Taking the teacher’s advice, Komatsuhime went to the desolate mountain without telling the servants. As soon as she stepped into the forest, she felt that something was guiding her so she climbed up along that feeling and went through the woods to a shack.
There were different kinds of flowering plants in front of the shack. Since no one had taken care of the flowers for a long time, they grew wildly, especially the lilacs which pushed the other flowers to the sides with their arrogantly invasive purple.
Komatsuhime: “Why does this place feel so familiar to me…”
Little did Komatsuhime know that that nostalgic feeling came from the days when her mother stayed here while carrying her in the belly. So she walked into the shack unconsciously. All these years of desolation left no trace of life in the shack, but it seemed that someone had kept the house clean so it didn’t look abandoned.
Suddenly a soft female voice sounded in Komatsuhime’s ears——
???: Come…
Komatsuhime: Who is it?
Komatsuhime shouted loudly, but that female voice stopped. Suddenly, the sound of wind chimes rang. Komatsuhime followed the sound and went to a vanity. She then unwittingly opened the small hidden drawer under the table in which there was a brocade box.
Komatsuhime opened the brocade box and found a pearl necklace on a piece of fine silk, gleaming dazzling fluorescence in the sunlight. As she picked up the necklace, she felt a coldness flow from her fingertips to her heart with an inexplicable sorrow and grief that brought tears to her eyes.
Komatsuhime: “It’s Mother… Mother left this pearl necklace for me…”
???: Get down!
Komatsuhime: Huh?...Hm!
The female voice sounded again but with panic and agitation this time. Komatsuhime’s body instinctively followed the voice and got down before she could even figure out what was happening. The next moment a sharp blade darted from the direction of the door with such brute force that its tip sank deep into the wall.
If Komatsuhime didn’t get down earlier, the blade would have cut right into her head. Alarmed, Komatsuhime immediately crawled to the wall and stared at the door with her back against the wall.
Komatsuhime: Who is it?! Show yourself!
A man walked out. Komatsuhime knew that he was not someone to be taken lightly when she saw his well-built muscles that even clothes couldn’t hide.
Man: Tut! You’ve dodged it. That’s some dumb luck for you.
Komatsuhime: I-I’m the daughter of Lord Honda! My father will hunt you down if you kill me, aren’t you afraid of that?
Man: Ha, I’m killing you precisely because you’re the Lord’s daughter.
Komatsuhime: But why me? What's in it for you to kill me?
Man: Humph! How would I know? Anyway, I’m commissioned to kill you so just cut the crap and prepare to die!
The man drew his sword and approached Komatsuhime step by step like a grim reaper…