Nami

The Daffodil Garden is the main garden within the castle grounds. It is an enchanting area enveloped by pristine white daffodils, perpetually in full bloom. Water fountains are scattered throughout the garden, while white butterflies dance and play in the air, transforming the scenery into a mystical and unique spectacle.

“Welcome to my favorite garden, little sis,” Sora says when we meet in the gazebo, where a round marble table, adorned with various sweets and tea, awaits us. “Please, take a seat.” He gestures for me to sit across from him, which I do so promptly.

“Thank you for inviting me to tea on such short notice, especially considering your busy schedule,” I tell him, expressing my gratitude and respect with a bow of my head.

He chuckles. “Please, there is no need for such formality during our tea time. I am here as your big brother, not as the king. Let us enjoy some quality sibling time, shall we?” He pours tea into the teacup in front of me.

I look around, noticing that we are alone. “Where are your servants?” I ask curiously.

“I sent them away for privacy,” he replies, pouring tea into his own teacup. He then glances at me, a smug smile playing on his lips. “Besides, I sense that whatever you wish to discuss is meant for my ears only.”

My mouth falls open in surprise. “How did you know that?”

He chuckles again. “How have you been? How is school?”

I take a sip of tea. “School is okay. In fact, my midterm exams concluded yesterday, and I think I did well enough not to fail…” I trail off, cringing as I doubt my own words.

Sora laughs heartily, amused. “You have changed a lot since you first moved to Tokyo.”

“Is that a compliment or…?” I tilt my head to the side, subconsciously mimicking Demon Boy.

“It is a compliment, of course. It warms my heart to see you express your emotions so openly.” He pauses, staring at me intently. “You look happier and healthier now,” he remarks.

I look down at the hot yellow liquid in my cup, a shy smile forming on my face as I admit, “I do feel happier and healthier now.”

“Do you still intend to move back to the castle once the attacks stop?”

I nod in response. “Yes, I do. Although I am getting used to living as a human in Tokyo, my home is still here, with you, Souma, Father, and Mother. I miss you every day, and I miss wearing my robes and visiting my swing at the top of the mountain. I miss the blissful silence that only this place offers me.” I take another sip of tea to calm my nerves before adding, “I miss being an angel.”

“I understand, because I, too, miss being an angel whenever I venture into the human realm and am forced to endure my human form.” He grimaces, making it clear that he does not enjoy visiting the human realm at all.

Silence falls upon us as we sip our tea and eat macarons, relishing each other’s company and the breathtaking scenery. The gentle rustle of the cool breeze, the distant melodies of birds chirping and singing, and the soothing sound of water flowing from the fountains create a serene symphony that nourishes my soul. 

“So, what do you want to talk to me about?” My brother is the first to speak, his soft smile encouraging me to be truthful and hide nothing.

I take a deep breath and blurt out, “I have become friends with the demon crown prince.” My voice wavers, rising and falling with anxiety.

Sora gazes at me, his serene expression remaining unchanged. “I know,” he states, his smile widening. “Prince Yusuke, is that his name?”

I am taken aback by the revelation.

What does he mean, he already knows? How? When? Why?

“How did you know?” I gasp, my voice trembling.

“Oh, the knights I assigned to ensure your safety in the human realm filled me in after you attended the Entrance Ceremony,” he replies casually.

I rise to my feet, irritated. “You have knights watching me in Tokyo?” I protest, still struggling to believe what I am hearing.

“As your older brother, I could not just send you to the wolves without providing backup, do you not think?” He arches an eyebrow as if stating the obvious. “You are my dear little sister, after all.”

The fact that he has sent knights to protect me in the human realm solely as my older brother, not as king, melts my heart, proving once again how much he loves and cares about me.

I sit back down and adjust my robe, feeling embarrassed by my lack of manners. “I apologize for protesting,” I mumble, reminding myself to be more careful and patient, especially when dealing with Sora, as he would never deliberately upset me.

“Do not worry about it, Nami. As I mentioned before, it is a breath of fresh air to see you expressing your emotions more openly.”

Realizing that Yusuke was the only one who helped me when I was attacked by the hybrids, I ask, “So, you must be aware that I was recently attacked by a group of hybrids. Is that correct?” When he does not respond, I continue, “Why did the knights not rescue me from them? Where were they when I needed their assistance?”

“I instructed the knights to observe you from afar and not interfere with your actions or decisions. They were also told to avoid detection at all costs unless you faced imminent danger. When the hybrids attacked you, Prince Yusuke happened to rescue you before the knights could intervene. They hesitated, unsure whether to reveal themselves, as they knew you would instantly recognize them as angels,” Sora explains, his tone serious. “I want to keep you safe, but I also want you to be able to protect yourself and make your own decisions, regardless of the outcomes.”

The memory of Yusuke jumping in front of me and bravely fighting off all those hybrids makes me giggle to myself, my cheeks flushing.

“You like Prince Yusuke,” my brother observes, pouring more tea into his teacup.

I cannot bring myself to either deny or confirm his remark, as I am not even sure how I feel about that particular demon whose smile and gaze sweep me off my feet so effortlessly. However, my body tells another story, as my heart leaps in my chest and my cheeks grow even hotter.

“You need to be careful, Nami. Although I believe Prince Yusuke has nothing to do with your attack or the murders here in the Kingdom of Angels, we do not know whether a member of his family or even one of his friends is involved. You need to be on your guard at all times,” Sora advises me.

“So, it means you do not know yet who is behind the attacks in the kingdom…” I trail off, feeling dejected that I cannot move back to the castle yet and that angel commoners are still falling victim to these senseless attacks.

Sora winces, his eyes filling with sadness and regret as he confesses, “I am failing as the king of the Kingdom of Angels because my subjects are perishing everywhere despite my efforts to prevent it.”

None of that makes any sense because Sora is extremely intelligent and more than capable of protecting his kingdom. If the attacks are slipping past his watchful eyes and efficient hands, then someone inside the castle—someone he trusts—must be leaking information to the attackers.

Could it be the commander of the Knightly Order? His father? Our own father? Or perhaps…?

“Where is Souma?” I ask out of the blue, refusing to follow that train of thought to its conclusion.

“I have not seen him since yesterday morning. He must be in the royal capital, as always.”

“I wish I could talk to him today before I return to Tokyo,” I comment, disappointed that I will not have the opportunity to catch up with my other brother, whom I greatly admire.

“Father and Mother have been insisting that he stop going to the royal capital and other cities, but he argues with them every time and threatens to give up his title as the second prince if they keep bothering him about taking on responsibilities he does not want.”

“Speaking of Mother, she scolded me earlier today for ‘making’ you cancel your royal appointment and ‘forcing’ you to have tea with me.”

Sora laughs dismissively. “Just ignore her.”

I pick up a caramel cupcake and pop a piece into my mouth, the sweet filling sending me straight to paradise. “You do not mind if I continue being friends with Prince Yusuke, then?” I return to the main subject, hoping for some reassurance.

“No, I do not.” My brother places a slice of chocolate pie on his plate and gracefully brings a forkful to his mouth. “Prince Yusuke is quite interesting, do you not agree?” He shoots me a knowing smile.

I choke on my second bite of the caramel cupcake. “What are you implying, Sora?” I narrow my eyes.

“Are you going to visit the Kingdom of Demons as you previously planned?” He ignores my question and gets straight to the second reason I have come to the castle today.

This time, I choke on the tea I am drinking, some of it escaping through my nose and adding to my humiliation. “How did you know that?” I squeak.