the castle gates loomed ever closer, he could do little else but lift his face to the sky and weep.