Chapter 6 - the Queen's forgotten heart
The Lost Prince
Yuya POV
"act normally" I told Yuto as we both walked along the corridor leading to the royal walkway where all the King's nobles and kins stayed.
"we walked right into the last door which says 'royal guards'"
"hika, Yabu!" Yuto shouted
"guys, come here. it'll be safer in here." hika signaled us over to a hidden passageway behind the shelves.
"it's a long nerve wrecking walk here, isn't it" hika teased.
"not until we set foot to looking for Queen Umi... what have you guys found?"
"good and bad news, which one do you wanna hear first?" Yabu asked
"good" I said
"we found where Queen Umi is hidden. she's in a secret room within the King's chamber. that's convenient for him to possess her every night. who knows what goes on behind those doors"
"and bad news is that it'll be difficult to get in since it is the king's chamber?" Yuto asked.
"that's one. but worst than this is..." Yabu and hika exchange glances.
"say!" Yuya demanded.
"we're not sure if she is still on our side. the last time we saw her, she's totally throwing herself at Minoru. it's like she is in love with him"
"what?! is she under sorcery? there's no way she has forgotten that the bastard killed her husband and caused her to separate with her only son"Yuto said
"there's no such thing as sorcery! but it'll be better and so much easier if she's really under a spell, cause at least we know there's a way to bring her soul back. but since there's no such thing, i am just afraid Queen Umi is now serving This king, and it's not really that hard to believe since she lived with him for 20 years!"
"then we just have to remind her the damn kind of life people in Aoihoshi is leading and also remind her that she has a son who could possibly be suffering somewhere out there because of her" I said with my usual confidence.
"great to hear your optimism Yuya!" Yabu said.
"anyways, how's the rest doing?" Yuto asked
"Chinen and Daiki are constantly recruiting, and things are looking good. the 6 of us, along with Keito and Kei, we'll protect the prince at all cost, so Yuya Yuto, you guys have to find the prince quick!"
"yes, that tyrant is getting worst. people in Aoihoshi are losing hope. this place is plaqued with corruption, fear and murder and if we don't do anything soon, this whole city will be covered in darkness" hika added
"we need the people to start believing and hoping again, cause they're our strongest weapon against Minoru"Yabu said
"and this hope lies in Prince Ainosuke. it's all up to you two" he added.
I looked at Yuto and we both smiled in confidence and said together "we'll not fail Aoihoshi!"
...
"the king has just exited the chambers for his meeting with the nobles... the meeting will last for at least an hour... so go now!" Yabu and hika signaled as they kept a lookout for Yuto and I.
we sneaked past the guards and quietly slipped into the chamber with the backup key stolen by Yabu.
"secret room... hmm... where?" we surveyed the chamber and see nothing abnormal.
Yuto started shifting the books on the shelves thinking that one of it is the key to open the secret room, while I look at the exhibits.
this painting of Mona Lisa looks alittle odd. I tilted the painting and all of a sudden, a part of the door slide open.
"Yuto!"
"Omg! this feels like those spies movies."
I giggled.
we approached the room with cautious and it didnt take long to see a lady's figure not too far away from the entrance to the room.
"who are you! guards!"
Yuto quickly cupped .
"my highness! we're the sons of your guards, Takaki Yuya and Nakajima Yuto. sorry to offend you."
"what brings you here?"
"we're here to save Aoihoshi"
"this is treason!"
"so... it's true that your highness has forgotten your roots"
"shut up!"
"the people need you, Queen Umi!" Yuto said
"they're suffering and they can't say a thing about their plight because they'll be publicly executed if they show signs of dissatisfaction. you cannot imagine how horrible the life outside is." Yuto added.
"and your highness, you have been living here in luxury that you will not understand how the people outside live their days" I sarcastically remarked.
the queen looks like she's in deep thoughts and I can sense that she's actually sad about it.
"we need you to persevere on, Queen Umi. you are the hope of Aoihoshi. if you give up, then Aoihoshi will never see the light again" Yuto said.
"in fact, they're losing hope." Yuya added.
"there's nothing I can do about it. I won't betray king Minoru"
"how could you be so heartless" Yuto raised his voice.
"Yuto~" I pat his back and signaled to let me take over.
"Queen Umi, you need not betray the King if you really have chosen this route. but you can't stop us from saving Aoihoshi. if you have that little bit of heart, you will not tell on us, or your hand will be stained with blood from the people of Aoihoshi... moreover, you are not really the only hope of Aoihoshi. truly, I think no one in Aoihoshi thinks you are alive, and even if you are, there's not much they believe you can help"
"Yuya!" Yuto interrupted.
she looks like she's in shock, she looks like I've knocked some sense into her.
"the only one capable of reigniting that hope, lies not in you, but the only last heir to King Akiyoshi's throne..."
her eyes widened and she avoided my eyes. I know she understands our purpose of coming here.
"Prince Ainosuke. between you and I, we both know he's pretty much alive as he was brought out of palace before the massacre. and we're here to get him back and help him overthrow this tyrant"
"I will not tell you his whereabouts! I won't let you harm the King!" I see tears in her eyes but why is she being so heartless, even to her son who she yearns dearly.
"do you not care about your son anymore?" Yuto interrupted.
"I miss~ .... (she stopped the sentence) ... you better leave now, or you'll be sorry"
"Queen Umi~ you..." I grabbed Yuto and bowed to her.
"Yuya?" Yuto stared at me in confusion
"Queen Umi, we will communicate your decision and we respect that. we trust that you do not divulge today's sharing or our identity."
"Yuya?" I dragged Yuto out. well, I think my decision to 'give up' definitely shocked him.
"nande Yuya?"
"lets get out of the palace first and I'll tell you... the Queen is still on our side"
"huh?"
we walked normally out of the palace and finally we heaved a sigh of relief.
"okay, so what is it that you wanna say?" Yuto asked impatiently.
"the queen hasn't given up"
"but she said..."
"forget about what she said. her necklace tells me otherwise"
"what necklace?"
"I know where to find our Prince"
"REALLY?!"
...
Queen Umi POV
I stared out of the window that restricted my view only to the castle grounds.
my people are suffering.
my son, Ainosuke~ Gomenasai. my hands reach for the necklace on my neck that binds both our hearts.
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