Fate (II)

"Why do you keep me calling your highness?"

Hikaru keep on walking and when we are inside the palace, he followed me to a huge painting. I was surprised. I stare at it and thought, Oh my! Now I understand.

Hikaru stood beside me and spoke, but still staring  at the painting, “She left without a word”  his voice was very sad. His hands remained at his back, holding each other.

I was looking at him. He was longing for her. “No one knew where was she now, until you came, that was one of the reasons why Aiomi came angrily, rushing here.” Hikaru added.

I looked at the painting again and asked, “ Is she the queen?”

“Aiomi’s queen rather, but since he rejected the proposal to be king, they had no options. They voted me and Destiny is my queen.”

“Do you have an idea where could she be?” I asked while hiding the sword at my back.

He walked to a couch near to a room. He crossed his legs and placed his hands on his knee. He looked at me, I don't know why I found his eyes very hypnotic.

I followed him and stood beside him; he looked at me and answered, “ A day before you came she suddenly disappeared. I think it is Destiny’s will. Wherever she goes I pray that she's fine, that the gods protect her as I protect her." He placed his face on his palm, not long enough he stood up.

He was in a daze.

"Does a katana or a sword showed to you?” he asked me while still in a daze.

I grab the sword hidden, behind in my blouse and showed it to him. He seems surprised and scared. I asked, “ Why do you looked scared?

“That’s Destiny’s katana.” He pointed at the sword while stammering.

Wait,what?  Why would she leave this sword at my place? And during my time? I thought.

“Destiny?”  I mumbled.

“Yes, she was my queen” he said.

“Please take good care of her” he added while looking at the sword. He heaved a sigh and looked at me.

What look was that? I thought.

He walked towards me, grabs me by the arm and hugged me tightly.

“Destiny, please come back” I heard him crying.

“Hikaru…” I returned his hug and rest my head on his shoulder.

As he wipes his tears from his face, he apologizes. He sat down again, his head was looking at the ground.

“You’ve inherited Destiny’s sword, might as well have her throne.”

“NO”  I shortly replied, he looked at me.

“And never ever!” an angry voice was heard.

Hikaru stood up in surprise, I was still holding the sword. On the staircase stands, Aiomi. 

Aiomi walks towards me, I can see anger and frustration on his face. Before I can even react, he pulls me off from Hikaru. He grabbed me tightly that I uttered, “Ow!”

He looked at Hikaru and said, “How dare you assign this…” Aiomi looked at me, angrily, from head to foot and continued speaking,

“ …commoner or rather a stranger to her place. She just came from nowhere”.

His grasp became tighter, “ She may look like Destiny, but how sure are you that she…”

I cut the conversation by escaping from his grasp. I was near the painting and hid the sword and held my throbbing wrist. It hurts. I stood and said, “ Yes, I may look like her, but I won’t sit on that throne. Destiny may have chosen me, not to be queen to fill her throne nor a palace guard. She might have chosen me so I could protect you from each other.”

At this moment, I both saw them listening and not arguing.

I looked at them straight in the eyes and smiled, “You were brothers, right? Don’t fight each other because someone came and you assumed that it will fill her seat. I won’t take something for granted. If I have to work hard for something. I will do it. I will leave you for the moment.”

I was about to leave when I saw Hikaru nod and smiled, then Aiomi spoke irritated, “ And who do you think you are?”

“I will be your concerned guardian. In my world, people kill each other because of greed and jealousy. You can still fix your bond. We’ll find her.”

I left them, my heart was beating so fast. It is my first time to speak like that.

I walked somewhere in the palace.

As I was roaming I saw Meimei, I called her. She was smiling as she approached me. She bowed before me. “Yes, your highness?"

Irritated by that greeting I complained, “Please stop calling me ‘Your highness’, it makes me uncomfortable” Meimei stopped smiling for a second and nodded. I smiled at her and said, “Just call me Cath”

Meimei smiled and asked, “Why did you call me?”

“I want to ask something about Hikaru and Aiomi. Do you know anything else about them?”

“No one in the palace knows more about them, aside from being brothers. I am sorry I couldn’t be of any help” she lowered her head.

I patted her shoulder , “You shouldn’t be sorry, it is fine. Thank you.”

She raised her head  and bowed down, then she left.

Should I be this nosy about them?

It was afternoon when I felt hunger. I followed Meimei when, “ Why are you following her?”

I almost screamed but he was able to cover my mouth. “Be quiet” he said.

He was a very handsome guy whose hair was as black as the night, it was neatly tied to a bun, he was wearing a gold silk robe. He removed his hands from my mouth and smiled. I saw a crown, I think he is the…

I dropped myself to the floor, kneeling and stammering, “ Y-your majesty, I am sorry”. He laughed softly and almost knelt, “You are interesting. Stand up, it’s me, Hikaru” he is still smiling and still controlling a loud laughed.

I am a bit pissed when suddenly my stomach rumbled, “ I see. Shall we?”  he said.

“Where are we going?” I asked while holding my tummy."

“To the dining hall, we’ll eat” he answered and started walking.

I followed him and started imagining steak, lobster and all delicious food. I almost drooled when I bumped into someone’s chest.

“Stop daydreaming” he sounded so calm yet you will feel irritation on his voice.

“Sorry” I didn’t look at him and passed him.

I reached the dining hall, Hikaru was there. I sat near him and food was served.

I admit it, I am drooling right now.