Volume 1 Chapter 5 Seirei, Receiving A Gift
──Seirei's Perspective──
"...I have to move. I have to... do it properly."
Seirei muttered to herself in her room.
Her body wasn't moving well.
A few days had passed since Seirei was taken in by the Kou family.
The head of the family, Kou Eishin-sama, and his wife, Gyokushi-sama, told Seirei to think of this place as her home.
But Seirei wasn't their real daughter.
Her father was just a close friend of Kou Eishin-sama, which was why she was taken in.
If she lived here without being of any use... she might get kicked out.
"...If I get kicked out... and die... is that bad?"
Seirei quietly spoke to her family that wasn't here.
She remembered the time when her father's unit was attacked.
It was around dusk.
The cavalry of a different tribe came rushing down the red-stained mountain slope.
It was just before they reached the northern fortress.
Seirei and her mother thought their journey for the day was over.
Until they heard the sound of arrows piercing the wagon.
When she opened the wagon window, she locked eyes with one of the cavalry.
He was still young. Since his face was wrapped in cloth, she couldn't see what he looked like. She only remembered his bright red hair.
The cavalry attacked the Ryuu family without any warning.
She didn't remember much after that.
The screams of people she knew echoed around her.
She heard her father's shout. Then it quickly stopped.
Hearing the sound of flames bursting, she realized the wagon was on fire.
Seirei called out the name of the cat that was still in the basket. Her mouth was covered by her mother.
'Forget about the cat.'
'Think about protecting your own life.'
Eventually, pushed by someone, Seirei's body fell.
In fear and pain, Seirei lost consciousness.
When she woke up, Seirei had been rescued by the Kou Eishin's troops.
A big, bearded man was looking into her face.
'You are the daughter of the Ryuu Family, right?'
'I am Kou Eishin. I have been a close friend of your father, Ryuu Ekiso, for 30 years. My wife, Gyokushi, has been helped by the Ryuu Family before. Oh... I see, do you remember?'
'Your family... yes. They have met with misfortune.'
'If you don't mind, I would like to take you in at the Kou family. What do you think?'
At his words, Seirei nodded.
Seirei was the only one left alive from the Ryuu Family.
There was an uncle from a branch family, but he had been cut off long ago due to his bad behavior.
If Seirei died, the Ryuu Family would end.
So Seirei chose to be taken in by the Kou family.
Now, she was given a warm room and meals, living peacefully.
Yet, inside her chest, there was a gaping hole.
A cold wind blew deep within her body.
Seirei's heart remained frozen. No matter what she saw or touched, her heart did not move.
She wasn't even sure if she was alive or dead.
"...But, I have nowhere else to go."
The Kou family is kind to her. She has no complaints at all.
She once met Gyokushi, the lady of the house, a long time ago.
She remembers dancing with her at the spring festival.
She decorated her hair with 'Setsuenka' and danced with her mother and father, who played the flute.
"...That kind of thing will never happen again."
'Setsuenka' won't bloom until next spring.
By then, she wonders if Seirei will have gotten used to living here.
Will she have forgotten about her parents and be living normally?
That thought scared her.
She was afraid of forgetting her parents and her beloved cat, 'Kokuyou,' with its shiny fur, and becoming a different person.
If that happens, where will the current her go...?
"Excuse me. Seirei-sama. It's Hakuyou."
She heard a voice.
Seirei hurried to the door.
She thought she shouldn't be rude to the Kou family as she opened the door.
There stood a girl slightly older than Seirei.
"I was asked to deliver this from Hou-sama."
"...Tenhou-sama asked... me?"
"Yes. Honestly, I was surprised. I didn't know he had such negotiation skills."
Hakuyou shook her head and knelt down.
She offered Seirei something wrapped in cloth.
"Since Hou-sama has something to do, I'm here as his proxy. Please accept this."
"...Okay."
When Seirei opened the cloth, a 'Setsuenka' was blooming.
"...Huh?"
She instinctively pressed her chest.
It felt like the scent of spring was in the air, and Seirei looked around.
This was the Kou family in Hokurin.
It should be a different place from where Seirei had lived before.
But why... did it feel like home?
"...Huh?"
When she realized it, tears were falling.
The tears wet the cherry blossom-colored flower.
Then she understood. This was a hair ornament. It wasn't a real flower.
Yet, just like during the spring festival when she decorated her hair with 'Setsuenka,' her heart began to warm.
"...Did Tenhou-sama... do this? Why...?"
"Hou-sama wants to become friends with Seirei-sama."
Hakuyou said in a slow tone.
"Hou-sama has always been concerned about Seirei-sama. It seems he asked the lady of the house many questions. He was always thinking about how Seirei-sama could fit in with the Kou family."
"...Ugh..."
She couldn't find the right words.
"Hou-sama worked hard with the merchants. He negotiated to buy the hair ornament... In the end, Hou-sama had the merchant, who was bad at writing, lower the price by writing the product names on the ground. He convinced them that it would help their business if people knew what they were selling."
"...Tenhou-sama did that?"
"Hou-sama must have been desperate for Seirei-sama."
"......For my sake... to that extent."
Seirei covered her face with both hands.
Tears overflowed and wouldn't stop.
The family that had gently wrapped around Seirei was lost.
At that time, Seirei thought she had died halfway too.
From now on, she would live without feeling anything... remembering the moment her parents were killed.
But it was different.
There were people other than her family who cared about Seirei.
Now that she thought about it, it was the same on the first day.
Tenhou noticed that Seirei had a sensitive tongue and taught her how to eat without it being too hot.
She had been scolded for "acting like a child," but that was something done for Seirei's sake. Yet, she couldn't even say thank you.
There were times when he brought her tea and snacks.
Maybe... the book that was left in front of her room was also something Tenhou had brought.
"...And yet... I... I... can't... do anything..."
"Hou-sama is in his room."
A gentle voice was heard.
"'He said not to let anyone in,' but I think it's fine for you, Seirei-sama. If you're angry, I'll be scolded with you."
"...!"
Before Hakuyou finished speaking, Seirei had already dashed out.
She wanted to see Tenhou right now.
She wanted to convey something. She wanted to apologize. She wanted to talk.
She wanted to say thank you. She wanted to hear his stories. She wanted him to ask about her.
Her silver hair, which had been looked down upon as eerie.
Yet, the new family had given her a hairpin to decorate that hair.
That made her so happy that her heart was full, and the tears wouldn't stop.
So Seirei headed straight to Tenhou's room.
She knocked on the door, unable to hold back her feelings of wanting to see him――She opened the door.
And there, inside the room, was──
"Meow."
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)