Servant of Evil ch 5

I pull a cloak over myself and hide the dagger in its many folds. It tears me to do this, but if Rin wants Miku dead, I can't go against that. I leave the inn and head for the beach. Miku won't arrive until sunset, but I might see her along the way. Not caring, I run for the beach through alleys.

I see Miku in one of the alleys I pass. I head back to her, the guilt in my stomach growing more and more. "Miku! What are you doing?" She turns to me. "Oh! Len, you scared me. I'm trying to slip through town unnoticed. I thought you might be going down to the beach early, and we apparently think alike!"

"Yeah." I let out a weak laugh and slowly pull out the dagger. Miku smiles. "Princess Rin wants you to kill me, doesn't she?" I stop and nod. "That's alright. I'll do it myself." She reaches for my hands. I pull back. "Miku, why would you want to kill yourself? I don't want to do this, either." She smiles again. "Len, Prince Kaito has fallen in love with me, but I don't love him. I love someone else. Being forced to be with someone I don't love isn't the way I want to live. I can't refuse him either. He might hurt someone dear to me, even if he is a kind ruler. Please, let me do this."

I step back. "Miku, I really don't know, but who is the person you love?" Taking me by surprise, she lunges forward and pushes the dagger into her chest. She smiles again and falls into my arms. "You, Len. I love you." The same words that make my heart melt are the last words Miku ever says.

I just hold her limp body in my arms lost in sorrow for a few minutes. "Miku!" A familiar voice snaps me into reality. I turn around and see Prince Kaito outlined in the mouth of the alley. He seems to recognize me. "Why you little—wait, aren't you Princess Rin's servant? Why would you do this?" I lay Miku down and run. "Hey! I'm not through with you!"

I look behind me—a major mistake—and see Prince Kaito chasing me. His sword his strapped to his side. The alley ends with no outlet. "You are not getting away!" He draws his sword and slashes at me. I get out of the way in time for the sword not to make a critical hit, but it still nicks my arm. I run around Prince Kaito with a burst of energy fueled by my fear.

I take many turns and purposely leave drops of blood to throw the Prince off. As I draw near the inn, I take care not to let any blood drip off my arm. I run into my room, pack all of my things quickly into a bag. Wrapping my arm as I go, I run down the hall. The man is still at the little table where he was when I arrived. "I'm leaving now. You can re-rent the room." He nods and thanks me for staying.
I head to the port immediately. The boat is waiting for me. "Take me back to Princess Rin. Now!" The young captain is a little shocked at my urgency, but he listens anyway. I watch the disappearing coastline as the boat leaves the dock. Prince Kaito is on the shore line watching me leave. He puts his sword back in the scabbard and turns back to the village.