To Protect Dragons

12. Spar

I lowered my voice, nervous that Eun-ji would hear that I overheard her conversation. I had a feeling that Eun-ji wasn't the type of person who would just brush that off, she was the type of person who's pride would be crushed if she found out. And I really wasn't trying to have her hate me during the time we were going to spend together.

"I didn't want to interrupt what isn't my business." I said simply. Their affairs were really none of my concern, although I wondered if he would share more about what happened or leave it at that. He was silent for a few moments which had me a little bit nervous. I started fidgeting with my fingers waiting for his response.

Suddenly a warm hand grabbed mine. He was still facing forward but grabbed my hands, I was surprised at his sudden action and my heart skipped a small beat.

"You can stop being so nervous, I'm not mad at you. After all, i'm sorry you had to hear all that last night." He released my hand. I put them at my sides unsure of what to do with them now.

"I just hope you won't tell Eun-ji that I was awake. I don't want to make things uncomfortable between her and I."

"You don't have to worry about that. Eun-ji knows where our relationship lies, she has known for a long time and was out of line last night to bring you into that conversation."

Was the way she was feeling one sided? "If you don't mind me saying, Emelia was once in a.. Confusing relationship like that. The guy was one of my close friends actually, and he had her best interest at heart and didn't want to lose her but also didn't want to hurt her. In the end she got more hurt because she thought he felt the same way." I paused. "I guess what i'm trying to say is, even though I don't know the situation between you two, you should be more careful with her feelings."

I think I had said too much. He wouldn't want a stranger butting in on his business, especially his love life.

He sighed, "I have explained it to her many times, but I just can't return her feelings the way she wants me too." He turned around for a moment. "But I think you are making it even harder for me to figure this out." My face heated.

"What are you two whispering about?" Reo said curiously as he rode closer to us.

"I was just telling the princess about some of our Southern customs." He said monotonous. I looked away from Reo not being able to meet his eyes. What did he mean by that? I was making it harder for him to figure out, I had thought Kazuto disliked me, or more was uninterested by my overall presence.

I was glad Reo had interrupted us when he did. I wasn't sure how I would respond to what he said. I pushed the thought to the back of my mind as we approached the village.

My face lit up as we neared the old village that I had become so accustomed to as a child and throughout my life. The elders walked around gardening and doing work while the kids ran around. Through the crowd I quickly spotted a familiar face working with the kids. There she was, with her hair pulled back showing off all her perfect features. She was teaching some of the younger kids swordsmanship. I quickly jumped off the horse and walked towards her. "Emelia!" She turned to hear who had just called her name and grinned widely when she spotted me.

"Kana!" She ran towards me and embraced me in a hug. I squeezed her back, realizing how much I had missed her.

"What are you doing here?" She said beaming as she pulled away from me holding my shoulders.

"I'm traveling back from the Southern kingdom and we are passing by on our way back." She suddenly realized the two men and Eun-ji standing behind us.

"Wow, thank you for bringing back such handsome men for me." She said loudly which earned a small laugh from Reo.

"This is Reo, and Eun-ji and this is Prince Kazuto of the Southern Kingdom." Her face lit up and she bowed politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you your highness, i'm glad you all stopped by." She pulled me in sideways for another hug. "Thanks to you guys Kana finally has a reason to come visit me again. I had thought you forgotten about me."

"It's a pleasure to meet you" Reo said shaking her hand. Kazuto nodded in her direction as Eun-ji waved slightly. She had matured so much since the last time I had seen her. Her shoulderlength blonde hair had now grown down past her back and her face had been tanned from the warm spring sun.

"Come come, everyone. Please tell me you guys are staying the night." She said looking at me, but also asking permission eagerly from everyone else.
I glanced back at Kazuto, unsure if he would want to spend the night here or continue on not wanting to waste any time. I silently pleaded with my eyes and hoped that he would say yes to another.

"One night wouldn't hurt anyone." He said looking at me. I grinned widely.

"Oh yay!" Emelia said grabbing my hand. "Come on my family has missed you almost as much as I have. Follow me!" She said pulling me towards her house. Eun-ji, Reo, and Kazuto followed closely behind. The elders waved and smiled at us as we passed and the children paused their roughhousing for a few moments to wave at the new faces that entered their village. We walked into the small house that had been my second home growing up.

"Kana, is that really you?" Emilia's mother embraced me in a tight hug. "Oh my, you have gotten so big and beautiful, how did such a tiny girl grow into such a beautiful woman so fast." She said cupping the sides of my face.

"I'm sorry I haven't been back to visit in awhile." I smiled sadly.

"Oh stop that. I'm just glad you came back to visit us. After all, you are learning to run a nation, I think we can forgive you for not coming to visit your old friends."
"This is Eun-ji, Reo, and Prince Kazuto."

"Oh my! She said suddenly bowing. If I had known you were bringing guests I would have tidied up the place a little bit more!" She smacked Emelia lightly, "Go clean the guest rooms quickly.

"Yah!" Emelia said laughing as she walked over to the guest rooms.

"There's no need to be worried, we are just thankful that you are allowing us to stay in your home." I was shocked, Kazuto knew how to be kind to people, that's shocking.

She blushed waving her hands in front of her face, "It's a pleasure to have Kana and her friends stay here." She grabbed both my hands once more. "We have missed you so much." I smiled, she was truly like a second mother to me. No matter what, and despite my status as a princess, she had always treated me as one of her daughters, making me dinner, and even scolding me when I misbehaved as a child.

"I will go make some dinner for you all, you probably haven't had a real meal in quite some time. We can chat more over dinner. Would you guys like anything in particular?"

"Anything is fine mam, thank you for allowing us to stay here." Reo said joyfully shaking her hand.

"Your kindness is appreciated." Eun-ji spoke up. That was the first time that I had heard her speak since the night before. Emilia came running back out of the guest rooms. "Okay sparring time" She said gleaming, "It is tradition after all." She said raising her eyebrows holding her sword next to her.

I laughed and nodded my head.

"Finally we get to see what kind of skills the princess has" Reo said smiling towards me. My mind was at ease here. I had missed the comfort of this small village for some time now. We all walked outside, on my way out I brushed past Kazuto, for some reason my face heated once again from the contact between us.