A PRINCESS IN TROUBLE

Leyla walked through the endless hallway of the palace, trying to maintain a dignified appearance. However, it was hard to look graceful when everyone passing by was staring at her as though she had three heads.

Two yokai maids walking by whispered something and giggled.

Leyla clenched her jaw. "Good day to you too, ladies."

They jumped, clearly not expecting her to understand, then quickly bowed and disappeared down the hallway.

Leyla sighed. "Wonderful. Now I'm the attraction."

"Yes, princess, but that's nothing new," came the familiar, annoyingly self-assured voice behind her.

She turned to see Naru casually leaning against the wall, wearing his usual smile as though nothing in the world could disturb him.

"You know, this is your world, which means you're responsible for how I'm treated here," she said, crossing her arms.

"Oh, they're treating you just fine – with awe, admiration, and a bit of envy. Quite deservedly so."

Leyla narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Something tells me you enjoy the chaos I'm causing here."

"I enjoy having you here, wife."

Leyla rolled her eyes. "Stop calling me that."

"Well, technically, you are."

"Technically, you should be in prison for fraud."

"But I'm not."

"But you should be!"

Naru just laughed and grabbed her hand.

"Come. It's time you got to know the place you'll be spending, hmm... however much time it takes."

Leyla reluctantly followed him.

Problem Number One: Food

She sat at the massive table in the main dining hall. The food was diverse and looked like pieces of art. The only problem? She didn't recognize any of it.

She glanced down at the dish in front of her and then at Naru. "Will this kill me?"

Naru leaned on his hand and smiled. "No, but it might be fun watching you try to eat."

Leyla picked up the chopsticks and hesitantly lifted a piece of something that looked like jelly. She put it in her mouth and...

"Oh… this isn't bad."

"Of course not, wife, this is the finest cuisine from my court."

She looked at him across the table. "I'm not going to let this become a habit. I still plan to leave."

"Yes, yes, I know. As soon as we find the artifact. Until then, enjoy the food."

Leyla sighed and took another bite.

Problem Number Two: Serving

After breakfast, two small creatures approached her, barely reaching her knees, with huge eyes and long arms.

"Princess," they said in unison, "do you have any special requests?"

Leyla stared at them, surprised. "I... no? Just, hmm, normal things?"

The creatures exchanged a glance and then bowed again.

"The princess doesn't know what's normal here," one of them said.

"The princess is lost," said the other.

"Hey! I'm here!" Leyla protested. "And I'm not lost!"

Naru walked past her and patted her on the head. "No one's saying you are, princess. But if you need help, just let me know."

"You're not help, you're a problem."

"Your problematic love," he said theatrically, holding a hand to his heart.

Leyla grabbed an apple from the table and threw it at him. He effortlessly caught it and took a bite.

Problem Number Three: What Now?

She sat on the terrace, staring at the horizon.

She had been living in Japan for four months, and never imagined it would end up like this.

If someone had told her she would be married (albeit under false pretenses) to the prince of the yokai world, she would have laughed in their face.

Now she wondered how her roommate would react if she told her that she had been married for maybe four days to a mythical being. Where even was she now, and what was she doing?

Her roommate would probably faint from laughter.

"What are you thinking about?"

Naru appeared beside her, uninvited, as always.

"About how my roommate would die laughing if she knew where I was right now."

"Oh? Would you tell her?"

"I wouldn't, because she'd think I'm insane."

"Well, maybe you are."

Leyla snorted.

Naru leaned against the railing and gazed at her. "You know, maybe it's not so bad here."

"For you? No. You're a prince."

"And you're a princess."

"I'm an unhappy lawyer in the wrong world!"