Tainted (nonbinary mc x man)

Chapter 11

Monrie left before the sun set, leaving Toma to stare out the open window at the vast evergreen forest that surrounded the mountain. He sighed, drumming his fingers on the windowsill. "Better" wasn't exactly the word he would use to describe how he was feeling now, after talking to Monrie for a while. No, he just felt a bit calmer about his current situation.

He sighed again, his head moving to rest against the window frame as he allowed the cold air to whip his face. Winter was well underway, and feeling the bitter frostiness it brought was much better than feeling sorry for himself.

There was a knock at the door, then Parim said in her professional tone, "He made it back safely."

Toma turned towards her, smiling apologetically. "Thank you for tailing him. I was just... I was a bit worried. All things considered."

Parim nodded. "You were worried his brother and that woman he's traveling with would find out." Toma hummed in assent and turned away, watching the sun as it began to dip below the horizon. Parim watched him for a moment, then stepped into the room, closing the door firmly behind her. "Do you know who he is?"

"He's Monrie," Toma said blankly, his eyes never leaving the sky as it began to shift into a teal color. "The blue hour is a pretty one," he observed absentmindedly.

"Tomagura," Parim chidded, trying to pull his attention away from the view. "Don't be so naive. You know he isn't some simple traveler."

"I'm not naive," Toma muttered. "I'm just pretending I don't see it."

"Tomagura."

"Parim," Toma stopped her, looking her straight in the eyes. "Monrie is harmless compared to what awaits me. He's also been very kind to me. He won't hurt me. No, he's not simple, but neither am I."

Parim nodded, giving in once she saw the resolve on Toma's face. "You could marry him. Leave Ilia and never return."

Toma scoffed, amused by the thought. "We've known each other for just over a week. It's too early for marriage."

"But you could still leave with him," Parim pushed on. "You said you have two options. Go back or die. But really, Tomagura, don't you have more options that you don't dare to consider?"

Toma shook his head, opening his mouth to respond, but he was cut off when a guard burst through the door. Usually, in this type of situation, one might think that the only reason a guard would barge into a room without knocking was because there was some urgent matter. In this mansion, however, this was not the case. No one here cared for basic decorum. As far as they were concerned, this free-range prisoner deserved no privacy, so why knock when you enter his room?

"Letter," the guard said shortly, annoyed that she had to walk all the way up here to hand over a piece of paper. She went to hand it to Parim, but paused when she saw the state of the room. Toma winced. He hadn't had a moment to clean up yet.

"Thank you," Parim said sweetly."I can take it from here. Why don't you go get some rest? You really work too hard." Parim winked before leaning in closer and whispering something so softly that Toma wasn't able to catch it. However, based on the way the guard blushed and twirled her skirt a bit, he could make a guess.

"Anytime," the guard responded shyly. And then, with the disaster area forgotten, she left in a slight daze.

"How do you flirt so well?" Toma asked, closing the door gently before taking stock of the room. "Barely a glance and she was practically on her knees."

Parim pushed down the desire to roll her eyes. "I just noticed her staring at me earlier today. All I did was put on a small show. If I was really flirting, it wouldn't have been so easy to get her to leave."

Toma smiled widely at that. He glanced at the room, willing the bed and chair to mend themselves, the wood fusing back together and the stuffing pushing itself into the chair before the threads sewed themselves together. The items strewn across the floor lifted, floating through the air before settling back into their rightful places.

"If I run away with Monrie, you can run away with her," Toma said mischievously.

Parim only raised a brow at him, responding with, "She's not my type."

"And what is your type?"

Parim looked at Toma calculatingly. "She was rude to you. If she can't treat you well when you are here as a prisoner, she will not treat me well later."

"People tend to treat their significant others better than they do prisoners," Toma supplied, moving to sit down on the bed. He reached out to Parim for the letter she had been holding since the guard left.

"You'd be surprised," she huffed, handing over the letter easily.

Toma gave her a confused look, but otherwise, let it go because, when he opened the envelope and pulled the paper out a little, there was a particular name scrawled there. One he did not expect to see.

Toma gasped, pulling the letter from the envelope quickly, and allowing said envelope to flutter to the floor. Parim peered over Toma's shoulder. Upon seeing the name on it, she hissed, "Damn it. What is it this time?" She settled on the chair opposite Toma and requested, "Read it out loud."

Toma's eyes were glued to the page, and he began to read:

"Dear Tomagura,

It's been too long. I hope you are doing well, but then again, you are all alone over there on Reilty Mountain. Two years alone is simply too much.

I wish I was writing to ask how you were or how the weather is or if the snow is as bad in the mid-country as it is up north, but such mundane things aren't meant to be a part of our conversations, it seems.

You know I would never write to you like this if I wasn't at my wits' end. I contemplated it over and over before I decided I really couldn't take it anymore. What I'm about to tell you is a secret. A secret to everyone but the royal family and my family.

I've been betrothed to Princess Senotagh. Our parents decided it. I really don't know what to do. Help me, Tomagura. I can't stand this. Senotagh is a nice woman, but you know my heart is with another and the thought of being with anyone else has never once crossed my mind. Since the day my parents told me, all I can think about is how word might spread like a disease and get back to River.

They are going to announce it soon, but I had to tell you first. If you heard from Parim before you heard from me, I know you'd set out to kill me. But I promise I would never do this to River.

Tomagura, if I could, I would like to come stay with you. My parents won't know a thing; I often have the knights cover for me when I want to step away from their constant control for a week or two. Perhaps you'll have an idea of how to help me. Please, Tomagura. I have no one else.

Send Parim with a response, even if it's a refusal.

Your friend,

Thomsyn Kata