Chapter 68: Sliver of hope

Over and over Izaya scanned the content of the letter they received.

"It's today," Shizuo repeated, not quite sure how to respond to the content displayed inside.

Izaya's hair was slightly damp still and his fresh clothes slowly started to spread the warmth that was radiating from his body after the long bath he had taken.

The smell of pleasant soap and herbs accompanied his every move and Shizuo found himself wondering for a moment how many more times Izaya was going to read it.

Was he hoping for a different kind of content? Or coming up with a decision?

Either way it was his to make.

Soft flames flickered in the depths of their chamber's fireplace and Shizuo stirred the glimmering wood with an iron prick as he kneeled next to it.

The letter was a simple invitation.

On the surface that is.

Izaya's father was arranging a banquet held in Istal. They weren't the only guests either. Everything worthy of noble status had been summoned to take part in a feast and dance to their heart's content.

A harmless occasion, probably meant to celebrate his newest wealth from marrying into the king's family.

So of course Izaya was expected to appear. The new queen. The new king.

It was a chance for Shizuo to present himself as his true self and not the rumored brutal warrior with no empathy for the weak.

But for Izaya?

Eyes glancing towards his pretentious wife, Shizuo stilled in his motion and his eyes narrowed. Threats and words of venom were sure to find their way to his ears as soon as he got near his father's presence.

It was an experience Shizuo would have liked to shield Izaya from.

But as long as his sisters weren't found he couldn't just ignore an invitation.

Again Izaya read the contents of the letter and his hands grasped the paper tightly.

Izaya was aware he should be afraid. Afraid of what it was that his father was planning behind this invitation.

The last time he had seen him he was trying to inform him of a task that was to be completed within two days.

Two days. Whatever it was that he had in mind it was a time frame too short to find his sisters first.

And yet- somehow Izaya felt oddly at ease.

Oddly in control.

He knew about his sister's whereabouts, his father didn't. Shizuo was on his side, his father had no one. And now with his illness bettering by every day he somehow felt a kind of confidence surge that he had never felt before. It was funny, he really did feel like he was the queen ruling this land alongside her husband.

And his father was nothing but a mere fool, blinded by his greed.

"Istal," Izaya mumbled aloud and Shizuo's gaze turned.

"What?"

"It's taking place in Istal," he announced and the paper dropped from his gaze. "My sisters are in Instal." Their letter had arrived not too long ago. And even considering the lengthy time it had taken to be delivered, Izaya was pretty sure his sisters would remain long enough to give him a chance to reply.

Izaya was high in hopes.

Shizuo not so much.

"Istal is huge. If you plan to find them on our visit then-" he started, but didn't get far.

"I am aware," izaya interrupted and his eyes narrowed in a slight bitterness. "The chance is slim and going will probably bring more trouble than it helps depending on my father's plans." A short moment of hesitation brought Izaya to a full stop. He knew what he was saying was the truth, but the fact that he was purposefully creating problems for Shizuo by following through with this wish only really reached his mind the second he spoke his request aloud.

And yet- "If there is even a sliver of a chance that I could run into them then I want to try."

Izaya couldn't really bring himself to stop the flow of words from his lips.

After everything that had happened- his pretense, the marriage, his father's unescapable clutches and worsening illness- He had survived. He had made it this far.

And now that his sisters, his only goal for so long, was this close to be reached he couldn't suppress his own greed.

"... so you want to attend?" Shizuo repeated and Izaya hesitated.

"You don't?"

A low sigh left Shizuo's lips as he rose from the fireplace. By now the flames were fed beyond what was healthy and licked up the side of the stone walls.

"It's not about wanting to or not. As I said, the decision is yours," Shizuo announced as he approached Izaya. His eyes held a doubting gaze, and yet so much unwavering care. "But after only having returned today it seemed a bit rushed to me to head out so quickly. You were supposed to rest."

He was worried.

Warmth, hotter than the searing heat that the fireplace provided filled Izaya's chest for a moment. Shizuo was worried about him. Of course he was. He had been for the longest time. Out of sheer goodness of his heart he had helped him despite having imposed as his wife. He was too good for this world. A true man out of many, driven by an actual strive for justness and benevolence.

It wasn't like he hadn't known that before and yet, ever since that small kiss on his forehead Izaya felt as though his attention was robbing him of all air to breathe.

"... it's just a banquet," he whispered quietly, unsure why, but somehow he felt he would offend Shizuo if he didn't take his words seriously. "Food, a bit of chatter and after a while we can retreat," he added, making this banquet sounds so much more inviting than it actually was. But they both knew what his father's true goals were.

Only thinking about their last encounter caused Izaya's guts to drop despite the lengthy amount of time that had passed ever since.

But so much had changed compared to last time.

So despite the urge to vomit whatever his stomach contained he also noticed the vast absence of fear. Because there was nothing to be wary off as long as Shizuo was there. "Not taking part would be easy, especially now. You need only say I'm on the verge of death despite the rumors of my condition having improved," Izaya continued quickly, as Shizuo had yet to interject. "I know it's selfish," he hesitated, "But I want to look for them. I know Istal is huge and the population even larger, and the chance to really find them practically nonexistent, but if there is a chance I might just run into them, then I-"

And suddenly it was there.

Assuring, gentle, bringing all those worrisome ideas to halt.

Shizuo's hand, patting his head with a deep but gentle sigh.

"Alright. I will tell James to get the carriage ready."

Warmth, hotter than the fireplace, somehow sept through Shizuo's touch and right to his head and Izaya quickly swallowed to ignore the sensation.

"You will?"

"With one condition," Shizuo announced, and his gaze turned awfully serious. "You stay by my side," he announced with a voice that was probably meant to sound intimidating, "At all times." But somehow it only felt like smooth honey drizzling from a spoon. His order, if it could even be called that way, was rooted deeply in the desire to keep Izaya safe. A wish that Izaya could never view as hostile and so he smiled.

Assured more than he liked to admit.

"I will shut down any moves that bastard might attempt as soon as I see him," Shizuo added, as though he needed to add more convincing arguments to get Izaya to agree and somehow the action was even more endearing than the order itself.

What king was giving out orders with explanations in hope his counterpart would be willing to obey?

He was truly too lenient, and yet that was just one of the many facets that Izaya simply loved about this king.

"I will tell Craigh to accompany us as well," Shizuo suddenly announced and Izaya blinked.

"Shouldn't he rest? After that long trip and the attack-" he spoke quickly, but the king only showed amusement and a questioning glance.

"Are you really in a place to speak about rest?"

Izaya wasn't quite used to the joking sarcasm displayed in those words, but he definitely agreed that he deserved it for acting as hypocritical as he was.

Suppressing his own urge to smile, he remained quiet as there was no way to negate Shizuo's question. He was more than right and he was aware of it.

"He already offered his help, who am I to deny him an evening full of fine cuisine and expensive wine?" Shizuo shrugged, and somehow Izaya found himself agreeing to that.

Compared to their ride to Loberion, the constant lookout for danger and the burden of the long ride, the ginger knight would be having a much easier life this time around.

Sighing softly, Izaya let his body meet the mattress of their bed. Thinking about Craigh and what he had done the past few days in order to keep Izaya safe somehow reminded Izaya himself about how many hardships they had already passed.

He had only just taken a bath and actually looked forward to some rest and Shizuo noticed.

"Are you sure you are alright?" Shizuo asked, and Izaya nodded with a smile too victorious to keep his mind restrained by exhaustion.

"I will be once we find my sisters."

Hesitation marked Shizuo's expression for a second, but even he seemed to understand that this time there was no room for negotiation.

"Alright, just rest some here until the carriage is ready," Shizuo announced while walking to the door. Quick and unmerciful it was torn open and left as it was as Shizuo moved down the hallway. "James!" he called, and somehow Izaya couldn't help but chuckle at the way the king seemed as motivated as himself to find his sisters and bring them here.

Right.

Here.

Thinking about the castle and its staff, Izaya couldn't quite help but feel his mood improve only further.

That's right.

Once his sisters were here- they would get to know everyone. Mika and Clairance and Shinra. James too, and the knights. A simple lie of how he had two sisters instead of just one would be simple as barely anyone had ever heard of the duke's son.

Shizuo's bad reputation was for once going to act in his favor and once his sisters were officially in the new king's care his father would no longer have any leverage.

Jumping off the bedside Izaya quickly tried to calm his excitement.

Not yet.

First he needed to find them. And so he moved out, ready to help wherever needed to speed up their departure.

But his help was not needed, and James even faster to act upon Shizuo's wish, than expected. Before Izaya knew it he found himself wearing the finest dress and jewelry and a new carriage before his eyes. Like crimson blood the rubies danced above Izaya's collarbone and his gorgeous necklace aligned perfectly with his deep satin dress of the same color.

It caused him to wonder just how much money had been spent on it, especially considering how heavy and smooth the fabrics that had been used were.

There was no sign of discomfort to be found, neither in the dress, nor in his updo.

Mika had announced that he needed to be pretty for the banquet and upon Clairance's glance she had quickly corrected herself to, prettier than usual.

His black hair had started to reach past his collarbones, making them long enough for a simple array of hairdos. Two strands left in front somehow curled by themselves and part of his hair was brought to his back into a sweet spiral of delicate jewelry and claps. The reason as to why it stayed in place despite his movement was something Izaya was probably never going to understand, but he recognized Clairance's skills.

Following Shizuo out of the castle the carriage was readied quicker than expected and before they knew it they were inside.

It was a cheaper one, a bit smaller than the one they had abandoned in Loberion's lands. It didn't really cause any discomfort, but it did force Shizuo's and Izaya's knees to touch.

"A one day ride." Shizuo announced, a bit too sudden as Izaya tried to find a position that would not bother his king. "Sleep some until we arrive," he announced and Izaya smiled as he watched Shizuo tug at his collar.

James had obviously managed to force him to wear his own set of adequate clothes, much to Shizuo's dismay.

Emerald green matched in various parts across his appearance and even a set of white gloves had found their way to his usually bare hands.

"I'm not that tired," he announced, and Shizuo gave up trying to fix the damned white collar poking his neck.

"I thought I told you to stop pretending you are fine?" he argued, but this time Izaya truly wasn't.

"No, actually I'm serious," he smiled, and couldn't quite suppress his anticipation. "With my siblings this close to being found I just can't sleep even if I tried," he whispered and Shizuo seemed to understand.

A hand was brought forth and before Izaya knew it, it had circled his own.

"We will find them." Shizuo announced, so confident and sure of himself that Izaya found himself believing every word.

Istal was large. Larger than Loberion. Encasing the king's capital. But it was just the border they needed to pass in order to get to the banquet.

The land itself was farther than their entire travel route to Loberion.

Glancing towards the window Izaya looked at the tree tips bypassing their side.

Vast fields, forests, streets made of various materials and vegetation unfamiliar to their own mansion.

Somehow Izaya couldn't help but wonder if his siblings saw the same sight. How they traveled. Maybe a farmer was kind enough to take them with him? Or did they walk?

He had no idea what they had been through and he was dying to sit down with them back at their castle, in front of their fireplace with some grapes and bread to talk about everything they had seen and learned.

It was Craigh, riding into Izaya's point of view that tore Izaya out of his thoughts.

Close enough to make out his face as well as the hand he raised to his beard, in order to suppress a yawn, Izaya found himself smiling at the way he was just so dedicated to serve Shizuo with all his might.

His siblings would love him. Craigh. The rest of the knights. James. Clairence. Mika.

Turning his gaze he looked back at the king and his confident smiles.

And of course Shizuo.

to be continued~

C: C:

Are you ready? C: C: Because this banquet- oh my, oh my C: C: C:

See you next friday~ xD