Chapter 10

Another day came and finally I am able to get out from my jam packed schedule because of my advisor. Today, I called Nozomu to accompany me to his swordsmith, Hamada to seek for answers about the dreams that I've been seeing. Nozomu fetched me from my room, standing against the wall near my door. He was wearing an ordinary haori , not his usual clothes. He's more like a royalty like me as well. Holding the sheath of his katana at his left hand, he slightly bowed before me as sign of respect.

"Mei, please ready my things and let Nozomu bring it for me." Soon enough, she prepared two bags in front of my samurai.
"Rin-sama? Are we going to camp?" Nozomu asked.
"Yes." I replied "I prepared my things that is worth 3 days."
"Three days?! You are planning to spend nights at his house?!"
"Why? Is there a problem?"

He chuckled softly. "That's actually a problem."
Yes, I know. A  princess is sleeping in someone's house. More importantly it's a man's house.
"Don't worry, I trusted my work towards Tomo-chan."
"Nope. That's not what I mean."

We started our walk towards Hamada's house along with a horse. Thanks for these peasant clothes, I am not that asking any attention from our people. Fine, a little attention since I was riding the house that was being supported by Nozomu while walking.

Just when we are about to reach our destination, Nozomu suddenly gave a big and loud sigh. I looked down towards him, curious.
"What is it?" I asked him.
"Now, I am going to feed this horse aside from you."
"That sounds like I am being a burden here."

Silence was heard between us. The air around us felt a little heavy.
"Then, what did you talk about with Ryusei last night?" He asked. His tone of voice became serious unlike a while ago.
"You were awake?"
"I got the feeling that Ryusei will come to see you that day." He stopped from walking and turned around to look at me. "He was a bit different that day. I thought that it actually involves you."

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Nozomu's PV

"Then, what did you talk about with Ryusei last night?" I asked her as soon as I felt the weight of the air surrounding us. If I let a second pass,  I won't be able to ask her this. While continuing to walk, I wait for her answer.
"You were awake?" she replied with such voice mingling with a little surprise. I stopped walking and looked at her. She was mounted on the horse, looking downward towards me. Her face was telling me that she never expected someone knew about it. So my hunch was right.

"I got the feeling that Ryusei will come to see you that day. He was a bit different that day. I thought that it actually involves you."

I need to know the reason why he did that. Ryusei won't ever go to someone's room in the middle of the night if doesn't have enough reason to do it. Moreover he went to the room of the princess. Why the princess then? Why did he even do that when no one is around her that time?

I observed her face again. She is wearing a serious face. No-- it feels like her reaction somewhat turned very grim.
"Ryusei told me that he wanted to protect me this time. He said that he wanted to call off the wedding at first but now he wouldn't."

He won't? Is this because of the guilt of his past? Is Ryusei trying to protect his promise that he once failed to do?

"Ryusei said that this time, he wanted to protect someone from the depths of the war."

WAR?!

"What is he saying?" I chuckled. Though I was trying to let Rin understand that I only took it as a joke, I understood what did Ryusei is trying to tell her. There will be an incoming war and he wanted to protect her by marrying Rin. So that means... He might be at the opposing side of Rin?! There will be a civil war withing our lands?

"He doesn't to do that. He can't be still living within his past now. There will be no war right now." she continued to tell me everything she felt that time but I wasn't listening. My thought were clouded with possibilities of having a war.

"Nozomu?" she called out for me. Oh no she noticed that I was thinking too deeply about it.
"It's nothing, just thinking how Ryusei go his romantic side. It sucks."