Golden Era (Book 2)

5. What is Love (II)

A clang from the basement startled Sachi. Rushing out of the library den, he came to face with Noa and her fiery red hair. 

Seeing her in the foyer alone, he marched up to her and demanded, "Where's Ayuna?"

"In the basement."

"The basement?" Sachi was appalled by her blasé attitude. "You left her alone in the basement?"

"Yep."

Blood rushed up to his forehead. The had been a decrepit storage dungeon and remained the least renovated part of the estate because it carried fragile documents and books. 

"Are you out of your mind?! She just woke up from a four-month-long coma and you're leaving her down there alone?!" Sidestepping Noa, Sachi declared, "I'm bringing her back up—"

Noa blocked him. "I can't let you do that."

Sachi narrowed his eyes. "What did you say?"

"I said," Noa repeated slowly, "I can't let you go down there."

"Ami Noa, how dare you—"

Noa cut him off. "It's Ayuna's wish, not mine. She's trying to recover the past on her own terms, and she needs alone time. As her personal guard, I have to respect and protect her wishes."

"Her wishes are invalid when she's lost most of her memories and doesn't know better."

"How typical," Noa sneered, "coming from a privileged Yozei."

Teeth clenched, Sachi said, "Are you mocking me?"

"Yes, because you're not letting me do my job."

Sachi laughed coldly. "Don't use that as a crutch. You think I can't strip your title and kick you out?"

To his threat, Noa merely shrugged. "If you think that's the correct course of action, then be my guest. Throw me out, drag Ayuna up here against her will, and suffocate her with what you think is best."

The edge in her voice momentarily silenced him. When said aloud, the harshness of his planned actions surprised Sachi. What he believed would help Ayuna almost sounded like abuse.

"Are you saying I'm wrong for wanting her to heal and be safe?" he demanded.

"You just don't get it, do you?"

"You think nobody gets it except for yourself!" thundered Sachi. "Ami Noa, who the hell do you think you are? You walk around here like you're all-knowing and morally superior just because you saved Ayuna years ago! Like I said before, don't forget that you're just an imperial guard—a servant to my family. I suggest you stop pushing your privileges before you lose them for good!"

None of his words affected Noa. Looking him directly in the eye, she shook her head, "That's where you're wrong: I'm not just another one of your servants. I serve Ayuna—her and only her. That's my assignment from the Creator. I'm only here because of her continued ties with you and your family. I'm here out of necessity, not because I'm below anyone—including you."

Fingers curled into a fist, Sachi had no comeback. Noa might be self-righteous, but she knew the rules well and she knew her position.

Watching fury color his face, Noa sighed, "Look, I get it: you're angry with me because you think I know Ayuna better than you, right?"

To this, Sachi relented, "Right. No matter how hard I tried to outdo you, Ayuna still trusts you more than anyone."

"Of course she would. We both spent our youth as average citizens while you and Ayuri were royalty from birth. We'd obviously have more in common and connect at a different level."