17 X Dynasty~Prince Ruka's Tragic Past (part III)

TIMESKIP

(4 years later)

It's been years since Yuki is living in the palace. At first, I thought no one will gonna bother us again forever. But as years pass, I prove myself wrong.....

It is usual morning in palace, I dressed up in plain and comfortable clothes that father asked me to wear as a disguise. He wants me to go to the isolated place where the flood streamed down months ago that destroyed the shelters of the poor due to its strong current, where the war has ended and see the people living there if they have enough supply and other needs for their living.

I scout down together with the soldiers using our horses and carriages to bring the goods that will be distributed later this month.

After 5 days of traveling, we reached the place. The place looks like a dampsite, but we entered nonetheless.

Upon entering, mourning families have been laid before my eyes. Men and women are in despair. Children no longer play, nor even smile. They all look at me in distress.

Checking the site, it was a total chaos. The blood stains remain on the walls and woods of various establishments and shelters. Broken glasses and other rubbish are still scattered everywhere, just like the bodies of the dead soldiers, innocent commoners and other unidentified bodies.

Seeing all of these, I immediately order the soldiers around me to set a tent for me to cook for the hungry commoners and give other supplies for them to survive this month. Living people is my top priority now.

Commoner guys saw the soldiers setting off the supplies that is soon to be distributed to them so they gave a helping hand to the soldiers that travelled with me.

The aroma of the porridge that I am cooking reached the children's nostrils, they immediately lined up in front of me. I'm glad to see that making simple porridge can lit up the children's mood.

After cooking large amount of porridge, I called all the people. "Listen ladies, gentlemen and children! Please line up, I'll distribute this porridge equally to all of you! After this, we'll distribute the supplies we brought for you." The feeling of being excited bubbled up inside of me.

Seeing them getting into line, I started to pour the porridge into the bowl. Each of them, they accepted it with a smile written all over on their faces.

After that, I distributed the goods we brought to each of the family present here. I've also asked the soldiers to bury the dead and rebuild a shelter for them to survive the chilly nights of this month, which they did.

After the distribution, young or old, men or women, helped on building shelters and burying their dead family members.

I had so much fun with them. Over the month, I made friends with the kids and completed their shelters with the help of them.

"Finally! I can have a rest!" I exclaimed while riding on my horse whose sprinting back on the royal palace.

Five days have passed and we're already on the gates of the royal palace.

Upon stepping a foot on my place, I rushed to find Yuki—only to find the maids startled and looked horrified by my sudden appearance.

"Yuki? Yuki! Yuuukkkiiiii!!" I searched on the whole palace, but I couldn't find her. I came back at my place and decided to ask the maids there, maybe they know where Yuki is.

The maids look horrified by my question. "P-prince, we're sorry.....B-but Yuki.....is-is no lo-longer he-here." The maid responded, stuttered.

"N-no, Yuki said she won't leave me! There's no way that she's no longer here!" I protested, not accepting the fact that she's no longer here.

"Prince, tha-that's not what we-we mean....Yuki....She's already dead....She was executed by the royal g-guards th-this m-morning...." The other maid explained.

"What?! Why?!" I asked them, confused and enraged at the same time on the situation. Why would they execute her? She did nothing wrong!

"She robbed the pearl that your mother left in the palace before she died." Wait. I recognize that voice....

I turn around, I saw Hana. So I was right, she is here.

"What are you saying?! I know she'll never do that! How dare you execute Yuki! You'll gonna pay for this!" I pointed the dagger that I surprisingly found on my pocket at her, preparing to attack. Only to be stopped by the right Prime Minister Dai.

"Please stop it prince, calm down. Don't kill my daughter please." Right Prime Minister pleaded and shielded his body on his sly daugther.

"Let me explain to you." Hana started. "Basically, the pearl went missing a week ago. We couldn't find it on the royal palace. So I suggested that we'll search on every maid's room, including Yuki and your father agreed with my idea. Upon searching, we found it on Yuki's room. At first she denied it, but later on your father found out about this and declared that she'll be executed in the next three days for robbing the pearl without giving Yuki time to explain. Which happened this morning." Hana chuckled. "My prince, you don't know that Yuki has this side, right?"

So I accused the wrong person. "How dare you father!" I yelled and closed the door of my room loudly before going to father's room, that room of a demon.

"Father! Explain this!" I angrily banged on his door. But nothing happened. I sighed in defeat, I think his explanation will turn out useless...It can't bring Yuki back to life.....

I flopped my whole body on bed and cried in grievance all night, knowing Yuki is not here anymore. I can't touch her, nor talk to her anymore. I sighed in distress, I guess my life has no directions without her..... I feel so empty and useless, I broke my promise on her parents that I'll protect her no matter what...

(--Flashback ends here--)

"Though it's already been years, I still couldn't forget her." I unconsciously placed my head on Nana's lap. But for some reason, I never remove my head from its place when I came back to my senses.

She started to caress my head. It really soothes me after reminiscing my past with Yuki.

"So please be careful on Hana, she's a cunning woman." I requested, showing concern on my wife.

She chuckled. "Yes I'll be careful, prince. First love is truly a bittersweet...." She trailed off.

Patting my head lightly, she continued. "It's true that first love is a bittersweet, but it gives you a lesson to cherish the person you love in your whole life. It teaches us on how to be strong. Though it's really sad that we don't do the things that we used to do on our loved ones anymore, but it somehow makes us turn into a strong person." She finished.

Thinking what does she mean by that, I realized something on myself...

'Maybe I like her, just like the way I used to like Yuki in our younger days....'

Those words remained in my mind before I completely drifted off to sleep.