After a few weeks when Prince Toyonari came back home, his wife told him that Hase-Hime had done something wrong and ran away for fear of being punished.
Prince Toyonari was worried when he heard this. What worried him some more was that everyone in the palace told him the same story. Nobody knew where Hase-Hime had gone.
He looked everywhere for her but he kept the matter quiet because he did not want everyone to know about it. So he was not successful in searching for her.
One day as he was trying to forget his worry, he called all his men and told them to get ready for several days’ hunt in the mountains.
Prince Toyonari drove to the district of Hibari Mountains with his big retinue.
He soon found himself in the picturesque place.
He noted a tiny cottage in one of the hills nearby and he thought he heard beautiful clear voices from the cottage. A second later he realized that a voice was reading aloud. He was curious as to who it could be.
He left his horse there and walked towards the cottage.
As he drew closer to the cottage, he was even more surprised because from afar he could see that the reader was a beautiful young girl.
The cottage was wide open and she was looking at the mountains as she was reading out.
At that time, Prince Toyonari was shocked to see that it was his daughter Hase-Hime. “It is you!”
Hase-Hime’s eyes filled with tears. “My father, you have come.”
After that the faithful old Katoda came forward and he told his master the reason that he had brought Hase-Hime here.
The Prince was shocked on hearing what his wife had done.
He gave up the hunt and hurried home with his daughter and the other two people with her.
Princess Terute learned of what had happened to the Prince at Hibari. She fled from the house after this.
The princess came back and she lived happily with the old servant Katoda and his wife who were rewarded with the highest promotion, in the house.
As Prince Tayonari had no son, he adopted a younger son of one of the court nobles to be his heir and marry his daughter, Hase-Hime in a few years.
The marriage took place and it was said that Princess Hase-Hime was the wisest and the most beautiful woman that had reigned in Prince Toyonari’s ancient house.
Adapted from Japanese Folk Tales
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