Illustration:
https://postimg.cc/xJLpjKVR
The Maiden in Love and the Love of Thorns
Casting -
Thorn Princess: Karasumori Daikoku
Prince: Renjakuno Hatsumi
King: Toneri Nikako
Queen: Yorozu Iruru
Wizard: Fudeshima Shigure
Act I.
In a kingdom there was a king and queen who were troubled by their lack of children, when they were blessed with a baby girl through a prophecy. The king was overjoyed and invited all the wizards to his daughter's birthday party, but there were thirteen wizards and one plate was missing for the guests. As a result, only one wizard was not invited to the party, and the uninvited wizard became furious and placed a curse on the newborn princess.
“When the princess turned fifteen, she will be wrapped in thorns and fall into eternal sleep. And the evil she brings will spread throughout the land.”
The king and queen, worried about the fate of their daughter, banished the thirteenth wizard and gave the princess many guards, raising her with great care and attention. The princess grew up quickly, and by the time she was fourteen, she was a beautiful girl. However, despite the king and queen’s caution, when the princess reached her fifteenth birthday, the curse placed on her by the wizard was revealed.
One morning, as she lay in bed, her maid tried to wake her, but she had already fallen into a sleep from which she would never wake.
Her body was quickly enveloped by countless thorns that appeared out of nowhere. When the maid rushed to report the horrific scene to the king, the thorns that had enveloped the princess became entangled in her legs, and even the maid, pierced by the thorns, fell asleep.
The thorns that grew around the princess soon covered not only everyone in the royal palace, but people and buildings throughout the country, and everyone fell asleep due to the thorns’ poison.
In this way, the kingdom was completely transformed in one night, and it became a land of sleeping people, closed off with thorns, and the princess who brought the disaster was told of from generation to generation as the ‘Thorn Princess’.
Act II.
The kingdom had been transformed by the curse of the wizard who was angry at being excluded. One hundred years passed, and a prince from a neighbouring kingdom, renowned for his bravery, heard that there was a beautiful princess sleeping in a kingdom closed off by thorns. It was rumored that the thorns enclosed those who entered them, and if you approached them with shallow feelings, you will never be able to leave, but the prince was not afraid and, wanting to catch a glimpse of the Thorn Princess, took his favorite sword and went to the castle.
After cutting his way through the thorns that blocked his path, the prince entered the country and forced his way through the royal palace, where he found a girl asleep in bed, wrapped in thorns, in one of the rooms.
“Is that you then, Thorn Princess? You are as beautiful as the rumours say.”
The prince is captivated by the beautiful princess who has not aged even after 100 years, and gently calls out to her. Then, suddenly, the Thorn Princess awoke from her sleep. The prince cut apart the thorns that bound her body with his sword, and she was completely freed.
“I......think I was dreaming for a very long time.”
When the prince told her that a hundred years had already passed, she stood up in surprise.
“I must free my father, my mother and my people from the curse.”
“Then I will go with you and help you.”
Accompanied by the brave and kind hearted prince, the Thorn Princess left her room. Although she felt happy and supported, her cheeks turned red and she was attacked by a feeling of embarrassment she had never felt before.
(Is this...... love?)
However, at the same time as her heart pounded, the thorns that should have been torn and unraveled grew again and wrapped around her body. Furthermore, the thorns that grew from around her became like whips and went wild, destroying her furniture and walls, and even damaging the prince's outstretched hand. The princess' curse had not been lifted, and the Thorn Princess had become a being that creates thorns that go out of control…...
Act III.
In response to the princess’ love, thorns grew and spread from all sides, trying to separate the prince from the princess.
“Ahh, Thorn Princess!”
“I'm sorry, I can't stop it......!”
Thorns whipped out of control regardless of her will. The Thorn Princess reaped damage not only to the furniture, but also to her maid lying at her feet. The prince tried to stop the princess, who had become a monster who was manipulating the shifting thorns, by cleaving the attacking thorns with his sword.
(But how lovely it is that he tries to save me, even though he's hurt.)
The princess was ecstatic to see the prince fighting through the thorns and desperately wielding his sword to save her. However, the more the princess’ love became aroused, the more the thorns she was controlling increased their movement, and even bound up the person she loves.
“Grrgh......!”
Seeing the prince's expression of agony, the princess suddenly came to her senses.
“It's not safe to come any closer. Leave me and get away from here.”
The prince, however, does not give up and, using his sword to break the thorny fetters, finally reaches the Thorn Princess, dodging the vines that strike him like a whip. Despite being entangled by numerous thorns, the prince embraces the princess and kisses her on the lips. The Thorn Princess is stunned by the suddenness of the situation. Then the thorns that bound them both were easily undone and they fell to the ground without any strength......
Act IV.
The curse of the Thorn Princess was lifted by the kiss of her beloved. Together with the prince, the princess cut down the thorns that had covered the royal palace and awakened everyone. Miraculously, everyone who fell asleep did not age during the hundred years, and the king and queen wept and rejoiced, deeply thanking the prince.
The people were amazed at the enormous amount of time that had passed, but rejoiced that they had survived the disaster brought on by the wizard. The king, having been wronged by the wizard, vowed that he would ‘never again leave his party guests out of his company'. He then welcomed the brave prince, who had braved the curse without fear of death, as the next king. The couple's wedding party was a great event, with many guests in attendance and much pomp and pageantry.
“Now you are no longer the Thorn Princess.”
During the party, the prince laughed when he saw the princess, who had regained all her strength. The princess, who had lost her power to control thorns after the curse was lifted, was in love with the prince and stood by his side at all hours of the day.
“Yes. But I will always be entwined with you.”
Looking at the prince with the expression of a maiden in love, the princess embraced him. It is said that the Thorn Princess, who had found the love of her life, always poured out her heavy love to the prince, as if she would never let him go again.
Aftertalk
Karasumori Daikoku: Where on earth is she......? Iruru-san, do you know where my Lord is?
Yorozu Iruru: Hm~? Hatsumi’s in a meeting with the props, it's almost time for her to come back. Oh, but she came while I was saying that.
Renjakuno Hatsumi: What's the matter, Daikoku? With such an anxious look on your face.
Karasumori Daikoku: My Lord......! No, there’s nothing in particular. I couldn't see you, so I've been looking for you.......
Renjakuno Hatsumi: I see. Heh heh, I understand. You always want to be near this Renjakuno Hatsumi, don't you?
Karasumori Daikoku: Yes......
Renjakuno Hatsumi: You cute girl. Sorry to make you feel lonely. Here, why don’t you come closer?
Yorozu Iruru: Daikoku is really into Hatsumi. She's always looking at you during practice.
Renjakuno Hatsumi: It doesn't matter. I feel more confident when someone is watching me. Let's go, Daikoku. We’ll start practicing.
Karasumori Daikoku: Yes, my Lord......my light. I will follow you wherever you go!