Fastidioso

Two days into the journey, Mafuyu realized she could have just gone back to her palace and demanded for a different knight to accompany her. She's an idiot! Now, it was too late. And she made a fool out of herself in front of this guy. The Kingdom was far behind. There weren't any soldiers around to easily swap her acquaintance with. There weren't any streets for Mafuyu to run off to. Only the open endless landscape of the moorland. Sweat drips down her neck due to the summer sun. She could only imagine how her horse must be feeling with its black mane. 

The view was quite beautiful, one Mafuyu barely got to see when she was brought back from the Shinonome Kingdom in a cramped carriage a few months ago. Her eyes spot endless hills of grass, patches of shrubs with a purplish hue here and there. The sky is a vibrant clear blue. It was like a painting, but real. Actually now thinking about it that made her sound like a complete shut in-

Yet, there was a blurry spot in this beautiful painting, an ugly spot in Mafuyu's vision. Well, it wasn't ugly. Actually very pretty (ahem who said that) but it was ugly because it was painful. Her heart couldn't help but rise every time she spotted the short white hair, only to be stung with immense disappointment. It was a constant reminder of what she's lost. 

“Oye, mi Príncipe. Since we're going to be traveling together for a while, may I know your name?” The man asks. Mafuyu winces at his voice, clearly startled. Neither have spoken for the majority of the journey so far, with the white knight only pointing out animals or asking questions (as he was doing now) as attempts to start conversation. Mafuyu didn't respond once. This time would be no different.

The man had been walking the entire journey, not complaining one bit that Mafuyu didn't once offer to let him up the horse. Well, unlike Mafuyu, he was a real man. He could take it. 

She also thought his uniform was a bit strange, what kind of knight wears shorts? And in that stupid white? But now, maybe the man was on to something. The journey has his sweaty legs covered in dirt and small weeds. Had he worn pants, Mafuyu would have been itching to wash it off the white cloth. 

“I know you're Asahina. But like, what's your name?” The man tries again. Again, Mafuyu meets him with silence. Perhaps if she made him regret his choice, he'd just walk back to the Kingdom. 

Instead, the horse suddenly stops. He turns around. “Listen, I'm not here to babysit you. We can make this fun! I just need you to cooperate! Hey, we might even become friends! How's that sound?” He says with a bit too much enthusiasm. Mafuyu is quick to avert his eyes.

Wrong move, as he quickly moves to her direction. “Ten years at Shinonome's, and not once did they teach you basic communication skills?” He retorts but seems to have grown irritated. She couldn't tell, his eyes remained in that dark stagnant shape, “Still refusing to talk? You are rather annoying.”

“This isn't a journey, knight. We're on a serious mission,” Mafuyu finally replies, attempting to keep cool and collected. She avoids his gaze once more.

That was enough to make him snap. He jumps on the horse, starting it. His thin scrawny figure manages to squeeze in front of Mafuyu. He's facing her, hands falling on her shoulders. She has nowhere to look away now. Up close, his eyes don't even look alive. She can see a small scar on his left cheek. His gaze burrows through her. It's like he'd read her soul.

She can't have that happen. He's going to find out. He can't find out. Mother's going to be-

He starts laughing, making Mafuyu blink in surprise. “Listen, stop being so serious! I know as the Prince you're supposed to act high and prestigious. It's just me and you, so you can drop the act! Have a little fun! If it helps, I oath to not tell anyone~”

Mafuyu unconsciously smacks him off the horse. She can barely process what's happened. He groaned, getting off the grass while ruffling the dirt off his white blazer. 

Mafuyu clears her throat. “Pardon me, I- I didn't mean to do that,” She says, attempting to sound as genuine as possible.

It fails. “I told you to drop the act!” He shouts back, smiling slightly as he rubs his cheek, exactly where Mafuyu's hand was. “Gotta say, that was an improvement.”

Mafuyu frowns.

“Ah ha! There's mi Príncipe!” He cheers, pulling on the lead once more, “Hello, his real Highness! May I know your name now?”

Mafuyu can't help but bristle. This man thought he had her all figured out. “Why should I tell you? I don't even know yours.”

The man blinks. “I did tell you. That's literally the first thing I did,” his voice is a bit high pitched as if she'd deeply offended him. He mutters something Mafuyu can't catch but eventually releases a lengthy sigh, “But I'll tell you again. My name is K.”

“A letter in the English lexicon isn't a name.”

The white knight chuckles. “No, that is indeed my name, believe it or not!”

Mafuyu raises an eyebrow. “Lier. I know you have a family name.”

That made the white knight flinch. “No I do not. I have no family,” he says quietly.

Mafuyu knows how her Kingdom's system works. Orphans still have family names given to them based on appearance and death records. He's lying. Eh, she doesn't care enough. Her gaze returns to the landscape.

“Okay but what is your name?”

“Why does it matter?” She snaps, throwing her arms in the air. He only stares back, blinking expectantly. With a huff, she mumbles, “Mafuyu...”

“Excuse me, I didn't quite catch that.”

“Mafuyu.”

“Pardon?”

“Mafuyu! ¡Cabrón si serás!” The prince bursts. The white knight chuckles, a ugly grin smeared in his face.

“Mafuyu… Isn't that a girl's-”

“Te odio.”

“Huh?”

“You're so annoying.”

The white knight gasps. “Me, annoying? I'm just trying to lighten up the mood for Mr-Grumpy-Face. You're the one that's being uncooperative and… ¡Fastidioso!” He protests, crossing his arms with a huff, “If that's how it is, fine! I'll shut up! You're welcome, you royal scumbag!”

“Finally…” Mafuyu sighs.

“Oh how dare you!”

…

The night quickly settled on the two travelers. The rest of the journey was rather quiet, with the occasional whistle of wind and several mutters from the white knight that were too quiet for Mafuyu to hear (not that she wanted to). He often wiped the sweat from his forehead, groaning from the heat. But he kept his word, remaining silent for the journey, though the way he stomped told Mafuyu the man was still very upset. Maybe she had struck a nerve. Maybe she went too far. She didn't understand what she did wrong, so there was no apology. And with the sun, who'd want to speak anyway?

The horse suddenly stops. Mafuyu had zoned out the entire time, only just noticing that they're under a singular tree on top of a very small hill. The air has gotten significantly cooler, though Mafuyu was always shivering nonetheless so it didn't matter to her. The white knight mumbles something before reaching into his pockets and pulls out two stones.

Mafuyu quickly realizes he's starting a fire, now sitting with his legs crossed and gathering twigs and dried leaves from the grass below. He's very delicate with the process, maybe afraid to set the entire moor on flames.

She climbs off the horse, her legs wobbly from sitting all day. Quickly gaining strength, Mafuyu ties the lead of the horse to the tree, petting its long black snout and thanking it for its hard work. She pulls out a little bowl from her bag and pours water from her jug. The horse neighs rather thankfully, immediately lapping the water right up.

This horse… Mafuyu can't help but feel slightly warm after such a long time.

And watched. Her eyes flick to the white knight, who quickly turns away from her. Now it's her turn to stare. He's fanning the small lit fire, whispering prays. A gust of wind threatens to put it out, which the knight growls furiously at and uses his whole body to protect it. His hair was rather short, but the long ends still rippled with the wind. Its white color illuminates in the wind….

It makes her sick.

Mafuyu coughs, her chest pulsing in pain. Her eyes squeezed shut. A hand flies onto the truck of the tree, digging its nails into the bark.

A subtle noise. She feels a hand against her back within seconds. “Mafuyu? Mafuyu, are you okay?” Mafuyu opens her eyes to see the white hair just a few inches away from her face.

Mafuyu recoils from the man's grasp, nearly pushing him away. “I'm fine,” she growls, her voice deeper than she meant to go.

The white knight reaches out again but Mafuyu steps back. It's hard to breathe with him close. “You look pale. Let me see if you have a-”

“¡Déjame!” The prince bellows with absolute rage, voice cracking a bit, “I'm an adult, dammit! A little cough isn't going to kill me!” Her arms twitch in absolute fury. Still, she can't dare look directly at the white knight.

“¡No serás fastidioso! Let me-”

“Enough!” Mafuyu rasps, “Shut up! Literally, shut up! I can't stand you!” She doesn't look at the man. She can't even stand staring at his figure in her peripheral vision. Mafuyu goes to the other side of the tree, using the trunk to hide away from the white knight's view. Her chest keeps pulsing.

Mafuyu sits with her back against the trunk, taking deep breaths but remaining dead silent. Slamming her fist into her chest, she manages to calm herself down.

Perhaps she was too harsh. 

Mafuyu throws her head back. It would be wise to apologize for her sudden irrational fury. He was only trying to help. It's not his fault he looks painfully like her dearest. 

“Sorry,” Mafuyu finally mutters, a whisper that gets carried away by the wind. 

She can hear the shuffling of grass on the other side of the trunk followed with a sigh. “No, mi Príncipe. I should be the one sorry,” The white Knight says in a hoarse voice, “I'm sorry for my behavior. I thought putting up this act would make you more comfortable around me… but… Once we arrive at Shinonome, I'll leave you alone. I promise, Your Highness.”

Mafuyu closes her eyes. The last thing she needed was thinking about what was going to happen when they arrive at that...

Kingdom. 

“Goodnight Mafuyu.”

The prince doesn't respond.