Chapter Sixteen

When Mizuki walked out of the room he tried to act as normal as he could. The guards were standing stiffly by the door and Emilio was leaning against the wall across from them but when he saw Mizuki he stood straighter.

Mizuki looked at Emilio and remembering the fact that he had the nerve to stare at his little sister and then Eren had said he was hot, he couldn't help but glare.

When Mizuki examined him he concluded that Emilio was not hot.

He had straight dark brown hair that constantly fell over his forehead and bright greenish/brown eyes that always seemed to be stuck in a hard stare. He had a small scar on his chin and another one on the side of his left cheek and he had a sharp jawline.

He wasn't hot.

"Emilio." Mizuki said. "Walk with me."

After giving another warning look to the guards he started walking with Emilio next to him. There was a tense silence in between them until Mizuki finally broke it. "I saw the way you looked at Rin."

Emilio's lips parted for a second and he seemed to have stopped breathing for a brief moment before regaining his footing. "With all due respect, I don't understand what you're trying to say here, Your Majesty."

Mizuki stopped and he turned to stare at Emilio. "Do you take me for a fool?" Emilio swallowed when he saw the rage in Mizuki's eyes.

"I'm sorry." Emilio said. "But-I really do care for her-"

"She just lost the boy she loved! You stay the fuck away from her." Mizuki sneered, taking a step closer to him.

"Do you think I don't know that?" Emilio's voice raised and Mizuki was taken aback by his bravery.

"I was the one who held her while she cried for him! I witnessed her breaking over him each night. I heard her talk about him for hours! I  know she loves him."  He seethed right back.

"I didn't expect to care for her in such a way." He finally breathed out.

"She's five years younger than you." Mizuki added after a moment of silence.

"I know." Emilio said, frustration evident in his voice. "I'm not expecting her to return these feelings of mine. I just-I just want to keep her safe. Even if by some miracle she did I wouldn't allow myself such a luxury.

Rin is precious, she's innocent.

And I'm filled with darkness that would burn her."

Mizuki stared at him and he felt a pang of guilt hit him. He remembered hearing about Emilio being the youngest to ever attend war. He was only sixteen. But he was so strong at such a young age and at that time the situation was horrible and Rivania needed as many soldiers as they could have.

It wasn't like he was forced. Emilio volunteered himself. He wanted revenge and he didn't care about anything else.

He remembered being told that Emilio didn't care what happened to him out there because there was no one waiting for his safe return back home. He had lost his only family to war.

But Emilio went out there and turned out to be one of the strongest fighters and he came back in glory. When he turned 18 he was named head of the most skilled troop of soldiers that Rivania had.

"I'm sorry." Mizuki said. "I shouldn't have assumed that you were trying to take advantage of her."

"No-I should apologize for being so disrespectful Your Highness." He bowed his head.

"It's alright." Mizuki awkwardly said.

"As long as I know that you don't have any ill intentions towards her and that you don't try anything then it's okay." Mizuki said.

"I would never even think to harm her." Emilio said and Mizuki nodded in satisfaction, continuing to walk down the hallway.

"I want you to tell the soldiers at the border to keep what they say to themselves. If I hear that the word spread about him then I will not be pleased." Mizuki warned and Emilio nodded.

"Of course, Your Highness, I will make sure to convey it to my soldiers." Emilio nodded, his voice as expressionless as ever.

"I'd also like for you to tell my father of my return and that I would like to see him after I clean up." Mizuki ordered.

"I will let him know immediately." Emilio said and with another bow of his head he disappeared.

Mizuki continued to walk towards the direction of his bedroom and when he finally entered it he felt his whole body fill with relief.

He was back.

The first thing he did was take off his stupid jacket and walk towards his closet to get clothes. He grabbed a black tunic and some pants and after grabbing a towel and everything else he needed he entered his bathroom.

He wished he could also take a long bath but he knew he had no time to waste. And so he got into the shower and after thoroughly washing himself he got dressed and grabbed the letters before leaving his bedroom to head to his father's throne room.

When he arrived the guards greeted him and opened the door for him to enter. He walked in and saw his father sitting on his chair reading some kind of document but as soon as he saw his son he stood up and went to him.

"Mizuki." The King breathed out as he hugged him tightly. "Thank god you're back safely."

"I'm home." Mizuki said as he hugged his father back.

His dad pulled away from the hug and went back to sit on his chair as Mizuki stood in front of him.

"I've heard of your little prisoner."

As soon as the words left his mouth Mizuki cursed Emilio. Why did he tell him?

"About that-"

"Why isn't he in the dungeon Mizuki?" King Hiroshi asked his son and Mizuki swallowed, clutching the letters in his hand.

"Because he has agreed to cooperate with us in order for us to make a peace treaty with Yarisha." Mizuki told him and his father eyebrows raised in minimal shock.

"Peace treaty? Mizuki, did you not think we have tried to do so before? It has never worked and I don't see how one royal member is gonna change that." Hiroshi said.

"This time is different, father. We have a lot in our favour. Eren isn't just some royal member, he's the crown prince." Mizuki said and Hiroshi stood up with wide eyes.

"The crown prince? Mizuki! You're keeping the crown prince in your chambers?" He boomed, outrage.  "Do you realize what he could do?"

"There are guards watching him. Even if there weren't, he has already agreed to help us." Mizuki said and his father scoffed in disbelief.

"Mizuki, your kindness and stupid faith in people will get you killed one day! Do you realize why I waited for you to turn twenty before sending you out there? Because you're too nice and trustful and it's going to end up being your doom!" He exclaimed and Mizuki tried to brush off the hurt he felt hearing those words.

"I may be kind but I'm not stupid." Mizuki said, his voice filled with anger.

"Now will you please listen to me before jumping to conclusions?" He asked, much calmly and Hiroshi sighed and sat back down and motioned for Mizuki to continue.

"If we request a meeting with Yarisha claiming we have their crown prince they will surely show up. If we offer to exchange Eren for the peace treaty then it might work." Mizuki explained and hoped his father would agree.

"And what if it doesn't? What then? You're going to let them take Eren away and the war will go on?"

"We have something else." He added.

He walked to his father and handed him the letters. He stared at his father and waited for the shock, disbelief, anger, anything.

"Mizuki....where did you find this?" Hiroshi asked as he stared at his son.

"At this house located near the left side of the border. Dad, did you know about this?" Mizuki asked.

"I did."

"What?? When? Why didn't you tell us!"

"Mizuki, I found out when I was 19 and about to be crowned king and I was horrified. I went to my uncle and demanded answers and when I finally got them I realized how this whole war is fucking stupid but there's nothing we could do anymore. The only chance of peace we had was lost when they murdered my parents." He exclaimed calmly as his hands shook with the reminder.

"What did your uncle tell you?" Mizuki asked.

"When my father found out about my mom's death he was furious. He was ordered by his parents to challenge Aziel to a duel to the death for taking away his queen and after a while he agreed.

My uncle told me that when it happened it was a mess. They were more talking than fighting until something my dad said made Aziel snapped and he lunged. They fought and fought and eventually Aziel killed my dad."

"But people said they killed each other! What happened to Aziel then?" Mizuki asked with wide eyes as he tried to process the new information.

"He killed himself with the same sword he used to kill my dad. Stabbed it straight to his heart while holding my dad's hand and screaming." Hiroshi breathed out with a shake of his head and Mizuki gaped at him.

"And the royal members of both families saw it happen and they covered it up?" Mizuki asked and Hiroshi nodded.

"Do you think Eren's dad knows?" Mizuki asked.

"I'm sure he does. I've seen the man once and I know he'd do anything to hide the dirty truth from his precious people." Hiroshi sneered.

"Then if we threaten to leak the truth on top of having their crown prince then surely they will agree!" Mizuki exclaimed and Hiroshi sighed.

"I don't think this is a good idea Mizuki. And what's to say Eren won't turn his back on us at the last moment?" He asked and Mizuki shook his head, his still wet strands flailing around him.

"He won't." He said firmly.

"How can you guarantee it Mizuki?" Hiroshi sighed in frustration.

"Because-because he isn't like that dad." Mizuki confessed. "He wants this to stop just as much as I do. He thinks it's pointless like I do and there's no way he was lying. I just know it. Please trust me on this."

Hiroshi stared at his son and he realized this was the first time he was asking something of him. He was asking him to trust him. Hiroshi had never seen his son so determined to do something before and he figured that the least he can do is trust the future king with this.

"Alright."

Hello!

Thoughts?

Mizuki trying to convince himself that Emilio isn't hot is the funniest thing ever jsjs

-till next time 🤍