The Rakshasa Princess’s Love (2)

A few days before Kongō Day, Mei was suddenly summoned by Ryoga just before dinner.

Lately, Ryoga seemed to be busy with something and was often away from the estate. Even when he returned, he and Mei kept missing each other.

She was lonely when she could not see him, but she knew she was in no position to selfishly demand his company, so she spent her days simply hoping that Ryoga would return safely.

She had been wondering whether she ought to write him a letter when the summons came, so Mei went to his room with a restless flutter in her chest.

When she slid open the fusuma and stepped inside, she found a weary-looking Ryoga holding an unfolded letter with an utterly drained expression.

“Lord Ryoga?”

“Ah, you’re here.”

The stern expression he had worn moments earlier softened at once.

Seeing it made Mei feel as though a tiny flame had been lit deep inside her chest.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. I simply received a somewhat troublesome message…”

Ryoga let out a short sigh and began folding the letter.

Mei caught a brief glimpse of the writing, but the calligraphy was far too elegant for her to read. Judging from his expression, however, its contents must have been quite troublesome.

“Have you been very busy? You look a little pale. If you’d like, I could treat you…”

“No, there’s no need. Do not worry about me. I am not so frail that something minor will make me collapse.”

“But…”

“More importantly, what about you? Has anything happened while I’ve been away?”

“No. I’ve become quite accustomed to life here.”

That was completely true.

Everyone here treated her kindly, and when she used her power, she was thanked for it.

At first, that environment had frightened Mei precisely because it was so unfamiliar, but she had finally begun to accept it.

“It’s all thanks to you, Lord Ryoga.”

Not only because he had brought her to this world.

After Kyo had taken her away, Ryoga had told Mei to value herself.

He had told her she was worth protecting.

“I see. Even so, do not overexert yourself. Make certain Gen and Kyo are always with you.”

“Hehe.”

His tone sounded so much like an anxious parent worrying over a child that Mei could not help laughing.

Ryoga truly was overprotective.

“Did you call me here just to tell me that?”

“No. Well, that was part of it, but…”

Mei tilted her head at the unusual hesitation in Ryoga’s manner.

He was always so composed that seeing him act this strangely was almost amusing.

As she stared at his face, wondering what he meant to say, his blue eyes flicked toward her.

“I simply wanted to see your face.”

“!”

Heat rushed into her ears.

She had never imagined he would say something so direct.

Suddenly, she became painfully conscious of her appearance.

She had finished her work for the day and had only been waiting for dinner, so she was still wearing her everyday clothes. She had tidied her hair a little, but that was all.

(—I should have at least put on some makeup.)

Now she regretted rushing here simply because she was so eager to see Ryoga again after so long.

Aki and some of the female-presenting Aberrations had given her rouge, saying it was part of proper grooming, but Mei had never known when to use it and had simply kept it tucked away.

“I’m sorry. It’s not much of a face to look at…”

“That is not true. You are always beautiful simply by being there.”

“…!”

Was Ryoga so exhausted today that something had gone wrong with him?

Mei felt certain her cheeks must be embarrassingly red and lowered her face to hide them.

“Lord Ryoga… are you teasing me?”

“No, I—… Forgive me. Damn it…”

Ryoga scratched at his head in frustration, clearly flustered.

Something really was strange about him.

Mei raised her face, intending once again to offer to heal him, only to find Ryoga standing unexpectedly close.

“Ah…”

When had he approached her?

He was close enough that she could have touched him simply by reaching out, and she could faintly sense his scent and the warmth of his body.

“I wanted to give you this.”

Ryoga held out his hand toward Mei.

Resting on his palm was a hair ornament adorned with several small white flowers.

At first glance, they looked like real blossoms, but they reflected the light with a soft sheen.

“I found it while I was away. I was told it was crafted from seashell.”

“It’s beautiful…”

Each petal had been individually carved, and depending on how the light struck them, they shimmered with an indescribable iridescence.

“When I saw it, I thought of you.”

As he spoke, Ryoga placed the ornament in Mei’s hair.

Her heart gave a strange thump at the sensation of his long fingers brushing through her hair.

The tips of his fingers grazed her skin, slightly cooler than her own.

Mei could not tell whether that was simply the difference in their body temperatures or whether she alone was burning up.

“Ah…”

“As I thought, it suits you very well.”

When Mei looked up, Ryoga’s eyes softened gently.

His expression was a little too stiff to quite be called a smile, but it was beautiful all the same.

She knew she ought to thank him, but no words would come, and Mei merely opened and closed her mouth helplessly.

“You have worked very hard. I’ve wanted to do something for you for some time. I also had several new outfits made for you. You should wear them.”

“Clothes too?!”

Shock finally forced her voice out.

Ever since coming here, Ryoga had provided all of Mei’s food, clothing, and shelter, and both the quality and quantity had been far more generous than she deserved.

At the West Suo household, she had rotated through so few outfits that she could count them on one hand.

Now, she owned so many clothes that they no longer fit inside the chest of drawers she had been given.

There were Western-style clothes, kimono, garments with an exotic foreign air, and even strange designs unlike anything she had ever seen before.

She had always wondered where Ryoga bought them.

“You’ve already given me more than enough. Anything more would make me feel guilty…”

“Do not concern yourself with that. I do it because I want to. You should wear the clothes I had made this time on Kongō Day. Gen has been quite enthusiastic about taking you into town.”

“Into town?”

“Yes.”

A short distance downhill from Ryoga’s estate was a large settlement where the Aberrations living in the region made their homes.

It had no particular name, and everyone simply called it “the town.”

Aki had taken Mei near it once before, but in the end, she had never actually gone inside.

“Remaining inside the estate all the time must feel suffocating. Kyo has grown quite accustomed to this land by now, so with the two of them accompanying you, there should be no problem. Aki and the others said they intend to go as well, so enjoy yourself without worrying.”

Ryoga’s gentle encouragement made Mei feel pleasantly embarrassed.

“Thank you very much.”

“Of course.”

“Won’t you be going too, Lord Ryoga…?”

If she were allowed, she wanted to spend the day with him.

The thought slipped from her lips before she could stop it.

Ryoga’s expression, which had seemed so cheerful until then, immediately clouded.

“I would accompany you if I could, but…”

As he spoke, Ryoga looked toward the letter he had been reading earlier.

“The truth is, a visitor is coming from my homeland. I refused once, but they insisted on coming anyway. If I leave them unattended, it may cause trouble, so I have no choice but to deal with them.”

(—His homeland… Does that mean another oni?)

Come to think of it, Mei realized there were no other oni living in this place besides Ryoga.

“Is it someone from your family?”

She asked the question without much thought.

Ryoga’s expression dimmed slightly.

Mei immediately worried that she had said something she should not have, but Ryoga gave a small shake of his head.

“I see… You still do not know about that.”

Ryoga murmured as though tasting something bitter, then let out a long breath.

“Lord Ryoga…”

“Since the opportunity has come, I suppose I should tell you a little.”

As though tracing his memories, Ryoga began to speak quietly.