It was also the first time the White-haired Royal Sister had seen the girl's expression so resolute. Having been by her side all these years, she understood how the girl felt at this moment. After a moment of confrontation, she conceded defeat.
'Sigh... There's no helping you. Let's go. Miss, you go back and prepare hot water first. We need to treat his wounds first.'
Under the girl's determined gaze, the White-haired Royal Sister shook her head helplessly and said to the girl.
'Yay!'
Upon hearing this, the girl's face lit up with a joyful smile. That pure curve was like melting winter snow, ushering in the spring breeze of new life, dazzling brightly.
She stood up, her pink cherry-blossom hair stirring the dew on the grass as she rose, reflecting the seven-colored light in the morning sun.
The White-haired Royal Sister watched the girl's departing back in shock, never expecting the girl known as the Death Princess to exude such captivating charm at this moment.
She lowered her head, looking at the unconscious Yakumo Feng with a complex expression. Since that disaster, she had always taken care of the girl, but she had never seen her smile.
It could be said that the girl had never truly smiled since her birth.
However, this unexpected intruder made her witness her Miss's smile, making her understand that she was an ordinary girl, not the Death Princess whose name caused fear.
'Intruder, should I thank you, I wonder...? Huh, weren't his clothes dirty and torn? How are they good and clean now? It seems his clothes must be a treasure.'
Though a little confused, she still picked up Yakumo Feng and walked into the house.
The scale of this courtyard was not large, but for only two people living there, it was excessively big.
The White-haired Royal Sister found an empty room and then put Yakumo Feng down. At this moment, the girl who had just left pushed open the door and walked in.
She was carrying a wooden basin, from which white steam was still continuously rising.
'Yao Ji Sister, hot... hot water is here, ah!!!'
The girl walked very quickly. Being naturally clumsy, she wasn't the type to trip over lampposts, but she certainly wasn't agile.
In her haste, she kicked her own heel after only a few steps.
'Be careful, Miss!'
Yao Ji, the White-haired Royal Sister, seeing her Miss's awkward situation, instantly appeared by her side, supporting her with one hand and holding the wooden basin with the other.
'Ah~ I'm saved, thank you, Yao Ji Sister.'
After stabilizing herself, the girl patted her chest, causing a ripple. The girl was only fifteen, but her figure, apart from her height, was no less impressive than even Yakumo Yukari's.
Her skin, as white as snow, showed the unique blush of a maiden. Her soft, straight cherry-colored long hair danced with her body.
It was hard to imagine that this beautiful and innocent girl was actually the Death Princess whose name struck fear into hearts.
'Miss, just be careful.'
Yao Ji held the wooden basin and knelt beside Yakumo Feng, about to prepare to undress Yakumo Feng and clean his wounds, but then realized there was only hot water steaming in the wooden basin.
Yao Ji felt like she needed a few black lines on her forehead to express her mood. She turned her head helplessly to look at the girl and asked:
'Um, Miss, where's the towel?'
'Eh?! Ah! The towel, I forgot to bring it.'
The girl, reminded by Yao Ji, remembered that she had forgotten to bring the towel. Before Yao Ji could say anything more, she pattered out on her small feet, clad in tabi socks.
'Only now do I realize that my Miss is a scatterbrain. I'm truly a failure as a gardener.'
The girl didn't make Yao Ji wait long and came back in with the towel.
'Yao Ji Sister, here.'
Yao Ji's serious face showed no expression; it was hard to tell what she was thinking. She took the towel, put it into the hot water to soak, and then prepared to loosen Yakumo Feng's clothes.
'Yao Ji Sister, I, I'll help!'
The girl was very enthusiastic towards Yakumo Feng, but don't misunderstand, this will be understood later. Seeing Yao Ji's movements, the girl wanted to go and help again, but as she approached Yakumo Feng, whose clothes Yao Ji was about to unbutton, she was stopped by Yao Ji.
'Miss, please go outside.'
'Why?'
The girl, still unaware, tilted her head innocently and asked in confusion.
'His injuries are very serious and should not be disturbed further. Miss, you also have no experience in this area, and you won't be able to handle the situation that follows.'
Yao Ji said seriously, and then the obedient girl was persuaded to go out by her. What she said was partly true, but there was also a part she didn't say.
Fifteen, in ancient times, was an age when one could marry. Yakumo Feng's wounds were all over his body, meaning that soon, she would almost certainly see him naked.
In such an environment, it was naturally not appropriate for the girl to stay here, even if she herself didn't seem to be conscious of it.
'It seems I need to find a way to make Miss understand these matters.'
Thinking of this, Yao Ji felt another headache. She looked only in her twenties, but her true age had already doubled.
Moreover, she was wholeheartedly devoted to the sword and had never married. Therefore, she also only had a superficial understanding.
Normally, girls from ordinary families would be taught by their mothers or wet nurses, but for this Death Princess, this was undoubtedly a luxury.
If she couldn't stay by the girl's side, her life would probably be solitary. Thinking of her, Yao Ji's heart was filled with pity.
Yao Ji had no children; although she adopted a daughter, she couldn't stay by her side due to work.
So, in her heart, the girl was not only the Miss she served but also her family, her granddaughter.
As a swordsman, Yao Ji naturally had no taboos regarding such matters. But when she unbuttoned Yakumo Feng's clothes, she couldn't help but be surprised.
Although Yakumo Feng was covered in blood, there wasn't a single wound. This led Yao Ji to mistakenly believe it was a monster's recovery ability.
So Houmpaku Youki merely wiped the blood off Yakumo Feng, and then put his clothes back on him.
Although Yao Ji had no taboos, after finishing tending to Yakumo Feng, her face still couldn't help but blush.
...
After the girl left, she didn't go far, but simply sat on the veranda, staring blankly at the rising sun in the distance.
Even though it was nearing summer, perhaps because of that, the cherry trees here were still in full bloom. The girl thus gazed into the distance in the courtyard where cherry blossoms danced.
A red and black bi-colored butterfly danced among the flowers planted in the courtyard, its flight quickly captivating the girl's gaze.
The patterns on this butterfly were not particularly beautiful, but to the girl, they were very magnificent.
Wild animals' instincts are keen. Because of her, there were no animals in this mountain.
The only creatures active here were insects. So, butterflies were naturally the favorite of a blooming girl like her.
The innocent girl had no impure thoughts. When she extended her finger, the butterfly fluttering among the flowers did not reject her.
It flapped its light wings and came to her side.
But...
The butterfly did not stop on the girl's fingertip, not because it was unwilling, but because it couldn't...
The moment it approached the girl, the red and black butterfly had already lost its life force and fell in front of the girl.
'Sure enough, it's still like this...'
The girl acted as if she hadn't seen it, maintaining her posture, gazing at the clear blue sky. A glistening drop slid down the girl's face and fell to the ground.
'I'm sorry...'