The Twin of Royal Blood.

For a second, Hitsuki saw a scythe creeping up on their necks.

But then, the scythes shattered. The arrows broke in half.

And the mysterious shadow assassin disappeared…

A metal clang echoed through the courtroom. In one swift motion, one seemed to have eliminated the threat. It was so fast that it left behind a trail of shadow. It smelled of a fragrant flower that lurked. But that flower also had thorns.

“What… happened?” Hanahoshi didn’t realize the assassination attempt, but all others knew.

She looked behind her, only to see a female standing beside her.

“Good job stalling the courtroom, Hana.” She replied. “My idiotic twin sister sure doesn’t know what true gold is.”

She smiled, seeing the bare body of Hitsuki basking in the sunlight. He didn’t flinch, nor did he get burned. And he truly had the body of a vampire.

Hitsuki looked in awe as a copy of the Chief Justice just arrived at the scene, crossing her arms and holding two broken arrows. It was the same shade of tan, the same black hair as the Chief Justice, and even the same two identical moles they have underneath their eyes.

“Can you guys… stop interrupting my courtroom??” Masayoshi sighed. “And Chi-sis, weren’t you supposed to be on the battlefield?”

“Did you not see I saved you from an assassination attack?” Chiyoshi asked. The voice was rough. “How are you not panicking??”

“When have I ever panicked? This is like what, the 70th attempt?” Masayoshi sighed again. “Anyway, just the fact of you coming is going to raise a fuss, you know?”

“I don’t care,” Chi replied. “But in no way can you execute him.”

“This is MY courtroom. I am the chief justice. I don’t take orders from anyone.” She asserted.

Chiyoshi nodded her head in disbelief. “Sis, I think these assassination attempt cases have dulled your brain. Think, sis, THINK.”

“The courtroom has already decided this man’s destiny.”

“Did you know,” Chiyoshi replied, sighing. “The law states that every criminal must be publicly executed?”

“What's wrong with that?” The Chief Justice asked. “It has been the norm for all these years.”

“Thats EXACTLY the problem!” Chiyoshi replied. “Do you think that after this man’s execution, people are not gonna know why he was executed?”

“So what, exactly? I don’t see the problem.”

“Huh?” Chiyoshi’s eyes shrank in disbelief. “You need a serious break, sis. Do you think they aren’t going to know about Hana breaking the rule of the singularity?”

Her voice shook the courtroom by storm. It was indeed true, and they didn’t think of that possibility.

A blink on Hitsuki’s part, and he saw Chiyoshi beside the Chief Justice. She was whispering something to her twin’s ear. To which she looked at him in amazement.

“Is that really true?” She asked Chiyoshi.

“Not until we find out.” Chiyoshi grinned. “Give him to me. You know I can handle it.”

Masayoshi grinned hard. “Court is dismissed. Under the plea of Princess Hanahoshi and the acting Queen of the Kingdom of Lizrab, Chiyoshi, this criminal has been given a second chance at life, under her Majesty Chiyoshi’s care.”

Thoughts ran wild in Hitsuki’s mind. It all went a bit too fast for comfort. It all felt… easy?

“I… can live…?” He replied.

“Only if you follow my command,” Chiyoshi replied. It was the first time Hitsuki looked into her pearly brown eyes. One of them was covered with an eyepatch, with a bright scar running through her face.

“Thats not fair!! Shouldn’t he be under my command??” Hanahoshi pouted.

“Cutie Patootie, you are not yet punished for breaking the taboo, did you?” Masayoshi’s voice ran cold again, and her face flashed a smile. Hanahoshi shrieked and took a step back.

“That’s what I thought.”

All the spectators had now left the courtroom. Only Hanahoshi, her maid, and the twin Princesses remained along with Hitsuki.

*****

“Drink this.” Chiyoshi threw a bottle of purple liquid at Hitsuki as he was freed from his chains. “You look disgustingly bruised.”

“Thanks to your other half.” He replied. “But what's this?”

His body ached from the pain of broken bones. He trembled while he stood.

“It’s something I picked up on my expedition.” She replied. “Drink it. You will feel better.”

As he drank, his body quickly regenerated. It was a healing potion.

Hitsuki’s thoughts ran wild. He had a lot to know about this world and about himself.

“Umm… I know I am charged as a criminal. But can I at least have some privacy while I change?” He blushed as Chiyoshi stared at him intently.

They were in Chiyoshi’s room. He was naked, but in front of him stood a tray of everything they took from him, like his clothes and his pocket watch.

Chiyoshi seemed unfazed. “Why are you blushing? Oh…”

She turned around, still unfazed.

Hitsuki sighed. “That hardly counts…”

Embarrassed, he quickly wore his old suit and picked up the pocket watch that once brought him to this hellish world. He opened it again after a long time had passed.

“A thousand in one, for you are the chosen one. You rule the land, with ten years in hand. For you have to live in the chosen land. Survive…”

The words were still etched on its hunter case.

His mind thought of many possibilities, but none of them seemed possible. He looked at Chiyoshi—who had turned around—for any sort of explanation.

“Can you tell me… the reason why you saved me?” He asked.

She looked at Hitsuki with serious eyes. “Your name?”

“I am Hitsuki.” He replied.

“Okay, Hitsuki. I will tell you. But you have to answer some of my questions first.”