08 - SCARLET NIGHT : THE SECRET KINGDOM

Meanwhile, back in the Kagayaku archives, Princess Hana and Kazuki crouched behind a large pillar, their breathing shallow as they observed the guards stationed at the entrance.

The dim light from the torches cast flickering shadows across the walls, making it even harder to stay hidden.

"What should we do, Kazuki?" Hana whispered, her voice tinged with worry. She glanced at Kazuki, her eyes searching his face for a solution.

Kazuki furrowed his brow, studying the guards carefully. "There are too many of them, and they're not moving. We'll need a distraction," he murmured.

Hana tilted her head. "A distraction? Like what?"

He gave her a small smirk, the kind he reserved for moments when he was about to do something reckless. "Wait here and stay hidden. I'll lure them away."

Her eyes widened in alarm. "Kazuki, that's too risky! If they catch you—"

"They won't," he assured her, cutting her off. "Trust me, Princess. I've handled worse."

Before she could protest further, Kazuki slipped away, his movements silent and precise. Hana pressed herself against the cold stone wall, her heart pounding as she watched him disappear into the shadows.

Moments later, a loud clattering noise echoed from down the corridor. It sounded like a stack of armor hitting the ground. The guards immediately perked up, exchanging glances before rushing off in the direction of the sound.

"Who's there?!" one of them called out, their voices growing fainter as they moved further away.

Hana let out a shaky breath, her fingers gripping the edge of her cloak. Kazuki had created the perfect distraction. Now it was her turn.

She darted toward the entrance, her footsteps light as she slipped past the now-empty doorway. Inside the archives, rows upon rows of ancient scrolls and books stretched as far as the eye could see. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment, and the dim glow of lanterns cast an eerie light over the room.

Hana scanned the room quickly, her mind racing. "Where would Father hide something so important?" she muttered to herself.

She began searching, her fingers brushing over the spines of books and the edges of scroll cases. But time was running out—Kazuki couldn't hold off the guards forever. She needed to find something, anything, that could shed light on the mystery of the scarlet moon.

Just as she was about to give up, her eyes landed on a locked chest tucked away in a corner, partially hidden behind a shelf. Her pulse quickened. "That has to be it," she whispered.

Now, she just needed a way to open it.

Hana knelt before the locked chest, her hands trembling as she inspected the intricate lock. It was old, with a design of intertwining vines and a crescent moon etched into the metal. She could tell immediately that it wasn't an ordinary lock; this chest was meant to protect something truly significant.

Her fingers brushed over the surface, searching for any weaknesses. "How am I supposed to open this?" she muttered under her breath. She glanced around the archives, hoping to find something she could use as a tool.

Suddenly, a faint sound reached her ears—the unmistakable clink of armor. Her heart skipped a beat. *The guards are coming back.*

Her mind raced. She didn't have time to search for a key or figure out how to pick the lock. Desperation took over as she grabbed a small brass candlestick from a nearby table. She wedged it into the lock, trying to force it open.

"Come on, come on," she whispered urgently, her hands shaking.

The lock didn't budge, and the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. Panic began to set in. If she got caught, not only would she be in trouble, but Kazuki would also suffer for helping her.

Suddenly, she heard a soft voice behind her. "Need some help, Princess?"

She whirled around, her eyes wide. Kazuki stood there, a smirk on his face and a key dangling from his fingers.

"How did you—"

"No time," he interrupted, stepping forward and kneeling beside her. "Let's just say I know where your father keeps his spare keys."

He inserted the key into the lock, and with a quiet *click*, the chest opened. Inside lay a collection of ancient scrolls, each bound with crimson ribbons.

At the very top was a small, leather-bound book, its cover embossed with the same crescent moon symbol as the lock.

Hana reached for the book, her fingers trembling as she lifted it out of the chest. She flipped it open, her eyes scanning the delicate handwriting inside.

As she read, her breath caught in her throat. The words confirmed her worst fears:

*The scarlet moon binds the fates of Kagayaku and Arashihara. Should the balance be disrupted, the kingdoms will fall into chaos.*

Her eyes darted to a page marked with a faded sketch of a blood-red moon. Below it, a single sentence was written in bold, ominous letters that seems to be in a different language:

Her eyes narrowed as she tried to make sense of the foreign script. The letters were curved and flowing, almost like they had been written by the wind itself.

She traced the symbols with her finger, feeling a strange pull, as if the words were calling out to her.

"Kazuki," she whispered, her voice trembling. "This… this isn't just any language. It feels… ancient."

Kazuki leaned closer, peering at the text. "It doesn't look like anything I've ever seen. Could it be Arashihara's script?"

Hana shook her head. "No, it's something older. I can feel it. But why would this book have something neither kingdom recognizes?"

Kazuki frowned, his brows furrowed in thought. "Maybe it's a key. Something only someone tied to both kingdoms can decipher."

Hana froze, the weight of his words settling over her. "Tied to both kingdoms…" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper. She thought of the strange connection she felt during her visit to Arashihara—the lingering stares, the tension in the air. Could there be more to her lineage than she had been told?

She flipped through the pages, searching for any hint of a translation. Then, near the back of the book, she found a small, folded piece of parchment tucked between the pages.

Carefully, she unfolded it, revealing a faintly drawn map with a circle marking a location deep within the borderlands between Kagayaku and Arashihara.

"Kazuki, look," she said, pointing to the map. "This… this must lead to something. Maybe a place where we can find answers."

Kazuki studied the map, his expression grim. "The borderlands are dangerous, Princess. If this is connected to the scarlet moon, it's bound to be heavily guarded—or worse, cursed."

Hana's jaw tightened, determination flaring in her eyes. "Then I have no choice. I need to go there. I have to find out what's really happening before it's too late."

Kazuki hesitated, torn between his duty to protect her and his loyalty to her cause. Finally, he nodded. "If this is what you've decided, I'll follow you, Princess. But we must be careful. Whatever this is, it's bigger than both of us."

As they folded the map and secured the book, the faint glow of the scarlet moon began to rise outside the window, casting an eerie light across the room.

The weight of their mission was heavy, but Hana knew there was no turning back now.

In a whisper, Hana asked, "Kazuki, do you think the princes are also looking for the truth about both kingdoms?"

Kazuki glanced at her as they tiptoed toward the exit of the archives. "It's possible," he replied quietly. "They must have noticed the tension between the kingdoms too. If they're anything like you, they won't sit idly by without answers."

Hana bit her lip, her mind drifting to the encounters she had with the princes during the festival. Each of them had seemed to carry a quiet curiosity, as if they, too, were searching for something.

As they reached the door, they paused, listening for any movement outside. To their relief, there were no guards in sight. Hana let out a soft sigh. "If they are searching," she murmured, "then we may not be the only ones in danger. The truth could affect them just as much as it will us."

Kazuki placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure it out, Princess. But first, we need to get back to your room before anyone notices we're gone."

Hana nodded, clutching the map and book tightly to her chest. With the scarlet moonlight guiding their way, they slipped into the shadows of the palace, each step bringing them closer to uncovering the hidden truths that connected Kagayaku and Arashihara—and to the destiny that awaited them all.

Meanwhile, back in Arashihara, inside the chambers of the princes...

"Have you ever wondered if the princess is also searching for the truth?" Ryuu asked, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His voice cut through the quiet focus in the room, where his brothers were busy scanning the scrolls and planning their next strategy.

Yuji, seated at the center of the room, didn't look up as he replied, "It's possible. If she's anything like her reputation suggests, she's not someone who'd sit idly by when something feels off."

Haru, perched on the edge of a nearby table, smirked. "It wouldn't surprise me. She didn't strike me as the obedient, sheltered princess type at the festival."

Daichi, who had been studying the faded map on the desk, finally looked up. "If she's searching for the truth, then she's walking a dangerous path. The secrets we're uncovering aren't just about the kingdoms—they're about power, alliances, and sacrifices. Things she might not be prepared to face."

Ryuu shrugged, moving closer to the table. "And yet, if she's as brave as she seemed, maybe she's more prepared than we think."

Isamu, silent until now, leaned back in his chair. "Whether she's searching or not doesn't change our mission. The truth about the scarlet moon is vital to both our kingdom's survival and hers. We need to focus."

Satoru, standing by the window and gazing out at the scarlet moonlight bathing the castle, added, "If she is searching for answers, it's only a matter of time before our paths cross again. And when they do, we need to be ready—for anything."

The brothers nodded in agreement, their collective resolve strengthening. They returned to their tasks, piecing together fragments of the ancient language and forming a plan to uncover the truth before it was too late.

"Let's not underestimate her," Yuji finally said, breaking the silence. "If the princess is indeed searching for the truth, she may be the key to uncovering what lies beneath the scarlet moon."

The room fell into a quiet determination, the princes united in their purpose. Outside, the scarlet moon loomed larger than ever, a harbinger of the revelations and challenges that lay ahead.

"Maybe she is the key to this new heir thing," Kazu said, his arms crossed as he leaned back against the wall. His words hung heavily in the air, drawing the attention of his brothers.

Yuji looked up from the scrolls, his brows furrowed in thought. "The new heir... it's mentioned so vaguely in the texts. A prophecy tied to the scarlet moon, but the details are fragmented. Do you really think she's connected to it?"

Ryuu nodded, leaning closer to the table where the scrolls were spread out. "It's possible. The festival wasn't just a celebration—it was symbolic. Her presence might not have been mere coincidence. If the scarlet moon binds the fates of our kingdoms, then she could be part of that balance."

Haru, ever the skeptic, scoffed. "Or maybe we're just reading too much into this. A princess sneaking around doesn't make her a savior or the key to some ancient prophecy."

Daichi glanced up from the map he was studying. "It's not just about her actions, Haru. It's about her lineage, her ties to Kagayaku, and the secrets her kingdom has guarded for centuries. If she's unraveling those secrets, it could mean something far bigger than we realize."

Kazu tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Either way, if she's involved, we'll need to figure out her role in all of this. The scarlet moon doesn't just appear for no reason. And neither does the mention of a 'new heir.'"

Satoru, still gazing out the window, finally spoke. His voice was calm but laced with concern. "If she is the key, then she's in more danger than she probably realizes. Both kingdoms will want to use her for their own gain—or silence her before she uncovers too much."

The room fell silent at his words, the weight of the situation settling over them.

Yuji broke the tension, his voice firm. "If she's part of this, then we need to ensure she's not a pawn in someone else's game. The scarlet moon ties us all together—our kingdoms, our people, and now, perhaps, even her. We'll keep digging, but we need to tread carefully."

Meanwhile, back in Kagayaku, Kazuki and Princess Hana were safely tucked away inside her chambers. The tension from their daring escapade into the archives lingered in the air, but they knew there was no time to dwell on it. Spread out before them was the mysterious scroll they had taken, along with the ancient translation book Hana had found hidden with the map.

Hana traced her fingers over the faded script, her brow furrowed in concentration. "This language is so intricate, almost poetic," she murmured. "No wonder Father keeps these things hidden. The secrets they hold…"

Kazuki sat across from her, flipping through the translation book, his expression as focused as hers. "If this scroll is as important as it seems, it could explain why both kingdoms are so guarded about the scarlet moon and the balance it represents."

Hana nodded, her eyes scanning the words as they worked together to decipher the cryptic text. "This part here," she said, pointing to a line. "It mentions the 'heir of dual bloodlines.'"

Kazuki's gaze snapped to hers. "Dual bloodlines? Could that mean…?"

"It has to mean someone tied to both kingdoms," Hana whispered, her mind racing. "But who? There's no record of any union between our royal families. At least, none that I know of."

Kazuki frowned, flipping to another page in the translation book. "It could be a metaphor. Or…" He hesitated, his voice lowering. "It could be part of the secret your parents are hiding."

Hana's heart sank at his words. She hated the thought of her family withholding something so vital. "If that's true, then this scroll might hold the answers they've kept from me."

They worked in silence for a while longer, the only sound the rustle of pages and the faint whisper of the wind outside. Finally, Hana spoke again, her voice trembling. "Kazuki, look at this."

She pointed to a section of the scroll they had just translated:

*"When the scarlet moon rises and the heir of dual bloodlines emerges, the balance will tip. Peace will depend on unity, but the path will be shadowed by betrayal and sacrifice."*

Kazuki's jaw tightened. "Shadowed by betrayal and sacrifice? That doesn't sound like peace—it sounds like a warning."

Hana leaned back, her hands trembling as she clutched the scroll. "It means there's more to this prophecy than just balance. If the heir exists, they're both a solution and a threat. Kazuki… what if that's why the kingdoms are so divided? They're afraid of what this heir represents."

Kazuki's expression softened as he reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand on hers. "We'll figure this out, Princess. Whatever this prophecy means, we'll face it together."

Hana met his gaze, her fear giving way to determination. "Thank you, Kazuki. But we'll need more than just the two of us to uncover the truth. If the heir of dual bloodlines is real, then everything about our kingdoms—their history, their alliances, even their feuds—has been a lie."

As the scarlet moon cast its haunting glow through her window, Hana felt the weight of destiny pressing down on her. She knew their journey was far from over, and the truths they sought might shatter everything they held dear.

Kazu nodded, a flicker of determination in his eyes. "Agreed. We'll uncover the truth about the new heir and the scarlet moon, but we'll also keep an eye on her. If she is the key, then protecting her might be the only way to save both kingdoms."

The brothers shared a silent understanding, their resolve deepening as the scarlet moon continued to cast its ominous glow over the land.