Chained to old wounds

CH9

Tsuneo

Frustration gnawed at me as I pushed through another push–up. My arms were burning, but it did nothing for my mood. I got up and started pummeling the striking dummy I kept hidden in my closet. Every strike seemed to only fan the flames of my irritation.

I could see her in my mind’s eye, laughing with some human named probably a

, who was

peasant with little more than a shack to his name. She’d passed the Trial and been named queen, blessed with the touch of the Phoenix and the heavens, and yet she’d run off for some human. It hadn’t even been an hour since her escape. The castle was still buzzing with panic. I’d heard the orders being barked through the communication mirrors, but no word had come back about where

Mizuki had gone or if they would even be able to retrieve her.

Maybe she’d left the continent. There was no way of knowing how far she could get in the amount of time that had passed in the human realm. Doctor Shang came back, casting another privacy

spell around the room, carrying the summoning records for Mizuki.

He offered them to me, and I read through them, searching for some answer about who Ren was

and where she’d gone. The stark black script seemed to blur as I read. Mizuki Ryuyama was descended from the old tailors, which could mean she was indeed a halfling, but there was no

mention of this Ren and no clue as to why she’d risk everything to return to him.

“It’s unlike my father to be so lax in the Trial choosing.

“I don’t believe he was. The records detail her immediate family and her personality, but they felt incomplete to me.”

“Incomplete?” I echoed, brows rising. “What do you mean?”

“I spoke to a guard on the other side, and it appears there was…some irregularity in the collection process this year. My thought is that either Mizuki is not Mizuki or the information collection process was disrupted in some way. I’m having people look into it.”

I snarled. If Mizuki wasn’t Mizuki, then the paperwork was useless. My anger continued to boil.

“More to the matter about how long we can continue to hide the truth,” he said. “If she remains

gone, then we have more of a chance.”

“I’d rather be outed.”

“Tsuneo-”

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It is an honor to meet you. I can see why His Majesty couldn’t help himself.”

“Let’s not stand on formalities,” she said, offering her hand.

He blinked but reached out. In a flash, I snarled and swatter his hand away. Her gaze cut to me, but Doctor Shang just laughed. He lifted his hand and stepped back.

“My apologies.”

I was satisfied with the distance, and I turned to her. Before I could speak, she started to speak, ignoring me completely, her voice sharp and urgent.

“Doctor Shang,” she began, “are you familiar with treating severe physical trauma? An injury that’s resulted in a coma?”

Doctor Shang blinked, surprise momentarily replacing the amusement in his eyes.

“A coma? Why yes, Your Majesty. I’ve dealt with such cases in my long time as a healer.”

“Good,” she said, her voice gaining a desperate edge. “I need you to create a remedy for it. I’m not sure how much you will charge me when you read the documents, but if what I brought isn’t enough, I can get more.”

She pulled the satchel off and set it on my writing desk between us. The satchel fell partially open and revealed a heap of gold coins. How had she gotten so much of our currency in the human. realm?

Doctor Shang’s gaze flickered between the shimmering coins and her resolute face. Then, he glanced at me. A frown creased his brow.

“Your Majesty,” he said cautiously, “I don’t think…

1 growled, stepping between them. “I think you should leave. I need to speak with my wife.”

She darted back to the door, pressing her back against it.

“I will tell the whole palace that you’ve been faking it and high tail it back to the human realm if you don’t help me.”

“Your Majesty-”

I snarled at her. “Ren’s illness will be the last of your problems when it’s revealed that you’re an imposter.”

CH9

She blinked. Then, she scoffed and shot me a withering look.

“You clearly need to sleep more. Get on that.” She looked at Doctor Shang. “You’ve been helping him hide it for a reason. I don’t really care why, but I need this done.”

“It’s not going to happen, Mizuki,” I snarled. “Though we all know that’s not your real name.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, Doc‘, what’ll it be? I don’t have all day.”

“You-”

Just then, a sharp rap on the door sounded on the door, and I froze.

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