𝓓𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓼𝓼

𝟎𝟎𝟏

Sick

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        "Why is it that I have to get married so young?" I huffed in annoyance, the feeling of the hairbrush massaging my scalp providing a bit of solace.

"Well, it's standard for noblewomen to get married at a young age," Makomo responded in a soft, soothing voice.

"You're not married."

"Well, yes, but I will be sooner or later. It's only a matter of time."

"Oh, cheer up, N/N (Nickname)-chan! I'm sure it won't be so bad!" Mitsuri piped up as she painted my nails with a(n) F/C (Favorite Color) polish.

"But what if I get married to some old man?"

"Trust me, you won't! Your father loves you too much for that! I'm sure that, if you really don't want to, he won't force you to marry."

I nodded, remembering how lenient my father is. He's a kind man, and I'm deathly worried about him. He got sick a few months ago, and it's only been worsening. I fear that... No! With Tamayo and Shinobu, he can't possibly succumb to it.

With that thought in mind, I let Makomo and Mitsuri continue with me, her hands nimble and gentle, that of noble ladies. Mitsuri led our topic of conversation. This time, it was about Emperor Kibutsuji's half of Japan.

"I heard that the people who live there are terrified of him! Like he's a tyrant of some sort!" She said, her green gaze shifting between me and my nails, "I also heard that he has his eyes on you, Princess."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, as if I would ever accept a marriage request from someone like him," I said.

Makomo chuckled, pulling the hairbrush away to put a red spider lily kanzashi in my hair.

"I heard that he's searching for the rumored Blue Spider Lily," she chimed in, "Apparently, he wants immortality."

I laughed at the ridiculous thought.

"Immortality? What a joke! Honestly, sometimes, I can't tell if that man is deluded or not!"

The three of us shared a good laugh, by which time they had finished prepping me for the day. I wore a(n) F/C kimono and a long dark blue haori over it. We all stood, and, with me leading the way, walked out of my chambers.

The palace is vast. Even after spending my whole life here, I still have never explored every nook and cranny. There seems as if there's a surprise at every corner, and I love it.

The first thing I did was take a visit to my parents' chambers to check on my father. I went down on my knees and announced my presence. After a few moments, my mother answered, and I told the girls to stay outside before sliding open the door.

I peeked in and saw my father laying on a futon, surrounded by my mother, Tamayo, and Shinobu. I winced internally, seeing how the purple, fleshy discoloring had spread from his forehead to his eye. He was completely blind in the one that it covered, and it seems like it's going to take the other in the not-so-far future.

He turned to look at me with his working eye and smiled. I can never forget that smile. It's so sweet and comforting. It always manages to calm me down, even in the most stressful of situations.

"Y/N," he said, reaching out a hand to silently beckon me over.

I did as he commanded, moving to sit next to my mother, and looked down at him. It was difficult to look at his upper face. It was just so... gross... The way the discoloration was all wrinkled, it made his skin look almost like it was rotting.

"Y/N..." He repeated, reaching up to cup my cheek, "You're sad. Don't be. I'll be fine. There's a cure."

The last sentence made me perk up. I glanced between him, Tamayo, Shinobu, and back at him.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice a bit lowered.

"The Blue Spider Lily."

What?

"But... I thought they were just a legend!"

"They're extremely rare, yes, but very much real," Tamayo interjected, "No matter the sickness, there's always a cure. You just have to search for them. For the answers."

Still surprised, I slowly nodded.

"Y/N?" My father said, prompting me to look back down at him.

"I think it's time we announce it to the public. About your availability."

The air went tense. I wasn't just me. I could sense it from across my father. Whether it was Tamayo or Shinobu, I couldn't tell. I said nothing and nodded again.

My father soon dismissed me, and I left the room, back to where Mitsuri and Makomo had seemingly been listening in. When I walked out, they immediately hopped up and crowded beside me, their voices lowered to whispers.

"The Blue Spider Lily is real?!" Mitsuri said, her voice heightening just a bit.

"Apparently..." I murmured, glancing back at the door, "But how are we supposed to find them?"

Suddenly coming to a realization, I paused.

"Hm? What's wrong, Your Grace?" Makomo asked.

"The Blue Spider Lily..." I murmured, "If they're real, then it's possible for Kibutsuji to become immortal... Isn't that a bad thing?"

Mitsuri gasped and nodded rapidly.

"Oh, yeah, I completely forgot about that! But what are we supposed to do about it?"

"Nothing. Let him look for it. It's unlikely that he'll ever find it," Makomo said firmly.

"But... What if he does find it? What then?" I asked.

"Then it'll be none of our business."

"I think we should do something!"

"Y/N, no..."

"Yeah, I'm with Makomo, Your Grace," Mitsuri agreed.

I looked between the two and sighed, realizing how stupid the idea sounded.

"Yeah, you guys are right."

That was when an idea popped up in my mind.

"What if I go to the village?"

"That's stupider!" Makomo scolded.

"Oh, come on! I might find a way to find the Blue Spider Lily! Besides, I'm sure it'll be fun!" I said.

She groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Fine, but you're on your own."

"That's alright! I'll come back just fine!"

S̶t̶u̶p̶i̶d̶,̶ s̶t̶u̶p̶i̶d̶ g̶i̶r̶l̶.̶

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✿Sengoku Era Secrets✿

❥ Shoutout to @CrippledDogDay for being the first to comment on this book!!!
❥ Just so y'all know, I'm intentionally making Y/N stupid so the plot will continue. I would NOT do this 😭

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