kscans

Chapter 15 - The Play "Princess Koto," Part Two

As the prince continued his secret rendezvous with Princess Koto, arranged by the handmaiden and hidden from the eyes of the household, he fell ever more deeply in love with her humble, modest, and gentle heart. He soon came to believe that there was no one but Princess Koto to be his bride. He was certain that even if she was the daughter of a criminal, his father and mother would understand her wonderful nature once they met her.

Exactly one year after they first met, the prince invited Princess Koto out to mark the occasion. He had learned from the handmaiden that she had never once left the house, a fact he had always found pitiful.

"Princess Koto, would you do me the honor of going on a date with me?"

"A… date?"

"Yes. An outing between lovers is called a date. Since you and I are lovers, it is something I have longed to do."

"No! That is impossible!"

Princess Koto turned pale with shock at the prince's words.

"I am forbidden from leaving this house. Your visits are a secret as it is, but if I were to go outside, everyone would surely find out. If that happens, I will never be able to see you again!"

"Do not worry, your handmaiden will help us. You just need to disguise yourself as her and slip out."

"Yes, please go with Master Sieg and do not worry about a thing. I will pretend to be you, my lady. It will be fine. If I say I am unwell and wish to sleep and not be disturbed, no one will come to this room."

Princess Koto was frightened and tried to persuade the prince and the handmaiden to reconsider, but they both just repeated that everything would be fine. In the end, she was pressured into going on her very first outing.

After placing Princess Koto on the horse he had hidden in the forest, the prince headed for the nearest town. The town was famous for its seamstresses, and its streets were lined with shops displaying beautiful dresses. Since Princess Koto, believing herself the daughter of a criminal, wore only simple black dresses, the prince desperately wanted to gift her a dress of a lovely color, one befitting a girl her age. And he wanted to treat her, who knew only simple meals, to an abundance of delicious food.

Meanwhile, seeing the outside world for the first time, Princess Koto's heart danced with a mixture of fear and excitement. The lively buzz of the people, the beautiful dresses in the shop windows, the appetizing smells wafting from here and there—no matter how modest, a girl her age could not remain indifferent. Holding Princess Koto in his arms and seeing her eyes sparkle with delight, the prince felt that he had been right to bring her out, even if he had to be forceful.

"Princess Koto, is there a dress you would like? How about that light pink one? I am certain it would look wonderful on you."

"Master Sieg, I appreciate the sentiment, but such a thing is far too grand for me. I am the daughter of a criminal. To wear such a splendid garment would be an act of audaciousness I could never…"

"There you go again, saying such things. That crime is not yours to bear."

The prince was disappointed by her refusal, but he had been rather forceful in arranging this outing. He hesitated to push his own desires on her too much and gave up on gifting her a dress for the time being.

Instead, he took her to a well-regarded diner.

"Come, please order anything you like."

The prince recommended various dishes to Princess Koto. And of course, the desserts that ladies love—he told her to order whichever she wanted, even if she couldn't finish it.

However, what Princess Koto chose was the Three-Grain Porridge she always ate.

"Why must you be so stubborn?"

The prince, thoroughly disheartened, rebuked her with a reproachful look.

Then, with a face on the verge of tears, Princess Koto spoke.

"It is not that I wish to disregard your kindness, Master Sieg. But… this is my first time, and my heart is so full that I do not think I can eat anything else. I thought perhaps I could manage something I am used to… Please, do not hate me."

Faced with her words, the prince could not help but feel ashamed of his own thoughtlessness.

"Hate you? Never. It is true that I was inconsiderate. If you, who are used to such modest meals, were to suddenly eat all sorts of things, you might very well fall ill. It is you who should not hate a fool like me."

"Oh! I could never hate you, Master Sieg, not even if the heavens and earth were to be overturned!"

The prince was relieved to see her smile again, and together they ate the Three-Grain Porridge.

"Even this simple Three-Grain Porridge becomes a feast beyond compare when I eat it with you."

"…I, too… feel it is many times more delicious when I share it with you, Master Sieg."

As they smiled at each other, the two were incredibly happy.

And the prince's resolve was renewed. There was no girl as devoted and good-hearted as Princess Koto. He would make her happy, no matter what.

On the way back, as he held the dozing Princess Koto lovingly in his arms, the prince decided to reveal his identity. He had never told Princess Koto or her handmaiden that he was a prince. They seemed to think he was the young lord of some noble house, and since he was traveling incognito, he hadn't corrected them. But now that he had decided that only she could be his bride, he would tell her his true name and ask for her hand in marriage. And he wanted to know her true name as well.

And so, the next opportunity arrived. He visited the house in the forest dressed in a magnificent white suit embroidered with silver and gold thread, riding a white horse, with his attendants carrying a bouquet so large he could not hold it himself.

To the household attendants who came out to see what the commotion was, the prince declared:

"I am this country's prince, Siegfried! Please, grant me the opportunity to propose to the master of that beautiful koto music!"

At this declaration, the faces of the attendants turned crimson with rage.

"A prince!? Have you come to kill our precious princess!!"

Screaming thus, they rushed to attack and kill him.

The prince was stunned by the sudden turn of events but quickly drew his sword to defend himself.

"Please, listen to me! I would never kill her! Why would I, when I wish to make her my wife! I am serious! I will make Princess Koto happy, I swear it!"

He tried to placate them as their swords clashed, but no one would listen to his words.

His attendants fought desperately, but they were outnumbered and soon cornered.

It was at that moment that Princess Koto threw herself in front of a descending blade.

The merciless sword cut through her chest, and the handmaiden's scream echoed through the air. The man who had struck the princess he'd meant to protect collapsed to his knees and screamed in anguish.

"Princess Koto!"

The prince rushed to the fallen princess and lifted her into his arms.

"Why… why has it come to this…!"

Seeing the blood pouring from her chest, the prince realized she did not have long and shed tears.

"Sieg… are you… unhurt?"

"Princess Koto…! Why!"

With her life fading, Princess Koto managed a brave smile through the pain.

"My prince… you were a real prince after all… Then perhaps you and I were never fated to be together…"

"That's not true! Who else could be my wife but you!"

"No, I am the daughter of a traitor who brazenly drew his bow against His Majesty the King… The daughter of a great sinner, whose blood is most unworthy of you."

"What does that matter? When your heart is purer than anything in this world…!"

"…Please, do not… blame them. They are the ones who protected and raised me all this time."

"I understand, I understand, just please, don't die, my love!"

Princess Koto's hand, trembling and weak, caressed the prince's cheek. Then, in a voice that was now but a faint whisper, she said.

"I'm sorry, I can't even see your face anymore… Please, forget about me…"

"How cruel you are. I could never forget you…!"

"You are a difficult one… then… in the next life…"

With those words, Princess Koto's hand slipped from the prince's cheek and fell to the ground.

"Ah… Princess Koto! I promise you, if there is a next life, I will surely find you…!"

The prince's lament, as he clutched the body of his lifeless love, echoed long and deep through the forest.