DAY 32-2: DUTY

"These merchants have nothing useful." Avel flutters the empty sack.

   "As soon as they saw us they became terribly afraid." Orian reaches to his strands which sticks out remarkably beneath the setting sun. "Dropped their belongings and sprinted off. Perhaps we stand out too much?"

   It was a realization that frankly should've hit them sooner. A maniacal Heart, Herculean Spade, wolf Mond, and human—travelling side by side. It isn't a group anyone would consider standard.

   "Ugh... They didn't leave any pads..."

   Flat on the ground and groaning, Leda clutches her knees to her chest.

   "What's her condition?" Ro says.

   "Well," Avel responds, "she insists she's bleeding from 'down under' and has 'hellish cramps' as well."

   "'Hellish cramps'?"

   "Did Master receive grave injuries without our knowledge?" Orian cries.

   "There was no signs of this before," Avel insists. "Leda, hang on! I'll find a cure for you!"

   "Stop yelling," Leda grumbles, swatting them aside. "Let me stay curled here forever. Ugh... I'm going to die. My first days are always the worst."

   "Die?" Ro, albeit typically cool as a cucumber, gawps. "Is the pain that unbearable?"

   "Master...!" Orian sobs. "No! Please don't die!"

   Avel steps forward. "My dear, let me fly you to the nearest town."

   "It's already late." Ro stops him. "You're unfamiliar with directions. On top of that, I don't trust you alone with her. We'll camp here for the night."

"But Leda is going to...!"

   "Master Leda is going to...!" Orian whines with equally teary eyes.

   "Guys, I'll be fine." She tiredly drags her body upwards and cradles her abdomen. "I can survive until tomorrow."

   "But...!" Orian says.

   She waves it off then reclines against the nearby rock. "I'm using a ripped piece of cloth to stop the bleeding until I can find a proper substitute. Lutan is famous for trade, right? They should have something there."

   "I still need you, Leda," Avel pleads. "You promised to be my human wife so you can't die on me!"

   "I didn't promise shit."

   "Your vulgar tongue," Ro mumbles.

   "That all said! It's late and I'm tired." She drops her head straight onto the most comforting surface—Ro's lap. "At least until morning, let me use you as a pillow."

   "Hold—hold on!" Ro flushes. "Don't rest on me out of nowhere!"

   "Get your grimy hands off Leda!"

   "She's on me!"

   "Master Avel," Orian interjects, "maybe we should search these belongings one last time for good measure. We may be able to find something we missed."

   "Ergh—all right." He pursues Orian to the discarded items the merchants dropped amidst their hasty getaway, and shoots a glare over his shoulder. "I'm watching you, bastard!"

   Promptly after sending out murderous glances until out of an earshot, Ro readdresses the girl laying comfortably against him. With the sun casting the last of its rays and the shade of these rocks, breathing is infinitely easier compared to this morning.

Sighing, Ro surrenders to his fate. "You're such a handful."

"You were the closest thing," she excuses. "Am I tarnishing your princely pride, by chance? I am a lowly human. Forgive my rudeness, oh blue one."

She swallows hard.

"I have a feeling you're glaring at me really hard right now... Oh, come on. I bet Ronan II wouldn't have minded."

"My older brothers are more distinguished than I am. They wouldn't be involved with such trifles in the first place."

"'Distinguished', huh? I wonder why I woke up one morning to find him in my bed, then."

"Who was?"

"Ronan II."

Ro jerks vigorously. "That— I—"

"Ronan already apologized." She snorts. "I can see Ronan in you a bit but Ronan II is far too easygoing. Either way, all three of you are super close. It's hard to believe you're princes competing for the throne. I should've guessed as much, though, considering Spades in general aren't the type to dwell on matters like social status. Princes or not, you're brothers, and you're Spades just like the rest of your citizens. You're all connected; a great big family going about your lives."

She parts an eyelid. Upon eye contact, his pale cheeks gain a tiny hinge of colour.

"Is that how it appears to you?"

"After visiting the Land of Edaps for the second time, I'm convinced. You may be royalty, but that doesn't mean you've been pampered from birth. I'm glad you aren't as incompetent to life outside the palace."

"If you assumed I was incompetent, there was no need for you to ask me to accompany you."

"I suppose. Taking your brothers might've been a better alternative."

"I knew it." At his readied response, she blinks. Amidst his frown lies a flicker of guilt. "Why you chose me didn't make sense from the beginning. In comparison to Elder Ronan's swordplay and Ronan II's strength, I'm irrefutably outmatched in every avenue. If you require to go back to retrieve either or even both of them—"

"Hold on. I haven't said anything about 'requiring' them nor do I have the intention of going back to retrieve them."

"But—"

"I've noticed this for a while, Ro. You have an inferiority complex, don't you?"

"An inferiority...?"

"You keep holding the two of your brothers in high regard, and sure, they're definitely amazing, but I didn't choose them for a reason."

He's lost his composure—utterly. "And what reason exists to choose me over them? We may have been acquainted first, but what they can offer is infinitely more than what I can, even if they are recovering."

"That may be true."

"Then—"

"This isn't my journey." Her words pack a bigger impact than she bargains for. Beneath the setting sun, her brown eyes acquire a gold tinge—striking the depths of his soul. "I was selfish enough to pick a prince, but in reality it should've been Orian who chose one of you. And sure, he might've went with your brothers, but since he didn't refute to my choice, you can take that to mean something. This may be a little cheesy to say, but even if I did meet Ronan or Ronan II before you, I believe I still would've chosen you. Even if you disagree with my choice, even if you're angry that I forced you to leave Edaps with us, I went with my gut so I'll stick by it." She flashes him a smile. "I 'required' only you, I wanted only you, so I chose you. End of story."

Amber eyes sparkling, Ro's features swim with awe; as if his brain is having a riot within himself.

"How absurd," he snaps, ducking his head from her to conceal his immense blush. "I'm unaware what 'cheesy' refers to but I didn't need to hear such unnecessary sentiments."

Leda does her best to stifle a giggle.

   Her attention is on him once more, but in an effort to subdue his mass blush, Ro's clears his throat.

   "I realize now it was pointless for me to ask," he says, voice firm; absolute. "Regardless of who you chose, the prince of each suit becomes a representation of their people. Since I was chosen, I have the responsibility pursue this task the king entrusted me with. In Elder Ronan's place I will become your sword and in Ronan II's, I will be your shield. As the third prince—no, a Spade—I vow to fulfill this duty until the end."

   His regality in and of itself is almost a slap to the face. His nonchalant outfit and seating position serves no value—he's projected himself so high before her she can't help but be overwhelmed. Spades have always been pretentious, but since they carry high regard for themselves, their words are equally as powerful.

   Leda's lips surge together, into a soft smile. Although she hadn't known them long, Ronan or Ronan II didn't seem the type to be so hung up on strict duties or vows. Considering Ro does it so effortlessly establishes just how capable and determined he's set out to be.

   Relieved that the tension in the air has lifted, she settles her eyes to rest once again. The sounds of Orian and Avel rummaging through the scattered belongings fill her ears.

   Ro, a Spade too stifling and uptight for his own good.

   Avel, a Heart, who possesses two contradictory sides.

   Monds are hybrids so she can expect the same half-human, half-who-knows-what from the Dia prince.

   Then, it leaves only the cryptic, war-beaten Revolc Kingdom. The Club prince... What kind of guy is he?

To be continued. . . in book 2 (Release Date TBA)

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Hey, everyone! The story was getting too long to fit under one book so I've decided to split it up. So, yes, there will be a book 2! (I'm still in the planning stages so it won't be out for a while hehe). But I do want to thank you all for reading till the end! I was super nervous about posting this book so all the support has truly meant a lot! ♡ Let me know your overall thoughts about the story, your favourite/least favourite characters, moments that stuck out to you, general feedback, etc. and hopefully I'll be back soon with news about when I'll be releasing the second book :D You can also follow me for quicker announcements, which I'll be posting on my profile.

Keep safe and stay well,

Misty