Chapter 9: The Eternal Bond
The evening sun bathed the mansion in golden light, casting long shadows across the sprawling halls. Kaito and Miya sat together on the balcony, overlooking the lush gardens. Miya, calm and composed, sipped her tea while Kaito leaned on the railing, gazing at the horizon.
Breaking the comfortable silence, Miya placed her cup down and turned to him. "Kaito, there's something very important I need to tell you. It's about the bond between a king and his queens."
Kaito straightened up, sensing the gravity of her words. "What is it?"
Miya's crimson eyes met his. "A queen has only one king in her lifetime. And a king has only one set of queens—his destined seven. The bond we share is unique and unbreakable. If a king dies, all his contracted queens die as well. And if a queen dies, her king follows shortly after."
Kaito's breath caught. "So… if something happens to me, you…"
Miya nodded solemnly. "I will follow you. But it doesn't end there. After death, a king and his queens are reincarnated, destined to find each other again in their next lives. It's a bond that transcends time."
Kaito frowned, his mind swirling with questions. "But how do you know this? Do you remember your past lives?"
Miya smiled faintly, her gaze distant. "Not completely. Queens don't retain full memories of their past lives, but we feel it. It's as if our souls recognize each other. The day I found you, I knew you were my king—not from logic, but from something deeper."
A Twist in the Bond
Kaito hesitated, the weight of her words sinking in. "What happens if… if a queen and her king never make a contract? Do they still die together?"
Miya shook her head. "No. If a queen and her king are uncontracted when the king dies, that queen doesn't die. Instead, she waits for her king's next reincarnation, bound to him across lifetimes. But…"
Her voice grew softer, almost wistful. "There's something you need to know about your seven queens. One of them hasn't been able to contract with you for many lifetimes. She's been waiting, watching over you from afar, unable to fulfill her bond. I only know one thing about her—she wields the power of the wind."
"The power of the wind?" Kaito asked, intrigued.
"Yes," Miya said, her tone laced with both curiosity and sadness. "Her name is Kazehana. She's strong, graceful, and deeply loyal. But despite being part of your destined seven, she hasn't been able to contract with you in countless lives. She's still waiting, Kaito. Waiting for the moment she can finally call you her king."
Kaito's chest tightened. The idea of someone waiting for him across lifetimes filled him with both awe and guilt. "Why hasn't she been able to contract with me?"
Miya shook her head. "I don't know. Perhaps fate has its reasons. What I do know is that, like all queens, she'll recognize you the moment she sees you. Just as I did."
The Weight of Eternity
Kaito exhaled deeply, trying to process the enormity of what Miya had revealed. "This is… a lot to take in. I don't know if I'm ready for all of this."
Miya reached out, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to be ready all at once. Just take it one step at a time. The bond we share isn't meant to be a burden, Kaito. It's a testament to the connection between us, one that has
across lifetimes."
Kaito looked at her, his emotions a mix of awe, gratitude, and confusion. "So, every time we're reincarnated, you find me?"
Miya smiled softly. "Yes. Even if I don't
the details, my soul recognizes yours. And I'll always come to you, Kaito. Always."
Her words filled him with a strange sense of peace. Despite the overwhelming responsibility of his role as a king, he couldn't deny the comfort her presence brought.
A Shared Night
Later that night, as they prepared to sleep, Kaito hesitated at the door of their shared room. Miya noticed his reluctance and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Kaito, it's okay. You don't have to feel pressured. This is just another step in our journey together."
Her words eased his nerves, and as they lay beside each other, he found himself more comfortable than he expected. Miya's warmth and steady presence were a constant reminder that he wasn't alone in this strange, overwhelming world.
Before sleep claimed them, Miya whispered, "No matter what challenges come, we'll face them together. And one day, you'll meet all your queens. When that time comes, you'll understand just how special our bond is."
Kaito nodded, his eyes closing as a sense of peace settled over him. For the first time since this journey began, he truly believed her.