Empire 《Mikayuu/YuuMika》

⥈ Chapter Thirteen ⥈

Winter had cast its chilly spell over Sanguinem, covering the once-green grasses with cold blankets of sparkling snow, sending it into immediate repose. Winter was Yuuichirou's least favorite season of all, with its frigid air and slippery walkways. It was difficult to scrape by in the winter, where no crops were to be harvested, nor any to be planted. It was a boring season, with nothing to do but labor out in the cold and stare at the blank whiteness of the hills.

In his childhood, whenever he was free from chores, his parents would set out a piece of wood from the shed. He would wrap his hands in cloth and sit on the piece of wood, drifting down the snowy hills with zeal while his parents watched, then helped him back up the hill when he reached the bottom.

Even now, when his training sessions were over and Mikaela was free from his studies, he led him outside of the castle walls, through the surrounding village, rancid with squalor, and to the stark white countryside with a large sled. Mikaela looked upon the wooden vehicle with equal parts curiosity and wonder as Yuuichirou offered him his hand to guide him inside.

"But, Yuu-chan, there are no horses."

"Don't need any, Mika," he said, climbing in behind him, a rope in his hand. "We have hills to move us along."

He raised a skeptical, blond eyebrow at him before deciding to trust his crazy decision. Yuuichirou kissed his reddened ear before swinging his leg outside and kicking them off. They raced down the tall hill in their sled, Mikaela leaning back into Yuuichirou and tightening all his muscles, waiting for impact. But it never came. They sailed the white, powdery sea, with only the sounds of Yuuichirou's laughter and the sting of wind on Mikaela's cheeks as company.

Once they reached the end, the prince loosened up and joined in on the laughter. He realized it was fun. Was it this that children had done all their lives, not trapped in studies all day long, or trips for fortifying the trades of each kingdom in their vicinity? Mikaela decided he liked this more than being cooped up in the library hour after hour, pursuing knowledge he was bound to forget when he woke the next morning.

"Wanna go again?"

Mikaela found himself nodding before he could acknowledge it.

It had been a blissful few months, stealing kisses in the winding corridors where no one went, or meeting up in the garden at night, conversing with Yuuichirou about his day, then sharing secret kisses to which only Tsuki-san could bear witness. Mikaela was the happiest he had ever been.

The wind stung every exposed inch of skin as they chased the billowing snow down the hill until the afternoon had long since gone, but neither of them cared. Mikaela knew he was going to be reprimanded firmly about spending too much time with "that knight" again, but he felt it was worth it, especially when it was Yuuichirou he was spending time with. He learned there was a whole lot more to him than he initially knew, but he loved every addition the same.

"I don't like winter," Yuuichirou confessed.

"Why not?"

"Just, hard work, is all. It's too cold, and it seems like it lasts too long."

The prince agreed. "What's your favorite season, then?"

"The spring."

Mikaela smiled. "Me, too."

Yuuichirou kissed him on his lips, reddened and dry from the cold. It only lasted a second, and Mikaela found himself diving back in for more. He felt Yuuichirou's fingers in his hair, and he forgot how to feel afraid. He forgot about how anyone could see them at any given moment and spread rumors throughout the village. He didn't care about anything but the boy he was unadulteratedly in love with.