The Yasha’s Princess (6)

“What have you done…!”

“Do you even understand what this wretch did to you? He…!”

Ryoga’s fury was so intense that “enraged” hardly seemed strong enough to describe it, and Mei had no idea what to do. Why was he so angry?

“When you… when you disappeared, do you have any idea how much I…”

His blue eyes wavered with anxiety. Seeing his expression twisted as though he might burst into tears at any moment, Mei finally realized what Ryoga must have been feeling when he came here.

(—He was this worried about me.)

The thoughts that had been filled with shock and confusion suddenly cleared.

She knew what she had to do now.

“…Lord Ryoga, I’m safe. I’m all right.”

She wrapped the arms she had not known what to do with around Ryoga and gently embraced him, pressing her forehead against his chest. Then, as though soothing a small child, she softly patted his back.

“You came looking for me, didn’t you? I’m sorry for making you worry. But I really am all right. No one did anything to me.”

As she carefully spoke each word, she felt the tension slowly drain from Ryoga’s rigid body.

“Mei.”

(—My name…!)

Startled, she looked up, only to find Ryoga staring back at her with an equally surprised expression.

Until now, Ryoga had never clearly called her by name.

While everyone else addressed her as “Princess,” Ryoga alone had always called her “you.”

“Lord Ryoga, I…”

As they stared at each other while still embracing, an apologetic flutter of wings sounded from a short distance away.

They both turned toward it and saw Jokyo pressing his forehead to the floor beside Kyo. Mei let out a short cry at the sight.

“Please stop!”

Even though Mei knew little about the workings of the Otherworld, she could easily imagine how important Jokyo must be if so many Karasu Tengu followed him. The chief who governed this land was bowing his head before them.

The realization made her face go pale.

“No, Lady Mei. This is only proper.”

Jokyo struck his forehead firmly against the floor.

“Lord Ryoga. My son has committed an outrageous offense. I offer you my head, so I beg you—please spare my son.”

“Lord Jokyo!”

“Father!”

Kyo, who had been lying on the ground, pushed himself up and clung to Jokyo.

“I’m the one at fault, Father! You’ve only just recovered—why would you say such a thing? I’ll accept whatever punishment is due, so please…”

“No. You are my heir. I cannot allow you to lose your life.”

“No! I can’t accept that! Yasha, please take my life instead. Everything that happened was my doing. I cannot disgrace myself by letting Father take my place!”

With another satisfyingly solid thud, Kyo pressed his forehead to the floor as well.

“Lord Ryoga. Please don’t be angry with them. Kyo only wanted to save his father, Lord Jokyo. I heard what happened and chose to help of my own will.”

Mei reached desperately for Ryoga’s arm.

They cared deeply for one another.

She did not want anything to happen to either of them.

As she looked at him with that plea in her eyes, Ryoga furrowed his brow deeply.

“…Haa.”

Letting out a long, heavy sigh, Ryoga finally removed one arm from around Mei and roughly swept his bangs back.

“Raise your heads, Karasu Tengu.”

“…But…”

“My Princess has asked me not to punish you. I wish to respect her feelings.”

Jokyo and Kyo both raised their heads.

Their foreheads had split open quite impressively, with blood beading from the wounds.

“I-Is that truly all right…?”

“Normally, I would tear you limb from limb for the crime of taking my Princess. But if the Princess has forgiven you, then I cannot very well refuse to do the same…”

Ryoga’s expression, weary as he carefully chose his words, had returned to its usual gentle calm.

“Lord Ryoga, thank you!”

Delighted, Mei clung to him, only for Ryoga to let out a low groan and turn his face away for some reason.

Wondering if she had done something improper, Mei tilted her head. Just then, something soft and fluffy began climbing up from around her feet.

“Princess~! Master~!”

Gen, his eyes brimming with tears, squeezed between them and clung tightly to Mei.

“Forgive me, Master. Even though Gen was with her… Please scold Gen! Punish Gen!”

As Gen cried in a high, kitten-like voice, Mei could feel the tense atmosphere around them gradually soften.

“It’s all right, Gen. Lord Ryoga isn’t going to be angry with you either.”

Mei gently stroked Gen’s head and looked up. Ryoga gave a wry smile and nodded faintly.

(—Thank goodness.)

Mei let out a relieved breath and smiled.

“I see.”

After Mei, Gen, and Jokyo took turns explaining what had happened, Ryoga slowly shook his head with an expression that said he understood, though he was still not entirely satisfied.

Since the hollow was too stifling, everyone was now sitting on the branch where Mei had first landed.

Ryoga sat right beside her, so close that he was practically pressed against her side.

Directly opposite them sat Jokyo and Kyo.

“I understand the circumstances. Lord Jokyo, first of all, I am glad you are safe. Had something happened to you, unnecessary conflict would likely have followed.”

“Lord Ryoga. Not only have you forgiven my son, but you even show concern for me… I am truly humbled.”

Jokyo looked so moved that he seemed about to slam his forehead against the branch again, and Mei hurriedly stopped him.

“If you do that, I’ll have to heal you all over again. Please, just rest.”

“Lady Mei truly is kind.”

Jokyo laughed heartily.

He seemed like a completely different person from the frail figure he had been before. Now that he had fully recovered, his voice was strong, and he carried himself with unmistakable confidence.

(—I can understand why Kyo wanted to save him.)

Beyond simply being his father, Jokyo was surely someone indispensable to the Karasu Tengu as a whole.

“However, if things were that dire, you should simply have asked for help. Because you resorted to abducting her, I also…”

Ryoga trailed off and let out an utterly exhausted sigh.

“Lord Ryoga…”

Knowing that she had caused him so much worry, Mei’s brows drooped.

Mei had spent all this time under Ryoga’s protection, so she had never known this, but beings who could truly be called physicians were exceedingly rare in the Otherworld. Even when one existed, they could ordinarily treat only members of their own species.

Because of that, the rare individuals born with healing powers and known as “Princesses” were considered extremely valuable, and having a Princess under one’s protection was apparently a considerable mark of status.

The higher-ranking the Aberration, the more they desired a Princess, and in the past there had even been conflicts among Aberrations over them.

That was why Kyo had been prepared to offer his own life.

Kyo had taken Mei away for Jokyo’s sake, but looking only at the result, he had forcibly stolen Ryoga’s Princess from him.

In other words, it amounted to a declaration of war.

Jokyo and Kyo had not been exaggerating when they said Ryoga would have had every right to take Kyo’s life.

“If Gen had not been with you, I would probably still be searching.”

“Gen?”

“Yes. The thread Gen spun led me all the way here.”

“You were doing that?”

Mei looked down at Gen, who sat neatly on her lap, and he proudly puffed out his chest.

“Gen may not be strong, but Gen can do many things. Gen desperately wanted to show Master where you were.”

“I see… Thank you, Gen.”

She stroked his head gratefully, and Gen began purring.

“…”

Feeling someone’s gaze on her, Mei looked toward Ryoga.

He was staring at her with an oddly intense, almost sulky look.

For one brief moment, she wondered whether Ryoga wanted his head stroked too, but she could hardly bring herself to pat him on the head.

Instead, she settled for placing her hand over his.

“Thank you for coming to look for me too, Lord Ryoga.”

Ryoga’s hand was a size larger than Mei’s and somewhat bony.

The warmth transmitted through their overlapping hands spread all the way into her chest.

Ryoga, who had been looking at her, softened his eyes slightly.

“What happened this time was partly my fault as well. I failed to properly explain to you what it means to be a Princess.”

“Lord Ryoga…”

“My carelessness put you in danger. Forgive me, Mei.”