Princess Koyuki?!
The familiar form of address made Kazahana Koyuki's breathing seem to stop for an instant. Her blue-violet eyes flew wide open, filled with shock and panic.
The warm, gentle energy that had been flowing into her body now felt as cold as biting ice, making her body tremble involuntarily.
A powerful wave of dizziness struck her. Kazahana Koyuki lost her balance and collapsed onto the freezing snow, her face turning as pale as paper in an instant, utterly bloodless.
She struggled to raise her head and looked fearfully toward where the voice had come from.
A blond youth in a gray cloak stood quietly beside her, a faint smile on his face. Though he was smiling, it sent a chill down her spine.
Why... had her identity been exposed?
Could this guy... have been sent by Kazahana Dōtō?
Since she was sitting on the ground and had to look up at him, Naruto appeared unusually tall in her eyes. An invisible pressure suddenly enveloped her entire body, leaving her almost unable to breathe. It felt as though a giant hand had seized her tightly, rendering her unable to move.
"Y-you... were you sent by Kazahana Dōtō?"
Kazahana Koyuki's lips trembled. The shadows of her childhood had made her forget that this was Wave Country, not the Land of Snow. Kazahana Dōtō alone could not possibly cross so many countries to come after her.
"Princess!"
Before Naruto could explain, an angry roar rang out.
Asama Santarō had originally come to discuss the next day's filming with Kazahana Koyuki. But as he passed the balcony door, he saw her sitting on the ground in fear while Naruto wore what looked like a "cold smile."
Seeing the terrified expression on Kazahana Koyuki's face, he instinctively assumed Kazahana Dōtō had sent someone