Bamboo Mountain · Kaguya Houraisan Cottage
Today, she wasn't clutching her handheld console playing games as usual. Instead, she was flipping through a book with a serious expression. Just then, a sudden knock sounded at the door. The sliding door opened, and an elderly man walked in.
"Kaguya, Lord Fujiwara no Fuhito has arrived."
Kaguya entire face slumped instantly. She had zero interest in this middle-aged man, but unfortunately, his status made it impossible for her to simply kick him out.
"Grandfather, do you know why he's here?"
"I'm not sure. Lord Fuhito didn't say. Could it be..."
The old man didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear: he assumed Fuhito had come regarding the impossible tasks Kaguya had set.
Kaguya, however, wasn't worried at all. The requirements she had set were far from simple—even as the daughter of Tsukuyomi, she had never seen such items.
'As expected, Lancer guessed right. These guys might have prepared fakes to try and fool their way through. Fine then. I'll just expose them, and then these face-saving noblemen should stop bothering me, right?'
"It's fine. Let Lord Fujiwara in."
The old man nodded and left the room. Soon, accompanied by the sound of footsteps, a formally dressed Fujiwara no Fuhito entered.
"Lord Fujiwara no Fuhito."
Hearing the melodious voice from behind the screen, Fuhito felt momentarily dazed. It had been over half a month since his last visit. He quickly recovered, but his expression became complicated.
Specifically, looking at the very screen he had provided, he found himself at a loss for words. He wanted to ask her about yesterday's events but didn't know how to start. Finally, he could only let out a helpless sigh.
Fuhito strange reaction piqued Kaguya curiosity behind the screen. Though she didn't like the man, she had to admit he was the most outstanding of the five suitors. During their previous group gatherings, he always overflowed with confidence. Unfortunately, Kaguya never intended to choose any of them.
"Lord Fujiwara no Fuhito?"
She called his name again, but this time with a hint of doubt. Fuhito was jolted out of his trance and instinctively sat up straight.
"Lord Fuhito, for what purpose have you come this time? Could it be that you have already found the 'Jeweled Branch of Hourai'?"
Fuhito felt a strange sensation, as if she were... gloating?
He shook his head to clear the thought. Her speed and tone were no different from usual; where would "gloating" come from?
'I must be overthinking things.'
The report from his subordinate yesterday morning had been like a nightmare haunting his mind. That was why he decided to come here; regardless of the outcome, he didn't want to be kept in the dark anymore.
"Princess Kaguya, regarding the 'Jeweled Branch of Hourai,' there are no leads yet. This time, I have come to ask you something else."
His voice was serious, born of resolve. Behind the screen, Kaguya felt something was different about the man today, and she too instinctively sat up straighter.
"Please, speak."
"Yesterday, Kondo seemingly saw a strange dark shadow appearing in your room, Princess. Out of concern for your safety, I have come specifically to inquire."
In the end, Fuhito couldn't bring himself to ask bluntly, "Who was in your house yesterday?" Instead, he chose an ambiguous phrasing, trusting she would understand his meaning.
As expected, the room fell silent. Fuhito was as tense as a prisoner awaiting sentencing, while Kaguya was completely bewildered.
Because Lancer always visited in the middle of the night or early morning, neither she nor Lancer had paid any attention to "shadows." After all, at night, she was supposed to be alone.
'Has Lancer been exposed?'
She quickly calmed down. So what if he was? She hadn't done anything wrong!
Suddenly, she remembered something. She recalled reading in a book that some women, when rejecting suitors, would use a close male friend as a shield. Maybe she could try that?
No!
The thought was extinguished as soon as it appeared. The image of the bedridden Fujiwara no Mokou involuntarily surfaced in her mind. Though they had only talked for a short while, as the youngest in her own family, Mokou crisp "Sister Kaguya" had made her very happy. If it were anyone else, she wouldn't hesitate, but she couldn't use the man her "sister" loved as a shield.
Besides, although Lancer had denied liking her more than once, Mokou—who already adored him—would likely love him even more after this. Even from Kaguya perspective, Mokou was a cute girl who would surely grow into a beauty. Lancer wouldn't refuse her then, would he?
It was a logical conclusion, yet she felt a strange twinge of envy.
Was she envious that Mokou had someone she loved? Or because the man Mokou loved would do the unimaginable for her?
Kaguya felt flustered, her expression turning complex. The words of admission that were at the tip of her tongue had to be changed.
"That... was a friend of mine."
Kaguya felt she sounded the same as always, but she didn't realize that she was currently looking down with a slight frown.
Hearing this, Fuhito felt his heart sink.
From the time he first heard of the "Princess Kaguya" to his love at first sight, months had passed. Her every action, like a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko, had intoxicated him. Even her polite, distant conversations brought him joy. But he could swear he had never heard her use such a tone before.
He didn't know if he should believe her. To him, even if they weren't in the relationship he feared, they were certainly not ordinary acquaintances...
For a moment, he felt entirely listless.