### Chapter 8: Kamisato Ayaka Knocks on the Door, The Young Lady's Feelings Laid Bare!
"The young lady of the Kamisato Clan?!"
"Princess Shirasagi! It's Princess Shirasagi!"
"Why is Lady Ayaka at the Grand Narukami Shrine so early in the morning?!"
"Could Lady Ayaka be here to draw an omikuji?"
"Come to think of it, Lady Ayaka is of marriageable age. Is she divining her romantic prospects?"
"Which lucky young man could that be? Marrying Princess Shirasagi would be fortune from lifetimes of good deeds!"
Kamisato Ayaka's appearance at the Grand Narukami Shrine in the early morning hours instantly stunned the gathered crowd.
The Kamisato Clan was the head of Inazuma's three commissions—the Yashiro Commission—and the governmental body closest to the Raiden Shogun herself.
Kamisato Ayaka was the younger sister of the current head of the Kamisato Clan, Kamisato Ayato.
"Being able to see you like this in the morning makes me can't help but feel... that the rest of the day will go smoothly."
It was no wonder that such a figure would become the center of attention wherever she went.
"Lady Ayaka, the High Priestess hasn't risen yet. Shall I announce your arrival?"
A shrine maiden hurried forward with a bow. Even before this beloved and admired Princess Shirasagi, the shrine maidens set aside their usual poise.
"Miss Maki, no need to trouble yourself. I'm here to see Lord Ye Xi."
Politely declining the shrine maiden's offer, Kamisato Ayaka waited quietly beneath the Sacred Sakura Tree, not making a sound.
She knew Ye Xi must have heard her.
But upon realizing Yae Miko hadn't woken up yet, her mind began to wander uncontrollably.
Had the High Priestess slipped into Ye Xi's small world?
Had they already...?
Once the line was crossed, the taste for more would follow—and it made sense that they'd still be tangled in bed at this hour.
But if that were the case, it would leave her feeling heartbroken.
To be fair, the High Priestess's personality and figure far outshone other women in allure.
Every frown and smile radiated sensuality and charm.
And as a fox spirit, she was all the more irresistible.
The unattainable often deepened obsession—the more one sank, the more infatuated, the more enamored, the more addicted.
Countless people in Inazuma were drawn to the High Priestess, willing to commit offenses just for a chance to get close.
For Ye Xi to be constantly by her side was already an advantage closer than most; crossing that line would be all too easy.
If the Ye Xi she'd been quietly yearning for truly fell, she'd probably hide away and cry for days.
Upon hearing that Kamisato Ayaka was there to see Ye Xi, the surrounding crowd began whispering among themselves.
"Ye Xi? The young man by the High Priestess's side?"
"Could it be that Lady Ayaka has her eye on him?"
"The one who borrowed the power of the Sacred Sakura Tree to create a small world?"
"Shh—Lord Ye Xi is the chosen one favored by the Grand Narukami!"
"Yeah, yeah! The Sacred Sakura is the embodiment of Her Excellency's power! Gaining that might even make him her successor someday!"
"No wonder—Lord Ye Xi gets to be intimate with the High Priestess, and now even Lady Ayaka is smitten. It's enough to make anyone green with envy!"
"Sigh, why bother drawing a love fortune? It all comes down to looks! If I had Lord Ye Xi's face, finding a wife wouldn't be so hard!"
The crowd's words dripped with envy and sourness, practically overflowing.
Not only did he interact with the High Priestess, but he was also on close terms with Lady Ayaka—news like that would have every soul in Inazuma seething with jealousy!
Leaving aside the High Priestess, Lady Ayaka was called Princess Shirasagi because of her elegant, pristine grace, like a white heron.
Her refined and beautiful features, her intelligent and poised speech—it was the very image of a princess!
Even brushing against a hint of her refined elegance felt like a blessing from three lifetimes.
Let alone being the object of her affections!
Most importantly, no one really knew how Ye Xi had come to be there. They only knew that a few years ago, this young man had suddenly appeared at the High Priestess's side.
At first, people gossiped.
After all, a sacred high priestess shouldn't be overly close to a boy her own age.
But once it became known that the boy had effortlessly borrowed the Grand Narukami's power to carve out his own small world, no one dared utter a word of criticism.
Because the Grand Narukami was the Electro Archon herself!
The Raiden Shogun, ruler of Inazuma!
If even the Raiden Shogun lent him her power, who among Inazuma's citizens would dare object?
Yet no one knew the truth: it wasn't Raiden Ei who had lent the power to Ye Xi—it was the power that had chosen him.
Back then, Raiden Ei had only noticed the flow of power from the Plane of Euthymia and turned her gaze toward him.
Learning that Kamisato Ayaka was there to see Ye Xi, who resided within the Sacred Sakura Tree, filled everyone with envy.
At that moment, petals drifting from the Sacred Sakura swirled in the air, as if plunging into rippling waters, deftly repelled.
Space was warping.
Soon, the area shimmered like a pond, a small vortex forming.
"Miss Kamisato, you're actually here to see me? Please, come in."
Ye Xi's clear, resonant voice echoed from within.
Just hearing it brought a flush of joy to Kamisato Ayaka's face, like a lotus blooming in an instant. The fortune-seekers around her couldn't help but brighten at the sight.
"You all wait out here. No need to worry about me."
Kamisato Ayaka turned to instruct her two retainers before eagerly stepping into the small world.
"Th-this... Young Lady? Wait—"
"Young Lady!"
The two retainers froze in place, at a loss.
They were supposed to guard her safety, but she had shaken them off and entered the barrier alone.
With a vigorous young man, no less!
If the clan head found out, their heads would roll!
The onlookers outside gasped as well.
"That Lord Ye Xi's voice is so clear and warm."
"Worth of the Grand Narukami's favor."
"His voice alone speaks volumes—he must be handsome and refined in demeanor!"
"Of course. I've had the honor of meeting Lord Ye Xi once. Even at the tender age when he first tied his hair in a topknot, he already carried an air of scholarly elegance!"
"What? He was already like that at fifteen? Truly a match made in heaven with Lady Ayaka!"
Hearing the crowd so boldly gossiping about their young lady, the two retainers couldn't hold back and scolded them.
"Silence! Do not speak ill of our young lady!"
"Our young lady remains secluded in the inner chambers, pure and proper. You will not sully her name!"
The surrounding people immediately fell silent, holding their tongues.
Within the small world.
Outside the pavilion, by the edge of the small pond.
Ye Xi came forward to greet the renowned Princess Shirasagi—his friend from Inazuma.
She was also one of his favorite characters back when he was an original illustrator.
Seeing Kamisato Ayaka step through the spatial rift with her poised grace, a deep appreciation flickered in his eyes.
"Good morning, Xi."