Keeping Secrets *Mitsuhide x OC*(COMPLETE)

What Friends Are For

I'm sitting next to Reila on the couch in Zen's office again, this time with Obi, Kiki, Zen, and Shirayuki all settled around the room as well. Obi came across Zen and Kiki on his way to get food and told them she was awake so they gathered Shirayuki as well so they could all check on her and hopefully figure out what exactly brought her to our doorstep. She told me that she wouldn't mind telling me but wanted to wait and hopefully be able to say it all at once so she wouldn't be forced to repeat it multiple times. Shirayuki had been checking on Reila as she ate since she's more alert this time and I couldn't help but notice Reila pouting every time she had to abandon her slice of toast for whatever the redheaded woman wanted her to do. Once her medicines were reluctantly taken, we all turn to her for answers.

"I don't even know where to begin." She mumbles as she looks to me for help.

"Well, why don't you start with after you left the castle? We hadn't heard from you since then."

A brief look of pain shows in her eyes but she quickly buries that.

"Oh, well, Miss Nedia was upset that I was rude toward her when she came for me and didn't like that you and Obi interfered with her discipline."

"Did she-?" Obi starts and Reila nods.

"No more than usual, so it's okay. When I got home, Father asked about my stay and reminded me of my duties to the family. Prince Zen's rejection letter appeared a few days later. Father was very upset and I was locked away in my room for a two weeks as punishment for failing him. When he let me out, Miss Nedia gave me lessons to remind me of my place in life and my destiny. I was sent that following week to another interview as my final chance to not disgrace the family name." She pauses to cough before continuing. "Lord Gerron's son Arnian was who was interested. Absolutely horrid man. I hated him but he was eager to wed and my parents enjoyed the monetary offer they'd sent. I was sent home after that and I tried to tell my parents that I didn't want to marry him for how he treated me..."

She trails off to take a calming breath and I gently take her hand. She squeezes it lightly and runs her free hand through her hair before setting her gaze to the far wall.

"They refused to cancel the engagement and Father struck me for trying to ruin the family, despite the bruises on my body. He told me that I had to marry Arnian or I would be cast out from the family. I was then sent back to Lord Gerron's home to prepare for the wedding. I had resigned to my fate and simply tried to avoid him as much as possible. He didn't like that and tracked me down one night." I can see the tears forming in her eyes but she's holding them back. "He wanted to consummate our marriage early and I refused but he struck me and tried anyway. I fought him off, thanks to what I'd learned from Obi during my stay... All women should know how to fight, I swear... But in that moment I decided that I didn't care what Father wanted. I didn't want to marry unless I loved him and he loved me. I wanted to set my own path in life, far from what my parents had decided for me so I ran. I wasn't sure where I was going to go or what I was going to do but I managed to see the gates to the castle and hoped that you would take me in, at least until the rain let up and then I'd go from there."

I stare at her in shock and slight awe. I can feel everyone's eyes on her as well as silence falls over the room. Her eyes wander to each of us as her face slowly turns red, then she asks me if she did something wrong. I laugh and shake my head and tell her that we were all just shocked that all of that went on. She seems a bit relieved that she didn't do something that we would consider wrong before turning to Zen.

"I apologize for appearing here unannounced and causing trouble. Is there anything I can do to repay you for your kindness?"

"Reila, how long were you traveling? Lord Gerron's estate is at least four days from here by horse." He asks instead, waving off her apology.

"I'm not sure. I didn't pay much attention, I just kept going until I couldn't anymore and slept in the trees when I needed to rest so I wouldn't be found. Then the rain started and I just kept going."

"You had to have been out there for a week at least..." He mumbles. "You're lucky you survived. It's dangerous out there for someone without proper training. What if you'd been attacked?"

"Obi taught me how to fight hand to hand. I'm not the best but I would have had a fighting shot anyway. Besides being sick and sore I assure you that I am alright, Prince Zen." She offers him a small smile. "If it isn't too much trouble, could I possibly stay until I am healthy again? By then I should have an idea of where to go from here."

"You are always welcome in the castle, Reila, as long as you want to stay. Mitsuhide will watch over you during your stay and you can have the room you used last time." I can't help but notice the look he gives me as he volunteers me to care for her again... or Obi's catlike smirk from beside him.

"Thank you so much for your generosity. I am in your debt."

"There is no debt to repay. It's what friends are for."