76. Kitaro

Chapter 76

Kitaro

P erhaps it was foolish, but Kitaro sought Mitsuki the next day to talk.

"Come here to gloat?" Mitsuki asked in a dour tone but stepped back to let Kitaro enter his room. Everything was decorated in black, giving the enormous suite a drab appearance despite the luxurious furnishings.

"No, but I wish to speak to you about Father's decision about the Coming of Heir ceremony." Kitaro took a seat on the couch across from Mitsuki's chair. "I wanted to make it crystal clear to you that while Father sees me as being part of the succession line, I have no interest in challenging your position."

"Bullshit. You obviously think you would be a better king than me."

Kitaro tried to find a tactful response without lying. "I believe you care more for personal glory and conquest than for the good of your people. Father does both, though. I hope that one day you too may come to find that same balance, when you sit on the throne someday."

Mitsuki rolled his eyes. "How diplomatic of you."

"I do not wish for this to become a matter of contention between us," Kitaro insisted. "This is entirely Father's decision. You know I have never been interested in staking a claim on the throne. I have no desire to be king."

"So you say."

Kitaro frowned with frustration. "You can smell I am telling the truth. Ruling has never interested me. I am content with my smaller, supporting role. I do not wish to challenge your legitimate claim as heir to the crown."

"For now."

"Forever," Kitaro insisted. "I have no interest in such heavy responsibilities. We both know I am ill-suited for it. I do not have the same thirst for power that you and Father share nor any interest in expanding Valzerna's borders."

Mitsuki scoffed. "That is why I have no idea why Father has come up with this ridiculous idea of naming you second in line to the throne."

"I am no threat to you." Kitaro needed his oldest brother to believe him. The last thing he wanted was Mitsuki growing paranoid and attacking him to get rid of the threat of usurping. "I wish the air to be clear between us. You have nothing to fear from me."

"Yes, I am sure you are too busy with your precious Vanra to care for matters of state." Mitsuki gave Kitaro a disgusted look as he flexed his scarred hand. "Pathetic."

"You are not wrong. All I care about is building a life with Vanra. The throne and all its responsibilities fall squarely to you. I have no desire to challenge your claim to your birthright."

"Then we have no problems." Mitsuki waved Kitaro away. "You are dismissed."

Kitaro stood with a formal bow. "Thank you for hearing me out. I feel better knowing we are on the same page about this matter."

Mitsuki said nothing as Kitaro left. When he passed Kizoshi's room, she opened the door and gestured for him to join her.

"Were you trying to do damage control?" Kizoshi asked as they settled in her sitting room.

"I do not want Mitsuki thinking that I have any interest in being heir to a throne I do not covet. The odds of his paranoia making me a target of his wrath are too high. I owed it to us both to set him straight." Kitaro wasn't sure how successful he had been, though. "I wish to live a quiet life with Vanra. I need nothing else so long as I have him."

"For your sake, I hope Mitsuki is wise enough to listen."

Kitaro hesitated before asking a question he wasn't sure he wanted answered. "Is Father's change of plans for me part of fate?"

"That is why you had to fight in the war. Everything is going according to fate's plan."

"Then why do I have an ominous feeling that something bad is waiting around the corner?" It had been plaguing him since fighting on the war front.

"All will be as it is meant to be."

He frowned. "I do not know if that makes me feel better or worse."

"Trust in your love for Vanra. You will have all you need."

Kitaro wrapped her words protectively around his heart. "I hope you are right."

She grinned at him. "When am I ever wrong?"

"Fair."

"For what it is worth, I truly am happy for you claiming Vanra as your intended," she said. "Vanra is a good man who will bring you happiness beyond your wildest dreams."

That brought a smile to Kitaro's face. "He has already given me so much. I can only hope I have given him even a fraction as much joy."

"You have given him the gift of adoration and saved him from an unspeakable hell. His affection for you will be eternal, fear not. It will lead you to the greatest love of all."

"How could it lead me to the greatest love of all when that is what Vanra is for me?" It didn't make sense to Kitaro. But it brought a memory from many months ago to the forefront of his mind. "Does this have to do with Father's claims that members of the Ariake clan are never satisfied with a single partner?"

"Would that be so bad?"

Kitaro hated it when Kizoshi answered his question with a more cryptic one. "I will never betray Vanra's love for me by straying from him. I will never be like our philandering father in that regard."

"Yes, you are too honorable for that," Kizoshi agreed. But the victory felt too easy.

"What are you not telling me?"

She shrugged. "Love can find you in the most unexpected of ways."

Kitaro got a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Are you implying that I will lose Vanra when he goes back in his time and fall in love with another?"

"Not at all. But love is a force greater than ourselves. If anyone deserves to be loved by many, it is you."

Kitaro still felt uneasy. "It seems as if there is something you are not saying."

"One day, we will have the talk you need about love in all its many forms."

Kitaro's brow furrowed. What was that supposed to mean?