The Forbidden Light [BL] Chapter 74: Calm Days, Part IV

Lánshuò finished her story.

"Oh wow, that sounds really bleak and lonely," Sayaka said.

"Sorry, maybe I judged you wrong at first, but... you did make a pretty... unusual first impression.," Maldie added, then let out a nervous laugh.

"It’s fine," Lánshuò replied flatly.

"Wait, but if you’ve got such good hearing then... what exactly can you hear?" Sayaka asked, a mix of fear and curiosity in her voice.

"Everything. This palace isn’t that big," she answered, then fell quiet for a mont. She looked sideways, toward the hallway leading to Shion’s office. "Right now I can hear my lady’s parents kissing..."

"No details!" Sayaka blurted out, bright red.

"So nothing gets past you? That’s kind of scary, but also... that ans you’d hear anyone trying to hurt Haru, Shion, or their kids before they get close, right?"

"Yes."

Sayaka stretched and then yawned.

"Sorry, I think part of still feels tired."

"Well, no wonder. But you did get two weeks to rest, because the royal couple let you. I’m jealous of you, getting a vacation just like that."

"Guess they like ," she joked, laughing lightly.

Yuri rolled over to the other side. She yawned, then sluggishly pulled herself upright.

"That was a short nap, my lady. We didn’t wake you, did we?" Lánshuò asked.

"Nooo, I just didn’t feel like sleeping anymore," the girl mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes before yawning again.

Then the door opened and Gari walked in with Asahi and Shion the Second.

"Oh wow, looks like we’ve gathered quite the team here," she said, laughing, her expression turning serious the mont she noticed Lánshuò. "And you are... who?"

"She’s Yuri’s guard! Mom told you about her, rember, Auntie?" Asahi said.

"Oh, right," she said, though she couldn’t stop a quick shiver. "You give the creeps," Gari said bluntly.

"You don’t have to worry. We were scared of her at first too, but you do get used to her... at least a little," Maldie said.

"Seems that’s just the effect I have on humans," Lánshuò muttered.

"Well, since there’s so many of us, do you want to play sothing as a group?" Asahi suggested.

"I want to, but I have to help Dad," Shion the Second said.

"Your dad gave you the day off. As long as he doesn’t co get you, you’re free to have fun, Shion," Gari said, grinning at him.

"Well... yeah, true," Shion the Second admitted.

Lánshuò made that face again, like she was listening to sothing far away. She heard the soft creak of wooden furniture, Shion and Haru’s quickened breathing, Haru’s moans... Anyone else would’ve gotten embarrassed or at least blushed hearing sothing like that, but Lánshuò’s face didn’t change one bit.

"Besides, it’s better not to interrupt them right now," she said casually.

"Huh? Why?" Shion the Second asked, confused.

Sayaka, Maldie, and Gari, all realizing what Lánshuò ant, exchanged knowing looks.

"Well, you know, they’re probably talking about sothing really important – stuff only adults can be there for," Maldie replied. "Maybe they’re figuring out what to get you for your birthdays so you can have so really cool surprises."

"Oooooh! I want a cool surprise from Mom and Dad!" Asahi yelled happily, then laughed. "What do you guys want get from them?"

"A whole year off," Shion the Second answered making a bit of a grim face.

"A really big plushie. As big as Lánshuò," Yuri replied.

"Oh wow, sewing sothing that size would take years," Maldie said, looking Lánshuò up and down.

"Well... honestly, at first I thought she was so kind of enchanted doll," Sayaka joked, and everyone laughed.

"So what are we gonna play?" Yuri asked.

"Tug of war!" Asahi suggested enthusiastically.

"We don’t have a rope," Gari replied. "Also maybe let’s play sothing less exhausting?"

"Hmmm..." Shion the Second thought out loud. "Painting together, but against the clock?"

"Boooring!" Asahi shot back.

"Better than your stupid tug of war!" Shion snapped.

"Boys, don’t fight," Maldie scolded gently. "But since you’re getting along so badly, this is your chance to fix that. Since you’re arguing so much, you’ll be on the sa team."

"But we don’t even know what we’re playing yet!" Shion the Second argued.

"Y-yeah! And if we do that, Yuri’s team will be almost all adults, and that’s not fair!"

"Then Lánshuò will switch over to your side," Maldie said.

"No. I’m not leaving my lady’s side for a second," Lánshuò said firmly.

"In that case... Gari and I will team up with Shion and Asahi, and Sayaka and Lánshuò will be with Yuri," Maldie decided.

Are you sure that’s fair?" Shion the Second asked, looking unsure.

"I think so. Sothing tells Lánshuò counts as, like... five people," Sayaka laughed.

"I’ve got an idea! We’ll make mini-competitions!" Asahi exclaid. "There’s...–" he paused, counting everyone in the room –"... seven of us! Everyone picks one competition. I’ll start. Mine is... javelin throw!"

"No way! Where are we even supposed to get a javelin?! We’re not sneaking into the armory! And we’d have to throw it sowhere nobody gets hurt or we don’t break stuff!" Shion the Second shot back.

"That’s actually not a bad idea, we can just change it a bit," "Maldie said with a smile, getting ahead of Asahi before the boys’ argunt could get any worse. "How about we throw a stick as far as we can in the royal gardens? If we pick a small one, no one will get hurt and nothing will break."

"Okay, but from where to where do we throw?" Gari asked.

"I got it!" Sayaka burst out after holding her chin in thought. "From the entrance to the bench."

"Works for ," Gari said. "Alright, team, follow !"

When they reached the gardens, Maldie picked up one thicker stick and seven blades of grass. The blades were for drawing lots to decide the order.

The teams lined up facing each other.

The first round of one of the seven competitions began – Yuri versus Gari...