Rekindle The Light

Chapter 11: Speculations

Alice hoped her father would avoid doing anything embarrassing, but her wishes were too much to ask for. Her father has a bizarre reputation. He never cared about things like race or someone's upbringing, and all that mattered to him was a person's capabilities. On top of that, he was extremely laid back compared to most nobles and rulers–unless something pissed him off. Alice didn't even want to think about that side of her father.

Alice glanced at Nagano out of the corner of her eye, hoping to see how he held up, but she quickly remembered Nagano's usual expression or lack thereof.

Nagano looked at her, catching Alice staring. "Is something wrong?"

Alice shook her head. "No, I was just wondering how you were doing after meeting with Father."

"A bit stunned, but I'm alright. Do I look nervous?"

"No, quite the opposite." Nagano stared at her with a blank expression, and she sighed. "Anyway, Father is strange compared to other nobles." A fond smile grew on Alice's lips. "Though, I'm glad he is that way."

Nagano studied her expression. "Do you have a close relationship with him?"

The question shocked Alice, especially since it came from Nagano, of all people, but her subtle smile soon returned. "Yes. Very close. I've learned much from him, and he's always been there for me."

After that, the conversation died down. They walked in silence. As dusk approached, the halls began emptying. Alice noticed Nagano's expression shift. He smiled, but sorrow and regret tainted it. She recalled Nagano hinting that his father and sister had passed away, but she never knew the true story.

"He must have been a good person," Alice broke the silence. Nagano looked confused, and she elaborated. "Your father. That's who you were thinking of, right?"

Nagano said nothing for a moment but eventually nodded. "He was great. He was the kind of person who had all the patience in the world, no matter how stupid the things you were doing were. He always made everything fair for everyone. He had dry humor, but he somehow made everyone laugh..."

Alice's heart twinged at the pain in Nagano's voice. She could only imagine how hard it must be to lose a family member, let alone multiple. Alice gently placed her hand on Nagano's shoulder. She felt him tense up slightly before eventually relaxing. "It's okay to feel grief, Nagano, but I'm sure your father wouldn't want you blaming yourself."

"I know." Nagano agreed despite the evident doubt in his voice. "It's just hard not to think like that."

Nagano debated sharing anything further but decided against it. She understood he needed time.

They soon arrived at their rooms, and Alice pulled her hand off his shoulder.

"I'll be in my room if you need anything. Don't destroy everything while we're not together, okay?" she smiled teasingly, hoping to lighten the mood.

She felt grateful when Nagano smiled ever so slightly, though it disappeared as quickly as it came. "Alright."

Alice looked at him for one final moment before entering her room, leaving Nagano alone in the hallway.

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Nagano stood in the hallway for a moment longer, staring at Alice's closed door before heading into his room. Or, rather, the one he would be staying in.

He walked over to the other side of the room, opened the large window, and stepped out onto the balcony. The cool air danced around him, and he took a deep breath. He always loved the cold weather; he found it so refreshing. The sun had nearly set, giving way to a quiet night. He stared down at the kingdom below. Building lights began to flicker on, one by one, lighting up the streets below. The bustle started to die as people retreated to their homes or entered restaurants and taverns for a late night with friends.