Prime Minister of Daichi

The Prime Minister of Daichi just arrived at his house. He comes from the entertainment house together with his allies, some ministers, and officials with high ranks. They have a secret meeting about sending Princess Yuki to the Imperial Palace. Also, one of the Imperial officials that came together with the envoys came to him in secret and formed a secret deal. The official that secretly met the Prime Minister is an ally of the Yakuza. They agreed that if the Prime Minister helps them so that Princess Yuki will not be chosen as the Crown Prince bride, the Yakuza will stop their plan of destruction and conquering the Kingdom of Daichi.

The Prime Minister agreed to help and at the same time, he planned to betray the King. He reasoned that the people's trust in the King’s family would weaken if Princess Yuki is not chosen. If that happens, that will be the right time for the Prime Minister to overthrow the King and take the throne as the new ruler of the Daichi kingdom.

The Prime Minister just came in the front door of his house when an arrow hit the door. He saw a shadow of a man at the top of the wall that quickly jumped and left. He immediately ordered his men to follow and catch the man.

The man was not captured and the Prime Minister’s men were unable to locate him. One of the guards took out the arrow and handed the message, that was tied, to the Prime Minister. The message was written on a white thin canvas.

To the Prime Minister, go to the north end of the town and find the single hut. You can bring your guards only. I want to meet with you alone to discuss something. I’ll wait for you tomorrow night.

The message was short but the impending danger is imminent. The canvas that he is holding, where the message was written is the same as the white canvas found near the body of the nobles that were brutally killed. Even though he felt a little scared, the Prime Minister decided to go to said place. He wanted to know who are the people behind the killings. He also wants to defeat them and make them pay for what they did.

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I welcomed Shuji when he came into my chamber. Yoshie and I are the only ones that are still awake in the middle of the night, the servants and maid are already asleep in their rooms.

“Are you done with what I ordered, Shuji?” I ask my newly arrived guard.

“I successfully did my mission, Your Highness,” Shuji answered with a bow.

“Great! You never disappoint me, Shuji. Take a rest and be prepared. I want to ensure that we will be successful with our plan,” I tapped his shoulder and motioned him to leave.

“Understood, Princess,” he replied and left.

I returned to my room. We still have a few things to prepare for tomorrow as we have to leave for the Imperial Mansion for my three months training. I need to learn all the laws, rules, and regulations inside the Imperial Palace by studying at the school for nobles. The rules and regulations inside the Imperial Palace are strictly implemented and every mistake has a right punishment.

The next day, when the night came, we were already fully prepared. My guards are already positioned to ensure that there are no traps to where we are going. And also to make sure no soldiers are in the area.

The stillness of the night sets in, most people inside the Palace are already sleeping in their rooms except for the assigned guards that night. We secretly come out from the Palace wearing all black clothing. I never bother to cover my face this time. It is already dark and our purpose is outside of the Palace where no one knows me.

With a fast pace, we arrived at the right place. There are few customers left and happily drinking. “I thought we will leave without drinking here, again, Your Highness,” Yoshie wisphered with a wide grin while taking a seat on a vacant table.

I did not answer but also took a seat. I called the owner and ordered a drink and grilled pork skin for the accompaniment of our drinks. I want to have fun tonight as we have to leave tomorrow. “We have one more important thing to do, so don’t get drunk, okay?” I reminded the two.

“You don’t have to worry, Your Highness, we don’t get drunk easily,” Shuji assured.

We were drinking for more than an hour when someone suddenly sat on the other side of our table that was vacant. He bowed slightly, barely noticeable, and handed Shuji a piece of paper. Shuji read it immediately and looked at the man for confirmation. The man nodded as confirmation for whatever is written in the paper. Shuji looked at Yoshie, passed the message, and turned to me. He looks at me a little longer, waiting for my reaction. With a single nod, we silently stood up to leave. Yoshie left a small pouch of silver on the table that we used.

With no rush, we took the path inside the forest towards the north end of the town. We have an important person to meet. A silent devil’s grin came out from my lips. I can feel the excitement and anticipation for what will happen any moment from now. I can’t wait to see that person’s scared and surprised face.

When we arrived at the small hut, our special guest was already waiting. Impatience is visible on his face while waiting. His self-confidence is admirable and scary at the same time, who will think that he would show up as requested, no, as ordered rather, but it had no effect on me.

“We are sorry for being late, Prime Minister,” the man that came to get us said.

“Where is this person that wanted to meet me?” The Prime Minister asked in a hard tone, giving an angry look to the man.

“They’re here,” he answered. When Shuji and Yoshie show up, the man slips out fast. He will go to where his colleagues are and prepare in the event that a fight breaks out.

“How are you, Prime Minister?” Yoshie greeted, slightly bowing but a smirk adorned her lips. “We apologize for the inconvenience, we know that you have a lot of things to do. We will make this quick.”

“You? What is the meaning of this?” shocked is visible on his face. He was surprised to see both Yoshie and Shuji, which caused him to falter, and was unable to maintain his usual poker face.

“I’m the one who sent you a message, Prime Minister, we are sorry for asking you to meet us this way. We need to keep this a secret, that's why we can invite you formally,” Shuji explained and also slightly bowed as a greeting.

“Who’s behind this? Is it Princess Yuki? The canvas where the message is written, it’s the same with the canvas found in the place where the nobles are found dead or where they were killed” he asked. His voice is starting to lace with fear and his eyes are roaming around the place.

I came out from where I hid while lowering my head, in my left hand is my sword. I slowly walked towards the Prime Minister, stopping in front of him. My long hair is covering my face. “Good evening, Prime Minister,” I looked up and I pushed my back to show my face. “You’re right, I am the one behind this and everything else, no other than Princess Yuki,” I admitted.

He loudly gasps as so are the three guards that are accompanying him inside the hut when they see my face. They were not expecting that I would show my face to them which I rarely do. Only the people I trusted are given the chance to see what I look like. The chance to glimpse my face has two meanings: I trusted you or you're dead.

I smirked at him and mocked him, “Is my face really that surprising, Prime Minister? Maybe you were not expecting to see a beautiful face contrary to the rumors that spread around. That I bare a scary and ugly face due to some curse, that’s why I am dubbed as the black princess, right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Princess Yuki. I can never contempt and do such a thing to the royal family,” he said with a fair voice but I can detect the fear underneath.

I burst into laughter with what he said. “You can’t do such a thing? Are you sure, Prime Minister? You’re funny! We know that you despise the royal family deep inside.” I took a step closer to him and whispered, “you know why I showed my face to you, right?” I smiled at him devilishly.

His eyes widened realizing what would happen next, “If that’s the case, you, you are the ones who killed those nobles and officials!”

“What happened is just right. That was what they deserved for being a traitor in the kingdom and taking advantage of the common people!” I confirmed while glaring at him.

He was taken aback and stepped back to stay away from me, “What do you need from me?” he bravely asked.

“What do you think?” I taunted and sweetly smiled at him this time.

“No! I won’t allow you to kill me!” he shouted, signaling his guard to call his other men that were stationed not far from where they were.

“Do you really think there is something you do? Your men that secretly followed as per your command were taken out before they even reached their assigned post. As of now, my trusted guards are already preparing the place where I will hang your body together with your men,” I grinned. “I’m not that bad you know, I let go of some of your men that were not involved in your dirty works.”

The Prime Minister moves backward and his guard stands in front of him, protecting him or trying to. Does he really think that his guard can defeat Shuji and Yoshie? Both face the three guards of the Prime Minister. After a few seconds, the three guards lay down on the wooden floor, lifeless. The Prime Minister was astonished to see Yoshie’s skill in fighting, it’s not common for a lady’s maid to have that skill.

“I don’t remember doing something wrong with you, Princess Yuki,” the Prime Minister said while shaking his head in defeat.

“I don’t need you to confess your treachery in the kingdom and with the King. But I won’t let traitors and people that are planning a revolt live. I don’t want to leave the kingdom until I exterminate those people. Since I am short of time, I will put an end to the leader first, which is you,” I pointed at him. “And I will let someone commendable, to change the set of officials, if they won’t change their ways, I will chase them to the end.”

“What people dubbed you, as the black princess, suits you, Princess Yuki. I can foresee the chaos that you will bring to the Imperial Palace. At the back of your meek demeanor, an innocent and beautiful face is a fearful enemy. With all due respect, Your Highness, but I can’t let you kill me without a fight!” He raises his sword and attacks me. His sword was blocked by Shuji swords before it hit me. He staggered back when Shuji kicked him. His next attempt is met by Shuji’s punch. Shuji firmly holds his arm, the one holding the sword, then punches him in the stomach and a roundhouse kick. He falls to the floor and writhes in pain as he is beaten like a pulp. He tried to get up but all he could do was kneel on both knees.

Shuji readied his sword to kill the Prime Minister but I held his arm to stop him. He looks at me questioningly, wondering why I stopped him. I did not say a word but looked at him. He slowly puts down his arm and sheaths his sword. He steps back and lets me face the Prime Minister again.

The Prime Minister laughed mockingly at what I did. But I returned it with the sweetest smile that made him stop. “I will give you the honor as a favor, Prime Minister. An honor that I did not bestow your fellow traitors on their last breath. As the Prime Minister of the Daichi Kingdom, I will give you the honor to die in my own hands.”

He grinned, “you will not be able to do that, Princess Yuki, because you are just hiding in the shadow of your personal guard.”

“You don’t have any slight idea about me,” I crouch to level him, so that he hears clearly, “and if ever, you are not the first that this hand killed.” I raise my hand in front of him, “but, your blood will be the first from a noble and official that will stain my hand.”

“I won’t bel ---”

In a swift move, I raised my left hand holding the sword, and put it near his neck, stopping him from finishing what he wanted to say. I placed my right hand on the sword handle, pulled it from its sheath, slashing his throat at the same time. His eyes widen, he holds his neck trying to stop the blood from flowing while looking at me in horror. The corner of my lips twitched for a smirk before his body fell to the floor lifeless. Even in hell, he will carry the memory of the last smile he saw from me.

Without hesitation, I ran my fingers to the bloody sword. My hands are covered with the Prime Minister’s blood, a devilish grin is still plastered on my face while looking down at my hands.

“We are late, Your Highness,” someone said behind me.

I turned around and saw the Crown Prince's personal guard, beside him is my brother, the Crown Prince itself, shaking his head in disbelief. I accepted the white canvas that Yoshie handed to me. I wipe the blood in my hand with the canvas and so is my sword before putting it back to its sheath.

“Even if you came at the right time, you still can’t stop me, Your Highness,” I said without looking at him.

“I just don’t want you to stain your hands with blood, Ayane,” he replied, disappointment can be heard from his voice.

“Don’t worry about me, Your Highness. This is the first time that I killed a noble and moreover, a Prime Minister, but you should know, he is not the first one that I killed,” I confessed to him and gave him a sad smile.

“What do you mean?” he asked with a knotted forehead.

“I’ve killed before when I was in Megacity. Not just once. But I will never regret killing scums, criminals, people that are evil more than me.”

“You never told me anything about that,” he said, staring at me. “Did Ate Yen know?”

“Nope, I never said anything to her either,” I shook my head. “The people that know about it are Zander, Aries, the Black Angels, Edge, and Blitz. Chase might know too, but I’m not sure.”

Kuya Shi sighs and nods his head, it’s done, there is nothing he can do about it. My men came and collected the dead bodies. They will hang it in the entryway of the town for everyone to see. A word, ‘the traitors of the kingdom’ will be carved.

Silence filled the hut until the men left. I got the book Shuji handed to me and walked towards the Crown Prince and gave it to him. “I will be leaving tomorrow, please continue what I started, Kuya. Listed in this book are the names of members of the Prime Minister’s plan of revolt. Protect the royal family, the king, and the kingdom. I will do so from afar.”

When he accepted the book, I bowed to him followed by Shuji and Yoshie, turned around, and left. We left the Crown Prince and his guard without another word and without looking back. We came back to the palace in silence and took a rest. Tomorrow we will leave and face the new world and a new life far from here and far from everyone else.