The Reincarnation Of A Lazy Soul In An Otome Game

Chapter 17

Pain.

Sharp and agonizing. Yukino hands gently clutched her stomach, only to look in horror at the warm dark red liquid on her hand. Looking down, she saw the red spreading, growing, like the pain and numbness. 

However, it wasn’t her abdomen that hurts the most, it was her chest.

It felt like someone twisted and squeezed it with their full strength, leaving Yukino gasping for breath like a fish on land.

‘It hurts.’ She mumbled to herself, somehow knowing no one would hear her. ‘It hurts.’ She stayed hunched over, on the stone floor. ‘It’s cold.’ She whispered. ‘I’m cold.’ She closed her eyes. 

‘It hurts.’

Yukino jerked up, gasping for breath and scrambling to touch her stomach. Delicately feeling it, she sighed in relief as she felt her smooth skin. No blood.

[Yukino… are you okay?] The sound of Kami’s worried voice drifted into Yukino’s ears. 

“I, I’m fine.” Yukino answered swiftly as she got out of bed to get a cup of water.

[Are you sure?] The book that was laying on the table next to the bed suddenly flew up. [You were screaming and shivering.]

“Kami. I’m fine.” The harsh voice of Yukino would’ve brought a frown onto Kami’s face if she had one.

Wanting to say something, Kami was about to speak again when she decided against it, knowing full well what her host had dreamed of. So instead she let out a sigh.

[You should head to bed, the Awakening Ceremony is tomorrow and you don’t want to walk in looking like a zombie.] Yukino forced a small smile onto her face. 

Right. The ceremony was tomorrow. Getting back into bed she stared at the ceiling, wondering how time had passed so quickly. It had been half a year ago when Hisashi joined the family, becoming not only her ‘knight’ but also her butler. At first they had gotten off with an awkward hello when her parents introduced the two. Those gold and silver eyes had stared at her passively, unlike the previous night when they had looked at her with such raging emotions. As if sensing their awkward atmosphere, Yukino’s parents sent them to the capital to play and get to know each other a bit better. 

Thankfully, it worked, so in the next six months, the two had gotten much closer. She learned that Hisashi didn’t talk too much and enjoyed being by himself. Although he was relatively pretty calm, once he gets mad, it was like Satan himself rose from hell. Yukino had to admit, she enjoyed Hisashi’s company and liked the fact he wasn’t so strict on her. Hisashi also had amazing skills in the kitchen and it was almost as if he knew exactly what she liked.

Yukino rolled in her bed, unable to sleep. Letting out another sigh, she fingered through Kami’s pages, flipping through the many blank and empty sheets she stopped when her eyes landed at a stone.

It was golden, bright and luminous. She had gotten it that time her and Hisashi went to the capital. It had caught her eyes and she had immediately bought it but she felt that it had a deeper meaning to her. It seemed to have resonated with her. Smoothing the page with her fingers she smiled slightly, letting the red eyes curve.

Yukino sat up and walked towards the window seat, looking out of the window she could see the almost full moons. Yukino continued to stare at the moons as they climbed higher and higher and soon she slipped into her sleep.

“Your highness.” A gentle shaking woke Yukino up from where her head laid on the window sill.

“Hmm, let me sleep a bit longer,” the soft reply of Yukino had the boy in a butler uniform shaking his head in amusement.

“Your highness, it’s the awakening ceremony today, you need to get dressed and greet the guests with your parents.” His words brought a groan followed by pout from the pink lips. Since the Fox Kingdom was hosting the ceremony this year, Yukino had to go greet the royals and nobles of the other kingdoms since she was part of the royal family. She scowled, she couldn’t seem to remember the Dragon Clan’s royal family welcoming them.

“Humph, you’ll be suffering with me.” Yukino opened her eyes and looked at Hisashi with a smile. Hisashi looked down slightly, letting his hair shadow his eyes.

“Unfortunately, your highness, I won’t.” Hisashi said. Yukino looked up and stared curiously into his eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“I have some matters I have to settle and I’ll be leaving in an hour.”

“Oh..” Yukino could tell that Hisashi didn’t want to continue the conversation so she simply nodded. She patted his head, “Be safe.” 

———

Yukino came out of her room, followed by the maids who had helped her change. She was wearing a simple red kimono and her silver hair was left down. Kami was once again a necklace, a small golden flower hung on red strings.

Hisashi had already left, which had caused Yukino to sulk since no Hisashi meant none of her favorite dishes. He had assured her that he would be back after the ceremony ended meaning he should be back in two days.

“Yuki.” A familiar voice made Yukino’s pouting transform into a wide smile, showing the two dimples.

“Brother!” Yukino saw the figure of her beloved brother and started running towards him. She jumped into his open arms and hugged him as Taiyo swirled Yukino around, pecking her nose. “When did you get back?” She asked as she snuggled into his arms.

Taiyo chuckled at the childish act of Yukino and patted her head. 

“Just a couple minutes ago.” He answered with a smile.

“Yuki hasn’t seen you for so long,” Yukino said addressing herself in third person to act spoiled. However, it was true it’s been years since she saw her brother Taiyo.

“I know, I’m sorry. I’ve been busy with school.” Yukino turned away from him.

“Humph.”

“Come on, Yuki, don’t do that, you’re hurting your brother’s heart.” Yukino didn’t respond. “I’ll let you cuddle with my tail…” 

One of Yukino’s ears twitched and Taiyo saw it, he smiled to himself, glad that his sister hadn't changed.

“Fine.” Yukino gave in, for some reason, Taiyo’s tail was amazingly soft, rejecting it was like rejecting to eat ice cream. Taiyo smiled while again patting his sister’s hair. The maids were still standing there, smiling as they watched the siblings interactions.

“Let’s go greet the guests,” Taiyo said as he put Yukino down. Yukino pursed her lips before nodding in agreement.

They walked to the palace hall where everyone slowly trickled in. Escorted by the fox knights since the fox palace was deep in one of the most dangerous woods in the West. Each fox carried a stone which held the aura of Yukino’s father, the king. Since the foxes has lived on the territory for millenniums as the ‘king’ of the forest, all the magical beasts fear the aura, thus making them stay away. Which is why each of the fox carried a stone embedded with the aura.

Yukino watched as hundreds of nobles walked in, chattering loudly, while the royals stared on without expression. Yukino narrowed her eyes as she saw the Tiger Prince, Haruto. Just seeing his face made Yukino want to run up to the boy and rip him into shreds.

As if he could sense the murderous thoughts of his sister, Taiyo placed a hand on her head to pacify the rage. He glanced at where Yukino was looking and realized why he felt such a scary aura from his sister. Taiyo has long heard of what happened when he was poisoned and knowing his sister, he was more than aware of her anger. He was also angry at him for insulting his father and threatening her sister.

“Let father and mother deal with them, let’s go greet someone else.” Taiyo whispered into Yukino’s ears. Receiving a nod from his sister he pulled her away to greet others that were coming in. 

Yukino caught sight of Sakura who was also looking at Yukino. 

“Brother I’m going to go greet them,” Yukino said and once she got a nod from her brother she walked towards the heroine of the otome game. Yukino smiled politely and greeted the girl.

“Welcome.” Yukino politely nodded towards the royals of the Panda Clan. Sakura, along with the others gave a curtsy or bow in response, “I hope you’ll find your stay here to be comfortable,” Yukino glanced at the other members of the family before motioning to a maid. The woman scurried forward, gave a 90° bow and lead the family to their guest rooms, Yukino watched until they turned the bend of the corner.

Great. One down, five million to go. She heard Kami snort in her mind.

[Stop exaggerating. You don’t have anymore since the rest of the royals have already been greeted and led to their rooms.] 

Yukino sighed. It was going to be a long long day.

——————

In the darkness of a cave, a young boy knelt in front of a glowing figure of an old man who was looking down on him as if he was looking at an ant.

“This is your last chance.” The glowing figure spat. “Kill. Her. Or the throne will go to your brother.” The boy was knelt on the ground bowed his head further so his eyes were hidden. His hands, one on his leg and the other on the ground, were clenched tightly. 

“Yes.” The boy replied, voice devoid of emotions.

The glowing man looked down and smiled. “Don’t let me down again.” The boy did not respond and continued to kneel even when the glowing figure had long disappeared.