The Fierce Saintess

Episode 33: Joukyou 3 (1686) - Part 4

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About ten days had passed since Princess Kana received her divine messengers, but today, as usual, the area around the princess's room was lively.

The highly inquisitive fox kits were likely fascinated by things of the human world; they showed interest in everything and questioned the princess at every turn.

「What might this be?」

「Princess, what is this used for?」

「A noise is coming from somewhere! What is that?!」

Each time, the princess answered as thoroughly and politely as her knowledge allowed, but...

「Princess, what might this be?」

「Ah, it is gone already! Saki, where is mine?」

Seeing Kaou ask while munching away, Suou hurriedly peered into the plate in front of Kaou and began to make a fuss. It seemed that while Suou had stepped out of the room for a moment, Kaou had devoured the treats set out for them.

「...Most likely, they were mitarashi dango. Though since they are already all inside Kaou's mouth, I cannot say for certain.」

Beside Princess Kana—who wore an exasperated look as she stared at the two skewers left rolling on the plate—Saki giggled softly and offered two plates, each holding two skewers of dango.

「I have properly prepared portions for both of you right here. Here, please help yourselves.」

Originally, divine messengers had no need to consume food, but the fox kits had grown exceedingly fond of Saki's snacks and looked forward to this time after practice.

Today's practice had been calligraphy with Old Man Jirou, but sumi ink had accidentally splattered onto Suou's tail. Consequently, the princess had just returned from the washing area alongside Natsume, who had carried Suou.

「Kaou. Next time, wait until I return before eating. And Suou, do not make such a fuss either.」

As she spoke, the princess placed one plate before herself and set another in front of Suou. Suou sniffed happily with his nose twitching before biting into a skewer.

「How wonderfully fragrant. Is this soy sauce?」

「Correct.」

「Well, usually it is just soy sauce, but Saki's dango also use mirin. That is why they are subtly sweet.」

The princess also savored the dango, which were cooked to exquisite perfection as the aroma of slightly charred soy sauce and its savory saltiness blended with the sweetness of mirin.

「Hooh. Our Princess is as knowledgeable as ever.」

As Kaou expressed his admiration, Suou nodded vigorously in agreement. Both skewers of dango were already entirely inside his mouth. Then, together, they both stared intently at the remaining skewer on the princess's plate.

Whenever the fox kits pleaded with her so adorably, Princess Kana had always ended up sharing her share with them. However, having only eaten one skewer, she felt a bit unsatisfied. Just as she was deliberating what to do, Old Man Jirou returned from clearing away the textbooks in the library. Spotting Natsume carrying a tray with tea and plates of dango, the fox kits' attention shifted toward her.

(Now is my chance.)

Without hesitation, the princess snatched up the remaining skewer and succeeded in devouring three of the five dango speared upon it. She then placed the remaining two dango onto each of their respective plates.

Satisfied to have received a portion from their master, the fox kits happily stuffed their mouths with the dango placed on their plates. Once they finished eating, they moved onto seat cushions handmade by Natsume. These had been repurposed from Princess Kana's old kimono, and unlike typical cushions, they were stuffed mostly with buckwheat hulls.

Lying down on the cushions that crinkled and rustled beneath their weight, the fox kits began to speak:

「I believe kusa mochi is supreme.」

「I believe ohagi is truly the best!」

「Steamed yōkan is also wonderful. The sweetness of amazura and the flavor of red beans are beyond description.」

...and commenced a debate with Old Man Jirou over what next session's treat should be.

---

「Since it is hot today, I prepared kuzumochi.」

Brought into the room—where paper sliding doors facing the sprinkled garden were thrown open for ventilation—was a plate holding two refreshing-looking cakes of translucent kudzu starch showing the red bean paste inside.

As Saki set down the plates before everyone, Natsume offered a tray holding teacups to Princess Kana and Old Man Jirou, mentioning that she had chilled the tea as well.

「This is wonderful. It slides right down!」

「It is cool and pleasantly chewy!」

Judging by how quickly they finished today's treats, the fox kits seemed to thoroughly approve. Watching them while using a kuromoji toothpick to slice through the elastic kuzumochi before carrying it to her mouth, the princess suddenly decided to ask Suou and Kaou something that had been on her mind for a while.

「Come to think of it, I heard from Lady Komachi that Suou and Kaou underwent training in the Hermit Realm. What sort of things did you do there?」

「Thank you for asking! I was floating!」

「I was diving!」

Suou demonstrated by gently floating into the air, while Kaou darted out into the garden and sank right into the ground with a low rumble. What was more, leaving only his head above ground, he began swimming smoothly through the earth.

「Both are impressive. Is that the sort of thing one learns in the Hermit Realm?」

Old Man Jirou clapped his hands in admiration and praised them. Encouraged, the fox kits grew enthusiastic.

「We can do many other things as well!」

「We shall show you in a wider space!」

Saying so, everyone moved out toward the garden.

「Please watch!」

「Look, just like this!」

Suou made a coarse hemp rope resting in the corner of the garden slide upward all the way to the roof, while Kaou floated three water spheres, each about the size of a child's head, in midair.

Just then, her elder brother Yasumasa passed by along with other apprentice candidates.

「Incredible. Kana's divine messengers can do such things?」

「I only just learned of it myself. Brother, do you have practice now?」

「Ah, today we are learning how to manage and supervise the clepsydra. It also serves as an unveiling for the newly remade water clock.」

The Tsuchimikado family constantly managed two or more clepsydras, using them alongside sundials to ensure time was kept accurately without error day and night. However, this was a round-the-clock duty and reportedly quite demanding.

Hearing the name of an unfamiliar object—a clepsydra—the fox kits reacted immediately.

「What is a clepsydra?」

「Princess, I wish to see it too!」

At those words, Matsuba and Kaede peeked out from behind her brother. A size larger than Suou and Kaou, both were 'Color-Bearers,' with the fur from the center of their foreheads to both ears faintly tinted. Matsuba's was fresh green, while Kaede's was pale scarlet.

「Suou, Kaou. Selfishness is forbidden. We are in service.」

Matsuba spoke admonishingly, and:

「Interrupting practice is also forbidden.」

Kaede added a warning of his own. Both spoke calmly, yet their expressions were not their usual gentle selves, but solemn and serious. On top of that:

「Kana. I understand that they are adorable, but instructing and guiding them properly is also a master's duty. If you do nothing but coddle them, you cannot maintain proper decorum as master and servant.」

Princess Kana found herself receiving a lecture from her brother as well. To be sure, she was aware she had been doting on them endlessly ever since the Naming Ceremony. However, her reasoning was that her father had told her becoming close during the first month was crucial. Still...

(Indeed. Getting along is one thing, but indulging their every whim and coddling them is another.)

Thinking so, she bowed her head submissively.

「Ho, Master Yasumasa, you have grown quite a bit.」

「Old Man Jirou? I am merely striving to set an example as an elder brother.」

Frowning slightly, Yasumasa replied. Meanwhile, Old Man Jirou looked rather amused.

「Of course, I understand completely.」

Saying so with a chuckle, Old Man Jirou secretly shared with Princess Kana later that immediately after receiving his divine messengers, Yasumasa had actually been even softer on them than the princess was now. He had indulged their requests for treats, brought them everywhere, and ultimately, when he took them to see the clepsydra, Matsuba had fallen into the lowest water basin and snapped the arrow gauge. As a result, Yasumasa had received a severe scolding from his father, while Matsuba and Kaede had been thoroughly reprimanded by Fūka and Ruka.

(I see. Both of their warnings were born from their own past blunders.)

Recalling her brother's face as he walked away, the princess pondered in her own way what her relationship with the fox kits as master and servants ought to be.

＊◇＊◇＊◇＊

(They were Pattern-Bearers!)

Recalling the scene he had witnessed moments ago, Tomonobu's heart overflowed with envy and rage. Sitting in the middle of his room, he clenched both fists and ground his teeth tightly.

Though called 'his room,' it was merely a crude, single-ken-square wooden chamber provided for apprentice candidates. Aside from those whose homes were close enough to commute, all apprentice candidates lived in rooms with identical floor plans. A clothing chest and a writing desk were provided, but because of them, the room was so cramped that once a futon was laid out, there was no space left to walk. Since candidates were permitted to lay down tatami mats at their own expense, Tomonobu's room had tatami flooring, but it was far from comfortable. Furthermore, the walls were partitioned by single wooden boards, meaning sounds from neighboring rooms bled right through.

For that very reason, Tomonobu bit down on his back teeth, desperately repressing his desire to scream. If word got out that he had shouted verbal abuse against the residence's princess, his standing would unquestionably suffer.

Even though Lady Komachi had spoken of giving her 'special divine messengers,' she was ultimately just a young girl. Tomonobu had assumed they would be 'Color-Bearers' at best—just one step below 'Mark-Bearers.' Even that would have been more than generous. And yet...

(Pattern-Bearers with markings that distinct are on par with those occupying the very front ranks among the kin surrounding Lady Komachi...)

After all, even the divine messenger of Tsuchimikado Yasutomi, the head of the house, was only a 'Mark-Bearer.'

(To think a child like that has them! Furthermore, a female who cannot even become an onmyōji!)

Thump!

He struck both fists onto the tatami mats.

「Shut up!」

He heard an apprentice candidate from the adjacent room shout back, but even that only amplified his rage toward Princess Kana. He had tolerated his cramped wooden room and current station in life to some extent, accepting them as unavoidable. However...

(For divine messengers of that caliber—is that not a complete waste of precious treasure?! Divine messengers can only unleash their full potential when serving an onmyōji in the first place. Yet a little brat whose only skill is doting on them like pets has them!)