The Princess of the Knights

"Kiddo, " Mother says, glancing back at me as we drive across the countryside to visit my uncle and his family. "Feeling well?"

"I'm fine, " I say, glancing at the cows chewing on grass. Their mouths move up and down, as if savoring every single bite.

"You still mad at me for what I said about Tetsuya?" Father asks.

I lean my head against the window. A moment of silence hangs over us like a dark blanket.

"Listen, Ashi."

My eyes remain on the verdant fields of grass as my hands grasp my black rosary. Daddy had given it to me when I was born. I sit up and narrow my eyes. It looked similar to the one in the story.

"Dad. Why did you call me Ashi?"

Dad stops the car and glances back. "Why do you ask that now?"

"Also, this rosary... It's the rosary of the Angel of Darkness, our ancestor. Why were you in its possession? Dad, what's your connection with the Knight of the Shield? Why name me after the kid he wanted to have?"

Dad returns his focus to the dirt road and drives on. "No reason. Ashi was a nice name. And that rosary... it's a replica."

I narrow my eyes some more. "Really? Daddy?"

He snickers. "What? Did you have delusions of being the reborn Hanketsu?"

My face warms. "I... do not! I rather not be."

"Hmm?" he asked.

My hands clasped the rosary tighter. "I like my simple life. If I were to be the reincarnation of Hanketsu, then my life will be filled with hardship."

Father nods. "And you should. Kiddo, don't you dare dream of being a hero. Don't fall for the same illusions of grandeur that so many before you have."

"But the Knight of the Shield didn't have such illusions. All he sought was to clear his name."

His golden eyes widen a little. "You sure? Don't you think that he at least had a bit of otherworldly desires?"

"No. He was all about clearing his name. At least based on the first half." My eyes shift toward mom. "Hey, can you tell me the second half? We won't arrive at uncle Taku's home for a while."