The Nightingale
Chapter 77: The real one
Autumn — x493 / October 6
—
My dear Kaien, my little prince with ebony hair...
As I write this letter and watch you sleep in your little crib, my heart fills with all those beautiful feelings that only a mother can have for her child. You are so small that all I want is to hold you in my arms and carry you with me all the time, protect you from everything in this castle and make sure that nothing, and no one, hurts you.
My dear son, my beloved boy, when you are reading this letter you will surely be a man. A handsome prince. I know you look like your father because you inherited his eyes and I hope his smile too. I would have loved to see you at this moment, but I have dreamed it and that has been enough for my heart that cries because this letter is my testament to you.
My child who will have to grow up alone and at the same time, surrounded by people.
You don't know what I would have given to live with you for all your life, but I'm happy to have been by your side for all of mine. It is perhaps the only thing I regret, not being able to be with you to see you grow and clean your knees when you fall, not hearing you say your first words or seeing you when they finally place the crown of eagles on your head.
My little prince who was promised to me, my boy who will become king when the time is right. These words are not a mother's dream, although I definitely dream of them, but a vision bestowed upon me by the Nameless Gods when I was able to speak their names in the Great Jade Temple.
There are so many things that you don't know about me, so many things that I don't know if they told you or remained a secret, but that you should definitely know because it's the only way they don't take away what is yours.
Maybe they spoke badly about me to you, maybe they said I put a spell on your father or maybe they told you I'm a witch, and I have to admit that all of that is true.
My child, you are the son of a jade witch.
You must have a lot of questions right now and I don't know where to start everything so it doesn't get more confusing. Perhaps it is better to start at the beginning, although it's a bit tedious, it's the best I can do so that you understand a little the mission that the Nameless Gods gave us.
I lived in the Jade Lands and served in the temple of the Nameless Gods. I learned what I should have learned and did what I should have done, these are irrelevant details at the moment, but when I was ordained as a servant of the Nameless Gods and I was able to pronounce the names of several of them, they presented themselves in front of me and each one gave me a gift.
One of those gifts was a vision of my future.
In that vision, they showed me that, at a certain time, I would leave the Jade Lands and arrive on this continent. The future always changes, it changes with our decisions, but the future shown by the Nameless Gods definitely comes true, maybe it takes a while if we change something, but it definitely comes true.
I know that you will become king because they showed me that future.
They showed me that I would be the mother of a king who would make the Nameless Gods cross the sea and take a new home.
When the signs that I saw in that vision appeared in my life, I began the journey and arrived in these lands. I was taken as a bed slave by the king of a kingdom called Kuvar and although I spent a lot of time there, I never conceived a child by that king because that was not my destiny. I escaped from there and started wandering north until your father found me and brought me to the castle with him.
This castle. Adelaar. If I had to describe it in any way, I would describe it as a monster. Since I got here I felt there was something strange, there is magic but I don't know what kind of magic, but it's not good. This castle is something big, magical and monstrous.
When I met your father, he was engaged to a princess. He was really in love with her and he was just nice to me, so I did what I had to do to make him welcome me into his bed. I put a spell on him like women do but he was still going to marry that princess, so I put a spell on him like witches do.
He married the princess but he was mine.
And then I learned that you were on your way and when you were born, the happiness on your father's face was so genuine that I knew that everything I experienced was worth it. You are his first son, his firstborn and as such, he asked that you be treated that way. The king did not allow it, just as he did not allow your father to marry me.
During all this time, from the arrival of the princess who married your father until the moment I write these words to you, a little over two years have passed, and in all that time they've tried to get rid of me more times than I can count on my fingers.
Both the woman who married your father and Queen Raiza have poisoned me many times, but jade witches are immune to poison. Once, your father's wife sent one of her shadows to kill me, but it was unsuccessful. It was painful because those arts only cause death in their victims, but thanks to the secrets of the book in your hands, I managed to survive.
They also tried to make you not be born, but that didn't work either.
Be careful with her.
Princess Masaki is a shadowy witch, and her kind are creatures that enjoy pain and slaughter, maybe she is not so powerful right now, but maybe over the years she will grow in power. The shadow warlocks I have faced are on another level, their eyes glow in the dark and seem immortal. Getting rid of them is difficult because they use shadows as a weapon and getting close to them is impossible.
The book that you have in your hands is written in the language of the Jade Lands, perhaps they have not told you about me and you do not know that language exists or you do not know how to speak it, but inside the notes I have left some things that can help you while you learn the language along with some translated pages for you.
That book is unique, it was written by the first servant of the Nameless Gods and is only passed from successor to successor for its protection. What is written there is ancient and powerful magic that has helped me survive this place. This is how I survived the shadow that the princess sent to me, this is how I made your father never stop thinking about me, and this is how I made you immune to the magic of the shadow warlocks.
Eventually the princess will have children, but none will be a match for you because the king's affection will always be yours, I made sure of that.
The Nameless Gods chose you to be the one to give them a new home and it can only be achieved by having power.
You will be a mighty king, my dear son.
The symbol that is on your foot is a mark of protection that requires a sacrifice and serves so that the magic of those shadow warlocks doesn't affect the wearer. It is said that the first servant created it, but no one knows what he was thinking when he did it, because to activate it, someone must willingly sacrifice their life.
Few know of its existence and fewer know how it is used.
No one sacrifices their life so that a person can have a long life and be immune to that kind of magic, but that's exactly what I'm going to do. I will give my life so that you can live a long and happy life, so that the magic of the shadow witch never affects you.
My child, the kiss that I will give you before leaving this room will be the last, but I want you to know that I love you more than my life. Today I will meet with your father's wife and I will not return to this place, I will join the Nameless Gods in the afterlife.
You will be a great king, my little boy who is now a man, I know because I have seen you in my dreams. When you become king, bring a bit of your mother's old religion to repay the Nameless Gods for the fate they have chosen for you.
I love you, my little son. My little prince.
With infinite love, your mom. Kala.
—
Kaien's hands were shaking at the moment. An infinity of emotions overwhelmed him and the only thing he could do was try to control his breathing so as not to cry like a child. His eyes burned and the tears reached a point where they simply began to trickle down his cheeks. His heart was a separate case, because he felt that he could die and live in that moment.
They were the letters of his mother, of the woman who brought him into the world and of whom it was forbidden to speak in the castle.
Kaien read the last line so many times that even though he had never heard his mother's voice, a whisper came to him in that motherly tone he had always longed to hear. He allowed himself to be that child who asked about his mother again and let all the emotions that those words provoked in him come out of his soul.
He had a mother who loved him and gave her life for him.
When he calmed down and the tears stopped flowing, he read that letter one more time.
His mother had put a spell on his father so that they would be together, so that he could be born and fulfill the will of those gods that he did not know, and warned him about Queen Masaki. There was so much information in that letter and at the same time, there was so much love from his mother, which a part of him wanted to fulfill what his mother had given her life for.
He would be the king and fulfill his revenge against Masaki for what he did to Miyako, and also for everything they did to his mother, who was forced to die to save him.
His father was just the way to fulfill a goal, that's how his mother saw it, and Kaien, although he loved his father, couldn't help but feel a certain amount of resentment against him. There were still many emotions running through his heart and mind, and he preferred not to pass judgment on his father at that moment until his heart settled.
It was not yet dawn when he finished reading the rest of his mother's letters, all the ones under that strange fur lining, and discovered that his mother had left many things prepared for him. His mother was a witch, as was the queen, and he wondered if gifts were inherited like Ichigo's, who, according to his father, had inherited something called "the gift of war" from Queen Masaki.
When the servant entered his room with the intention of waking him up, Kaien had already finished lining a fake book with the leather cover from his mother's book to send to Nelliel. That was the reason why he found the cards hidden under the leather lining. Nelliel had taken out that book without permission and if they found out, she could be punished and he didn't want Nelliel to suffer any more because of him.
He owed Nelliel so much at that moment, he didn't know how to thank her.
— The messenger boy who arrived yesterday, bring him to me. — Kaien ordered, calmer now and beginning to think with a cool head. — And prepare my bath and my breakfast. Today I will go to the city.
The servant nodded and left the room after bowing to him. Kaien took a clean piece of paper and began to write a letter to Nelliel.
—
When Rukia entered her inner world and saw the dark queen again, the woman greeted her with a smile and a sarcastic congratulations for having mastered that aspect of the gift a bit. The dark queen wasn't happy with the way Rukia managed to shut her up and Rukia was aware of that, but the queen had been talking too much and Rukia had to "gag" her.
It wasn't a gag as such, but somehow, Rukia managed to make the dark queen unable to part her lips for a while. It didn't last long, but it worked because the dark queen didn't make malicious comments anymore and preferred to remain silent, which helped Rukia to concentrate on handling the gift.
The first thread she cut was still in that state but there were a few more threads keeping it company, and the queen didn't explain why until Rukia asked her.
"They are things that you learn to subconsciously master while you focus on something else. When you cut the thread of healing, while training it, several more threads will be cut."
Rukia liked that explanation, because she thought she would have to cut thread by thread and there really were too many.
Rukia touched one by one the threads that held the dark queen in search of the thread of healing until she found it and cut it. After cutting the thread of healing and feeling how a little more of that gift flowed through her skin, the dark queen told her that she was going to show her that aspect herself.
"If you die from not knowing how to control this, you are of no use to me. Also, there are things you should know about this."
Rukia didn't completely trust the queen's words but she stayed there because she wanted to know a little more, and the dark queen began to talk about how she should learn to handle that aspect of the gift that ensured survival.
The only thing Rukia didn't like was that she had to hurt herself to test the healing level of her skin. Queen Masaki helped her in this regard, and although the wounds caused by magic were incredibly painful, when they healed, the pain almost completely disappeared. There was only the feeling on the skin of having been hurt.
The first time Rukia received a wound made with magic, she was aware of all the damage she had caused to Ichigo when she hurt him, as well as the strength and self-control he had to not hurt her. The more she learned about that magic, the more she understood Ichigo, what he was and what he had become.
Rukia slept for two days straight after the last training session, which had been incredibly painful and aggressive, not to the point of putting her life in danger, but truly painful. She would have to eat liver and beets for a week to replenish the blood she lost in that session due to the injuries the queen gave her.
— Your Highness, Queen Masaki requests that you accompany her to the training ground. She asks you to wear pants. — Riruka explained, who had become her own Kahya and helped her with affairs in the queen's court.
Anyone who saw it would realize that Queen Masaki was grooming Rukia to be the queen but they preferred to cover everything with "it is the duty of the People's Princess" or "Princess Rukia helps the queen as much as she can", and Rukia was careful with that aspect because she was in charge of deflecting the rumors or denying them when she had a meeting with the noble ladies and they questioned her with some malicious comment.
Those women still saw her as a child, too young and too naive to understand such matters, and Rukia used that to her advantage, because from time to time she returned the malicious comment with grace and elegance making the person ashamed of their own words and unable to respond.
Queen Masaki had trained her too well, but above all, dear Aunt Kirio had taught her a few things even though she hadn't meant to. Even the dark queen inside her used to have a few words for her whenever she entered her inner world.
Rukia kissed Queen Masaki's hand before walking through the castle grounds to the training grounds as the queen asked her how her health and mood was. Rukia explained to the queen how she was feeling, both physically and emotionally, and the queen promised her that she would have a few days off so she can focus on herself; she also told her that they could talk about whatever she wanted if it would help.
That made Rukia happy, since no one in that castle would understand her like Queen Masaki did and because there were things she couldn't talk about with Ichigo like she did with the queen. She liked the way the queen had taken her under her tutelage and protection, and thanked her for the offer before reaching the esplanade prepared for her, where Renji was waiting for them along with a young woman who seemed to be the same age as Tatsuki.
The girl was dressed in a manner similar to the queen's personal guards, those women who were in charge of security within the queen's area, but there was something about her that Rukia found slightly familiar.
— Your majesty, your highness. — Renji greeted them respectfully before pointing at the girl, who seemed genuinely happy and excited to be there. — She is Ioana. She has passed all tests and is ready for duty.
The girl bowed and Queen Masaki approached her, holding out her hand for the girl to kiss.
— Your Majesty, it makes me so happy to have this opportunity. — Ioana spoke with a huge smile making Rukia not know what was going on.
— It's because you deserve it, my dear Ioana. — The queen commented with that classic smile of hers before making Rukia get a little closer to both of them. — My dear daughter, Ioana is the daughter of my shadow, she was trained in Vermist along with the other shadows and came here at Ichigo's express request. She will be in charge of training you hand-to-hand and will be your shadow. As a member of my family, it is imperative that you have a shadow to watch over you and protect you when you go out. She is the one in charge of protecting your life.
Hearing the queen's words made her feel relaxed, because neither the queen nor Ichigo would let someone untrustworthy take care of her.
— Nice to meet you, Ioana.
— The pleasure is mine, your highness. — The girl replied without losing that emotion in her eyes and bowed to Rukia.
— Ichigo has been supervising her training ever since she arrived at the castle and before he left he left some more instructions, therefore she is ready for you. — The queen explained calmly before gesturing with her hand towards the girl, who knelt before Rukia.
Ioana swore an oath of fealty giving her sword and her life to Rukia, and Rukia held out her hand for the girl to kiss as she got up.
Ioana was hers.
Autumn — x493 / October 8
Yuki wasn't happy for many reasons but it all boiled down to one thing: jealousy.
Her jealousy towards Rukia increased in a way that seemed ridiculous. Yuki was aware of that, but every time she saw a servant enter the queen's area with a huge bouquet of roses or with a package that was obviously a gift and went directly to Rukia's room, she clenched her fists and wished that those roses would wither quickly or that this gift would break.
It was a scene that was repeated very often.
Kaien gave her jewelry and flowers but not to the extent that Rukia received. In addition, the maidens kept talking among themselves about how lucky Rukia was to receive flowers as a token of the prince's love even though he was not in the castle and about the incredible aroma of that room because of those flowers.
When Yuki wasn't cursing Rukia's luck for receiving more things than her, she was cursing Mila, who had appeared at the Autumn Sacrifice wearing a truly beautiful necklace made of gemstones in a shade of blue that made her the center of attention. Even Rukia, who was dressed in all the honors her marriage to the Second Prince gave her, praised the beauty of that necklace making it more eye-catching.
Yuki had a suspicion that this necklace had been sent to Mila by Kaien, but she had no way of checking because Mila had told everyone that her father had sent it to her to wear at the Autumn sacrifice.
Yuki was fully aware that she couldn't hurt Mila or treat her in a hostile way because she would be the one who would look bad in everyone's eyes. She could almost hear in her mind what people would say if she were to hurt Mila: "The mistress is jealous of a lady, poor little thing, afraid that they will do to her the same as she did to Princess Nelliel. Because of her, Princess Nelliel nearly threw herself off the cliff. Perhaps she was to blame for the loss of the princess's pregnancy."
Worst of all, those accusations that sprang up in her mind were not entirely created by her imagination, rather, Yuki had actually heard those comments among the maidens who served in the queen's area and among the noble ladies when she was leaving the castle with Rukia, the queen, and Princess Hisana.
Yuki couldn't defend herself against those comments like Rukia did because it would be entering a game in which she might not come out well.
Rukia had warned Yuki that she was alone in her goal of becoming the crown princess, and she proved it to her whenever she could, because even though Rukia helped her deflect those malicious comments with a smile and another topic, she reminded her that she was doing it for the good of the royal family and because rumors were dangerous.
Yuki knew her position and, although there were ladies who sympathized with her because she was closest to the future king and could whisper in his ear, there were still ladies who had suffered because of a mistress and were entirely against them.
Her relationship with Mila was still maintained, they went out to eat and talked about anything that came up, and even Mila had told her what had happened on that date, the way Prince Kaien said that he already had his crown princess but that he should follow the protocol and the kindness that he showed to help her get a husband who is a military man because her father wanted a commander for her.
Although there was something in Mila's eyes that Yuki didn't like.
She also didn't like the way Mila caressed that necklace she seemed to wear on the days they went out to eat together.
Yuki knew that she had to do something to not lose Kaien's interest but she didn't know what to do because a pregnancy was not an option. Kaien had made it clear to her that they couldn't have children until he could claim her as his wife so his inheritance couldn't be questioned.
"If you get pregnant now, our child will be treated like a bastard and you will give Rukia a chance to have a child. If Rukia's child is born male, according to the rules of inheritance, her son could take the throne upon my death." Kaien had told her while explaining the rules of inheritance.
Yuki had tried to understand that explanation, but what Kaien was saying didn't make sense, at least not to her, because it was supposed to only be inherited in the descending line. She knew that if Kaien died with no sons claiming the throne, the next in line would be Ichigo and not his sons, so when she asked for a more coherent explanation, Kaien just said: "He who is born first inherits the kingdom."
But it didn't make sense either.
The only thing that made sense was that Kaien didn't want a child right now.
— I'm bored of this bed, I'm going to music class today. — Yuki commented to her maid, who immediately prepared things so that she could attend the classes.
Yuki had spent the last days in bed, with fever and body weakness, even she had stopped eating and her collarbones were a little more marked. According to the queen's doctor, she had had a stomach fever from eating something poorly cooked, but she was past the worst of it and just needed to rest to recover.
Being locked in the room would not have been a problem if she had been allowed visitors, but the stomach fever was contagious and for the safety of both the prince and the court ladies, she was restricted from visiting.
Yuki looked at herself in the mirror and noticed that she still had that expression on her face that betrayed that she had been sick. She didn't like how she looked, she was even paler than usual and felt that her clothes were too big for her, as well as the ring that Kaien gave her.
She kept those feelings of self-pity to herself and headed for the stairs to go down to the classrooms. Yuki didn't go for the love of music, but she needed to distract herself with something and the classes used to be interesting, plus she would find out about the things that had happened in the castle while she was sick.
She was about to go down the stairs, when she saw a servant come up with a huge bouquet of white roses with violet flowers. Yuki's first impulse was to grab the bouquet and throw it on the floor, but she simply stepped aside and let the servant go his own way.
— The more flowers the prince sends her, the more I have the impression that he is being unfaithful to her and that is his way of lessening his guilt. — Yuki commented maliciously to her maid as they headed to the classroom.
— Are you saying that because the prince went on a trip with the king to tour the cities? — Mila's question caught her off guard and Yuki jumped a little in fright. Mila wasn't wearing the blue necklace, but she had a really happy smile and Yuki didn't like that.
— Yep, it's suspicious that she gets so many flowers. The previous time, the prince was gone for six months and did not send her flowers every week. — Yuki explained with a hint of evil. — So, in my opinion, so many flowers is a sign of guilt.
— Maybe. — Mila conceded with a thoughtful expression on her face. — Did you know that yesterday Prince Kaien sent one of his personal soldiers to Visnia with a trunk full of cloth, jewelry, and shoes for Nelliel? Do you think it's a sign of guilt for their divorce?
That question caught Yuki off guard because she didn't know that had happened. A part of her, the one that was seething with jealousy, wanted to scream.
— She was his wife and they were divorced due to her delicate health, it is natural that the prince gives her things as charity. — Yuki replied, though jealousy vibrated in her voice. — How did you find out about that?
— Everyone was talking yesterday about how generous the prince is for sending something so big to his ex-wife. — Mila commented with an animated expression. — Can you imagine Nelliel returning to the castle? Perhaps that is why the prince sent her so many fabrics, so that they make new clothes for her to be in court. I liked Nelliel, we were in the same generation of the queen's court and she had a great instinct for clothes.
Yuki knew that all the ladies in that court had been to the castle before and that in one way or another they knew each other, but she did not expect Mila and Nelliel to have been together, and a new question and insecurity was unlocked in Yuki at that moment: What if Nelliel and Mila were friends and Mila tries to get Nelliel and Kaien back into their relationship?
The question didn't make much sense, but Yuki no longer knew what to expect from everything that was happening in the castle. She was in limbo and her fate depended on a promise made by the prince who had sent his ex-wife a huge gift.
—
Isshin, the moment he saw Ichigo walk away the day they visited Ganju and Emiko's grave, he knew he had completely ruined the trip. Ichigo's voice, the way his hands trembled as he let go of the reins, and the grim look on his face confirmed that he had broken his son's heart again.
He immediately got on his horse and tried to reach him to apologize, he had been too honest with him and that wasn't what Ichigo needed. Isshin should have told him that he was sorry and apologized, but he couldn't do it even though that was his initial intention.
Isshin wanted Ichigo to understand that he wanted to save him from himself, he wanted to make him strong so that love wouldn't blind him, but obviously it wasn't the right way or the right time.
When he arrived at the main gate of Tenjira, one of Ichigo's soldiers, Uryu, was waiting to guide him to the inn they had found but instead of entering the city, Isshin asked for Ichigo. Uryu informed him that the prince arrived at the entrance of the city, asked not to be followed because he wanted to be alone, and went on without entering the city.
Isshin didn't know whether to send the soldiers to find Ichigo or give him the time he needed to think because all he wanted was to try to fix what he had messed up moments before. However, Uryu added something that made Isshin decide to give Ichigo the time he needed.
"The prince sometimes gets lost and returns with blood on his clothes, it is not wise to be near him when he is in that state, your majesty."
Isshin wanted to ask what he meant, but Uryu wasn't looking at him but at the path where Ichigo must have gone. That man had been with Ichigo long before he was named Commander, he was part of his private guard that accompanied him on trips, so he knew that part of Ichigo that Isshin didn't.
Ichigo didn't enter the inn where they were staying until the next day, and he did so with his clothes stained with blood, just as Uryu had told Isshin the day before. It was Uryu who accompanied him from the entrance while holding his arm, as if he was afraid that Ichigo was going to fall at any moment as he led him to the room.
Isshin looked at his son and tried to say something but Ichigo looked up letting his father see how hurt and lost he was before assuring him that the blood on his clothes wasn't his own. Isshin didn't want to imagine what Ichigo had been doing to get back in that state, but he preferred to think that Ichigo had an accident than to think that he killed the horse in a fit of rage.
Ichigo locked himself in his room and Isshin heard him give a scream so loud, so full of rage and pain, that for a moment he really felt a terrible pain in his heart.
Ichigo stayed locked up in that room all day and didn't eat although it was Isshin himself who knocked on the door so they could eat together. Ichigo also didn't respond to his father's calls for them to speak and all of Isshin's apologies were lost in the distance between his lips and the door.
When Isshin asked that they get a new horse to replace the one that Ichigo had surely killed, the soldiers assured him that the prince had arrived on his own horse and that the animal was in perfect condition. Isshin's blood ran cold at that moment, because the idea of an accident ceased to be possible if the horse was healthy, and immediately another idea formed that made him close his eyes for a moment.
The possibility that Ichigo had killed someone innocent took on a certainty that was terrible.
Ichigo didn't make a sound after that shout and the door didn't open until nightfall, when he came out fully dressed and with a look Isshin hadn't seen on his son before.
Isshin had always seen in Ichigo's eyes something that he cataloged as responsibility and serenity, strength and determination, but right now his son's eyes showed something that was too wild to be able to describe it with certainty. The man who came out of that room was everything, but not Ichigo.
"You said you wanted us to see the city without being recognized. Taverns are good for gathering information." Ichigo said that time and started walking with such a relaxed and resolute step that Isshin saw Kaien for a moment.
"Ichigo, do you feel okay? You haven't eaten, eat something first." Isshin spoke up, grabbing Ichigo's arm to make him stop at that moment. Ichigo was smiling and that smile was not the one that Isshin had always seen in his son.
"I feel wonderful, although you're right, I haven't eaten. I'll eat something in the tavern, dear father."
Dear father. Isshin had never heard him talk like that, ever.
Isshin had no choice but to follow his son to a tavern, followed by a couple of soldiers dressed as ordinary people, and saw him order dark beer along with something to eat while tossing a coin to the waitress so casually, Isshin thought it wasn't the first time Ichigo had done that. Isshin knew that Ichigo only drank at parties and had never seen him drink beer, so he didn't know how to interpret what was happening and mentally prepared himself to drag a drunk son back to the inn.
The king didn't enjoy that night, not because there wasn't enough fun in that place or because the women who served them weren't pretty, but because he kept seeing Ichigo drink in a way he never would have imagined. Anyone who had drunk the amount he was drinking would already be completely drunk, but Ichigo was in a moderate state. Even when he got up to go pee, Ichigo was walking fine.
Isshin concluded that the only reason Ichigo could drink so much without being affected was because Ichigo, long ago, had drunk more than he was drinking at the moment; perhaps stronger alcohols than a dark beer. He didn't want to believe that, because it meant that Ichigo possibly had a shady past with drinking that no one knew about and no one had deigned to tell him.
"Maybe that's why Ichigo didn't drink."
As Isshin thought about how much Ichigo had done in Vermist, aside from studying, he realized that his son was taking too long to come back, so he sent Uryu to go find Ichigo, fearing that maybe he was asleep somewhere, but Uryu took longer to go back and forth than it took him to investigate Ichigo in the chamber pots.
Isshin was upset, but Uryu assured him that the prince was fine and was being served by a waitress.
Isshin couldn't believe it.
The man who for defending his wife had beaten and threatened a king, the one who had assured that his wife was the only thing that mattered in the world and who had blamed his own father for his infidelities, he was with a woman who was not his wife.
Nothing that was happening that day made sense so he immediately got up from his seat and went to where Ichigo was supposed to be, but before entering he saw a waitress come out wiping her mouth and moments later Ichigo came out fixing his clothes as if nothing had happened.
He didn't ask what had happened there because it was obvious, and he didn't know how to feel about it.
They came out of there a moment later. Isshin was still confused but followed his son until they returned to the inn and Ichigo locked himself in his own room.
After thinking about it carefully, Isshin came to the conclusion that his son was throwing a tantrum because of what he had told him and that everything he was doing was to show him the kind of son he wanted him to be. He consoled himself with the thought that Ichigo would be back to normal in a day or two, but it didn't.
The days in Tenjira, in Orlen, in Maranni and in Neikel were really strange. Ichigo was different, the change was really remarkable although he seemed to continue behaving the same. Ichigo continued to speak respectfully to him, he was calm and relaxed in a way that Isshin couldn't quite understand.
The man who locked himself and screamed inside the room that morning in Tenjira was gone, but he was also not the son Isshin had always seen since Ichigo came back from Vayalat.
Isshin didn't know how to interpret that, and although he tried to enjoy those times that he went with Ichigo to some tavern to get some impression of the drunk people who talked a lot, and maybe some attention from some lady, he couldn't do it at all.
Ichigo, his smile and the cheerful way he dismissed the waitresses saying that "he wasn't drunk enough yet", kept Isshin on his toes.
Several times Ichigo was lost in the drunkenness, but none of those times he claimed him for what he said in front of the graves of Ganju and Emiko. It was as if Ichigo had forgotten that moment and was more interested in dodging the ladies who were approaching him before giving them a coin for their failed attempts at seduction.
All those times that Ichigo was completely drunk, he told him stories of his trip with the mercenaries. About the lands he knew, the type of alcohol he drank and all the women he slept with in that place. It was a part of his son that Isshin would never have fully imagined and would not believe if his own son did not tell him.
Also, a couple of times, Ichigo woke up in a brothel saying he didn't know how he got there but he definitely had a good night.
"The Mielas in the Dusklands make you finish just by looking at you. Those women have something that is magical." Ichigo had told him one of those many times.
Afterward, he would simply take a bath and go about his day as usual, following the itinerary they had planned as if nothing was wrong. Isshin wasn't going to deny that the original intention of this trip was to make Ichigo be with other women and he had been prepared to convince him if he refused, but he didn't imagine that his son would take that initiative by himself.
Something inside Isshin told him that Ichigo wasn't okay and that this man wasn't his son.
Isshin was almost certain that something happened to Ichigo that night he was lost because his behavior didn't match what he had seen before; so as they rode towards the entrance of Maranni on the return trip, Isshin caught up with Ichigo and had him slow down so they could talk.
— Ichigo, are you really feeling okay? — Isshin started making Ichigo turn to look at him. — I've taken you out of taverns and brothels completely drunk and penniless, and it's behavior I never expected from you. I already understood that I ruined everything when I started the trip but that's enough. I learned my lesson for wanting you to change and I accept that I'm a bad father, so stop behaving like this because this is not the son I want.
Ichigo smiled as if Isshin had said something really funny.
— Dear father, I'm not teaching you a lesson. — Ichigo answered making Isshin feel insulted by that answer. — I also don't want your apologies because that's not going to fix anything you've said or done, you can save it for your deathbed. When we started this trip you told me about your adventures with my uncle, I was really enjoying it and I didn't lie, I'm happy with the life you chose for me, only I'm not the man you think I am.
— What do you mean? Are you saying that you are irresponsible without control? That is not true, I have seen you and I know you well enough to know that this is only the consequence of my words. You are better than this.
— Do you know me? Are you serious, dear father? — Ichigo laughed and slightly shook his head. Isshin again felt insulted. — It's just that I got tired of pretending what I'm not, and since you rejected me as soon as I stepped foot in the castle and what I was trying to do to win a little bit of your affection didn't work, then there is no point in me continuing to pretend to be the perfect prince. I had years without drinking like I have in this time! So I thank you for that, dear father.
Isshin could only see his son with his eyes wide open in surprise, anger and indignation at those words.
— Ichigo, I'm going to give you a chance to say that this is a bad joke of you. — The king warned with the vague hope that Ichigo was really joking. He didn't like the man in front of him. He didn't like the cruelty in his eyes because he had never seen it.
— A chance! — Ichigo's voice came out full of mockery. — No father, I don't need it. Do you want me to tell you a little more about the son you don't know? No, forget it dear father. If you can't bear to see what I am, you won't be able to bear to hear what I was.
At that moment Isshin verified that Ichigo hadn't forgotten about that talk, he was just reserving it, as well as all his emotions, to talk about it when he brought it up again. It was obvious that Ichigo was upset and was being as hurtful as he had been, so Isshin opted to allow him to speak to let the anger inside of him come out and Ichigo would return to normal.
— I want to listen. Tell me what you did at Vermist when you were studying there.
— I can't, dear father. What they teach us in Vayalat is kept secret and I can't tell. On second thought, I can't tell you anything I did at Vayalat other than what I've already told you. Anyway, in Maranni there is a tavern I want to go back to, I hope it stays open.
Ichigo said that last and made his horse ride faster, as if he was in a hurry to get there. Isshin ordered the soldiers to head to the inn from last time while he went after Ichigo, thinking he was really going to a tavern, but that didn't happen. Ichigo stopped the horse right at the entrance to Maranni, as if he was thinking something through, and then started forward until they reached the inn.
Before Ichigo locked himself in his room like he did every time they were in the cities, Isshin walked in and surprised him as he took off his boots. They hadn't finished talking.
— I'm your king. — Ichigo looked at him without fully understanding that first sentence. — And I demand that you tell me what the hell is wrong with you.
The door closed after those words and Ichigo finished taking off his boots.
— I thought I told you already, I'm tired of pretending who I'm not. Is it so hard for you to believe my words, dear father? — Ichigo asked with a dose of rancor in his voice. — I'm not surprised, really. What surprises me is that you say you believe me when it's convenient for you to believe me.
— Modulate your words or…
— Or what? — Ichigo asked and snapped his fingers so fast that the next thing Isshin heard was a growl before he saw something huge come out of his own shadow, stalking and growling. — Are you going to hit me like I'm a little kid? I'm sorry I won't allow it, because this time my teeth won't grow back if you knock them out from the blow, dear father.
Isshin's eyes widened at that, knowing that the only time he hit Ichigo was in the map incident, but he had no idea that he had hit him hard enough to knock out any teeth. That explained why Masaki was so angry and why she left the castle with the children.
— Ichigo… I'm sorry I didn't believe in you and hit you. I didn't know that I had hurt you so much in so many different ways. — Isshin spoke without seeing the shadow. Masaki used to threaten him with them when she was angry, so he was used to their presence and trusted that they would not hurt him. — Tell me what I do to try to fix this, so that you stop behaving like this and go back to being what you were before starting this trip.
Ichigo just looked at him and smiled. The shadow walked slowly and lay down at Ichigo's feet, like any other dog.
— Nothing! — Ichigo replied with that smile that Isshin didn't like. — You expressed what you felt while we were in front of my uncle's grave, in a moment of honesty and weakness. What you say now is worthless and useless. Dear father, this is the man I am, which I kept repressed since I arrived at the castle because I naively thought that my father was waiting for me.
— I was waiting for you.
— No! — Ichigo stood up and Isshin saw that smile turn into a look of hatred, another expression he never thought to see on Ichigo. The dog got up with him. — The king was waiting for the queen's son only to use the pathetic "he didn't grow up in the kingdom" excuse. Did you let me prove to you what I was? No! You simply assumed and believed what you wanted to believe! As always!
— Ichigo! I order you to calm down or...
— Or what?! Are you going to lock me in a dungeon?! Are you going to take away everything I have left?! Are you going to exile me from the kingdom?! — Ichigo asked taking a step towards his father, the dog baring its fangs and ready to attack. Isshin was truly furious at what he was seeing at that moment and all of Ichigo's ideas seemed like a minor punishment for his lack of respect. — Do it!
— Enough! It's obvious you're not okay! — Isshin did not intend to continue listening to his son. — This trip is over! Tomorrow we return to Adelaar!
After saying those words, Isshin left that room without giving Ichigo a chance to continue talking.
— Keep an eye on him. Don't let him leave that room. — He told Uryu, who was standing like a guard at that gate.
The idea of locking Ichigo up until he came to his senses didn't seem too bad, but exiling him was an idea not to consider. Ichigo knew too much about the kingdom and its safety to let him walk away.
Allowing Ichigo to go to Vayalat as an exile would only give Yhwach a reason to attack, since the twins were there and Masaki could very well go on a massacre to escape should she find herself in trouble. Besides, he couldn't let Ichigo go to Jetaiya, where they had the Kuchiki family conspiring with them for Soujun's stupid idea of Emiko's death.
Ichigo was a child throwing a very big tantrum which could end very badly.
The author does not know what to say, other than: Isshin broke his son e.e)9
Thanks to those who keep reading this!