The next morning the tension between Eun-ji and Kazuto was suffocating. I wondered if Reo had been up during the occurrence the night before, if he had been he didn’t show it. He was being the same cheerful person that he always was.

As for Kazuto, he hadn’t spoken to me at all this morning, I pondered if he would bring up that I was awake during their conversation, if he would be angry, or if he would simply ignore it. Right now either option was the latter.

“Goodmorning Kana” Reo smiled brightly, “How did you sleep?” I glanced towards Kazuto involuntarily and made eye contact with a cold pair of glaring eyes.

“Pretty good,” I said looking back towards Reo. “If i’m not mistaken there should be a village coming up in a few miles, we can stop there to get some more food and water, there’s someone I know there too that I would like to see.”

“Let’s get a move on then” said Kazuto untying his horse. Eun-ji wouldn’t look at any of us. Not that she had spoken that much with me to begin with anyway.

I started walking towards Kazuto and his horse when Reo grabbed my arm.

“How’s the bite doing?” he said concerningly.

I smiled reassuringly. “I honestly haven’t even thought about it, it wasn’t even that hard of a bite.” He nodded and released my arm.

Kazuto was already mounted on his horse and as I approached he reached his hand out for me to grab. I gripped his hand as he hoisted me up onto the horse. The weather was warm and the sun was shining down on us, but the atmosphere between both Eun-ji and Kazuto was stifling. I stretched my arms out and looked up to the sky.

“At least the weather is being kind to us today, that’s always a good sign. Good weather always puts me in a good mood.”

“Being around such a beautiful woman always puts me in a good mood too” Reo said winking at me. I laughed and a blush creeped up on my cheeks slightly and his blunt comment.

“I don’t know about that, I think Eun-ji has me beat in that department.” I said trying to engage in conversation with her, she had looked so down since last night.

She said monotony, “You praise me too much princess.” At least that got her talking a little bit.

Suddenly Kazuto spoke up, “Who are you going to visit in this village?” I was surprised that he had spoken to me at all today.

“Ah, her name is Emelia, we have been close friends ever since we were little. I used to visit the village quite often but I haven’t had the chance to in a long time. She was actually the one who taught me archery, compared to her I feel really untalented with my bow.” I smiled thinking about the times when I could barely shoot straight, and all the hours she had spent teaching me to defend myself. Kazuto nodded. I was glad he hadn’t brought up me overhearing their conversation last night, I wasn’t quite sure what I would even say anyways. A small part of me was curious how he really felt about Eun-ji, but I knew better than to ask.

“Are you any good at archery?” Eun-ji suddenly asked me. I couldn’t tell if she had asked in a curious tone or a simply judgemental one.

“I would say i’m definitely better at archery than hand to hand combat. I have been practicing archery for way longer than swordsmanship.”

“It’s quite rare for a princess to learn how to fight, what had made you decide to learn?” My mouth went dry for a second. The real answer required a little too much depth than I would have cared to share. That was a part of my life I wasn’t sure I was ready to talk about with them yet, even with Reo. So I lied.

“I was always very paranoid as a kid, not for any particular reason. And when Emelia offered to teach me I took up the opportunity because I wanted to protect my family and the people around me. My mother never learned to fight so I figured I would learn for the both of us.” A pang of hurt struck my heart as I thought about what would have happened if only she had learned to protect herself, even a little bit.

“Yah! I had almost forgotten Kana, when we get to the village we should have ourselves a little sparring session. I’m curious to how good you really are.”

“I’ll take you up on that offer.. If you dare” I joked. Reo’s laugh was vibrant and always lifted my mood. There was something about him that was joyful and could make me smile no matter what he said.

After a while more of walking I noticed how Eun-ji kept stealing glances at Kazuto from the side. I could tell she was apprehensive and wanted to continue the conversation last night. I could also tell she was hurt. Kazuto however kept his gaze forward and didn’t meet her eyes. I reached down into the bag attached to the horse and grabbed the canteen. I hadn’t seen Kazuto drink water in a long time. I leaned closer to him and reached my hand with the canteen under his arm and to the front of his face shaking it back and forth for a second.

“What are you doing.” he deadpanned.

“Drink up, I can’t have our nation's go into war because their prince died of dehydration when he was in my care could I?” I put the bottle to his lips before he could retaliate and pushed it upwards.

After he took a sip I hooked the cap back on and placed it back into the bag.

“So I’m in your care right now?” He said almost mockingly.

“Well this was my idea wasn’t it. Although you may be more serious” I emphasized with a pouty voice, “than me, I still like to think that i’m taking you on this journey.” I paused, “even though I’m being carried by your horse, with you leading it.”

A smirk appeared slightly by the corner of his mouth. “Whatever you say Kana.” I was shocked that he hadn’t called me princess. I don’t know why, but I enjoyed the way my name had sounded from his lips.

He lowered his voice slightly, “I’m surprised such a chatty person hasn’t brought up what she heard last night. It was a nice effort to pretend you were sleeping though. There it was.