Chapter Seventy-Nine: A Bolt from the Blue
MY eyes were as round as saucers. I stared blankly at him in shock.
“Unlike our emperor, the Amawashi, the Wagtail Priestess doesn’t only give birth to daughters, right?” explained Lord Hiaki.
“Y-Yes…”
The Wagtail Priestess was only a title and power passed from mother to daughter. We weren’t restricted to having one child. If the Wagtail Priestess died before she could have offspring, a fertile woman with the next most pure blood would forcibly awaken as the subsequent priestess, or at least that was what I had heard. No one had ever tested it out, of course, so it was mere conjecture.
“The Gou clan, my family, originated from either the younger or older brother of a Wagtail Priestess, who then went on to serve the emperor.”
“I see…”
“That’s why my clan has appealed countless times to the government for decades that we should reclaim Sekirei Prefecture from Centoria. This time, we invested quite a lot of effort into bringing you here under the lead of Emperor Haruka.”
I gasped. “My deepest apologies. In my ignorance, I have acted extremely rude to my savior…” I bowed to him.
He loosed a carefree chuckle. “You weren’t rude at all. I’d actually be at my wits’ end if you tried to butter me up after learning that fact.”
“I cannot thank you enough for your kind words.”
“Anyway, that’s how things are. If the emperor gives you permission, you’ll agree to be my wife, right?” His gaze turned as sharp as a hawk’s.
“I…”
Of course, a voice in the back of my mind said. If the emperor orders me to wed into the Gou clan, I will obey dutifully. The Gou clan was the ideal family for the Wagtail Priestess to marry into—it was almost too good to be true. I’m sure my children would grow up happily in his family. Even if I have children that don’t inherit my title, the Gou clan will still guarantee them a peaceful life.
But…why does my chest hurt so much, then?
I felt as if someone had pierced my chest with an awl. It hurts. I couldn’t even nod or say anything in response.
Lord Hiaki was a cheerful, kind, and charming man. And yet, I couldn’t say “yes.”
I was disgusted with myself. I wasn’t in a position to choose; I had no right to be picky. But my throat wouldn’t make a sound. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.
The man before me wore a faint smile as he waited for my reply. He was watching my face, and I wondered what was on his mind. It’s extremely rude to keep him waiting. I need to say something. I need to… “Um—”
A yell stopped me in my tracks. “Lady Priestess!” A group of drunk people were approaching us, the middle-aged men from earlier. Judging by their staggering gaits, they were even more inebriated than before. “Lady Priestess, please stay on this island forever. It’s so awful—we can’t leave here even after we die!”
I glanced at them. They found me even in a place like this?
Instantly, my eyes widened. The men held bows in their hands.
“Watch out!” roared Lord Hiaki as he lunged forward to shield me from the barrage of arrows flying at us.
I reacted immediately, tossing my shawl in front of us. Now! I poured in mana, and the shawl unfurled and expanded, catching the projectiles in midair. But I stumbled after throwing the shawl at full force, and—
“Sai!”
Lord Hiaki jumped off the cliff after me, catching me in his arms as we hurtled downward.