Chapter One

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(Please read My Poet before you read this, otherwise nothing will make sense.)

(Petal to the metal for real)

Keigo POV:

I crossed my arms from the corner of the room I was in. Touya was meeting with his advisors and talking about ways to do whatever.

Touya's exhaustion was visible to anyone around him.

Earlier, he almost fainted during a walk through the castle. I freaked out and called a servant, but Touya waved the maid off.

After a few hours of boring meetings, the advisors finally left. I walked forward, placing a hand on Touya's shoulder. He leaned forward in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose with both hands.

"Touya.." I start, concern evident in my voice.

He shook his head. "I can't sleep right now." He says, standing up. "I have work to do."

Touya leaves the room, his royal blue cape billowing behind him. I frown but follow after him.

Looking out the window, I saw a black crow flying high in the sky. My frown deepens, remembering the crow that gave me the terrifying note only a few weeks ago.

I haven't told anyone about it yet, not wanting it to find its way to Touya and worrying him more.

Touya passes by multiple servants, who side eye both of us, but don't say anything. I'm pretty sure almost everyone who works in the castle knows about Touya and me, but just never say anything.

We enter a hallway that enters the greenhouse, a domed corridor made of complete glass. I could already smell the humid air from inside the greenhouse.

Touya opens the door, letting us both in. The hot, humid air makes my nose wrinkle in annoyance.

"One of the advisors said something was wrong with the plants in garden C." Touya mutters half to himself, brushing his fingers against a pineapple leaf. "Something about rotting..."

We went farther into the gardens, and the humid air turned sour. I cough and groaned. "Smells worse than rotten plants." I say.

I started to hear flies buzzing and then saw what was causing the smell.

It was a dead animal lying down onto top of a bunch of dead plants. The plants were oozing green goo from all the leaves, and the dead animal, which was unrecognizable at this point, was bleeding from a gash in its stomach, where more of the green goo was oozing as well.

"Jeez, what is that?" I ask, watching Touya approach the thing.

Touya grabs a stick from somewhere else. "I think the plants got poisonous or something, and then this animal tried to eat some of it?" He theorizes. "But that doesn't explain the wound.."

The smell becomes over powering to me and I cover face with my hand. "Can we leave now?" I ask. "Breathing in this probably isn't good."

Touya nods and throws the stick away. He looks over at a near window and cracks it open, letting some of the horrible smell out.

"Should we ask the garden keepers to clean it up?" I ask. "That's a disgusting job. I feel bad."

Touya frowns. "Let's leave first." He says, walking past me and grabbing my arm, pulling me along with him until I turn and walk on my own. "We don't know what disease it is. I'll call the scientists to it."

We leave the greenhouse, the bad smell fading.

"I think it's luncheon." I say, looking at the sky. "We should go to the dining hall."

Touya looks away. "I still have to do work." He says.

I frown. "Nu uh, your coming with me to lunch." I say, grabbing him and pulling him down the hallways to the dining hall.

"Keigo, I can't!" Touya yelps, trying to pull away.

I grin. "Too bad." I say. "I now declare you are having the day off. We can't have the new king die of exhaustion on the first month, can we?"

Touya grumbles something under his breath but stops resisting. On the way, he orders for the scientists to investigate the strange dead things. Then we enter the dining hall, where Princess Fuyumi and Prince Natsuo were already sitting and talking. Fuyumi turned and happiness glinted off her grey eyes.

"Touya-nii!" She greeted. "Hello, Keigo. How are you both?"

I pull Touya over to the seats. "Quite fine, thank you." I say. "But Touya has been skipping meals."

Natsuo raises his eyebrow at his brother. "Is this true, Touya-nii?" He questions.

Touya rolls his eyes. "I just don't have the time." He says. Then he turns to me. "Speaking of which, I need to go schedule a meeting with-"

"Ah, ah, ah!" I say, pressing my pointer finger against his lips. "Your going to eat and sleep today. No work until tomorrow."

Fuyumi nods. "He's right Touya, you need rest."

Touya sighs.

The servants start coming in with the plates of food, setting them on the table in scheduled places.

"Where's Shouto?" Natsuo asks.

Fuyumi smiles. "Oh, he wanted to go for an exploration with Izuku and his friends." She explains.

I set up my plate, putting a few of everything I like on it. Then I pester Touya to do the same.

Fuyumi starts to tell us about the trip to the Aizawa Kingdom she recently visit, talking about all the cats that crowded around her. She also talked about a the Prince there, and how he is around Shouto's age.

But then, of course, luncheon was interrupted when a male servant burst into the room, startling everyone.

"Y-Your Majesty!" He exclaims, bowing multiple times. "There's been an outbreak of an epidemic!"

We all stare at him for a moment.

"What?" Fuyumi questions. "Could you please elaborate?"

The servant stands up straight. "We do not know of the cause, but many citizens in the west village and the north village are becoming deathly ill." He explains. "It's seems to be extremely contagious."

Touya frowns. "Someone get Shouto back in the castle." He orders another servant, as he standing up. "Anyone with the disease should be quarantined until further notice. I need to talk with some doctors and scientists."

He walked out of the room, and Natsuo groans in frustration.

"Ugh, i need to find Tenko." He says, standing up and leaving the dining hall from the other door.

Me and Fuyumi lock eyes. "What's the protocol for epidemics?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "I don't even know the protocol."

Suddenly several guards entered the room, armed with surgical gloves and masks as well as several other coverings to prevent the disease, presumably.

"Your Highness, Lord Takami, please come with us."

<^> To Be Continued

(1.1k words)

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