Yanagi - Prince of Kuyou - Moon End

Yanagi - Prince of Kuyou - Moon End

Chapter 7 - Going Overtime

The flower, tress and shrubs that were carefully pruned were all growing proudly... 

MC: What a nice garden. 

The lively plants in the colorful garden made me say that in admiration. 

MC: Thank you for showing me around, Yanagi-san. 

While walking on the stone covered path, I looked up at him as he was walking beside me.

Yanagi: No problem. "Showing our territory to the Traumerei Princess" is just a royal duty that I must fulfill. 

Calling it his duty, these past few days, Yanagi-san has taken a break from his busy schedule of work to show me various places of his territory. 

MC: The sweets that we ate at the teahouse were delicious... and the main street was so lively, it was fun. 

Yanagi: ...I see, how surprising. 

Yanagi-san smiled softly.

MC: Eh? 

Yanagi: Since our territory is at the border of Kuyou, it wouldn't surprise me that you would think of us as fools for being in the countryside. 

MC: ! I would never!

Yanagi: Haha, I wonder about that. 

His amused laugh tickled my ear. Ever since he told me his reason for protecting this kingdom on the moonlit night, it felt like I've been seeing his real smile many times...

(I wonder if he's letting his guard down a little.)

Feeling like that smile is a sign of the distance between us was shrinking, I felt a bittersweet happiness... 

Chapter 7 - Struggling Intentions

When the territory's area became covered in dusk, it became dark soon after... Once we've returned to the castle from town, Yanagi-san escorted me to the front of my room. 

MC: Thank you for looking after me today. Well then, goodnight. 

Yanagi: ...Yeah. 

Just as we were about to part, Yanagi-san's expression clouded up a little. 

MC: What's wrong...? 

Yanagi: ...No, it's nothing. Well then, sweet dreams. 

Showing a faint smile, Yanagi-san walked into the hallway. Until I fell asleep, the smile that he showed me was etched into my eyes for some reason... 

......

When I woke up, I felt strangely uncomfortable from the unfamiliar ceiling. 

(Where am I...?) 

When I looked around, I was lying down on a futon in an unfamiliar room instead of the room that I was sleeping in... 

MC: ...

Just as I raised the upper half of my body in a panic, my vision was groggy as it shook greatly. 

Shizuki: It'd be best if you don't move so quickly like that. 

MC: !

When I turned around in surprise, Shizuki-san was sitting right beside the futon. 

Shizuki: I mixed a sleeping drug in the incense in your room. My apologies for pulling such a rough act. 

(Then, Shizuki-san took me here?) 

I wanted to escape right away, but I was struggling due to being strongly dizzy that I was unable to get up. 

MC: Why would you do something like this? 

When I asked that warily, he showed his arm that had a bandage wrapped around it. 

Shizuki: I want you, our visitor, to testify that Yanagi was the one who gave me this injury. There are still a lot of people that don't believe my story. 

(...It's just as what Yanagi-san said.) 

-Flashback-

Yanagi: If they get a high rank, my brothers will make up all sorts of stories to their hearts' content. Rumors would spread before you know it, mostly because any of them would be using their influence. 

-Flashback-

Shizuki: With your testimony backing up this rumor, it'll make up for my mistakes in the sword tournament. 

As a response to such a selfish claim, I moved my sluggish body and glared at him scoldingly. 

MC: I'm not the only witness. There were other people around that time and they didn't get hurt... 

Shizuki: The retainers can hide their opinions as much as they want!

Shizuki-san interrupted me when he suddenly shouted that. 

Shizuki: That guy is younger than me and has very little memories of the king... Despite that I'm the one who's supposed to become the next king... 

Soon after, he started murmuring with a tormented expression. His unable state of mind showed his envy towards Yanagi-san and obsession of power. 

-Flashback-

Yanagi: It's because I love this territory. As a prince, it's obvious that I would want to support the kingdom that I live in.

-Flashback-

(He's completely different than Yanagi-san.)

Even though he speaks so harshly... His voice sounds completely warm whenever he talks about the kingdom. 

MC: Yanagi-san has always been watching over this kingdom. ...Just what is it that you're looking at? To me, you're not looking at anything else, except for your reputation as the first prince and the king position. 

(There's no way that I can't make a false testimony for someone like that.) 

Just as I said that clearly, Shizuki-san's lips trembled at the same time... 

Shizuki: What does an outsider like you know! I can hold you down easily, you helpless woman!

MC: ...!

When he strongly pushed my shoulder, I was thrown against the futon as I was being pinned down... 

Chapter 9 - A Vortex of Anger

As a burning gaze of raging anger was looking down at me... When Shizuki-san pinned me down against the futon, my body stiffened up as I shrunk back. 

MC: Someone... 

Shizuki: It's pointless. I cleared out the people around this room. 

The ridiculing smile on his cruel face slowly got closer. 

MC: No, Yanagi-san...!

The moment I closed my eyes tightly and called out his name...

Shizuki: Kuah...!

Along with a sharp sound cutting through the air, I heard the sound of a heavy crash. 

(W-What happened...?) 

Feeling the unpleasant weight that was above me going away, I nervously opened my eyes. 

Yanagi: Ah, I'm feeling really irritated... 

Standing over there was Yanagi-san with his long leg up. 

Yanagi: ...

When our eyes met, his irritated expression became tightly strained. As soon as that expression went away, Yanagi-san slowly walked towards where Shizuki-san has fallen at. 

Yanagi: Good grief. Even the bandage that was wrapped around you has come undone... The fact that you're not injured has been revealed. 

Shizuki: ! Yanagi... 

Just as Shizuki-san was about to crawl away, Yanagi-san grabbed him by the chest with his other hand and pulled him towards him. 

Yanagi: I didn't think that you would do something this shallow, Brother. 

As he lightly held up his brother's body, he gav him a piercing gaze that was filled with menace. Right at the same time, approaching footsteps were heard from the hallway... 

Yanagi: It's over for you... Never show your face in this castle again. 

After Yanagi-san told him that deeply, he releases him. When his brother crouched down as he looked down silently, he looked like he has no idea on what to do with his raging anger...

Last Chapter - The Moment of Falling in Love

Once the uproar had settled down, a deadly silence stood out as if we were in the depths of darkness. After the guards that ran over here have taken Shizuki-san away, it was just me and Yanagi-san in the room. 

Yanagi: ...Can I touch you?

Yanagi-san kneeled down beside me and asked that worriedly. After hearing him sound like that for the first time, I realized that my own body was trembling a little. 

(I was so scared...) 

MC: ...Yes. 

When I somehow nodded, Yanagi-san gently picked me up. Enveloped by a subtle sweet scent, the thread of tense nervousness slowly became unraveled... 

......

In the tidy room, the light in the paper lantern was shining... Yanagi-san took me to a room that was somewhere pretty deep in the castle. 

Yanagi: This is the safest place. Once morning comes, you can leave the castle. 

The moment he finally puts me down, his scent lightly rose. 

(This is probably Yanagi-san's room...) 

As my gaze wandered around uneasily, Yanagi-san sat down next to me and lightly shrugged his shoulders. 

Yanagi: Don't worry, I'm not hungry enough to lay a hand on you right now. 

Even though he said that jokingly, there was a sincere look in his eyes. 

(...I was saved by Yanagi-san again.)

That somewhat unrealistic though slowly brought me back to reality somehow. 

MC: Um... Thank you for earlier. 

When I slowly bowed to Yanagi-san, he looked away in embarrassment. 

Yanagi: You shouldn't be thanking me. 

MC: Eh...? 

Yanagi: I told you, someone like you would only be good bait. ...I knew that he would go after you. 

(! So, that's why he escorted me back to my room at that time...) 

From those few words, I finally understood why Yanagi-san was making such a gloomy face when we parted. As I was speechless, his beautiful brow furrowed... 

Yanagi: I knew that he had some kind of desire and that you would be put in some sort of danger, so I left you alone. 

The cold moonlight that was shining in from the window made a dark shadow on his handsome face. 

(Why is he making such a pained expression...) 

Yanagi: I used you. So, you can detest me as much as you want... 

As he said that in return, he turned his back on me. Just as Yanagi-san was about to leave, I stopped him by grabbing his kimono by reflex. 

Yanagi: ...What? 

When Yanagi-san turned around, his expression and tone went back to being the same as they've always been. Although... 

MC: I saw how hurt you were, Yanagi-san... 

(Those words just now weren't lies... But, I'm sure that not all of them are his true feelings.) 

MC: ...I'm okay. Because you protected me, Yanagi-san. 

Wanting to see Yanagi-san's true feelings just a little, I looked up at him wholeheartedly and... 

MC: !

Suddenly, when he held me down by the shoulders, I looked up at Yanagi-san as he was hanging over me. 

Yanagi: I hate that forgiving look of yours more than anything. 

As he was glaring at me within a breathing distance, my heartbeat went into a disarray greatly. 

Yanagi: Don't you really understand what I did to you? 

The pale moonlight reflected on Yanagi-san's earring and made it shine sharply. 

MC: ...You used me as a decoy to go after Shizuki-san, right? 

Yanagi: Why would that be the only thing you understand? 

Getting irritated, he said that sadly. 

MC: When we were spending time together these past few days up till now, I knew about your kind side, Yanagi-san. From the start, you've been taking care of this territory with your position... Tonight too, weren't you worried about me? 

Yanagi: ...

As the moonlight and the light from the paper lantern were overlapping with each other, his eyes wavered with mixed feelings. 

MC: I like that socially awkward side of yours, Yanagi-san. 

His sharp words and the way he tortures himself, I thought that they were very lovable. 

(I fell in love with Yanagi-san.) 

From that thought and everything that connects to now, I didn't mind that I was being used by him. 

(If I'm going to be something like Yanagi-san's luggage, I'm fine with being used by him forever. That's how I feel...) 

Yanagi: MC... 

When he touched me as if I was something fragile, Yanagi-san's hand gently caressed my cheek. As our gazes overlapped with each other deeply, I noticed that there was a soft look in his scarlet eyes. 

MC: Yanagi-san, can I stay by your side? 

Yanagi: ...Just shut up already. 

As a response, he roughly placed his lips over mine. When the kiss became deeper soon after, he didn't give me a chance to breathe... 

(...Such a socially awkward person.) 

The rough kiss that was surprisingly like a soft affectionate whisper trifled with me sweetly...

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