Chapter 37: Confidence
As disruptive as the previous day had been, the night had at least remained silent. The constant dousing of pouring rain hitting against the window glass created a soothing sound despite its despised properties.
Spring was a sweet season for plants, a bit of sunshine here, a bit of water there and the most marvelous flowers were sure to bloom within a couple days.
How badly Izaya wished he were a flower.
Laying flat on his back his eyes were stuck at the ceiling and his consciousness disrupted by the very familiar throb in his chest.
The night had been cold, just like the rain, and even though there was a fire burning lowly in the fireplace Izaya was torn in his own body.
Was he hot? Was he cold? He couldn't tell.
All he could tell was that his mouth was dry as a desert, his limbs stiff for no reason and the pressure on his chest had easily doubled.
This was why he hated spring.
Pushing himself into a sitting position he resisted the urge to cough.
The task of breathing was already somewhat of a chore, and now with his body sluggish and heavy Izaya felt even more suffocated.
Days where he opened his eyes and his body felt like shit for no reason had been what would keep him in bed for days back at the mansion. With his sisters worried and his father mad.
Gruesome pictures of the previous day resurfaced from his mind as his thoughts trailed back to his father's visit.
In two days- what was it that his father had been about to order him to do?
Closing his eyes, Izaya took a deep breath and chased the memory away. This wasn't the time to wreck his head about answers he was never going to get. Today he would accompany Shizuo.
Ascertaining his condition Izaya sighed.
How bad was it?
He was hot.
He was cold.
His body felt sluggish overall, but not too bad to move.
Eyes opening, he slowly slid out of bed.
Shizuo's words of care reverberated in his mind even without needing his direct presence.
Today's tasks were simple: get into a carriage, step out, smile at some people, drop a polite sentence or two and slip back into the carriage.
Rinse and repeat.
Gaze firm and expression unwavering, Izaya nodded to himself. There was a fat chance in hell that he was going to let a bit of discomfort dictate his life.
He had had days that started worse and the odds were high that he would feel better in a few hours anyway.
Moving to the cupboard, Izaya opened its hinges. Dresses, garments and various jewels and varieties of ornaments presented themselves in front of him.
Mika and the maids had accepted that he liked to get dressed by himself by now, which really saved him a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Picking out the dress that seemed most comfortable and warm, Izaya quickly slipped inside silky fabrics of deep blue.
A soft knock resounded from the door just when Izaya finished tightening a couple strings at the back of his dress.
"Come in." Face bright and full of vibrant smiles Mika was the maid that slipped inside Izaya's chamber. "My lady, have you slept well?"
A set of armory, belonging to no one but the king himself rested in her arms. Of course. This was Shizuo's room as much as it was his own.
The only reason Izaya had woken up alone was due to the campaign Shizuo joined during the night.
Looking at the dirty armor Izaya's eyes flickered back up to Mika with a question.
"I have. What about the king?" Putting the armory back into place, which was the corner of the room onto an interestingly shaped wooden manifestation, Mika quickly nodded. "The carriage is ready. The king ordered us to wait for you to wake."
A feeling of relief made itself apparent and Izaya nodded.
So Shizuo had returned just fine. And slept outside with his knight at one of these soothing fireplaces he had described so beautifully.
Glancing to the side Izaya looked at the window. Rainy clouds were covering the sky and shielding the sun quite efficiently, but Izaya could still tell it was at least close to midday-
Just how long had Shizuo been waiting for him?
Quickly casting one last glance into the mirror Izaya suddenly felt the need to check his appearance once more and Mika chuckled.
A finger was raised before Izaya could ask and she moved side to side. "And he ordered us to make sure you don't rush yourself."
Stopping short in his rather spontaneous movements Izaya snorted.
This guy, really.
Izaya was starting to think Shizuo knew him better than he was aware- and he wasn't sure whether to hate or love that fact.
Gesturing towards the door as slow as possible, Mika only emphasized her point of not wanting to rush the lady and Izaya followed.
It wasn't like he would be able to anyway.
Walking, speaking, even just breathing proved to be quite exhausting and it was on the stairs that Izaya realized he seemed to have been blessed with a particularly shitty condition even for his own standards, when a soft haze grazed his vision and his eyes narrowed in short annoyance.
He was sick of maneuvering his way through life like a drunken shipman steering a broken vessel through a storm.
Grasping the railguard like a true lady wanting to descend the stairs as elegantly as possible he quickly hid the discomfort moving had brought as he followed his maids.
He would manage.
This was nothing- compared to his condition when he arrived at the castle he was full of life.
Laughing like the death reapers' minions, the cold wind grazing across the landscape picked up and tore at the rim of Izaya's dress as he stepped outside the castle.
"Good morning." Soft like velvet and warm like honey the greeting followed from up front and for just a moment Izaya was quite flashed.
Shizuo was standing there.
He had expected to meet him of course, but the clothes he was wearing were of quite the extravagant nature. Expensive fur and jewels lined every stitch of thread on the white cloth that wrapped his chest. A decorative sword, probably never having been used in any battle dangled from his torso and yet another, different type of cloak hung from his shoulders.
Compared to the outfit he wore when they welcomed Izaya's father this seemed to be even more of an upgrade of status. Glancing to the side Izaya couldn't help but hide a soft chuckle upon seeing James' expression.
He looked so damn proud.
Izaya didn't need to count two and two together to know that Shizuo's butler had insisted on Shizuo's attire and combined it himself.
"Good morning," Izaya greeted back and quickly descended the last of the stairs. The carriage was already standing by, dragged by two horses of pure white and covered in gold in every place possible, it was quite a sight to behold.
"Ready to face my folk?" Shizuo asked, diverting Izaya's attention from their means of transport.
A polite smile was given and Izaya quickly agreed.
"Would I be here if I weren't?"
"Yeah."
Rather dumbfounded Izaya snorted- this guy really knew him better than he thought.
Eyes waiting for either confirmation or denial laid upon Izaya and he quickly shook his head.
"We can depart," he added quickly and slipped into the carriage.
Horses neighed, the carriage shifted and before long the two of them were sitting opposite to each other and the vehicle moved along cobblestone and dirt.
Rattling noises stemming from all the ornaments clattering against the carriage filled the air and Izaya's eyes stuck to the window.
He still remembered coming here.
With his father's carriage.
He had been sure he was going to die- and now?
Smothered with servants that cared more than his father had ever bothered to were surrounding him all day round tending to every possible need.
And Shizuo- glance trailing to the blond shortly Izaya smiled. Memories of their conversation at their fireplace replayed in his head as well as the feeling of comfort and familiarity they brought.
Somehow, despite his arguably tricky situation Izaya couldn't help but feel blessed.
Wider and faster than the duke's carriage the king's one was out of the castle grounds and past the nearby trading point in a matter of minutes.
Cold, but fresh air kept creeping in from all kinds of gaps, especially the door and Izaya moved his dress just a little bit closer to retain his warmth.
"You seem awfully quiet today."
Startled, Izaya's gaze turned to Shizuo.
He was smiling with his lips, and yet Izaya could already spot it. A tinge of worry, slowly but surely creeping into Shizuo's eyes like mud tainting a bright pond.
"Don't tell me you found something new to take blame for?" he half joked, but his tone only displayed real curiosity and Izaya snorted.
"Of course not, but sometimes even I appreciate a bit of peace," he argued and somehow Shizuo's expression wavered at that.
"I see," Shizuo hummed softly, and Izaya couldn't help but think the king's mood had shifted to a rather sullen one.
… had something spoiled his mood?
Showing presence, especially as the new king was crucial when taking over the throne of his father.
Especially to those that had no idea what the rumored monster on the battlefield was like. Maybe that idea was weighing on Shizuo's mind.
… Izaya wanted to disarm those rumors almost as much as he wanted to find his sisters.
"Your highness!" dropping everything the poor farmer held in his arms he rushed over with a startled expression. The carriage Izaya and Shizuo were traveling with had barely even come to a halt. Feet meeting the muddy ground of the fields, Shizuo was the first to jump out of the carriage and right into the mess. Eyes gentle and expression clear he strode towards the fumbling farmer. "Don't bother stopping. I didn't mean to interrupt your work."
The poor guy had been in the midst of tending to his field. Heads of lettuce had been chopped off the ground and sprawled everywhere as the farmer had dropped the casket he was carrying them with.
Quickly beating his dirty pants of cheap fabric he tried to muster his best possible appearance as he flashed his best smile. "You certainly do anything but interrupt, your highness. Do you want anything? I have nothing fancy but I am certain my wife can manage a cup of milk or bread."
It was the first Izaya really heard as he stepped out of the carriage as well. Sight trailing to the right he could spot a small house standing right by the fields. A dirty woman, wearing a similar attire to her husband's was standing at the entrance with a small child hiding behind her skirt.
"I didn't come to take anything," Shizuo quickly said, and nodded politely towards the woman. Startled and probably a bit shy she quickly joined her husband, whilst dragging the child after. "I greet you, my king," she tried awkwardly and moved into something that might as well have been an attempt to bow. "And of course, you too, my queen."
Having forgotten what his actual role was Izaya quickly scolded himself in his head as he returned the gesture with a quick smile and nod.
That's right, he was the queen, and he had to behave like one.
"How is this year's harvest?" Shizuo asked next, concluding that this was enough for an exchange of greetings and the farmer quickly cleared his throat.
"Going good my lord. The weather has been extremely proficient. All crops are provided with more than enough water to sprout beautifully."
"I am already looking forward to the festival!" Louder than anyone had suspected the child had raised its voice and instantly earned a glare from her mother.
"Chlorine-" she scolded and the little girl quickly slapped her palm onto her mouth.
They were scared albeit not too much.
Glancing to the father that seemed as though he had just seen a ghost, Izaya felt like they were facing a perfect mixture of what Izaya had seen so far.
Some people were afraid of the new king. Of what horrors he might bring, worse than his father's perhaps. And then there were those living close enough to the castle to have seen their new ruler and knew about his generosity and kindness.
This family seemed to have heard of both, unsure which source to trust.
"A festival?" Shizuo asked, and the farmer broke out into a cool sweat.
"A small get together by all farmers around. We do not like to waste natural resources so when the harvest ends up being as generous as this year we hold a small festival. Of course we don't take anything from the harvest we deliver to the castle, my king," the farmer quickly spoke, one word chasing the next as he tried his best to not offend the king upon his first visit and lose his head.
And Shizuo seemed to notice as his smile turned even gentler, and his voice spoke of nothing but warmth.
"Don't worry, no need to rectify yourself," he said, and a flash of doubt crossed the couple's expression as they looked at each other. "On the contrary, may I be allowed to join?" The suggestion came as much unexpected as it bewildered the farmer.
"Your highness-" he stumbled over his own words- "It will be no place fancy enough for your kingship-"
"Neither is the battlefield." Rumors visibly clashed in the farmer's head at the topic and his expression grew fearful. Of course. Izaya suspected he was taking Shizuo's smiles and kind gestures as traps and feigned masks. He was probably out of his mind trying to figure out how to keep his family from getting beheaded-
And Shizuo seemed to notice as he dropped the smile. "You needn't accommodate me or anything, but if you feel more at ease without me there then I will not disturb," he added as calm as he had been when he told Izaya that he wasn't mad at him for his betrayal. It was the same disarming honest expression and Izaya felt his lips slip into a comfortable smile-
This.
This was what Shizuo needed to show.
Realization of what kind of man the farmer was facing seemed to finally come to his understanding and his face lit up.
"Of course not! You are very welcome, your highness!"
"The king is coming?" the little girl asked and the wife mirrored an hesitating smile. "He is."
Feeling his own chest rise with warmth, Izaya couldn't help but be amazed by how easily Shizuo charmed this family. Just by being himself.
No pretense acts were needed, no games of words. He just needed to be himself. Izaya couldn't help but look forward to the moment every single person in this country realized how blessed they were with their new ruler.
Acts of greetings were exchanged once more, and before the farmers knew it Shizuo was back inside the carriage and the vehicle moved on.
A deep sigh fell from Shizuo's lips and he let his head hang low.
"This is more difficult than I thought," he groaned, and Izaya couldn't help but laugh.
"You did well though."
As if having praised a puppy, Shizuo's delighted gaze lifted to meet Izaya's.
"You think so?" It was then that Izaya realized Shizuo had actually been nervous about that visit. He thought he was going to fuck up, just as he had been anxious about talking to those two dukes visiting the castle.
Izaya somehow kept forgetting that Shizuo had no idea what being a king meant and his expression softened. "I think you are doing a good job as the king."
To say Izaya's words delighted Shizuo was an underestimation- pride and an unknown surge of excitement filled his veins as he averted his gaze.
"You were awfully quiet though."
Blinking shortly, Izaya lacked a witty response.
True.
Why?
He had said not a single word to that farmer and his family. Not even his greeting had been voiced as he did nothing but nod. Usually Izaya was full of words, full of things he wanted to tell- yet today somehow nothing came to mind.
"I didn't really know what to say," Izaya admitted truthful, only earning a laugh.
"You? At a loss for words? Unbelievable," Shizuo commented and Izaya shot a playful glare. "This is an introduction of the new king ruling their lands. I think most of the attention should hover on you anyway."
Shizuo smiled.
"Yeah, I agree."
Blinking shortly, Izaya stopped short as a quizzical expression forced itself onto his face. "If you agree, then why did you take me with you?"
A moment of silence followed, and Shizuo's eyes trailed to the window showing the bypassing scenery. "The real reason?" He asked slowly, embarrassment of an unknown kind forcing itself onto Shizuo's mind. "I don't know but when you are there I feel like an actual king and not just a warrior trying to deceive people by telling them he is the one… if that makes sense."
Despite having felt cold to the bone ever since waking Izaya couldn't quite faze the warmth that suddenly seeped into his chest. He knew Shizuo was honoring his advice, but for him to consider his opinion that precious came unexpected. A smile jumped to his lips and he let his chin rest on his palm as he hummed playfully, "Then hurry up, my king, this was only the first out of many stops."
An array of various emotions triggered in Shizuo's chest at that-
A quick reply was on the verge of his lips but died down when he was met with an unreadable gaze.
His king, huh?
The facts were clear, he was his king after all, the king of everyone actually, and yet the way Izaya said that almost sounded like it was a term exclusive to only him and it caused Shizuo's chest to swell. His intended words died down and confidence grazed his face instead. "Alright," he smiled, "Then watch me as I show them what their rumored monster is like."
to be continued~
Hm, this chapter ended up longer than I expected xD Oh well, guess the next one will be where the drama starts xDDD
This Saturday I only have these two updates ready, Impostor and Go to hell, this week has been quite the roller coaster, and starting today I am sick again yaaay x'DDD Anyway, i hope you still like the update and see you next Saturday 3