Only with Your Heart

Chizuru was dreaming.

When I was still in elementary school, my grandmother took me on my first little trip to Kyoto. Coastal memories I had with my girlfriend when I was in middle school. I always laughed at each other with dancing in high school...... Quietly, it was a dream like watching the footage of my memory relaxed.

It suddenly switches to the scene when it was first led to this other world.

Throwed by himself into a deep forest, neither right nor left, Chizuru, who wandered blindly, was at some point surrounded by beasts like hyenas. In a few flocks, every beast has its sharp teeth protruded and is about to go low to the thousand cranes.

My legs were stiff and I couldn't move, as if I were in a nightmare.

I tremble in fear all over my body, my heart pulses so hard that it hurts, and even if my tears are about to spill, I still can't move.

A miracle happened, however, when one of the biggest beasts in the herd finally tried to strike a thousand cranes. A sharp bow and arrow flew in from somewhere, hitting the beast's neck. The beast screams and glances, and the suffering also begins on the spot. The other beasts of the flock barked in a murmur as disturbed.

It was the long knight with black hair and black eyes who appeared refreshed there and defeated all the beasts with breathtaking divine swords...... yes, Ruklov.

And I am sure that Chizuru will never forget the first moment he had eyes with him.

That shock.

Having gathered the living blood of the beast, he appeared hungry for something more than the beast. The deep darkness that is about to be inhaled is spreading in its eyes.

That moment.

Chizuru's heart, fate, may have already been decided.

When I woke up, the first thing that came into my ear was the sound of rain.

The sounds of night birds, which are usually heard, are quiet, and instead, the sound of large droplets striking the ground continues forever. Chizuru opened his eyes and blurred at the lights of the disappearing candle at the window.

Thousands of cranes' bodies are warm, though I'm sure it's chilling badly outside.

That, too, should have been behind a thousand cranes sleeping sideways, with Luklov circling its large body to envelop the thousand cranes. His one hand has a thousand cranes on his arm pillow, and his other hand has a thousand cranes hips.

I knew that Ruklov would wake up soon after he moved at all, so Chizuru was holding his breath for a while to savor this moment.

─ ─ I had a dream when I first met Ruklov.

Years have passed since then, and in any way, the two of them are now sleeping cuddling each other on a rainy night. I can't think of destiny, it's sometimes harsh, but when I look back, it's a strange thing that Tsuji fits somewhere.

Chizuru lowered his gaze to Ruklov's hand, which was being turned to his hips.

Big, boned, masculine fingers are powerful as if they represent half a life full of that turbulence. When held in this hand, Chizuru is wrapped in deep relief.

Since the night didn't seem to be up yet, Chizuru closed his eyes to try to go back to sleep again, and began to wander... and it was then.

Khan, Khan, and a soft sound like an alarm sounded dull and rainy sky twice. Not from so far away somewhere, maybe it's the sound you hear from around the walls outside.

Faster than Chizuru opened his eyes, Ruklov was waking up his upper body. Chizuru also hurried up his head and looked back at Luklov.

"What's that noise now?

"Here's the news from the castle gate… Someone's here, an unexpected guest"

"I didn't expect...?

Apparently he noticed a thousand cranes clouding his expression anxiously, Luklov smiled softly to reassure her.

"You don't have to worry. Two alarms are a signal that an unexpected guest has arrived but there is no danger. If the target is a dangerous enemy, it is supposed to ring four times."

Teaching that, Ruklov quickly rose out of bed.

Chizuru was still dressed with only his upper body up on the bed, watching Luklov's actions. Ruklov is putting his clothes back on and putting on shoes that resemble boots.

"... are you going to see it?

"Oh, just in case."

And looking back at Chizuru, Ruklov whispered softly in her ear. "I hope you're still resting. Just make sure, and I'll be right back."

Chizuru replied with a fluffy smile, hiding as much anxiety as possible.

"Yeah...... be careful. It looks cold out there..."

I'll be right back.

Ruklov repeated so to be sure, leaving the room when he kissed Chizuru's cheek gently.

When the door closed and one was left behind, the room suddenly felt dark and cold, and Chizuru unexpectedly shivered slightly.

Who the hell is an unexpected, sudden guest at midnight like this?

At this hour, when there are no street lights or private lights, there are not many people traveling along the border. Either you were in so much trouble getting lost, or you would have had quite a rush otherwise. Either way, if it's just a traveler or transmission, it shouldn't have sounded the alarm to wake up Lucroff, and quite an identical person would have appeared.

There was also a sense of care during his period, and Chizuru waited for Luklov to return, wrapped (coming) in sheets and blankets.

But thirty minutes have passed, and even after an hour, there is no sign that he will return.

Increasingly anxious, Chizuru woke himself up.

I don't visit drowsiness this way, and I just don't like to imagine myself staying in bed. I don't know if it was an enemy raid disguised as a guest or all that ominous stuff.

When Chizuru decided his mind, he walked out of the bed and looked for a hooded jacket from the inside. I thought it wasn't enough to change into a dress, so when I weave the blue coat I found over my sleeping clothes, I leave the room with my shoes on.

The hallway was limp and the air felt moist and heavy because of the rain.

Immediately I couldn't feel the signs of people, but as I approached the stairs, the voice someone was talking about sounded faint. I can't even hear the content, but I know it's a woman's voice. That's also the exciting voice of a young woman......

This was surprising because I imagined all men of some age showing up at this hour. Chizuru speeds up his legs and goes down the stairs. As we approached the ground floor, the content of the story also sounded discontinuous.

"… so my suggestion is the perfect way to fit everything in circles"

The voice of a young woman is so stirred up.

"But... I wonder if a lord of skill like my lord would give up so easily. I can only assume that it will serve as a stepping stone for swallowing this territory."

The answer is the voice of the loan.

It was a calm but somewhere irritating way of talking like him.

"Well! You said I was at my father's fingertips!

The woman nodded her voice hysterically.

"I didn't say that, Lady Exia. But it won't work out as you say."

"You keep your mouth shut! I'm asking Master Ruklov... not you..."

The reward of voice is heard from the Great Hall.

Chizuru's heart rattled and his feet were about to snap on the scissors. Reaching the entrance to the great hall, I see Lucroff, Lone, Nadal the squire and another... a young woman with strange blonde hair discussing with her coat on.

Chizuru accidentally stopped and took a breath.

Because the woman was a much more eye-catching beauty. Blonde curly hair, white skin, bright colored eyes that would be blue or green, with a deep carved face...... A gorgeous dress, just a glance from the gap in your jacket.

They didn't seem to realize the existence of Chizuru yet.

Ruklov had his back to the standing entrance to the thousand cranes, so I don't know the look on his face. But the young blonde made a clear declaration in the face of Ruklov, confidently glowing her big eyes.

"Marry me, Master Ruklov. That would stop my father from trying to vandalize your territory. I think that's the best conclusion for everyone..."