Tempest of secrets

Meanwhile, Aiko remained alone in her chamber. She walked to the balcony and placed her hands on the railing. Confusion clouded her mind, and her heart was no less tangled. The Akarihoshi sky darkened unusually fast, rolling clouds blotting out the faint light. The first gusts of wind rattled the windowpanes, and raindrops began to pelt the glass in a relentless, rhythmic drumbeat.

Her StarCom flickered to life, and the soft, concerned voice of Aura, her personal AI companion, filled the chamber.

Aura: “Aiko, I detect an elevated heart rate. I recommend rest… perhaps a glass of water. Shall I summon Miraja?”

Aiko: “No… leave me be,” she whispered, voice tight, almost breaking.

A deep rumble of thunder shook the palace, followed by a violent gust of wind that flung the curtains like broken wings. The storm outside seemed to echo the chaos within her.

Aura: “The external conditions are dangerous. I advise remaining indoors, Aiko.”

Aiko turned in an instant, movements uncertain but driven by an almost magnetic urgency.

Aiko: “I can’t take it anymore!” she shouted, tears mixing with rain droplets. “I’ve had enough of secrets, lies, and silence! I want… I want to go home!”

Lightning illuminated the cityscape, briefly transforming the familiar palace into a foreign, shadowed world. Aiko felt a compulsion she could not resist—an invisible force pulling her forward.

Aura: “Aiko! Stay inside! Alarm: storm level critical!”

Ignoring the warning, she bolted from her chamber, her footsteps echoing off the stone corridors. The wind tore through the palace, rain lashing her face as she ran into the inner garden.

Reaching the main entrance, a bolt of lightning split the sky, illuminating her drenched figure. For a brief moment, the storm seemed to hold its breath—but Aiko did not.

Aiko (whispering): “I want to go home… Mother… Father…”

She ran without direction, driven purely by emotion. Aura’s voice pleaded gently through StarCom.

Aura: “If I trigger the security alarm, Akihiko and the safety units will be notified. This will protect you.”

Aiko: “No. I don’t want him to know. Please… this is my problem. I must handle it myself.”

Aura: “Understood… but the risks are high. The storm is dangerous.”

Aiko: “I don’t want anyone involved. Not now. Please.”

Aiko held her breath as she neared the palace’s main gate. The storm raged around her, rain hammering the stone like a thousand drums. The guards were there, shadows in the downpour, but they did not see her. Their eyes were dulled by the storm, their ears deafened by the endless roar of water.

Her chest ached with every step. Fear clawed at her — if they turned their heads even for a moment, everything would be over. But beneath the fear burned something sharper: the rush of adrenaline, the desperate will to run away.

Her clothes clung to her skin, her hair plastered to her cheeks. Tears mingled with the rain, indistinguishable, as though the storm itself wept with her. Each drop carried the weight of her sadness; of the heart she left behind within those palace walls.

“I can’t stay… not anymore.”

Step by trembling step, she slipped through the gates, hidden in the storm’s embrace. The rain washed away her footprints, as though erasing her existence from that place.

Akihiko and Naoru entered the tall chambers, the doors closing behind them with muted authority. A heavy tension filled the air. Standing before them were king Kaito Miyahara, queen Hanae, and the royal family of Mizuhana—king Raiden, queen Sayaka, and princess Miyu. Each face radiated a mix of expectation, authority, and curiosity.

King Kaito: “Son, there is something important we must discuss with Miyu’s father. I believe the time has come.”

Akihiko’s hands clenched at his sides, his gaze darkening.

Akihiko: “Father… I haven’t even considered this yet. I… I can choose my consort myself.”

He turned to princess Miya, voice firmer, though edged with unspoken emotion.

Akihiko: “No offense, princess Miya. You are beautiful and perfect. But I am not ready to think about this yet.”

Princess Miyu’s eyes softened with understanding, silent yet compassionate.

King Kaito: “On your birthday, there will be a grand celebration. That will be the moment you must choose your consort. This is not a suggestion—it is an ultimatum.”

A tense silence followed. Akihiko exhaled slowly.

Akihiko: “I understand… I accept.”

His voice held no joy—only quiet resignation. Duty had triumphed over desire, at least for now.

Outside, beneath the stormy sky near the Akarihoshi palace

The wind roared like a living beast, rain slicing through the air in thick, blinding sheets. Aiko stood amid the chaos, drenched, heart heavy with betrayal and confusion.

In her hand, she clutched the StarCom—a symbol of connection and safety. With a deep, trembling breath, she flung it far into the mud, ignoring Aura’s frantic pleas.

Aiko: “I’m sorry… I don’t need you anymore.”

She ran recklessly, heedless of danger. Lightning cracked violently overhead, striking a tree nearby. The impact reverberated through the ground, but Aiko remained frozen in awe and fear. Suddenly, her eyes glowed with a fierce, unfamiliar light. A brilliant, reddish energy shield enveloped her, deflecting the strike. The air vibrated with raw power, and for a heartbeat, time seemed suspended.

Then, exhausted, she collapsed into unconsciousness.

Royal palace, Akarihoshi

Alone in the semi-darkness, Akihiko felt a sudden chill—not from the chamber, but from a distant energy.

Akihiko (whispering): “Something’s wrong… Aiko.”

Far across the void, prince Kaelrith, the Dark One who had been observing Akarihoshi, sensed the same surge. His eyes flared with recognition and fury.

Kaelrith: “This… this energy… impossible…”

Palace hallway outside Aiko’s chamber

Mika and Akihiko entered cautiously, only to find the chamber empty. Shock and worry contorted their faces.

Akihiko: “Mika, what happened? Why isn’t Aiko in her chamber?”

Mika: “When we met the Mizuhana royal family, she learned you’re a prince. It hurt her deeply. She said she wasn’t feeling well and wanted to rest.”

Akihiko’s jaw tightened. Summoning Aura, he demanded:

Akihiko: “Aiko’s location. Now.”

“Aiko left the palace approximately ten minutes ago. The storm outside is critical. Immediate search is recommended. Unfortunately, she discarded StarCom; her exact location is unknown.”

Akihiko grabbed StarCom on his wrist, which displayed a holographic map of Aiko’s last signal.

Akihiko’s eyes narrowed.

Akihiko: “No… I cannot leave her out there. Let’s go, Mika.”

Mika nodded. Akihiko raced through the hallways, worry etched on his face. Behind him, Mika and Naoru, who had just been informed of Aiko’s disappearance, followed closely.

All three ran into the storm, rain slicing like blades, trees bending under the wind’s fury.

Finally, they reached the spot where Aiko had thrown her StarCom. Naoru retrieved it and handed it to Akihiko. He scanned the surroundings, eyes straining. “She could be anywhere…”

Near a large, ancient tree, Akihiko spotted her—motionless on the ground. Aiko lay drenched, unconscious, hair plastered to her face, pale as paper.

Akihiko (kneeling, desperate): “Aiko! Please… stay with me! Wake up!”

Mika checked her pulse while Naoru called Miraja.

Mika: “Her pulse is weak, but she’s alive. Immediate medical attention required.”

Akihiko’s gaze lifted to the storm-dark sky, lightning illuminating his clenched fists.

Akihiko (whispering): “This is all my fault…”

He lifted Aiko into his arms. Naoru is already speaking through StarCom.

“Miraja, Aiko requires immediate medical assistance. Prepare everything you need. We’re on our way.”

Miraja: “Understood. We’ll be waiting for you.”

Akihiko squeezed Aiko’s hand, heart pounding with guilt and determination. He would protect her at all costs.

Finally, they reached the medical chamber. Miraja and her team moved swiftly, monitoring vital signs and preparing for stabilization.

Miraja: “Start fluids and prepare the chamber for further tests. We must stabilize her immediately.”

The storm outside raged on, echoing the storm of emotions within the palace walls—a tempest of secrets, regrets, and unresolved truths.