The Princess and The Devil - Karma Akabane x OC

F O R T Y - T H R E E : TREASON

Normal's POV

Hime staggers away from the plant as she stares at the boy wide-eyed.

What does he mean, poison? That's dad's medicine.

"Jem, let go of me." Mikey said, struggling to get away from Jem's grasp.

"Higanbana?" Jem questions as she questioningly looks at the platinum blonde girl. She has never seen her so terrified before and it raises a few questions in her mind.

"Jem!" Mikey shouts, trying to get her attention as he lightly pats her shoulders. Jem snaps out of her trance and immediately lets him go. When Jem lets him go, he carefully steps closer towards Higanbana. He has no idea why she was so flabbergasted.

Is this a side effect of that plant?

Hime breaks her eye contact with Mikey as she tries to laugh it off. She runs her fingers through her hair.

I mustve heard him wrong. Yeah, that's it. There's no way Hirase-san doesn't know what the ladies have been serving him. And there's no way.. Absolutely no way Ichiro-ojiisan doesn't know that dad has been drinking poison.

"I'm sorry." Hime chuckles nervously. "I think I heard you wrongly." Hime said, smiling. Mikey stops in his tracks and Jem stays quiet in the background. Mikey looks at Jem for some explanations from behind his shoulder but Jem lifts her shoulders and drops them. She was just as confused as he was.

"But you didn't hear me wrongly. It is poisonous, Higanbana." Mikey said, frowning. Hime balls her fist and bites her lower lip.

Is treason within the palace walls even possible? The palace is heavily guarded by the Silver Sakura and White Chrysanthemums. I need to call Ichiro-ojiisan.

"Mikey," Hime said, deepening her voice as she fixes her gaze on the poisonous plant. "Make me some tea."

"..Would you like what you had earlier or something else?" Mikey asks, looking at the girl in front of him. He balls his fist up as he prays to the lord that he doesn't have to make her tea with poison leaves.

"Something else." Hime said, turning her gaze at him.

"Higanbana." Jem says in warning.

"..And what would that be?" Mikey asks, gritting his teeth.

"This plant, please." Hime said, looking at the plant.

I just have to confirm this is the medicine dad has been taking, right?

"Higanbana!" Jem growls.

"Don't be absurd, Higanbana! That's suicide!" Mikey growls. "Don't you understand that it's a poisonous plant?" Mikey said but he was taken aback when he sees her smile.

"I just have to confirm something." Hime explains.

"Higanbana, don't be stupid. What is it that you want to confirm?" Jem barks. She couldn't take it if she were to lose another friend. "I'll confirm it for you. I'll even drink it for you." Jem said.

Hime only shakes her head. "I've made up my mind." Hime said, and the two couldn't say anything back to her as a repartee when they see a small shine of determination in her steel blue eyes. "I promise you that I won't drink it. I just have to confirm something. Please make it for me. I will be waiting." Hime said as she walks past the two and towards the manmade waterfall. Mikey bites his lower lip and takes a few leaves from the poisonous plant as he, with heavy heart takes some of the leaves and walk in the opposite path to the kitchen.