On the continent of Pentaus, an orphan boy and privileged princess are struggling to make their star-crossed interests and love meet. While war is ongoing between the North and South Divisions, the country of Tochinokori remains in peace until one m...
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January 10, 1883 Tochinokori, at dawn
"Kobe, are you going to eat anything?" Ingrid whined.
"I told you. I'm not hungry." Kobe mumbled.
"Is it about Arwel?"
Without answering her, Kobe put his arm around Ingrid and moved closer to her. She rested her head in his lap.
"Everything just feels so... Different."
"It does," Ingrid sighed. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed."
"What are you thinking?"
Ingrid slightly shrugged "I just feel as if something bad is bound to happen."
Kobe slowly stroked Ingrid's hair. "We'll be okay," he sighed. "You'll be okay."
Everything in Tochinokori did feel different. The Princess hasn't left the Castle since the banishment of Arwel Ghongzhou, Kobe has entered a period of depression, and Ingrid is becoming closer to Kobe as she is improving her ability to cope with blindness. The two of them sat peacefully in a meadow behind their house.
~~~~~~~~~~
At Castle Valé
Miku sat in her bedroom, staring into the mirror, as she did every morning ever since Arwel left. Every day she sits there wondering how the whole situation could have been handled differently, but it always ends up with her laying back down in her bed crying in her pillow, realizing it's too late. She has not talked to her parents since the night of Arwel's departure.
She stood up in front of her mirror and looked at herself. "He's fine," she whispered. "I'll see him again." Grabbing her hairbrush, she sat down while she brushed her hair while she pondered. She sighed and set the brush down. "What am I doing?" Miku asked herself.
She decided to leave the Castle and pay Kobe and Ingrid a visit. Without notifying her parents or taking guards with her, she put on a black cloak, put a hood over her head, and went out the door quietly. The streets of Tochinokori were very busy. Miku was glad, that meant that it would be harder to see her face. Traveling without guards was dangerous for any royalty; there was always a possibility of an assassin or tattletale lurking in the shadows.
Arriving at the house, Miku gave a soft knock on the door. She looked through the window to the right and waved in front of it, pulling off her hood. Kobe opened the door.
"Miku! Good to see you." Kobe said. At this point, Kobe and Miku are good friends, so he didn't feel the need to call her 'Princess' anymore, and she respected that.
"Same to you," Miku responded. "How's it been?"
"Rough. It's been rough."
Miku sat down as she entered the house and sighed. "Effective today, Tochinokori no longer exists. It's now tied to the South Division," she said angrily.
Kobe sat parallel to Miku, and Ingrid joined him as she sat next to him. "I guess that's that, then," he said. "We can say goodbye to our peace."
Miku nodded in agreement. "It's just not fair. I feel as if I'm not the Princess of Tochinokori anymore, I'm just... the daughter of an evil leader."
"As true as it is, I'm on your side, and I always will be."
"I know," Miku sighed. "I just wish I had the authority to change this. It feels as if I have absolutely no authority."
"I get where you're coming from."
"Even if we do manage to get through this," Ingrid said as she rested her head on Kobe's shoulder and shut her eyes. "Everything good in this world has been cut down to one person. And that's you, Princess."
Miku blushed as she smiled. "Thanks, Ingrid. I could say the same for you."
"Don't. I'm just your friend, and I'm not asking for anything. You and Kobe did everything you can to help me, and that's all I could ever ask for. It's just disappointing to see it all break down so quickly."
Miku quickly looked away to hide a tear as she wiped it away. She quickly thought of an idea. "I appreciate your gratefulness. Unfortunately, this is where I stop."
"What do you mean?" Kobe asked.
"I'm going to bring Arwel back. Under one condition."
"I'm listening."
"I need you two to stay here and not speak a word of my disappearance. Could you do that for me?"
"Anything for a friend." Kobe smiled.
Miku smiled and stood up to hug Kobe. She walked over to the door but turned to face Kobe again. "I don't know when I'll be back. But I promise I'll be back eventually."
"Goodbye, Princess," Kobe said. That was the first time he had called her by her proper title in a while. "I wish you the best of luck."
"I love you guys," Miku said sincerely as she began to leave the house.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
The Princess turned back. "More than anything. It's to bring Tochinokori back," she paused. "And Arwel."
Kobe looked at the floor before looking up and nodding. "What if I never see you again?"
"You will. I promise."
Standing silent, Kobe forced a grin in worry for the Princess's safety. "Alright," he said quietly.
Miku slightly smiled as she left the house, not realizing she was taking a huge risk abandoning her country. Was it really hers anymore? Where did the Tochinokori everyone knew and loved go?
