Chapter 66: Body Swapped: Part - VIII

Kai took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the room filled with antique furniture and dim candlelight. He began to recount the events, his voice steady yet filled with an underlying tension. He carefully omitted the fact that he had allowed Ray to read the ancient text, attributing the artifact's activation to its own mysterious power instead. Ray, sitting across him, watched with wide eyes, playing along with Kai's fabricated tale.

"Isn't that right, Ray?" Kai's question echoed in the silence of the room. Ray, understanding the gravity of the situation, simply nodded.

As Kai concluded his explanation, he looked around the room. Hiro, Sakura, Celestina, and Maximus wore expressions of worry, their brows furrowed in concern. Montina, her eyes wide, remembered her conversation with Kai in the library last night, thinking he was Ray. Their eyes met, and Kai couldn't resist a smug look. "Heh~"

Montina quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks flushing a light pink. Kai chuckled, "Now that's cute." His voice was light, but his mood shifted quickly. His eyes softened as he glanced at Niatina, regret and apology etched on his face. Ray, too, watched her. Niatina kept her head lowered, her long hair hiding her expression. Ray longed to reach out to her, yet fear held him back. Kai, ever perceptive, leaned toward him just as Maximus posed his question.

"So, last night—it wasn't Ray at the dinner party, but you, Kai. Right?" Maximus's voice was filled with confusion. Kai nodded in affirmation, his gaze steady. Celestina pressed further, her voice trembling slightly. "And it was you who sla—" Before she could finish, Kai interjected. "During the dinner party, after the dinner party, and even during the assassin's encounter—it was all me." His admission left a heavy silence in the room.

"What happened last night?" Sakura's voice was barely a whisper. Celestina attempted to speak, but Kai interrupted once more. "I had a fight with the assassin and got injured on my right shoulder in the process… Mom…" His voice trembled with emotion, and Sakura rushed to his side, enveloping him in a warm hug.

As Sakura comforted Kai, Hiro observed the scene with a gentle smile. The royal couples exchanged curious glances, while Montina's eyes widened in surprise. But during that moment, Niatina slipped out of the room, unnoticed. Ray had a confused look, wondering why Kai was speaking in between, while Kai let out a sigh of relief, his thoughts racing. "Guess I am safe for the time being…"

As the scene unfolded, a thought struck Maximus. "Wait… so, it was Kai who fought the assassin?" To this, Kai met his gaze and nodded in agreement.

"But, if I am correct…" Maximus paused, "You weren't able to walk since the injury as a child, so how come you were able to face a strong assassin without any form of training like Ray went through?"

His question hung in the air, and now everyone started to wonder the same. "Here we go again," Kai mused to himself. "It's actually simple," he spoke up as all eyes turned toward him. He snapped his fingers, and the wind began to swirl around him. "I kept a safe distance from him. And with Ray's wind magic and his gun, countering the assassin's attacks was straightforward." His explanation gradually clarified the situation for the others. "Also, I am very skilled with magic. You all should already know that, considering what I did when I was kidnapped, right?"

As Hiro recalled the scene—the path of light glowing, leading the way to the warehouse where Kai had been held hostage—he nodded in agreement. "Right… This makes sense." His voice echoed in the room, filled with antique furniture and dim candlelight. Sakura, however, confronted Kai. "But you must never do such a dangerous thing again, okay?" Her voice was firm, yet filled with concern. Kai nodded, his smile conveying reassurance. "I will be careful, Mom," he promised, his voice soft. Sakura held his hand, her warmth evident in her smile.

Kai's gaze swept over the others, and once again, his eyes met Montina's. This time, she didn't shy away. Kai's mischievous smile played beneath his words. "By the way," he spoke up. "Now that I'm in Ray's body," he began to walk toward Montina, each step deliberate. "I think it's the perfect time for me and my fiancée to have a talk, isn't it?"

Montina wore a confused expression, while Celestina and Sakura beamed with joy. "That's right! We won't disturb you two, so we shall take our leave!" Both of them chimed in unison. Celestina ushered Hiro and Maximus out of the room. Maximus protested, but Celestina paid no heed. Hiro went with the flow, and Sakura wheeled Ray outside, who wore his confused expression. His gaze shifting from Sakura to Kai to Montina. Closing the door behind her, Sakura parted ways with her words lingered in the air: "Good luck, you two!"

As the door to the room closed, silence enveloped Kai and Montina. The tension was palpable, and Kai, inhabiting Ray's body, wore a sly smile, while Montina's expression oscillated between confusion and surprise. "What now…?" she mused to herself.

Kai returned to the bed and sat down, sighing. His voice turned serious. "I'll get straight to the point," he said. "You wish for the engagement to be called off, right?" He posed the question, and Montina regarded him with bewilderment. "Yes, or no?" he pressed further. "I don't mind either way. If you're fine with it, I'll happily marry you." His lips curved into a happy smile.

But Montina's response was swift: "NO!" she declared. Kai, caught off guard, sought clarification. "So… you're fine with marrying me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, to which Montina shook her head.

"No! No! Umm…" She paused, taking a deep breath. "What I mean is that, I do wish for the engagement to be called off, but…"

"No 'buts'," Kai interrupted, his tone firm. "The engagement shall be called off after one month," he declared, his smile unwavering. Montina listened in surprise as Kai continued. "It's already been 10 days… So, 21 days more and the engagement shall be called off. Just don't play those childish pranks on me anymore. I don't wish to further tarnish your image."

As Kai spoke, Montina's mind raced, replaying all the playful antics from their dates. Her cheeks flushed, and she averted her gaze. "…Sorry about that," she murmured, feeling both embarrassed and intrigued.

Kai looked at Montina, her cheeks still flushed. He chuckled lightly, "Don't worry about it. It was… interesting, to say the least."

Montina glanced up at him, her eyes wide. "Interesting?" A hint of indignation in her voice.

Kai shrugged, his smile never leaving his face. "Well, it certainly kept things lively," he admitted. "And it's not like I didn't have my share of fun."

Montina blinked, taken aback. "You… you had fun?" she stammered, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red.

Kai nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Of course. It's not every day that one's fiancée tries to sabotage their own engagement," he said, his tone teasing. "It was quite the adventure."

Montina huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well, I'm glad you found it amusing," she said, trying to sound annoyed. But the corners of her mouth twitched upwards, betraying her amusement.

Kai watched her closely, amused. "She reminds me of a small rabbit, trying to act mad," he thought, imagining Montina's vulnerability. His grin widened, and he scratched his chin absentmindedly. "That's cute," he mused to himself, slowly standing up. He started walking to the door when Montina called out to him.

"Wait!" she reached out to him, and Kai turned back to look at her. Montina took a deep breath, a smile gracing her face. "Let's get along well from now on, Kai!" She finally voiced her feelings, as she watched him, waiting for his response, while Kai simply stared back at her. "Why isn't he saying anything…?" Montina wondered, as Kai began to move towards the door again. Montina watched him in surprise, and Kai paused, his hand hovering over the door handle.

"Then I hope you don't mind me calling you by your nickname," Kai's voice reached her. She looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise. He slowly turned back to her, a playful smile on his lips. "Mono~"

Montina remained silent for a moment, her eyes reflecting a myriad of emotions. Then, a smile slowly spread across her face, lighting up her features. "Sure!" she agreed, moving closer to him. "Kai!" Her voice echoed softly in the room, filled with a newfound warmth.

Kai smiled at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He slowly processed to open the door, the old wood creaking slightly under his touch. Together, they stepped out into the hallway, the soft glow of the setting sun casting long shadows on the floor.

As they walked side by side, Kai murmured to himself. "It's a bit weird talking about my personal stuff being in someone else's body," he mused, his voice barely above a whisper. Montina turned to him, her eyes curious. "You know, you are very different from Ray…" she observed, her voice thoughtful.

Kai responded with a smile, his eyes meeting hers. "Is that so?" he asked, his tone light. Montina nodded, her gaze never leaving his. "Ray is more… how should I say it… he's more gentle and kind. While you are more… mischievous and cunning." She shared her thoughts, her words painting a vivid contrast between the two.

Kai chuckled in response, his laughter echoing softly in the empty hallway. "I'll take that as a compliment." His words were light, and Montina found herself smiling at his easy-going nature.

As they continued their stroll, Kai found himself deep in thought. "Ray is undoubtedly kind and gentle," he pondered, his gaze distant. "However, even the gentlest and kindest individuals harbor weaknesses, be they physical or emotional." They ambled past a window, catching an unobserved glimpse of Ray and Niatina in the garden. Ray, now in Kai's body, hung his head low, his shoulders slumped. Niatina passed by him, her face streaked with tears that fell unchecked.

Later in the day, Kai and Montina joined Hiro and Sakura. They talked about their newfound understanding, their words filled with hope and promise. Slowly, Niatina joined them, her usual composure masking the turmoil within. Maximus had to leave for his duties, while Celestina wheeled Ray to his room.

They all discussed the assassin's attack, their words filled with worry and concern. They also complimented Kai on his bravery, their admiration evident in their voices. But as the hours passed, a sudden change occurred. Kai, in Ray's body, suddenly went unconscious. Ray too, fell unconscious in Kai's body, their sudden collapse sending a wave of panic through the room.

-To be continued