Seeing this man here of all places, Miyako couldn't help but feel cautious. Never could she ever imagine that she would ever meet him here again of all places. Could he be following them? No, his actions just now didn't seem to indicate that. And he was wearing a different outfit now, like a simple combat outfit of a warrior. Could he be a soldier in this place?

He, too, seemed to be genuinely surprised at seeing her, so it was likely he didn't expect her to be here at all.

"Oh, so you two are really important." He nodded as if he had found the answer. "Are you a representative of an island?" He asked Miyako.

"... Yes."

"Woah. Are you a lord?"

"... No, I came here on behalf of my father."

He seemed calm despite knowing who Miyako was. The other staff become anxious just by interacting with her or just walking by. So, it was strange that he reacted this way. There must be something more to this man.

He smiled. "Oh, as I thought. Nishinoa, right?" He realized precisely which island she was from.

"Y-Yes."

Miyako sensed Satomi's eyes grew sharper from behind her. Like Miyako, she was wary of this man. However, like a skilled warrior, the man sensed the increasing tension. He quickly waved his hands.

"There's no need to be so uptight. I don't intend any of you harm. It's not my business, anyway."

"Not your business…?" Miyako wondered what he meant by that.

"Meaning it's not really my responsibility to deal with serious matters that involve you. Besides, while here, you being harmed will not be tolerated."

"Uh-huh…"

He still had that kind and friendly smile on his face. Which was pretty bizarre to Miyako. So far, most of those she had met in this land were dangerous people, enemies. Especially in this enemy territory, this kind of friendly treatment was something you'd never expect. And it was quite refreshing.

"Ah, I should introduce myself—" He suddenly turned towards where he came from. "Oops. Before that, I'm gonna need a little help." He chuckled dryly. "Just tell the man I went that way." He pointed in a particular direction. "Please…?"

"... Are you not some kind of criminal?" Miyako couldn't help but ask.

He briefly laughed. "That's funny. But no, he just wants me to train, and I don't want to. Anyway, a little help, please? Thank you." Before receiving her answer, he quickly ran into the garden and hid behind the trees.

Miyako and Satomi glanced at each other, baffled and surprised at what just happened.

It was then that a lone man came in with rushing steps. He appeared to be a warrior as well.

"My lord! Please come back! You can't skip training this time— and he's not here." He let out a sigh. He approached the two ladies. "Pardon me, my ladies. May I ask if you found a young man that went past here?"

"Eh-um." Miyako quickly mulled her brain if she wanted to do this and help that young man. "W-Why? Is he dangerous?"

"Oh no, he's not. He's just a young lord that needs to do his training."

A young lord…?

"I-I see." Upon discovering that he was indeed not a dangerous person, Miyako decided that it would be fine to help him. "He ran through there." She pointed along the corridor further ahead.

"I see. Thank you so much for the help." He bowed deeply before rushing through the corridor.

A moment later, he was gone from sight. The young man emerged from his hiding spot and rushed to Miyako's side with a wide smile.

"Thank you so much for the help! He just wouldn't give up." He chuckled.

He may take it casually, but Miyako was taking it a little seriously. She just lied on someone's behalf after all. "Who are you really?"

"Yes, you could say we are kind of equals. Well, not exactly on this occasion. But basically the same. I am Yuki Naganori." At that, Miyako instantly knew who he was. "I am the son of Hokunoa's lord." He extended a hand. "Nice to meet you."

Eeeh?!

Miyako was utterly shocked, speechless at the discovery. Never could she ever imagine that the second most important person on this island would meet her like this. This wasn't even how it should go.

"I'm Miyako Taira." Miyako kept her composure and shook hands with him.

"Hehe, finally we are introduced properly."

"... You should have started with that."

"Sorry, sorry." He scratched the back of his head. "Well, when I introduce who I am, everyone starts treating me differently. I, I hope this doesn't change how you treat me."

I don't even know how to treat you right now.

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"... We should be treated befit our station."

"I know…" He faced the garden with a frustrated expression. "But it's annoying."

"... Annoying?" Miyako didn't expect she would hear such a thing from a lord's son.

"With my status, I can't make real friends."

Miyako was baffled. This person was strange. "You can still make friends despite your status."

"And how real will that be?" He let out a sigh and shook his head. "In the end, they'll still treat me like their superior, and many of them will only approach me for their own benefit. Do you not face the same troubles?"

It seems there is a difference in culture after all.

"I have a few friends in my circle. We treat each other well, despite our different status." Miyako glanced at Satomi with a smile.

"... How?"

"How? Inside work and outside are different. True that they may still address me respectfully, but there are still casual banters." Miyako briefly chuckled.

Yuki seemed to find it incomprehensible. "How do you know it's all real?"

"... You just know it."

She may have only limited friends because of her status, but still, they were genuine. You would know by how you treat each other. Teasings, laughs, how open you get to be.

"Well, my friends are all at the castle. But still, it's not bad." Miyako chuckled.

"I see." He stared back at the garden. "That is interesting. I dislike making friends here at the castle. Everyone has an ulterior motive. And it's frustrating. But I'm glad to finally meet someone who's my equal. Even though we are from different islands!"

He isn't so bad.

Miyako smiled slightly. "So, why are you running away from your trainer?"

He casually shrugged. "I just don't want to. Training has to be daily, and repeating the same thing over and over again is tiresome. Can't we just enjoy the idleness of life?"

Miyako found it a bit hard to understand him. He was the son of the lord, the only child, in fact. As such, like Miyako as the daughter, they had their responsibilities to fulfill. And one of them was to train to become stronger. Who would follow a weak leader?

"Training is necessary, isn't it?"

"Of course. But there are times that you're just overdoing it at that point."

"Is that so?" Miyako was not sure if she agreed with that.

"Besides, there's more to life than training and preparation for the future." He turned his head and looked into Miyako's eyes. "The present. It wouldn't hurt to live a little, right?"

"... Huh." Was he perhaps the kind of person who would rather do something he enjoyed? And would do everything to get it? "Is that why you were outside with no guards?"

He awkwardly laughed. "Please don't tell anyone about that."

"They do not know?"

"I sneak out."

How do you even sneak out here without being noticed?

"Why go out at all?"

"... Sometimes going outside feels so liberating, you know. No responsibilities, no fakes, no tension, no manipulations, no games. Just normal things." He smiled. "It's fun sometimes, experiencing the very city we're supposed to prosper."

Miyako had never thought of it that way. Whenever she went outside, she didn't need to sneak out. Her presence would always be announced, and she would at least have one security at her side.

"You often do that?"

"Yup."

"Were you pleased with what you've seen and experienced?"

"There are some problems. But most of it was good."

"So you just go out there, walk around? And sometimes help people in need?"

"Of course. What's the purpose of my strength if I don't use it? There are plenty of bullies out there. And people that desperately need help."

"Hm. You are not what I expected."

"And you're friendlier than I thought…"

Miyako averted her eyes, feeling a bit shy after that statement.

"By the way, I heard you got ambushed," he said. "How lucky that you survived."

"... Yes."

"Please be assured, I'm certain that it is not our doing."

Hearing it from him instead of his father seemed more trustworthy. But Miyako still hadn't completely made up her mind.

"Is that so? Then that is a relief."

"Only the two of you survived. How'd you manage to do that?"

"We fled, and then we had help." It was no different from what she had said to his father. It was best that Miyako wouldn't be specific about Estelia. She wouldn't want to trouble her. And who knows what she might do if these people bothered her.

"Huh. The help must be quite strong to save you from danger. Anyhow, what's important is that you're here to fulfill your task. Tomorrow, you'll sit at the big table and talk with the other lords."

"Yes."

"Nervous?" He grinned teasingly.

Miyako wryly smiled. "What do you think?"

"Hehe. The other lords are dangerous and mischievous. We have the unruly doer of patricide. And a strange… woman, one who looks so empty."

Miyako had met the other, but the woman — he must be referring to the lord of the southern island. "Empty?"

"I met her once… There's just nothing in her eyes. Not a trace of emotion whatsoever. Like she's just tired of everything, and just wants to die. Guess that's what happens when you border the demon land."

Miyako didn't know about the situation on the island to the south. But she knew that there was no outright conflict, or war with the demons at all. So she couldn't think of why their lord would be so empty — or perhaps depressed. Unless there was indeed some fighting beneath the surface.

Miyako couldn't help but think back on the demon they encountered at the bandit fortress. One that served as the leader of those bandits.

"You should be careful around them, Miyako. And to be honest, to them… you are a little animal ripe to be devoured."

Miyako clenched her fists. "That's not something you need to worry about."

He smirked. "Of course." He faced the garden. "Did you find this garden strange?"

Miyako stared at the dead garden. "Yes."

"There's no point in nurturing them, right? In the end, they die. Or, local plants cannot survive, no matter what we do. This garden is nothing more but an experiment."

"Why do this at all?"

"... It's my father's doing. I don't know why, but he must be hoping that something will change. That perhaps… we might find a way to beat this curse on our land."

"Curse, huh? Indeed, a curse."

"There was a story that there was once a goddess that cursed our archipelago."

"Goddess?"

"Once, our lands full of green, with the most delicious of fruits and the brightest vegetables, were stripped of their vigor. No one knew the reason, but it was believed it's some sort of punishment. But it's not mentioned what offense was done."

"... Is that not only a myth?"

"Perhaps… People do love making up stories to justify their circumstances. But maybe there is hope, you know." He smiled. "Maybe when your business tomorrow is done, might I show you something?"

"... Is it safe?"

He casually shook his hand. "Now, now. Don't be cautious. Trust me, you might get interested. You can bring your guard if you want."

"... Is that so?"

"Of course only if you want to see it."

It was then that the man searching for him suddenly arrived. "There you are, my lord!"

Yuki was surprised. "Ah! I got distracted!"

The man grabbed Yuki by the shoulder. "Please do not try to escape again." He started pulling Yuki away.

"Fine!" He then looked at Miyako. "Thanks for the delightful conversation, Miyako! Until next time."

And then, there he went. Now it was only Satomi and Miyako that remained.

"Milady, you shouldn't act so friendly with that man. He might be dangerous."

"... Really? He doesn't seem bad."

"Be that as it may, we are not here to make personal friendships with the son of a potential enemy."

"... I suppose. But haven't we had enough conflict? Perhaps a change of pace might shift things around, don't you think?"

"Hm…" She lowered her head with a frown.

"... Perhaps we can build trust."

Miyako recalled the advice that Estelia had given her. But there might be hope for change. One that might bring a good change in the long term.

Still, it was breaking Estelia's advice.

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