Daita began to circle her slowly, hands clasped behind his back, gaze thoughtful. After a moment, he hummed.
"I've just had a brilliant idea about what should be done with you."
Astra's shoulders tensed, tracking his movement.
"Y–Your Highness…?"
He stopped in front of her. "What? You're not backing out now, are you?"
She shook her head so fast her hair nearly whipped her face. "No! I'll do it. I'll do whatever it is." She straightened, resolute. "I lost. Please tell me what I should do, Your Highness."
Akira let out a weary sigh, opening his mouth to intervene—
"That's good," Daita said brightly, cutting him off. "Because I was thinking… I need a live demonstration."
Astra frowned. "A… demonstration?"
Daita reached out, smoothly snatching the book from Akira's hands. "I want you to role-play a scene from this."
Astra blinked. Once. Twice. Then her eyes lit up.
"A play?" she gasped. "You mean—really act it out?"
She didn't even wait for his answer. "Yes! I'll do it! Please tell me which scene!" She clasped her hands together, practically vibrating. "I'm really good at plays! I've wanted to perform since I was a child!"
Daita stared at her for half a heartbeat, clearly not having expected such enthusiasm then he laughed. "Very well, then. But I'll choose the scene."
He glanced around, taking in the surroundings, then nodded to himself. "Isn't it perfect? How convenient. We're already standing where one of the scenes took place." He smiled thinly. "Let's do the chapter Plum Moon Over Crimson Waters."
"Yes!" Astra answered instantly. "That one's perfect! It'll be fun!"
Akira's jaw dropped. That ominous unpleasant feeling returned in his stomach with full force, crawling straight up his spine.
"W–Wait—"
Before he could finish, Daita nodded in approval. "Go on, then."
Astra suddenly hesitated. "Um… Your Highness." She lifted one finger. "That scene needs two people. The mortal woman and the god."
"Oh," Daita said lightly. "Right. We do need someone to play the god." He turned his head toward Akira. Who silently mouthed, 'Don't you dare.'
"What? No—absolutely not!" Akira blurted out, his voice far louder than intended.
Both of them stared at him in surprise. Akira visibly stiffened, realizing his outburst. He straightened at once, forcing his tone into something far more controlled. "Y–Your Highness," he said quickly, clearing his throat, "I believe it would be… inappropriate to engage in such role-play."
Daita raised an eyebrow. "Inappropriate?" he echoed. "And why would that be?"
"It just… doesn't suit you," Akira said stiffly, folding his arms.
Daita stepped closer, his presence pressing in. His eyes narrowed, a dangerous curve forming at the corner of his lips. "And what exactly are you trying to say? That I'm not fit to play a god? That I'm not charming enough? You dare imply that?"
Akira clenched his jaw, the retort already burning on his tongue, his thoughts screaming 'this brat! wait until we're back, I'll deal with you then—'
Astra hurried forward, placing herself between them before sparks could fly. "Please forgive him, Your Highness," she said quickly. "That's not what he meant." She bowed slightly, then added sincerely, "What he meant is—you're far more charming than the god described in the book. And besides… it wouldn't suit your royal status to role-play such a scene with someone like me."
Daita huffed and turned away, folding his arms. "…Is that so?"
"Yes," Astra nodded earnestly.
For a moment, he was silent. Then he smirked, turning back to face them. "Then tell me—how do you plan to complete the play without a god?"
Astra's gaze drifted thinking then her eyes widened as the idea struck.
She turned sharply toward Akira. "Dan."
Akira stiffened. "Me?"
"Yes, you!" she said brightly. "Didn't you say it was your favorite chapter? You'll play it perfectly." She gestured at him rapidly. "Your clothes, your physique—oh! And the blindfold. It's exactly how the god appears during their first encounter.
"And look at that… what a coincidence. I'm wearing crimson today."
She spun back to Daita. "Don't you think so, Your Highness?"
Daita studied Akira for a long, measuring moment. The faint tension in Akira's posture did not escape him, nor did the flicker of nerves he was trying. A glint of amusement flashed in Daita's eyes.
"…Very well," he said at last. "If you say so." His smile widened. "And if the two of you manage to please me with this little performance… I might even consider letting you both off."
Astra clapped her hands once. "Great! Dan, you're okay with that, right?"
Before Akira could answer, she was already grabbing his sleeve and dragging him away. "He's fine with it!"
Over her shoulder, she added cheerfully, "Your Highness, you can sit on that rock and watch. We'll impress you in no time!"
Akira stumbled along after her, barely keeping his footing. For a split second, he turned his head back and mouthed silently at Daita, 'I will kill you.'
Daita dropped onto the rock with lazy ease, crossing his legs as if settling in for a show. He rested his chin on one hand and grinned.
"It would be an honor to die by your hands, Your Highness, the Crown Prince," he drawled. "After all… watching you play a god is exactly what I was hoping for."
A few minutes later, Astra stood before Akira, her hands moving as she explained the flow of the scene—where to pause, where to move, and what emotions each moment demanded.
"The god doesn't enter the scene loudly," she said, tapping the air for emphasis. "He's tired. Worn down. He comes here to escape that tyrant." Her gaze shifted to the blindfold resting over Akira's eyes. "And most importantly… you must not remove it until the very end. That's the heart of the chapter."
Akira nodded stiffly. "I know."
She tilted her head, studying him a moment longer. "…You've already read it, haven't you?" Then, more quietly, she added, "So let's do our best. If we make it convincing enough, maybe we can finally escape the Seventh Prince."
Akira exhaled, rubbing his temple. "I understand."
Astra smiled knowingly and turned toward the clearing. "All right then. Let's begin. You climb that tree at the water's edge first. Pretend to sleep—I'll appear later. Hurry, go now."
Akira moved at once.
With measured stillness, he walked toward the pool, his footsteps soft against the damp earth. As he neared the water's edge, his pace slowed. He paused, head slightly inclined, listening to the hush of the clearing as moonlight rippled across the surface.
'I hope everything goes as planned, he thought.'
Without further hesitation, Akira climbed onto the tree branch arching over the water. He settled himself with back against the bark, posture calm, every breath measured then leaned back, feigning sleep as Astra stared, stunned.
'He had done it blindfolded.'
Only when she noticed Daita's patient, unblinking glare did she shake herself out of it. Drawing in a steady breath, she stepped into the pool. Cool water curled around her ankles, then her calves, sending a sharp shiver through her as she moved closer to the cascading fall. She raised her palm toward the falling water and paused.
'What… is this strange feeling?'
Her brows knit faintly. She turned her palm upward, watching water bead and spill between her fingers, then slide down her wrist. Almost absentmindedly, she reached for the red ribbon woven into her braid and tugged it loose.
The ribbon slipped free.
Her hair followed.
Dense. Long. Impossibly silk-smooth as it spilled down her back and into the water, spreading across the pool like dark ink poured slowly into glass. The current caught it, lifting the strands, weaving through them, making it shimmer with quiet movement.
Daita hadn't realized he'd leaned forward.
"…She really does have remarkable hair," he muttered under his breath.
His gaze followed her without permission every slow shift of her weight, every turn of her shoulders. She cupped water in both hands, lifting it to her face, letting it spill over her cheeks and lashes as she exhaled softly. Droplets traced their way down her neck, down her collarbone, as she raised her arms, fingers combing briefly through her soaked hair before letting it fall again with crimson ribbon drifting away in the pool.
She turned slightly water breaking around her waist, hair fanning behind her, sleeves clinging darkly to her arms.
Daita's eyes narrowed.
'Is she… the same girl?'
His heartbeat began to rise, fast and insistent, pounding like a war drum against his ribs. His gaze followed the her curve before he could stop it, the fluid grace of her steps, the way the water responded to her presence as though she belonged there.
'Or am I mistaken?'
'She looks…very—'
The realization struck him like ice.
He turned away sharply, jaw tightening, breath catching halfway in his chest. One hand curled into a fist at his side as he mentally cursed himself for the distraction, for letting his gaze wander where it had no right to linger.
'Fool… what are you doing? Did you just allow yourself to be swayed by that? Get a hold of yourself.'
He forced his breathing steady, shoulders squaring as if the act alone could restore control. Whatever spell the scene had threatened to cast, he crushed it down mercilessly.
"Enough," he snapped. "Stop it."
Astra flinched at the his tone, shoulders tensing as she froze mid-movement, water dripping silently from her fingers back into the pool. Above, Akira straightened on the branch.
"Did something happen, Your Highness?" Astra asked, confusion flashing across her face.
Daita waved a dismissive hand. "It's…it's boring."
Akira's voice cut in coolly. "That's because we haven't begun anything interesting yet."
Daita's gaze sharpened. "Exactly." He pointed at Astra. "By now, you should already be singing. All you've done is splash around and soak yourself."
He leaned forward, eyes glinting with intensity. "The singing—that's what draws the god's attention. That moment, the birth of that legendary line, is the very soul of the scene." He let the words hang for a heartbeat, then recited them slowly:
'Even the gods lose their way, when night sings in crimson silk.'
"Singing?" Astra visibly swallowed.
"You remember it, don't you?" Daita said flatly, eyes fixed on her. "You should—obviously. You claim to be its number one fan, after all. So start."
Astra hesitated, lips parting but no sound emerging.
His tone sharpened, commanding. "Go on. What are you waiting for? Sing."
"No!" Akira suddenly yelled, voice cracking with panic. "No—this is unnecessary!"
Daita turned sharply, pointing at him. "You stay quiet. How can you say it's unnecessary? This is the most necessary part of the scene!"
Akira pressed each word carefully. "Your Highness… because… it… will take too much time. I'm afraid you'll be bored. Why not move straight to the action instead? Right, Astra?"
Astra glanced between them, conflicted. "…Maybe."
"No," Daita said firmly, stepping closer. "She will sing."
He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "If you want to impress me, then do it properly. Sing loud enough that it reaches me."
Astra laughed nervously, forcing a smile. "As you wish, Your Highness…"
Up on the branch, Akira's lips tightened as he thought darkly.
'You wish for your own deafness.'