Can love be green? [Vinsmoke Yonji]

05. Germa

Morning came quietly to Germa Castle. She opened her eyes slowly, still feeling the weight of the previous night. The room was peaceful, with only the faint sound of the sea outside the window.

Beside her, Yonji was still asleep.

For once, the usually loud and confident prince was completely still. His green hair was slightly messy against the pillow, and his breathing was calm. She watched him for a moment before carefully moving. The last thing she wanted was to wake him up.

Slowly, she slipped out of bed, making sure the mattress barely moved. She gathered her clothes, got ready as quietly as possible, and glanced back at him one last time.

Still asleep.

Good.

She left the room and closed the door behind her.

Now alone in the halls of Germa Castle, she finally had the chance to look around. The kingdom was unlike anything she had seen before. The corridors were enormous, built with cold precision rather than comfort. Everything was spotless, organized, and controlled. Servants moved quickly stopping only to bow to her presence, soldiers stood perfectly still at their posts, and every part of the castle seemed to have a specific purpose. It wasn't just a residence. It was a fortress.

Since she was going to stay here, she wanted to understand where she was living. So she started walking. At first, she tried to remember the way back. Then she quickly realized that was impossible. Every hallway looked almost identical. The same metallic wall, the same polished floors and the same endless corridors.

Before long, she had wandered much farther than she had intended when she noticed the corridors beginning to change. The green accents that marked Yonji's wing had disappeared, replaced by deep crimson banners embroidered with the Germa emblem. The halls were quieter here, and guards stood at nearly every intersection, their posture perfectly straight and their expressions unreadable.

She slowed her pace. "I don't think I'm supposed to be here..." she whispered to herself.

Before she could turn back, a nearby door slid open with a mechanical hiss. Ichiji stepped into the corridor. His eyes settled on her immediately. "What are you doing here?"

His voice was calm, but it carried an unmistakable authority. She instinctively straightened. "I was just... exploring."

"You are in my tower."

She blinked. "Your tower?"

"Yes."

She looked around more carefully than before. The crimson banners, of course... "I didn't realize each of you had your own section of the castle." She sighed. "I wasn't trying to come here," she explained. "Yesterday, I only saw a handful of rooms before everything happened. This morning I wanted to familiarize myself with the castle, so I left your brother to sleep and started walking. I must have taken the wrong corridor somewhere."