The Ice Queen and The Dark Prince

Heavy is The Head

Flashback

Minatiro stood before Najenda in the newly built Night Raid headquarters, feeling the weight of her gaze on him. Susanoo, her loyal Teigu, stood silently by her side, ever vigilant. Minatiro tried to maintain a calm exterior, but his mind was elsewhere—on Esdeath.

"You called for me?" he asked, keeping his voice even.

"I did," Najenda responded, her tone measured and direct. "I wanted to ask you something, and I expect an honest answer. Do you still care about Esdeath?"

Minatiro hesitated, his pulse quickening. "No," he said, though the word felt foreign as it left his mouth—a lie that even he couldn't believe.

Najenda raised an eyebrow, taking a slow drag of her cigarette before tapping the ash into a nearby tray. "Don't lie to me, kid," she said, her tone unamused. "I've seen too many soldiers caught between two opinions, and they end up dead because they can't make up their minds. So I'll ask you again—do you still care about Esdeath?"

Minatiro clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he struggled with his thoughts. Najenda had hit the nail on the head. He wasn't sure how he felt about Esdeath anymore. She was a dangerous, ruthless enemy, but she was also the one person who had shown him love, in her own twisted way.

"I don't know," he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Najenda watched him for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. She took another drag of her cigarette before speaking again. "That's more like it. You see, Esdeath knows how to inflict pain better than anyone, but love? Love can be its own kind of torture. It messes with your head, ."

Minatiro felt a lump forming in his throat. The truth was, Esdeath had been a source of confusion, pain, and yet... comfort. Her twisted affection had wrapped around him like chains, ones he hadn't been able to completely break free from.

Najenda flicked the ash from her cigarette again, watching him carefully. "If Esdeath were here right now, standing in front of you... what side would you be on?" she asked, her voice calm but pointed.

Minatiro froze, his mind racing. He wanted to respond immediately, to claim he'd be loyal to Night Raid without hesitation. But deep down, he knew it wasn't that simple. The truth clawed at him, and before he could stop himself, the answer slipped out. "I don't know."

Najenda's expression remained neutral, but her eyes held a hint of understanding. "That's what I thought." She leaned forward again, her voice softening. "Minatiro, it's not your fault. You've been without love for so long, forced into a cruel world where survival is all that matters. You've had to fight, and endure the loss of you father, your mother, and your entire clan in the same day. You've been alone for too long It's only natural that you'd cling to the one person who gave you something—anything—that resembled love."

Minatiro swallowed hard. He didn't want to admit it, but Najenda was right. Esdeath, for all her cruelty and madness, had given him something no one else had. And now, even though he stood against everything she represented, part of him still couldn't let go.

Najenda watched him closely, her tone steady but kind. "It's not easy to forget someone who makes you feel something, even if that person is dangerous. You're human, Minatiro. And being human means you're going to feel conflicted. It's not wrong, but you need to face it."

Minatiro lowered his gaze, feeling the weight of her words. He had been torn between two extremes for so long, and now the cracks were starting to show. He didn't know where he stood anymore, and the thought terrified him.

Najenda rose from her seat, walking over to him. She placed a firm yet gentle hand on his shoulder. "It's your choice what side you're on, Minatiro. No one else can make that decision for you. Whatever you choose, I'll respect it. But you need to be honest with yourself, because the longer you deny what's in your heart, the harder it will be to stand firm when the time comes."