Heir 9

Disclaimers and warnings on previous chapters.

This POV is slightly different from the ones I’ve been doing… instead of it being first person PRESENT, it’s first person PAST… but then again, how many people would honestly have noticed?

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I walked hurriedly to Lady Po’s chambers in the castle. As much as I hate to admit it, the onna knows about healing magic, the likes of which I have never seen until I came to this country. I know my king sent the slave girl there and I have to go see her. I honestly didn’t know what she was! I guess I should start at the beginning of the tale.

<Flashback>

I was being sent away from the castle during the whole “Claiming of Shinigami” nonsense this country holds as tradition and I had acquired lodging in a local tavern in the outskirts of town. It was a pretty classy place as far as these places go since it was run by a reasonable wealthy lord by the name Tsuberov. It was evening when I happened upon a young lady. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, and the only one of my homeland I had laid eyes on since I was sent to this awful country. She took my breath away the instant her beautiful ebony eyes met mine.

I’ve never been one for poetry and finesse. I’ve always been taught the ways of warriors and the like. What use does a blade-master have for such frivolities? At that moment, though, I sincerely wished I would have read some of the novels Quatre- the romantic among us- had suggested.

The days passed and I was still not allowed into the castle. I was banished for a week from the day of my departure. Still, I did not waste those days, I spent them talking to the fiery young woman that worked at the tavern. I soon came to learn her name was Meiran Ming and had come to this country a long time ago. Somehow, the name sounded a little familiar, but since I came here when I was but a child, I couldn’t be expected to have known all the major families of my country. Besides, a blade master has no place in politics or gossip.

Meiran’s employer seemed to dislike the attention I gave the lady but kept his comments to himself, seeing that I am one of the kings personal advisors and his personal body guard too. Still, I had a feeling something was wrong between employee and employer.

My last night there… I took the lady to bed.

<End Flashback>

I know it was an ungentlemanly act on my part, but I was going to go back for her. I was going to tell my king what had happened and that I wanted to take a wife, but the Shinigami business got in the way. Now I know she was a slave. A slave! One of my people bound in chains and forced into servitude is downright infuriating. How dare that lowlife put chains of servitude on such a lovely specimen of a proud people? Someone was going to pay!

But for now, I needed to make amends with my goddess.

I entered Lady Po’s chamber after knocking first and given permission to enter. Seated on one of the cots used as an examining table was Meiran. She had tears in her eyes, probably from the shock of almost being put to death… maybe it was because she was scared of the Shinigami who brought her here. Maybe she…

She looked up at me sharply as I closed the door.

“Lady Po, may I please have a private word with Lady Ming, here?”

Lady Po gave me a curious look, arching an eyebrow but nodded. She left the room and closed the door with a little click, but not before telling me (very sternly, I might add) not to agitate her patient.

“Meiran…”

“You left me, Wufei, and now I learn that you lied to me! You didn‘t tell me you were the king’s body guard! ”

“I lied no more than you did, and I was making preparations to bring you here. You never told me you were a slave-”

“You didn’t ask!”

“Neither did you!”

She seemed to quiet a bit after that. Her shoulders slumped as she looked at her folded hands on her lap.

“I didn’t want you to know that I was a slave…” Meiran whispered in a broken voice, new tears sprang from her eyes.

I went to sit next to her and put an arm around her. “Don’t cry, Beautiful. I’m here for you.”

“I would not dishonor you… I am a slave, I have no place in the life of a man like you.”

“You would not dishonor me in any way if you would marry me.” I get down on one knee in front of her and place a ring I had made just for her on her finger. It was crafted by the best jeweler in the kingdom. It was a plain band of gold with a little dragon etched onto its surface, a single ruby eye its only adornment.

She looked at me hard, as if trying to figure something out inside her head.

“Would my refusal bring you dishonor… My lord?” She’s taken up titles. This doesn’t bode well.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because if you refused, I would fail as a father… and it would tarnish your name.” I answered honestly.

“Father?…You would be my baby’s father?”

“Is it not mine?” I’m not sure I like where this is going. I thought the baby was for sure mine unless she’s been bedded by others.

“Yes…but I didn’t think you’d acknowledge it.”

“My lady, you do me ill justice to suggest such a thing!” I give her a little smile when she looks afraid that I have been offended. I would have been offended, but the relief that she was untouched by any other man overrode my indignation.

She smiled at me and I sat with her again. I wrapped my arms around her body to try to soothe her. She was still afraid, I could tell. I tilted her chin up slightly and kissed her perfect red lips.

“Don’t fear love. You won’t ever have to be afraid like that again.”

“Thank you, Wufei.”