Chapter 4

It had all ended so quickly that it hardly seemed real. Yet the king, the Second Prince, and the consort had undeniably become silent corpses, and the shock of that sight was still evident in the trembling of both of Shaila’s hands.

To keep that trembling from spreading through the rest of her body, Shaila clasped her hands tightly together as she followed behind Princess Kana. If she wished to protect the kingdom—and Prince William—refusing a request from Princess Kana would be nothing but a disastrous move.

(All the more so for a queen who only narrowly escaped death…)

The guard who had rushed into her room with frantic footsteps had brought Shaila more than the expected news that the Saintess Summoning had succeeded.

The Saintess, furious at having been abducted from another world, had captured Prince William, the king, and even Prince Alton, and was demanding their heads. Furthermore, when asked whom he wished to see one last time, Prince William had named his “mother.”

Shaila had been shocked by the news, but she immediately steeled herself.

There had been around ten knights and guards in the summoning chamber, including Knight Commander Beaton. If matters had still reached such a state despite their presence, then the Saintess’s power clearly surpassed all of them by an overwhelming margin. In that case, Shaila concluded that the only possible way to save her son William was for his “mother” to offer her own life and plead for his.

(And for that reason, I must show her every proper courtesy.)

With that resolve, Shaila had hurried toward the summoning chamber together with the consort, only for Consort Trisha—who had underestimated the Saintess as an ordinary young girl—to nearly ruin everything. Astonishingly, she had begun issuing arrogant commands directly to the Saintess.

Shaila had hurriedly silenced her, but it was obvious the Saintess had taken offense. She had felt an unimaginably vast mass of magical power stir. And so Shaila had quickly offered repeated apologies before begging for her son’s life in exchange for her own.

But—

(This may be impossible…)

That was what she had thought. When Trisha interrupted yet again, Shaila had nearly despaired completely. Yet in the end, although there had been conditions attached, William’s life had somehow been spared.

Everything after that had unfolded with such dizzying speed that Shaila almost felt as though her sense of time itself had broken.

Princess Kana and the two children had performed an eerie ritual upon William. He had writhed in agony, and before Shaila even realized what was happening, the executions of the king, Alton, and Trisha had been decided upon and immediately carried out.

As she stared at the three unmoving bodies, Shaila had become certain of one thing. If Princess Kana so desired, she could probably fill not merely that chamber, but the entire castle with corpses.

That was precisely why, if the girl became their ally and lent them her strength, perhaps this kingdom could still be protected… Shaila could sense that everyone else had reached the same conclusion. That was why no one had interfered with the executions.

After all, First Prince William was still alive, and though his mother, the queen, had narrowly escaped death herself, she too remained alive. The dignity of the royal house could somehow be preserved through the two of them, and therefore the sacrifice of three lives was unavoidable. Shaila could almost feel that unspoken thought filling the room.

And now, before Shaila’s very eyes, the girl who had been chanting an unfamiliar incantation became enveloped in gentle light, and the wound she had inflicted upon herself vanished without a trace. Once again, Shaila was reminded of the Saintess’s power—and of everything she might be capable of.

(No matter what it takes, I must secure her cooperation. If that requires me to cast aside useless pride and emotion, then so be it. I am the queen of this kingdom!)

Though she was painfully aware of the heavy, cold knot of guilt lodged deep within her, Shaila resolved to keep moving forward for the sake of her kingdom and her son.

“On korokoro sendarimatōgi sowaka. On korokoro sendarimatōgi sowaka. On korokoro sendarimatōgi sowaka.”

After leaving the room with Queen Shaila following behind her, Princess Kana did not immediately walk away even after the door closed. Instead, she remained where she was and recited the mantra of Bhaiṣajyaguru three times. A soft light gently enveloped her entire body, and the wound she had made on herself moments earlier vanished without a trace. Kana could tell from Shaila’s widened eyes that the queen was astonished.

(Hmm. So mantras are effective in this world as well. And the wound disappeared far more quickly and cleanly than I expected.)

Having confirmed that one of her techniques still worked, Princess Kana started walking so that she could carry out the other ideas that had occurred to her.

“Now then, Shaila. Would you guide me to the rooms belonging to those whose heads I just took, and then to wherever this castle keeps its money and valuables? At times like this, thieves usually appear.”

“I understand that, but may I ask why Lady Kana intends to go personally?”

A voice called out from behind them. The princess stopped and turned around to find a bald man standing beside the door they had just exited.

He was a small man dressed entirely in plain gray clothing, but intelligence and determination were readily apparent in his gaze. He bowed once, then hurried over to join the two women.

“And who are you?”

“Forgive me for addressing you from behind. My name is Aldridge, and I serve as this kingdom’s chancellor. There was something I wished to ask Lady Kana, so although I knew it might be discourteous, I took the liberty of calling out to you.”

“Chancellor?”

“I am chiefly responsible for the practical administration of the kingdom.”

“Something akin to a regent or chief adviser, then. Very well. To speak frankly, I am still uncertain what I should do with myself from this point onward. I have not forgiven you for dragging me into this world, but I have already received compensation for that. And if it truly is impossible for me to return home, then I understand that it would be wiser to acquire some knowledge of this world before rushing blindly out into it.”

As she spoke, she stared into the distance for a moment and then closed her eyes, as though remembering scenery she would never see again. When she opened them, she resumed walking.

“Therefore, if you truly require my strength, I thought it might be one possible course for us to cooperate while I learn about this world. However—”

She stopped once more, this time stroking the backs of the two foxes walking protectively on either side of her as she gave the queen and chancellor a probing look.

“Even if I choose to lend you my power, I have no intention of bearing every responsibility alone. If that is what you expect of me, then I shall do nothing at all and simply watch as you perish.”

The queen answered immediately.

“If the Saintess is willing to cooperate with us, I promise that we will never place such a burden upon you.”

“I give the same assurance.”

Aldridge echoed the queen’s words. After hearing both replies, Princess Kana gave a slight nod and continued.

“Nor do I intend to do anything without compensation. I do not know what you had originally imagined, but I intend to demand payment appropriate to my work. When that time comes, I have no intention of tolerating some absurd claim that there is nothing available to give me. So I decided to inspect matters for myself. After all, at present I have no trustworthy subordinates of my own, so I have little choice but to handle such things personally.”

Apparently satisfied by that explanation, Aldridge murmured, “Understood,” and moved ahead to lead Princess Kana and the others.

“This is Prince Alton’s room.”

Aldridge opened the door to reveal a room filled with furniture and furnishings so lavish that even Princess Kana could immediately tell how extravagantly it had been appointed. And apparently someone had already broken in, because some kind of noise could be heard from deeper inside.

“It seems someone is already here.”

At the princess’s words, Suō snorted sharply and gave one forepaw a light flick. Two men immediately rolled out into the corridor, completely bound in cords. Startled by the sudden turn of events, they struggled and cried out while Princess Kana gave each of them a solid kick to the head with the toe of her sandal.

“Do not waste your time on such foolishness. Do you wish to die?”

“Eek…”

“W-we were merely tidying the prince’s room…”

“This is hardly the time for cleaning, and neither of you is one of the prince’s attendants!”

When Aldridge said that, both men fell silent, which made it obvious he had struck the mark. And if two thieves were already here, there was every chance others had entered the remaining rooms as well.

“In my country, stealing your lord’s property is a grave crime. You would have little right to complain if your heads were struck off on the spot.”

The thieves went pale at the princess’s cheerfully threatening words as she considered what to do with them.

Aldridge then asked if he might deal with the men himself, as there were questions he wished to ask them. Apparently, a gag order had already been issued regarding what had happened in the summoning chamber. Even so, thieves had appeared almost immediately, and he wanted to know how the information had leaked. Somehow, he had also arranged for two soldiers to stand nearby.

“One cannot build doors upon people’s mouths, as they say. Still, do as you please.”

With that, Princess Kana sealed the prince’s room using a talisman and urged the queen toward the next room.

The king’s private chambers had not been disturbed, likely because guards stood watch outside the door, but two men disguised as maids had infiltrated the consort’s room.

Worse, when Suō captured them, they had apparently already helped themselves to several pieces of jewelry, which could be seen protruding from various parts of their clothing. There was no plausible excuse left for them.

“You went so far as to disguise yourselves as women. How industrious of you. What will you do, Aldridge? Would you like to question these fellows as well?”

“If possible.”

“I do not mind. Though it is somewhat disappointing.”

After saying that, Princess Kana walked toward the door while stepping on the captured men’s backs and stomachs and affixed another talisman to the consort’s room. During the process, she pretended not to hear the “Ghk!” and “Gyee!” noises coming from beneath her feet.

The unfortunate thieves were later hauled upright by the soldiers and taken to the dungeon under Aldridge’s orders. Aldridge then excused himself as well, saying he had matters to attend to in the aftermath of everything that had happened.

After confirming with the queen that the king’s private chambers were properly guarded, Princess Kana went on to inspect the main vault and treasure chamber. Once satisfied with their security, she secretly placed human-shaped shiki in each location.

“A protective talisman from Mitsumine Shrine would be best, but this should suffice for now. I have largely finished what I wished to do, so guide me to my sleeping quarters. And have something brought for me to eat as well.”

After she told Shaila this, the queen immediately led her to a certain door.

The room beyond was every bit as luxurious as the princes’ chambers she had seen earlier. There was another door deeper inside, and Shaila explained that the bedchamber lay beyond it. When Princess Kana opened the door and peered inside, she found bedding raised upon a platform within what resembled hanging curtains.

(This is convenient enough.)

She looked around. There was nothing that seemed suitable for hanging her kimono, but there was a shelf apparently intended for clothing. She was thinking that she could probably make do with that when a knock sounded at the door, followed by the queen’s voice.

“I have brought your meal.”

“Enter.”

Shaila entered after announcing herself, accompanied by a woman pushing a wheeled cart. Princess Kana watched the woman prepare the meal from beginning to end, but noticed nothing particularly suspicious, so she told Shaila that she could retire for the day.

The queen then indicated a cord beside the door.

“If you require anything, please pull this cord. It will ring a bell and alert the servants.”

“Understood.”

“Then please rest well.”

Princess Kana waited until the queen and the woman had left before approaching the cart. A single chair had been placed beside it, apparently so she could sit there to eat.

Given the warning she had issued earlier, she doubted anyone would have dared poison the meal, but before eating she decided to recite a mantra possessing strong purifying power, just in case.

“On shuda shuda, on shuda shuda, on shuda shuda.”

The moment she chanted it, a powerful white light spread around the princess. Once the light faded, she sat down and began eating.

A deep dish containing soup had been placed beside a spoon, while a flat plate held something resembling a large steamed bun. A small bowl contained what appeared to be fruit cut into bite-sized pieces.

The soup seemed to use animal milk. Its strong dairy smell was somewhat unpleasant, but it was perfectly edible. The bun-like food smelled as though it had been made from wheat. There was nothing inside it, but when eaten together with the soup, the combination worked quite well.

(The flavors are rather coarse, but it is not bad.)

After finishing everything, Princess Kana began reflecting on all that had happened that day. Wondering whether she would truly never see her parents, younger brothers and sisters, Saki, Natsume, or Kurogane again, she took the hairpin from inside her robe and stared at it.

(Saki put this in my hair only this afternoon… After we returned to the estate, I was supposed to eat the sweets she had prepared. Today was the winter solstice, and Natsume had been looking forward to the yuzu bath that was to be provided for the servants… Tomorrow I was to practice sacred kagura with Mother, then train in martial arts with Kurogane. I was supposed to pass tomorrow, and the day after, and all the days that followed in that way. So why am I the only one trapped in a place like this…? Did I truly become someone who had never existed in the first place?)

Her chest tightened painfully and tears overflowed from her eyes. The droplets fell one after another, soaking into the navy fabric of her hakama. The two foxes immediately rubbed against her legs in concern.

“Princess, are you sad?”

“Princess, does it hurt?”

“It hurts terribly, and I am unbearably sad… But yes. I still have both of you. Suō, Kaō, do not worry. This will only be for now. I cannot allow those people to see me weak like this and use it against me. But just for now…”

With those words, she crouched on the floor and pulled both foxes tightly into her arms. Her shoulders trembled as she silently wept for some time.

Half an hour later, Princess Kana drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. After crying so much, she had calmed down somewhat.

That did not mean she had any intention whatsoever of forgiving the people of this world for what they had done to her.

Still—

(I have received my compensation. Cool your head and think!)

She bit her lip and admonished herself.

She had beheaded the lord of the castle, his consort, and their son. That seemed sufficient compensation for her abduction. Therefore, if she truly could not return home, Princess Kana needed to decide as quickly as possible how she would live from this point onward.

Though in truth, she already knew the answer.

Just as she had told Shaila and the others, she would establish a foundation upon which she could live in this land. For that purpose, however unwillingly, cooperating with the people of this kingdom and receiving compensation in return seemed the best course.

Yet she had no intention whatsoever of becoming a convenient tool to be used at their pleasure, nor did she intend to bow to the customs of this world. In that respect, making William into her piece seemed to have been a good decision. Thanks to that, she could probably afford to trust Shaila to a certain extent.

(Still, it concerns me that my divine power has increased to such an abnormal degree since coming here. Nor do I understand why my shiki show no sign of diminishing. They claim I was chosen and brought here by some god of this world, so unless I find that god, strike them two or three times, and force an explanation out of them, I doubt my anger will ever truly settle. Unfortunately, I have not the slightest idea where this god might be…)

For the moment, she decided to leave that problem for later.

After all, Princess Kana currently faced a far more urgent concern.

(First I would like to prepare for bed, but before that—I need the privy! There is something behind the screen in the next room that resembles a chamber pot, but… I cannot tell whether it truly is one!)

After agonizing over the matter for quite some time, Princess Kana finally gave the cord beside the door a firm pull.