Ch. 5: Budding Emotions
(It’s cold…)
At that sensation, I slowly opened my eyes.
(Where…?)
I could vaguely make out a rough ceiling.
Castle Soldier 1: “Oh, you awake?”
OO: “…?”
Castle Soldier 1: “Sorry about this. Can’t have you running around, king’s orders.”
(That’s right, they put something over my mouth…)
I tried to get up, but my legs and arms were bound with rope and I couldn’t move.
Castle Soldier 1: “Sorry, but we’ll need you to stay like that for a while longer until we get our next orders.”
(…!)
I put all my strength into trying to break the ropes, but they only pressed tighter against my wrists.
(I’m cold…)
It was then when my consciousness started to fade again…
Kotohogi: “OO!!”
(…Kotohogi…?)
Kotohogi: “All of you…leave here at once!!”
Castle Soldier 1: “But the king said…!”
Kotohogi: “Did I stutter?”
Castle Soldier 2: “…”
The guards left in a panic under Kotohogi’s intense glare.
Kotohogi: “OO…”
Kotohogi rushed over and untied the ropes holding me.
Seeing the bruising on my wrists from ropes, he pulled me into a strong hug.
Kotohogi: “…I’m sorry for putting you through something like this.”
OO: “Kotohogi…”
My cold body began to warm up from Kotohogi’s heat.
Kotohogi: “I’m my father’s puppet.”
While looking at me, Kotohogi continued.
Kotohogi: “But…now, I can at least say this. I don’t want to see you wrapped up in this ridiculous conflict.”
He touched my hair with a trembling hand.
I could feel Kotohogi’s tenderness in the slow caress of his fingers.
Ch. 6: A Prince Only For You
After being rescued by Kotohogi…
He pulled me by the hand, quickly going further from the castle.
OO: “Is it alright to not go back?”
Everything was still a little fuzzy from the chemicals.
Kotohogi: “It’s fine.”
He spoke without any hesitation and squeezed my hand.
Kotohogi: “Right now, it’s dangerous for you to be anywhere near my Father. And besides… There’s something I want to talk with you about OO.”
OO: “…Kotohogi.”
Kotohogi: “Let’s go.”
As he held my hand, I went with him.
We came to a mansion, smaller than the castle, but still full of splendor.
OO: “Where are…?”
Kotohogi: “My villa.”
Kotohogi smiled in amusement, and at his feet were emerald green potted plants shining in the moonlight.
Kotohogi: “There’s something I want to tell you.”
His gaze shifted from the plants to me, and he slowly began to speak.
Kotohogi: “Until today, I didn’t have a will of my own…no, I believed I couldn’t have one. You said I didn’t want to fight with Mei. You’re right.”
——————–
OO: “…Kotohogi, I don’t think you want to be at odds with Mei.”
——————–
OO: “Kotohogi…”
He smiled bitterly.
Kotohogi: “Yeah, I’ve never liked it. But as the prince, I made excuses for myself and couldn’t face the truth. And there wasn’t anyone around me to tell me differently. I was always Father’s…the country’s puppet…”
Saying that, Kotohogi stood in front of me.
Kotohogi: “But talking with you…I realized you had started to open my heart. It’s strange, and it made me glad.”
OO: “Kotohogi…”
A bright light shone in his eyes.
Kotohogi: “It made me very happy and…”
OO: “I’m really happy too.”
I said that and smiled, then…
Suddenly, Kotohogi kissed my fingers.
OO: “…!”
It felt like an electric current spreading up from my fingers.
Kotohogi: “I won’t ever let Father meddle in your life again. So, will you talk to me more…?”
His voice sounded as if he was pleading, and I looked at him…and was caught up in his eyes, the same emerald color as the necklace he’d given me.
OO: “K-Kotohogi.”
Kotohogi: “…yes?”
(His face…it’s close.)
OO: “I-I’m just kind of nervous, and don’t know what to say…”
Kotohogi: “…is your heart pounding? …mine is too. It’s the first time I’ve felt like this. Listening to you, seeing you smile, you’ve filled me. I want to touch you. I wonder what I should do. If I don’t, I’ll get anxious.”
This time, he gave me a single kiss on the cheek. Feeling the heat of his lips, my cheeks turned red in embarrassment.
Kotohogi: “…you’re cute.”
OO: “Kotohogi…”
Kotohogi: “Won’t you look at me OO?”
His voice was pleading and I turned to look at him, and his eyes seemed to waver silently as if waiting for me to speak.
OO: “…did you figure out what you desire?”
Kotohogi: “Yeah.”
OO: “Good. Now I can thank you for the emerald necklace. Please, let me help.”
Kotohogi: “…thank you. I’m going to stop burying my head in the sand and only acting the part of a prince. Even if this country were to cease to be, I will fight my father.”
OO: “Kotohogi…”
Kotohogi: “Oh, there’s one other thing I desire.”
OO: “What’s that?”
I asked, and Kotohogi giggled.
Kotohogi: “Will you let me be your only prince?”
(Eh…?)
OO: “I don’t…”
Without letting me finish, he pressed his lips to mine.
My head spun at the feeling of such intense passion, and I could do nothing more than accept the feelings that had bloomed within Kotohogi.
END