Chou no doku Hana no Kusari SS (Majima SS)
見守る人 - The One Who Watches Over /The Guardian
First Published: BitterPrincess Vol.2 (later in the artbook)
"She was found at last, huh?"
It had been a week since the lady left the mansion.
After finishing some gardening work and having dinner in my room, I received a report from my subordinate, whom I had secretly tasked with tracking her whereabouts. I let out a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of ease wash over me.
Even if she was wild and reckless, at the end of the day, she was a sheltered noblewoman. I had known she wouldn't stray too far, but the fact that she was barely an hour's distance from this mansion—much closer than I had anticipated—struck me as somewhat amusing.
(Now, what should I do about this?)
"―I... I will become the kind of woman worthy of you."
She said that, and then left the mansion.
According to the report, she had been working at a certain café under a false name and identity, serving as a waitress.
Most likely, this is for my sake. I couldn’t quite understand the reasoning that led her to such a conclusion, but one thing was certain—she had left the mansion. Now, as a commoner, she was working with only her own two hands, and perhaps, in doing so, she hoped to present this as proof of her resolve to me.
I felt a desire to bury my face in my hands. She didn’t understand. She didn’t know how terrifying this situation was.
(There’s no way I could accept it...)
If I could have, I would have done so from the very beginning. If there had been no connection between her and me, the moment I first laid eyes on her, when my heart was stolen at first sight, I would have kidnapped her away with no hesitation.
But, such a thing was simply impossible. That, above all else, was something I must never do.
No matter how much my heart and body longed for her. No matter how many sinful dreams I had of holding her. No matter how much I ached with the desire to abandon everything because of my longing for her.
(I came here to seek revenge against this house...)
But even so, I already knew I was losing sight of that goal. The hatred I had nurtured for this house over the years was being distorted by my feelings for her—twisting, confusing, and gradually losing its shape.
Indeed, I had planned to carry out my scheme on the night of her birthday celebration, but her confession had impulsively caused me to call it off. It was utterly foolish. I no longer even knew what I was here for.
(But... I suppose I have a duty to watch over her actions.)
She left everything behind, running away for my sake.
Now, the mansion is in chaos. Since the day his daughter disappeared, the viscount has quietly filed a missing persons report with the police. However, even after a week, she has yet to be found, and it seems he’s now debating whether to place an ad in the newspaper’s "missing person" section.
If the commotion grows too large, it would be a disgrace to the family. Still, he likely believes it’s better than letting his daughter not being found at all.
It’s a cruel irony that I found her before the police did. I believe they’ll eventually track her down, but for now, I want to observe her actions. I plan to interfere with their search for a while longer.
(Perhaps I’ll go see how she’s doing tomorrow...)
I was curious about what she was doing in that small café. In the world outside the mansion where she was living for the first time, I wanted to see what she felt and how she acted.
I deliberately chose a time when the café was crowded, pulling my hat low over my eyes as I stepped inside.
There were three or four waitresses. Despite being a small establishment, it seemed quite busy, filled with what appeared to be regular male customers.
"Tomo! Come here and pour me a drink!"
"Oh, drinking this early? Mr. Endo, you can’t help yourself, can you?"
"Tomo, bring me an ice cream, would you?"
Though she had only been here for a week, it seemed that she had already become quite popular as "Tomo." Calls came from all directions, and she responded to them all cheerfully and with a smile. It didn’t feel like work; rather, she seemed to be truly enjoying her life here. Her movements were still a little clumsy, but she probably had a natural knack for this kind of physical labor. She appeared to be having fun, busying herself with all sorts of tasks.
I couldn’t help but marvel at her surprisingly high adaptability.
I knew she had a personality that wouldn’t easily be defeated by anything, but I never imagined she’d be this tough.
(Still, those men... they’re way too familiar with her...)
She was being called from all directions, so she didn’t even notice me sitting quietly in the corner, drinking my tea. It was a bit frustrating, but what irritated me even more was the way those men looked at her—there was no mistaking their hidden intentions, and it really infuriated me.
The moment I saw her inside, I was momentarily stunned. She had cut off her beautiful, long black hair, leaving behind a trendy, short hairstyle.
The noble-like aura she once had was completely gone. If you didn’t know her, you might not even recognize her as the viscount’s daughter just by looking.
(She really doesn’t hold back...)
I sighed, paid for my tea, and left the café. If I stayed any longer, she might notice me.
(Perhaps I’ll keep watching her for a little longer...)
When I returned to the mansion in the evening, the loud voice of the Madame echoed through the open dining room window.
"What do you mean by that?! Are you saying that it’s my fault she ran away from home?!"
"I’m not saying that. I just thought she must have hated the idea of marrying that nouveau riche man so much."
"You're implying, indirectly, that I forced her into it! I just wanted to make her happy!"
It seemed they were in the middle of a marital quarrel. Though it was a fight, only the Madame was raising her voice, while the Lord, with a completely worn out expression, was desperately trying to calm his wife down.
(You have no idea that it’s because of that girl that you’re still alive…)
It was clear that the balance in this house had been maintained because of the lady’s presence. The good for nothing young master was either playing around or searching for his sister, but he had been coming home even less than before.
Even the steward, who rarely changes his expression, now had a slightly tired look on his face. The couple seemed to be in their usual state, constantly fighting.
It seemed the soldier childhood friend, along with that nouveau riche, were still unaware of her disappearance. But once they were informed, they would surely change their expressions and start searching all over the place.
In the midst of all this, I alone knew her whereabouts—
And strangely enough, that felt rather satisfying.
(I’m not going to tell them.)
I turned my back on the ongoing commotion in the mansion and returned to my room.
They should suffer more. They should regret it more.
In that girl's eyes, all she sees is the gardener, the very person you all look down on as a mere lowlife. The fact that you’ve been searching day and night, crying as you look for her, never crosses that girl's mind. She has abandoned her home for me, working as a lowly waitress. She thinks of nothing but me. With a reckless, fearless determination—she runs on, trying desperately to make me notice her.
—Because she’s in love with me.
(The lady is a cruel person, isn't she...)
You are the kind of person who can throw everything away for something important when the time comes. You could abandon the family who cherished you, your friends, your servants—everything—and live for love.
Whether that intensity comes from your mother or your father, one thing is certain: right now, you are living for me.
(If only... I could live for you alone too.)
I've lived my life for revenge. Unable to find meaning in my own existence, I fed on hatred, deceiving everyone, weaving schemes and betrayals, solidifying my footing in the shadows. That darkness has bound my feet, and now, I can no longer break free. I have no choice but to live in that underworld. Even as I sink deeper into the abyss, the only flame still burning in my chest is the searing desire to take revenge on this family.
However, that flame is now being overwritten by my feelings for her. If I could, I would choose to live by her side—to take her away. This maddening desire is consuming me.
(As if that were ever possible...)
I had resolved to suppress my feelings, to turn a blind eye. And yet, the chains I had so tightly bound around myself—she keeps loosening them, little by little.
Because of you, the suffering only increases. Because of you, my chest feels like it’s being crushed.
You corner me, you torment me, leaving me gasping like a fish out of water. At this rate, you might truly rob me of my last breath. But perhaps that would be for the best. After all, my very existence is the root of all misfortune.
If I had never been born, none of this suffering would have come to pass. This house would have remained at peace, and another man would have taken my place as the gardener.
She would never have fallen in love with her own brother.
(I am the one who taints everything.)
A familiar voice from the past echoes in my mind. Ah... how fitting.
One day, I might reach for that dazzling angel. And without even realizing how her pure white robes are being stained, she will smile blissfully in the arms of the devil.
When I embrace her, I will truly become a demon. A self mocking smile crosses my face as I realize that despite how utterly filthy I am, I still fear the possibility of sinking even lower.
It has been two weeks since the young lady ran away.
Something rather interesting happened today. There was a report that a drowned body, similar in age and build to hers, had been found. Upon hearing this, Madame fainted. The young master, in a daze, left the mansion and jumped into the river.
It seems the steward noticed the disturbance and chased after him, which ultimately saved his life. But if the young master had gone chasing after the drowned body of a complete stranger, it would have been quite the laughable story.
Eventually, the lord, after confirming the body, determined that it was someone else. The mansion, which had been in a state of panic and chaos, finally grew quiet.
That day, I went to the café again in the afternoon and watched her work energetically. In the first place, there was no way that the young lady would attempt suicide just because she was forced into an unwanted marriage. Her inner strength was on a completely different level compared to the overly delicate and fragile young master.
I glanced over at the commotion, which was like disturbing a beehive, and chuckled to myself. The Madame, who had been hysterically shouting until then, seemed to have lost even the strength to scream. She looked terribly exhausted and dazed.
Upon learning that the body turned out to be someone else, the young master seemed oddly calm. He had a look on his face as if he had forgotten that he had just tried to drown himself, and he left the mansion once again to search for his sister.
The entire scene was like a comical farce, amusing enough that I almost wished I could capture it on film. I couldn’t help but burst into laughter alone in my room.
“Ahaha... what a bunch of fools…”
However, because of this uproar, it seemed that the soldier childhood friend, that nouveau riche man, and even the debauched wife of the wine merchant had all found out about the princess's disappearance. The noose was starting to tighten.
I felt a bit disappointed. While I regretted that the fun of watching the chaos in this house was coming to an end, what really left me with a sense of longing was knowing I wouldn’t be able to see her happily working for much longer.
With a smile, she effortlessly brushed off the men who invited her to go see a movie or suggested they tour Asakusa together, and she had also learned how to handle difficult customers with ease. She was growing lighter, more graceful, and more beautiful with each passing day. At first, her short haircut had felt out of place, but now it seemed to suit her sharp, confident demeanor perfectly. In fact, at times, I found myself occasionally on edge at the delicate, almost vulnerable way it exposed the slender curve of her neck.
When I watched her, I lost track of time. No doubt, most of the customers who came just to see her felt the same way. Once they arrived, they lingered for ages, making it nearly impossible for the crowd to thin out.
"Tomo is pretty reserved, huh? She never says yes to anyone’s invitation."
"Well, I went out with Micchan the other day. We talked about Tomo too, but even though they live together, it’s like she barely knows anything about her."
"She’s such a mystery... What if she’s actually a runaway noble lady or something?"
"Idiot, as if that’s possible! …But then again, if it were Tomo, I could almost believe it. Damn, I think I’m falling for her even more."
"If it’s a love between different social classes, the only way is to elope. Ah, now I’m getting fired up!"
"Idiot! If anyone’s eloping with Tomo, it’s gonna be me!"
I listened absentmindedly to the rowdy chatter of the students as they left the café and couldn’t help but chuckle. By sheer coincidence, they had hit upon the truth. No matter how well she disguised her status, upbringing wasn’t something that could be faked. Even if she acted carefree and unrefined, the innate grace that radiated from her couldn’t be concealed.
(You were never meant to be in a place like this.)
I hated the thought of her being on display for all to see. And yet, I loved watching her work, undeterred by the stares of men, brimming with energy and life.
Until now, I had only ever seen her within the walls of the estate. But strangely enough, seeing her out here in the world, she felt more like herself than ever before.
What started as mere observation had, before I knew it, become the highlight of my days—watching over her.
Scoffing at myself, I wandered aimlessly down the road home. Even now, her smile refused to fade from my mind, tormenting me all over again.
It had been nearly three weeks since the princess ran away. And now, it seemed the newspapers had caught wind of it—the missing persons section was abuzz with talk that the ad was about a runaway noblewoman.
(Looks like this ridiculous charade is coming to an end.)
Before any troublesome meddlers got in the way, I would have to go and bring her back soon.
Go to her, take her home… and then what?
(The truth is… I don’t want to send her back.)
Watching her thrive, living with such determination—like a fish finally in water—made me unwilling to return her to that dark, dirty estate.
She had proven it beyond a doubt—she was a woman who could stand on her own, no matter where she was. And seeing that with my own eyes had changed something in me—undeniably, irreversibly. Of course, the bond of blood between us was absolute, something that could never be erased.
(But if… if she refuses to accept my final rejection…)
If she still won’t give up—if she keeps pushing forward, refusing to let go…
I still don’t know what my answer will be.
1. I dropped the -chans and other honorifics.
2. Yuriko is addressed as 姫様 (literally "princess"), which I translated as "lady," "young lady," or "noble lady" in English.
3. I think the best title for this is "The One That Watches Over (Her)", but I translated it to "Guardian" as well, because I thought of the phrase "Guardian Angel," which is ironic since Majima sees himself as the devil, kek.
