The Yasha’s Princess (2)

(—They didn’t know I could use healing power.)

Apparently, it had never even crossed their minds that she might possess some special ability. They had welcomed her simply because she was a guest Ryoga had brought with him.

But that was not what had surprised Mei most. Even after learning that she belonged to a clan of exorcists, their attitudes toward her had not changed.

“It’s not as though you did anything to us, Princess. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

When Mei casually confided her worries to Aki after she heard what had happened, Aki dismissed them with surprising ease.

Mei had been certain they would distance themselves from her, or perhaps even attack her, because she was related to exorcists who had hurt their companions.

“Most of the ones here are harmless now, but plenty of them caused all sorts of trouble in the past. Ryoga-sama is broad-minded enough to accept all of them regardless. And you were someone Ryoga-sama himself acknowledged and brought here. We’re not going to do anything to you.”

Perhaps sensing Mei’s anxiety, Aki had reassured her gently. Gen, who had been nearby, nodded in agreement.

“Besides, if you’re a Princess, why would we have any reason to dislike you? A Princess is someone precious to us. Please, stay here forever.”

“That’s right, Princess. Stay here forever.”

Ever since then, Mei had begun actively treating weakened and injured Aberrations. By now, apparently even Aberrations who had heard rumors about her came all the way to Ryoga’s residence specifically to seek her help.

“As long as you truly don’t mind. But if anything troubles you, tell me immediately.”

Unexpectedly, Ryoga was quite the worrier.

He looked cold at first glance, but seeing how deeply the Aberrations gathered here adored him made it clear that he was actually a deeply compassionate person.

Perhaps Ryoga’s way was to protect anything he had once accepted into his care, no matter what it was.

“I will.”

“Good.”

Mei bowed to Ryoga after he nodded in satisfaction, then left the room.

Gen was waiting for her in the corridor, curled up like a cat.

“What did Master say?”

“He wanted to talk about another treatment. Apparently, someone else has arrived injured.”

“Again? Princess, aren’t you tired?”

“Hehe, I’m fine.”

Gen’s concern overlapped so perfectly with Ryoga’s that Mei could not help letting out a small laugh.

(—This really is such a warm place.)

Her days in the human world now felt like a lie.

(—I wonder if that boy is doing well somewhere too.)

The injured young oni she had once met was probably living quietly somewhere in this world. Perhaps she might even meet him again someday. Before she knew it, Mei had begun to think that way.

(—I want to thank him someday.)

She wanted to tell him that the words he had given her that day, and the memory of him, had supported her all this time.

Holding that warmth in her heart, Mei hurried with Gen toward the guest room where the Aberration was waiting.

A thin layer of snow now covered the garden that had looked like spring that morning. Bathed in the setting sun, the snow had turned crimson, and Mei involuntarily stopped to admire it.

“Princess, aren’t you going to dinner?”

Gen spoke to her curiously when she stopped. To him, this was probably an ordinary sight.

“Can I watch it just a little longer?”

“Of course!”

Gen never opposed Mei’s wishes. He spoke up clearly when something was forbidden or dangerous, but otherwise he always gave priority to what Mei wanted.

(—Today was peaceful too.)

When she heard the patient was a frog Aberration, she had wondered what sort of creature awaited her, only to find a bizarre figure with an almost entirely human body and only a frog’s head.

Apparently, he had attempted to use a transformation art so he could present an impressive appearance to the woman he wanted to propose to, but the spell had failed, leaving only his face untransformed. The shock had been so great that he had dislocated his jaw.

When Mei healed him with her power, he instantly returned to the form of a frog small enough to fit in her palm.

“Ahh, I thought I was going to die. Thank you, Princess.”

Far from being disturbing, the way he repeatedly bowed his head was rather charming, and Mei quickly became friends with the frog.

He had even asked her advice on how he should propose without relying on transformation, and Mei and Gen had ended up enthusiastically discussing one idea after another with him.

After finishing the treatment, Mei ate the lunch Aki had prepared with Gen, then spent a peaceful time playing with the Aberrations who had finished their work and reading books Ryoga had prepared for her.

Mei had been given nothing but warm, peaceful days, with no restraints and no restrictions whatsoever.

(—It feels like a dream.)

Her life now felt just like the scenery in this garden. Only half a month earlier, Mei had not even been able to smile in her everyday life. Now Gen, Aki, and Ryoga all made her smile.

“This really is such a mysterious place.”

“The human world is far more mysterious.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. Why do humans obey people who aren’t particularly strong or worthy of respect? Gen cannot understand it at all.”

Mei could not help giving a wry smile. Gen was clearly talking about the people of West Suo.

Back there, the word of her father, Shiro, as head of the family had been absolute. Defying him was unthinkable. Obedience without question was expected, and having a will of one’s own was considered unacceptable. That was what she had been taught all her life.

“Even though you possess such a wonderful power, Princess.”

“…Over there, my power was considered abnormal. It was something that wasn’t supposed to exist…”

There was no possibility that an exorcist clan would acknowledge a power that healed Aberrations. Useless. Incompetent.

Remembering the countless words that had been hurled at her like spears, Mei’s body stiffened.

“Maybe things would have been different if I had been stronger.”

Because healing was the only power Mei possessed, she had not even been allowed to undergo proper training as an exorcist.

Her only choice had been to live quietly within the estate, making herself as inconspicuous as possible.

Recently, however, she had begun to wonder whether she might have been able to stand up to them if she had possessed Ryoga’s confidence and strength. Perhaps she could have protested the unfairness of her treatment, acted to rescue weak Aberrations, and changed something.

(—But I can only think this way because of Ryoga-sama.)

If she had remained trapped in that place, she probably would never even have been able to imagine thinking like this.

Life here had given Mei new values and new emotions.

“Ryoga-sama is amazing.”

Ryoga, who ruled this enormous residence and the surrounding lands, was loved and respected by everyone. Gen, Aki, and all the little Aberrations adored him.

And so did Mei. Simply thinking of Ryoga brought a faint warmth to the depths of her chest. Mei still did not quite know what that feeling meant.

“Master truly is a magnificent person. After all, he is the ‘Yasha King.’”

“Yasha King?”

Mei instinctively repeated the unfamiliar term, and Gen suddenly froze before hurriedly covering his mouth.

“Ah, um, that was…”

Seeing him panic more than she ever had before, Mei realized she had apparently been told something she was not supposed to hear and gave a wry smile.

“Is it something you’re keeping secret from me?”

“It’s not exactly that…”

Mei gently stroked the apologetic Gen.

Back at the West Suo estate, Mei had always felt pathetic whenever she was kept ignorant. It had made her feel as though she were being told she did not belong there.

Yet strangely, she did not feel that way now. That was because she knew Ryoga and the others genuinely cared about her. If they chose not to tell her something, there had to be a reason. They had given her enough trust to believe that.

“Don’t worry about it.”

When Mei smiled gently, Gen’s body trembled in visible relief. His adorable reaction only made her smile deepen.