Chapter 10
Kahoko inspected her surroundings.
The room's four walls of grey bricks greeted her dully. There was a tapestry of the royal family insignia on her right, two armchairs near the fireplace on her left. The wooden floor was covered mildly in dust.
'They should send a maid up to clean the room,' she thought quietly to herself.
The wooden door groaned open, signalling the entry of her client. Turning to face the door, she held her breath as a tuft of cerulean hair came into view.
One week ago:
"Kahoko-chan!" an all too familiar voice shrilled, jerking her awake in the mere seconds she had in dreamland.
Kahoko groaned in frustration. There goes her beauty sleep. She was sore, tired from a gruelling 12 hours-long arse wiping session with some of the recruits. Kanazawa had recently recruited more wannabe youngsters on large doses of stupidity and brawn over brains. Thinking they are so high and mighty just cause their daddy's had rotten cash in their pockets.
"Don't you dare sleep in on me woman," the voice pulled away her fluffy blanket, "You've much to do, especially as you're to accompany me today."
Cracking an eye open against the sunlight streaming through her windows, she was greeted by the sight of an overly excited Nami Amou. Bright blue eyes shining with mischief, the young woman abruptly pulled Kahoko out of the bed by her legs and onto the floor.
"What was that for?!" the assassin growled. Rubbing her sore bottom, Kahoko strode to her private bathroom. Red roses with spots of chamomiles floated on the surface of her warm bath. Shedding her nightgown and submerging herself, she let out a sigh.
"You're welcomed for the bath by the way. Thank me for being such a considerate friend," Nami huffed.
Kahoko merely hummed back.
She settled herself on Kahoko's four-poster bed, fiddling with her honey ginger braid. They were off to the market today, for some needless shopping and gossip. Well, this was Nami's usual off day but she wanted to get her good friend out for some fresh air. Especially knowing that the young woman had a certain encounter with a cerulean haired lad.
Clad in her usual get-up of trousers and loose cotton shirt, Nami began to ponder on her next partimen. Being one of the few trobairitz in Seisou, let alone across the Four Seas, many royals sought after her pieces. She worked hard, despite her humble origins as a daughter of bakers, her passion for writing to capture the essence of the political strive of the kingdoms never dwindled. She was indebted to the Maestro for introducing her to King Tsukimori who bestowed her with an official title and steady income.
Hearing soft splashes of water from the other side of the blind, Nami rose from the bed and strode over to where her friend was changing. Kahoko strode out in a pair of black leather trousers and loose cotton shirt, braiding her mildly damp hair.
"So, what's your agenda today? It'd better be good if you're dragging me out instead of Mori."
"You will like what I've planned today," Nami gushed as Kahoko put on her newly bought boots. "We are going to drop by this new delightful café I found, shop around the market, earn some silvers from those old geezers."
"You can tempt those sleazebags. I ain't going anywhere near those creeps."
"Lighten up a bit you prude. We are here for a good time, not a long time." Nami huffed. Both women strode out of the room, heading towards the stables for their horses.
"Whatever you say. I know you're here to quench your curiosity."
At the stables, Kahoko settled onto her readied steed, with Nami following suit on her dark horse. Giving a nudge, they set out on a leisure pace towards the town.
"Well, it looks like I've been outed. Since you know what I want, then spill it out. What was he like?" Nami quipped from her steed.
"Rude."
"And?"
"That's all."
"What? Seriously?" Nami gasped. She expected more from the assassin, seeing as Grand Duke Shinobu won't stop fussing over the prince after the fateful encounter.
"Yeah. What else do you want me to say? It was less than a 10 minutes encounter." Kahoko quipped.
She tried to shove the image of the prince to the back of her mind. Ever since seeing him face to face, there was always this constant tug at the back of her mind. She had asked Lili about it but he remained mum. Kahoko suspected that it had something to do with Corda but she had not heard her violin's voice since her first encounter years ago.
Nami eyed Kahoko gingerly but decided not to push it. Knowing her companion, she would remain silent until she thinks it's the right time to reveal her thoughts. But, Nami's a woman – a stubborn and persistent one at that, and she will make her crack in no time. For now, she's here to spend some quality time with her good friend.
"I'm back," Kahoko announced as she strode into Kanazawa's study. "You called for me?"
The older male was sitting in an armchair near the fireplace of his study. A black bear skin rug carpeted her steps, the crackling fire casting an eerie shadow of its head. She sat promptly on the mahogany and gold chaise lounge, facing a quiet Maestro who merely nodded his head in greeting.
Kahoko sometimes wondered if Kanazawa had a twin hidden somewhere. The aloof mentor could be as cold as the snow in Salji at one moment, but as hot-tempered as the volcanoes in the Land of Sihir in mere seconds. Even after being under his care for years, interacting with him almost every day, she could never understand his temperament at times.
'Well, at least when it's business, he's professional,' she thought quietly to herself.
Fetching an opened letter on the oak console table on his right, he tossed it to Kahoko. Picking it up, she began reading the contents.
Maestro,
The royal family would like to acquire the services of the Deadly Melody as an accompaniment for an expedition to the Kingdom of Gellert for the signing of the Mosaic Treaty with His Majesty, King Tsukimori.
The journey to the Kingdom of Gellert is of a whole Second Summer. Departure is set at the break of dawn in one week. Meeting point as usual.
A total of 20 carts of gold, silvers, stones, and produce have been readied as payment. Another 5 carts added upon completion of the assignment, and the assurance of His Majesty's safety.
This letter with your seal, Maestro, is to be present at the meeting.
Concert Master.
"I'm rejecting the letter," Kanazawa spoke into the quiet room.
Kahoko looked at him pointedly, "You think I will take this chance to assassinate the king, aren't you?"
Kanazawa did not respond, choosing to quietly observe the burning fire. Church bells sound signalling the end of the day.
As the silence thickened, Kahoko unsheathed her dagger and laid it on the table between Kanazawa and her. His expression remained blank.
"You can choose to throw that blade at me right here and now. I won't dodge," she spoke clearly and calmly, the letter still in her hand.
The maestro weighed the small dagger in his hand. It was the very first dagger he had gifted her after her first successful mission at the age of 15. The blade gleamed in the firelight, the creed's motto: stadium craved onto it. The handle was slightly worn with the years of usage. The dagger had been stained with the blood of many sinners and innocents alike, will its mistress be its last meal?
With a flick of his hand, the dagger sailed across the table towards his pupil.
To land a mere hairbreadth from her neck. Embedding itself into the plush armchair.
"Disappointing." Kahoko chuckled darkly.
"I know you, Hino." The maestro strode over to his alcohol cabinet, pouring himself some mead. Leaning against the mantle of the fireplace, he pointed at Kahoko.
"You won't do it. It's too easy to just off the king in Gellert and pinning it on them. You would want to relish in his suffering, taste his desperation and fear. You aren't as merciful as you make yourself out to be."
Shaking her head at Kanazawa's statement, Kahoko went to his desk and melted the blood-red wax for the seal. Gesturing to the maestro's stamp, she proceeded to seal the letter with a nod from Hiroto.
"You may be right, or wrong. But you know I don't mix business with my agendas. Maybe I have forgiven what the Tsukimoris have done." She stowed the letter away and made her way out of the study.
Behind her, Kanazawa's voice murmured: "You wouldn't."
She clicked the door shut.
Present:
Kahoko bowed in the presence of King Tsukimori. The moment he entered, it was as if all the air was sucked out of the room, leaving only his intimidating presence. She quieted her heart, speaking neutrally:
"Deadly Melody at your service, Your Majesty King Tsukimori."
"Rise." The king answered.
She rose, head lowered, her hood keeping her masked face hidden. The king glanced at her momentarily, then promptly seated himself on one of the chairs in the room.
"Mistress Melody, there has been a change of plans."
The assassin held her breath, anticipating the new information.
"You are to accompany my heir, Crown Prince Tsukimori Len, on the journey to the Kingdom of Gellert. Compensation for such changes has been delivered to the Maestro as we speak. I trust that you will guard the prince as you are to guard me if I was on the journey."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I shall protect the Crown Prince with my life."
Behind her calm mask, her heart was going haywire. 'Protect the prince? What even?' she seethed. This wasn't what she had in mind for the journey. She thought it was going to be just another usual guard duty but to protect the man who plagued her thoughts non-stop? By Eva's name, she prayed she doesn't kill the prince with her own hands.
"Very well. Prince Len, you may enter. I leave his life in your hands, Mistress Melody. May Eva protect and grant you journey mercy." The king rose just as the prince entered. Bowing to his father, the prince maintained an air of indifference. Nodding to his son, King Tsukimori swiftly left the room, leaving the two adults in the room.
Silence and tension enveloped the room as Kahoko and Len stared at one another, neither saying a word to the other or offered any form of greeting. It was a battle of pride, to see who will be the first one to break. Kahoko knew it was rude to display such behaviour to royalty, especially to the Crown Prince of the kingdom. But she couldn't care less even if it was an act of defiance against the crown.
Len sighed. He had enough of this childish stare off between him and the woman opposite him. Scratched that, she was more of an assassin than a woman now with the way she was glaring at him. Settling himself in the seat his father sat, he spoke cautiously.
"Good to see you again, Mistress Melody," he gestured towards the seat opposite him. "Please take a seat. There are some matters we best discuss before we set out to Gellert."
Seating herself, Kahoko crossed her arms and continue to scowl at the prince.
"As we both know, we are the holders of the twin violins. I would like to apologise for my behaviour on our initial meeting. I overstepped my boundaries and made you uncomfortable. I hope you could forgive me."
The woman blinked in surprise. Was she hearing this right, the haughty prince is apologizing? Noticing her sceptical look, Prince Len continued.
"I understand that my apology may sound insincere but I would like both of us to get to know one another better. Seeing as we are part of the 'war', and probably in your mind, I'm the enemy. In all honesty, I would like no part in it." Len whispered the last part quietly.
'Want no part in this? Didn't he ask for this? Didn't his master or guardian choose him?' Kahoko thought.
"I hope we can reintroduce ourselves better this time around. So, I'll start. My name's Prince Len Tsukimori, Crown Prince of Seisou." He held out his hand to her.
Sensing the prince's sincerity, Kahoko smiled behind her mask. 'This journey may not be so bad after all.'
Taking the prince's hand, she introduced herself once more.
"Mistress Deadly Melody at your service, Your Royal Highness. Assassin, guard, and messenger at your beck and call."
Sparks suddenly irrupted between their joint hands. The familiar yet strange sensation tingled underneath their skin, making both parties withdraw their hands quickly. They felt flushed, the tension in the room becoming something borderline intimate. Coughing, the prince quietly excused himself and left the room.
Removing her domino mask, Kahoko caught her reflection in the glass window. Her cheeks were tinged red, her eyes shone a bit too brightly for her liking. If she dared to admit, she looked like those courtesans after a night of passion. Shaking herself out of her stupor, taking a breath, Kahoko steeled herself.
'Keep it together, Kahoko. Don't feel. Keep it in.'
Putting her mask back on, the assassin left the room swiftly toward the front courtyard where the rest of the travelling group gathered.
A small shadow floated out from the corner of the room, a mischievous smile on his face as he tinkled back to his master of the mountain.
A/N: Short one here. Swamped with online classes and am being called back to campus got me like :*)
