A Visit to Kouku

Prince Ren could hear his heart pounding as he folded the sleeves of his riding garments. He was outside the palace preparing for his momentary departure from Kaminari. His black horse was already taken out of the stable and was currently being groomed by its caretaker in front of him while waiting for his signal to leave. He was to visit his fiancée that day and he found it silly that he was actually tense of meeting her again after their engagement ball.

Snap out of it. It's not like you're not used to seeing her in Kouku. He scolded himself.

"It's been a long time, my prince," a familiar voice greeted him from the palace's main door.

He turned around and gave out a slight smile. "Bason, what brought you here? I heard from father that you were promoted to a general in the royal army."

"His Highness who has bestowed his trust and confidence on this lowly warrior called for me but he has to attend to some affairs first," said the man in full armor, "so I took this opportunity to look for you after being told you're here for a vacation. You seemed to be embarking on a journey, sire."

"I'm off to Kouku."

"Yes, indeed. I heard the good news about you and Princess Anna, my prince. Congratulations! I'm happy that one of your secret wishes ever since you were young will now be fulfilled."

The Prince felt his face heating up in embarrassment. Was he really that obvious before? Even Bason, his former bodyguard noticed. Nonetheless, he regained his composure, "I'd watch my tongue if I were you. Do you want to lose your generalship, Bason?"

"Ah my prince, you have grown up but your lack of sense of humor still persists."

The prince grumbled and motioned the caretaker to bring him his horse. He mounted it and a palace maid handed him the bouquet of white and pink roses which the gardener had picked up earlier.

"Do you want me to escort you, my prince?" The warrior offered his services once more.

"I wish to travel alone. Besides, have you forgotten that I'm fully capable of riding there on my own?"

"Forgive me, my prince. It was stupid of me not to remember that you are quite adept at it. How could I have forgotten that you were always successful in escaping my supervision especially when it came to visiting the princess?"

"I'll pretend I did not hear that, you big baboon. I should be going now. Until we meet again, Bason."

In the Koukou palace...

"Your highness, forgive me for my intrusion but you have a visitor!" a young palace maid excitedly informed the princess who was enjoying her quiet time at the library.

Princess Anna slammed down the book that she was reading, "Tell whoever it was that I'm not here and will you stop running around? It's quite annoying!"

"But, my lady, it is your fiancé."

Prince Ren appeared by the door. He had invited himself inside. "I was only away for three years and I find myself not welcomed here anymore."

The palace maid bowed and left them to themselves. The prince blushed as he gave her the bouquet of roses, "Here."

"You have a penchant for this type of flowers, haven't you?" The princess accepted the gift despite her coldness.

"Well, it reminds me of you."

"Why? Because I'm someone who would let you bleed first before you can hold me?"

The prince fell speechless. It was a failed attempt to sound romantic and he had no idea how to respond to his fiancée's sarcasm. In truth, he's completely ignorant when it comes to this matter. He made a mental note to himself to ask for tips from his friends when he returns to the academy more than two weeks from now. He kept on assuring himself that there's still enough time to sweeten their relationship as the wedding will only take place when he turns 18.

"Thanks anyway," the blond princess muttered when she stood up to put the flowers in a nearby vase. She scolded herself for being harsh on her fiancé when she already promised to be a good wife for him. She just couldn't figure out how she would get used to his romantic gestures in a span of six months before they get married. Their temporary parting would also be a big hindrance as her fiancé still had to finish his studies at the academy.

She was already taking too long arranging the roses in the vase when the prince suddenly took her hand and pulled her outside.

"Ren! Where the hell are you taking me?"

By the bank of the Great Spirit's River...

A rush of good memories filled Princess Anna's head as she sat down by the river bank. She did not care if her dress got soiled. Let the maids clean the dirt off. She was elated because after three long years, she did not expect to step foot on this place again. This was their secret hideout when they were children - their refuge from the strictness and formalities in the palace.

The prince sat down beside his fiancé after securing his horse on a nearby tree. "I miss this place," the heir of Kaminari took a pebble and threw it into the river. "We used to play here. Do you remember those times?"

The princess nodded. When they were innocent and young, they imagined that the whole forest was their kingdom. The river flowing through it was the moat protecting their castle. Invisible enemies from the other side of the river would attempt to conquer their land but the two of them will fight the invaders by throwing rocks at them. She was the fearless queen and he was the valiant king of their make-believe realm. It was ironic that this child's play would somehow come true.

"Have you ever wondered what's on the other side of the river?" she was dying to ask him this ever since she was a child.

"It's the other two kingdoms, Kasai and Kouri."

"I know that stupid. But have you ever wondered what's in those two kingdoms?"

"I'm not the least interested. We will be killed before we find out what's beyond that part of the forest, anyway."

"Well, I don't think I would die when I cross that river and get to the other side."

"That's reckless Anna!"

"Why? I don't see any royal guards over there."

"You'll never get to the other side. Based on old stories, the Great Spirit lived in this river. Nobody would dare cross it for fear of encountering the wrath of the Great Spirit."

"Then why had we thrown rocks at it when we played here before?" The princess raised an eyebrow.

"Those are just folktales, Anna. Only old people believe them." Prince Ren fixed his eyes on his fiancée then began talking in a grave voice, "I heard from rumors that the king of Kasai is a monster with the head of a bird and the body of a man. They also said that he had a son with two identical heads sharing one body."

"And I thought you don't even believe in those tales," the girl rolled her eyes not feeling scared at all.

"Well, you don't want to drop the subject." The prince grabbed a bigger pebble and threw it into the flowing water.

"You mentioned about Kasai. What about Kouri?" his fiancée seemed to show more interest in the other two kingdoms than in their supposed-to-be budding romantic relationship.

"The people there were thought to be in league with evil dwarves who dwell in Butterbur. However, I believe they pose no threat to us since Kouri is said to be the smallest among the four kingdoms. The princess of Kouri is also attending the Royal Patch Academy. Judging from her manners, they seemed to be a weak race of royals."

"Did you attempt to talk to her just to get clues?"

"No, not even once. Aside from the fact that I follow a code of conduct when it comes to conversing with the enemies, that girl is very loud, annoying and lacks the refinement that is expected of a princess."

"Nonetheless, her parents were fair enough to make her attend school and let her see the world." There was a tinge of envy in the princess' voice.

The prince realized where this conversation was headed. "I bet your nanny will get furious if she found out we went here again." He stood up and offered his hand to his fiancée, "Let's go back home."

Princess Anna took his hand and let him pull her up. Her husband-to-be started to walk towards the tree where his horse was tied but the princess did not move. She instead stooped down, took a pebble then threw it into the river with all her might. She did not wait for it to land for she quickly turned around and run to her fiancé who was already mounted on his horse. She was not able to witness how it landed on the other side of the river.