CHAPTER 61
Sakura
Sakura stared at the closed door, folding her hands at her waist and lifting her chin a little to hide her anxiety.
Hari’s birthday was quickly approaching and with it, his coronation as crown prince.
She understood why Father was eager to resolve the issue of the heir.
But she was uncomfortable with his allusion to the Assembly’s price.
Her right hand tried to crawl up to her elbow. She wanted to be queen someday; she’d trained for it, dreamed of it. But that didn’t mean that she was willing to pay any cost to achieve it.
Still, if their price was reasonable, why shouldn’t she agree? It would be in her kingdom’s best interests. She should keep an open mind, consider their request logically.
Her nerves settled a little with her deep breath. Yes. She could do that.
“You didn’t wait for me? I’m hurt.”
The voice made Sakura smile. Turning, she examined her fiancé now that he had recovered from his flight. His shoulders were a little stiff, but otherwise, he looked perfectly natural in nobleman’s attire. Normal, comfortable…and as nice of a picture as when she’d first met him.
She pursed her lips. “Yes, the level of your devastation is clearly written on your face.”
Grinning, he slipped an arm around her shoulders and pressed a light kiss to the top of her head.
“Do you know how long I waited outside your door before someone told me that you’d already left?
Dreaming of how you’d look when the door opened, only to discover you didn’t have enough faith in my constitution to wait? It was awful.”
“I had planned to ask if you were feeling better, but I have my answer now.” She gave him a small smile as she reached an answering arm around him.
He cringed. “Sorry about earlier. Dragon magic is no joke. But I’m fine now, I promise. Just don’t—” His mouth clamped down as he smashed his eyes shut. “Touch my back,” he finished in a tight voice.
She snatched her hand away. “I thought they healed you?”
“They accelerated the healing,” he corrected. “They kept me alive, and I’m in much better shape than I would be otherwise. But it’s still a little tender.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I’m not fragile, Princess,” he said with a wry grin. “I just have a few spots that would prefer to be left alone for the next few days.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that the definition of the word?”
He shook his head, but there was a smile on his lips. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.” His eyes grew serious. “But it can wait until after the meeting if you’d like.”
Sakura shouldn’t have worried about him being serious; he was a reliable young man, and he often had things to say that were not in jest.
But something about the way his blue eyes studied her made her certain she wasn’t going to like it.
Before she could prove herself a coward and request that he wait, a hand landed on his shoulder. He winced as Hari appeared on his other side.
“The hero returns!” her brother cheered.
“Careful, Hari,” Sakura told him primly. “The hero should be treated with care for the next few days. But do not worry; he isn’t fragile.”
Her weapon-smith shot her a grimace. Hari looked at his hand and then jerked it away. “I’m sorry! You’re headed to a meeting, so I thought you were all right.”
“I’m fine,” Keenan grunted.
Right. As fine as the stuck gear in the clock she’d begun three years ago.
Folding his arms across his chest, Hari took a step back and nodded respectfully to Keenan. “Sakura told me what you did. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, Prince Hatori; thank your sister.” Keenan gave her a smile and intertwined their fingers. Sakura didn’t think she’d ever get tired of the thrill that gave her. “If she hadn’t stopped Kasumi when she did, we would both be dead.”
“It’s Hari, Keenan. Even Mother appreciates your actions in the gardens; you should really drop the title.
” One side of Hari’s mouth pulled up. “Not that you should expect Mother to mention her gratitude. She’s still reeling from the knowledge that she betrothed her daughter to a commoner while under a compulsion and has no excuse to undo it. ”
“She did suggest it while you were gone,” Sakura murmured. “But Father firmly refused to hear of it unless I wished it, and I assured him I didn’t.”
Keenan squeezed her hand. “I appreciate it.” Facing her brother, he added awkwardly, “I guess I can try, then. Hari.”
“Much better,” Hari said with satisfaction.
“Of course, the next time, we’ll have more guards with us,” Sakura said, wrapping her other hand around Keenan’s bicep. “That way, he won’t have to sacrifice himself.”
“Will there be a next time?” Father asked. Startled, Sakura turned to see him leaning out of the now-open door with a raised eyebrow. “One dragon attack spurred by your mother’s ways is quite enough for me.”
Keenan gave him a tight smile, but otherwise, he didn’t respond.
And the tightness in Sakura’s chest increased.
“For me, too,” Hari interjected. “I prefer it when my guards don’t have to sacrifice themselves for me.
” His smile dimmed, and Sakura knew his thoughts had turned to Daichi.
To the young man that had died not in a fight, but in a storm he wouldn’t have been near if not for his tenure as Hari’s guard.
“They’re ready for you,” Father said, motioning inside.
Hari waved goodbye, and Sakura and Keenan obediently followed the king into the small room.
She might have used the term “cozy,” given how closely the comfortable furniture was packed into the space.
Unlike some ruling bodies, the Ryunic Assembly of Strength had never sought the appearance of power through grandeur, preferring a certain level of secrecy instead.
But the grim faces of the men occupying the seats made “cozy” inapplicable.
Keenan sat in the chair Sakura pointed out, leaning gingerly against the backrest. She hid her grimace; at least it wasn’t solid wood like in some parts of the castle.
While he settled in, Father lowered himself into his own chair, the largest in the room, and steepled his fingers.
“You know the reason I called you here today. I have discussed it with each of you many times over the last three years.” He scanned the room.
“I wish to make my daughter the crown princess, but she is betrothed to a commoner. And the king cannot change the founding laws on his own.”
She saw Keenan’s surprise in the way he stiffened ever so slightly. But he didn’t say anything, only straightened a little in his seat.
“What you ask may not be possible,” Father continued, “but I have brought Princess Sakura here so that you may present your request.”
Lord Fukashi, Chujiro’s father, stood. “It should not be difficult for a true princess, Your Majesty, Your Highness,” he said, bowing deeply to her father and then twisting to give a shallow bow to Sakura as well.
She almost rolled her eyes at the statement.
First, her mother sent Keenan on a quest to prove he was a true prince; now, she was supposed to prove she was a true princess?
As if there were some feat that would make her more capable of ruling on her own than she already was?
“His Royal Majesty’s plan to clear Kakureta was a noble one, and we would certainly accept a young man who could manage it,” the lord continued. “However, we would prefer something else.”
“You do not believe conquering an ogre to be proof of a true princess?” Sakura interjected, raising an eyebrow. “That is most fortunate; I would hate to learn my mother’s training was misguided.”
The nobleman looked surprised by her response, and she almost winced. She’d been spending too much time with Keenan, it seemed. He was rubbing off on her.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lord Fukashi continued. “I believe you are aware of the way-finder that belongs to your family, the enchanted emerald known as the pea?”
Her lips twitched, but she only said, “I’ve heard of it.”
He nodded. “We wish for you to find something with it. Wielding it will prove your bloodline, but finding the object we seek – that will prove you a true princess of Ryuni.”
“I didn’t realize my bloodline was in question, Lord Fukashi,” she replied coolly.
Several of the noblemen shifted uncomfortably, but after clearing his throat, their spokesman explained, “Of course not, Your Highness. I simply meant that it only works for female royalty. By blood – it would not answer to the queen, for instance.”
Now that was interesting. No wonder it had seen so little use, even when her parents would have found it handy.
Sakura folded her hands in her lap and smiled politely. But inside, she was glowing. Three years of fretting, of searching for something to aid her…and the answer was this simple?
“Wielding the pea will not be a problem,” she said easily, hiding her satisfaction at the impressed looks around her. Apparently, even for a blood princess, it was no simple task. “What is it you wish me to find?”
“An item which your family briefly possessed, but which has long been lost,” Lord Fukashi answered, his eyes gleaming. “The sphinx of command.”
“The sphinx?” she echoed. Beside her, Keenan went very still. “I believe it vanished for a reason. But I’ll humor you. Why do you want me to find it?”
Lord Fukashi quickly concealed his incredulous look.
“For the good of Ryuni, of course.” He bowed.
“The sphinx was too much for one man to use wisely. But with a council, you could be assured of its safety and appropriate usage. Ryuni would be honored among her neighbors, and no one would dare challenge your throne as the rogue maid did.”
Sakura settled lower into her seat. “So you would have me find the sphinx and turn it over to the Assembly to safeguard? And if I do so, you will sign the necessary papers to change the law, allowing me to be queen despite my marriage?”
Keenan’s hand began pulling at the hem of his waistcoat, but he remained silent.