The prince and his three knights: Chapter 10

[lilly0]

Title: The prince and his three knights: Chapter 10
Pairing: It's going to be a Jun-pairing, but I don't want to spoil it yet. It's either: Sakumoto, Matsumiya or Juntoshi. Jun/Aiba as brothers, and Aiba might get his own pairing.
Rating: up to R
Genre: royality!AU, romance, a bit fantasy,
Plot: To seal the new peace agreement Prince Jun is handed over as a gift to the neighbouring kingdom, the Highlands of Ice. There is a legend surrounding Jun and his sisters and brothers, namely that they hold a secret power which will only be awakened to the fullest when their owner falls in love.
Tired of reigning the Highlands of the Ice the king announces that one of his three sons - Sho, Satoshi and Kazunari - will inherit the throne. As all of them are good men, loyal and talented, he decides to put a challenge to it: Whoever wins the young mysterious prince's heart will marry him and get the throne.*
*Important sidenote: I will not make a love triangle or anything alike. Once Jun decided, he decided. Also Sho and the others won't play dirty.
Note: This is going to be really romantic, I promise :D and I promise you all (!) that the brothers won't treat each other like sh*t. It's super fun to write this! Please tell me what you think <3

Satoshi fights against his heavy eyelids. He knows he is quite sleep deprived, most of the time he has been sitting at Jun’s side, talking to him and holding his hand. He has finished most parts of the story, already wondering which book to pick next.

 

The sun has already set and there is the bright light of the full moon shining through Jun’s window. “Jun,” Satoshi says softly, taking Jun’s hand and rubbing it. It’s not as hot anymore as it was before. The fever apparently went down a bit, the healers have working true magic on him it seems. “The moon is already shining, and the stars are like crystals enlightening the night sky. I wished you could see it right now.” He brushes Jun’s sweaty hair from his forehead. “You are so strong,” he continues. “Don’t forget how strong you are. You came here without knowing anyone, under the pressure of having to marry an unknown guy, and still you were just really kind towards us.” He smiles. “I just realized that the both of us probably had a rocky start, while you got along with Kazunari and Sho immediately. I’m just really bad with showing affection, you know? I never meant to come off like I was mad at you or angry. I hope you know I did care. You just touched my heart from the first moment on, and I didn’t quite know how to react. I’m probably getting on your nerves with talking all the time, but I realized it’s impossible for me to let you go.” He rubs Jun’s hand. “Please don’t leave me. Please.”

 

He looks out of the window for a moment before looking at Jun again, his eyes widening. With careful fingers he touches Jun’s face, feeling how the skin beneath Jun’s eyes is slightly wet. He cried? “Jun-kun?” Satoshi urges softly.

 

Jun blinks his eyes open into a half-dazed look. “What happened to the princess?” he mumbles.

 

“The princess?” Satoshi needs a while to realize what he is talking about. “You like the story?” he asks softly. “Should I continue?”

 

Jun nods, apparently still in his half daze.

 

Out of the corner of his eyes, he can see Masaki entering the room. Satoshi gives him a sign immediately, and of course Masaki doesn’t even need a second to understand. His eyes widen, a smile spreading around his lips. Then he basically drops everything in his hands on the table, forms the words doctor, and rushes away.

 

Satoshi’s heart hammers against his chest, he can’t believe it… it seems surreal what just happened, like he dreamed it or imagined things, but at the same time he is certain that Jun talked to him right now. He is awake, he just hasn’t realized himself that he is with them again.

 

The doctor appears immediately, not sending Satoshi out but signalling him to continue reading because it apparently sets Jun at ease. While he examines Jun’s body, he looks relieved. “I’ll let someone bring a soup for him. He will wake up soon and will need something to eat. I trust you to make him eat?”

 

Satoshi nods, turning his head to look at Masaki. He doesn’t want to take this task from Masaki, he is Jun’s brother after all. But Masaki just beams at him. “Just continue with what you are doing,” he whispers. “It seems to help the most.”

 

Satoshi wonders if he should tell them that he actually didn’t do much at all, but the two men leave the room swiftly to give Jun the quietness he needs.

 

Satoshi nods, proceeding to read, his hand still holding Jun’s. Once he finished the book, he closes it and puts it aside. “It’s finished, Jun-kun,” he says softly.

 

“Why?” Jun mumbles in his weird daze.

 

“Well, it’s the end of the story. Do you want me to read a new one to you?”

 

Jun nods.

 

“But you need to tell me which one,” Satoshi says carefully.

 

“Okay…”

 

“Jun,” Satoshi urges. “Look at me, and tell me which book to choose.” He touches Jun’s cheek softly, turning his head so that he would look at him. “What do you want me to read, dear?”

 

Jun blinks slightly, eyes opening more. “The book,” he says, eyes slowly focusing and looking into Satoshi’s. “The…” he shakes his head, eyelids fluttering slightly. “Satoshi-san?” he mumbles.

 

“Yes?” Satoshi says, trying to sound as normal as possible and not freak out over how Jun’s mind seems to clear up.

 

“It’s…” Jun shakes his head. “I…” He turns his head slightly, apparently trying to focus on his surroundings. “I fell to the ground.”

 

“Yes,” Satoshi answers carefully.

 

“You heard me coughing,” Jun continues with a wary voice.

 

“That’s true…”

 

Jun’s eyes tear up. “I yelled at you, I’m so sorry. I didn’t listen to you and got angry, but you are still here, and-“

 

“Jun-kun,” Satoshi says soothingly while helping Jun sit up and pulling him into a comforting hug. “You were sick.”

 

“I coughed up blood,” Jun mumbles against Satoshi’s neck, his body shaking slightly. “I was so scared.”

 

“It’s over now,” Satoshi comforts him. “You had a fever, but you are going to be all healthy soon.”

 

“I yelled at you…”

 

“It’s okay,” Satoshi soothes him, surprised that Jun still remembers and worries about it. He himself has forgotten it instantly. “I’m not angry at all. I don’t even remember it well.”

 

“I was just freaking out,” Jun mumbles.

 

“I know,” Satoshi answers softly, stroking his back. “Jun-kun, believe me when I say, it’s alright. I’m just so happy you are awake.”

 

Jun nods tentatively. “You said, you can’t let me go,” he suddenly says much to Satoshi’s surprise. “I dreamed it, didn’t I? I had a long, weird dream…”

 

“I said it,” Satoshi says calmly. “And I still stand by it.” He pulls back slightly, looking into Jun’s eyes. To his relief Jun’s gaze isn’t clouded. He looks tired and drained, but his eyes are clear.

 

“Is this your ring?” Jun says all of a sudden when his glance falls on the item on his bedside table. He is probably still a bit confused, which makes him bolder than usual.

 

Satoshi looks at the ring, he put it on the night stand table without thinking further.  He picks it up now. “I made it,” he admits.

 

“You lost it during the party,” Jun mumbles, eyes narrowed tiredly.

 

“No, I didn’t carry it with me on the party,” Satoshi admits. “Someone else took it.”

 

“It’s beautiful,” Jun whispers, apparently too tired to be able to process everything Satoshi says, his fingers touching the little green leaves Satoshi engraved into the ring and the blue waves.

 

“It’s yours,” Satoshi tells him.

 

“No,” Jun shakes his head. “I can’t accept it, it’s too expensive.”

 

“Jun-kun,” Satoshi smiles. “I made this ring with you in mind. I made it for you, as a gift. You can as well have it now and not at your birthday.”

 

Jun blushes slightly. “You made it for me?”

 

Satoshi nods.

 

“I love jewellery,” Jun admits honestly, making Satoshi smile. “But this is the most beautiful piece I ever saw.”

 

Satoshi smiles and takes Jun’s hand, putting the ring on his finger. It fits perfectly. He isn’t sure what it means now, and if Jun understands the gesture and the gift as what it is, but when Jun wraps his arms around his neck and hugs him, he decides any more difficult talks can wait.

 

Besides…

 

“You need to eat something,” Satoshi softly loosens Jun’s grip.

 

Jun nods. “I need to get back my strength,” he agrees, much to Satoshi’s surprise not arguing with him.

 

“Jun-kun…” he starts carefully, wondering if he should talk to Jun now that he needs to tell them when he feels sick, but when Jun looks at him tiredly, he shakes his head. It has to wait. “Nothing. Masaki-kun brought you soup before. Eat it, because I’m sure he is going to be here in a few minutes and won’t let you go until next year.”

 

Jun smiles, a slight blush crawling over his cheeks. “Thank you Satoshi-san,” he mumbles. “Oh, and I just wanted to tell you… I don’t think we had a rocky start. You were always kind.”

 

Satoshi blushes a bit, slightly surprised that Jun did hear everything or most things, but then… he wanted him to hear it, desperate for him to wake up, so it’s okay. “Is that true?” he asks.

 

Jun nods with a smile.

 

While Jun eats, Satoshi throws a glance out of the window. His eyes widen in surprise when he sees a little blue and red coloured bird, sitting on the window sill. Birds? They have ravens and alike, but not one of these pretty singing birds  normally. Normally. Satoshi can’t help a chuckle. Nothing is normal anymore. And that’s fine.

 

 

~~~

 

The next days Jun has to spend in bed. Masaki is next to him a lot, but much to Jun’s surprise he retreats mostly when the brothers visit. “They really looked after you while you were ill,” he explains, biting down on his lips. “Jun, I’ll not forget that.”

 

“I told you they are good,” Jun says with a smile.

 

Masaki squeezes him. “To be honest, if you have to marry someone, one of them might not be a bad choice.”

 

Jun chuckles.

 

“Do you know which one of them you like?” Masaki wants to know.

 

Jun looks away for a moment, but he doesn’t want to deny it. “I do,” he says nervously, his gaze shifting to the ring on his finger. The most beautiful item he has ever possessed. “I did since a while already, I think, I just didn’t dare to face it.”

 

“Then go for it, little tiger,” Masaki says softly.

 

“I’m a bit scared,” Jun admits honestly.

 

“Why?”

 

“What if he doesn’t like me back?” Jun asks, eyes wide in worry.

 

Masaki shakes his head. “We talked about this, didn’t we? You promised me you won’t dwell in negative thoughts, right? Go for it and give it a wholehearted try. When it won’t work out, we can always discuss it. What do you have to lose?” Masaki smiles.

 

“Nothing,” Jun admits. “But everything was easier when I was just supposed to marry one of them, without feelings involved. It’s always more complicated if there are feelings…”

 

Masaki smiles, and nods. He is about to say more, but a knock at the door interrupts them. It’s Kazu, and Jun’s mood immediately lights up by seeing him. It’s easy and comfortable with Kazu. The latter grins brightly and hugs Jun tightly, making him laugh.

 

“Well,” Masaki gets up. “I’ll take my leave then. Going to talk with the cook so that you will get something well-balanced for your dinner.”

 

“Still bound to your bed?” Kazu says while he sits down next to Jun on his bed.

 

“I hope I can get up for the spring festival,” Jun admits. He doesn’t want to whine. It’s his fault for being here in the first place. But the spring festival is something special. The king is holding it for the first time in his reign, actually it’s the first spring in many many years this land had.

 

Kazu smiles. “I’ll find a way for you to attend this festival, believe me.” He pauses. “Say, J?”

 

“Hm?”

 

“Is it true that you asked Sho to tutor you instead of Satoshi?”

 

Jun blinks. “Wow, news travel fast here,” he says dryly. It’s true, he did ask Sho to help him with catching up his knowledge.

 

“Why?” Kazu asks curiously. “I thought you like Satoshi.”

 

Jun tilts his head. Like? Does Kazu actually mean like or love now? Well, as long as he doesn’t specify what he means, Jun can answer  without having his feelings found out. “It’s because I like him,” he admits.

 

Kazu’s eyes widen. “What…”

 

Jun smiles. “Don’t overthink it, will you? I will explain it to Satoshi-san myself. He is going to visit me later at night. I promise, I don’t have any ill intentions.”

 

“I know you don’t mean bad,” Kazu agrees immediately. “I was just curious about your reasons.”

 

“And yours?” Jun asks in return.

 

Again Kazu eyes him in surprise. “What do you mean?”

 

“I realized that most of the dreams I had while I was sick were actually reality. And I remember how you told your brothers there is something you need to tell me. And only me.”

 

Kazu gasps. “You heard that?”

 

Jun nods, eyeing his friend curiously. “What do you mean to tell me?”

 

Kazu sighs deeply. “I tricked you,” he admits. “Please don’t be mad. I’ll explain it to you.”

 

“How did you trick me?” Jun asks in surprise.

 

Kazu points at Jun’s finger. “I made you find the ring at the masquerade.”

 

Jun blinks. “What?”

 

“I saw you dancing with Satoshi, and then dropped the ring before he left for you to find it.”

 

A/N: So, I promised you I would answer a lot of questions in this chapter, and I did, right? :D We know who Jun danced with, and we know who the ring belongs to, we even know the person that took the ring and made Jun find it (though we don't know yet why :D) 
And the pairing is... obvious now, right? :D
Tbh I thought I was super-obvious during the last chapter, the more I was relieved that you guys were still guessing. I think while I approached this chapter I knew I couldn't betray this person (who won Jun's heart) because more than anyone else he was there for Jun, wasn't he? I hope no one is too disappointed (I was kinda scared that some will hate the pairing outcome) 

As promised, I'll now focus on couple time and alike and let them blossom as a couple :-)  We still have 10 chapters to go, just saying ;-)

Also... we still have Masaki, who is very single. XD And Jun's mysterious power.

Guess I will use a pairing tag from next chapter on ^^

Btw I was really surprised by some of your reactions - now I can finally admit it :D - like, when Masaki said that Kazu looks the best in his opinion, I really just intended to say, he finds him aesthetically more pleasing than the others :D