Our Strange Duet (Yandere Modern Princes x Reader)

Chapter 45: A Goddess's Fragrance

The first sight that Kazuki saw was the younger girl resting peacefully under him. His cheeks flared a light pink as he took in her features. He hadn't studied them so closely before that he knew he must have been subject to sudden affection. The blonde's eyes shimmered and sparkled as he took her in. The sight of a sleeping maiden so peaceful in her dreams made his heart flip. How long had it been since he'd enjoyed the sight?

He reached his hand forward and placed it on the younger girl's cheek, wincing at first from how warm she felt. The male was so used to waking up alone and cold without anyone there to comfort him in his grief. Yet she had stayed the whole night, and he hadn't even asked her. She simply knew. He just couldn't believe he'd found someone who was purer than the winter snow.

That being said, the male could still see a tainted blackness in her, something that made him narrow his eyes. He knew it had to come from something Rei had done, but still, she loved him. The blonde was abusing his power; something frowned upon in the royal family. If Kazuki were to do such a thing, he had no doubt his guilt would flood his veins and he wouldn't be able to take it. As for Ichiro...well, it was safe to say she wasn't overly affected yet.

The older male let out a sigh in his relief. He had no doubts that the (h/c) haired girl's ash could be removed. It would simply take time. She had been marinated in something that most wouldn't be able to withstand for years at a time. It was certainly a curious thing, and the blonde couldn't piece it together at all until he remembered what the bluenette had said to him far too long ago.

. . .

There were four boys once; four boys that loved one another despite their family's complex factors. They were all running along in the garden, playing a game of tag. Even Orion participated, the orange-haired boy laughing joyfully as Kazuki ran after him under the spring sun. The blonde was "it", as he typically was, mainly because no one else would be to agree to be it.

Kazuki ran slowly after his younger cousin, knowing his frail health prevented him from running too quickly and wanting to let him have some equal fun. He had a gentle smile on his lips as he watched Orion giggle and scamper around, barely able to balance due to his young age. Nonetheless, he took joy in playing with his cousins, grateful Ichiro was able to slip him away from his mother and doctors.

Of course, the orange-haired boy was doomed to trip, doing so and scraping his knee terribly. It began bleeding a scarlet color, pouring out at a rapid rate as he began to cry, weeping uncontrollably. Rei tensed, looking around scared that his aunt was going to scold them all and never let them near their cousin again. However, as Kazuki leaned down to comfort the younger boy, Ichiro stepped forward and picked up the younger boy with his older brother's help.

"You know, Uncle Mica told me a story," the bluenette smiled, helping to carry the male to the edge of the pond, "He told me that if you make a wish in the pond, it'll come true."

Rei peered into the water as if assessing whether or not his brother was telling the truth. However, there was no sign of anything magical happening, so he doubted him, pouting at the male for lying to him. He crossed his arms over his chest and sneered playfully, but Ichiro thought he had been telling the truth. He believed that his great uncle's story was true. It had to be, didn't it?

"How does he know?" Rei huffed, placing his hand on top of the cool water's surface.

"He said he tested it, I swear! Zuki, you believe me, don't you?"

"You shouldn't believe everything people say," the eldest of them smiled gently, holding Orion on his back as if giving him a piggyback ride, "What did he say he wished for, Ichi?"