My Beloved Princess ~The Boy Called Incompetent Rises with Only a Sword and the Princess's Devotion~ - Chapter 113: A Letter from Kokuren

Chapter 113: A Letter from Kokuren

“After saying goodbye to Shunka, I set out on a wandering journey. I became the adventurer I’d dreamed of being back in my student days, delved into dungeons, gathered medicinal herbs… and scraped together a hand-to-mouth living. 

True to the notion of never carrying money over to the next night, I spent everything I earned on food and drink. Well, that was enjoyable in its own way. But after repeating the same thing for decades, I grew tired of it. Eventually I drifted to this land near my birthplace and settled down. What happened after that is another long story, but the sun is already starting to set, so perhaps we should leave it there for today.”

That was how Kirin brought her tale of the past to a close.

Kuroyō, who had openly shown her anger at mankind’s deeds only a short while ago, had already regained her composure. She leaned in close, her expression once more a perfect poker face, and said,

“Head Consort-sama, why did you not bid Father farewell?”

“Because I deemed it unnecessary.”

“Was that truly so?”

“What could you possibly understand about me?”

“Whenever Father spoke of Head Consort-sama, he always looked lonely.”

Pain lanced through Kirin’s chest, and she grimaced.

“I see. They do say children watch their parents well.”

“For a hundred and fifty years, you endured suffering someone as inexperienced as I am could never understand. Even so, there was something I felt in the details of the story you told. It was the same thing I felt from Father.”

Her sorrowful pupils narrowed, as though peering straight into Kirin’s heart.

It was a pure, direct gaze without the slightest cloud upon it.

Her face was the spitting image of Rakuyō in her youth, yet the strength of will in those eyes reminded Kirin of the forthright Kokuren. Across the gulf of time, it gave her the strange illusion that she was facing Kokuren himself.

“Those eyes of yours, as though they see through everything. I feel as if I might be drawn into them.”

Those bewitching eyes blinked slowly.

It felt like a silent protest.

Kokuren’s shadow overlapped with the figure before her. Kirin let out a sigh.

“Very well. I’ll confess it. It would be a lie to say I have no regrets. I should have faced Kokuren properly and declared our parting openly.”

The reason she had been unable to face him was simple: her heart had been weak.

She had been afraid. Afraid Kokuren would cling to her in tears and beg her to stay. Afraid her feelings would waver, and she would be dragged back into the hell of burning in the raging flames of jealousy.

She had also been afraid of being cast aside. Afraid he would tell her he did not care. That someone like her was unnecessary. Afraid the meaning of her very existence would be denied, and with it the hundred and fifty years she had endured.

Whichever way it went, she had known her heart would be wounded.

That was why Kirin had said goodbye only to Shunka, then set out on her journey as though fleeing.

“Head Consort-sama. If so, then even now it is not too late. Come with me to Father.”

“That is impossible. I deserted the pack and became a stray. I am no longer the Head Consort. Kokuren and I parted ways.”

Kirin shook her head without hesitation, making her refusal clear. But for the first time since arriving here, Kokuren’s daughter voiced a plain objection.

“Head Consort-sama, that is what is impossible. By law, the Head Consort is an absolute, inviolable position. Which means that even now, in the present tense, you are still Father’s Head Consort. In fact, you used the seal of the highest authority, and it was valid, was it not?”

“——–“

“The seal of the highest authority can be changed, if one wishes. The fact that it has not been means Father is still waiting for your return.”

Kuroyō declared without hesitation that Kirin was still the Head Consort in both name and reality, and that she still had a place to return to.

And yet it had already been more than sixty years since she fled. Perhaps she had spent forty of those years wandering the world without any destination at all. In the end she had drifted to Algant, built a crude hut with her own hands, and settled there. Then, in a foreign land, she had taken a new husband and borne a child.

“As you know, Kishō is a half-dragon. In other words, in this city I loved a human man and gave birth to the child born from that love. After all that, what face am I supposed to show Kokuren now?”

This was not something as simple as staining one’s honour.

For a woman who had literally given herself to another man, nothing that could still be called honour remained.

To love a man other than one’s master was an unforgivable betrayal of one’s master.

The moment she parted ways with him and loved another man, the road back to Black Emperor Castle had closed as well.

And yet the stepdaughter she had taken for nothing more than obedient showed Kirin no mercy.

“Head Consort-sama. Surely you haven’t forgotten. Father is an eccentric too.”

“Even Kokuren cannot very well grin after another man steals his wife from him.”

“Can he not, Head Consort-sama? Father’s heart is deeper than the sea.”

With that, Kuroyō took a letter from inside her robes.

She set it on the table, then smoothly held it out.

“Father entrusted it to me before I departed. He said he wanted me to give it to the other side’s parents.”

Frowning, Kirin took the letter in hand.

——————————

Dear…

Nah, let’s skip the stiff greeting.

Ever since I heard he was a swordsmanship nut, I had a feeling.

Well, whatever. The judgement that said he had no attribute affinity was Shunka’s little trick, wasn’t it? Normally that result only comes up when someone from a race other than dragonkin touches it. The only explanation is that the magical computation programme was rigged on purpose. Even if the system couldn’t read the seventh attribute, it still should’ve been able to read the other six, so it ought to have output whichever one was strongest. If it didn’t, somebody must’ve tampered with it so that wouldn’t happen… though I guess that’s enough about that.

Hm? Why are you making such a shocked face?

It was obvious as hell.

To begin with, even limited to swordsmanship, there isn’t a single student anywhere who can beat Unran. If there is one, it’d be your son. Right, Kirin?

I know I was wrong to break our promise.

You’ve got every right to be angry. Even so, all I feel is gratitude that you stayed with me for a hundred and fifty long years. I mean that.

But don’t get the wrong idea.

Your son is practically my son too. And the same goes the other way around. My daughter is your daughter too. Those two are getting married. That’s something worth celebrating, isn’t it?

If I’m being honest, I wanted to have a child with you.

Our child. Yours and mine. No doubt the strongest child in dragonkin history would’ve been born. An absurdly gifted daughter or son… well, either way, they’d have been adorable.

…I got carried away there. Sorry.

I guess I don’t have the right to say that so proudly anymore.

But still.

If your son and my daughter are joined together, then even if only indirectly, our dream will come true, won’t it?

Probably, but I think that fool Rakuyō has noticed too.

Trying to sic Unran on them makes it painfully obvious this is personal resentment.

But listen. Deep down, she shouldn’t really want to become an obstacle to those two youngsters either. So I want you to stop her. With your fists, like in the old days.

Well, that’s how it is. So come back, just once.

I’m sure we’ve both got a lot to talk about piled up by now. Why don’t we sit down and talk, just the two of us, for once? Like old times.

If you want to live in a human city, that’s fine too. If it feels awkward, you can turn right around and head back. But please, just this once, come back.

I’m looking forward to the day we can meet again.

From your beloved husband.

——————————

The hand gripping the letter trembled uncontrollably.

No words came.

Even so, her throat quivered, and she somehow managed to squeeze out a voice.

“Did you… tell Kokuren?”

The lustrous black hair and beauty she had inherited from her mother swayed from side to side.

“He is the husband who spent many long years with you, Head Consort-sama. Even if I had said nothing, a wise man like Father would naturally have seen through it.”

Kirin rose and walked over to the window.

She looked out at the sky, dyed red by the setting sun.

“Is Rakuyō opposed to the marriage?”

“Yes. Regrettably. She says a commoner who’s only good for swordsmanship is not worthy of me.”

Letting out a deep sigh, Kirin gave a wry smile. She slowly shook her head and breathed out.

“There are outstanding people among commoners too. Kokuren himself proved that. Has Rakuyō let her hatred of me cloud her eyes?”

“I have no answer to that, Head Consort-sama.”

“Honestly. The way she has always treated me as her sworn enemy hasn’t changed at all. Rakuyō’s pride is far too high. All I have are these fists, but Rakuyō possesses leadership backed by charisma. It is not a matter of which is superior. Both are strengths Kokuren needs.”

“Precisely, Head Consort-sama. However, Mother should understand that herself. After all, it was Mother herself who taught me the principle of putting the right person in the right place.”

“I see. Very well.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Her heart naturally grew lighter, and a refreshing clarity settled over her. Her resolve was made.

“From the children’s point of view, after being dragged into adult circumstances, this is nothing but a nuisance. Very well. I shall speak with Rakuyō myself.”

She opened the wardrobe in the bedroom and took out a dragon robe fit for going out.

Kirin had made it herself with her clumsy hands. It was covered in patches and misshapen in places, but that was fine. She had cast aside her noble life. There was no point in putting on airs now.

She removed the false bottom from the wardrobe and took out the gold seal hidden within.

“I must return this as well.”

She stripped off her dingy apron and changed into the dragon robe.

Then, when Kirin headed for the entrance, Kuroyō quietly followed behind her.

Something flashed across Kirin’s mind, and she stopped walking.

She turned around.

“Heh. You are a frightening girl. In order to make them acknowledge those two’s marriage, Kokuren needs a just cause. If this scenario has unfolded exactly as you pictured it… then that is a truly terrifying thing. Cunning, shrewd, and quick-witted. Are both I and even Kokuren dancing in the palm of your hand?”

Kuroyō folded her hands before her and bowed her head.

Her face was expressionless, with only a quiet, overwhelming beauty fixed upon it.

“I truly am sorry that it has taken the form of using Head Consort-sama. However, I will remove every obstacle standing in the way of my marriage to Kishō. If it is for the sake of marrying him, I will do anything.”

Her ability to throw herself into action without regard for appearances was proof of just how serious she was.

The loyalty of a dragonkin woman ought to be offered to her master, not to those in power, and still less to her parents. For the sake of her master, she would choose no means and use anything that could be used. That shrewd posture itself was proof that her love for Kirin’s son surpassed all else.

“I see. Hearing that puts me at ease. Please take good care of my son.”

She left the hut.

When would she next return to it?

Tomorrow? A week from now? Or perhaps a year?

Either way, Kirin gave a great stretch.

The cold winter wind swept her hair from behind and pressed against the hem of the dragon robe she had not worn in a long while, as though urging her onward.