Chapter 3. A Gift for My Fiancé

CHAPTER 3

A Gift for My Fiancé

After seeing off Kiyoka as usual that morning, Miyo intercepted Yurie, who was about to wash the laundry in the garden.

“Can I help you with anything, miss?”

“I was hoping to get your advice about something.”

“Oh?” Yurie smiled at her amicably. “It would be my pleasure.”

She looked very happy indeed. Miyo wouldn’t say more until they went back into the house and sat opposite each other in the living room.

“You see, I would like to give Mr. Kudou a gift.”

“My!”

This had been on Miyo’s mind since the day Kiyoka had given her that expensive comb. And his presents hadn’t stopped there; he’d also given her a bottle of camellia oil for her hair. She felt she owed him for having her in his house as well. While she had thanked him from the bottom of her heart, words alone hadn’t fully expressed her gratitude. She wanted to reciprocate with a gift of her own but didn’t know what would be appropriate and was also extremely limited in what she could get him. A present that was neither expensive nor valuable might have only upset him. No matter how much she’d racked her brain for an idea, she couldn’t come up with anything, so she decided to seek Yurie’s advice.

“I wonder what would make him happy…,” Miyo said.

She did, in fact, have a little money that her father had given her when he’d sent her away, but she was saving it for a rainy day. Suppressing a sigh, she gazed at Yurie pleadingly.

“I don’t have much money, I’m afraid. Not enough to buy anything decent for him.”

“Hmm, I see. In that case, I think something he would be able to use every day would be good.”

“Right.”

“Your handiwork, perhaps.”

“Maybe…”

She’d also considered that option. If she couldn’t afford to buy a suitable gift, it stood to reason she would have to make one, but a refined man such as Kiyoka who grew up in a wealthy family might think a handmade gift too crude. Of course, you could never be certain a recipient would enjoy their gift, but she desperately wanted to repay even just a modicum of the happiness he’d given her since she’d moved into his home. When she explained this to Yurie, the old woman’s smile widened.

“You have a very good heart. Don’t worry, Young Master won’t look down on a handmade gift. In fact, I’m sure he’d like anything you make for him.”

“Oh, I’m not so sure…”

“Trust me.”

Yurie’s confidence put Miyo at ease. Since she’d practically raised him, the old woman knew Kiyoka through and through.

“But what could I make for him?”

“Well, if you’re looking for inspiration, I might have just the thing!”

Yurie hurried out of the room and returned with a book.

“You may be able to find something here.”

It was a craft project book for schoolgirls with instructions for producing various everyday items.

Yes, I might be able to make something like this
, she thought, leafing through the book. The projects used kimono fabric scraps and didn’t seem too time-consuming. She was planning to tell Kiyoka the whole truth about herself soon, but not before she’d given him a gift. That meant she couldn’t afford to push back her confession by getting absorbed in crafting something elaborate that had a chance of failure.

“Let me know if you decide to put together something from this book. I’d be happy to help you with it.”

“Thank you.”

Miyo put the book away and spent the morning doing housework with Yurie. When they were done, she returned to her room to examine the projects in more detail.

“They all look so pretty.”

The book featured beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and easy-to-follow explanations of how to build each of the gorgeous accessories. Excitement stirred in her chest just browsing the pages.

“The drawstring pouch is very easy to make, but a handkerchief might be good, too.”

There were so many ideas for little gifts. Unable to settle on something, she kept turning the pages until something caught her attention.

“I like this…”

The project she was looking at was a
kumihimo
, a braided cord composed of colorful threads. As Miyo gazed at the illustrations with admiration, it dawned on her that any of the example cords in the book would suit Kiyoka. Not only could she afford this project, but it would undoubtedly make a practical gift.

This is it.

While she wasn’t confident in her ability to braid a cord as elegantly as in the pictures, nothing else in the book called out to her quite like this. She found Yurie and showed her the project; the old woman praised her choice. Miyo would need to go into town to buy the necessary supplies, so she asked Kiyoka for permission that evening.

“Mr. Kudou, would you mind if I went out for a bit sometime soon?”

“…Why? Is there something you need?”

She couldn’t tell from his flat tone if he was disinterested or worried about her going out alone when she was so unused to the city.

“Yes, I need to buy something in person. Would that be…too much trouble?”

“No, of course not. Do you want to go by yourself?”

“I was thinking of tagging along with Yurie in the afternoon.”

A solo shopping trip was a daunting prospect for Miyo, so she’d asked Yurie if she could accompany her, to which the old lady had gleefully agreed.

“It’s not too dangerous?”

“I think I’ll be fine… You need not worry.”

She nodded, trying to appear confident.

“…Could I join you?” Kiyoka asked.

He furrowed his brow. Although it was nice of him to worry so much about her, she didn’t want him to know what she was buying. Neither would it be appropriate for her to trouble him with her personal errand when he was so busy.

“Um… Not this time, no. I’ll be fine, I promise.”

“As you wish.”

He sighed, and for a moment, she wondered if she caught a hint of disappointment in his eyes. She clearly must have been mistaken.

“Be careful in the city. Don’t talk to strangers.”

“…Even I know how to keep safe, Mr. Kudou.”

She thought he was being overprotective, as if she were a child. It would be a very short shopping trip, since she only needed some inexpensive cotton threads. Plus, Yurie would be with her, so Miyo didn’t see any danger in venturing into town for a bit. In fact, she was excited at the prospect, and she was looking forward to selecting the threads—something she’d never done before—and braiding them into a pretty rope. The project she’d settled on could be used as a hair tie, the perfect gift for a man with long hair.

On the morning of the day when she planned to go shopping, Kiyoka earnestly handed her a small palm-size pouch.

“What is this…?”

“An amulet to keep you safe. Take it with you today.”

“Oh, th-thank you.”

It was an amulet you could buy at any old shrine. Miyo tucked it behind her sash, thinking that he was simply overreacting. She’d be gone for only a couple of hours.

“Don’t forget to take it with you. Make sure to keep it on you until you get back.”

“I will.”

“Do you promise?”

“Y-yes.”

His concern was so disarming that she couldn’t help but smile a little. Flustered, she quickly covered her mouth. Kiyoka frowned and huffed with resignation before grabbing his suitcase from her and leaving without another word.

The atmosphere in the manor was particularly unpleasant as of late. In fact, Kouji Tatsuishi had never felt so miserable. This partially stemmed from Kouji’s father, the head of the estate, who was constantly in a rotten mood. Kouji would hear shouting or something being slammed or broken in anger almost every time he passed his father’s study. Though his father was incensed that things hadn’t gone his way, in all honesty, Kouji was the real victim here.

His older brother, who refused to show sympathy for their father because he thought it was none of his business, had taken to sarcastically commenting about their old man having lost it. Kouji’s mother, on the other hand, had shut herself up in her room and was refusing to speak with anyone. Meanwhile, the servants were walking on eggshells out of fear of incurring their master’s wrath, which only added tension to the air. Kouji was on edge the whole time.

People often told him he was a calm and collected young man, and although it was true he avoided conflicts and rarely lost his temper, that didn’t mean he never angered.

“Kouji, can I borrow you for a while? I have some shopping to do.”

Not this again. His fianc
é
e’s whining was getting on his nerves. While he was cross with his father, the mere thought of having to live together with this woman for decades made him physically ill.

Ever since he was little, Kouji had had a crush on someone—Miyo. She
was kind and quiet yet also resilient, and she had withstood all the abuse her family subjected her to. There was this light inside her that drew him in. On occasions when he would find her vulnerable and on the verge of tears, he would feel an urge to protect her in every fiber of his being.

Miyo was the oldest daughter in the Saimori household, whereas Kouji was the second son of the Tatsuishis. Their families had reasonably good relations, so it had seemed well within the realm of possibility that he would marry her one day. But it had all gone wrong.

The bride the Saimoris had bequeathed hadn’t been Miyo but her cruel half sister. To make matters worse, Miyo had been sent far away, and he wouldn’t even be able to see her.

As if that wasn’t soul crushing enough, Kouji later learned that although his father had requested that the Saimoris offer Miyo over Kaya, he’d wanted her to wed his firstborn over Kouji. The way they treated her like merchandise instead of a person disgusted him. In his mind, his family was just as despicable as the sadistic Saimoris.

“You want to go shopping? Fine, I’ll go with you.”

In spite of all that, Kouji smiled at his fianc
é
e. He refused to allow his deep-seated disgust to rise to the surface, instead acting like the pleasant young man everyone took him for. The reason he hid behind this mask was simple. Were he to spurn his prideful fianc
é
e, Kaya and her mother, Kanoko, would make Miyo the target of their vengeance, and he couldn’t bear the thought of anything bad happening to her.

Instead, he kept a close watch on the Saimori household for any sign that the only person he cared for had come to harm.

Only I can protect Miyo.

Suppressing his aversion, he strengthened his resolve and approached Kaya.

The rather narrow streets were packed, so Miyo was careful not to get separated from Yurie. As planned, they’d gone into the city together. Currently, they were a few blocks away from the stylish main street and its modern buildings. This area was a cluster of old-fashioned stores.

It was a thirty-minute walk from the house, so they’d had no trouble getting there without a car. To be precise, however, it had taken them forty minutes, since Miyo had let Yurie set a pace that would be comfortable. The elderly woman had led the way to a craft supplies store.

Although Miyo had regularly sewn since she’d been lowered to the status of a household servant, she’d been able to use only leftover threads and scraps of cloth. This was her first time in a fabric store.

“Oh my goodness!”

Before them stretched rows upon rows of threads and fabrics in different colors and patterns, needles, scissors, and all sorts of craft tools and materials. The store was quiet and peaceful yet wonderfully bursting with color. Miyo’s heart leaped with joy. As in a general store, the clientele ranged from older women to cheerful schoolgirls browsing wares with interest.

“Now, shall we take a look at the threads?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

What colors did Kiyoka like? Or rather, what colors would look good on him?

I don’t think he would want anything garish.

A brighter, more vividly colored cord would stand out more against his fair hair, but anything overly flashy like strong yellows or reds was best avoided. By contrast, indigo blue would almost match him
too
well and leave a bland, underwhelming impression. Plus, it was too similar to the black cord he normally used for his hair.

“I just don’t know what to choose…”

As Miyo puzzled over her choices, Yurie watched her with a smile. There was a special joy to be had in taking the time to carefully consider what to buy. This was especially true for Miyo, who’d never thought she would be in a position to craft a gift for someone. Her past life had consisted solely of meekly following orders and enduring abuse. It surprised her how happy she felt at the prospect of making someone else smile. Even if this new life of hers would only be brief, she was immensely grateful that Kiyoka had offered her a chance at happiness. A smile came to her lips as she inspected the various threads on offer.

By the time she’d picked her strings of choice, it was almost half past eleven. They wouldn’t make it home before noon. Miyo paid for the threads, relieved that they were within her modest budget, and left the store with Yurie.

“I’m glad you found what you needed.”

“Me too. I can’t wait to set to work on the cord.”

The colors she’d chosen felt just right, and she was very eager to put the cord together and give it to Kiyoka. But perhaps her gift would be unwelcome, considering she was an amateur and would be constructing it from cheap strings. What would Kiyoka say when she gave him the handmade cord? Miyo’s pulse quickened as she tried to imagine his reaction. A soft, warm sensation filled her chest, and she felt as if she were walking on clouds.

“Oh, I nearly forgot!”

“What’s the matter, Yurie?”

The older woman stopped suddenly.

“I need to buy salt. Miss, could you wait here for me a short while?”

“You’re getting salt?”

Then Miyo remembered they were indeed running low. The order they’d put in with the door-to-door merchant had gotten delayed, so they’d been almost out of salt for some time. Fortunately, Yurie had realized just in time that there was a grocery store nearby.

“I won’t be long.”

“Perhaps I should go with you?”

“No, no, please wait here.”

The old lady joked that she couldn’t have Miyo steal more of her work by shopping for groceries, and then she was gone. Miyo hesitated, uncertain whether to follow, but by the time she decided to do just that, she could no longer make Yurie out in the crowd. She went to stand under a lamppost so as not to be in anyone’s way. Innumerable people passed her by. Now that she was alone, her previous excitement quickly dwindled.
Why do I feel so helpless?

While everyone else was walking somewhere with a sense of purpose, only she was standing still by her lonesome. It made her anxious.
Was Yurie coming back yet? Miyo looked toward the store she thought the servant had gone into, but it was too far away to see anything, so she gave up and continued to wait while staring at the ground. Then she heard a voice.

“My, if it isn’t Miyo!”

“!”

A chill ran down her spine.
It can’t be her…
But there was no mistaking that sickeningly sweet voice that made her tense up whenever she heard it. Why hadn’t it occurred to her that she might run into her here? The din of the street gave way as the sound of blood pulsating in her ears grew louder and louder.

“K-Kaya…”

Miyo turned to find Kouji and Kaya, with her brilliant smile, standing right behind her. Kaya’s beauty had grown more striking in the time since Miyo had seen her. She’d donned vivid and eye-catching attire as usual, a peach-colored unlined kimono adorned with a lily pattern that was perfect for early summer. Her elegant and refined gestures immediately identified her as a daughter of the nobility, drawing the attention of passersby. So pure was her smile that all the men who glanced at her were instantly enchanted. But Miyo knew better than anyone else that this outwardly immaculate girl was actually a viper.

“Tee-hee, what a surprise! I didn’t think for a moment that I would find you in the city. Who would’ve imagined you were still alive!”

In other words, she’d expected Miyo to have died in a gutter somewhere by now. Despite Kaya’s gentle smile, her eyes held nothing but scorn. Anyone watching them out of earshot, however, would have mistaken it for a heartwarming scene of a rich lady generously making conversation with an impoverished commoner. With her beauty, high-class image, and angelic voice, she deceived people with ease.

“Judging from your pitiful appearance, Mr. Kudou has abandoned you, and you’re now wandering the streets? My poor sister, how low you’ve fallen.”

“N-no… That’s not…”

Miyo could hardly speak, mind blank and mouth dry.

“Kaya, leave her alo—”

Kouji looked as if he was about to step in between them.

“You stay out of this, Kouji.”

Kaya cut him off sharply without even turning to face him, that sweet smile still plastered on her visage. She wouldn’t let him spoil her fun tormenting Miyo. They were in public, so Miyo didn’t think Kaya would go so far as to physically attack her, but nevertheless, the fear ingrained in her from years of abuse made her shrink back. Her only way of dealing with bullying was to make herself look small and bear it until it was over.

“It couldn’t have gone any other way, could it? Mr. Kudou would never marry a nobody like you. It’s obvious he wouldn’t have kept you. But look on the bright side—you’re still alive!”

“…”

“Or perhaps you wish you were dead after what’s been done to you? I can’t even imagine what sort of things you’ve gone through.”

Kaya erupted in giggles. Mocking Miyo again after such a long dry spell put her in an excellent mood. Clinging to Kouji, she guffawed at Miyo, who was shaking and staring at the ground.

“Kaya, that’s enough. Let’s just go.”

“Didn’t I tell you to be quiet, Kouji? Miyo, if you’re in dire straits, I might consider sparing you some loose change if you crawl on the ground and beg for it.”

“I… I…”

She wanted to say something back. When she was living in the Saimori household, she hadn’t been able to defend herself. Now, however, she was no longer bound by their rules. Whatever happened down the line, she would never be going back there. Now all she wanted was to voice the grievances that had built up in her heart over years of mistreatment, to throw it all back at Kaya. But Miyo still found it impossible to oppose her.

“Cat got your tongue? I see you’re still as inarticulate as ever.”

“I… I’m sorry…”

Miyo was bitterly disappointed in herself. She thought she’d begun to
change after Kiyoka had kept telling her to stop being so apologetic, but seeing her half sister was enough to make her shake with fright and hang her head. This terror controlled her, and she was powerless against it. Clenching her fists until her knuckles turned white, her vision blurred. The walls she’d built around her heart had become brittle from exposure to Kiyoka’s and Yurie’s kindness, and now they finally gave.

Tears welled up in her eyes.
I mustn’t cry…
She couldn’t let Kaya see how deeply her words had cut. She couldn’t give her the satisfaction.

“Miss Miyo.”

Miyo turned back in surprise to find Yurie, returned from shopping.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting so long. I see you have company?”

“Um… They’re…”

“Good afternoon. Are you Miyo’s companion? I’m Kaya Saimori. It’s so nice to see that my sister has a friend.”

Kaya flashed a warm smile at Yurie, who was eyeing her dubiously. No one would suspect Kaya of being anything but a gentle-mannered girl if they saw her like this. She was going to win Yurie over and turn her against Miyo. Maybe she’d do that with Kiyoka, too.
No…anything but that…
But how could Miyo stop her? She frantically tried to conjure up a solution, but nothing came to mind. Kaya was so superior in every regard that Miyo was always bound to lose to her. She felt as though a dark chasm were remorselessly swallowing her up… But she was wrong. Yurie gently placed her hand on Miyo’s hunched back.

“My name is Yurie. Miss Miyo Saimori’s companion? I’m nothing of the sort. She is betrothed to my master.”

The warmth radiating from the old woman’s hand made Miyo breathe a little easier.

“She’s to marry your master?”

Kaya opened her eyes wide in astonishment.

“That’s right. She’s going to wed Mr. Kiyoka Kudou.”

“What?!”

Yurie announced this with dignity, her voice strong and proud. It knocked Kaya off her stride.

“Oh, is that so? I didn’t think Mr. Kudou would be satisfied with my
sister. My, what a charitable man. Or perhaps she’s merely piqued his curiosity? You simply can’t trust all the rumors you hear about city folk, can you now?”

Kaya concealed her expression behind the long sleeve of her kimono while she regained her composure. She wouldn’t let her mask of perfection drop. At least she wasn’t so bold as to continue openly harassing her sister in front of Yurie.

“Dear sister, it was lovely to see you. I’m afraid we must be on our way.”

She smiled pleasantly while her eyes remained cold, interlaced her arm with Kouji’s, and then walked away with him.

Miyo finally let out the breath she’d been holding. The tension in her body started to ease.

“Shall we head back, miss?”

“Yes, let’s…”

Miyo couldn’t bear to face Yurie, who’d spoken of her so kindly. The older woman must have witnessed at least part of the exchange, seen Miyo pathetically taking the abuse without fighting back. And that must have made her doubt whether Miyo was really suitable for Kiyoka. All the harsh things Kaya had spat at her were things Miyo already knew. She regretted not having been able to stand up for herself, but Kaya hadn’t left any new wounds that weren’t already there. Except that now she’d developed a new fear—a fear of becoming a disappointment to Yurie. Despite Miyo having been convinced from the outset that the marriage offer would have come to nothing, the mere thought of hearing Yurie or Kiyoka call her unfit was unbearable.

The excitement and happiness she’d felt earlier when she’d been buying the threads for Kiyoka’s gift had sunk into the sea of sorrow in her heart.
I hate myself. I utterly despise myself for being like this.

She didn’t say a word on the way back home. Sensing that Miyo didn’t want to talk, Yurie didn’t attempt to start a conversation. Eyes locked onto her feet, Miyo trudged along, oblivious to the bustle of the busy main street, the city alleys, the calm countryside path. In sharp contrast to her dark and heavy feelings, the surrounding area was bathed in sunshine, and the farmland and fields looked invitingly calm.

Yurie finally spoke to Miyo when they got home.

“Miss, why don’t we have lunch now?”

“…Thank you, but I’m not hungry.”

“But, miss…”

“Thank you so much for your company today. Please don’t worry about me and go get some rest.”

She avoided meeting the old woman’s eyes, afraid of what she might see in them. Leaving Yurie in the hallway, Miyo retreated to her room. As soon as she slid her door shut, she crumpled onto the floor and sat there for a while, staring absentmindedly at the tatami mat.

I’m so useless.
Why was she this way? Why was she good for nothing? Other people had plenty of wonderful qualities, her sister in particular, but she, she had nothing. Thoroughly convinced of her own helplessness, she had no idea how to go on.

Around the time Miyo and Yurie returned to Kiyoka’s house, Kiyoka went to pay a visit to the Saimoris. He was still worried about Miyo going to the city without him, but she’d have Yurie with her. In any case, he needed to talk to Shinichi.

Many wealthy families had their estates in the part of the city where the Saimoris lived, but their large mansion stood out from all the rest. In contrast to the family home Kiyoka’s father had built—a Western-style manor—this was a traditional Japanese residence. Old yet opulent. He figured it dated back to the era before this city became the capital. Yet, he knew that behind this elegant exterior lurked people rotten to the core.

A servant who was waiting for him by the gate led him to the main house. Kiyoka noted her excessive politeness.

“I have been expecting you, Mr. Kudou.”

Shinichi Saimori came out to greet him, his manner reserved yet still hospitable.

Quite the welcome he’s giving me.

Did this man not comprehend the situation? Did he seriously think
Kiyoka was oblivious to how he’d treated his fianc
é
e within these walls? If this man was seriously hoping to build good relations with him after what he’d done, his lack of moral character wasn’t helping. Then again, the Saimoris hadn’t enjoyed a good reputation in a very long time.

Perhaps their perception of the world was so skewed that they assumed everyone would treat Miyo like a worthless wench, Kiyoka included. Or else they’d thought Kiyoka had quickly disposed of her and had already forgotten her existence. Simply speculating about how these people’s minds worked made him sick to his stomach.

“I appreciate you agreeing to receive me on such short notice.”

It took great willpower to suppress his loathing for Shinichi and remain civil, but try as he might, he couldn’t manage to speak to him with any degree of amicability.

“It’s an honor to have you trouble yourself with a visit. Please do come inside.”

Kiyoka followed Shinichi down the hallway, glancing at his wife, Kanoko, as he passed her by. She stood modestly behind her husband, unreadable. But the virtuous-wife persona she was putting on revolted Kiyoka even more than the ugliness he knew lay just beneath her mask.

They showed him to the reception room. Kiyoka sat down to face Shinichi in front of a view of the well-maintained inner courtyard and the lush, pleasing pines contained within. Shinichi spoke first.

“Well, Mr. Kudou. What brings you here on this occasion?”

“Your daughter Miyo.”

Glaring at Shinichi, Kiyoka described his business without the usual pleasantries. The older man frowned and squared his shoulders in response.

“What did she do?”

What…?
What was wrong with this man? Had he imagined Kiyoka had come to complain about Miyo rather than her father’s horrendous treatment of her?

“I wish to formally betroth her so that we may marry in the not-so-distant future.”

“Is that so?”

Shinichi replied after an unnaturally long pause before nodding,
seemingly unfazed. The reaction of his wife, who was sitting in the corner, didn’t escape Kiyoka—he heard her sharp intake of breath, saw her eyes open wide.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to make matters between our families clear.”

“Hmph. What matters, specifically?”

“Men of my status are expected to compensate the bride’s family for giving away their daughter. However, I’m very reluctant to honor this custom in this case.”

Despite his animosity toward the Saimoris, Kiyoka explained things in a roundabout way to avoid rudely implying they didn’t deserve to benefit from Miyo in any way.

“What do you mean?”

“Can you not guess?”

His gaze hardened, and Shinichi briefly looked away.

“You’re saying my family will receive no compensation? But, Mr. Kudou—”

Kiyoka raised his hand to stop the man’s protests. He wished he could have simply cut the ties between their families as soon as possible without letting Miyo know he’d gone to see them. In fact, he could have easily made Shinichi sign an official declaration stating that his family would never contact Miyo or anyone from the Kudou household. And while that would have ensured Miyo’s peace of mind from then on, it would have also denied her closure. Memories of this house would haunt her forever. That was why he’d had to take extra steps.

“There is one condition.”

“…”

“If you offer your sincere apologies to Miyo in person, I will pay you a very generous bride price.”

Though Shinichi’s expression hadn’t changed, his fists were clenched. Meanwhile, Kanoko was grinding her teeth in indignation.

Kiyoka had thoroughly investigated their family affairs, so he knew that their status was hanging by a thread. Their beloved daughter Kaya had been born with Spirit-Sight, but her supernatural abilities weren’t
worth mentioning. A chance remained that her own children might turn out to be extraordinarily Gifted, but if they weren’t, the Saimori family would no longer be able to fulfill their role as retainers to the emperor. Stripped of privilege and their stipend, they would have to rely on their amassed wealth to get by, but there was only so much to go around. The Tatsuishi family with whom they’d also had relations was facing a similar predicament, so they wouldn’t be much help, either. In light of this, Shinichi should have pounced at any handouts he could get.

“You want me to…apologize?”

“It’s up to you. If you don’t want to do it, we’ll simply end relations between our families at once. Do keep in mind that I’m privy to the truth of how you’ve raised Miyo.”

“Shinichi…,” Kanoko addressed her husband imploringly.

You reap what you sow.
A lack of blood relation doesn’t excuse you from caring for your stepchild. Whatever grievances Kanoko and Shinichi had borne toward Miyo’s mother, her daughter was just an innocent child who deserved a loving family to bring her up. Instead, they’d treated her as an outlet for their pent-up frustrations and snatched away from her the life she should have led. This was no mere trifle—the damage they’d done would be extremely difficult to repair.

Kiyoka waited, watching droplets of sweat appear on Shinichi’s forehead. The older man closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he spoke in a voice that was more like a groan.

“Give me time to think it over,” he replied.

“Very well. But see that you don’t take too long.”

“I won’t.”

No longer concealing his animosity, Kiyoka stood up to leave. Shinichi’s shoulders were trembling with rage. He did not see his guest out.

Kaya had enjoyed shopping in the city, but when she’d returned home, she’d immediately noticed things were oddly tense.

“Are we having guests?”

She really wasn’t in the mood for them. The shopping trip had left her somewhat unsettled. Though she didn’t have any particular aversion to
Miyo, chancing upon her half sister in the city had taken her aback. Still, nothing lifted Kaya’s spirits like being nasty to Miyo. This time hadn’t gone exactly to plan, however, and Kaya cringed just thinking about it. Her fianc
é
trying to take Miyo’s side had been one thing, but finding out that Kudou hadn’t thrown Miyo out yet had made her livid. She found consolation in telling herself that Kudou had allowed Miyo to stay in his house simply because he’d forgotten about her. If he cared, she wouldn’t be walking around the city dressed like a pauper. It still nagged at her, though.

“Kaya, please, there’s no need to be so upset.”

“You’re one to talk, Kouji. You like my sister that much? Spare yourself the effort of offering me any niceties.”

Pouting, she turned away from Kouji. He dropped his shoulders in resignation, and they continued on in silence.

Why won’t he say something?! Why won’t he deny liking Miyo?!
If he stroked her hair while whispering sweet nothings, then maybe she would forgive him. What an aggravatingly dense man. Perhaps it would be better to refuse his hand in marriage after all. Kaya carried on vilifying him in her head until he made a noise of surprise.

“What is it?” she asked. “Oh, could that be the visitor?”

The moment they entered the house, they saw a tall man exiting the reception room. He was dressed in a military uniform. Young but with many badges indicating a high rank. They bowed their heads lightly as he passed so as not to be rude, but Kaya lifted her gaze just in time to catch the guest’s complexion.

He’s stunning…

He glared at her so coldly that she flinched, yet his beauty still enchanted her. Despite his slenderness and grace, he didn’t give the impression of a weak man. She couldn’t take her eyes off him as he walked away, the movements of his body so perfect, long hair swaying with every step. She was mesmerized.

After visiting the Saimoris, Kiyoka had stopped by his workplace before heading home. For some reason, Yurie was still there when he got back,
even though she was usually gone by now. Both she and Miyo came out to greet him, but his fianc
é
e didn’t quite seem herself.

“Welcome back, Mr. Kudou.”

“Welcome home, Young Master.”

Miyo’s thoughts seemed elsewhere. Yurie was looking at her as if she wanted to say something but had been told not to.

“Thank you,” he replied. “Is something wrong?”

“Well, you see—”

“No,” Miyo interjected quickly before Yurie had the chance to say anything else. “I’m sorry for worrying you. Everything is fine.”

“Miss Miyo…”

Yurie protested, concerned. Kiyoka frowned. Miyo had gotten better at meeting his eye when they spoke, yet now she was refusing to look directly at him. It was as if she’d suddenly reverted to how she’d been on her first day in his home.

“Did something happen?” Kiyoka pressed.

“No, nothing at all. Now if you’ll excuse me…”

Rather than eating dinner with him as usual, she went back to her room without once raising her eyes from the floor.

That’s definitely not “nothing”…
, Kiyoka thought.

Now that he and Yurie were alone, he turned to ask her about it. The old woman hung her head dejectedly.

“I’m so sorry, Young Master. I’m afraid I failed to protect Miss Miyo.”

“Did something happen while you were in the city?”

“Yes…”

Yurie told him that Miyo had completed her shopping without any incident, but the moment Yurie had briefly left her side, Miyo had been accosted by her overbearing half sister. Dismayed, Kiyoka nearly clicked his tongue as he listened to the explanation. To think this would have happened while he was at the Saimori residence. He wished he would have said something to Kaya when he’d run into her in the hallway. Kiyoka had really put the cart before the horse by speaking with Miyo’s father first.

“Except for coming out to greet you just now, she’s been holed up in her room ever since. I’ve been beside myself with worry. That’s why I didn’t go home.”

Kiyoka hadn’t yet told Yurie about Miyo’s abusive family. He didn’t intend to keep it secret from her; on the contrary, he was hoping Yurie would be able to use that information to help Miyo recover from her trauma, since the old woman had spent more time with Miyo than he had. But he simply hadn’t gotten around to it—a grave mistake, in hindsight. At that moment, he felt powerless.
I’ve been so shortsighted.

Now Kiyoka didn’t know what he could say to Miyo to comfort her. Though he’d turned down so many marriage offers, deemed so many women unsuitable for him, perhaps he was the one unfit for marriage. Maybe it was these moments, when he would freeze up because he didn’t know what to say or how to proceed, that led people to call him cold and callous.

But this time, he couldn’t let himself be paralyzed into inaction, because he genuinely wanted to protect Miyo. He wanted to see her smile from the heart again, as she’d done when he’d gifted her that comb.

“What can I do to build up her confidence?” he murmured.

“That’s simple.” Yurie smiled. “There’s one method guaranteed to work—making her feel loved. Show her that you love and value her, and that will provide more than enough reassurance.”

“…”

Love?
Was that what he felt for her? While he wasn’t sure about confessing his emotions, he could at least be honest with her about his intentions.

“If it makes her feel better…”

He would tell her everything.

It was very late, so he drove Yurie back to her house. When he returned, he went to see Miyo. She was in her room and had shut the door.

“It’s me. May I come in?”

She opened the door just a fraction and peered through the gap.

“Forgive me, Mr. Kudou, but would you mind allowing me some time to be alone?”

To his surprise, she wasn’t tearful or shaken. Her voice was normal, quiet but calm. But he could still tell that she was even more disheartened than usual.

“I just want to talk to you. Can you not spare a few minutes?”

“I’m sorry.”

She’d tilted her head down so that he couldn’t see her face. It didn’t seem like the right time for him to convey his feelings now when she was so overwhelmed by hers. Sighing, he glanced at her small head, which she kept so persistently low. When someone was hurting, it was best not to force them to open up.

“Well, I won’t insist, then.”

“I promise I won’t neglect the housework.”

“…Don’t worry about that.”

Miyo had her head bowed as she tried to assuage his concerns.

“Let me just tell you this…”

Miyo was about to slide the door shut again but stopped when Kiyoka addressed her.

“What’s eating you up inside—it’ll get better before long. Don’t let it torment you.”

People were born either with the Gift or without it. Nothing could change that, but there were still plenty of other things Miyo could learn. Almost all the sources of her low self-worth could be resolved, her family issues included. All she needed to do was make that choice. Kiyoka had already made his.

“You can always talk to me about anything.”

His urge to speak with her hadn’t abated, but he forced himself to drop the subject for now. Perhaps it was better that he wait until she was good and ready.

“…I will.”

Miyo’s reply was a little too late. Her voice wasn’t strong, nor was it weak, either.

Opting to change out of his clothes later, Kiyoka instead went to his study. He sat down with a sigh, lost in thought. Then he reached for his pen and stationery.

The season of cherry blossoms had ended, with flowers giving way to fresh foliage. It had been a week since Miyo had started keeping to her
room. To Kiyoka, each of those days felt long and depressing. She wouldn’t even see him off when he was leaving for work or come out to greet him when he returned. She took her meals in her room. His days grew colorless without seeing her, and his house—somehow colder.

What further brought him down was the continuous lack of an answer from the Saimoris, coupled with the relentless appearances of conjured familiars someone had sent to spy on him. Though he had an idea who might be behind the creatures, he’d made no progress in locating them or determining their motives thus far, so he couldn’t make any progress on that front. Once again, he turned up at his workplace in a dour mood.

“Looking glum today, Commander,” Godou remarked while organizing documents in Kiyoka’s office.

Kiyoka noticed a smile playing on his subordinate’s lips. It irked him that Godou found the situation amusing.

“Let me guess—it’s about the girl. She’s the first one you’ve kept around for this long. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you haven’t yet made things official with her, have you?”

“…”

“I never took you for a man who’d get in a funk over a woman. The world is full of surprises.”

“…Mind your own business.”

“This lady who stole your heart must be really special. I’d love to see her again.”

“Enough. This isn’t something to joke about.”

“Why not?”

Talking to Godou was exhausting. He was always fooling around.

“More importantly,” said Kiyoka, “can I count on you tomorrow?”

His capable right-hand man grinned.

“Of course. Central Station at noon, then a drive to your house. Don’t forget about my compensation, please.”

“Rest assured I won’t.”

“Then I’m your guy.”

Kiyoka had often been leaving his office during the day as of late. Of
course, he made sure to put in an official request and obtain permission from his superiors beforehand each time, but he still felt slightly guilty about increasing Godou’s workload with his absences. To make up for that, he’d offered to pay his aide a little extra out of his own pocket. Godou instead asked Kiyoka to settle his tab for three nights at a popular
izakaya
in town—a paltry compensation as far as Kiyoka was concerned.

He thought of the next day, trying to imagine Miyo’s reaction with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation, hoping she would be happy.

Miyo was sitting very still at her writing desk, slowly braiding threads. She’d gotten the technique down completely, but she wasn’t ready for what would come after she finished it. And so she worked at a snail’s pace to buy herself more time.

Fed up with Kaya reminding her of her own uselessness, Miyo avoided dwelling on her half sister. Instead, she thought of Kiyoka—his strength, his kindness, his beauty. Much as she felt as though she didn’t belong next to such an extraordinary man, being with him was so wonderful that it made her wish she would never leave his side. She knew she should tell him that. That she should make every effort to become useful to him. Though she might not have had any special powers and might not be chosen as his bride, she could at least become his servant and support him from behind the scenes, like Yurie. Whatever happened, delaying the inevitable would change nothing.

She glanced at the side of her desk at the hair tie she’d already finished making. It was a gorgeous cord with stunning braiding. Excellent work for an amateur. She’d already completed the gift she wanted to make, so now she was using leftover threads to construct another braided cord using a different pattern—an excuse to stay holed up in her room.

As her head throbbed from lack of sleep, Miyo sighed. Ever since her arrival at Kiyoka’s house, she’d been having nightmares. She would wake up in the middle of the night, overcome with self-loathing and anxiety, and be unable to fall back asleep.

“Pardon me for disturbing you, miss,” Yurie called from behind the
door just as Miyo was starting to grow more despondent again. It was past noon, and since Miyo hadn’t been eating lunch recently, she didn’t know what Yurie might want from her.

“…Is something the matter, Yurie?”

“You have a guest, miss. Would you see her now?”

Someone’s come to see me?
Who would bother visiting her at Kiyoka’s house? Miyo didn’t think it would be someone from her family, and she’d long lost contact with the friends she’d had from her school days. She couldn’t think of anyone else who would be aware of her location.

“Yes, please let her in.”

Whoever it was, it would have been rude to refuse to see her. Miyo heard the door to her room slide open, and she turned to look…and couldn’t believe her eyes.

“It’s been such a long time, Lady Miyo.”

Miyo was so surprised that her voice caught in her throat. Though the woman in her doorway had gotten on in years, her face was familiar all the same.

“H-Hana…”

“Look at you, all grown up.”

Hana was smiling at her with a glint of tears in her eyes. Yurie brought an extra floor cushion for Miyo’s guest and left them alone. They sat facing each other, but the atmosphere was strained, so they didn’t know where to look.

Hana hadn’t changed. She was a bit thinner, but Miyo recognized the calmness and tenderness in her eyes. However, Miyo was in too much shock to rejoice at their reunion. Hana had been her trusted maid, and her disappearance was tied to that awful memory of being locked up in the storehouse. The moment when she’d suddenly lost the one person who’d always looked after her.

So many years had passed since then. When the Saimoris had dismissed Hana, Miyo had felt helpless, all alone in a hostile environment. It was as if one of her vital organs had been gouged out. She’d lost the will to live. As time passed, she became accustomed to the resulting emptiness. Since she’d never expected to see Hana again, Miyo hadn’t
imagined what she would say to her if they were reunited. Miyo remained silent until Hana spoke up.

“I’m glad to see you’re well, Lady Miyo.”

“Yes, likewise…,” was all Miyo managed.

Hana was just as reverent to Miyo as she’d been back when she was still her maid. But since Hana’s expulsion, the Saimoris had taught Miyo to speak like a servant herself. Now she was finding it difficult to converse normally.

“I’m a married woman now,” said Hana.

“Oh, um… Congratulations.”

“I have children, too. My husband is from a village close to my father’s. We work on our farm together. I’m quite content with my life.”

It was only then that Miyo noticed that Hana was more tanned than she’d remembered. Faint lines marked Hana’s smiling face. She’d always been a warm person, but now she seemed both more motherly and more at peace.

“And you, Lady Miyo? Are you content with yours?”

That gave Miyo pause.

“I…”

She flashed back to everything that had happened since moving to this house, but she couldn’t come up with an answer to her former maid’s question. Seeing her hesitate, Hana placed her hands on top of Miyo’s, rested them on her knees, and squeezed them tight. She used to do that when Miyo was little, so the warmth of her hands felt comfortingly familiar.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there for you when you were suffering so much.”

“Hana…”

“Since I was unable to help you all those years, I thought I didn’t deserve to see you,” she confided, her face contorted by heartfelt regret. “But do you know why I decided to come after all?”

Their eyes met.

“Because I wanted to see you happy. I wanted to see my precious little lady who’d endured so many hardships smile joyfully at last.”

“…”

Something prickled inside Miyo’s nose. She didn’t want Hana to see how low she’d fallen, to realize she was no longer her “precious little lady.” She didn’t want to burden the woman who’d looked after her when she’d lost her mother, who’d treated her with genuine warmth.

“But, Hana, I…”

Miyo had despaired when her family decided to offer her as a bride to the Kudous. But her fianc
é
, although frightening at first, had proved to be a kind man. She felt at home in his residence and had found a friend in Yurie. She’d experienced happiness she could have never imagined when she’d lived with her family. However…

“Hana, I don’t have the Gift. No Spirit-Sight, nothing.” Her voice trembled. “So I’m not worthy of marrying Mr. Kudou. I won’t be able to stay here much longer.”

Hana’s face blurred. Miyo bit her lip to stop herself from crying. Speaking her feelings aloud made them hurt even more. She didn’t want to leave, and it wasn’t just because she had nowhere else to go.

“My lady…”

Miyo had gone quiet, fearing she wouldn’t be able to hold back her tears if she said anything more. Hana watched her, concerned.

“…Let me ask you a question, Lady Miyo,” Hana whispered after a while. “How do you think I managed to come and see you today?”

“Huh?”

“Sometime after my dismissal, I went to your house again and pleaded to be rehired, but they flat-out refused me. Desperate to learn how you’d been doing, I asked the other servants I used to work with about you. But no matter how much I begged, they just stared at me sullenly and kept their mouths shut. I had no choice but to return to my hometown. At my parents’ suggestion, I married the man who is now my husband. So how would I, with no ties to your family or anyone else in the capital, come and find you here?”

“I…I don’t know…”

Miyo knew that Hana cared about her dearly, but her former maid couldn’t have found her on her own, no matter how much she’d tried. Someone must have told her that her family had sent her here.

“When I got the letter and saw who it was from, I thought it must
have been a mistake at first. Why would a nobleman write to me, a commoner? My lady—this Mr. Kudou of yours truly has a heart of gold.”

That was the only possibility, of course. No one else would have gone through the trouble of finding Hana and bringing her here.

“It was him…”

It could have only been Kiyoka. Earlier, he’d told her, “What’s eating you up inside—it’ll get better before long. Don’t let it torment you.” He must have looked into her background and left no stone unturned. And if he knew about Hana, then he must know all about Miyo herself. So when he’d said that, had he meant…?

That I shouldn’t worry about the marriage because it won’t ever happen, since I don’t have the Gift?

Despite her tendency to assume the worst, she’d come to know Kiyoka a little. While she couldn’t know what he was like at work, he was always kind when he was with her. So that couldn’t have been it.

“…Hana, have I been under the wrong impression this whole time?”

“My lady?”

“Unlike Kaya, I don’t have Spirit-Sight or any other supernatural abilities… I’d always believed I was worthless because of that.”

Possessing the Gift or not decided your fate. As someone born without it, Miyo was destined for poor treatment from her family. Wasn’t that what she’d internalized at some point in her life? She couldn’t deny it.

“I was scared of telling Mr. Kudou that I lacked the Gift. I thought it would bring this briefly happy period in my life to a close. I was absolutely convinced he’d get rid of me at once if he knew.”

It hadn’t occurred to her that this line of thinking would hold only if Kiyoka was like her father, to whom the Gift had been crucial. Miyo should have spoken to him honestly much earlier, not to hasten what she’d thought was inevitable—his throwing her out on the streets—but to find out whether he was serious about marrying her. It had taken her this long to understand that.

“I…”

She glanced at her desk, at the cord she was braiding and the completed hair tie next to it, both of which she’d made for Kiyoka. Hana
squeezed her hand, and Miyo turned back toward her, noticing the earnest look in her eyes.

“Have courage, Lady Miyo. Mr. Kudou is waiting for you.”

“…!”

“You’ll be fine. And however it goes, please know that I will come to your aid this time if you need it.”

“Thank you, Hana.”

Miyo hugged her like a little girl clinging to her mother. It brought back memories. She used to snuggle up to Hana and bury her face in her chest whenever she’d felt like crying. As Hana gently stroked Miyo’s hair, her warm hand felt just as she remembered.

“I… I’ll try my best.”

She was worried about what Kiyoka would say, scared even. But she had to find the courage to speak with him, even if she had to take it one little step at a time. First and foremost, she needed to stop hiding in her room.

The world seemed brighter somehow when she disentangled from the embrace. Grabbing the hair tie, she left her room with haste.

He would normally be at work at that time, but she was so focused on what she had to do that it hadn’t even crossed her mind. When she opened the door to the living room, she was certain she’d find him there.

“Mr. Kudou!”

It came out louder than she expected. Kiyoka looked up at her, startled. Combined with his hair draped artlessly over his shoulders and his casual attire, his expression was a little comical. Somehow, that was all the reassurance Miyo needed.

“What’s this all of a sudden?” he asked.

Uncharacteristically, his eyes darted away from her as if he was unsure of himself. It was Miyo who’d been so afraid of this conversation, but now it seemed as though the opposite was true. She sat down next to Kiyoka, clutching the hair tie in her hand.

“Mr. Kudou, there’s something I’ve neglected to tell you.”

Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she broke into a cold sweat. As difficult as it was to meet his eye, there was no turning back now.
She had to finish what she’d started. And just as Hana had told her he would, Kiyoka was waiting patiently for her to begin.

“I… I…”

“…”

“…I don’t possess the Gift.”

Once she started, the words flowed with urgency as she voiced what she’d been so afraid to confess. She willed herself not to cry.

“I don’t have Spirit-Sight. Both my parents were from Gifted bloodlines, but I haven’t inherited anything.”

“…”

“As for my education, I only finished elementary school. My family forced me to work for them as a servant. Since I haven’t received tutoring, I can’t do anything you’d expect from a daughter of a wealthy family. And my looks… Well, there’s nothing to speak of there, either. Those are the reasons why I don’t deserve to be your wife.”

The more she went on, the more despondent she became. Like a child being scolded, she shrank further and further into herself. Yet, she continued in earnest.

“I completely understand if you’re angry with me, Mr. Kudou. For selfishly keeping the truth from you, for not wanting to be kicked out…”

Miyo had promised herself she wouldn’t cry, but tears started to well up in her eyes regardless. She was on the verge of sobbing.

“If you tell me to die, I will take my life. If you tell me to leave your house, I will leave at once.”

“…”

“I made this for you as a token of my gratitude and as an apology. If you have no need for it, please feel free to throw it away or burn it.”

Placing the hair tie on the floor in front of him, she knelt and bowed down, as humbly as when she’d first met him.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I have no more secrets from you. Pray tell me what you wish to do with me.”

Kiyoka didn’t respond immediately. Too scared to look up at him, Miyo waited in silence with her eyes firmly shut.

“How much longer do you intend to prostrate yourself?”

She’d heard those same words before. As she looked up in surprise, she saw that Kiyoka wore a mischievous grin. She glimpsed it for only a moment before her vision was suddenly obscured.

“It would be quite a problem if you were to leave now, since I’m about to make our engagement official.”

Miyo felt his large hand on the back of her head, breathed in the faint scent he liked to wear. She realized he’d embraced her tightly and pressed her head against his chest. Both that, and what he’d just said about wanting to betroth her, made her head spin.

“M-Mr. Kudou…”

“Would you not like that? Do you not want to stay with me here?”

Of course I want to…
Now her heart was racing for a different reason entirely. Her cheeks, which had turned pale from anxiety, flushed and grew so hot she thought steam might rise from them. Tongue-tied, she stayed in his embrace until she heard his sharp intake of breath, as if he’d come to his senses. When he released her, she noticed his ears were tinged red.

“I… Um…”

She felt so shy, it was difficult to speak, but she knew she had to communicate to him what her heart desired. To finish what she’d started, she would have to muster up a little more courage.

“I would like to stay with you, if you would permit it.”

“Permit it?” He chuckled. “You’re the only one I want to live with. No one else will do.”

“…!”

Even after he’d learned everything, Kiyoka still wanted her. Joy filled her chest, and she was moved to tears again. If someone told her that all the hardship and anguish she’d endured was for this moment, she’d have thought it was worth it. The sacrifices she’d been forced to make seemed a small price to pay for being with this man.

“Miyo.” He said her name for the first time in a voice so gentle that simply hearing it was pure bliss. “Would you tie my hair for me?”

“Yes… I’ll be happy to.”

Kiyoka picked up the hair tie and handed it to her. Miyo got up on her knees and moved behind him. His hair was gorgeous, soft and glossy like silk. She suppressed a sigh of envy. Her hands trembled, as if she was handling something extremely precious.

“I-I’m done.”

Miyo had loosely tied his hair in the back and had brought it forward over his shoulder so that he could see the braided cord. It looked even better on his light tresses than she’d imagined. The color she’d chosen was purple—elegant but subdued, just like him.

“It’s a pretty color.”

Holding one end of the cord between his thumb and index finger, he smiled.

Goodness… It feels like my heart is going to burst out of my chest…

This time, however, it wasn’t from fear.

“Thank you. I will treasure it.”

“I-I’m glad you like it.”

Realizing she’d made him happy was too much for her, making her stutter. She was in a state of bliss, thanking fate for bringing her to his house, for letting her meet him.

A little while later, when embarrassment had stopped coloring their visages and a newly placid atmosphere had descended on them, Hana came to announce she was heading home. Together with Yurie, they all went to the front door to see her off. Yurie had kept Hana company while Miyo had been talking to Kiyoka, and they’d had a wonderful time chatting about her over some tea. Miyo felt a pang of guilt at having ignored her guest and leaving her to Yurie after she’d come such a long way.

“You’re leaving already…?”

“Yes, but I’m not going straight back to my village—it’s been so long since I’ve been in the city that I thought it would be nice to walk around a bit. Mr. Kudou has arranged a nice inn for me to stay at.”

Kiyoka’s thoughtfulness and generosity once against astounded
Miyo. Though she felt indebted to him, she knew he’d tell her not to worry about it. He’d even had his aide, Godou, drive Hana here from the station… She made a secret resolution to find some way to make it up to Kiyoka, no matter how he might refuse her.

“I hope we can meet again, Lady Miyo. There’s much I want to talk with you about.”

“I’d love to see you again, too, Hana.”

No longer servant and mistress, their newfound relationship opened up new possibilities. They could go out to shop or have a meal anytime.

“Hana, thank you so much for coming and giving me advice. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be hiding in my room.”

“I’m glad I could be of help. It was wonderful to speak to you again after so many years, now that you’re no longer a child but a lovely young woman.”

Smiling, they squeezed each other’s hands. Neither could quite bring herself to say good-bye just yet. Suddenly, they heard the noise of an engine, and a car pulled up in front of the house.

“That’ll be Godou,” Kiyoka said before greeting the visitor. “Apologies for having you drive today.”

“No problem, Commander. That’s what we agreed on.”

Godou stuck his head out the window on the driver’s side. He’d come to pick up Hana and looked just as laid-back as the first time Miyo had met him. If it weren’t for his uniform, no one would suspect he was part of the elite Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit.

“Were you followed?”

“I don’t think so. Looks like we evaded them today.”

The women didn’t hear Kiyoka and Godou’s whispered exchange. Kiyoka had given this task to his aide instead of taking care of that himself because he didn’t want whoever had been spying on him to find out about her. No one else needed to get involved.

“Hop in the car, ma’am!”

“Thank you, Mr. Godou.”

Miyo couldn’t take her eyes off Hana as she got into the vehicle. When
she caught Godou staring at her, she bowed deeply with gratitude. He smiled charmingly at her, then waved before withdrawing his head back into the car.

“…Don’t look so sad. You’re free to meet whoever you want, whenever you want to.”

Kiyoka put his hand on her shoulder as they watched the car drive away.
Did I look sad?
She touched her face with both hands, as if trying to gauge her own expression.

“Thank you, Mr. Kudou…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Miyo was sure he understood everything she was thanking him for. But his reply was so typically curt that she couldn’t help laughing.

Sucking air through his teeth in irritation, Minoru Tatsuishi crumpled the paper bird familiar who’d returned with nothing after failing to track down its target. At first, his familiars had all ended up burned to ashes, so he’d gotten more careful. Keeping his distance had proved partially successful—none of them had been destroyed, but they also never managed to gather the information Minoru wanted. Kiyoka seemed to be toying with them.

Although Minoru was more interested in Miyo, he still hadn’t managed to get his familiars close to her even once.

“Can you believe Miyo hasn’t been kicked out of Kudou’s house yet? I can’t fathom how she’s managing that. Maybe she makes a good servant. That has to be what he’s keeping her for, based on her clothes,” Kaya had complained to him on a visit.

Minoru couldn’t verify the veracity of Kaya’s claims. Perhaps he could use this spoiled brat to his advantage, though. Since her engagement to Kouji, Kaya would often share gossip with her father-in-law-to-be, and some of the information she gleaned was actually valuable.

“Kouji really upset me that day. He always takes Miyo’s side!”

Then she went on to tell him that she’d seen someone extraordinary
that day, too. The man she’d described with dreamy eyes and flushed cheeks was unquestionably Kiyoka Kudou. So he’d indeed paid a visit to the Saimoris. Minoru was unable to ascertain what Kiyoka had talked to the head of the Saimori family about, but based on Kaya’s impressions, he’d come to complain about the pitiful bride they’d sent him. Since his visit, the atmosphere in the Saimoris’ home had become gloomier than ever before, so presumably he’d demanded payment as compensation for the incident.

They’d have saved themselves the trouble if they’d offered Miyo to my son.

Oblivious to his own faults, he cursed the Saimoris for their foolishness.
But better late than never.
Spurned by Kiyoka, soon Miyo would be available for the Tatsuishis. Then everything would fall into place. Minoru smirked faintly to himself, not suspecting for even a moment that Kiyoka had gone to speak with the Saimoris to officially ask for Miyo’s hand in marriage.

A week had passed since Hana’s visit. It was a pleasant early summer afternoon thanks to a light breeze keeping the heat at bay.

As Miyo finished putting on her kimono by tying the sash tightly, she felt as though she’d been reborn. The kimono, the sash, and all the accessories that went with the outfit were brand-new and of excellent quality.

I look a little like her, I think.
Miyo’s reflection in the mirror was not without resemblance to how she’d seen her mother in the dream, dressed in a cherry blossom–pink kimono much like the one she wore now. Her thin body no longer looked unhealthy, her complexion had improved, and even her hair started to show signs of glossiness.

Miyo would never forget that moment when Kiyoka gave her this kimono so similar to the lost memento of her mother. It already made her happy enough that he’d had several kimonos made for her, but on top of that, he’d also chosen this pink one for her because he’d thought it would suit her best. Keiko, the owner of Suzushima’s, had told her
this in secret. At first, she’d felt an illogical urge to scold him for going to such lengths to please her, but the elation she’d felt had rendered her speechless. Since then, she would beam brightly every time she glanced at the kimono—a sight so unusual that it must have surprised everyone.

Miyo was getting ready to receive a guest that day. She’d invited Godou for dinner to thank him for driving Hana over when she visited. Though she was unsure whether she could be a good hostess, since Godou was almost a stranger, she’d asked Kiyoka about the foods his aide liked and had cooked them accordingly.

I hope Mr. Godou enjoys the dinner. Agonizing over it won’t help any.

Miyo applied light makeup the way Yurie had taught her before hurrying off to the kitchen to finish preparing dinner.

“Aah, this is going to be a terrific evening,” Godou announced cheerfully.

Kiyoka was driving home from work with his aide in the passenger seat. He shot the man a sharp glare.

“I thought I’d settled it with you by paying for your food and drink at the bar. We had an agreement.”

“Your Miyo is going to be a good, sensible wife.”

“Since when were you on a first-name basis with her?”

Godou’s casual familiarity was getting on Kiyoka’s nerves.

“What, are you jealous?”

“Of course not. But it’s getting harder and harder not to punch you.”

“That’s jealousy, Commander!”

Godou theatrically wailed that his brutal superior was planning on killing him. Meanwhile, Kiyoka considered kicking him out of the car just so that he wouldn’t have to bear his antics.

He’d been surprised when Miyo had announced that she wanted to invite Godou over for dinner, since he hadn’t expected her to want to see anyone. After her long period of isolation at home, she’d become too ashamed of herself to seek contact with others. Now that her future was no longer uncertain and she no longer looked famished and abused, however, she must have recovered some confidence. It made Kiyoka happy.

“Have you lost the familiar that was tailing you?” Godou asked.

“Of course. I’m not an amateur.”

Godou turned to look out the rearview window. A paper familiar would appear in Kiyoka’s vicinity to spy on him every day without fail, but they currently seemed to be in the clear. Evading a human spy could be tricky, but trifling familiars like that were easily put off the scent. Kiyoka had surrounded his house with an invisible barrier impenetrable to paper familiars, and when Hana had been visiting, he’d taken every precaution to ensure the spy had been none the wiser.

“I didn’t mean to doubt your abilities, Commander. I shouldn’t have even asked,” Godou admitted. “I’ve got to say, the Gifted have really pathetic abilities these days.”

“With fewer Grotesqueries, there’s no need for them to hone their skill.”

Due to Western cultural influences and the advancement of technology in the empire, more and more people were denying the existence of the Grotesqueries, whose numbers had also strangely begun to dwindle. Consequently, the demand for talented Gift-users who could hunt down such creatures had been falling.

“What is it they say—that the Grotesqueries are illusions? Figments of the imagination? Well, that’s not entirely wrong,” said Godou.

“Indeed.”

Grotesqueries appeared when people would attribute phenomenon they didn’t understand to monsters. If enough people dreaded the same thing, their combined fear had the power to physically manifest those forms. With the advent of scientific thinking, however, people began seeking logical explanations for the world around them. Since fear of the supernatural had become less common, Grotesqueries had less to feed off.

“Always a good thing to have less work on your plate, though,” Godou commented.

With the situation being as it was, it was unavoidable that the Gifted families without any noteworthy talents would become less adept at using them. Even Kiyoka, celebrated as the best of his generation, wouldn’t have ranked among the top Gift-users of times past.

“Here we are. Get out.”

They’d arrived at Kiyoka’s cottage. Fed up with his aide, who spent the ride chatting away while his superior had been driving, Kiyoka shoved him out of the automobile. Godou yelped in surprise and quickly turned back to complain.

“Keep this brutality up, and I’ll tell Miyo about it!”

“Oh, will you? …It seems I’ll have to make sure you don’t talk.”

“No, wait, there’s no need for that…”

Godou turned pale. Kiyoka had only been joking, of course, but his aide liked showing off his acting skills. Kiyoka sighed.

Miyo was waiting on the porch as usual. Yurie wasn’t there, so she must have already gone home.

“Welcome home, Mr. Kudou. Mr. Godou, thank you so much for visiting.”

Miyo put her hands together and bowed slowly. She looked lovely in her beautiful kimono. Kiyoka had pretty much forced her to accept it in return for the handmade hair tie she’d given him. A pale shade of pink, it suited her as well as he’d imagined. Miyo’s complexion looked healthier now, and she was wearing faint blush on her cheeks. Her well-combed hair, black and glossy like a raven’s wing, was loosely tied at the back. Though the wrists poking out of her sleeves were still thin and fragile, she no longer appeared malnourished.

Kiyoka found her transformation fascinating. It was as if a pebble found by the roadside had concealed a gemstone within. Keiko had been right about her. To Kiyoka’s annoyance, he felt almost grateful to the Saimoris for inadvertently giving him the perfect bride.

“Mr. Kudou? Is something wrong?”

“No, I…was just thinking that you look very beautiful in this kimono.”

He immediately felt embarrassed for saying that out loud.
What’s gotten into me?

Upon noticing Miyo’s cheeks turn scarlet in return, he felt the urge to run and hide. He also wanted to kick Godou, who looking at him as if to say he’d leave the two lovebirds alone, but naturally, he couldn’t do that in front of Miyo. His heart was not his own these days. It was always giving him trouble.

“It’s such a wonderful gift. I really love this color.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

He’d been right in asking Keiko to tailor the kimono for Miyo as soon as possible. While it no longer matched the season, that was of no importance as long as she enjoyed it.

“Oh, forgive me for being so thoughtless, Mr. Godou! Please do come inside.”

Realizing she’d been ignoring her guest, Miyo panicked for a moment. She opened the door and invited him in. Godou gave an uncharacteristically dry laugh and trundled inside with resignation, his eyes as blank as a dead fish’s. Miyo led the men to the living room, which had been elegantly decorated for the occasion. They sat down, and she served the meal at once.

“Whoa, this is delicious!”

“Please eat to your heart’s content.”

Miyo kept bringing in more and more dishes. She had gone with smaller portions but greater variety. Next, she brought out small bowls and plates filled with the customary pickles and vegetables boiled in broth, which she’d seasoned strongly to complement what the men were drinking. Godou praised every single dish he tasted.

“You’re still living with your parents. Don’t they feed you well enough?” Kiyoka asked him.

“You misunderstand, Commander. Sure, we have a chef, but the simple flavors of home-cooked and bar food are uniquely comforting.”

“…”

Maybe they were. Come to think of it, Kiyoka had at least two meals either Miyo or Yurie prepared for him every day, so perhaps he’d grown used to the kind of food commoners ate. When he’d lived at his parents’ estate during his youth, he’d eaten nothing but fine cuisine, to the point where he could barely stand it. Simple home-cooked meals were more to his taste.

“Allow me to refill your glass, Mr. Godou.”

“Oh, thank you.”

His praise of her cooking had Miyo slightly flustered as she poured him another drink. Once his glass was full, she bowed to him politely.

“Mr. Godou, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your help with Hana’s visit.”

“I just played the driver, that’s all.”

“But you’re Mr. Kudou’s aide, which means we could spend that afternoon talking only because you generously took care of his responsibilities at work.”

Miyo was a dazzling hostess who spoke with unusual grace. Whether it was something she’d learned recently or an innate quality that had been long repressed, it didn’t matter to Kiyoka. He took a large sip of his drink, proud of her and in a good mood. But then…

“Miss Miyo, no one has ever spoken to me so warmly before! You’re an angel! Please break up with my cruel commander and marry me instead!”

“E-excuse me…?”

“Hey!” How dare Godou be so impudent? Kiyoka’s voice became tinged with anger, his patience running thin. “Watch your tongue, Godou…”

Although she could be excessively humble at times, Miyo was attractive, did household chores readily and skillfully, and had good character. Evidently, Kiyoka wasn’t the only man to see she’d make a good wife. A storm began brewing in his chest at the thought of her marrying someone else.

“I—I was only joking! Stop glaring at me like you’re gonna kill me! It’s really scary!”

Godou turned pale as he hastily explained he was merely teasing his boss, who was always mean to him. Though Kiyoka fixed him with a frosty glare at first, Godou got a hold of himself after hearing Miyo’s hesitant reply.

“Um, Mr. Godou, as much as I appreciate the offer…I’m afraid that I prefer Mr. Kudou… Please forgive me.”

Godou must have felt awkward seeing that Miyo had taken what was obviously a jest so seriously.

“Er… Of course you do! Sorry, that was a bad joke!”

And who could blame Kiyoka for reveling in his aide’s discomfort? He had it coming to him after making such a careless remark just for a
laugh. Maybe now he’d learn the weight of his words. But what gave Kiyoka the most satisfaction was hearing Miyo say she preferred him. He’d harbored a nagging suspicion that she would have married anyone who’d offered her a warm home. While he wouldn’t have given her up even if that was the case, he felt much better knowing it wasn’t. Though she might have seen marriage only as a means of obtaining shelter at first, she seemed to have taken to him, since she was happily wearing the kimono he’d chosen for her. Lost in his musings, the conversation continued on without him.

“R-really? Even high-ranking officers…?”

“Absolutely. There are even generals who shiver at the very mention of his name. I dread to imagine what Commander Kudou has done to so utterly terrify them.”

“Hold on…”

As it turned out, Miyo and Godou had broken the ice and were talking animatedly—about him.

“You don’t want to incur the wrath of Kiyoka Kudou, oh no—he’s a demon when angry. Only a handful of people dare openly express their opinions to him, such as myself and his direct superior, Major General Ookaito.”

“Godou…”

“Our unit’s training is infamous for being among the top five most draconian in the entire army. And yes, you guessed it, it’s thanks to our merciless commander. At least his soldiers show no fear when battling Grotesqueries—they’re not half as terrible as him!”

“…Godou, that’s enough prattling.”

“Eek!”

Their chatter continued late into the night.

After Godou went back home, Kiyoka took a bath. On his way back to the living room, he noticed something was amiss. The house was strangely quiet, as if he was alone. Had Miyo finished cleaning up after dinner and gone to sleep?

The kitchen light was switched off, and no candles were lit, either.
Miyo must have been in the living room or her bedroom. No, she couldn’t have been in her room—he’d passed by it earlier and didn’t sense her presence. He frowned and headed to the living room. As he neared it, he caught a few fragmented words.

“…No—no, please… Mother…”

It was Miyo’s voice. She sounded delirious. Alarmed, Kiyoka yanked the door open and saw Miyo asleep, her head resting on the table in the corner of the room. She had probably nodded off from exhaustion after a long day. That normally wasn’t anything unusual, but… He managed to pick up a faint echo of a supernatural ability that had been used.

I’m not imagining this…

Since Kiyoka had a keen sense for people’s presences, no one else could have entered the house while he was in the bath without his noticing. Nor had he or Godou activated their special powers during dinner. This was alarming. Could some otherworldly creature that even Kiyoka couldn’t detect have sneaked into his house and used an ability? Was that possible? Another explanation sprang to mind, but he ignored it for now as he approached Miyo’s slumbering form.

“…Please, don’t…”

Her voice was desperate and imploring. Kiyoka stepped quietly over to her side. Miyo’s cheeks were wet from tears, and while her eyes were shut, her face was contorted in anguish. Had she been sleeping peacefully, he wouldn’t have woken her up, but she was evidently suffering. He put his hand on her shoulder and shook her gently.

“Miyo… Wake up, Miyo.”

“…Kaya…stop… No more…”

Despite his address, she was still in the clutches of her nightmare.

“Wake up!”

Concerned, he raised his voice, and she finally stopped mumbling in her sleep before drowsily opening her eyes.

“…Nngh?”

“Snap out of it, Miyo. Are you okay?”

“Huh? Mr.…Kudou?”

Upon seeing that she seemed fine, he let out a long sigh of relief. But
he couldn’t let his guard down, since he knew an unknown power had activated there recently.

“Yes, it’s me. You had fallen asleep, and it was hard to wake you. Are you feeling all right?”

“Um…”

Slowly sitting up, she tilted her head to the side in confusion as though she hadn’t fully woken up yet and didn’t understand what was going on. Kiyoka’s frown deepened in worry as he examined her complexion, which was still damp from tears.

“Were you having a bad dream?”

“It was…a dream?”

She was processing everything sluggishly, but as she thought back to the nightmare, her eyes opened wide in fear, and fresh tears streamed from them. He hadn’t seen her cry like this before. It hurt him to see her so distraught, hunched and sobbing uncontrollably with both hands over her face. Instinctively, he reached his arms around her and brought her close in an embrace.

“Mr. Kudou, I—I…”

“It’s all right. That must have been an awful dream. Just cry it out.”

Based on what he could piece together from the snippets of words she’d uttered in her sleep,
Mother
and
Kaya
, she’d been dreaming about her family doing something awful to her.

“You’re my fianc
é
e. And as I told you before, that means we need to be open with each other. You can rely on me more, come to me for help. You don’t have to hide your feelings; you can ask me for comfort. Isn’t that what marriage is about—supporting each other?”

He wondered how much of what he was saying was reaching her. They’d become closer recently, but the wounds in her heart were more serious than he’d imagined. Even his care wouldn’t be able to heal them quickly.

I wish she was free from this burden already…

No one was going to hurt her anymore. If someone from Kiyoka’s family or social circle wished to do her wrong, he wouldn’t let them anywhere near her.

“Cry your heart out. When your tears dry up, I’d like to see you smile again.”

“…”

He kept stroking her hair as she buried deep into his chest, shaking from sobs. Kiyoka was prepared to comfort her like this as many times as it took for her to stop crying, to stop hurting. The woman in his embrace felt delicate, small, and fragile, as if she would easily break if he wasn’t there to protect her.

A little while later, she described her dream to him, speaking in spurts between her sobs. In the nightmare, her stepmother and half sister had ripped the mementos of Miyo’s mother to shreds and burned them. When she’d begged them to stop and give her possessions back to her, they’d laughed. Though she didn’t say whether it was based on actual events, Kiyoka had a feeling it wasn’t far from the truth.

“That must have been so hard.”

Kiyoka didn’t mean just the dream. He’d said this while imagining Miyo—at not even ten years old—having to find a way to survive all on her own after losing Hana, her one and only friend. He could only imagine what Miyo’s life had been like based on what he’d read in the report. But he also wanted to believe her heart would heal with time.

“Can I really stay with you forever, Mr. Kudou?”

“Of course. We can be together for the rest of our lives.” She looked up at him, and he smiled tenderly down at her. “You’re making me repeat myself. I’ve already told you I want you in my life.”

“…Even though I’m so useless? So talentless?”

“I don’t think of you that way. But even if you were, my feelings wouldn’t change.”

Miyo blushed, blinking away the last of her tears as she averted her gaze bashfully.

“I…”

“?”

“I don’t think I deserve you…but I want to stay with you forever and help you somehow.”

“You can.”

“I need to…do better, so that I can support you for as long as possible.”

“I would appreciate anything you do.”

It struck him that this was the first time she’d spoken about the future with any degree of optimism, after enduring years of her family depriving her the right to her own free will. Though it was obvious she wouldn’t be able to regain her confidence so soon, Kiyoka was prepared to encourage her to take small steps toward believing in herself and trusting in him.

But what was that power she manifested earlier…?
Its faint traces had almost faded away. Kiyoka knitted his brows again, pondering potential explanations. It was possible a supernatural ability had brought on Miyo’s nightmares. If that was true, then the culprit was undoubtedly a member of the Usuba family.

Miyo was more skittish around Kiyoka the following morning. She felt guilt and shame for falling asleep while waiting for Kiyoka to return from his bath and that a simple nightmare had reduced her to a sobbing mess before him. True, he wanted her to be open about her feelings, but as far as Miyo was concerned, this behavior was unacceptable for a grown woman. Worse still, she’d let it slip that she’d been having nightmares since moving into his house, and that made him worry. She saw his expression cloud over and become intimidating. The terrifying coldness in his eyes befitted his reputation as a cruel and callous man. He didn’t seem upset with her, but the chilly air around him made her shiver nonetheless.

Once breakfast had passed in awkward silence and Kiyoka was getting ready to leave for work, Miyo handed him a small parcel.

“So, um, I made this for you…”

As an apology
—but she left that part unsaid.

“…You packed me a lunch?”

“Yes…”

She wasn’t entirely convinced this would clearly convey that she was sorry and wanted to make up for causing a scene last night, but that
was what Yurie had suggested. The lunch box had just been lying around the kitchen, so she’d filled it with food she put her heart into cooking and had carefully wrapped it in cloth.

“Thank you.” He accepted it from her with a smile, got into his car, and drove away. It might have been her imagination, but he seemed to have cheered up.

“I have to do more for him.”

She wanted to put a smile on his face, to support him as his fianc
é
e. There might not be much she could do, but if she put every effort into each little thing, maybe eventually she would earn her place beside him as his wife.