The Emperor's Daughter

Chapter 2: Broken

After a day, the girl woke up. Her physical condition was fine, but not her mind. She didn't say much, mostly replying people with a head nod. Her gaze was cold and lifeless, like a wounded animal. The doctor also believed that something tragic, like a trauma, had happened to her, which she refused to talk.

Vincent might have an idea. Everyone in her family was killed. Murdered. Her kin. Her blood. People who had lived with her every single day. People she would see every single morning and say goodnight every single night. Something like that happened, any sane person would go insane. He felt sorry for this 17 years old girl that she had to experience something as tragic as this. So he decided to postpone his mission. He would talk to her until she feels better. If not, the organization would have to accept what is written in his report. Everyday, Vincent went to the hospital but only to check on her status with the doctor. He felt like there is no need to see the girl since if she never recovered, it would be probably the best to not remembering his face.

"The girl would like to see you."

Vincent stood for a second, did the doctor just say

"Yes, she wants to see you."

" Is that what she said?"

"She said she wants to see the person who had found her, which was you."

The girl was keeping her cold eyes on him as Vincent walked into the room. Somehow, she still got a room for herself and not in the shared room. Her complexion was more pigmented compared to when she was laying in the snow. Although she was on a sickbed, her back was straight and her long purple hair was comb neatly.

Vincent grabbed the nearest chair and sit next to the bed.

"I believe this is the first time we met properly. I'm Vincent." he raised his left hand for a handshake.

The girl did accept his polite gesture and returned the handshake. She was more active than he expected.

"May I ask who are you really and why do you save me?"

Her voice was cold and full of caution.

Is it alright to tell her who he is? Vincent thought. The organization had been working underground, and telling an outsider sometimes would complex the whole situation. On the other hand, the organization might want to know more what happened to Mikado family and this might be the only way. This girl could have some valuable information and to have them, he had to gain her trust.

"I will answer those questions. In exchange, I also have some questions that need to be answered by you."

"Deal" replied the girl without hesitation.

"Let's start with who am I."

She is a Mikado. She can handle this.

That was what Vincent thought.

"Your family had been a patron of our organization for a long time. We had a mutual agreement. We work underground and we operate in secret. We got finances from many sources including Mikado family. However, we were unable to contact your family recently. We assumed that the family wants to withdraw the agreement and the headquarter sent me for a check. So I went to your house to check and found you."

He decided to end at that sentence. This was enough for a person to process. However, there was an uncomfortable silence

"That's all?! You haven't answered my second question."

The girl looked at him like she wanted more answers.

"Yes. If you want to know why I save you, well, I need you to confirm some of the information I have gathered."

Her eyebrows furrowed.

"I knew it."

"What?"

"There is no way that anyone would do anything without any motives."

Her voice sounded bitter and louder.

"You're saying.."

"You saved me, because you needed something from me. My information."

"I think you might be misunderstood.."

"That's what you said before. I think I do understand enough."

It troubled him when she said it, but it was true. So he put a smile and said.

"Yes. What you said was correct."

That line made the girl dumbfound. She was expecting something, like an argument from the man sitting next to her. But he agreed with her so straightforward, it made her feel uneasy and wrong.

The girl was being quiet, Vincent thought that she must get what she wants and proceed to ask her his questions.

"Now that I have answered yours, I believe it is your turn."

"Alright..."

Vincent began to ask the girl questions to confirm his theories. She answered everything he asked, but there was uncertain in her voice.

"Someone murdered your family?"

"Yes. That must be it."

"And did you see the face of the killer?"

"I don't know. All I remember was waking up and seeing everyone. Not moving. And there was blood on them."

It seemed that she got a memory loss. The more he asked, the more confidence was gone. Suddenly, it was like she shrunk into a fragile little girl. Her voice, her posture, her expression.

"Those mounds of snow with tree branches. Are those graves? Of your family?"

"Yes" - took her awhile to answer it, there was something that stuck in her throat.

"Shiki, did you bury them all by yourself?"

A shiny drop of tear fell on her hand. She was shaken up. Nevertheless, with all her courage, she said in a broken voice.

"Yes I did."

She put her hands on her eyes to wipe out the tears. Vincent decided to get up and leave the room, let her sobbing alone like a baby crying for her mother.

"So she has a memory loss?"

"Yes. She doesn't remember the details of the event. Likely caused by a trauma."

"I see. Well then, what you want to do?"

Vincent sighed.

"I think it will be the best if we leave her alone. She is no condition to be interrogated, we won't gain anything from her nor Mikado family."

"Very well. From now on, the organization will have no association with Mikado family, nor Mikado have anything to obligate with the organization."

"Roger."

He turned off the communication devices. This could mean that he had done his job? The only thing he had to do was finishing his written report then get back to the headquarter. There was no need for him to stay here. Vincent decided to say goodbye to the doctors and of course, the girl in the patient room.