kscans

Chapter 14 - The Play "Princess Koto," Part One

Once upon a time, in a certain kingdom, the head of an arrogant noble house brazenly drew his bow against the king and raised a rebellion. However, before the great king and his elite knights, the rebellion failed, and the house's lord and his entire clan were purged.

Yet, a single soul survived. The merciful king declared that a newborn babe was without sin and showed clemency to the great noble's infant daughter.

More than a decade passed.

Accompanied by her nursemaid and a few attendants, the girl lived quietly in the depths of a dense forest, grateful for His Majesty the King's mercy.

One day, a prince who had come to hunt near the forest followed his prey deeper and deeper into the woods until he found himself completely lost. As he stood there, wondering what to do, he heard the sound of a koto from somewhere nearby. It was a purer, more beautiful melody than any he had ever heard before. Guided by the sound, the prince ventured further into the forest.

Just as dusk settled, he discovered a small, secluded house. The melody was coming from the second floor.

The prince, eager to meet the musician, knocked on the door.

"I became lost while hunting, but the sound of your koto guided me here. If it's not too much trouble, could you grant me lodging for the night?"

The people of the house who answered said he could stay in the stables, but not in the house itself. When he asked about the master of the koto, they scowled and would not tell him a thing.

The prince had no choice but to stay in the stables and wait for night to fall.

He was determined to meet the koto player, so when everyone had fallen asleep, he slipped out of the stables, climbed a tree beside the house, and peered into the second-floor window.

He could see a figure inside. That must be her, the prince thought. He knocked softly on the window and whispered.

"I am no threat. I was lost and despairing in the forest when your music guided me here before nightfall. I only wanted to thank you in person."

The window opened quietly, and the figure revealed her face. The prince's eyes widened at the sight of the beautiful girl, illuminated by the moonlight.

"The people of the house told me of your situation. I am relieved you are safe."

Her voice was as lovely as the chiming of bells, and with her gentle smile, the prince fell in love in an instant.

"Won't you tell me your name? I am Sieg."

"I am sorry, but I cannot tell you my name."

The prince asked for her name, but the girl only shook her head with a sad expression. Her sorrow was so profound that the prince gave up on pressing her further. Instead, he bestowed upon her a name he thought fitting.

"Then I shall call you Princess Koto. I know of no one who plays the koto as wonderfully as you."

"That is only because you do not know them. My nursemaid told me my mother was an even more splendid koto player than I."

"What? Then you are the daughter of the Queen of the Koto! In that case, the name Princess Koto is truly fitting."

"You are an amusing one. But please, forget me at once. I am one who must not exist. Please think of today as nothing more than a dream."

"Why would you say such a thing?"

"I cannot tell you the reason. I will have the house attendants escort you near the main road, so please, I ask that you depart at first light…"

With those words, the girl closed the window.

And so, the next morning, the prince was escorted to the main road as Princess Koto had said. But though he returned to the castle, he could not forget her. He had become completely captivated by the mysterious, beautiful girl who smiled so fleetingly and spoke such sad words as "one who must not exist." He made time to visit the forest of Princess Koto again and again, pleading to meet the master of the koto. But his requests were always blocked by the house attendants. He tried climbing the tree in the middle of the night as before and knocking on the window, but it never opened.

Sometimes, he would wait in front of the house all day, hoping to at least hear the sound of her koto.

One such day, having failed to see Princess Koto or even hear her music once again, the disappointed prince was leaving when someone called out to him.

"Pardon me, Master Sieg."

The prince turned to find a girl of about the same age as Princess Koto standing there.

"And you are?"

"I am the foster sister of the one you call Princess Koto, and I serve as her handmaiden. My mother was Her Highness's nursemaid."

"Is that so? Is Princess Koto well?"

"She is not well."

"Could it be? Is the reason I haven't heard the koto lately because she is ill?"

Ignoring the worried prince's question, the handmaiden asked him with a stern expression.

"Master Sieg, what are your intentions toward Princess Koto?"

"That Princess Koto has completely captured my heart. If I could, I would wish to make her my wife."

This person was close to the princess. The prince boldly confessed his feelings.

At this, the handmaiden smiled with delight.

"Is there no falsehood in those words?"

"I swear it."

"In that case, I shall arrange a meeting between you and Princess Koto."

The prince was stunned by the handmaiden's unexpected words.

"Why would you do such a thing? Did you all not forbid me from ever seeing her?"

"I want Princess Koto to find happiness. Her father committed a crime, but she herself is as pure as the driven snow, without a single sin. Therefore, if you truly love her, Master Sieg, I ask that you take her from this place and grant her happiness."

"The daughter of a criminal…"

"Does hearing that make your heart waver?"

"No, not at all. I merely believe I have solved the mystery of why she said she was 'one who must not exist.' The heart of a woman who can produce such a pure sound from her koto cannot be anything but pure. If she bears such a sad fate, then I desire all the more to make her happy."

"Never forget those words."

And so, with the handmaiden on his side, the prince was finally able to meet with Princess Koto.

When they met after so long, she was gaunt and looked even more fragile. The prince rushed to her side and took her slender hand in his.

"I heard you were unwell. Are you ill?"

"Yes, I am ill."

Princess Koto's face was flushed as if she wore rouge, and the hand he held was trembling. His worry only grew.

"This will not do. I will buy you the finest medicine, so please, tell me the nature of your illness."

The prince was ready to acquire any medicine, no matter how expensive or rare, but for some reason, Princess Koto looked down bashfully.

"There is no medicine for my illness."

"No! I will absolutely find one. Please, just tell me."

"It is enough that you have come to see me. You, who stole my heart at first sight."

The prince's heart pounded as Princess Koto confessed her feelings in a small, trembling voice, her head still bowed.

"Oh, Princess Koto! My beloved! I suffer from the very same illness. And the only person who can cure me… is you!"

Overjoyed that their feelings were mutual, the prince embraced Princess Koto tightly.