Chapter Ninety Three: Shimeko’s Diary: Princesses Are Trapped, Too
Christina's Arc: Bend or Break
After I scared Shimeko and Yoshime, I decided to look for them; I wanted to apologize for the way I acted. But it took me a while to summon the courage to test leaving the room. I had never walked while reading, and I hoped that wasn't what would happen. Eventually, I decided that walking while reading would either wake me up or draw Christina's attention.
More importantly, I couldn't pass through objects the way Yoshime passed through me. So the couch, desk, chair, door, and pretty much every object that should be solid were, except for people.
I walked down familiar hallways leading back to Christina's room, but it wasn't Christina's yet. Before I checked the room, I checked the portraits across from Christina's future room. Two pictures were missing, and Yoshime's didn't have a golden dragon frame yet.
I tried to open the door, but I couldn't touch the knob. I couldn't pass through the door either. The only reason I got out of Shimeko's room was that the door was open.
This is…starting to get boring.
The only reasonable place to escape my "ghostly wrath" was Trish's office.
The estate wasn't empty. There were girls everywhere.
As Knox, this would have been a nice little place to…
I narrowed my gaze, exhaled, and wiped my face.
I was no better than the women and girls creeping on me. Now, it's… I don't know.
"Did you see that one boy? Gods, I bet he sings when he finishes," a woman in a gray uniform said to a much younger woman.
"What does that even mean, sicko!"
I walked over to her, stomping my noiseless feet. I swiped at both of them, but my hands passed through them, and yet I couldn't even produce a gust of air.
At least the women around my old line of work chose that lifestyle, right? I thought, unleashing blow after blow, but then I exhausted myself. If that woman survived, then she probably had children.
The two women walked away, and no one would ever punish them for speaking rudely about men. What would retribution even look like in Kokiri?
I roared my ire and made my way to Trish's office. But when I got there, the door was cracked, and there was enough space for me to squeeze through. I could try, but what if they closed it mid-squeeze? Would it kill me? Would it be instant, or does it hurt? Does dying cause me to drop the book, or would I actually die?
I sighed, and then I heard voices.
All this before breakfast?
"Are you certain of this, my queen?" A man's voice said.
"Yes, I'm certain, Ren. I know how our gem normally sounds. This thing spoke with more poise than necessary; it even compared itself to a goddess's beauty."
I pressed my ear against the door. It felt like stone.
"Listen to me, Ren. I think someone from the Moonbind cursed Shimeko. So, I must redouble my efforts to bring them to ruin."
Just how bloodthirsty is this woman?
"How would they know about our daughter? We haven't told anyone about her."
"They're mystics, Ren; they don't need word of mouth when the spirits do their bidding."
"Ren, where are you going?"
"I'm going back to my room…my queen," he said with a hint of frustration in his voice.
Footsteps approached in a rush. I moved, then the door was pushed open, and Ren Shiranui stood before me. He was the most gorgeous angry man I've ever seen, and he was married to Yoshime, and I was disgusted.
"Ren," Yoshime said, pursuing Ren. "My darling, please understand that I'm doing this for Shimeko."
He turned to her, a woman twice his size in mass.
"My queen, I—don't approve—"
"Do not speak of it, Ren," she reached up and touched his face, tracing his pink lips. "I will crush them before Shimeko ever sets foot on the battlefield."
This is a lot more than I wanted to know.
Ren turned away, but Yoshime took him by the shoulder, turning Ren back to her. She leaned in and kissed him.
How disgusting, I thought, sticking my tongue out.
"Now, go back to your room and wait for me, Ren."
…
"Yuck!"
***
I passed through Yoshime and entered her office, and I mean hers. The décor was different. Trish's red carpet and sofa were gone. Instead, there was a gray carpet and foldable chairs, as if she expected an audience. And the bookshelves lined the side of the room, revealing a large window behind her desk. Shimeko stood in front of the window, looking out.
My steps were soft as I approached her, but I don't think it mattered because she was lost in thought.
The door closed, and Yoshime passed through me.
"Don't worry, my sugar blossom, I will find the monster who did this to you."
Shimeko turned around, smiling the goofiest smile I'd seen in a while.
"Mommy, mommy, I want to go there," Shimeko said, pointing at the window. Then she looked at me, and I couldn't hide my sorrow.
"You will, Shimeko. Once you've finished your training, we will go out there, across the water, to a beautiful field, where you can perform an array of dances that will sunder our enemy." Yoshime placed her massive hand on Shimeko's head.
"Sunder," Shimeko replied.
I guess princesses are trapped, too.
I stepped forward, and Shimeko fixed me in her gaze, catching Yoshime's attention.
"Shimeko, I'm sorry," I said, but the room grew blurry, and everything started to fade.
***
I closed my eyes, reclaiming focus. But when I opened them, I was in Shimeko's room, and Christina was taking Shimeko's diary from me.
"Do you see what I mean, hani? It's impossible to read."
I rapidly blinked.
"Antwon, are you okay?" she asked, pulling my face to her.
…
My mouth opened, but I couldn't find any words.
Would Christina believe me if I told her that her grandmother was a prisoner, that she wasn't educated, and that she only wanted to be a kid?
I swallowed something I couldn't name, but some of it spilled out onto my facial expression.
"Hani, what's wrong?"
Are you also trapped, Christina?
She pulled me in, embracing me.
I reached for Shimeko's diary, reclaiming it.
"Don't worry. We can go back to our room and cuddle, if that will make you feel better, okay?"
"That doesn't sound too bad."
"After we shower, so we can cuddle naked," she said, stroking my head.
…
"I recant!"