Prince Nayoko of Hoshido

Kass marched alongside us every day as we approached Castle Shirasagi, chained and watched over. Ryoma was quiet, but Hinoka, Sakura, and even Takumi talked to her. At first, all conversation was halting and hesitant, but by the second morning she had softened, and my family were soon speaking with her as freely as if she'd been there all along.

But she hadn't, and while they were ignorant of the anger that bubbled beneath her surface, I was not. She enjoyed her time with our Hoshidan siblings, but she never looked at me unless she had to. I was her kidnapper.

Ryoma made no mention of his thoughts about her plan, although he did briefly inform our siblings of it. They were divided. Hinoka and Takumi didn't like it, but Sakura was in favour. Now that I'd been given some time, so was I. Things were looking dark for Hoshido whether we opened our castle doors to King Garon or waited for him to just knock them down.

After a few days on the move, I made the decision that someone else needed to know about our plan. The previous day, we had been informed that the Nohrians were hot on our heels: King Garon out for the final glory, and Xander probably out for Kass. Today we had been told the same. As such, we had marched for a long time, and Semyaza had been permanently at my side. But somehow, while camp had been set up at dusk, she'd managed to slip away.

Jakob and Kaze were easy to find, one in the medical tent and one in the mess tent, but I couldn't find my third retainer anywhere. Eventually, I went to Kass' tent on the unlikely chance that she'd heard something -- and I was surprised to find Semyaza there. They were sitting on the floor together, Kass' chains staked into the ground between them.

"What are you doing here, Semyaza?" I asked.

She scrambled to her feet and bowed. "I was just keeping Princess Kaiya company. She told me about your secret plan."

It's not a secret if you're spreading it around, is it?

Kass gave me a wicked smile, and I realised that she knew she'd wound me up.

In any case, I was being hypocritical. "I was just coming to discuss that with you, Semyaza. I know it is not my decision to make, but I could use your advice anyway."

"I think it's a good idea," she said. "We have already lost too many soldiers in our battles against Nohr. Regardless of whether or not King Garon is a demon, we'll be luring him into a trap where we can end him, and so end the war. I also trust Princess Kaiya's belief that Prince Xander will return the throne to us."

I watched them carefully. "Have you had a long discussion about Xander, then?"

"We've been talking about our loves," Kass said.

Semyaza blushed. "P-Princess Kaiya --"

Kass coloured herself, looking down. "My apologies. I'll keep it between us. As you will mine, I hope?"

Semyaza nodded and escaped from the tent.

I tried to maintain a neutral expression, but my heart fell like a stone. "Our loves? Who does Semyaza love?"

"Did you or did you not just hear me promise her that I would tell no one?"

"She's my retainer, Kassandra. Who does she love?"

Kass' lip curled. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Please." I hesitated. "I -- I care for her. Deeply."

"I can tell. You are, after all, my twin brother. As am I now your dirty little prisoner." She turned her face away. "Go and get your love advice from someone else."

***

Kass and I spoke no more on our journey to Castle Shirasagi. Ryoma gave no further indication of his thoughts on her plan, either, and by the time we arrived a few days later, I was in a terrible mood and full of suspense.

As darkness fell, my hopes fell with it. The Nohrians were coming, and I doubted that King Garon would wait until daylight before he struck. Time was of the essence.

When we entered the castle, Ryoma ordered Kaze and Jakob to take Kass to the dungeons for the time being, and sent everyone else to their battle stations. For the rest of us royal siblings and our retainers, that apparently meant the throne room.

I hadn't been in there since the day Mother had died, and the sight of the empty throne brought on a fresh wave of grief. The war and all its horrors had distracted me for a long time, but now the full weight of my sadness was threatening to sink in again.

Hinoka was the first to turn her back on the throne. One by one, the rest of us followed suit.

Kaze and Jakob returned to us, reporting that Kass was safely in a cell and not too happy about it. Ryoma sighed. "At least she won't have to stay in there for long."

We all looked at him.

"I wanted her down there so that she does not escape to find Prince Xander," he said. "But as soon as the Nohrians are spotted, I'll be bringing her back in to see to King Garon's demise. We will follow her plan. Too many lives have been lost in this war, and it's high time that it was ended -- by whatever means necessary." He met my gaze.

"You know I agree," I said. "Thank you."

He lowered his voice. "No, thank you. Without you at my side during these last few months, we may not have had the chance to take Kaiya, and I may not have listened to her plan. You are the reason why so many lives will be spared today."

***

Half an hour later, the Nohrians were sighted. Ryoma ordered for our gates to be opened and sent a messenger out to meet the army, offering cooperation in return for us Hoshidans keeping our lives.

The messenger was gone for so long that I feared King Garon had killed him.

But he did return, and he said that our offer had been accepted. None of us knew if King Garon would stick to his word, but at least the Nohrians had been informed that we were laying down our arms.

Ryoma went to the dungeons to fetch Kass himself. We'd agreed that we weren't going to unchain her until we were certain that there would be no surprise slaughtering. She was, unfortunately, our insurance.

The rest of us waited in the throne room. When we were told that the Nohrians had reached the castle, Sakura cried.

I put my arm around her. "No one is going to let the Nohrians hurt you. I promise."

"So that's your new little sister, I take it?"

I looked up. Xander was standing in the doorway with my other Nohrian siblings. His eyes were so dark that they were almost black, and he drew his sword as he strode further in.

I held up my hands. "We're surrendering to Nohr, Xander. There's no need for weapons."

"I know." But still, he came towards me with his sword.

I pushed Sakura away, and Takumi pulled her behind him, acting as a shield. Hinoka tried to step in front of me, but she wasn't quick enough.

Xander shoved the tip of his blade under my chin. Without moving his gaze from mine, he drew Yato and dropped it on the floor. From the corner of my eye, I could see Camilla disarming Hinoka in the same manner.

"Where is she?" Xander's hand locked onto my collar. "Where's Kass?"

"Ryoma's fetching her."

The edge of his sword pressed deeper, cutting my skin. "You're some brother to her."

"Likewise," I said coldly. "I heard you've been having trouble trusting the things she's told you."

His eyes narrowed. "So she's told you what she thinks about my father, too? And you're going to hold the fact that I don't believe such nonsense against me."

"I think the way you treated her hurt."

The weight that suddenly hit me knocked the wind out of my lungs, and I found myself being slammed against the wall. Xander towered over me. "I hurt her? You took her from us by force!"

"Hey!" Hinoka yelled. "Leave my brother alone!"

I heard her step forwards, but the sound abruptly stopped again. Camilla tutted. "Stay still. You wouldn't want me to accidentally slip and cut your throat, would you? Norton would be devastated if I killed his new sister."

"Xander." Azura approached us slowly. "We're only supposed to be disarming them. King Garon will be here any minute."

Elise drifted after her. "Yeah! We love Kass, but Norton just took Kass because he loves her too, right?"

"No," Xander growled. His grip on my collar tightened, choking me. "I thought you'd killed her."

He drew back and raised his sword.

"Xander!" Elise ran forwards. "Don't!"

He swung.

I could see that he was aiming for my breastplate. Only I could see that he was aiming for my breastplate.

Elise dived between us.