The Clover Prince

Chapter Eight

Word Count: 6,779

Rating/Warnings/ Summary: Same as prologue

Author's Note: Oh, this one. A doozy and a half, almost making me regret the choice I made way back in the beginning about a character and their role.

Hopefully this still works.


Eight

"You know him?"

Kokoa didn't know if any of this was real. She didn't think it could be. She knew that she'd had little choice when Lord Ikki forced her to come to the party, and she'd almost refused to change her clothes, but he'd made sure that she understood how much worse a party like this would be if she wasn't dressed up in finery that wasn't hers. Still, ever since she found out the tutor was actually Kent the crown prince, she hadn't felt right, all twisted about and confused by the fear and the hurt and the bewilderment of what she now knew.

She forced herself to swallow. The man she'd called Shin had not responded, just stared at her with a coldness that was frightening, making her want to hide behind Kent. She looked over at Kent again. "I... I suppose I don't. I just... his eyes reminded me of someone I used to know."

She lowered her head. That couldn't be Shin. He'd been adopted out of the orphanage, had a family, but seeing him here—it was because that man called himself Toma, wasn't it? Yet he'd said... he was a prince, too? So... No, of course that wasn't Shin. That couldn't possibly be Shin.

"His eyes?" Toma turned to study his companion. "Yeah, they would be rather memorable, wouldn't they? Still, it's a bit uneven, isn't it? You know our names, but we don't know yours. Kent, care to make some introductions?"

"No."

She looked over at him, frowning, and a bit worried by the scowl on his face, but then she heard something that made everything else seem to fade.

"Kokoa."

She choked, her eyes darting back to Shin. That... that was really him? The same Shin she'd known before, at the orphanage? How was that possible? He wasn't—he was an orphan, not a prince, wasn't he? How could this be happening? Was she dreaming? She had just dreamt up the whole thing, from Kent being the crown prince to seeing Shin again.

"Oh, so you do know her, Shin. Nice of you to actually say something."

"Shut up, Toma."

Toma ignored him, giving her a wide smile and a slight bow. "I am, as I mentioned before, called Toma, and you seem to know my brother, Shin."

"Your brother?" Kokoa thought she heard herself squeak a bit as she asked it, and she winced. That was so wrong. "But... you're a prince..."

Toma seemed amused by that. "Why is that a problem? You're already keeping company with the crown prince, aren't you?"

"Oh. No. We're not—it's not like that. This is..." She stepped back, almost bumping into Kent. He moved out of the way, and she stumbled over her dress. She let out a small cry, knowing she'd be embarrassed even if it didn't hurt, and if she ruined this thing Ikki made her wear, she could never repay him for it. The fabric alone must have been a year wages if not more.

She touched the floor with a wince, grimacing as she did, not sure how many people had seen that, but she still wanted nothing more than to run from the room and hide somewhere forever.

"You could have helped her a little there," Toma chided as he stepped forward to offer her a hand. "Allowing a lady to fall like that when just a little touch would have steadied her..."

"It would have been worse for her if I had," Kent said, though he sounded quite miserable, and she saw that look that passed for an apology from him on his face. He turned to Waka, who had once again appeared from nowhere. "Take her home. Please."

Waka nodded, passing Kent a goblet. "Very well. Let me find someone I trust to—"

"You," Kent said. "There is no one else to trust. Ikkyu should never have involved her at all."

"My priority is your safety."

"Don't make me make it an order."


Waka would obey, were it to be given. Though he must ultimately answer to Raijin, Kent was the crown prince, and even before he was, his orders were given all due weight unless they conflicted with the king's. Even then, Waka would favor Kent's orders if obeying them would not get either of them killed, nothing that would be considered treason. Kent being Kent would never put him in that position.

He knew what he was doing in asking Waka to take that girl back to the tavern.

Waka did not know if Kent realized what it said about his feelings that he was making the request. He had a kinder heart than most people knew, and he would not want anyone else involved in this matter, unlike Ikki, who had drawn others into the matter in a very irresponsible way.

"No exception for your mistress?" Lord Shin scoffed. "And giving orders? The crown prince thing has gone to your head. Guess they picked the right one. You're acting more like your father all the time."

The girl stared at the young prince, horrified. Next to Waka, Kent tensed. That last bit was a deliberate provocation—the visiting prince could hardly be ignorant of Kent's reaction to nearly anything to do with King Raijin—and it had hurt the girl, too.

She had held onto this one, this former friend, as she could not hold onto the boy she'd tried to help, the one who'd died. She had likely idealized her friend into someone he was not, the one she'd followed so long ago to find a boy chained in a shack.

And now that ideal had betrayed her with harsh words and scorn.

"Whatever your feelings towards me," Kent said with a coldness that was not formality, "you should not say such things about any woman. To call into question her virtue in such a manner, in such a place, speaks to your own bitterness and lack of character. There is nothing dishonorable about this woman or our previous interactions. I had thought it might be best to excuse myself and allow you to speak privately for the sake of your reunion, but I would hardly want her left alone with you."

Waka knew this could not continue. "This conversation has already drawn too much attention."

Kent glanced toward Raijin, whose eyes were upon them even now, and he grimaced. "It will not be enough if she leaves now. I… Perhaps it is best the blame rest on Ikkyu. She is unknown enough that Raijin will not be able to find her once she leaves, no life at court to ruin with a poor reputation. I… will go speak to him."

Waka did not argue or stop him, much as he wanted to, nor was it easy to contain the fury he now felt. This should not have been necessary. Ikki had thought he was helping in giving Kent a companion he trusted, but that trust could not keep her safe, and Kent was about to sacrifice more to keep her that way. Her connection to the other princes was surprising though not impossible for someone like Waka who knew the young man's origin. Still, Raijin would use anyone Kent showed interest in against him, and that meant this girl could be his death if they were not careful.

"You humiliated me, Shin," she said, her voice a bit shaky as she lifted her head to face him. "I… I would never have believed the worst of you in the way you just did me."

"You knew him in the orphanage," Toma said, and she gaped at him. "Yes, that explains it. You would have been surprised to find him here, and that also would explain why he'd be so defensive and would believe the only way you ended up at such a party was as someone's mistress."

"Stop it," she said, though her voice lacked its earlier strength. "Just… stop."

Toma did not, though he glanced at his brother and back at her with an expression that almost seemed to be sympathy. "Not everyone knows about that part. The orphanage."

She shook her head like she didn't want to believe it, just as she'd tried to deny Waka's words when she was a child. "No. That's not—"

"It is."

She shuddered. Waka did not explain his words, though they were no less true for his lack of elaboration. Few others were in a position to know exactly what the circumstances of the second prince's origin were, and knowing those facts made it easy to understand the sensitivity he'd shown. Life in that palace for Lord Shin was probably close to what Lord Ikki felt here, though the reasons were not quite the same.

"That secret… It's kind of a long and ugly story, an unpleasant one at that," Toma went on, and Shin elbowed him, hard. "Ouch."

"Shut up. You don't need to go on blabbing all that. You and your big mouth. How the hell do you know to trust her? Just because she knows that part doesn't mean anything. She was with Kent, or have you forgotten that? We may be here for a peace treaty, but that doesn't make him a friend."

"None of us want war, and in that sense, we're allies. Maybe I don't know everything about your friend, but you told me enough in those early days, didn't you? The way you spoke about her back then, I'd never have expected you to be so cold and cruel to her now, even if you are that way with almost anyone these days."

"I don't think I should hear any more of this." She turned to Waka, and to his surprise, she swallowed down her distaste for him, having lost none of her boldness. "I'd like to leave now. Please."


Ikki frowned as he saw Ken make his way back to his father's side. Why would he willingly subject himself to Raijin's company? He hadn't summoned his son, they'd all have known if he did, but for some reason, Ken had gone anyway. He looked over to find Waka standing with Kokoa and the two western princes.

Oh, damn.

He tugged on Sawa's arm, and she glared at him again, still blaming him for dragging her along to this, and with each noblewoman who flirted with him, her opinion him seemed to sink further and further. He would not be surprised if she hated him, which was a shame because she seemed to have a spark a lot of these noblewomen lacked, a lot more energy and vitality than the tired old guard.

"Come on. Time to see your friend."

She didn't protest as he led her over to the group, coming up just as Shin went off on another angry tirade. He wasn't surprised—Shin seemed to be in a permanent state of ire, angry with the king, the queen, and even his brother, to the point where saying he hated the world might not be wrong.

"None of us want war, and in that sense, we're allies. Maybe I don't know everything about your friend, but you told me enough in those early days, didn't you? The way you spoke about her back then, I'd never have expected you to be so cold and cruel to her now, even if you are that way with almost anyone these days."

"I don't think I should hear any more of this," Kokoa said, turning to Waka. "I'd like to leave now. Please."

"Oh, but the night is young, and I haven't gotten a dance yet," Ikki said, making her eyes go wide with both horror and fury. Now that was something to see, wasn't it? No wonder Ken liked this one. She had spirit.

"I'm not dancing with you."

"For your own safety, you probably should," Waka told her, and her eyes seemed to get even wider than before, which shouldn't have been possible. "As long as Raijin believes you mean something to Kent, you are in danger. That is why Kent said that putting the blame on Ikki was best. If Raijin believes you are nothing more than his latest diversion, you are safe."

"That's so wrong. Why should she have to act like a tart when it's all Ikki's fault to begin with?" Sawa demanded. "We didn't even want to come, but he made us, and then he told us it was because Kent was in danger—which puts us in danger—and the solution is trading away the only thing we have of value? If people believe we're that kind of woman, we lose everything. We have to give up work in the tavern, and while that's not an easy life, it's been a decent one, almost good, and better than we could have expected in the orphanage. Now you want us to lose everything because Kokoa made the mistake of getting lessons from a man she didn't know was the crown prince?"

Shin's brow creased. "Lessons?"

Toma frowned. "You didn't know about Kent?"

Kokoa winced. "I… No. Kent isn't known by the public hardly at all. We only know the rumors—all he does is study, he locked himself away in some tall tower and only cares about books… He seemed like someone who hated the common folk, that he thought he was better than us… No one knew what he looked like. Even though he'd been to the tavern before, we never knew who he was and assumed after he was willing to teach me to read that he was just a tutor. He never said otherwise."

"Of course not. Advertising that fact would have been foolish given the state of the kingdom and Prince Ukyo's unknown fate. Even now, it is dangerous for him." Waka's words did not reassure anyone, though Toma and Shin did seem to understand a little, more than the girls, who were still angry over Ken's decision to withhold the truth of his identity.

"Can't say I blame him," Toma said. "I'd like to be able to go out in public in my country without everyone knowing who I am. Shin can still do it sometimes, but not me. That's why I like coming here. After our diplomatic duties are done, Ikki usually takes us somewhere no one knows us, and it makes the whole trip worth it."

"You're an idiot," Shin told him, and Ikki had to laugh because Shin liked it just as much as Toma did. He just wouldn't admit it. He might even like it more, since he was the one everyone talked about back home. Those ugly rumors about his parentage and origin made his life worse than Ikki's as a puppet.

"Don't fear ladies. Underneath all that snarl, Shin's really a big puppy with a kind heart."

"Shin?" Sawa asked, turning to gape at him. "No. It… No. That's not… The eyes are the same, but that can't be him."

"It's him," Kokoa whispered. "Though a part of me wishes it wasn't. Can we go now? If it takes a dance, then let's dance. I can't dance, but I've already been humiliated enough, and I want to go home. I want to see Orion, and I… I think I hate you for this, Lord Ikki."

He knew that was likely to happen when he made her come with him. He had accepted that. He figured it was a bit of a shame—she was cute—but he had a feeling that she would never have been his anyway, not even for a night.

"Kokoa—"

"Don't, Shin," she said, reaching for Ikki's hand and almost dragging him toward the dance floor.


"I really don't know how to dance," she admitted as soon as she was alone with Ikki again. She didn't want to do this, but she didn't want to die, either, and Waka did not seem like a man to joke about anything, least of all how much trouble she was in just for being here. "So please…"

"Don't worry," Ikki told her with a bit of a smile. "I'll help you, and no one will ever know."

She sighed. She should never have come. She wished she hadn't, but then she hadn't had a choice. She felt Ikki's hand on her back and stiffened, making him laugh. He took her hand and placed it on his shoulder before reclaiming the other and starting to move.

"You have to relax a little or this will never work."

"I can't help being nervous. I know I can't dance, and I feel like everyone's watching us. I already fell once tonight, and Shin was so horrid I actually wish I hadn't seen him again even if I've been wondering for years how he was and hoping he was well after he was taken from the orphanage and I—why did he have to be so mean? Why did you have to bring me here?"

Ikki sighed. "I told you—Ken's in danger, and I didn't want him alone tonight. Of course, it didn't work how I'd hoped, but I had do to something anyway. He's my best friend and everyone's best hope. Raijin's a monster, everyone knows that, and Ukyo could never oppose him and wouldn't last long past getting the throne, but Ken… he's strong and he'd do what's best for everyone even if he hates being a prince and doesn't want to be king."

Kokoa swallowed, feeling sick again. "Why would you think I would be any help? I can't fight for him. All I managed to do was make a fool of myself."

"Ken can't even accept a drink from a servant without worrying. All the nobles crowd him looking for favor, and not that long ago, Raijin accused me of seducing the princess from the south and banned Ken from talking to me. That leaves him basically isolated during these things, and anything could happen. Toma says we're allies, but allies are not friends, and there's still no guarantee that Raijin isn't working with someone from the west who wants a war, which means it's not necessarily safe for Ken to be around the princes even if we do have an odd sort of… friendship given our relatively equal social status."

"What?"

Ikki laughed again. "Well, to be fair, Shin and I aren't in the same level as Toma who is a legitimate prince conceived within marriage and all that, not that I wasn't but I've got no kingdom, so I don't rank as high. Shin's the product of the western king's affair with Raijin's queen which is a big scandal that most people don't know about, not that the current queen of the west would let him forget it, and since Toma actually cares about his brother, he hates his mother and his father. That kind of unites us in a way, since we all dislike the current rulers. Ken ranked below Ukyo and Toma before, but now… he sort of outranks us all as this country is technically more powerful than anywhere else with the southern alliance."

Kokoa grimaced. She had broken all sorts of rules—laws—when it came to her association with Kent, and she should be dead because she had touched him and that was illegal—but now, to hear that… She was sick, and she was scared. Nothing could be the same.

"Hey, none of that now," Ikki said, and she stared at him. He nudged her with his hand to keep her doing this dance of theirs. She didn't even know what she was doing. "You're worried. I understand that, but you have to look happy or this whole dance is for nothing."

"How can you say that? How do you act like this is nothing? Is that how you feel?"

"Of course not. I hate this life. I drink to excess to avoid it. I chase the fleeting moments of pleasure and freedom that I can find, and it gets harder and harder to bear each day, but I told you—Ken's our best hope, and I believe in him. I have since we were little and making up dumb math games that annoyed Ukyo. Ken has always been stronger than both of us, and while I assumed before that Ukyo with Ken as an adviser would be the answer… now it's all on him. It's why I'm desperate to protect him. I've got selfish reasons and pure reasons and a lot of desperation, so yes, I dragged you into this, and I can't say I wouldn't do it again."

She supposed she could see why he would, but she didn't feel any better about it. She didn't want to die, and she didn't want to face Kent again. Or Shin. "Are we done now? Can I go?"

"I think another dance would be a good idea."


"That creature the pest dances with is somewhat appealing."

Kent looked over at Raijin, aware that the words were a trap. Agreeing would only convince the king that the girl had value to him, and denying it would not dissuade him, either, since he knew Kent would do so to spare her. He had no other option, since allowing Raijin to believe that she was of any interest or import would cause her harm.

"Ikkyu does like to divert himself with pretty ones."

"And you do not?" Raijin stepped closer to inspect him. "Should I be concerned that you would be incapable of producing an heir?"

"As any marriage I would be entering into would be arranged and I would have no say in whether or not the woman was appealing, her worthiness determined only by her nobility by birth, I believe there is little point in looking at anyone."

"So practical," Raijin smiled at him, and Kent's stomach twisted with the knowledge that he'd somehow trapped himself anyway. "Who would be suitable for you, do you think?"

Kent did not want to say. The only true option was the idiot from the south who had no thought in her head at all. She might have qualified as pretty, but Kent could not stand her. "That is for you to decide, isn't it?"

"I suppose it is." Raijin continued to smile, and Kent knew that what would come would be unpleasant. "It would be time for you to take a bride. You're of age and my heir. Yes… I think it best we take care of that soon."

"If you wish."

"So obedient," Raijin cooed at him, and Kent forced himself not to react as the king patted his cheek. "You are doing well tonight. It does not make up for your earlier transgression, of course. You did displease me greatly today. I have not forgotten."

Kent heard the threat, not that he had thought that the punishment from earlier was all that was coming. He knew better than that. "I did not think you would."

"Careful. That sounded almost defiant, and that would mean that we should take this conversation somewhere private so I can add the proper discipline to it."

Kent shook his head. "That is not necessary. My words were not intended as defiance."

"It is curious, though. I do not believe I have ever seen that girl at court before."

"Perhaps she is a part of the western delegation."

"I do not remember seeing her with them. Though it is true those sons of his were speaking to her earlier. Then again, so were you. Do you know so little about her, then?"

"She was some friend to Lord Shin," Kent said, since denying that would only cause him more pain later. "Though perhaps that was the wrong sort of word for their relationship. It seemed strained."

"Perhaps he tired of her as a lover."

"Why does your tone suggest you would take her as one?"

"You think her so undesirable? I told you she had some appeal, and my current toy is being defiant. I dislike that kind of behavior, as you know well."

Kent felt himself shudder, and he cursed himself for it as Raijin laughed.


"It was not enough."

Waka passed Kent another wine glass, which he emptied far quicker than he should have. That was not at all surprising, since Raijin would have been extremely unpleasant to deal with, even if only in conversation. Threats would have been made with every word, and Raijin rarely failed to carry through with those threats. He already intended to punish Kent when the night was over, and Waka knew there was no avoiding it.

"I suspected it might not be," Waka admitted. "Her presence gathered plenty of attention, as few know her and yet she was in the company of you and all the other princes in attendance."

"He threatened to make her his mistress."

Waka grimaced. He did not doubt that Raijin would, though anyone in her position was not given much choice in the matter, and when he tired of her, she would suffer the same as any he'd discarded. "He may intend that as a trap. He will act according to how you react—if you move to protect her, he will make sure she sees harm."

Kent nodded. "I believe you are correct, and yet… Ikkyu brought her here for my sake, and if she pays the price for my defiance… I do not wish that on her. On anyone."

"Which he knows which is why he is threatening her. You know this. Stay calm, ignore her, and give him no reason to believe you will aid her or defy him again."

"He knows I will defy him again. Not doing so would be intolerable."

"Yes, but you do not intend to do so tonight, do you?"

Kent looked away. "I would rather not go to him later as I know I must. I wish to run, but I know that only ends in more pain. This I have understood for so long, and yet the same impulse always comes to me when faced with this proposition."

"I do not wish to see you harmed." Waka could not say more than that. It would not be wise. "And yet there is too much truth in your words—avoid the punishment now and suffer more later."

"It… it wasn't him, was it? I didn't… that time… the one we don't speak of—that was not… because I had defied him, was it? I confess I no longer remember with any certainty."

Waka shook his head. "I do not believe so, but back then, I was not in as close company to any of you as I am at present."

"No, you were not. I… I suppose I take for granted your presence. I rely on it, but I expect it to be there when I have no true right to do so."

Waka frowned. "What did he say to you to shake your resolve so much? Or do you still doubt me? My loyalty is yours. It has been since our first meeting."

"That… makes no sense. I was only a child then. We both were."

Waka could not explain. The truth was that he hardly understood it himself, since Kent was not wrong about their ages at that first meeting. Still, there had been something to the child he'd met that day that had ensured Waka's loyalty all the same. In all the years since, he had not been disappointed, as Kent was intelligent and stubborn and would be a good king, much as he did not want the role.

"That does not make it less true."

"I have never known you to be absurd, yet you choose to be now? Why? Do my spirits seem so low you must act out of character to soothe me?" Kent shook his head. "No, that is ridiculous. I am fine, though this night seems endless. And I am too hot. I need air."

"Kent—"

"I do not intend to jump off the balcony. You need not follow me."

Waka shook his head. That was not what worried him. Kent was too strong to give into the idea of a quick out in death, and he would not stop before he knew what happened to his brother, not if he had any choice. "He could see that as a sign of your defiance."

"Oh, this is ridiculous. I take it back. I am jumping off the balcony," Kent muttered, and Waka found himself smiling despite everything.

"Let me get you another glass of wine."

"It is a pity you cannot bring the whole cask."

"I'll help you drink it," Toma said, rejoining them. "Though maybe we should give it to Shin. It might improve his mood."

"Is that even possible?"

Toma laughed. "Of course it is. He's not always this grumpy, but having his past come at him like that… He's upset, and not without reason. I mean, people here just assume he's the second son like any second son, but those girls… they knew him at the orphanage, and so he's defensive and moodier than usual. As are you, by the way."

"You were born to the role you occupy, yet you hate it. I have been forced into this position, and it was never meant to be mine. I do not know what has happened to my brother, and it is very possible that I will end up dead soon enough. Why should I be other than I am? I would not celebrate this change of fortune even were my brother safe."

"I wanted to ask you about that. We heard conflicting rumors, so we have no idea what's true and what's not. What happened to Ukyo?"

"No one knows."


"Kokoa."

She shuddered at the sound of her name, wishing she had not heard it. She knew it wasn't Ikki this time, he was still on the dance floor with Sawa, and all the noblewomen were glaring at them, since Sawa, with her natural grace, was much better at dancing than Kokoa had been.

She turned, wishing she didn't have to look. "Please leave me alone, Shin. Ikki promised after one more dance we could go home, and that's all I want now."

"I was surprised to see you here."

"I know that. It's why you insulted me, isn't it?" Kokoa shook her head. "I would never do that. You don't know how many men have come and expected me to fall at their feet, grateful for the offer to become their wife or mistress, thinking I'd prefer that over working hard for my keep and Orion's, but I never wanted them. Not any of them. That's not who I am, but you… you thought I was. You humiliated me more than when I fell on my butt in front of a room full of nobles."

Shin grimaced. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. They didn't let me go anywhere on my own during our visits here, not at first, and by the time I could come and go as I pleased, the orphanage had been shut down. I didn't know where to find anyone. I didn't expect to see you with Kent, of all people."

"He's not that bad a man. He was… surprisingly kind to me all things considered," Kokoa said, still mixed up about that as well. "He didn't have to teach me, but he did. He listened to me and never treated me as poorly as you did, not even when we argued."

Shin shook his head. "You don't know what it's been like, and what was I supposed to think? I know you're a commoner by birth, don't I? The only reason you'd be with a noble like him was as a mistress. That's how it works in this world."

"Not for me. Kent never so much as touched me."

"Good."

She frowned. "And just who are you to say that to me? You're not my brother. You and I are strangers now, and whatever illusions I had of us being what we were was shattered the moment you opened your mouth. You weren't that cruel when we were younger, and if this is what you're like now, maybe I don't want to know you now. I… I'm glad you're alive. Others aren't, others weren't so lucky, but you're alive and so am I. I'm grateful for that much."

"You can really hate me over a few words? That's not the you I remember, either."

She sighed. "Do you know what it was like after you left? No. And do you know what it was like when they closed the orphanage? No. Did you judge me anyway? Yes. I'm not perfect, I know that, and most people wouldn't think much of me or what I do, but it gives me and Orion a roof over our heads and food to eat. And I didn't sell my body in any way—not as a whore or a wife—to get it. I'm different now, and maybe I'm not so forgiving as I used to be, but I'm not a child any longer. Not long after you left, actually, I learned just how hard and cruel this world could be. A boy I knew… his eyes still haunt me… he died and I couldn't stop it. I tried to help him, promised him I would, but I didn't. I couldn't save him. I don't have the same faith in the world that I once did. Not after that. Not after years working in a tavern and seeing men at their worst after a few drinks. I… I don't want to hate you. I don't want to—it hurts. What you said hurts, and knowing you were not the only one thinking that makes it worse and… Kent didn't tell me he was the crown prince. He didn't say he wasn't, but still… I just learned the truth today. I didn't know. Not about him or about you. And nothing makes sense now except… I know it hurts."

"I thought you'd get adopted, too. That you'd find a family."

"I have Orion and Sawa."

Shin nodded. "Yeah, you do."

"Toma seems nice."

"He's an idiot."

"That doesn't make him less nice or mean you're not one, too," she said, and Shin actually smiled at her that time. "Maybe we all are."

"Maybe."

"I did miss you."

"Yeah."

She wanted to hit him for that. He didn't get to act so above her, even if he was a prince now. "I'm going now. I should have never come, even if… well… it's… It's complicated, seeing you again. I'm glad, but I'm not."

He nodded. "Same here."


"Waka?"

Kent tensed at the sound of her voice, rather wishing that he and Waka were not keeping company at the moment. He knew why she would be looking for the guard captain, and she was not wrong to do so—the one in the wrong was Ikkyu, who seemed to be abusing his position and keeping both women here well past when they should have left.

"You settle matters with Lord Shin?" Waka asked, and she frowned at him. "You did talk for some time, after all."

"Were you spying on me?"

"I observe everyone at a function like this. That is my duty," Waka answered. "If I did not watch, the threat could come undetected, and I would fail in my obligation to protect the royal family."

"Oh. Yes. Of course." She was red again. "Um… will you take me home? Ikki promised he would, but I don't even see him on the dance floor now, and it's late. I don't want to be here, but I don't even know how to get out of this castle and… um… I don't want to get lost and cause more trouble."

"I'd be willing to escort you," Toma offered, "only I don't know where I'm going, either. I've been out of the castle, and I can get us to town, but where do you call home?"

"Stop it, Toma. You're as bad as Ikki."

"I am not," Toma protested, facing Shin. "I was making a friendly gesture to a lady in distress, not flirting like Ikki would."

Kent rubbed his forehead, hearing a clunk as he did. "Damn it."

She reached down to pick up the crown and held it out to him. "Here. Though it really doesn't suit you. It's too small, and I think—you're not wearing your glasses. Can you see properly without them?"

"To a point," Kent said. He was not blind without the glasses, but it could be difficult, especially in crowds or low light. "You should not have picked it up. Taking it from you would be improper. Give it to Waka, please."

She frowned, but did as he asked, handing it over to Waka, who took it and did not offer it to him. Once it fell off, Kent could not put it back on until Raijin did it, and he did not feel like abasing himself to get it back when he didn't want to wear it in the first place.

"Only the king can put it back on," Toma said. "It's annoying, but at least mine fits so that doesn't happen too often to me. Shin's used to be a problem like that, but for him, I was allowed to put it back on. Privilege of being the heir, not that it's much of one."

"Oh."

"The tedium and rules of this world are endless," Kent told her. "It's best to ignore and forget them, as much as you can. Ikkyu should never have brought you into it, and I do not know what he was thinking."

"He said it was for you."

"He is a fool. A desperate one, even." Kent shook his head. "It is regrettable he saw you earlier. If he had not been there—"

"He made those guards stop, didn't he? Or would you have actually told those guards who you were if he hadn't basically done it?"

"Waka stopped them, not Ikkyu, and no. I don't make a habit of announcing my presence anywhere if it is not absolutely necessary, and it wasn't. They were in the wrong as they were violating the law. That baker was not enough in arrears for his rent to be arrested and evicted legally. Had you not reacted as emotionally as you did, the situation may well have ended differently."

"Are you saying it's my fault?"

"I am saying that you were impulsive, as seems to be common with you based on the behavior that I have observed thus far. You speak your mind more freely than you perhaps should, especially in unknown company where you are at a disadvantage. Your brother is worse, though he is a child so there may be some allowances made for his age."

"And I'm a hopeless case, am I?"

"I didn't say that. Why are you twisting everything I do say about like this? You're being more unreasonable than usual." Kent frowned at her, confused. Was this because of Shin? Or was she persisting in blaming him for concealing his unwanted title from her? He didn't tell anyone about that. She was far from the only one he had not mentioned it to—the only people who knew were ones he knew here, at court, where they'd known him since he was a child.

"Did you two forget there were other people in this room?" Toma asked, sounding amused. "Because I swear none of us were with you for most of that conversation."

"Uh..." She flushed, looking very much like she wanted to hide. "I… we were just talking."

"It's actually always like that with them," the other barmaid said as she and Ikkyu joined them. "Come on, Kokoa. It's time to go home."

"I… Yes… I… Goodbye, Kent." She hurried over to Ikkyu's side with the other woman. For his part, Ikkyu said nothing, just nodding to them as he led the women away.

Kent watched her go, aware that she did not expect him to return to the tavern again now. True, he likely wouldn't, though not for the reason she assumed. His identity was not the problem. His survival was. He did not even know if he would live to see the morning.

And he supposed if she did know that, she'd be mad at him for not telling her.

He shook his head. It was of no matter now. He had to go to the king and accept his punishment.