Touring Together

If he was being completely honest, Alphard Valdur had no idea why his heart was beating so fast—why each step carried him forward so desperately toward where Mitina was. He had always abided by the rules and regulations of the academy, so running at full sprint through the halls should have been unimaginable… before he met her.

"Woah, Mr. Valdur, are you alright?" A professor called out as Alphard rushed past, more concerned than angry.

"Can't talk—have to do something!"

Something? He wasn't even sure what that something was. That thought made his steps slow as he finally caught his breath. And just as luck would have it, he spotted a familiar, fluffy plume of hair in the distance, bobbing up and down, the edges sticking up wildly due to how short and unmanaged it was.

"Um, Miss Decoris!" He called out. She turned around—and so did the prince standing beside her. "M-May I have a word with you?"

"Huh? Is something wrong, Alphie?"

Again with the overly familiar tone. It wasn't the first time she had called him that, yet for some reason, the more she said it, the less he minded.

"I… I'd like to talk about something for a moment."

He had no idea what he was going to talk about.

"Oh! I know why you're here!" she said, her smile as bright as a thousand suns. She clasped her hands together and turned to the prince. "This is Alphie! He's part of the welcoming committee, and I'm pretty sure he knows how to give a better tour than me."

The prince smiled—cordial and polite—but there was a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Alphie, is it?"

Oh, how Alphard hated the way it rolled off his tongue.

"Alphard. Alphard Valdur," he corrected firmly.

"Ah, you're Chancellor Valdur's son?"

"Yes," Alphard bowed. "The second son."

"Well then, I'd like to talk more with the famous genius son."

Alphard fought back a grimace—embarrassed, not just for himself but for how much his father liked to run his mouth. But most of all, this was all happening in front of Mitina. What would she think of him now? He wasn't the eldest son of his family, so there was no title for him to inherit. And if he walked beside the prince, it would become painfully clear which of them was the more worthy of her attention.

The Decoris family was one of the founding families of the kingdom. Their history was as old as the kingdom itself. If Mitina insisted on giving the tour herself, the prince wouldn't lose out on anything…

Yet, that wasn't exactly what concerned him.

"The more, the merrier!" the prince declared, golden eyes alight with easy confidence. "It would be nice to have both of your inputs."

❀❀❀

It was such terrible luck. As they made their way down the halls, swathes of people began whispering and gossiping. Yes, yes, it was the clumsy Mitina walking alongside the seemingly perfect crown prince.

To her surprise, Mikhail's younger self smiled more often—and in a way that seemed genuine. He might not have been a very good husband, but he had never done her any harm. He had even refused to touch her, which was why people mocked her as the Virgin Empress. He had distanced himself from her so completely that she had always assumed he outright hated her.

Then he fell in love.

And for some reason—despite never truly falling for Mikhail the way she had for Alphie—the betrayal still stung. Maybe it was because of the way she had been raised. In her old life, she desperately wanted to be treasured. After all, she had endured her unbearable family in her current life because her sister and first friend, Bitina, had been there to support her—to defend her whenever their parents made biting remarks. Thankfully, Bitina did not pass early this time.

"You know, my uncle courted your mother when she was younger," Mikhail remarked.

She let out an amused huff. "I suppose that never went anywhere—lest we be cousins now."

"Indeed! How fun would that be?" Mikhail said, grinning. "But it's not such a shame. Maybe I should marry a Decoris?"

Goosebumps prickled her skin as he leaned in, smiling pleasantly without a care in the world.

"I don't think that would be a good idea," she replied flatly.

"Oh? But you're so amiable. And your family is highly esteemed. Wouldn't we be so compatible?"

Compatible? He had treated her like an expensive vase behind a glass case for the entirety of their marriage.

"I highly doubt it, my prince," she said, purposefully sticking a finger in her ear in front of him, mimicking the bored expression Bitina would make.

"I-Is that so?" Mikhail faltered, clearly put off.

Mission 'turn the crown prince off by acting as unladylike as possible'—a success.

"Um, Miss Decoris!" A beautiful voice called out. She turned around—and so did the prince standing beside her. "M-May I have a word with you?"

It was Alphie! Her beloved Alphie, who had always treated her well.

She had always adored his mellifluous voice—so silky, so rich, reverberating in her ears like a lullaby. His laughter, deep and warm, had a way of melting her completely.

Oh, Alphie, you can have all the words with me, whenever you want!

But something was off. He looked tired, out of breath.

Oh no… is he sick? Liam should have told her if that were the case.

Apparently, Alphie wanted to give the tour to the prince himself. And that made sense—he was the only man who could ever rebuke Mikhail once he ascended the throne. It was only natural for him to stand beside his future monarch. Maybe, in this life, they could start their friendship earlier…

But that would mean…

"Yeah! We should totally do the tour with the three of us together. Our prince Mikhail, me, and Alphard," she said.

"Splendid!" The prince grinned, smoothly stepping between them.

Mitina had to fight every facial muscle to keep from gnashing her teeth.

As the tour continued, Mitina found herself completely engrossed in what Alphard was talking about—his knowledge of history, the intricacies of the academy's architecture, and the upcoming events really impressed her.

"Heartsfield Day?" the prince asked when Alphard mentioned it.

"Yes. It commemorates Saint Hartesfeld, which, in the modern tongue, is now simply pronounced as Heartsfield. At the academy, we hold a mass followed by a ball. The professors say it's a good opportunity for young nobility to practice social settings. Unlike in the olden days, when one had to be formally invited to experience such gatherings."

"So, it's a party!" Mikhail said, admiring the fountain before him. Alphard had just explained that it becomes the centerpiece of the celebrations. "Does that mean you need a partner to attend?"

"Well," Alphard began, "many students take it as an opportunity to confess their feelings and attend as a couple, but the origins of Heartsfield Day are more—"

"Miss Decoris, would you like to attend the Heartsfield ball with me?"

Mikhail turned to her so suddenly that Mitina felt an immediate urge to calculate how many years she would serve in prison for assaulting the crown prince of her country.

"No," she said firmly.

"Aww, that's too bad." The prince pouted in mock disappointment. "I was so sure you'd say yes."

The sound of her own rejection surprised her. When her parents had arranged for her to marry Mikhail in her past life, she had simply nodded and accepted their decision without question. Perhaps that was why people had found it so easy to blame her for everything.

"Then who will you be going with?" Mikhail asked, grinning mischievously.

Her eyes flickered to Alphard, who—unfortunately—had been looking at her at the same time. Their gazes met, and he flinched.

"Um… I… If it's not too much trouble…" She began, but mid-sentence she wasn't sure if Alphard would accept, the sound of words falling from her mouth became so small and distant, the two young men leaned in to hear her.

Her face burned so hot she was certain it would melt like candle wax under the intensity of Alphie's warm gaze. He looked like a statue himself—high cheekbones and sculpted features, yet softened with a delicate beauty that made her want to reach out and touch him. He reminded her of the male figure in the fountain's carving of two lovers, the very one they would soon adorn with pink and white banners for Heartsfield Day.

"Young miss Mitina Decoris!" Alphie suddenly dropped to one knee before her. "If it will not trouble you so, allow this humble son of House Valdur take you to the Heartsfield ball."

She, Mitina, at the prime of her youth, could now die happy.

The End.

❀❀❀

As Mikhail watched Mitina's face flush as red as a tomato, he thought she might endow him with another sharp remark. But then, her body swayed unsteadily.

"Miss Decoris?" he called, confused.

Her eyes fluttered, and for a moment. Then, like a wilting flower, she collapsed.

"Mitina!" Alphard was faster than him, catching her before she hit the ground. Alphard barely spared him a glance as he adjusted Mitina in his arms, his face tight with concern. "She fainted." His voice was clipped, and Mikhail swore there was an underlying sharpness to it.

The prince frowned. "But why?"

Alphard looked down at Mitina's unconscious form, her face still faintly pink, and let out a quiet sigh. "Too much excitement."

Mikhail raised an eyebrow. "Huh."