Chapter 9
Midnight and a New Search
Once they are in the courtyard, seated with their masks safely strapped to their belts, Mika brings Yuu close. Just as they are about to share their first kiss, the clock tower starts to chime, causing Yuu to glance over to the tower as dread washes over him. Both hands on the clock were on the midnight position.
Now that it's midnight, Yuu tries to get to his feet and hurry back to the coach before the twelfth stroke, but Mika holds him in place. "What's wrong, Yuu-chan?"
Struggling to free himself, Yuu doesn't look Mika in the eyes as tears form in his. He really wants nothing more than to stay with Mika, but Sayuri had told him that he must be at home before the stroke of twelve. Once he manages to free himself, Yuu says sadly as he backs away, "I'm sorry, Mika, but I have to go."
"Yuu-chan, please don't. Tell me where I can find you." Mika stands, reaching out to him, begging him not to leave.
"I'm sorry, but there isn't enough time for me to tell you. Goodbye." Yuu turns and runs inside, removing his mask from his belt, replacing it on his face before Mahiru sees him, Mika running after him.
After Mika had called out to him to wait, all the other girls and boys gathered around the prince, stopping him in his tracks. Turning to Guren, Mika gives him an order, "Please stop him, Guren!"
"Yes, your Highness." Guren quickly bows in understanding and follows after Yuu.
With the Grand Duke right behind him, Yuu hurries into the coach with Narumi ushering him inside. Once he is in, Narumi jumps back onto his post on the coach and Kimizuki snaps the reigns, Asuramaru taking off in a run to return back to the chateau as quickly as possible before the strokes end.
With each stroke as they draw close to the chateau, Yuu can't help feel his heart tighten. Tonight had been so perfect and he did not want to leave Mika's side again, but he did promise Sayuri that he would be home before the final stroke.
Just as the twelfth stroke sounds off, the spell comes undone as everything returns to normal just as they reach the chateau, the pumpkin getting trembled by the guards that had been sent after them. With the guards now gone, Yuu sighs. "Forgive me, guys. Tonight was perfect that I forgot about everything, especially the time. Now I'm not sure if I'll see him again."
Knowing full well who he is referring to, Narumi and Kimizuki sit beside Yuu, giving him comfort. "Don't worry, Yuu. One way or another, I just know the prince will find you." Narumi says, reassuring him with Kimizuki nodding in agreement.
With such strong support, Yuu smiles and thanks the two of them. So, Yuu takes ahold of Asuramaru's reigns and he leads them back home, with Yoichi, Tomoe and Mirai waiting for them.
Back at the palace, the last of the guests have left for the night, including Lady Mahiru. With her gone, Mika didn't get a chance to ask her where she lives so he could find Yuu. Now, the prince stands before the gates, looking out far, searching for where Yuu had gone. His ring still in his hand, Mika releases a single sigh. "Forgive me, prince, but I'm afraid the troops couldn't find him." Guren says as he approaches the saddened teen.
"No need to apologize, Guren. I just wish I knew where Mahiru lives. I do know he lives with her."
"Don't worry, prince. We'll find someone who does know where Lady Mahiru's residence is. But for now, I'm worried about how we're going to tell the king about this." Guren becomes worried of how Sirius will react to the news of Yuu getting away.
"Leave the talking to me, Guren. He'll understand." With that decided, Guren and Mika head back inside the palace for the king's bedchamber to find him still asleep, a smile across his face indicating that he is having a very good dream. They really didn't want to interrupt his dream, but he has to know of what they came up with.
Clearing his throat, Guren says loud enough to wake up the king, "Your sire, we came to talk to you."
At the sight of the duke and his son, Sirius is then wide awake as he assume that Mika has proposed. "So have you proposed already, Mikaela?"
"Father, we need to…" Mika starts but then is cut off with his father cheering.
"Excellent! We must prepare for the wedding immediately!" Sirius springs to his feet.
This greatly annoys Mika. "Father, listen to me!" His tone had left the king confused. "We came to inform you that he left."
To hear the news, the king went from confused to enraged. "WHAT?!"
Just as Sirius glares daggers at Guren, Mika stands protectively between the king and the duke. "But we have an idea of how to find Yuu-chan."
At those words, Sirius simmers down a bit as he asks, "Oh, really? Do tell, your plan and this boy."
"First, do you remember mother's friend, Lady Angelique?" Mika asks. At the name, Sirius does remember a fair maiden that was a very close friend of his queen Anahita so he nods. "Yuichiro is the son of Lady Angelique and Lord Frnos."
To now know who his parents were left Sirius completely surprised to hear about this noble child. "Do you love this boy and plan to marry him?" Mika simply nods, causing his father to smile as he learns more about the boy that had won his son's heart. "Alright then, tell me your plan, son."
"I know he lives with Lady Mahiru, but I do not know where their residence is. So my plan is to ask around the kingdom to see who can lead me in the right direction."
"Great thinking. When shall you start your search?"
"As much as I want to search all night, it's best if I start tomorrow at first light."
With how his son is thinking, Sirius couldn't be any more proud of how wise his son has become. "Excellent thinking, Mikaela. Perhaps I can be of some help by creating a new royal proclamation to help in the search."
This brings a smile to the prince's face. "I would like that very much, father."
"Now then off to bed with you. You'll need to be well rested for your search. I'll work on the proclamation."
Mika bows in understanding. "Yes, father." With that, Mika leave to do just that as Sirius goes to his office to get right to work on the royal proclamation.