Chapter Eight: Lord Karpusi made a promise.


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My husband normally didn't leave the castle. He had too much paperwork to do something silly like that, but this was a different time. Ludwig was determined to go restrengthen the alliance between our kingdoms. I was not going to be the one to stop him: I loved him too much. I did snicker, though, when he announced this during one of his then common visits to my study. Hopefully, I did not do it too loudly. I don't remember just how loud I was.

So my 117 cm tall husband got together a small group of 'companions' for the long journey up river. I hid my smile behind my sleeve as I saw them ride off into the Kigi. Then I scurried off to find one of my favorite lords.

Asking around, I finally found that Lord Karpusi was snoozing dreamily against the water fountain we had passed on the night I had found some comfortable companionship. I smiled at the sight. Kittens of all kinds certainly seemed to like Karpusi-san. I could even see the larger tail of a Cheshire Cat peeking out from the other side of the fountain. This was probably the little boy, whoever he was before. Patrich or something along those lines.

I passed between the pillars to go sit with him. Karpusi-san was slumped in-between the curves of the heart-shaped fountain and I wished that I didn't have to disturb his slumber. However, before I could do so, the little boy peaked out and noticed me. With a disgusted face, he scrunched his nose at me. I shooed him away, and he went running. Sighing, I looked back over at the olive-skinned man beside me. If I was not married to the King... I really shouldn't have thought like that.

Carefully, I leaned in to peak his cheek. When he did not wake up, I slipped a scroll from my sleeve onto his lap. He was to find it there, as if by magic, long after I had left. He would unroll it and notice it was from me with great fondness. He would then read that Lord Annan was accompanying King Ludwig on his trip to Ideals' Castle. Him and Lord Annan both seemed at a secret challenge to win my affections. He would also read that he, too, was supposed to be in the King's company, but that the King was probably already at Il Tirrenica Fiume by the time he was reading this scroll. This would make him greatly upset since this meant that if he was to go, he would need his own boat or have to travel on foot. Neither was a pleasant prospect considering boats are costly even just to rent and it is a long walk to get cheaper prices in Rome. Then he would read his prospect job and feel sick in the stomach, but he would do it anyway since either he would do it or Annan-san would. My favor would go to the one who did this job. Grimly, he would read my post script that a boat would be waiting for him at Kigi's Port and not to worry. He would do fine.

What I did not know was that Lord Karpusi would intend to visit me before his departure. I was sitting with my guests by a fireplace in my chambers when Tsukiko came to me. Watching Lady Lili work on her emboridery was simply amazing, but I was forced to look away as Tsukiko told me Lord Karpusi wished to be admitted into my chambers. Looking apologetically at my small group, I stood up to met him in my study.

I was met with him pacing the width of my study. Smiling sadly, I asked him what bothered him so. Karpusi-san was not one to get so agitated unless Annan-san was in the room. He gave me a hard gaze, before letting a low hum go and he then sat down at my table. Though this is considerably rude of him, I overlooked it. I suppose he had a right to be agitated.

"...Is this too much to ask of you?" I finally asked after sitting down at the table, my legs folded carefully underneath myself.

Splaying his hands over the desk, I noticed how stiff his shoulders were. "No. I just want to know... Is this really...necessary?" He looked up with a cold gaze, one I've never seen before on his normally contemplative face. It didn't suit him, to say the least.

"Hai, it is. This man has spoken horribly of me-" Karpusi-san huffed. "-and has threatened my well being along with the well being of Lovers' Castle." This caught his attention, and for a split second he looked shocked. Then he hardened once more.

"I see..If this is the case..." I blinked innocently at him. Looking down at his hands, then back at me, he asked, "When...does that boat leave?"

"Whenever you board it, Karpusi-san." Smiling, I stood up offering him my hand. He stood as well, coming around the table, and gently held my hand. My only slightly fairer skin stood out against his olive tan. He bowed his beautiful, brunette head over my hand, and gave it a light kiss. Letting it go, he stood up to look back into my eyes.

"...Thank you..for this...-" He searched the ceiling for the answer to a question that hadn't be asked. "-opportunity...to prove myself to you," He finished his speech, his face sincere with care and thought.

"You are very much welcomed. But please, you must hurry now. Annan-san and our King must already be at Rome by now."

"Yes..you are right," With those words said, he stood there awkwardly before he noticed my slightly annoyed face.

"Is there something else?" I asked, trying to suppress my need to just kick him out already.

He surprised me by gathering both of my hands from their folded position in front of myself to be kissed by his lips once more. "I will win your favor, my Queen." He promised me before he let me go, taking long strides out the door and off to Clubs.

My faced was tinged red long after I had rejoined my company by the fireplace.

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Foreign Languages' English Translations.

117 cm roughly equals three feet and eight inches in U.S. customary units.

Kigi is a Japanese term for 'many trees' and is commonly referred to as the forest that separates many of the Japanese citizens from the Italians that rest to the north of the forest.

Il Tirrenica Fiume is an Italian named river that is north of the Kigi. This river passes the city of Rome to connect to two rivers even farther north, San Giuliano to the west and Ruscello Garda to the north. Il Tirrenica Fiume has the literal meaning of The Tyrrhenian River in English translation.

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