Chapter Text
Alors sans avoir rien
Que la force d′aimer
Nous aurons dans nos mains,
Ami, le monde entier.
Suguru was sparring in the training yard when he received the offer that would change the trajectory of his life. He didn’t know it, of course, which is often how fate-altering decisions occur.
“Geto,” his boss called from the doorway. “Got a contract for you. Come to my office.”
The momentary distraction was enough for his sparring partner to land a hit on the side of his head. The bo staff was bamboo and intended for training purposes, but it still caught Suguru by surprise and sent him toppling to the ground.
“Sorry,” Utahime called, not sounding particularly apologetic in the slightest.
Suguru’s lip curled. “Not a problem. Seems you’ll need a new partner though.”
He turned his back on her, which he knew she hated, and stalked off to the edge of the yard where his belongings lay. Suguru toweled the majority of the sweat from his chest and neck before tugging on a tunic. Water spilled from his lips as he downed the entire bottle.
Wiping the drops from his chin, Suguru used the remaining water on his hands to slick his hair up into a bun. Then, he made his way inside the barracks to Yaga’s office to find out what kind of offer had caused the interruption to his workout.
He gently knocked on the door. Yaga bid him enter, and Suguru stepped into the small office.
“Geto, take a seat,” Yaga gestured to the lone wooden chair. There was a desk against the back wall, yet Yaga rarely sat at it. Instead, he preferred to lean over it, or on it, or sit atop it, or really use it in any way but the one it was intended for.
“What’s going on, Yaga?”
Yaga reached through the many papers littering his desk, producing an envelope with the royal seal pressed into its silvery wax.
“This is the highest honor you could be offered as an Imperial Guard,” Yaga said, gesturing to the envelope. “A chance to rise beyond your station in the Imperial Guard, to be inducted into the Royal Entourage without a drop of noble blood flowing through your veins.”
Suguru shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He did not like to be seated while someone else was standing. Particularly, when that person was addressing him. It made him feel inferior, which he supposed was the point.
“What’s the job, Sergeant?”
The Imperial Guard was a glorified muscle-for-hire guild. One rank higher than foot-soldiers, they functioned as an independent security detail for the royals and nobles of their great nation. It was contract-based work, so a stable wage was entirely dependent on your ability to bow low, hold doors open, and fight off the occasional pickpocket.
In short, Suguru hated it. He enlisted to serve his country and use his skills for good, not to play bouncer.
“It won’t be easy,” Yaga said. He paced in front of Suguru, fiddling with the paper in his hand. “That much is clear already. But you must represent the Imperial Guard well. If you do, you’ll be a success story. They’ll talk about you for years to come.”
Suguru crossed his arms. “The job?” he repeated.
Suguru had been called from training for his boss to twirl aimlessly around the actual subject of discussion. And yes, maybe he was slightly annoyed that the distraction had caused a nasty lump on his head as well.
Yaga sighed, finally pausing his pacing. “The boy prince. Saturo Gojo. He’s heading a diplomatic mission to Niveus next month and needs an escort.”
“The heir?” Suguru asked. “I can’t imagine the royal family is wanting for muscle.”
“They aren’t, that’s true. The trouble is… The prince has a nasty habit of losing his security the first opportunity he gets.”
“Losing them?”
“I understand he’s gone through no less than twenty guards since his coming of age ceremony. They either quit, are fired, or simply go missing. This is the Prince’s first solo mission and Her Majesty wants a knight in his entourage.”
A knighting? Suguru was being offered a chance to be knighted?
He uncrossed his arms, resting them on his knees. “Why me? What makes me any different from the twenty previous guards?”
“Well, for one, you’re closer in age to the boy prince. That should help.”
Yaga hesitated, seeming on the verge of saying something. Suguru waited, but when it seemed the man wouldn’t speak, he prompted him.
“And?”
“And he asked for you,” Yaga admitted eventually. “Specifically. By name.”
Suguru’s eyebrows drew together. “Me? He doesn’t know me.”
Yaga shrugged. “I said the same. His aide was insistent, though. If he must have a keeper, the Prince wants Suguru Geto.”
That should have been the first warning. The first sign that something wasn’t right, that perhaps there was more at play than the pieces Suguru could see. If he were a wiser man, he’d have refused. He would take commissions for the next ten years, find a noble family who liked him enough to keep him around, get a formal contract, and live his years out as a glorified doormat. It wasn’t glamorous, but when was anything about his life?
The temptation to break free was too great. Suguru was simply too curious. Why did the prince know a common-born sword-for-hire like him by name? What had he really done to drive away all his previous guards?
“When does the contract start?”
Yaga broke into a rare smile. “Ha! I knew you would see the value in taking on this job.”
“It’s not like I have much of a choice,” Suguru grumbled.
“The contract calls for a fortnight entry period. Should you meet expectations, they will offer you the job, and knighthood. You’ll start the entry on Monday.”
“That’s tomorrow,” Suguru replied slowly.
“Is it? I didn’t notice.”
Suguru barely hid his eye roll. “I assume you’ll be handling finances for the entry period?”
Yaga nodded. “The Imperial Guard was commissioned, and so the Imperial Guard will be paid. If they make the offer, and if you accept, you’ll be on their payroll.”
Who was he kidding? Of course Suguru would accept. The thought of not being owned by the Imperial Guard, and not having his wages skimmed by Yaga was enough for Suguru to say yes to any offer thrown at him. The prospect of being knighted was simply a cherry on top. Besides, how bad could the spoiled brat of a prince be?
“Send the acceptance letter,” Suguru said, standing. “I’ll be going back to training now.”
“Hold on.”
Suguru stopped, hand on the doorknob.
“Congratulations, Geto. This is a wonderful opportunity. I don’t know why or how it has fallen into your lap, but I am glad. After everything that has happened to you, you really deserve this.”
Suguru smiled tightly. “Thank you.”
“You’ll get your uniform sometime this afternoon. Report to the South Gate tomorrow at dawn.”
Suguru nodded as he opened the door. “Understood.”
“Oh, and Geto?” Suguru paused in the threshold. “Don’t embarrass us.”
Suguru left without another word.
The next morning, Suguru put on the ridiculous royal uniform that had been delivered as promised. The skin-tight navy material of the undershirt was surprisingly comfortable and breathable, and the loose pants fit well.
The robes, on the other hand… the robes were a problem. Suguru felt like a walking flag, which he supposed he kind of was. The black material was stiff and embroidered with the royal crest over his heart. Silver thread wove the intricate symbol of six eyes in a circle, which was filled with an infinity sign. Further ostentatious embellishments were woven into the shoulders, cuffs, and lapel of the stupid garment, too.
The sword belt was adorned with silver grommets and hung over his hips tightly. Suguru regarded himself in the mirror and resisted the urge to cringe. He pulled his hair up, wrapped it with a leather tie, and left before he could be late on his first day.
The Imperial Guard barracks lay just outside the central-most city district. Suguru saddled a pale grey gelding with the tack he’d laid out the night before. The Imperial Guard simply assigned the mounts in the stable numbers, but Suguru rode this gelding often, and in his mind referred to the horse as Koryu.
He feared it might be in poor taste to ride to the Royal gate, rather than walking or taking a carriage, but Suguru had neither the time nor money, respectively, for either option. If the Royals didn’t want him taking a horse, they’d have to provide him with the means to procure other forms of travel.
Dawn was brightening the grey cloudless sky. As Suguru rode deeper into the city, he watched a rosy blush begin to slip over the mountain range to the east, kissing only the very tops of the tallest buildings. The streets were all but deserted. In this part of the city, a well-to-do neighborhood, it would be considered uncouth to be found outside of the home before daylight. Suguru knew that even a few blocks away from the city center, there were likely still people stumbling home drunk from a night of revelry. Further still, one could find merchants setting up stalls, cooks preparing the meals of the day.
The huge central dome of the palace came into view. Smaller domes and spires reached toward the sky as well, so high that Suguru had to tilt his head back to see the tops.
A twenty-foot wall surrounded the outer palace, with soldiers stationed regularly throughout. The southern gate was manned by no less than ten heavily armed men. One woman stood to the side, puffing on a cigarillo as she scanned the streets. When she caught Suguru’s eye, she waved him over. He pulled back on the reins, slowing Koryu as he approached the woman.
“Geto, I’ll take it.” She cocked an eyebrow. “You rode here?”
Internally, Suguru grimaced. Of course, it was poor manners to smell like horse sweat upon one’s invitation to the palace. He should have known that. What a wonderful impression he was making already.
Externally, he offered a placid smile. “I wanted to ensure my timeliness.”
A stable hand took the reins as Suguru dismounted quickly. He gave Koryu a pat on the shoulder before he was led away, presumably to the Royal Stable. Oh, he would be spoiled there. The thought made Suguru smile.
He gave a low bow to the woman before him, whom he assumed was an aide or advisor of the Prince. “Suguru Geto. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
The woman scoffed, exhaling a plume of smoke. “Please. Save your manners for His Royal Highness. Actually, on second thought, don’t save your manners for him. Not until he earns them.”
Suguru blinked, but it was clear she didn’t intend to provide him any more context.
“I’m Shoko Ieri,” she said as she began to walk through the gate, assuming Suguru would follow. He did, and with alacrity.
The South Gate opened into a well-manicured courtyard. Within the walls, the palace was not one singular building, but rather a whole collection of buildings, like a self-contained city within the city.
“You have two missions,” Ieri said to him as they crossed the courtyard. “Do not lose sight of His Highness, and do not allow any harm to come to him.”
“Understood.”
“He is going to try very hard to ensure you are unable to accomplish those goals. It is imperative that you do not fall for any of his tricks.”
“Understood,” Suguru repeated.
Ieri glanced at him. “Can I ask you a question?”
Suguru nodded cautiously.
“Why’d you take this job?”
Suguru prided himself on being able to keep his face painfully neutral. It was not an easy habit to build, but after dealing with so many nobles with sticks shoved so far up their ass, they could probably taste the wood, Suguru liked to think he was adept at schooling his expression.
Still, Ieri’s question caught him entirely off-balance. He had anticipated worrying about what the Prince might say; he hadn’t expected to need to be on guard with everyone at the palace. It was a stupid assumption. This was a snake nest, and not one person had his interests foremost.
“Why do you ask?”
Ieri shrugged, leading him to the steps of a smaller building. Though ‘smaller’ was all a matter of perspective. It was still larger than two of the Imperial Guard barracks combined, but it was smaller than other buildings on the palace grounds.
“I’m sure you’ve heard rumors. I wouldn’t expect this to be a particularly coveted position.”
Suguru tucked a stray hair behind his ear. “I’m a member of the Imperial Guard. The opportunity to ascend to knighthood is life-changing.”
Ieri extinguished her cigarette on a step. “Hmm. I don’t think that’s the full story. That’s okay, you don’t have to tell me. Besides, His Highness should be arriving any moment now. If we are lucky.”
Suguru considered the building before him. “Where are we?”
“Library. His Highness receives tutoring from dawn to lunch.”
He raised his eyebrows. “That is a lot of tutoring.”
“It would be less, but the Prince keeps finding ways out of it. At this rate, he’s going to, I don’t even know, call the Niveusian emperor a fat frog, or something. The kid’s a genius, but he’s also arrogant as hell, and spoiled beyond measure. You would think he shits gold, the way he holds himself.”
It was surprising how informally Ieri spoke to him. And about a member of the royal family, no less. Still, Suguru supposed they were at similar levels on the social ladder of aristocracy, which lent some familiarity. If a commoner were caught saying something even slightly judgmental of His Royal Highness, he could have their head and no one would bat an eye. It appeared that working in the employ of the Royals offered some protections.
Ieri crossed her arms, checking her pocket watch for the third time in the past five minutes. “If he skips today, then I’m going to have to tell his mother, and that is a nightmare I’d love to avoid.”
A flock of doves took off from a nearby rooftop as a sudden disturbance spooked them. Suguru quickly heard the noise that had scared the birds. A clattering of hoofbeats, running at what sounded like high speed. Rounding a corner, a black horse bolted across the courtyard, tearing up chunks of grass with each stride. Atop the horse rode a tall man with white hair and dark spectacles.
“Shoko!” he called, dismounting in one swift motion. “Good morning!”
Suguru noticed then that the horse was not wearing a single piece of tack, not a saddle, nor a bridle. He also noticed the boy was holding a wax paper wrapping and was suspiciously wiping his mouth.
This couldn’t be the Crowned Prince, Heir Apparent, Satoru Gojo, could it?
He had seen artwork depicting the prince around the city, of course. And people liked to talk, particularly his noble clientele. But the last time Suguru had laid eyes on His Royal Highness was more than five years ago. Once in a while, the palace would host their military for banquets, as a show of gratitude for their work. The prince had been at the event Suguru had attended, he remembered now. He’d been but a boy then, a gangly teenager.
“Your Highness,” Ieri said.
Suguru sighed. The Prince looked older, as Suguru was sure he did as well. The man had filled out, coming nicely into his taller frame. He had the languid grace of nobility, but beneath his tunic and riding pants, Suguru noticed lean muscle.
“What are you eating?”
“Nothing,” the Prince replied quickly, crumpling the paper and tucking it into a pocket.
Ieri said nothing. She crossed her arms. When she raised an eyebrow, the boy crumbled. “Fine. I stopped to get a pastry from that little bakery down by the docks.”
“What is wrong with you? Do you have a death wish?”
“Nope. Just a hankering for sweets. Besides, I brought Blue with me.” The Prince ran a fond hand over the horse’s nose. “He’s the fastest horse in the Palace Stables.”
Ieri exhaled loudly. “You have a kitchen full of the best chefs in the nation. You could have literally anything, if you just asked for it. My title may be courtier, but Gojo, you make me feel like a damn babysitter.”
Suguru shifted his weight uncomfortably. There were years of history here that he had not a shred of context for. Clearly, the two were comfortable with each other, if Ieri was referring to the Prince by his first name without repercussion. They appeared close enough in age, it could be that Ieri had come into her role as courtier as first a friend.
The Prince’s eyes slipped past Ieri to rest squarely on Suguru. “You won’t have to worry about babysitting me anymore, Shoko.”
Realizing his manners, Suguru dropped into a low bow. “Your Royal Highness,” he said, keeping his gaze to the ground. “Suguru Geto, at your service.”
“Geto.” The Prince reached a gloved hand toward Suguru’s face, carefully pulling him up with a finger on his chin. “You’re taller than the last time I saw you.”
Suguru raised his eyebrows. He was reeling from the Prince touching him, and now he also had to contend with the fact that the Prince remembered him from a singular chance meeting six years ago?
“I was pleased to see a familiar name on the Imperial Guard registry,” the Prince continued. “I’ve apparently exhausted the Palace Guard, so Mother was forced to outsource. I’m glad my memory didn’t betray me. You’re as handsome as I recall. It’ll be a real shame.”
Suguru went pink as he bowed again. He was used to flattering his clients, but receiving a fraction of that energy directed back at him was blinding. “I am undeserving of such generous compliments, sir.” He paused, processing the entirety of what the Prince had said. Lifted his head cautiously. “What do you mean, what will be a shame?”
“What I’m going to do to you.”
Suguru froze.
Had he done something? Sure, he should have bowed when the Prince approached, but he’d only assumed the same familiarity Ieri used when addressing him. “I apologize, your Highness, for any insult I may have—”
The Prince laughed. “They have you well trained, Suguru.” He blinked, unsure how or if he should respond. “I’m sure you’ve been warned about this job. About the many before you that have failed.”
“I am not them,” he said simply.
The Prince leaned forward until his face was only inches from Suguru. He was so close, Suguru could see his startlingly blue eyes beyond his spectacles. “It’s not personal, I assure you. But I’m going to make your life a living hell. I’m going to make you wish you’d never taken this job, never enrolled in the Guard in the first place.”
Suguru was more than experienced with people trying to scare him. Whether it was physical threats from bullies in the Guard or the scathing warnings doled so easily by his elite contracts, Suguru had formed a hard shell against such tactics. His indifference usually caused people to back off. The sorts of people who made such threats were the sorts of people who wanted a reaction. Suguru simply didn’t give them that.
He nodded at the Prince. “I look forward to it. Your Royal Highness.”
Ieri snorted, surprising both of them. Suguru had forgotten she was there. “Come on, Gojo. Enough hazing. I’ll call a stable hand to fetch your horse. Let us go inside. We’re already almost half an hour behind on lessons.”
The Prince stayed where he was a beat longer, his eyes searching Suguru’s. Finding nothing there, he eventually retreated, a grimace twisting on his lips. Wordlessly, Suguru followed them into the library, fighting the urge to smile at the Prince’s back. He couldn’t help but feel as though he’d won that first encounter.