Nami

The Daffodil Garden was the main garden within the castle grounds. It was an enchanting area enveloped by pristine white Daffodil flowers, perpetually in full bloom. It also had water fountains scattered throughout and white butterflies dancing and playing in the air, transforming the overall scenario into a mystical and unique spectacle. 

“Welcome to my favorite garden, Little Sis,” Sora greeted me as we met in the gazebo, where a marbled round table adorned with various sweets and tea awaited us. “Please, take a seat.” He gestured for me to sit across from him, and I did so promptly. 

“Thank you for inviting me to tea on such short notice, especially considering your busy schedule,” I expressed my gratitude and respect, bowing my head. 

He chuckled. “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 poured tea into the teacup in front of me.

I looked around us, noticing that we were alone. “Where are your servants?” I asked, curious. 

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

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

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

I took a sip of the tea. “School is okay. In fact, my midterm exams concluded yesterday, and I think I did well enough not to fail…” I faltered and cringed, doubting my words. 

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

“Is that a compliment or… ?” I tilted 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 paused and stared at me intently. “You look happier and healthier now,” he remarked.

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

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

I nodded in response. “Yes, I do. Although I am getting used to living my life 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 only this place offers me.” Taking another sip of tea to calm my nerves, I added, “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 grimaced, making it clear that he did not enjoy going to the human realm at all. 

Silence fell upon us as we sipped our teas and ate macarons while relishing each other’s company and the breathtaking scenery. The gentle rustle of the cool wind, the distant melody of the birds chirping and singing, and the soothing flow of water from the fountains created a serene symphony that nourished my soul. 

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

I took a deep breath and blurted out, “I have become friends with the Demon Crown Prince.” My voice came out in different pitches, dripping with anxiety.

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

I was taken aback by the news. What does he mean he already knows? How? When? Why?

“How did you know?” I gasped, my voice shaking.

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

I rose to my feet, irritated. “You have knights spying on me in Tokyo?” I protested, still struggling to believe what I was hearing. 

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

The emphasis on sending knights to protect me in the human realm solely as my older brother, not as the king, melted my heart, proving once again how much he loved and cared about me. 

I sat down on the chair and adjusted my robe, feeling embarrassed about my lack of good manners. “I apologize for protesting,” I mumbled, ingraining in my brain that I needed 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.” 

After it hit me that no one but Yusuke helped me when I was attacked by the hybrids, I questioned, “So, you must be aware that I was recently attacked by a group of hybrids. Is that correct?” As he did not respond, I continued, “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 and 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 explained, 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 made me giggle to myself and blush. 

“You like Prince Yusuke,” my brother observed, filling his teacup with more tea. 

I could not bring myself to either deny or confirm his remark, as I myself was not sure of how I felt about that particular demon whose smile and gaze swept me off my feet effortlessly. However, my body told another story, as my heart leaped in my chest and my cheeks blushed even more. 

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

“So, it means you do not know yet who is behind the attacks in the kingdom…” I trailed off, feeling dejected that I could not move back to the castle yet, and Angel Commoners were still falling victim to senseless actions.

Sora winced, and his eyes filled with sadness and regret as he confessed, “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 made any sense because Sora was extremely intelligent and capable of protecting his kingdom. If the attacks were slipping through his eagle eyes and efficient hands, then it meant that someone inside the castle—someone whom he trusted—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 asked out of the blue, refusing to complete my train of thought. 

“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 commented, disappointed that I would not have the opportunity to catch up with my other brother, whom I greatly admired.

“Father and Mother have been insisting on forbidding him from going to the Royal Capital and other cities, but he argues every time and threatens to give up his title as the Second Prince if they keep bothering him about assuming 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 laughed dismissively. “Just ignore her.”

I picked a caramel cupcake and popped a piece into my mouth, the sweet filling taking me to pure paradise. “You do not mind if I continue being friends with Prince Yusuke, then?” I went back to the main matter, hoping to hear any kind of reassurance. 

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

I choked on the second piece of the caramel cupcake. “What are you implying, Sora?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Are you going to visit the Kingdom of Demons as you had previously planned?” He ignored my question and got straight to the second reason why I had gone to the castle that day. 

That time, I choked on the tea I was drinking, a little escaping through my nose and adding to the humiliation. “How did you know that?” I squeaked in a high-pitched voice.