The Seventh Moon

Questions

As long as you need me, I'll always be watching over you with a smile… ~ Owaranai Uta (An Endless Song), Hikasa Yoko

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Alathil could only heave a sigh as he watched Risa rush toward the Master Mage's house after she said goodbye to him. He saw her approach the worried Jehan who looked like he was about to scold her. He would have laughed at that, especially when he saw her put her hands together as if apologizing to Jehan.

"Now that's cute," he couldn't help commenting almost in a whisper.

Soon after, a gentle smile curved his lips as a warm feeling bubbled up in his chest. It was unlike the warmth he had ever felt in his life.

Who would've thought that a strange woman like her could do that to him?

"It seems you're satisfied with what you did, Your Highness."

The Second Prince didn't have to turn to see who it was as he was aware that the person followed him all this way. He was his bodyguard, after all.

"I only wanted to observe her from a distance, that's all. But it didn't happen that way. You know I can't just stay in the distance and let them harass her like that."

At the thought of what happened a while back, Alathil found himself clenching his right fist tight.

"Those scoundrel knights kept getting more arrogant than how we knew them. They should be glad I didn't kill them."

Shuren approached the Second Prince and stood beside him on the left.

"This wasn't the first time that some knights had harassed Miss Risa. According to Prince Elross’s investigation, the knights given the task to find the witch here who attempted to kill the Crown Prince suddenly barged into the Master Mage's house and tried to drag her with them. They must have thought that Miss Risa was the witch they were after that day. Thankfully, the Master Mage and even Lord Jehan came in time to stop it."

"I doubt that Father was even aware of that."

"The knights in question were punished for that, by the way. From what I knew, it was the Crown Prince who gave the order to do that. So perhaps you could ask your older brother about it."

Though surprised when Alathil learned that Crown Prince Aladron was aware of that incident, he was thankful that his brother took action. Shuren was right; he could ask the Crown Prince about it. Of course, he had to risk being teased about his interest in the case.

Or should he say, his interest in the woman involved?

"Did she truly cast that tornado, just as Elross told me?" Alathil asked soon after.

"I didn't clearly see any indication that she cast it. But the tornado was indeed protecting her at the time. Prince Elross stated that she did it, only unconsciously. Miss Risa might still be unaware of her magical abilities at this point."

Alathil sighed as he continued watching the interaction between Jehan and Risa. Even at the sight of that, it was strange that he had the urge to pull Risa away from Jehan. Yes, he might be interested in her. But did he truly have to think that way?

"What do you want to do from here on, Your Highness?" Shuren asked later on, breaking the silence between them.

As much as the Second Prince wanted to answer that, he couldn't seem to find the right words to say. Since when did he feel so unsure on what he wanted to do?

"I might have to make use of your teleportation magic every now and then just to go here."

"Let's say I've been expecting that answer from you, Your Highness."