Fake Princess
Dlxxii Chapter
I opened the room door by stepping closer to Haruki's room next to mine. My hand was raised knocking on the door of his room with several times my voice came out calling out to him. I walked backwards when the door was slightly open inside, “you were ready early in the morning,” he said with his face bowed followed by his moving hand rubbing his wet hair.
“That's because of nii-chan, changed our path of travel suddenly,” my words, my steps began to continue again, following him who walked in front of me.
Haruki again raised his head, “nothing sudden. This has all been like my plan since the beginning,” he said, he still walked with his hand rubbed his nape that made the tip of his cloak wet.
My eyes were slightly closed as my steps continued to move out of the ship. The sunlight that fell on the eyes, really immediately felt when we had passed the door. I kept walking following Haruki who had been standing near Izumi as well as Eneas with some men holding horses behind them both.
“So, have the two of you planned all this?”
I shook my head quickly as Izumi dropped her gaze on me. “This is all my plan. Not even Sachi, not knowing this,” was Haruki's dream that made Izumi's gaze turn to him.
“Again you lied to me?”
“I didn't mean to lie to you, Izumi. We are going to Robson, but .. Because our ship passed Wattana, why not try to stop by for a moment,” Haruki said, he slightly threw his gaze to the side before looking back at Izumi.
“Don't tell me, you're afraid to meet your own future in-laws, Izumi?” Haruki smiled with both arms crossed looking at him.
“Not like that, but what if-”
“What if the news of him still alive is heard by the people or other Kingdoms around them?” tukas Haruki cut his words.
“If true, just marry like your original plan, right?” haruki continued back while walking closer to one of the horses held by a man.
“Haruki!”
“Are you scared, Izumi? He's pinning his hopes on you, isn't he? Hope, to know her mother's news. Only soon we'll get there, and you want to back off? Why not try to withdraw from your engagement?”
“That is better for her, than having a future husband .. Who has retreated before doing anything,” continued Haruki followed by the horse he rode it walking away.
“Sial,” murmured Izumi weakly which made the glances of my eyes turn to her.
“Nii-chan, you want to protect her, don't you? Women, not only want to be protected, but we also need recognition. So that later we can proudly say, oh man, he is my husband,” I said smilingly before stepping near one of the horses held by a man.
_____________.
“Gosh, it feels almost the same when we visited Balawijaya the other day,” the grumbling sound from Lux made me glance at him.
“I don't want to waste Kou's magic on such a less important thing. Besides Lux, we don't know what's here .. It's so far away in Balawijaya first,” I muttered back, said, the grip of my hand on the harness grew stronger as the horse I was riding continued its march down the harbor.
The more we walked closer to the crowd, the more it also lifted my hand up, pulling the head covering from the robe I was wearing. I glanced to the left and right, as the frenzy in the market near the port grew. They yelled, muttered to each other .. Trying to call people to come to their food or goods.
Just like in Balawijaya, the men did not wear clothes, only a pair of trousers that looked wrapped around them, their chests are covered in a cloth winding up to the stomach with the same pants that men wear. “Why do their teeth look all black?”
I quickly turned towards Eneas who was muttering in Japanese. “Eneas, maybe it has become a tradition here. So, you understand what to do, don't you?”
“I understand, nii-san. I will not repeat it,” said Eneas with his head still moving to the right and to the left.
My hand that was holding the reins moved, followed by my horse that was also moving following Haruki's horse from behind. Sometimes, we stopped for a moment, just to ask some traders .. Even Haruki, had to buy some items they rented, he said, because some of them are reluctant to answer if we do not buy the merchandise they sell.
My eyes, again feeling fresh when I dropped my gaze towards the expanse of rice fields that stretched on the right and left of the road we passed. The brown color in the rice plants are bent, as if reflecting the wealth of this Kingdom itself. “Are we going to come directly to the Palace?”
“It's like killing ourselves if it's too rash like that, Sa-chan. It would not cause any problems, if Izumi previously established good relations between the two Kingdoms. But, your sister that one .. Too cowardly to be in a relationship with the family of his future wife.”
“I can hear clearly, what are you grumbling at it.”
“You can hear it? Sorry, but I'm now getting used to talking honestly to my family.”
“Stop being disgusting! If you're honest, we probably won't be here,” Izumi chimed in on Haruki's words.
“But Izumi, after you see for yourself his kingdom. Are you, still reluctant to be in a relationship?”
Izumi smiled as Haruki changed his tone, “this is one of the big footholds to fight the Emperor, right? I, will be happy to accept your challenge, big brother,” said Izumi, also Haruki who is now smiling in response to what Izumi said.
“Okay my sisters. Follow your awesome sister,” Haruki said back, I also move my horse to turn left following her.
Haruki led us through a row of luxury homes, every house that existed .. Surrounded by a high fence, either a fence of wood or a fence of iron. Each fence, guarding at least one man with a spear in hand and a sword at their waist. My horse came to a stop, when Haruki who led the journey also stopped his horse path followed by words that I did not understand, he said to two men who stood in front of the iron gate of a house.
“The Nobles who were expelled from their Kingdom, are well received here as long as they can pay dearly for the place they live. This house, the home of one of the villains whom I had raised his status on condition, should be my spies in this Kingdom,” the words in Japanese he said, indirectly answered my question.
“If you want to seize this Kingdom, Izumi. As big brother, I have prepared everything since long ago,” Haruki smiled by turning to look at Izumi beside me.