Chapter
20
A
cold draft brushed up against my skin, giving me goosepimples.
Suddenly, my things didn’t seem so important and I hastily vacated
the place. Turning my back on my old quarters, I could almost imagine
an invisible pair of eyes, lidless and without pupils, watching me
leave. I walked faster, anxious to be out of sight. By the time I
reached my new home, I was running at full speed.
Dashing
over the bridge and into the garden, I found Iyagi playing tag with
Usan. Or perhaps it was hide-in-seek, except the boy was standing in
a bush that only came up to his waist.
“The
point of the game is to make sure I don’t see you,” Iyagi told
Usan with a laugh.
“But
how else will you find me?”
“I
will look very carefully. And if I can’t find you, then that makes
you the winner.”
“Oh.”
Usan turned to find another hiding place when he saw me. “Kkachi!”
He jumped out of the bush and came running at me.
I
caught the boy, swung him around and tossed him up into the air,
sending Usan into a fit of laughter that filled the whole garden. My
heart felt light as I gazed on the child’s beaming face, and in
that moment, I silently swore to the heavens that no harm would ever
come to the child. Over my dead body.
Iyagi
stepped over to us, looking pleased. “Where are your things,
Kkachi? I can help bring them inside.”
I
shook my head. “It’s no matter. Once I got there, I forgot what
it was I wanted,” I said, trying to speak lightly.
But
my tone was too forced. Iyagi frowned slightly. “Are you alright?”
He asked gently, “You look a bit pale.”
I
wanted to tell him. I really did. But someone, or something, was
after me. And it lived right here in the palace. Perhaps it was even
watching me at this very moment. I didn’t want to put Iyagi at
risk.
“I’m
fine – everything’s fine,” I lied before focusing my attention
on attacking Usan’s ribs with my fingers.
Iyagi
did not look convinced but chose to leave the matter be. For now.
“So,
you like it here?” I asked Usan, once I stopped tickling the poor
boy and let him catch his breath.
“Oh
yes!” he gasped in reply. Then he glanced more carefully around,
“Except …” He stopped and looked nervously at Iyagi.
“What?”
I prodded.
Usan
cupped his hand over my ear. “Except it doesn’t have a place to
fight,” he whispered loudly.
“That’s
not a problem,” Iyagi answered for me, causing the boy to start. “I
shall have someone convert the side property into a small, open
courtyard. In the mean time, you can still practice right here.” He
gave Usan a wink before adding, “Just mind the flowers.” Looking
at me, the Prince gave a nod and then made for the house, leaving us
alone.
“Well,
that solves everything,” I said cheerfully. Usan didn’t reply,
but continued to stare after the prince. When he finally turned back
to me, his eyes were as solemn as an old man’s.
“He
cares deeply for you.”
“He
told me that we used to be friends,” I said.
Usan
shook his head. “This is different – it’s deeper.”
I
frowned curiously, trying to ignore my pounding heart. “You can
tell what we think and
what we feel?”
“Not
exactly,” Usan replied with a little sigh, “I’m not sure how to
explain. I think of it as reading people’s eyes. At times they
become like windows, and whatever is showing on the other side,
that’s what I can see.”
“And
what can you see in Iyagi’s?” I asked nonchalantly.
Usan
met my eyes for a moment, then looked away with a little smile. “I
think Iyagi wouldn’t want me to say.”
“Hmph,”
I grunted, putting the boy back down on the ground, before changing
the topic, “So … want to practice?”
The
boy’s face brightened immediately and he bobbed his head vigorously
up and down.
It
was only after a couple of sessions, we discovered that Usan was
right and we really did need a miniature courtyard. Due to our
intense excursion, in the hurry of engaged defence or negligent
pursuit, many rows of gardenias and peonies suffered, their delicate
stems breaking wherever an errant step landed. One entire plot of
flowers lay in the imprint of Usan’s body, their little bodies
flattened, where he had fallen after tripping.
While
taking a respite, I looked about us and remarked, “It’s more of
an obstacle course, really.”
Usan
followed my gaze. “Is that good?” he asked.
“We
do learn more about agility and precision,” I replied, “But for
the poor flowers, we wouldn’t need a courtyard.”
“Yes
… but I like them to be safe,” Usan said sadly, as he looked at
the fair blossoms lining the path.
“Seems
you guys have been hard at training!” A deep voice called out.
Turning abruptly, we saw Prince Iyagi … or rather the fake prince
Nakai … crossing over the bridge at the other end of the garden.
Now knowing his true identity, I was struck by the man’s ease and
confidence. Not an ounce of distress or hesitation destroyed his
performance as he impersonated one of the most important royals of
the Empire. His walk was always steady, his posture erect, and his
head held high with a careless nonchalance.
“Who
is that?” Usan asked in a hoarse whisper.
“Good
morning, Your
Highness,”
I called out with a welcoming smile, “What brings you here?”
“I
came to see how my guard was treating his new, beautiful bride,”
Nakai answered, pausing in his step to bestow a handsome bow, “You
are well, I hope?”
“Quite
well, thank you,” I replied somewhat haughtily.
He
nodded back before gesturing towards Usan, who was eyeing him
severely. “Who’s this?”
“A
dear friend of mine,” I stated, refusing to give the boy’s name,
since the man in front of me had not yet dropped his mask.
“Well,
any friend of the princess is a friend of mine,” replied Nakai
cheerfully, ignoring Usan’s steady, unguarded expression. “Speaking
of friends – I’ve happened to meet another one of yours.”
“Who?”
“A
General Dal.”
My
heart dropped. “And?” I asked hastily.
“He
inquired after you rather brazenly,” Nakai began, “Called you by
your peasant name, Kkachi. I was quick to correct him and referred to
you by your full title.”
“Really?!”
I managed to choke out.
Nakai
nodded proudly. “The
Princess Forsythia, lost and found daughter to His Majesty, the
Emperor
– that’s what I told the general.”
I
was overcome with a strong desire to slap my forehead. That’s when
I heard someone chuckle. It was Iyagi, standing on the porch and
seemed to be enjoying my pain.
“What’s
so amusing?” the fake prince asked the real one.
Iyagi
shook his head. “Oh nothing. Kkachi is simply discovering that it
is better to tell the truth sooner than later.”
“Says
you!” I retorted strongly back.
“So,
you know our secret?” Nakai asked hesitantly, glancing at Iyagi out
of the corner of his eye.
I
crossed my arms and nodded.
“Splendid!”
he clapped his hands together happily, then jumped up onto the porch,
grabbed Iyagi’s hand and began shaking it enthusiastically. “I’ve
forgotten my manners,” he said, “Allow me to congratulate you,
old fellow. You’ve caught yourself a true beauty.” The arrogant
fellow winked at me. “You must tell me your secret.”
Iyagi
glanced my way. “I shall keep that secret well-guarded with my
life,” he said with a cough as I blushed furiously.
Nakai
shook his finger and clicked his tongue. “Is that how you repay
me?” He asked, “It was I
who threw that spark between the two of you, after all. I’m
inclined to accept my own birthday presents from now on.”
“Then
you will receive none from my wife,” Iyagi replied, his voice
tight.
“Really?”
Nakai glanced at me. “Well, keep an eye on her. I may whisk the
lovely princess away someday.”
Iyagi
drew an arm around my shoulder and pulled me against him suddenly.
“Not likely,” he declared sincerely. My cheeks grew hot. I was so
close to him that my head nearly rested upon his chest and caught a
whiff of scent from his hair. It smelled like pine.
“Well,
I must be going,” Nakai said lighthearedly, “I owe Princess Pulsa
a visit anyway.” He bowed. “My best wishes to you both.”
“Thank
you,” I murmured. With Iyagi’s arm still wrapped about my
shoulders, I watched as the fake prince/guard walked out the garden.
Only once he was out of sight did Iyagi let me go.
For
a moment, we just stood next to each other, avoiding eye contact. I
looked up at the sky, down at the pebbles, across the rippling brook
– anywhere and everywhere except the prince’s direction.
At
that moment, Nalda came running down the path. I was so grateful for
the interruption that I rushed to meet her.
“Your
Highness,” she gasped, “General Dal wants to see you.”
I
gulped. “Very well. I shall go to him.”
Nalda
shook her head. “There’s no need for that, child.”
“Why?”
“Because
he’s already here.”
Just kidding, I'm happy for you!
Reminds me of me! XD 
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