Mr. Paints
episode 9

Never mind moving, Minami's legs seemed to be fixed in place.

His soul is empty now and unable to do what it wants.

But thank goodness it only lasted a little while. As soon as the elder called out to him for the third time, Minami finally advanced with a tense face.

"Daughter, are you healthy?" yamashita asks Minami at their wedding altar.

The man's gaze was shaded as he saw how beautiful the face of his future wife was.

Minami cleared her throat, neutralizing the nervousness as well as confusion that has not also disappeared even though the hallucination has gone.

"Prince, is there your family here? I haven't seen anyone yet" Minami said, distracting from Yamashita's gaze.

On the seats of the witnesses, there were only a few palace officials and a small number of nobles. They used a golden silk cloth with the end embroidered in such a way. There was no impression whatsoever that Minami got on their faces, just a flat and blank stare.

"You shouldn't ask that. Come here, sit beside me." Yamashita's voice suddenly cold and lazy.

He turned his body, facing a black-robed man sitting in front of a wooden table. The man folded something in his grasp.

I don't know what his job is in this marriage. Minami was only confused because the man had a glimpse of Yoshio. However, due to his older and shabby appearance, his mind was instantly wasted away.

The girl then arranged her seat right next to Yamashita. Trying to remain calm even though his mind was constantly filled with many black shadows.

It is too late to refuse. Now whatever he does, nothing can change his destiny today.

Weddings.

"Prince, are you ready?" asked the man to open the first page of a roll of dark brown color that he had been holding.

Minami sighed, glanced at Yamashita who then nodded calmly.

The prince's face was cleaner than before.

Minami could even see clearly now how her future husband's eyebrows were, really thick.His forehead was wide and his nose was slightly longer than most people. Maybe he washed his face. Or fall in a fish pond? I don't know. His face looks much better.

"Princess Kaguya, can you lend a hand? Let me see the line on your palm," said the man putting his hand politely on the table.

Yamashita gestured for Minami to comply.

"september 25th, cat shio. Was my guess wrong?"

Minami shook her head, pulling her hand hurriedly. His fingers immediately felt cold as the index tip of the man went down the line of his hand earlier.

"Alright, now you can simply answer all my questions with a yes, to agree and not to refuse," said the man looking solemnly at Minami's eyes.

The girl quickly agreed.

"Princess Kaguya once performed this ritual, she was impolite on the sacred altar. I hope, as a reincarnation, that beauty that is not shown on the face, radiates in the heart."

Perhaps that means, Minami's face is not as pretty as her reincarnation, but her heart is expected to be better. However, Minami was more interested in another sentence.

Back then? What does his word mean? the girl began to think in another direction. In his eyes the brown color scroll made from the tree midrib was curious. Too far away to read from the corner of his eye.

It's an ancient kanji. Minami was sure that even if she saw it clearly, she would not be able to read it.

"Daughter of Kaguya, are you willing to be the wife of Emperor Kasetsu's son, Yamashita Kasetsu, without coercion? Pressure and other purposes?"

The first question, obviously the answer is no. But, according to Yamashita's orders, he would just say 'yes'. No matter the question.

"Yes" Minami replied hesitantly.

"As the wife of prince Yamashita, heir to the royal throne, are you willing to give birth to the crown prince for the next generation?"

Whaaat! birthing said? Minami furrowed her brows in disbelief. He glanced at Yamashita, the Prince widening his eyelids, as if to remind them of their agreement.

Right, it can be messed up if Minami gets to shake her head at a sacred event.

"Yes" said Minami annoyed. It is quite unexpected that if this happened in the modern century, the article of sexual violence in minors could be used to entrap Yamashita to prison.

It is a pity that in the past, after the first menstruation, a girl was considered worthy of marriage.

"Are you, princess Kaguya going to serve, obey and fulfill any request of our prince without exception?"

"Yes," Minami said starting to not care.

Not just getting there. There are still dozens of questions that contain almost the same, demanding the bride to devote her entire life to the groom.

Worth it, maybe this was one of the reasons why Princess Kaguya 'formerly' made a fuss at the holy altar.

"Close to the prince, Princess. You will undergo a ritual to the god of happiness before entering the bridal chamber."

He stretched his hand over Minami and Yamashita's shoulders.

Bridal chamber? It sounded incredible horror in Minami's ears.

Reluctantly moving towards Yamashita, the girl finally walked hand in hand towards the small temple at the corner of the park. Its location which was outside the wedding altar, made all the witnesses and all the royal members in the main hall instantly stand up, bowing their bodies to their princes.

What then? Where is the king of this country? Or queen? Where are the important pawns that should fill the main throne?

Minami's thoughts mixed with the rain that suddenly fell heavily filled the road where they stood.

In a small area, where he lit incense for the god of happiness, Yamashita first picked up a hio.

The man's hair had been wet, dripping his neck down to his back. Actually, the servants had paddled them, but the wind made everything fall apart.

Minami silently looked at Yamashita's stern face, she really looked strangely shiny despite the small shiver. Perhaps, the three-layer futon in his apartment room in Tokyo was able to warm the man's body.

Might as well.

"It seems, soon Nekomata will rule my body. Princess, will you take me to the bridal chamber? Since it's cursed, I hate the rain."

Yamashita turned to Minami who had finished praying. The thick eyebrows of the man looked uneasily, revealing how he also felt in a mess right now.

Minami is sure tonight will be hard for both of them.

The wedding ceremony for the first day has just finished. But, there is something else they will do tomorrow morning and tomorrow again.

Tiring and troublesome. I don't know what it's all done for. Minami is convinced that there will be a lot of costs incurred by the kingdom just for the wedding of a crown prince.

Minami was just about to comply with Yamashita's request, when a thunderbolt, stopping snowflakes tucked with water from the sky.

Simultaneously, the servants left, setting up a special tent to take them towards the bridal room.

The tail of Nekomata was the first to come out, revealing the back of Yamashita's hakama.

This was the first time for Minami, letting a cat jump into her lap.

"Prince, I hope that when you turn into Yamashita Kasetsu, I've found clothes for you" whispered Minami staring at the hakama blank.

The head of Nekomata who continued to rub the back of his hand was mumbled sourly.

I also hope to be a cat until tomorrow morning. It would have been easier for me than having to sleep together with Yamashi Kasetsu's original form. Inner Minami walked towards the prepared pelvic carriage.