Chapter 22

"You heard that too, right?" Rika asked, referring to the shattering sound.

Alric nodded.

"I wonder where that came from..." Her mind raced. Could it be...?

Heavy footsteps pounded through the palace towards the sound.

"Should we check it out?" Rika turned to leave, and Alric's grip on her hand tightened.

"No. It could be dangerous. I'll check it out. You should go back to your room... or wherever you were hiding."

"Oh, so you guessed—"

"That you were in that kitchen without a guard because you'd snuck out of somewhere else? Yes."

"Sorry..."

"I'm not mad. More like curious and worried. Is there a chance whatever's going on is related to you?"

Rika nodded, her mouth a tight line. He knows about Kael popping up in my room, so he'd understand if I explained it.

"So you think it's Kael again?"

"Are you a mind reader?"

Alric chuckled. "No, but your thoughts show on your face. Mix that with my knowledge of ongoings, and you're not hard to read."

"I see."

"Shall I escort you back to where you were hiding? Seeing as you got lost—"

"I want to check things out. If it is Kael causing the commotion, that means he was out to visit me again, and I want to know what he wants."

Alric raised an eyebrow. "I thought he's made it clear what he wants."

"Oh?" Rika frowned. Not really. He's been vague and hiding his true intentions.

"You." His gaze held hers, unflinching.

"Oh..." Her heart skipped a beat.

"You don't believe me?"

"Well, it's just... that it seems odd. Shouldn't he want something from me?"

Alric chuckled and shook his head. "As far as I can tell from what you'd told me, my own interactions with him, and the display he made in front of our people, he just wants you. And it's clear he'll go to great lengths to get to you."

Rika fidgeted, rolling her ankle, and biting her lip. This is an otome — I should've known. Still... it feels weird. He's basically the villain route, and their motives normally start from something else.

He gave her a wry smile. "You still want to go, don't you?"

"Well... yes."

Alric sighed and pulled her closer. "Then your wish shall be granted — but I'd rather you not get too close to him. Kael is a wildcard, and no matter how much I study him, I can't tell what he's going to do."

If I need all the routes unlocked to get the best ending and go home, then I need to interact with him more. Well, theoretically. His affection for me went up after learning about defending myself, so who knows what's going on with him.

"I'll keep my distance." For now. "But I want to see him. Also wondering how he reacted, finding Wolfe in my bed instead of me." Rika laughed.

Alric's eyes widened. "So that's what you two were up to. I suppose that is worth checking on."

Alric made sure to wrap Rika's hand around his arm once people were near, so they'd see he was escorting her.

"Your Highness." The knights moved off to the side, out of their way, bowing.

Inside Rika's bedroom, Wolfe stood before Kael, who had his arms tied behind his back as he sat on his knees. The window of her balcony was shattered outwards.

"Rika!" Kael's face lit up as soon as they walked in. "There you are."

"Shut up," Wolfe growled at him.

"Care to explain?" Alric turned to Wolfe.

"Kael entered Rika's room while I lay in her bed. I proceeded to capture the startled Kael, only for us to both go through her balcony glass." He glanced at Rika. "Sorry about the mess."

She shook her head. "Couldn't be helped."

"I managed to wrestle him down, and when the others arrived, I tied him up. What should we do with him, Your Highness?"

"You've put me in a tough spot, Prince Kael." Alric sighed.

"If you just let me spend a little time with my bunny, then none of this would've happened." Kael smiled up at them, despite his position.

"Should I throw him in the dungeon?" Wolfe asked. "He broke into her room with me here; there's no denying it."

Kael laughed. "I haven't murdered anyone yet, so I'm not sure you have enough to put me in the dungeon without consequences."

Yet? Does that mean he's planning something... or just wouldn't mind?

"Tch. He has to be punished somehow, or he'll keep doing it," Wolfe said.

"What makes you think there's a punishment that would stop me?" His smile widened. "Even a public flogging wouldn't faze me. Then again, that might still provoke Aeuro... so maybe make it a private one." He winked at Wolfe, who recoiled in disgust.

He'd never had to deal with someone so frustrating in his life.

Geez. A slight blush crept up Rika's face.

"How about I finish him here, and we claim a demon mauled him in the forest?" Wolfe suggested with a dark glint in his eyes. "None of our knights would contradict me."

"Wolfe," Alric called to him in a warning tone, despite thinking it wasn't a bad idea.

"They'll still find a way to blame you." Kael wiggled his eyebrows. "Besides, are you sure they're all loyal to you? I have eyes and ears everywhere — maybe even in your own ranks, Wolfey dear."

"How about we banish him?" Wolfe snarled. "Throw him out of the kingdom? Send him on a one-way trip home and not allow him past our gates again?"

"But I'm supposed to stay here for our continued peace talks. Isn't that right, Your Highness?"

"He's right," Alric sighed. "But you can't keep behaving like this, Kael."

Weird — Alric rarely calls him "Prince," but Kael never seems to care.

Kael pouted. "Oh no, have I been too much for you? This is simple enough to solve—"

"You can't have Rika. She's our saint and not an object to be passed around."

Kael's eyes trailed over to hers. "But I want time to talk about otomes."

Rika gasped, eyes wide.

"What is an otome?" Alric asked, turning to her.

"Not something someone from this world should know about." Did I mess up? Did I talk about it before?

"See? We have plenty to talk about." Kael smiled. "I surmise she wants to talk to me now."

"I..." Does he actually know or is he messing with me?

"Sorry, I'm late!" Ferran huffed, having rushed over when word spread about a ruckus. "What's going on?" He spotted the shattered glass and rushed over, ignoring everything else. "Don't worry; I can have this fixed in no time." He waved a glowing hand around, and the shattered glass collected itself.

It pieced itself back together into her balcony door and stopped glowing once everything clicked into place.

"There, good as new." Ferran turned to her, smiling.

"Thank you, Ferran." Still not sure I should be using this room.

"You're welcome, Miss Rika..." Ferran finally noticed Kael on the ground.

"Well, well, you must be the top magician," Kael said, eyeing Ferran. "I've never had the pleasure of greeting you, though we did fight a demon together before."

"Uh, yes, sir." Ferran bowed to him. "Thank you for your assistance that day. You're an amazing fighter."

"Ahem," Alric cleared his throat. "Thank you, Ferran, but now is not the time."

"Right. Sorry." He bowed his head and backed away.

Alric sighed, racking his brain as he tried to figure out what to do with Kael. "Seeing as we can't throw you in the dungeon for this, how about I confine you to your room for now?"

"Oh, looking to keep me here?" Kael smiled at him. "I didn't know you felt that way."

"Seriously, do you ever—"

Alric held up a hand, stopping Wolfe.

Geez, he's too much. Rika bit down on her lip to stop herself from laughing.

"How about you just let Rika punish me? I'd love that." Kael winked at her as they dragged him to his feet.

"We'll talk more about this tomorrow."

"I'll see you soon, my bunny," Kael said as they dragged him away, following Wolfe's lead.

"I'm sorry." Alric shook his head.

She gripped his hand tighter. "For what? You didn't cause any of this."

Alric waited for the rest to leave before responding. "But I've proven unable to stop him. No matter what I do, he threatens to sick Aeuro on us."

"Isn't that part of why I'm here? To stave them off?"

"It doesn't happen overnight. The barrier for the demons that we want you to erect will help fend them off."

"Oh?"

"Because they use demons to fight. They control them, though I don't know how." Alric hung his head.

"This just isn't fair any way you look at it. Using demons to fight?"

"It is horrible indeed." Alric sighed. "If only my father were still well enough, he'd probably know what to do. I'm a failure compared to him."

Rika grabbed his head with both hands and kissed his forehead before staring into his eyes. "You're not a failure; you're just up against an unpredictable foe with an insurmountable amount of power. I'm sorry to say this, but you're going to have to make a deal with Kael." I know all about making deals with unsavoury people.

"Thank you, Rika." He smiled and took her hand, kissing the back of it. "I should let you rest now. Will you be returning or staying here?"

"Well, I doubt Kael's coming back, and I only brought him with me." She pulled Duke out from under her cloak, glad he didn't fall out in the madness. "So, I guess I'll stay here."

Alric stared at Duke for a moment and nodded. "Alright. Goodnight, Rika."

"Goodnight, Alric."

Rika hugged Duke and flopped back on her bed. What does Kael know? I need to find out.