Shangri La Pt. 1

106: Debrief

Trailing around through the palace in the Betta Kingdom, Shoto was still wavering about everything he was told an hour prior by the Betta King. 

Many questions rummaged through his mind as he was unsure who to ask and who would tell him the truth during this time. But the most important question was where they were keeping the Princess, and how he would be able to escape with her unscathed. 

'None of this still makes sense to me. This King is keeping Momo from me all because he thinks she's the same person who killed the previous King of this Kingdom? How and why would that King think it would be Momo when she wasn't even born more than 20 years ago. So maybe she does look like a Siren to them, but to me, Momo wouldn't even harm a flower, let alone kill a King. She can't even fool anybody either because of how honest she can be. Ah– Should I be thinking this way when I still barely know Momo myself?' he thought as he could only hear the King's questions from earlier ringing in his ear.

"Do you truly love this Princess you speak of, or do you only think you do because you are in an Arranged Marriage to marry her? Does she truly make you feel like you're suffocating like you can't breathe whether she is or not around you? Does your heart race when she is near or when you think of her? Do you start to think of selfless thoughts and crave for her?" "See? Not even you know yourself." 

'He's right, but maybe he's wrong too. I was scared to answer because I didn't know if he was testing me on how I'd respond. Hah~ All of this is convoluting my head that I don't even wanna hear more about it... I just hope Momo's doing okay, I wasn't given any hints on where she could be either.'

"Your Majesty." 

When Shoto lifted his head to see if someone was talking to him, he wasn't anticipating seeing the members of the White Lotus approaching him and bowing to him. 

"We apologize that we couldn't join you in speaking with the King. King Kuro is... different from what you'd expect for someone as a King." Zeri noted. 

"Mn... Yes, I noticed that when he and I were alone." 

"Then did... Did he tell you if the Princess is actually here?" Shoto remained silent when hearing such a question, as all he could do was make a subtle nod to the four of them. 

"Mn... She's... somewhere in this palace, but the King didn't tell me where." 

"Hah~ Of course he wouldn't." Zeri sighed as she wasn't all that surprised by this outcome.

"Then we can only assume that you have some questions that you'd like to ask us, yes?" Uma broke out, causing Zeri to jerk. 

"U-Uma–" 

"The Prince needs to know these things, otherwise he will be left in the dark, just like all of us were years ago when this all happened." Uma noted as he turned to look directly down at Zeri. 

Zeri could only zip her lips, as she seemed ashamed that she was one of the people that had to hide such information from the man who would be marrying into the East Kingdom's Princess. 

"Hm. Mn. We must give you the answers you require, Your Majesty." Zeri answered as they all faced the Prince once more. Shoto knew that he'd possibly get more questions answered than he got compared to the Betta King, so he nodded as he faced the four of them. 

"Yes, there's many questions I have." 

"Then we must move to the room you will be staying in, we can't let our voices carry through these halls that easily." 

"Mn."