Ningyō no Ohimesama (The Doll Princess)

Smile, Princess

{MIHO'S POV}
We stare at each other for five long seconds. I press a little harder, drawing a line of blood on his neck as payback for the scratch on my right arm.

Then Kazuma laughs, stepping backwards and holding up his hands in the universal sign of surrender. "This victory belongs to Miho-sama. I accept my defeat. Fort Birch will side with Aoi-sama."

It's unreal. We've allied all four proper generals now. Aoi-kun and I went from having one small town to conquering the entire western border of Zoral.

"Miho!" Aoi-kun practically teleports to my side, his emotions a mixture of worry and jubilee. He hugs me, and I think I hear him whisper, "Stupid. I thought I was gonna loose you too."

Kazuma clears his throat.

Aoi glares at him. He drags me away from my opponent, putting himself between the general and me. Kazuma backs off, willingly giving us space.

"You did it, Miho!" Aoi-kun laughs, joy finally winning over concern. "You did it! Miho, you did it!"

"Yes!" I say breathlessly.

Aoi lofts me up and whirls me around in celebration. I'm still winded by my duel, and now dizzy from being spun around in circles. As Aoi-kun smiles broadly up at me, easily carrying my body weight, I recall the conversation we had earlier.

*flashback—two days ago, at Fort Cypress*
I'm nervous. I might not make it back from this duel with General Kazuma. He's the most obsessed with strength. Therefore, he must be strong.

Aoi-kun and I are alone in his room. He's brushing my hair, which I haven't kept up with well. Aoi-kun says he likes my long hair. Him brushing it every night has become our comfort routine. I'm beginning to like my long pink hair again too.

It's noticeably longer than when I left Clarines. Back then, it went down to my ankles. Now the tips constantly brush the ground when I walk, even with a straight back. A strawberry pink reminder that it's been almost a year since I ran away.

Time is passing. My birthday was a week ago. I turned thirteen without even realizing it. Aoi-kun's fourteenth birthday is in a month.

We'll set out for the arena with Takeshi and Torako tomorrow. This might be the last time Aoi-kun and I are alone together. Panic wells up in my throat. I have so much I haven't said to him yet!

I whirl, surprising Aoi-kun so bad he almost falls off the bed that we're both sitting cross-legged on.

"Thank... you." I blurt out.

"For what?" Aoi-kun tilts his head in confusion, then understanding dawns in his expressive red eyes as he realizes why I'm afraid.

"Thank you. For... changing me.... and helping me... heal. For... saving me." I fumble to find the right words. These words simply aren't enough.

"I'm not doing anything." Aoi-kun says seriously. He doesn't get it. How can I make him understand?

"You are." I insist. "Aoi-kun is... the catalyst, it's only because of you... that I'm able to express myself... like this. I'm still... bad at it, but..."

I'm interrupted by Aoi-kun flicking my forehead lightly. "Silly. Who was it who opened up and started talking to me? Who's been trying so hard? You're the one who's changing yourself. Not me. So hold your head up proudly and smile, Princess!"

Aoi-kun uses his index fingers to push up his cheeks in a goofy grin. My eyes widen, the sight and sound burned into my memory.
*flashback ends*

At the time, I didn't realize how much his casual words impacted me.

Aoi-kun laughs and grins and continues to spin me, but there are tears remaining in the corners of his eyes. I scared him. He thought I was going to die.

A hard, thin shell surrounding me—like the porcelain skin of a doll—cracks.

For the first time in a decade, I truly smile. Now that the dam has broke, I can't stop the water. My smile widens until I'm sure my stiff facial muscles will snap from overstretching.

When Aoi-kun sees it, his eyes widen and he blushes. The strength leaves his arms, so I fall on top of him. Then his legs fail and we both end up on the ground. We wobble to our feet together.

"Miho!" Aoi-kun sounds excited.

"Watching you celebrate so merrily, I remember what it was like to be a child." Torako laughs too.

Ah, right. We have an audience. I feel the magic ending as my face resets itself.

Aoi-kun and I quickly pull away from each other. He brushes out the wrinkles in his clothes while I tug at my ponytail, freeing my thick strawberry pink locks that I tied up for the duel.

General Takeshi is the first to speak. "Miho-sama is as terrifying on the battlefield as I remember."

"But I heard the second princess of Clarines wasn't much of a fighter?" Kazuma wonders. "Then again, I also heard you couldn't speak or smile, and that obviously isn't true."

I stiffen. "You knew... about me?"

Kazuma smirks. "Did you really think Sei-heika sent me up to the mountains and left me alone just for kicks? Fort Birch specializes in espionage."

That's surprising, but I can't say it doesn't make sense. Hidden far away from prying eyes, it's a perfect secret spy hideout.

Kazuma leans forward curiously. "I pride myself on being good at my job. So tell me, Miho-sama, how was my intel outrageously wrong?"

I wave a hand dismissively. "I'm not a... bad fighter... I'm average... but average looks.... awful when you compare... me to geniuses... like my big siblings... Shiro and Akegi."

"I'd hate to see what monsters they are." General Takeshi shudders. He looks genuinely afraid.

Perhaps my self-assessment is no longer fair. In Clarines, I never would've used a strategy like what I just did. Nor would any of the knights have fought me as seriously as Kazuma.

I wasn't known for my fighting prowess back then, since my lack of defense was a major weakness. It still is, but Aoi-kun fills that gap as my shield.

I was even able to parry one of Kazuma's throwing knives. I'm stronger now. This thought is interrupted by black spots dancing in my field of vision. I lean heavily against Aoi-kun, feeling woozy.

One of Kazuma's three followers approaches with bandages and medicine to disinfect my left arm.

Oh, right. That should be treated before I loose too much blood. The lacerations are oozing and my entire arm is stained dark red. It dangles limply as blood drips down, like small rivers.

"Are you going to visit Fort Birch?" Kazuma asks, to which Aoi-kun shakes his head.

"No. We're going back to Fort Cypress. That's our home base. Continue doing what you're best at. Spy on my uncle and report back once a month, or more so if necessary. I want any info you can give me on Citadel." Aoi-kun commands.

Kazuma pounds his right fist to his left chest and holds it there, his arm parallel to the ground. This is the traditional military salute of Zoral, done to show utmost respect for a superior.

We camp out on several day trip from the arena to Fort Cypress, much more relaxed now. I'm welcomed back to deafening cheers after we announce our victory and alliance with Fort Birch.

Now that we have the entire western border secured, it's time to start expanding east. Aoi-kun and I are going to put the pressure on Kenji.