Back with more! Enjoy~ :)
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Chapter 7
Saitou grimaced as he made his way back to his room. He had no choice. He had to think of his mother and his father. If she had only threatened him, then it would have been an easy choice to make. But she threatened his entire family! He might know what the queen was plotting, but his parents had nothing to do with this. Lamenting the unfairness of life, he grabbed his short dagger that he usually brought with him to the hunt before heading out to the garden.
As he made his way there, he hoped that he didn't seem suspicious. At the moment, he didn't know what he would say to convince the princess to go with him, but he had to try. Unlike the queen, the princess was easy to get along with. She wouldn't yell at him if he said he had something he needed to speak with her about.
Realizing that she was a gentle soul, he decided he would have to lie. He would tell her that he had found a wounded animal just outside of the castle. It was the only thing he could think of that made sense, given his profession. Otherwise, it would seem contrived. He didn't honestly think that he could outsmart the princess when she was the one with the formal schooling, but it was the best he could do.
Entering the garden, he glanced around and wondered where he should go to find her. He had only passed by on his way back from the woods and sometimes during a bit of free time. Mostly, he was either in the woods with the other hunters or at home caring for his parents. The garden was extensive; it could take him all afternoon to find her… By then it would be too late.
It wasn't as difficult as he thought it would be. It was quiet; the only sounds nature's voice like the insects flying around or the slight breeze. A different sound floated towards him with the breeze – the sound of someone singing. Since the only one usually in the garden was the princess, Saitou cringed. He was sent to snuff out the life of their gentle and beautiful princess…
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"Excuse me…"
Misaki turned around in surprise, the words dying on her lips as she had been in the middle of singing. It was the first time she had been disrupted like this. Even so, it wasn't like it was meant to be a secret, the fact that she liked singing. It was just that no one had found out about it until now. Turning to face the man completely, she smiled to indicate that he was not interrupting.
"May I help you?" she asked.
"Princess, my name is Saitou."
"How can I help you, Saitou?"
"I'm one of the hunters here. While I was out, I found an injured pup and I…" he replied, glancing away as he lied. "I didn't know what to do. I wasn't sure if we would be allowed to take him in. His Majesty is always so busy; it seems silly to bring such a request forward to him…"
He wouldn't look her straight in the eyes, but she didn't know if it was because he was nervous or if it was because of her position. Despite that fact, she sighed softly as she could not ignore his plight. It was their duty to take care of the weak, including animals and plants and nature in general. Glancing down at her dress, she hoped it wasn't too badly injured as it would be more work for the maids if she got blood stains on it.
"Very well," she answered. "Please, there is no need to bow. Take me to the pup."
Nodding his head in response, he walked briskly, but was still mindful to keep track of the princess as her strides were shorter than his. She didn't ask any more questions, but followed along silently. Luckily, they didn't pass anyone else on their way out. Otherwise, he would be the first suspect on the list when the princess was reported missing.
"I think it was somewhere around here," Saitou said as he glanced around. "Just a little further out."
"Very well."
Misaki smiled as she continued to follow him. This was the first time she had been out in the woods. If it weren't for Saitou, she wouldn't have had this opportunity. The air was fresh and the greenery was beautiful; the atmosphere entirely different from that of the gardens she loved so much. Curiosity filled her as she wondered if her mother had been out here; she was positive she would have loved this place as well.
When she finally glanced back at her companion, it was to find him nervously making his way towards different trees. He would pause as he stared at the trunks like he was looking for something. She realized he must have marked his place with a knife in order to find the pup again on his return. Even so, she had to wonder why he didn't just bring him back in the first place. It wasn't like they weren't allowed to have animals on the grounds – they had horses and sheep and a few rabbits.
"Are we there yet?" Misaki asked gently.
"I… I'm so sorry princess. I must have lost my way. Perhaps you would like to wait here while I continue to search?"
"I'm quite alright."
"Please princess," Saitou insisted. "I shouldn't have asked you to come when you were not properly equipped. I will be in a lot of trouble if anything were to happen to you…"
"Very well."
He sighed when she agreed and continued on his way. Shaking her head slightly, it wasn't like she could refuse when he put it that way. Though she had agreed to go with him, what he said was true. If anything were to happen to her, he would be the one who was in trouble. That had not been her purpose in leaving with him.
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"What do I do now?" Saitou muttered to himself.
He never thought that it would work. But now that she was actually out here with him, he couldn't possibly harm her. The heavens would strike him down dead if he did anything to her… And he might just find his life a living hell if the queen found out that he didn't do as she demanded… Biting his lip nervously, he pulled the dagger from the sheath at his waist.
He paced back and forth, trying to make up his mind. He was one step closer with his weapon held ready. But to actually hurt her… If not her, then his parents though, along with him… What was a man like him supposed to do?
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Turning to find a knife held over her, Misaki screamed and fell to the ground. She had been waiting for Saitou to return when she sensed that someone was behind her. Terrified that the knife would come plunging down to kill her, it never did. Instead, a look of utter horror froze on Saitou's face and he lowered the weapon to his side.
"I'm so sorry princess!" he exclaimed, falling prostrate in front of her. "I'm so sorry!"
"Why would you do such a thing?"
"I'm such a beastly man; I'm the one who deserves to die!"
The princess was spurred into action when he sat up like he was ready to plunge the knife into his own body. She managed to grab a hold of his hand and the weapon fell away from them both as he pulled away like his body had been burned.
"Please, have me killed princess," he begged. "My life is not worthy!"
"Saitou, I'm sure you didn't want to do this. It was the queen wasn't it?"
That got his attention. He stared at her, his reaction telling her everything she needed to know. Brita had always hated her, ever since that first day she had arrived at the castle. Misaki didn't know what had specifically set her off like this; that she would actually find someone to kill her, but it didn't surprise her either.
"I'm so sorry princess," he said as that seemed to be the only thought on his mind. "I'll go back and tell her that I couldn't do it. Our lives are not worth it in comparison to yours. I'm sure they would gladly give up their lives for you as well."
"No one needs to die. I won't let the queen harm you or carry out any of the threats that she might have used on you. No, you'll be fine."
"That's not true! I couldn't possibly harm you!" Saitou exclaimed. "A moment of insanity settled within me, but I could never truly harm you!"
"And you won't have to."
"I won't?"
"I'll help you. I'm sure she would want to have some proof that you carried out the task. We'll kill a wild animal and you can bring its heart to her," Misaki explained when he paled at the thought of proof. "I'll hide in the forest until it is safe."
"But your father! And where would you possibly go? It's not safe here, especially when it's dark! Why, you hardly have warm enough clothing!"
"I shall be fine. It is my duty to protect my people. I won't hear of any other complaints. If you don't accept my words then I shall take that as proof that you no longer accept me as your princess."
"Oh… Princess, how can I possibly ever thank you? What will they think of me?" Saitou inquired. "I couldn't possibly…"
"Then you no longer accept me as your princess?"
"At least take my jacket with you," he replied insistently, taking it off and pushing it into her hands. "The idea of you being alone out here…"
"Thank you."
Before she got up to leave, Misaki leaned forward to kiss his cheek. It sounded ludicrous, but she couldn't possibly let Brita harm Saitou, or anyone else. If she was willing to take this first step, she wouldn't hesitate to send out someone else if he returned empty-handed. To save her people from the manipulative ways of Brita, this was the only solution. It would be terrible to leave her father and she didn't have anywhere to go, but the other option was even more unbearable.
She glanced around to give Saitou a small smile as she took off, but he wasn't watching. Instead, a flush had entered his cheeks as he held his hand over the cheek that she had kissed. Giggling in response, Misaki called out to him to tell him to continue on with his task before it got too late. Brita would be waiting for the news.
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"You've done it?"
"Yes, your Majesty," Saitou replied, his voice steady as the princess's courage helped to lend him some as well.
"Proof. Give me proof."
He slowly opened the bucket that he had brought with him as he had taken the princess's advice and killed a wild boar that he had stumbled across. It had given him a good fight, but his wounds were hidden under his clothing as he had changed before going back before his queen.
She peered in, a vindictive smile on her lips. When she saw the fresh heart sitting inside, she started to laugh. Saitou glanced away as she was starting to scare him even more than before. Even so, she didn't seem to notice that he was still there. Kneeling in front of it, she reached in with both hands and pulled it out with no hesitation.
"It's beautiful," she murmured like she was talking about crystal artwork or fine jewellery. "Why, if I could, I would have it preserved and displayed in my room! No longer is she a thorn in my side!"
"Is that all or do you need me for anything else?" Saitou asked softly, cutting into her commentary on the bloody heart she was holding.
"You? You're still here? I don't need you anymore. You never saw me and I never saw you. This conversation never happened. If anyone finds out, you understand what will happen…"
"Yes, your Majesty. No one knows what happened and no one will."
"Good, then get the hell out of my sight."
Nodding slightly in response, Saitou stood in a half bow and shuffled his way out of the private area, back into the entryway of her bedroom. When he was outside, he glanced around cautiously to check for anyone who might have seen him there. The hallway was empty and he quickly dashed off, his heart beating at a million miles a minute. Thanks to the princess, he got out of this unscathed. Now all he had to do was lock himself in his room and pray earnestly for her health and safety as she was out in the woods by herself.
