Chapter 5: Dominion Underneath II

Picea city!

     We exited the tunnel and the lively air of the city hit us. Droves of town folk moved around with festive vigor, dressed in multi-colored robes with eccentric designs on them. 

     Overlooking us was a bright ceiling, decorated with icicle-shaped gems resembling a chandelier of some kind. It shone over the entire area, turning the settlement around us into an emerald color world. Daiki wrapped my cloak around me in concealment and we muscled our way through the slow traffic within the area. The constant chattering made my thoughts seem mute as we drew closer to another stairway connected to the palace's entrance. Although my face was mostly covered, my eyes just barely peaked out, giving me a slight view of the city's structure and cultural flare. 

      The entire set up was unlike anything I had ever seen. From the short buildings with sharp curves edging the roof tops, to the tall, mossy mountain they were mounted atop, creating a tight-knit community above us. The lanterns that hung everywhere, caged some sort of miniature, moving lights that flew around, knocking against the walls of their prison. Merchants lay about, side by side, selling diverse items, ranging from exotic animals to extravagant-looking clothing. There was even an emerald-color river that streamed throughout the octagonal-paved city and many bridges that rose over it, connecting the commercial districts.    

Eagerness started to bubble inside me, but I opted to settle myself with a mild groan of impatience.

     “Is everything alright, princess?” Daiki, possibly hearing my displeasure, spoke out. “If you’d like, I could purchase something from the stands for you to drink”. 

     Something to drink? From one of those arcane looking stands? How noble of him. I suppose I had the wrong idea about Daiki’s character. Despite being unnervingly crude, he seems to be quite caring and attention to detail. Or so I thought. 

     “Hey, lackey!” He shouted at Tuwar, who had been no further than five feet away. “With this large crowd, it’ll be a while before we make it to the Royal courtyard and the princess is getting anxious” Daiki dug beside his belt and pulled out a metal container. “Why don’t you fetch her something to drink?”

     The stone glare on Tuwar’s face was almost comical, but I knew it was unwise to humor such deadly provocations.

      Please! I made out with a sorrowful look in my eyes. Tuwar regarded me for a mere glimpse before marching toward Daiki. Reaching out, he snatched the container away, taking care to meet Daiki’s eyes with a cold look before heading off into the crowds. 

     “Remind me to thoroughly punish that boy once we get back, okay princess?” Daiki, unmoved by Tuwar’s warning, merely invited condemnation. Tsuna, for the time being, watched me intently with a wistful, worrisome look. It was obvious that she wanted to get to the palace as soon as possible.

     Within a few minutes, my brother returned with a filled flask and a calmer expression. I could hear the contents swish about in a way unlike normal water, causing my mouth to drool unexpectedly. He tossed the container to Daiki, who popped it open and lodged it into my mouth. Expecting something sweet, I suckled impatiently.  

     “Hmm?” I pucker my lips in disgust as a rotten, citrusy taste enveloped my tongue and the crunchy droplets of a strange edible rode down my throat. “Ack!” The nerves in my cheeks burned. “What is thi—!” It had a frosty after taste that left my tongue feeling heavy. 

     “What the..?” Daiki yanked the container away, tilting the top toward the ground. “You imbecile, this isn't water, it's litchi juice”!

     “Litchi?” Tuwar repeated in confusion. 

     “Yes, litchi juice. As in, undistilled liquor!” Daiki emptied the remaining contents from the drink. “Did you bring her all the way back just to kill her again?”

    “There, there” Tsuna patted me on the back as  I choked out the remaining drops of liquid from my mouth.

      We continued up the staircase maneuvering around the unsettling crowd and entering atop a garden with a bright, spring fountain at the center. We went right, moving across a large, red bridge leading to a massive estate, with two guardsmen out front. Halting us the moment we got close, the two narrowed their eyes at our escorts. 

     “Tsuna? Daiki? What is the meaning of this? Who told you to leave your post?” 

     Tsuna reasoned with haste. “Maro, there’s no time! We need to get to the infirmary, immediately”!

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     Maro’s eyes dipped down at me, curious of the figure beneath the cloak. “Who is that?” Maro pointed. “Perhaps a friend in need of dire aid? Well I’m sorry, but you’ll have to try somewhere else. We have been strictly warned that no one should enter the palace while his majesty is in meeting with our nation's guests”. 

     Nations guests? Did secluded nations receive foreign guests? I was almost certain that wasn’t the case, but I kept my ears peeled otherwise. 

     “Merciful Picea old man, this is important!” Daiki stomped. 

     Maro lifted a brow skeptically. “More important than his majesty's decrees? I think not” the middle aged man snorted. 

     “Well think again!” Daiki lifted my hood, revealing a face that could outshine any of the king's commandments. 

     Maros' eyes widened so that the pale colored green in it regained some of its vitality. 

“H-Hiroto!“ Maro darted for the lever behind himself. “Let’s get this door open, now!”

      Hiroto gripped the lever of his side and the two pulled in tandem, breaching the palace's door. We raced inside, speeding across the coffee-colored, marble floors laying beneath a ceiling spanning several meters in height. The large room had wooden pillars with floral carvings spiraling around it. Statues of feminine figures lay about, surrounding a massive stair well that led to other parts of the palace. The ceiling, unlike outside, lit up in resemblance to the sun; an actual chandelier making up its center. We moved to a wide corridor with several doors lining each side. The rails were bordered with rare lumber, while the actual walls were a beige color, complementing the bronze candle sticks that hung between each room. 

     “Go on ahead!” Tsuna stopped at the entry of a separate corridor. “I’ll notify his majesty about the princesses return!” She disappeared in an instant, the faint remains of her heavy footsteps resounding from the lengthy hall. 

     “This way” Daiki led, directing us to a small room at the end of the hall. “Crap it's locked” He fought with the handle bar.

     “Hey Haru, get this door open!” He stepped aside. “Lets see that errand boy's strength of yours”.

     At Daiki’s direction, Tuwar pulled the bronze handle forcefully, leading the door open with enough force to nearly sever the hinges connecting it to the post. 

     “W-Wow!” Daiki paused. “You don’t see that everyday”.

     Stepping inside, Daiki let me down gently in a white bed at the left corner of the room. The place was nearly in shambles, having torn documents and parchments scattered around. Glass tubes and unwinded bandages lay about, decorating the wooden table that seemed to be kicked out of place. 

     “Just relax for a moment princess. Tsuna should be back any minute now with lady Hakuei in tow” He took a seat on a lone stool beside me. “In the meantime, though…” Daiki thought aloud, letting his attention fall suddenly to Tuwar. “Hey you! Wanna tell me what’s going on here? Where in the world did you run off to that you ended up coming back with Princess Yukina of all people?” 

     Tuwar leaned against the back of a wooden chair, nearly seated as he spoke. “That’s a rather complicated story, really. I-I almost can’t believe it myself”.

     Daiki eyed him considerably. “Yeah? Well, I'm all ears”.

     Tuwar, despite being tasked with remaining coy and docile, chose not to avert his eyes. They stared sharply at each other, but Tuwar was silently noncompliant.

      Just then, a stampede of footsteps sounded from outside the room, causing Daiki to relapse in thought. “Oh, they’re here!” 

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