Chapter 21: Countdown
Sitting on the ledge of his chamber's window, Izaya looked at the castle grounds from above.
It was early morning.
Early early.
Yesterday's game had ended as quickly as it had started. But Shizuo's incompetence was not at fault as one of his knights had entered the chamber instead and called for his immediate attention. The king had left quickly with a short apology on his lips and just like that he was gone.
A subtle breeze forced its way up the castle walls and rattled at the window. The sun had barely risen and slowly enveloped everything in a pleasant tinge of red.
Izaya could spot their cook, heading to the stalls in a quick fashion with two buckets dangling left and right.
He was probably collecting milk, or eggs- maybe both.
Izaya almost felt guilty knowing he would barely be able to eat anything later on despite the cook trying so hard.
…. right now all he felt was a malicious hint of anxiety sitting on his shoulders like a laughing demon.
The wedding was supposed to take place tomorrow.
Eyes scanning the area for the felt hundredth time he looked for a certain mercenary.
The letter had been sent a while ago and was now crumbled in Izaya's hand as he bit his lower lip.
His instructions had been clear. Arrive before the wedding.
…but how much time before the wedding?
Izaya had foolishly assumed the mercenary would arrive a day earlier. Maybe in the evening.
He had felt delighted and so full of trust, but somehow the second he opened his eyes after a good night's rest he found himself restless.
What if he arrived late?
It was a possibility.
Not a favorable one of course, and Izaya was certain the mercenary would do his utmost in order to not disappoint his queen.
But what if something had happened to him?
Like an ugly wart the idea had crept its way inside Izaya's mind and refused to let go.
Chasing away the bitterness of fear he tried to concentrate on his productive side.
He needed an excuse.
For when he left the castle, that is.
A simple "I didn't want to get married" was not going to serve as the best excuse considering Izaya himself had assured the king of his wish. So what else was he supposed to do?
Slipping from the ledge Izaya stepped back into his chamber.
His feet felt restless and his conscience even more. A quick glance was cast outside the door leading to his chamber.
None of the maids seemed to be present yet.
Of course, they didn't expect their future queen to be up this early.
Quietly Izaya proceeded on his way down the corridor. He wanted to go out.
Get some fresh air.
Move.
Maybe that way he could think of something.
Shining brightly Izaya squinted into the rays of the burning sun. Busy noises made all their way across the marketplace as he quickly mixed with the crowd.
None of the people visiting the early markets knew what the king's bride looked like and even if they did they wouldn't recognize Izaya.
Heading for the first stand selling a variety of fabrics he quickly handed out his ring in favor of a long piece of cloth.
An incredulously bad trade for him but good one for the merchant as he gladly gave away the velvet fabric.
It only took a quick twist and turn to transform it into a hood.
Izaya didn't need money. Didn't need jewelry of any kind.
It was information that he sought.
Voices toppled over each other as one always tried to be louder than the next. The smell of fish and spices filled the air and Izaya quickly brought his hood up to cover his itching nose.
"Will she wear it?" the soft voice of a small girl reached Izaya's ears and he stopped for a moment.
Two elderly women were smiling at the child as she held up a bouquet of wildflowers. Izaya recognized them from the trip to the fields when Shizuo had abducted him.
… come to think of it, he had given the king quite the hard time considering he really always wanted his best.
"Oh my," one of the old women chuckled while cupping her cheek. "Sweetie the queen already has a vail," the other spoke softly and Izaya's gaze trailed back to the seemingly randomly selected flowers.
Only at that moment he realized they were attached to each other, forming a sweet crown along with some strands of leaves.
"But mine has flowers!" the girl exclaimed, only earning laughter from the two adults.
Izaya couldn't help but find himself smiling at the silly little moment. It was yet again just a glimpse of how much Shizuo's people actually loved their new king.
The achievements and deeds he had committed on the battlefields had of course traveled far and wide, but here at the heart of the kingdom he was known for what really made his character.
A certain amount of purity, honesty and good willed nature.
In short, the ruler that these people needed after all those years having been subjugated to Shizuo's father.
Guilt softly nagged at Izaya's mind.
Ah.
Yes.
Shizuo was honest with every fiber of his impulsive being.
Izaya on the other hand….
Looking down the road he strolled into a more secluded path.
Meeting no one but a sleeping cat resting on top of a wooden box he undid his veil.
The cat watched him cautiously before flicking its ears to the side as it continued its nap.
Watching the feline Izaya let his head bump against the wall of the building.
…
What was he supposed to do?
Be honest?
The idea had come as quickly as Izaya realized how stupid it was.
No.
Even if he told Shizuo about… pretty much everything- the fact that Izaya betrayed him weighed heavily.
Sure, the king had more than enough resources to search for the twins. But he also had the same resources when it came to chasing people down.
If he decided that he wanted to see Izaya and his siblings pay for his pretense…
It was a risk Izaya was not willing to take.
Not to mention- who was to say Shizuo would believe him?
As soon as he learned the truth Izaya would be revealed as a liar. And who would trust a liar?
Letting his back slide down the wall he crouched near the ground.
Ants crawled their way forth from one of the boxes and Izaya followed their trail to a slightly damaged sack of rice.
Like a chest full of jewelry they grabbed a hold of as many grains as they could carry as they transported their meal back to their nest.
Letting his chin rest on his knee, Izaya sighed.
… and if he stayed near the truth?
He could leave behind a letter. Stating something along the lines of- "Sorry I can't explain why, but I had to leave. Don't search for me."
…
Shizuo would probably still search wouldn't he?
… yeah he definitely would. He wasn't the kind of man that would just call it a day and say oh well whatever, when his bride went missing.
But all of that only mattered once he actually got a hold of his siblings.
Raising to his feet once more Izaya adjusted his vail before stepping back onto the street.
The soft touch of water meeting the tip of his nose startled him as he blinked into the sky.
Another, another and more started to fall as the market grew hectic.
Quick orders were shouted and within mere minutes the merchants had brought their goods into the safety of their tents.
Ah.
Yes.
Another reason why Izaya didn't like spring. It was raining all the damn fucking time.
Out of nowhere too.
Gazing into the sun as it disappeared beneath just one single cloud in the sky Izaya frowned.
That one cloud- seriously.
Ignoring the way his veil and dress soaked Izaya continued his march.
A little bit of water wasn't going to stop him.
"I'm sorry sir, can I ask you a question?" Izaya quickly spoke, addressing one of the merchants as he moved a heavy barrel.
He needed to gain intel on the mercenaries' whereabouts. Maybe he would hear some news about the road he took.
But he knew nothing. Izaya turned.
"Sir, just a moment-"
One, two, three- every mercenary he saw was asked about the roads, the weather, if they had heard any rumors of monster sightings or robberies.
Izaya just needed a hint- anything that indicated that no robbers blocked the roads, no war had erupted somewhere close by - in short, he needed assurance.
Just the slightest clue on his sisters and their whereabouts. A hint of time.
But none of that was given.
Minutes passed.
Hours.
The clouds in the sky gathered, forcefully shoving the sun aside as they hung heavy in the sky. The rain that had started as a soft shower had turned into an unforgiving stream.
Water drops dripped from Izaya's nose as he stood at the end of the road.
… he had asked them all.
All merchants.
None had heard of any trouble on the roads. There was no new war to be informed about, no new robberies taking place.
The opposite actually.
After having been kidnapped by those men Shizuo had taken matters into his own hand to investigate his lands. Whole properties had been turned upside down by him personally and he had raided a handful of hideouts within a few days. The action had not only gained him valuable prestige but also caused the lands to be safer for all kinds of travelers.
It was a good thing.
Really.
So why? Why did Izaya feel so restless? So devastated?
Like a child, having searched for its way home but gotten lost up it he was standing in the rain.
There was nothing he could do. And he was painfully aware of it.
A soft voice in the back of his mind acted up as it reminded him of what was to come if the mercenary didn't arrive.
Of his father's words.
The poison he was going to be handed.
The wedding ceremony.
And the following night.
Drowning the sound of voices and trade he slowly walked back.
His dress and veil had long been soaked.
How long had he been out?
He didn't know.
His feet were sore and his body drenched as he made his way up the stairs of the castle. He couldn't help but feel slightly nauseous as he opened the gate. The cook had obviously given dinner his all as the entire hall was filled with the disgusting smell of freshly baked bread, roasted meat and cooked soup.
They had probably missed him at breakfast.
Izaya was the lady of the castle. The soon to be queen.
He didn't have any obligation to tell his servants where he went nor why he did. Yet they had probably been surprised upon entering his chamber and finding it empty.
…
If Shizuo had been here he would have probably sent someone out to look for him. But he wasn't.
His return was scheduled tomorrow morning only.
Just before the wedding.
The lump in Izaya's throat only grew tighter as he made his way up the stairs leading to his chamber.
He was neither in the mood to eat, nor to meet anyone. "Ah! My lady!" and he inwardly cursed the maid from the debts of his heart as Mika emerged from his room.
Sheets of white were resting in her arms and she had obviously just been changing the bed. "Where have you been? We have been looking for you," she quickly rambled on with that carefree attitude of hers as she displayed her honest worry.
Usually words like these would have painted an amused smile on Izaya's face, but right now he just wished she would leave.
Leave and stop asking questions.
"Outside. Am I not allowed to?"
His words were chosen carefully.
Cold, but not harsh.
Yet they gave away his intention perfectly and caused the maid to lose her bubbly smile as she hesitated.
"Ah… you are. Of course." Walking past the maid Izaya slipped into his chamber.
"I want to be left alone."
At least she seemed to get the hint as she quickly bowed.
"If you wish." It was funny, he knew he wasn't treating her fair and yet she seemed to not hold the slightest grudge against him for his difficult behavior.
"Ah, my lady-" she suddenly said, quickly stopping in her steps as she turned. Her eyes flared and she quickly ruffled her skirt as if she were looking for something.
"What?" Izaya asked after a few seconds of her turning up with nothing.
Crumbling was to be heard for a second and the maid stilled as recognition reflected in her expression. Quickly reaching for a hidden pocket underneath her apron she pulled a yellowed paper from the fabric.
"This- It arrived early this morning. I intended to hand it to you before breakfast, but…" she faded out, obviously wanting to refrain from repeating her earlier mistake of questioning the future queen's actions.
But at that moment Izaya seriously couldn't have cared less.
The maid could have said anything in the world and he probably wouldn't even have heard as his eyes stuck to the letter.
Moving just one step closer Mika wordlessly handed Izaya the object of desire. He took it. More by autopilot than anything else, really.
Mika bowed, then left, and the door shut with an audible creak.
Izaya couldn't move.
The letter was in his hands.
He didn't need to open it to know who it was from.
The same yellowed paper, the same messy sigil on the back.
This was the answer he had sought. This was a letter from the mercenary.
So why were his hands shaking?
Eyes glued to the object Izaya looked at it as though he could manipulate its contents by mere thoughts.
This was it.
The answer.
His fate.
Mairu's, Kururi's.
In a burst of unaimed motion Izaya flipped the thing around and tore the seal apart.
He had even used wax this time. The sigil was broken with a clean stripe as the ivory paper was flicked open.
And Izaya's eyes flew.
…
"Dear Lady Kururi,
I planned to arrive today but the weather doesn't seem to hold out so I won't be able to make it before night falls.
An inn not too far from the castle is my next destination. I will ride out as soon as the sun rises and make sure to arrive at the castle before the wedding.
I apologize for any inconveniences caused by my delay."
…
Delay.
Tomorrow.
Before the wedding.
Unimaginable joy brought the corners of his lips up as he rushed to the door.
"Mika!" Surprised by the sudden outburst of her lady, the maid jumped in her steps as she quickly flipped around.
"Y-yes my lady?"
A beaming smile radiated off Izaya's face as he quickly regained his composure.
"Thank you!"
She had saved his day.
Hah! Not his day- his whole life! His siblings- this letter, it said everything was going to be alright!
This was the confirmation he had been searching for all day! This was the reason he had been getting soaked and freezingly cold.
And the inn!
Izaya knew what the mercenary was talking about! An inn not too far- there was no mistake, he could only mean the one he and Shizuo stayed at.
It really wasn't far off.
An hour's ride, if not less.
The worst that could happen was for the mercenary to oversleep, but to hell if Izaya cared! He wasn't far! If the mercenary didn't turn up he would just grab a horse and meet him halfway! They needed to get the hell out of this country anyway.
Joy-
Just so much joy radiated from Izaya's expression as he flung himself into the bed. Protesting it squeaked as it moved up and down a few times. His eyes glittered and he looked at the ceiling as all tension fell from his body.
This was it.
Tomorrow.
Everything was going to be over.
to be continued~
Are you ready, guys? C: For… some drama? C: Tears, blood, disappointment and sadness? of course all sprinkled with a taste of love and bitter fear?
Well then, see you next Saturday when hell breaks loose C: C: C:
As a little side info for those who can't stand cliffhangers: The "wedding day" will be consisting of 5 whole chapters xD Yes. 5. That's how much drama there will be xDDDD So just warning you hahahaha