Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

Later that night, ”ugh.” Dion woke up in his bed, slowly opening his eyes. He turned to look at the window; the moon was already at its zenith, but the chaotic noise of a commotion echoed from down below. He sat up slowly on his bed and turned to check the adjacent bed.

He saw Luna, her face still flushed red, sleeping soundly beside him. He stared in awe for a brief moment, but suddenly ”squeeze!” he squeezed something soft and plush right beside him, feeling a sudden warmth next to him as well.

”Huh?” he thought in his head.

He turned to look at Luna once more, verifying that the person sleeping in the neighboring bed was indeed Luna. His mind began to race and his face turned pale. In his heart, he wondered: if Luna was over there, who on earth was sleeping beside him? Slowly, he turned his head and saw the blanket bulging slightly next to him.

His hand reached out, slowly pulling back the blanket. Dion’s heart stopped instantly before restarting at the exact same moment; his mind went completely blank for a second, as if forcefully shut down, before booting back up. It turned out that the person beneath his blanket was Mei, and she was not asleep.

Her eyes were fixed on Dion, who was sitting upright, with a smile on her face. Dion glanced down at his hand, which had landed directly on Mei’s chest, and pulled it back immediately.

”Mei... what are you...”

Mei hurriedly pressed her index finger against Dion’s lips, cutting off his slightly loud voice, before staring at Dion with a serious expression.

”Don’t shout, and keep quiet... if Luna wakes up, it’ll be a hassle. Just let me stay here for a little bit,” Mei whispered.

Dion nodded in response, and Mei withdrew her finger. But right after that ”thud!” Mei wrapped her arms tightly around Dion, hugging him so hard he felt physically tortured.

”Hey... Mei,” Dion choked out.

”Sorry... I missed you. It’s been three years since we last saw each other... how have you been, Dion?” Mei whispered.

”I was fine... but if you keep holding me like this... I won’t be fine for long,” Dion groaned haltly, struggling to breathe.

”Oh... sorry,” Mei replied, releasing her embrace.

After taking a deep breath, Dion turned to look toward the window as the clamor outside grew louder. He got off the bed and peeked out the window, his eyes widening. Below, a massive force of Eredor soldiers moved about in a panic, holding torches and gripping their weapons, every single soldier’s face visibly tense. Before Dion could make sense of the situation, Mei pulled him back until he was sitting on the bed again. Dion turned to look at Mei, and this time, he truly saw her under the moonlight.

Mei was wearing assassin- or ninja-style leather armor. Her dual swords were strapped to her back, and visible bloodstains marked her clothes. Seeing Dion observing her, Mei drew her sword and rested it across Dion’s neck, a sad smile gracing her face.

”I’m sorry... Dion. Honestly, I was ready to die tonight. But after seeing you in the tavern earlier with Luna, I realized I wanted to live,” Mei whispered, a faint smile adorning her lips.

”What happened?” Dion asked, glancing down at the blade against his neck and trying to stay calm by raising both hands.

Mei fell silent for a moment, lowering her head, though her hand holding the sword kept the blade crossed against Dion’s neck. Seeing Mei’s demeanor, combined with having seen her with Yugo earlier and now the Eredor kingdom troops surrounding the inn, Dion figured something had gone very, terribly wrong.

”I didn’t want to drag you and Luna into this,” Mei said, looking down.

”You’re in my and Luna’s room. You’ve already dragged us into it,” Dion said.

Mei looked up, studying Dion’s face intently. She then turned to look at Luna, who showed no signs of waking, whether due to being drunk or simply exhausted.

”Alright, I’ll tell you,” Mei said.

”Okay... but could you please take this thing off my neck?” Dion asked, pointing to the sword resting against his throat.

”Oh... sorry,” Mei replied.

Mei lowered her sword and sheathed it back behind her. She then stood up, looked out the window, and turned back to face Dion.

”I... killed Yugo,” Mei said bluntly.

Slam! Dion’s head went completely blank, as if struck by lightning. What Mei said was a massive problem. Yugo was the third prince of the Eredor Kingdom. No matter how obnoxious or thug-like he acted, he was a member of the royal family. If Mei killed him, it meant she could never return to Eredor and would spend her life as a fugitive. Once Dion’s brain kicked back into gear, he examined Mei’s face. Seeing no regret, but rather a sense of relief, he immediately asked:

”Why?” Dion asked, attempting to view the issue from both sides.

”He was targeting my youngest sister. You already know that scoundrel prince’s reputation, he goes after young girls, and now my youngest sister was his target. That’s why he dragged me here, to force my youngest sister out of the academy,” Mei answered furiously.

Hearing that reason, Dion knitted his brows and stared sharply at Mei. His life experience from his past life, having been around the block more than a few times, told him that Mei’s reason for killing Yugo wasn’t just that. Finally, he spoke calmly:

”Just because of that?” Dion asked.

Seeing Dion taking her seriously, Mei stared back at him sharply before sitting down beside him.

”Yugo’s purpose in dragging me here wasn’t just to coerce my sister. He wanted me as a bargaining chip so he could take my sister, or else he’d have my entire family executed. I offered myself to him instead, but then he went and smashed that glass in the tavern,” Mei said.

She then recounted what had happened just moments before she entered Dion’s room through the window.

***

An hour and a half earlier, in a fourth-floor room guarded by numerous Eredor soldiers, intentionally cleared out to accommodate the royal family, Mei sat trembling on the edge of the bed wearing only a bathrobe. Her hair was still slightly damp, and her body was moist with either sweat or leftover bathwater. She sat in silent reflection, looking down at her hands tightly wringing together in anxiety.

”Tonight... I have to do it... no regrets,” Mei thought in her heart.

Click.

The bathroom door opened. Mei flinched slightly but didn’t lift her head. Footsteps approached her.

”Sorry to keep you waiting... come on... take off your clothes,” Yugo said.

Mei turned and gasped, sliding backward in shock because Yugo was completely naked and still wet, a towel draped over his shoulder.

”Oi, oi, what’s wrong? We’re both going to be naked in a second anyway... oh... don’t tell me... you’re still a virgin? Excellent,” Yugo said with a predatory smile, licking his lips.

Mei remained silent, turning her flushed face away. Yugo sat beside her, reaching out to cup her cheek and forcing her face back toward his smirking expression. Mei looked on the verge of tears, curling her arms around herself.

”Take your clothes off quickly, and you’d better not defy me, or I’ll have your family executed and your beloved little sister will replace your place... don’t worry, I won’t hurt you...for now,” Yugo said.

Yugo leaned his face in, prompting Mei to turn away to avoid him, but Yugo licked her cheek anyway. Mei turned back to face Yugo.

”If I do this... do you promise, that you won’t bother my sister and my family ever again, Your Highness ?” Mei asked in a low voice.

”Hmm... depends on your performance tonight. If I’m satisfied, I’ll make you my wife and let your family go. Now stand up and strip,” Yugo said, overcome with lust.

”Very well,” Mei said.

Mei stood up. She untied the belt of her robe, letting it fall to the floor. She stood completely naked before Yugo, keeping one hand hidden behind her back. Yugo stood up immediately, his lower half ready for action. But as he stepped forward and reached out to touch her body, before his hand could even brush against Mei’s chest, ”shing!” with a single slash, Yugo’s head was severed from his neck.

Blood spurted everywhere, drenching Mei’s body. She immediately flicked her sword clean and wiped the blood off her body using her robe.

”Sorry, Your Highness, I never believed a word you said,” Mei said.

She then put on her clothes and leaped out the window. She scaled down to an open window on the second floor, spotting Dion inside. Without a second thought, she slipped inside and took cover under Dion’s blanket. Having heard Mei’s story, Dion shook his head and rubbed his face in disbelief.

”Give me a break, it’s always something... now what? It’s not like I can just leave her to die,” Dion thought in his head, his face dead serious in deep thought.

While Dion was thinking, ”slam... slam... slam,” the door to his room was pounded on violently, as if someone were about to kick it down.

”Open the door! In the name of the Eredor Kingdom, no one leaves this inn! Get out and assemble downstairs!”

A loud scream echoed from outside. Dion turned to see Luna stirring and starting to wake up, while Mei prepared herself, gripping her swords. ”Sigh,” he let out a breath and looked back toward the door.

”Well... here goes my peaceful retirement plans,” Dion thought in his head, weighing his options on how to handle the situation.