Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Azuma - Prince of Soga - Main Story
Chapter 1 - A Disturbance
Soga Kingdom, September...
When I arrived at the Soga Kingdom, I passed through the vast gorgeous audience hall. Sitting before me was the king and Azuma-san, who I have awakened from a dream eater's slumber the other day.
Azuma: Accept them, Traumerei Princess. You don't need to be reserved.
King: You have my thanks for saving my son. Accept it and enjoy yourself.
Azuma-san was looking at me with his sharp eyes.
(I thought about it the moment I woke him up, but he has really strong and beautiful eyes...)
As I was unable to look away, my heart became oddly noisy.
MC: U-Um, but... Accepting something so valuable like this.
Spread out before me were beautiful silk goods and very expensive looking tea utensils. The thin cloth with jewellike embroidery would only be wasted on me.
Azuma: You were the one who woke me up. So, you must accept these as thanks.
Azuma-san looked away from as he said that strongly.
(What should I do...)
Then, at that moment...
Retainer: Pardon the intrusion.
When a person that looked like a retainer entered, he whispered something to the king and Azuma-san.
King: !?
Azuma: What...!?
Their faces instantly turned pale.
Azuma: You, take the goods as thanks, I need to make some arrangements to leave soon... Sorry. We've just got a report about a thief appearing in town. It's dangerous to leave the castle right now. For the time being, stay in the castle.
MC: Eh...? U-Um.
Azuma: I'll have a room prepared for you immediately. Don't worry.
After Azuma-san told me that, he quickly left with the king. The people that were here left and followed after them as it became noisy. Soon after, a guide has come to get me, but my heart tightened with a bad feeling...
Chapter 2 - Invasion
After receiving Azuma-san's invitation and arriving at the Soga Kingdom, I've been confined in the castle when a thief appeared... When I was led to a guest room that was prepared for me to stay in, I was spending more time alone while feeling sad in the vast and luxurious tatami room.
(I wonder what the situation in town is. It'd be nice if there's something that Azuma-san and the others can do about it...)
Azuma-san had just left and there was already a hectic atmosphere in the castle.
Curious about the situation outside, I opened the sliding door and just as I was about to go into the hallway...
MC: ...!?
I felt something cold and sharp pressed against my neck.
??: Quiet. Are you Azuma's woman?
In just a moment, I was caught by someone from behind.
(W-Wha's happening...!?)
Spy: Come with me.
MC: No...!
The moment I was about to be taken away by force...
Azuma: Who are you?
(Azuma-san!?)
Just as Azuma-san said that, he pressed his katana against the neck of the man that was about to kidnap me.
Spy: W-When did you.
Azuma: How foolish for a spy. Even though you were wide open, you did well to sneak into my castle.
Spy: Eek...
As there was an even more ferocious look in his sharp eyes, he glared at the man. Even my neck felt cold from his deep voice.
Azuma: Drop your blade. I won't forgive you if you use any more violence in my castle. If you spare her life...
The edge of the blade that was touching my neck was trembling.
Azuma: Leave. If you don't...
Spy: I-I get it, don't kill me!
After shouting that, the man released me and retreated. Then...
Azuma: He got away.
As the man was running, he fled at full speed.
Azuma: Shinobi. Go after him.
As soon as Azuma-san took a glance up towards the ceiling, he gave that order.
Azuma: Are you okay?
Azuma-san turned towards me. In those eyes that were glaring at the man like a predator killing it's prety, all that remains was a strong look. I...
///Choices///
- Thank you so much (☼)
MC: Yes. U-Um, thank you so much.
My voice was trembling as I thanked him...
Azuma: It would've been troubling if you got kidnapped in my castle.
After Azuma-san sighed, he lightly smiled.
- You need to catch him...! (☽)
MC: Yes. Azuma-san, you need to catch him...!
Azuma: You're a pretty touch woman.
Azuma-san looked at me amusingly from my words.
Azuma: That's not a problem.
Azuma-san looked back at the fleeing man again and calmly lets him go.
///Choices///
Azuma: ...
Suddenly, without any warning, Azuma-san touched my neck. The sudden close distance and the sensation of his fingertips made my cheeks warm.
(W-What...?)
Azuma: You got a small cut.
MC: Eh...?
(I didn't notice...)
Azuma-san softly murmured that as he furrowed his brow.
Azuma: Let's get it treated. Sorry.
MC: Ah...
Azuma-san slowly removed his large hand. Aside from my cheeks, the spot where he touched me became warm.
Azuma: Looks like we need to increase the security in the castle. The man from earlier will get captured soon.
After murmuring those words, the side of Azuma-san's face looked really gallant and reliable...
Chapter 3 - Guarding
Just as I got attacked by a spy, Azuma-san saved me. After that, a maid was ordered to treat my wound.
(The injury on my body is just a small cut though...)
Azuma: To let a woman's body get injured... Moreover, you're my benefactor.
Azuma-san frowned as he watched my neck getting treated.
MC: This is really just a small cut.
Azuma: Starting from now, I'll be even more careful, so that something like this won't happen again. Sorry for putting you in danger after inviting you here so suddenly.
MC: No, I... You saved me, Azuma-san.
Azuma: I never thought that man would even reach the inside of the castle.
(That man...?)
His eyelashes went down troubledly. When I saw a dark look on his manly dignified face, I felt pain for some reason.
MC: ...Do you know something?
Azuma: Yeah... Since you got involved in something like this, I should tell you a little about the situation. A thief didn't appear in town earlier. Sorry. The kingdom's state of affairs isn't something that I can talk about so freely, that's what I'm trying to say.
MC: I see... Then...
Azuma: ...
With a clap, Azuma-san continued talking with a serious look.
Azuma: My kingdom has a few territories and each of them has a feudal lord ruling them. One of the feudal lords that served as a retainer has been coming up with strategies to create a rebellion.
MC: ...A rebellion?
Azuma: Yeah. He wants to build a new kingdom and rule his own territory. For his own desires, right now, that man has threatened the safety of the people in my kingdom. He even snuck into the castle to take you as a hostage today. It's most likely that he thinks that you're my weakness. First of all, laying a hand on a woman... That's something I find most unforgivable.
Azuma-san strongly clenched his fist over his knee. It felt like his unspeakable anger and resentment was in that fist...
///Choices///
- Agree (☽)
MC: I think so too... To think that someone would choose to do something so cowardly.
With my feelings rising a little, I said that to Azuma-san.
Azuma: ...You're pretty strong for a woman.
MC: Eh...
Azuma-san looked at me with great interest...
- Smile (☼)
(If I could reassure Azuma-san's feelings just a little...)
With that desire hanging over me, I smiled at Azuma-san.
Azuma: MC...?
MC: Azuma-san... You're a really straightforward person.
Azuma-san widened his eyes and gave me an odd look...
Azuma: I've been told that I'm a stubborn person by those around me.
When he said that with a smile, I saw that he had eased up a little.
(That's good...)
///Choices///
Azuma: Still... I thought that you would be safe in the castle. Sorry about that.
MC: N-No. You don't need to apologize for that.
(Even though it hasn't been that long since we've met, he's worried about me... Despite that he looks like a scary person, he's actually sincere.)
My heart throbbed from his honest words.
Azuma: Anyway, I can see that even the castle is dangerous. Tomorrow, I'll get a lot of guards arranged and have them see you out of the kingdom. I've been telling you to come over and to leave back and forth. Also... If you're with me, you'll be put in danger.
MC: I'll be okay. More importantly, are you okay, Azuma-san?
(Even though this isn't the time to be worrying about me...)
Azuma: What do you mean?
MC: After hearing about the situation, I became a little worried...
Azuma: A woman like you, worried about me...?
Azuma-san widened his eyes and gave me an odd look. This was the first time I've seen him make such a defenseless expression.
MC: A-Am I being intrusive...?
Azuma: Ah, no.
After he lightly shook his head, Azuma-san smiled.
(Ah, this is the first time I've seen him smile like this...)
Azuma: Having a woman worry about me.
///Choices///
- Apologize (☽)
MC: U-Um, I'm sorry.
Azuma: What are you apologizing for? It's not like I'm mad or anything.
That made me relieved.
- Be perplexed (☼)
MC: U-Um...
As I was unsure on how to respond, I became perplexed.
Azuma: What are you fidgeting for? It's not like I'm mad or anything.
///Choices///
Azuma: Still, this is the first time I've been treated like this by a woman. It's interesting. You're a pretty strange person.
Azuma-san made a soft look. That smile filled with kindness made my heart slightly noisy.
(Making... a gentle face like that.)
Azuma: Okay, I'll be your guard until tomorrow. Until tomorrow morning, I'll protect you.
MC: Until morning!?
Azuma: That's right. Until dawn.
With his smile leaving, Azuma-san said that with a serious look.
(W-What should I do? He said until morning...)
MC: U-Um, I feel bad about that.
Azuma: You don't need to be reserved. You're my benefactor after all.
After Azuma-san said that, he sat down in the room.
(Azuma-san is...)
MC: ...Then, thank you very much.
Azuma: It's obvious that I should protect my benefactor.
Azuma-san nodded deeply with a satisfied look.
(But, I'm glad that Azuma-san is with me.)
Before I knew it, I couldn't feel the fear that I felt from when I was attacked earlier at all.
(It's thanks to... Azuma-san.)
After that, we talked to each other here and there as night was growing late...
Chapter 4 - Ambush
All through the night, Azuma-san has been wathcing over me.
(...I was feeling a little nervous, so I couldn't sleep well.)
Azuma: Are you awake?
When I got up from the inside of the futon, Azuma-san was looking at me. With the morning sunlight shining on his face, he didn't look tired despite that he didn't sleep much.
MC: Yes, thank you.
Azuma: What? You couldn't sleep well?
When Azuma-san looked at me as soon as I got up, he furrowed his brow.
(How embarrassing...)
Azuma: Oh, well... It wouldn't be possible considering what happened yesterday.
MC: But, you didn't sleep either.
Azuma: I've slept.
MC: Eh...
Azuma: For about a minute. So, don't worry about me. I went through daily training to get up quickly whenever I get a strange feeling.
(H-He did that kind of training...)
///Choices///
- Be speechless (☼)
MC: ...
Azuma: What's wrong? Your face is all stiff.
MC: S-Sorry. I was just surprised. That's amazing though.
Azuma: Obviously. Because you never know what'll happen at any moment.
- Worry about his body (☽)
MC: But, you didn't get that much sleep...
Azuma: I don't need that much sleep. I can wake up at any moment as long as I'm in perfect condition.
///Choices///
Azuma: Although.
Then, Azuma-san's face suddenly turned red and looked away from me.
Azuma: ...Your chest is showing. You should fix that.
MC: ...!?
(I-I...!)
Embarrassed, I covered my chest with both of my hands in a panic.
Azuma: ...
MC: ...
An awkward silence was spreading throughout the room.
(How embarrassing...)
Azuma: That was troubling...
Azuma-san scratched his head as he was at a complete loss.
MC: I-I'm sorry...
Azuma: No, I'm the one who should apologize. Since you're a woman and all.
After that, we had an incoherent conversation... When it became awkward before long... The moment we looked at each other, we smiled.
Azuma: Okay, as soon as you get dressed, let's leave.
MC: Okay.
When Azuma-san looked at me with a bright expression, it cheered me up even more.
(It'd be nice if the kingdom becomes filled with smiles with Azuma-san always being like this.)
......
Then, by the time I departed... While walking down the road, I left with Azuma-san, along with some guards around us.
(To think that even Azuma-san came along.)
When Azuma-san looked around the area, he immediately walked up next to me.
-Flashback-
Azuma: Okay, I'll be your guard until tomorrow. Until tomorrow morning, I'll protect you.
-Flashback-
(He's protecting me...)
When I looked at him without realizing it, our gazes met.
Azuma: ...
MC: ...
As we were unsure on what to say while looking at each other, at that moment...
Azuma: ...!?
(Eh!?)
Suddenly, a large group of armed men attacked us.
Armed Soldier: The people of Soga... Get their heads!
Azuma: MC! Get behind me!!
MC: Ah... I-I...
As I was panicking from the sudden event, Azuma-san reached out to me and pulled me.
Azuma: Pull yourself together!
With the metallic sounds of blades hitting against each other, there were the shouts of people and wild footsteps. I was trembling for some time in Azuma-san's arms due to the scene of the battlefield...
(Is it... over...?)
As Azuma-san was holding my soldier tightly, he was breathing roughly repeatedly.
Azuma: ...Several people got injured.
When he looked around with a sharp gaze, Azuma-san said that deeply.
Azuma: ...I didn't want to make a big disturbance. Sorry, but you're going to have to return to the castle with me for a while.
While holding my shoulder, Azuma-san looked down at me. Those eyes looked like they were shaking with anger and sadness...
MC: ...Okay.
When I deeply nodded, he did his best to look back at me.
Azuma: Let's go.
As my legs felt like they were about to collapse, Azuma-san supported me up on our way back to the castle...
Chapter 5 - News
When we got attacked as we were on our way to depart the kingdom, we went the opposite way and returned to the castle once more.
(Just what is happening...)
As soon as we got back to the castle, there has been reports of other feudal lords getting attacked by the rebel group, so Azuma-san rushed out.
(I wonder if Azuma-san is okay.)
While I was praying for his safety, I waited for his return...
......
A few days later, Azuma-san returned to the castle.
Azuma: ...
MC: Azuma-san!
As soon as I saw him, I ran up to him.
Azuma: Looks like nothing has happened in the castle while I was absent.
MC: Yes, I'm really glad that you're all right too, Azuma-san.
Feeling emotional, I looked at Azuma-san.
Azuma: ...
Azuma-san softly made a pained expression.
MC: Azuma-san...?
The moment I looked at his face...
MC: !
Azuma-san placed his large hand on the back of my head and pulled me towards him next.
(Azuma... -san...?)
My face was touching his brazen chest.
///Choices///
- Wrap your hands around his back (☽)
Despite my confusion, I nervously wrapped my hands around Azuma-san's back.
Azuma: I must've kept you waiting.
Hearing his heartrending voice made my ears tremble.
- Entrust your body to him (☼)
Unsure on what to do... I went along with it and entrusted my body to him.
Azuma: MC...
His hand was really warm.
///Choices///
There was the scent of blood and rust coming from Azuma-san's body. As I was unaware of the events that had been happening, I felt pain.
MC: Are you okay, Azuma-san?
Azuma: ...Yeah. It's strange. Seeing your face just now gave me reassurance when I was about to feel discouraged. I... I've never felt this way towards a woman...
After whispering that to me deeply, Azuma-san slowly lets go of me. A part of his strength returned to his heartrendingly dim eyes.
Azuma: A feudal lord sustained a serious wound, but he's fine. Although, another lord is going to get attacked soon next. In order to strengthen our forces a little... We must continue fighting. I... Was I really wrong?
When Azuma-san said that, he shook his head slowly.
(Azuma-san? What does he mean...?)
As I was unable to understand what was on his mind, my heart tightened even more.
(If there's something I can do...)
Azuma: I'm really sorry for calling you over during such a dangerous time. You should leave as soon as possible.
When he smiled a little, my heart throbbed.
(He's smiling, but... It's completely different from that time. I...)
MC: ...Is there anything I can do?
Azuma: ...You?
MC: Yes.
After saying that single word, Azuma-san looked straight at me.
Azuma: ...You're a really strange woman. You have nothing to do with this.
MC: You should thank your benefactor, Azuma-san.
When I smiled, Azuma-san made a surprised look and then, he made a wry smile.
Azuma: In that case... Stay for a bit longer.
MC: Okay.
After that, we started thinking of a way to break down this situation.
Then, one day...
Retainer: Azuma-sama! I got some important news.
Azuma: What! Hurry and say it.
Retainer: Yes. The man that caused this rebellion is actually suffering from a severe illness right now, it's a serious disease.
Azuma: An... illness?
After hearing the name of the disease and the details of the symptoms, Azuma-san's expression became unusually stern...
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