13 Chapter 12 - Bring Me The Girl (2/2)

Father softens his gaze for a moment, before saying, ”Yes you may, but don't take a lot of guards. I don't want them to waste their time on you.”

Miyu nods her head and leaves her father. Mother's grave is at the Empire where most of the Lord's and lady's live. Her mother died from a carriage accident, but Miyu knew her step mother staged it. Her mother, Megumi, and her step mother, Kokoro, we're both concubines of Kenta. Kokoro really wanted to be the main wife and safe Megumi as a challenge. Her mother never wanted to put herself out there and was happy with just being a concubine, but Kokoro still killed her. Miyu wept for her mother for days and swore to have her revenge on Kokoro. But now isn't the time, she doesn't have any power, technically. But Ryota has given her an advantage, and she'll wait patiently till the day she can see Kokoro cowering at her feet and begging for mercy she'll never get.

*****

Ryota arrived home with a blank face, already knowing that his father will yell at him. When he enters the palace, a trembling guard approaches him and tells him that his father is expecting him. Ryota nods and heads towards the throne room, where he can already feel the suffocating aura.

He enters and sees only his father. His father ris on his throne and the rest of the room is empty. Ryota closes the door and waits. His father glares at him before saying, ”Ryota, first I heard that you're not home. Then, I hear that you did a search for who knows what. And finally, I've heard you skipped out on your military meeting. Now, may you explain any of these things to me before I get really angry.”

Ryota opens his mouth but his father slams his sword on the ground in anger. The sword slides till it lays right next to Ryota. Ryota lifts his eyes from the sword to his father who's burning in anger.

”Do you know what embarrassment you've caused me, not having control of my own son, my heir?”

Ryota closes his mouth and waits patiently for his father to stop his rant. After a few minutes, his father let's out a slow sigh and looks at Ryota.

”Tell me, why are you doing what you're doing. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

”No father. Now, will you let me explain?”

His father nods his head and rests his head on his hand.

”Father, for me skipping out on military meetings, I've thought I've had enough of it. There's too many for me to manage and I wanted to see my people. For not returning home on time, I was searching for the woman named Hood. Also, Hood is the same reason for the search. It turns out, there is a lady hiding from us with very powerful gifts and she's been using them only in bar fights and similar reasons. I've met up with her and asked for her hand in marriage. She said yes, but doesn't want to reveal her identity till she has reached marriageable age.”

When Ryota has finished explaining, his father didn't say a word for a few minutes. Then, his father opened his mouth.

”Bring me the girl.”