“Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don’t go along with that. The memories I value most, I don’t ever see them fading.” — Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go

  ???

  Yulia and Rowan walked in silence as they made their way towards the Academy’s gardens at the back, where the Gardening Club maintained the flora and fauna that was the pride and joy of the Imperial Officers Academy. The gardens were especially beautiful during spring and autumn.

  On nice days, it wasn’t unusual to see students strolling through the paths, enjoying the blooms, or even bringing their books to study at the various seating areas scattered throughout. The gazebo in the gardens was a popular date spot for couples, even.

  With today being the last day of midterms, Yulia hadn’t expected anyone to be in the gardens, as most students would be heading into town to celebrate.

  “Do you think the Crown Prince will finally listen?” Rowan asked, breaking the silence as they walked through the sunlit corridor. The golden light streamed in through the windows, casting warm light on the floors.

  “He has to,” Yulia murmured, her brows furrowed. “The situation in the kingdom had escalated to such a point that if Rem continues ignoring it or living in ignorance, it is going to backfire on him. Even the Ten Great Houses are at the end of our rope.”

  Rowan nodded slowly. “Let’s hope Hunt and Curnow can make sure the prince actually listens, then,” he murmured. “Because I don’t want to think of the alternative.”

  They stepped through the open doorway and into the Academy’s gardens, where tall hedges and blooming flowers greeted them. A fish or two leapt out of the pond, sunlight gleaming off their scales.

  Yulia and Rowan made their way toward the gazebo in the corner of the garden, their boots tapping lightly on the stone pathway. Green vines laced with pink and white blossoms curled around the columns.

  Beneath the gazebo’s roof sat Kaela Merrin, her shoulders nearly hunched over as she held a cold drink cradled in between her hands. Her shoulders were trembling, but no tears fell. Felix and Elias sat across her, exchanging helpless looks, but not quite knowing what to say. Gale leaned against one of the columns, his arms folded across his chest, looking at Kaela with concern.

  None of them said anything.

  Gale looked up as Yulia and Rowan approached. “Yulia,” he murmured.

  Yulia nodded back, her eyes concerned as she looked at Kaela, but the other girl didn’t move. She didn’t even speak. Her eyes were fixed on the tankard in her hands like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

  Felix looked at Yulia and Rowan. “How angry is the prince?” he asked. “Or Hunt?”

  Yulia sighed, exchanging looks with Rowan, who shrugged. “I didn’t stay around to find out,” she admitted. “I told Leighton Curnow and Nathan Hunt to tell the prince everything. He listens to them better than he does with me or Lord Merren.” Her jaw tightened. “His…ignorance isn’t an excuse anymore. Not with the current state of affairs.”

  Felix gritted his teeth tightly. “It never was,” he said grimly. Then, he sighed, looking from face to face. “You’re going to find out, anyway, so I’ll tell you what happened last week. And why Lord Kael summoned us both.” His eyes flickered towards Kaela. She remained silent, but her shoulders tensed. “There was another skirmish last week, but on a higher scale than the usual ones. Half of the garrisons were deployed as a result. However, three villages were wiped out.” Felix paused, his eyes flickering towards Kaela again. “Greyhollow. Blackridge. And… Caer Morden.”

  Rowan stiffened. “Caer Morden?” he echoed, and Felix nodded grimly. His eyes flickered towards Kaela. “Wasn’t that…?” His voice trailed off, but everyone heard the unspoken sentence.

  “Kaela’s hometown, yes,” Felix confirmed. “Her brother and father led one of the garrisons sent to defend it when the call for help went out. Fifty raiders, according to one of the survivors.”

  “Fifty?!” Gale choked.

  “The garrison killed half the raiders, and the other half were mortally wounded,” Felix revealed. “But our side didn’t get away without casualties either. A quarter of our soldiers were killed, including Captain Simeon Merrin. Kaela’s brother.” His voice softened. “Half of the survivors were seriously injured. Lord Kael requested help from Lady Rovaryn. Doctors were already tending to the wounded when we got home. The only blessing in this entire affair is that no civilians were killed. But they effectively lost their homes. Right now, they’re taking shelter in Drakethorn Keep, in tents and makeshift housing. Thank the Goddess that it’s summer right now, and the weather is pleasant. If it were winter, it would be far worse, and things would only get more complicated.”

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  He sighed, looking at Kaela again. “Kaela’s father, however, was one of the injured ones. Due to the severity of his injuries, he would likely no longer be able to wield a sword again. And this means that his career as a soldier is effectively over.”

  All those present tensed, exchanging looks. For a soldier to lose the use of their sword arm is essentially as good as death for them.

  Yulia moved first, stepping forward to sit next to Kaela. The other girl looked up with red-rimmed eyes, her hands shaking as she cupped the tankard.

  “I heard your mother died two springs ago,” Yulia said gently. “And now your brother, from the Northern Hold attacks…” Her voice faltered, then steadied. “Is Lord Kael helping your family?”

  Kaela nodded, her lips trembling. Her voice, when it came, was raw and worn to the bone. “Lord Kael has done more for us than anyone could have asked,” she admitted, her voice hoarse. “He is helping us however he can, but there’s only so much he can do. He’s a good lord. Always has been. He’s been so good to us since my father joined his forces. He kept us afloat, and even taught my brother how to fight when we were young. He taught me, too.”

  Her tears almost spilled. “I asked him once when I was little. My father was appalled, but Lord Kael only laughed and taught me how to fight dirty. He was so proud the day I managed to defeat Master Lorcan in a spar. He even sponsored me into the Academy.”

  Elias grinned. “Sounds like him,” he admitted, exchanging looks with Gale, who nodded.

  Kaela let out a watery laugh at the memory of simpler days. “Even after my father’s military career was effectively over, Lord Kael refused to let my father leave his service. He offered him a position within his household as his heir’s military advisor. And now, he’s arranging the funerals for all those who have died. Including my brother. Again.” Her voice cracked. “Knowing that he’s still thinking of us… It’s enough. He’s done so much for us. We can’t ask more of him. Not when he already has so much to worry about. He’s stretched thin. All of them are.”

  Kaela wiped her eyes fiercely with the back of her sleeve. Her voice cracked with fury as she spoke again. “That prince… If he’d just done something, anything, my brother and the others wouldn’t be dead! Even my mother… She only died because we couldn’t get the medicine she needed! If he’d just done his Goddess-damned duty as the Crown Prince, my brother would still be alive!”

  No one rebuked her. It is, after all, true.

  Kaela’s voice rose, thick with fury and raw grief. “It’s been years since the war ended! But people are still starving! Half the kingdom are still suffering! How many more must die before he does something?!” She wiped at her eyes. “Caer Morden, Greyhollow, and even Blackridge this time. And I know every Great House has lost at least one village at some point within the last few years, due to the constant raids or famine. Everyone is dying! Whole villages left to rot! Parents burying their children due to starvation or illnesses that we normally could treat! Raiders in the north, pirates in the south, smugglers in the west, and don’t get me started on what’s going on in the east! And he…” Kaela’s voice choked. “What is he even doing?!”

  Yulia exchanged looks with the others. None of them knew what to say.

  Her jaw clenched when she thought of the entire mess and chaos that was Alathia for the last couple of years. The kingdom had been falling apart since the end of the war. Civilians and soldiers alike dropping like flies, dying of things they once could have prevented or treated.

  And Rem…

  Yulia honestly has no idea whether Rem simply refused to hear the truth, or if he knew, and let his people suffer anyway. Yulia sincerely prayed that it was the former. Because if it was the latter, then it means that Alathia had a king better off dead.

  She pressed her lips together, and her hands curled into fists on her legs. “…If Luca were here…” she murmured.

  Gale’s sharp ears caught her muttered words, and he looked at her. “Who’s Luca?” he asked, curious.

  Yulia stiffened. “No one,” she muttered. She then sighed, her eyes turning toward the sky beyond the gazebo’s arches. “As for Rem…” She hesitated. “He’s…trying. But trying isn’t enough when you’re a prince.”

  Yulia doesn’t even believe in what she is saying, and it is apparent from the looks on the faces of the others, Kaela especially, that they all knew it.

  Yulia clasped her hands together. “Back after the war first ended, and Alathia first entered the post-war recovery period, Rem was the one to give Parliament this much power to begin with.” She revealed a piece of information that most of those present weren’t even aware of. Rowan’s eyes widened, while Kaela and Felix exchanged looks. “And to be fair to Rem, he was ten. So it’s understandable. But back then, Lord Merren and I both warned him that giving Parliament as much power as he did… Giving them the power of state was a mistake.” She sighed. “It was a disaster waiting to happen.”

  Kaela snorted. “The Crown Prince not listening to anyone? Gee, how shocking,” she said with heavy sarcasm. But the boys smiled, all of them relieved by even the smallest sign that Kaela was returning to herself. Even Felix smiled.

  “So you did warn him, even right after the war ended, and he was officially recognised as the Crown Prince,” Rowan realised, and Yulia nodded.

  “Rem’s problem is that he’s too trusting. He trusts Parliament too much.” Yulia sighed. “He either isn’t listening to me and Lord Merren when we warned him that politicians couldn’t be fully trusted, or he’s letting Parliament and their honeyed words sway him. I think at this point, even Lord Merren is about to give up on him. I know I am.” Gale and Elias exchanged looks. “Rem isn’t a bad person. I believe that he truly wanted the best for his people. He wanted to be a good king. But there is a difference between wanting to be a good king, and being a good king. Idealism and beliefs don’t fill stomachs. It doesn’t save people. It doesn’t stop people from suffering.”

  Felix let out a rude scoff. “Then maybe we should reconsider who’s sitting on the throne,” he muttered angrily.

  “Yeah, we all said that at one point or another,” Elias admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “My mother never said anything outright. But I know even she’s getting frustrated with Prince Rem. House Rovaryn had been rendering whatever medical aid that we could. But without proper supplies and medicine, there isn’t anything we can do. Even our farmers couldn’t afford the seeds for crops. And it’s only summer!”

  Gale sighed tiredly. “I don’t even want to imagine what it’s going to be like once winter hits,” he muttered.

  Kaela set the tankard down, drawing her legs to her chest. Her eyes were still red, but she seemed to have calmed down, even if it’s because she’s directing her anger at Rem.

  Finally, Rowan spoke. “What do we do?”

  There were looks exchanged between the others. Then, Yulia sighed. “We do what we can,” she said, and there were nods. “That’s what the Great Houses are for. And in light of this recent incident, I wouldn’t be surprised if Lord Kael demands for a Parliament meeting.”

  Kaela gave a bitter laugh. “When Felix and I left the Northern Holds, Lord Kael’s steward and sons were practically wrestling him to stop him from storming the Imperial Palace. I’m not sure how much success they would have at calming him, though. Lord Kael’s temper is legendary. Felix’s father was trying to calm him down, and using every distraction ever known, when we’d left Drakethorn Keep.”

  Felix nodded. “Even my father would have problems with calming Lord Kael down once he snaps,” he admitted. “To be honest, I expected it sooner. Things in the Northern Holds have been bad for years.”

  “Then we do what we can,” Elias said with finality. “With or without permission.” The usually calm Elias looked ready to boil over. “My mother dealt with most of the problems within our lands. But even I’ve seen the way that people are dying all over. The Ten Great Houses are supposed to protect the people. But we can’t do that without the Crown’s support. And if the Imperial Palace won’t give us that…” He trailed.

  Gale nodded. “Then we start moving on our own accord,” he finished. “Knowing my father, he’s probably already planning something. I’ll write to him tonight. Wouldn’t be surprised if I’m called home, though.” He frowned. “If the Crown won’t act, then the rest of us will.”

  Rowan met his gaze. “Even if that means going around Parliament?”

  Yulia nodded. “Especially if it means that.”