Chapter 164
Teatro Comunale di Bologna
Bologna, Italy
Riku was sitting next to his seething sister in the private box they were assigned by security.
Their father was with them, his attention on the stage below where the opera was being performed.
Emperor Meiji rather enjoyed the opera and it had been too long since he’d been to the theater.
Riku had no interest in the opera, but he had even less interest in the drama he found himself neck deep in because of two words. That wasn’t what he was expecting in this Italian adventure. It was supposed to be shopping, a little nightlife and dinner, romance and fun.
Now it was anything but.
Suiko was spying on the couple that was in a private box on the other side of the theater with her opera glasses.
Kita was sitting next to Rain, holding her hand on his lap, his attention split between her and the stage below. His parents, siblings, Will, and those that appeared to be related to Rain or friends of hers, filled William Lee’s private box but it was still comfortable and roomy.
When you are a high dollar donor to the arts, they gave you whatever you wanted, including a private box that was reserved for royalty.
The young Korean was rather pretty in a way, Riku thought, and the Modeste gown she wore coordinated with Kita’s tuxedo and made them appear as a red carpet couple. When they were introduced, Riku noted that there was something in her dark olive green eyes that was almost possessive. Despite her smile, there was no mistaking she didn’t like Suiko in the least.
Did Kita tell his young fiancée of the sorted past he had with his last assignment? Royal matters were kept strictly confidential, and those of the Yasuhiro family knew the importance of maintaining confidentiality and looking the other way when it pertained to the Imperial family.
“She isn’t that pretty,” Suiko sneered.
Riku took the opera glasses from her and looked where his sister had been.
Kita was tenderly caressing the top of the young woman’s hand with his thumb. Riku didn’t seen an engagement ring, but he knew that a movie star would never wear an engagement ring in public if their engagement was being kept private…
And that was something his sister would exploit.
When a tear rolled down the young woman’s cheek, Kita was quick to wipe it away for her.
And when he did, she looked over at Kita and smiled and he smiled in return.
“Huh, that’s different,” Riku said.
“What?” Suiko asked, trying to take the opera glasses but he wouldn’t let go of them and they started fighting over them.
Emperor Meiji sighed then smacked them both upside the head before taking the opera glasses from them. “Stop fighting or I will make you wear your Get Along Jacket for a month!” he hissed.
Riku groaned. “But she started it, Father,” he whined. “I told her to leave him alone. And now she’s stalking him from across the theater.”
Meiji shook his head. “Leave Kita Yasuhiro be,” he warned.
Suiko glared at him. “How can you tell me to leave him alone when he lied to your children, right to our faces!” she hissed.
Meiji shook his head. “Kita Yasuhiro has never lied to anyone, not once.”
“That girl-”
“Is his fiancée,” Meiji said. “Seon Rain, known by the public as Myo Mi-Sun, is a very, very kind and lovely young lady. She makes Kita happy, and I am happy, so unbelievably happy, that they have found each other and she rooted in his heart. Leave them alone.”
Suiko’s nostrils flared before she got to her feet and stormed out of the private theater box.
Riku sighed. “Did you want me to go after her?” he asked, not sounding interested in doing that in the least.
His sister was about to do something stupid that he didn’t want any part of.
Meiji shook his head. “I would never put you in danger like that, Son,” he assured him, patting his hand before pulling his mobile phone out then text messaged Mauri to let him know the princess was loose.
“If what you say is true, then they are truly engaged?” Riku asked.
“The young woman is very, very special, Son,” Meiji said. “For years I have longed for happiness for my nephews, and for my son as well, but you all had your hearts closed off for very different reasons. Now that Kita has found someone, it is you and Lucien’s turn to follow in his footsteps.”
Riku shook his head. “Father, I have much more pressing matters to concern myself with.”
“Like your ever growing shoe collection?”
They turned to regard the interloper.
Lucien was standing behind them with a smirk.
“My shoe collection is none of your concern,” Riku informed him.
“Those painful new Gucci shoes you slipped out of say otherwise,” Lucien said, joining them then offered a bow to Meiji.
Meiji smiled. “Lucien, my nephew, you get more handsome and troublesome every day,” he teased.
“I am my mother’s child,” Lucien reminded him with a wink. “Kita asked me to relay that he does not appreciate the audience while he is enjoying the company of his date and the opera.”
Meiji tucked the opera glasses in his inside jacket pocket. “Of course. You did not happen to see my daughter, did you?”
Lucien nodded. “I did. They went the opposite direction that I did, but Lula will intercept them if the Princess tries to gain entry. Will you allow me to escort you to William’s box so you may enjoy the show with my parents?” he asked.
Meiji smiled and got to his feet. “It would be an honor to join my brother in heart. Then we will get dinner after the show. You two stay here and I’ll have my guards escort me,” he said with a smile.
Lucien bowed then Meiji exited the private box.
Riku groaned; he knew what was coming.
Lucien sat down then punched him in the arm, knocking him over. “What in the hell?! Why did you invite your demonic sister? I invited you, not her!”
The prince made a face. “I don’t know. I was feeling paranoid because her little pet was missing. I didn’t want her plotting my demise when my guard was down.”
This complicated things greatly.
“Her pet, is that Amano Ryoko?” Lucien asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Riku looked at him with wide eyes. “How did you know that?”
Lucien shook his head. “Put your shoes back on. We have a problem, one you are not solely responsible for this time,” he scolded.
“What happened? What aren’t you telling me?” Riku demanded, grabbing his shoes from the floor; he had slipped out of them because they were killing his feet. “Are they really engaged?”
“Seon Rain is special,” Lucien explained in typical Lucien fashion. He pulled his mobile phone out then flipped through the pictures before showing it to Riku.
Riku looked at the photo and his eyes widened. “Whoa. I have never seen your brother look so at peace,” he said, swiping through the pictures of Kita and Rain sleeping from the villa. “My sister is going to cause issues.”
“Her pet already has,” Lucien said, pocketing his mobile phone..
Riku struggled to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat. “How bad is it?” he struggled to ask.
“War will ensue, one that will force my father to choose between his family and the Imperial family once more,” Lucien said, quickly wiping away the tear that rolled down his cheek.
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