Yatagarasu Series
Volume 2:
The Raven Does Not
Choose Its Master
Author: Chisato Abe
VOLUME 2 - MASTER POST
Part 4: Sakura Palace
On the morning of the second day of the Boys’ Day festival, the Crown Prince commanded Yukiya to come to the entrance of the Sun Palace in his feather robe. When Yukiya arrived, there was another young man already present. His looks weren’t terribly distinctive and he was obviously not noble based on his attire. Yukiya thought that he had kind eyes. He appeared physically strong, but not in the way the warriors of Hokke were. A laborer, perhaps, or a traveler.
Yukiya hadn’t expected to see anyone else here. He’d never seen anyone in the Sun Palace except himself, Sumio and the Crown Prince.
“Your Imperial Highness, who is this?” Yukiya asked.
The young man’s shoulders tensed from nervousness.
The Crown Prince patted the young man’s back. “This is Kazumi. He works in the Keisōin as a servant. He’ll be accompanying us to Sakura Palace today.”
“A servant at the Keisoin? That sounds like a lie.” Yukiya narrowed his eyes and glared at Kazumi. “I’ve seen you before. You work at the Lord of Hokke’s estate.” The last time Yukiya had seen Kazumi, he’d been helping the gardener with something or other.
Kazumi’s face froze solid as ice. He didn’t recognize Yukiya. “Excuse me, but who are you?”
“Don’t worry about that,” the Crown Prince said before Yukiya could answer. “He’s my attendant and he’s sworn loyalty to me. He would never do anything that goes against my orders.” He laughed. “None of what we’re doing will get back to the Lord of Hokke.”
He turned to Yukiya, who still appeared mistrustful. “I know exactly who Kazumi is. I called him here for a reason.”
“I see,” Yukiya said. He thought that the Crown Prince was being far too careless. There had recently been an attempt on his life. He didn’t agree with bringing strangers into the Sun Palace. But the Crown Prince had brought Kazumi here, and Yukiya did trust that he had a good reason for it.
Yukiya introduced himself as Yukimasa’s second son from Taruhi Village.
Kazumi bowed his head. “As you guessed, I was a gardener for the Lord of Hokke, but now I serve the Crown Prince with all my heart and soul. Please call me Kazumi.”
The Crown Prince pointed to Kazumi, who kept bowing earnestly.
“You can trust him. He’s stationed inside the Keisōin. If you ever need to act without my orders, you can gain information from Kazumi.”
Yukiya considered this. In normal circumstances, the Crown Prince’s retinue would include a coterie of Imperial Guards, all of whom graduated from the Keisōin. Unfortunately, due to the current Emperor’s policies, the Imperial Guards who graduated from the Keisōin each year weren’t trustworthy. Kazumi’s presence inside the military academy made a certain kind of sense, then; he could spy and find out who could be trusted and who couldn’t.
“I understand. I look forward to working with you.”
“I will do my utmost, even if it costs me my life,” Kazumi said. He was polite and earnest, but this declaration was tinged with desperation as well. The emotion didn’t suit his gentle disposition. He looked like a man at war with himself.
The Crown Prince sensed the unease between Yukiya and Kazumi, but said nothing about it.
“What are you plotting now?” Yukiya asked the Crown Prince.
“What, you ask? We’re about to go to Sakura Palace.”
Yukiya hated when the Crown Prince answered direct questions with deflections.
“We are?”
They weren’t dressed to go to any kind of palace. There was no carriage and Yukiya was the Crown Prince’s only attendant. Going to Sakura Palace as they were would be an affront to court customs and basic decency.
“Well, let’s not linger in the doorway,” the Crown Prince said. “It’s time to go.” He led the small group out of the Sun Palace.
“How are we getting to Sakura Palace?” Yukiya asked. “If we’re going through the mountains, we should take Sumio along.”
“We’ll be fine,” the Crown Prince said. “I’m better than most with a bow or a sword. If we run into trouble, I’ll deal with it.”
“Then why did you make Sumio fight the other day?” Yukiya asked. He let all his doubts show on his face.
“Because of you. I won’t lose to anyone while practicing, but in a fight to the death, I might. I couldn’t focus on protecting myself and protecting you at the same time.”
“And you think you can do that now?”
“I can defend myself, at least.”
Yukiya frowned.
The Crown Prince tapped his chest. “Trust me. There’s nothing to worry about. I have it on good authority that no assassins will be bothering us today.”
“How can you be sure of that?”
“I’m a true Golden Raven.”
Yukiya fell silent. He should have guessed that would be the Crown Prince’s answer. He always acted like he could see right through everything. If Yukiya didn’t know any better, he might have believed the Crown Prince at face value. But he did know better. The Crown Prince was just an ordinary Yatagarasu—a clever one, perhaps, but he was also extremely reckless.
The Crown Prince was not clairvoyant. He didn’t have special powers or anything. And that meant…
“You have an informant who’s pretending to work for Natsuka,” Yukiya said. The inspiration struck like a bolt of lightning.
The Crown Prince stopped walking and looked back at him. “Why do you say that?”
The Crown Prince hadn’t denied it.
Yukiya shook his head. “You know too much. Having a spy like that would explain everything.”
Yukiya being sold to the Valley had not been a coincidence or bad luck, but deliberately planned. Events had been orchestrated to place Yukiya close enough to the guest hall to witness the meeting of the traitorous nobles and Prince Natsuka.
The Crown Prince shrugged and then kept walking. “That’s a reasonable deduction.”
“Who is it?” Yukiya asked.
“Do you really want to know?” the Crown Prince asked. He was walking faster now.
Yukiya thought that the Crown Prince looked exceptionally pleased with himself. After a brief moment of thought, a terribly unpleasant possibility crossed his mind. “You won’t tell me. I only promised to serve you for a year. That’s why.”
“Indeed,” the Crown Prince said. “If you swear to serve me forever, then I’ll tell you. It’s our faction’s most guarded secret.”
“Then I guess I don’t really need to know,” Yukiya said firmly. “Don’t tell me, not even by mistake. I’m your errand boy and nothing more.” He slowed down, creating more distance between himself and the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince’s shoulders slumped. “That’s a shame.”
“Can I know that your informant is trustworthy?” Yukiya asked.
He and the Crown Prince were traveling with Kazumi and no one else. Yukiya would feel much better if Sumio were here. If the informant turned against them, they might be attacked at any time, and then it would be three against however many assailants were sent against them.
“They are,” the Crown Prince said. “I would trust this informant with my life.”
“You receive regular reports from them, then?”
“Yes.”
Yukiya frowned. “Then… don’t you have some idea of who’s really targeting you behind the scenes? Who the mastermind is?”
“I thought I did. But the fact that the Kitashijōke family betrayed us surprised the informant, too. It’s obvious that the mind behind the attacks is in Prince Natsuka’s faction, but I can’t tell precisely who it is yet.”
Yukiya nodded slowly. The informant hadn’t known about Lord Kitashijōke’s betrayal. It made sense that they wouldn’t know who was plotting to assassinate the Crown Prince. That made the informant less useful than Yukiya had hoped.
“Considering the information we have and the details you brought about the meeting in the Valley, there probably won’t be an attack today. After all, Rokon issued that warning to everyone about acting on their own.”
Yukiya frowned again.
The Crown Prince chuckled. “You worry too much.”
***
It was summer, so the undergrowth was thick. It was hard to walk in places because of all the lush vegetation. The Crown Prince went ahead in those spots and cleared a path, pushing aside brambles and branches. Yukiya was the shortest of the three, so Kazumi carried him over mud pits and through dense brush so that he wouldn’t get stuck.
As they leaped over low hills, descended down riverbanks and passed behind waterfalls, Yukiya and Kazumi became drenched in sweat. The Crown Prince didn’t sweat at all. He didn’t even have the decency to be out of breath. There were no landmarks that Yukiya saw, but the Crown Prince walked on without hesitation. His obvious familiarity with this area was vaguely unsettling.
The Crown Prince’s guidance got them to their destination safely enough. Yukiya had a few shallow scratches, but nothing worse. Their impromptu forced march took almost half a day.
“We’re almost there,” the Crown Prince said quietly. “From here on out, keep your voices down.”
They took a short rest on the top of a cliff. A cool breeze dried some of the sweat on Yukiya’s forehead. In the middle distance there was an open pavilion with a roof. Cherry blossoms fell from the trees surrounding the pavilion. Yukiya heard women’s voices and the sound of a koto being played. A waterfall drifted gently down from the mountains above. Yukiya saw irises blooming among the falling cherry blossoms. The flower petals sparkled in the summer sun. The irises were a deeper blue than any sapphire Yukiya had ever seen. Scattered among them were more white, purple and twilight-violet flowers.
Kazumi gasped in admiration of the artfully arranged flowers. “It’s beautiful, don’t you think?” Kazumi asked.
“It is,” the Crown Prince said, “but we’re not here to look at the flowers.”
Kazumi leaned forward to take a closer look.
“You’ll fall.” The Crown Prince grabbed the back of Kazumi’s collar and pulled him back.
“Sorry, Your Imperial Highness,” Kazumi said, blushing a bit.
The Crown Prince tilted his head. “We’ll see everything up close soon enough. Just watch for now.” He walked around a little, checking behind nearby trees. Then he took a running jump off the cliff.
Yukiya and Kazumi were startled, their eyes wide as they followed the Crown Prince’s movements.
The Crown Prince landed safely on a flat stone. He used pine trees growing off the cliff as cover as he continued his descent.
“He’s like a monkey,” Yukiya said as he watched the Crown Prince climbing smoothly down the cliff.
Kazumi agreed reluctantly. “It’s hard to believe that he’s really a prince sometimes, isn’t it? He’s just… strange.”
“He’s strange all the time, not just sometimes,” Yukiya said in a tone of finality. “I think his whole existence might be some elaborate joke.” He smiled and then started his own descent before the Crown Prince could move out of sight.
Kazumi followed Yukiya down safely and with some skill, though neither of them moved as gracefully as the Crown Prince.
Yukiya had plenty of time to think as he climbed down. He hadn’t forgotten how the Crown Prince had sold him to the Valley. Something like that could easily happen again. He had to protect himself.
They were entering Sakura Palace secretly. Sakura Palace was where the duchesses of the Four Families lived. The Crown Prince had to choose one of them as a bride. Yukiya knew that Sakura Palace was strictly off-limits to men who weren’t the Crown Prince or his guards. Both Kazumi and himself would be considered trespassers here. If they were caught, they’d need to escape immediately. He looked around, searching for good hiding places in case he needed them later.
The Crown Prince poked his face out of tree cover, looking up at Kazumi and Yukiya. “If you can’t do this faster, you don’t have to come.”
Yukiya frowned severely and then jumped down the rest of the way. He slipped into the trees and then faced the Crown Prince with a dazzling smile.
Kazumi jumped down a moment later, landing silently.
“If you were in a rush, you should have said so,” Yukiya said quietly so that he wouldn’t be heard by the women in Sakura Palace. “I never said I didn’t want to come with you.”
The Crown Prince nodded. “I wasn’t rushing. I just thought that saying that would make you go faster.”
Yukiya covered his face with one hand. I really can’t stand this guy. But he was already here, so it wasn’t like he could just turn around and go back. He didn’t know his way back to the Sun Palace on foot from here. He pulled himself together and looked down through pine branches.
A polished stone platform jutted out from the side of the mountain. The platform had a roof with eaves that medicine balls hung from but no solid walls, only folding screens arranged around comfortable red felt mats to sit on. The colorful string of the medicine balls swayed in the wind. Duchesses and their attendants sat on the platform. Their garments were so splendid that they put the flowers growing all around them to shame.
The closest duchess to Yukiya was a young woman with a charming, innocent face and a pale pink peony tucked behind her ear. Her light brown hair framed her face and fell in gentle waves around her shoulders. Her eyes were sparkling and radiant like dew drops on petals. She wore a layered kimono that was the same color as new leaves topped with an over-robe that matched the peony flower.
Yukiya knew nothing about women’s fashion, but even he could tell that the duchess’ clothes suited her perfectly. She was talking with servants and other ladies casually, not doing anything impressive or eye-catching, but Yukiya couldn’t tear his gaze away from her.
“That’s the Touke duchess,” the Crown Prince whispered. “Pay attention. We don’t have much time. Look closely at everyone’s faces, especially the faces of women who are wearing feather robes under their clothing. Those are probably Fujimiyaren. They protect Sakura Palace and the Inner Palace and are commanded by the Empress. Shōin was one of the Fujimiyaren once.”
“Why do you want me to look at their faces?” Yukiya asked.
“So that you’ll remember them.”
“That’s why you brought me all the way here?”
“One of the reasons.” The Crown Prince was about to say more, but then there was movement on the cooling platform below. His mouth snapped shut.
Two duchesses came out from behind a pillar. They were in the middle of a heated argument. One of the duchesses was older than the Touke duchess—a stunningly beautiful woman, not a girl. She wore layered robes that gradually shifted from white to green, with a glossy deep red karaginu on top. Her clothes were finer than everyone else’s, but her lovely face was marred by anger. She was like a child having a tantrum in an adult’s body. She brushed her red-black hair out of her face, irritated.
“That’s the Duchess of Saike,” the Crown Prince whispered. “The Lord of Saike is convinced that I’ll choose her as my wife. Saike, for better or worse, is always optimistic about the future.” He sighed heavily. “They produce capable enough administrators and officials, and they aren’t unintelligent on the whole. They suffer from self-confidence that far exceeds their actual abilities. They’re also proud and prone to getting carried away by their emotions, as you see. The other three families look down on them a bit.”
Yukiya hadn’t known any of that about Saike despite all the books he’d read about the Imperial Court and politics. What little he remembered of those books was boring. It was a lot more interesting to learn this stuff from the Crown Prince.
The other duchess arguing with the Duchess of Saike stepped closer.
The Crown Prince’s eyes narrowed. “That’s the Duchess of Nanke.”
Yukiya leaned forward, looking at the duchess’ face as instructed. He noticed that she was dressed much more simply than the Duchess of Saike and the Duchess of Touke. She wore only a few layers of robes and no karaginu, so her slender figure was clearly visible. Layers of sheer, blue-green silk on top of her brown over-robe created the impression of a cicada’s translucent wings. Her long black hair was tied up tightly behind her head. She was very tall—she towered over the Saike duchess—and her attitude and posture were more like a young man’s than a young woman’s. She looked more like a young warrior than a duchess. She fought like an adult and didn’t pout like a child. The difference between her and the Saike duchess was striking.
“Isn’t the Nanke duchess Atsufusa’s cousin?” Yukiya whispered. He didn’t think they looked much alike.
“No,” the Crown Prince said quietly. “She’s not the Lord of Nanke’s daughter. She’s his niece. She was adopted as his daughter a few years ago.”
Yukiya tilted his head. “I thought that the Lord of Nanke had a daughter.”
“He does. That’s Nadeshiko. He didn’t want Nadeshiko to come to Sakura Palace, so he sent Hamayū instead.” The look on the Crown Prince’s face was difficult for Yukiya to interpret. “For whatever reason, the Lord of Nanke does not want his daughter to marry me. I feel sorry for Hamayū. She was sent in her cousin’s place and shouldn’t be here.”
The Crown Prince’s words didn’t quite match his detached tone.
“I don’t see the Hokke duchess anywhere,” the Crown Prince said. His eyes scanned the cooling platform, searching.
Kazumi didn’t look at the three duchesses. He seemed flustered. “Where could she be?” he asked softly.
“I still don’t see her,” the Crown Prince said. His shoulders tensed.
Yukiya wondered why the Hokke duchess was so important.
Then the Crown Prince sucked in a breath. “There. She’s coming. Look.”
The Duchess of Hokke was shorter than all the other duchesses. She was so delicate that it looked like she might break. Like the other duchesses, she was lovely; her mere presence could melt the hearts of all who beheld her. If the Duchess of Touke was like bright spring sunlight, then the Duchess of Hokke was her winter mirror, possessing the fragile beauty of frost at dawn. Her robes were a pale blue embroidered with silver thread. It was the beginning of summer, but the Hokke duchess looked like a snowflake given human form. Her skin was dazzlingly white. Her straight black hair fell down her back, contrasting with her clothes and skin. Her eyes shone like black pearls.
“Shiratama,” Kazumi said—at normal volume.
“Be quiet,” Yukiya said. He moved to cover Kazumi’s mouth with his hands.
Kazumi dodged Yukiya and tried to get closer to Duchess Shiratama. Yukiya pursued him to restrain him.
Yukiya knew of Shiratama, of course. She was the talk of Hokke territory and the treasured adopted daughter of the Lord of Hokke. Yukiya had exchanged greetings with her only once during a New Year’s celebration. He hadn’t seen her face then; she’d been sitting behind a bamboo screen. He would never have called her “Shiratama” to her face or behind her back, without honorifics, as Kazumi just had.
Kazumi struggled desperately. He stomped on Yukiya’s foot hard to get free, causing the tree branch supporting them to snap loudly. Yukiya didn’t even have time to think now we’ve done it before they were falling. He caught himself on the next branch down, as did Kazumi, but they’d made too much noise. The Duchess of Touke’s attendants were looking up the cliff.
“Who’s there?” an older woman asked imperiously.
They’d been noticed. It was only a matter of time before they were discovered.
“We have to do something,” Yukiya whispered.
The Crown Prince silenced him and then removed a slender box from his chest pocket. He pressed the box into Yukiya’s hand.
Then the Crown Prince shoved Yukiya out of the tree and down the cliff with both hands. The move was so sudden that Yukiya couldn’t have anticipated it.
“Hold out until help arrives,” the Crown Prince said as Yukiya started to fall. “Hand over that box to the imperial princess—my sister, Princess Fujinami. I don’t think she’ll do anything too cruel. Good luck. I’m sorry.”
Yukiya heard the Crown Prince’s words without really understanding everything. There was nothing but air beneath his feet. The Crown Prince and Kazumi were getting farther and farther away. Kazumi had gone pale and hadn’t moved an inch. Only Yukiya had been pushed off the cliff.
Clutching the box tightly to his chest, Yukiya screamed.
This is why he brought me, isn’t it? Yukiya thought as he began his panicked descent. He transformed in midair and started flying.
That man is unworthy of respect, Yukiya thought as he leveled out in the air. If I survive this and make it back, I am going to punch him right in the nose.
Yukiya plunged headlong into the middle of a cluster of blooming irises. He felt the flowers being crushed beneath him as he skidded to a halt. Water splashed on his wings and scattered everywhere. Fortunately, he hadn’t broken anything. He’d transformed quickly enough to prevent injury, at least.
He barely had time to feel relieved. Women started screaming all around him.
“An intruder!”
“Call the Yamauchishu!”
Yukiya watched the women converge on him, bristling with hostility. He was convinced that he was going to die.
He twisted his body to dodge the grasping hands of Fujimiyaren who lunged at him. Regaining his posture by rolling, Yukiya kicked a stone out of the water and managed to take flight.
“Don’t let him escape!” women shouted angrily below him.
Yukiya saw Fujimiyaren transforming. The panic-stricken Duchess of Touke looked up at him, slack-jawed and frozen. He flew up and away as fast as he could.
Fujimiyaren quickly caught up to him. He managed to shake two of them off his trail by switching directions abruptly, but his third pursuer body-slammed him, forcing all the air out of his lungs. Yukiya folded his wings instinctively and plummeted downward in a controlled fall.
Fending off fierce attacks of beaks and claws, Yukiya desperately flew away from Sakura Palace. Five Fujimiyaren were after him. He couldn’t escape…
Yukiya was about to give up hope when he saw a new three-legged raven appear directly in front of him. This raven was larger than his pursuers and himself. Yukiya recognized Sumio and flew faster, relieved to see an ally here.
Cawing out a cry for help, Yukiya winged his way over to Sumio.
This proved to be a mistake.
Yukiya’s pursuers noticed that he was trying to get closer to Sumio. That meant they knew which way he would go and when. One of the Fujimiyaren took hold of his talon and yanked him backward. Her compatriots grabbed his wings, immobilizing him. He feared that he would be torn apart then and there.
Yukiya let out a pitiful scream as sharp claws dug into his flesh.
Sumio hurriedly intervened. He wore a silver sash around his torso that marked him as the Crown Prince’s guard. The Fujimiyaren gave him suspicious looks and didn’t let go of Yukiya. Yukiya tried to stop moving to show that he wasn’t hostile.
Slowly, the Fujimiyaren let Yukiya go. It was impossible to speak while in raven form, so they all flew back to Sakura Palace and descended on the cooling platform.
Yukiya had never expected to enter Sakura Palace under any circumstances. Most men weren’t allowed here. He felt like he was about to pass out; his flight and capture had taken a lot out of him. The grim faces of the Fujimiyaren were terrifying. Their eyes burned with hatred and contempt toward him.
Trembling from head to toe, Yukiya awaited the Fujimiyaren’s judgment.
The Fujimiyaren explained what had happened to the duchesses while Yukiya remained in raven form. His face was pressed into a pool of water so that he could barely breathe. He could hear the Fujimiyaren talking to the duchesses, but he had no idea what they said. Taking his next breath was challenging enough to require all his focus.
He started to feel a real sense of danger, thinking, I’m going to die. This time, I’m well and truly dead.
“If they’re not dangerous, why not let the poor wretch go free?” a woman asked. Yukiya was so addled that he thought it was a heavenly maiden come to save him. “If you keep holding them like that, they’ll drown.”
“At your word, Duchess Hamayū of the Summer Hall,” an older woman said. “Release the creature. If they act out of line again, capture them immediately.”
The people holding Yukiya down moved away. He raised his head and took a deep breath, shaking water out of his wings as he did. He remembered that his benefactress was the Duchess of Nanke and that it would be rude to appear before her in raven form. He transformed back into his human shape and bowed deeply to her.
“Thank you very much, Duchess Hamayū,” Yukiya said. He was about to add that she’d saved his life, but his words were cut off by a sharp, angry shout and a powerful stinging slap to his cheek.
“You fool! How dare you appear in raven form before a princess!”
Reeling from being slapped, Yukiya splashed back into the water and sank beneath the surface again.
The woman who’d struck him was an older imperial attendant. She was panting and furious. The contempt in her eyes pierced Yukiya to the heart.
“And now you’ve transformed before the princess and Sakura Palace’s duchesses! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?!”
Yukiya wanted to ask her the same question. The way she was treating him didn’t conform to most standards of imperial etiquette. But he didn’t. He was in more than enough trouble and didn’t want to make it worse. He swallowed down a potential smart remark, pulled himself out of the water and prostrated himself on the ground.
After that, Yukiya was dragged through Sakura Palace and brought to a wooden-floored room. Sumio was waiting for him in his human form.
“Sir Sumio,” Yukiya said.
“Yukiya. This is… most unfortunate.”
Sumio leaned closer to speak to Yukiya so that they wouldn’t be overheard. Sumio intended to get through this situation by pretending that all of it was an unavoidable accident. The letter box that the Crown Prince had given Yukiya contained a message to his sister. The message was an apology because he wouldn’t be attending the Boys’ Day ceremony in Sakura Palace.
The story would be this: the Crown Prince had given Yukiya the letter to deliver at the last minute. Yukiya had rushed here and wasn’t used to flying in his raven form. He’d fallen off the cliff before reaching the gate, and that had caused a scene on the cooling platform where the duchesses were.
While they were talking, the Empress arrived. She was more than half-hidden behind bamboo screens and seated on a raised dais. Princess Fujinami, the Crown Prince’s younger sister, accompanied the Empress and took a seat next to her.
“Do you really think this ridiculous story will be believed?” Yukiya asked under his breath.
“I do,” Sumio said. “Trust me.”
***
As it turned out, Sumio was right. The Empress, Princess Fujinami and the duchesses all accepted Yukiya’s flimsy excuses.
“To think they actually believed that,” Yukiya murmured in disbelief as he looked back at the hall he’d just exited with Sumio.
“Why wouldn’t they? None of them have ever turned into ravens before, I bet.”
“They haven’t?”
“Of course not. It’s not ladylike. The Fujimiyaren probably know we lied, though. The one you played tag with in the air is a formidable woman. You’re lucky to be uninjured.”
The two of them stood on the wide stage outside the Merchant Wings Gate of Sakura Palace. This was where merchants stopped and unloaded goods. He and Sumio would be allowed to depart shortly.
Standing in that audience hall, all Yukiya had been able to think about was how he’d be held responsible and punished horribly. Fortunately for him, everyone had been distracted by the Crown Prince’s message to his sister. The fact that he wouldn’t be coming to the Boys’ Day celebration was far more important than Yukiya’s blunder. After the Empress and Princess Fujinami lost all interest in Yukiya, he was released without being punished at all.
“It’s normal for the duchesses to be disappointed,” Sumio said. “The Crown Prince hasn’t visited them all year. Not even once. They really thought he would come today, and we dashed all their hopes.”
Sumio glanced back at the Merchant Wings Gate. A beautiful tapestry depicting cherry blossoms and a red raven fluttered in the wind.
Yukiya blinked. “I didn’t know that. Why hasn’t the Crown Prince come here before?”
Yukiya knew that the Crown Prince spent an inordinate amount of time in the pleasure quarters of the capital and the Valley, but the duchesses had been here for more than two months. He’d had ample time to visit them, and he hadn’t. Yukiya felt sorry for the duchesses. They’d been left alone for all this time.
“Well, he has his own business to attend to,” Sumio said evasively. “It can’t be helped.” He was about to say something else when his posture stiffened. He looked behind Yukiya.
A lady-in-waiting was approaching them. Beneath her flowing clothes, she wore a feather robe. She was one of the Fujimiyaren.
Yukiya swallowed heavily.
“Is there something else you require?” Sumio asked. “We were just leaving.”
“You may go,” she said to Sumio, “but you must stay,” she said to Yukiya. “The Empress has summoned you. You are the Crown Prince’s attendant, are you not?”
Yukiya nodded. “Yes. But I was under the impression that the unpleasantness that happened today would be overlooked.”
The Fujimiyaren shrugged. “I have no knowledge of why you were summoned, but you have been. Come along.”
“I’ll go with him,” Sumio said.
“You will not,” the Fujimiyaren said. “Adult men are not permitted to come to Sakura Palace without express permission.” She looked to Yukiya. “Come.”
Yukiya pleaded silently with Sumio for help, but Sumio could not go against the will of the Empress.
“Is it all right if I wait for him here?” Sumio asked.
“Yes, that would be fine,” the Fujimiyaren said.
Yukiya bit his lip and steeled himself. He’d already been sold as human collateral to the Valley; could the Empress do anything worse than that? Probably not. He shouldn’t fear anything now.
“Understood. I’ll go.”
Retracing the path he had taken earlier, the woman led Yukiya into the heart of Sakura Palace. Sakura Palace was built in an overhanging style with some chambers cut into a mountain and others sprawling around the mountain’s base. The four duchesses lived in Sakura Palace until the Crown Prince selected a bride.
Sakura Palace also connected to the Inner Palace, which was built inside the mountain itself. Yukiya realized they were headed there when polished walls gave way to rough, cold stone ones. Alarm bells rang in his mind.
The Inner Palace was a forbidden zone. Only members of the imperial family were permitted to enter it. He wasn’t an adult, which doubtless allowed him to skirt around the rule about entering Sakura Palace itself, but he had no good excuse for setting foot in the Inner Palace.
The narrow passage before them finally ended. The woman led him into a spacious, dimly lit chamber. The air there was cool and clear. He looked up and saw a waterfall flowing down one wall. He’d never seen a waterfall indoors before, so he gawped in an unseemly way until his guide snapped him out of his stupor.
At first glance, this hall resembled the Hall of the Rising Sun beyond the Grand Gate. A walkway with red railings wrapped around three sides of the hall. The last side was left as bare stone with the waterfall flowing down. Water pooled on the floor. Light streamed in from above, but there were few other lamps, so the hall was dim. The waterfall had a fantastical feel to it. It didn’t seem quite real. Moss clung to stones that lined the pool at the bottom of the waterfall.
The artificial red railings appeared somewhat incongruous next to the waterfall, but the space did look balanced, at least. Yukiya searched for the source of this strange harmony until a woman—not his guide—called out to him.
“Are you the Crown Prince’s attendant?”
Yukiya blinked, startled.
“You are in the presence of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress,” Yukiya’s guide said.
Yukiya hurriedly placed his hands on the floor and bowed his head. “My deepest apologies.” He saw the hem of a purple robe out of the corner of one eye.
“No need for that,” the Empress said. “I summoned you somewhat suddenly. You may raise your head.”
Yukiya hesitated. He didn’t know if he should trust her words or not.
A folded fan that smelled faintly of cypress wood and sweet perfume landed below Yukiya’s chin.
“Your name is Yukiya, correct?” the Empress asked as she forced his head up with the edge of her fan.
Yukiya had never seen the Empress before. She was not an unattractive woman, but she wasn’t particularly beautiful, either. He’d recently seen the courtesan Kureha and the duchesses of the Four Families, who were all much lovelier than the Empress. Other women he had known in his life, like his stepmother and people in Taruhi Village, glowed with health and vitality, but the Empress lacked even that. He got a dark, stagnant impression from her. Her eyes were sharp and wary.
So this was Prince Natsuka’s mother. Yukiya wondered if all the rumors were true. She was supposed to be the shadow leader of Prince Natsuka’s faction—the woman in the Imperial Court who hated the Crown Prince the most.
The Empress’ gaze felt sticky and cloying. Sweat dripped down Yukiya’s back.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Yukiya said, forgetting to address the Empress formally because of his nervousness.
The Empress didn’t seem to care. Her steely calm reminded Yukiya briefly of the Crown Prince’s expressionless mask. She removed the fan from beneath Yukiya’s chin and stepped back.
“I am greatly concerned for the Crown Prince,” she said quietly.
Yukiya blinked again.
“That boy has no one to support him now. I feel sorry for him, but I can’t do anything for him due to my position. It’s been a while since I last saw him. Is he well?” she asked in a gentle voice.
Yukiya nodded rapidly. “Yes, he’s very well. In fine form, in fact.” He was more than healthy enough to hike here on foot from the Sun Palace… but I can’t say that, he thought.
“Is that true? I’m glad.” She didn’t look glad in the slightest. “And has he told you anything about the duchesses of Sakura Palace? Perhaps he likes one of them, hm?”
“I don’t know. He has hardly ever spoken about Sakura Palace.”
“I see. Has he been speaking with any officials lately?”
“Officials? You mean people inside the Imperial Court? No, not that I know of.”
The Empress’ expression didn’t change, but Yukiya noticed that his Fujimiyaren guide was frowning now. Her eyebrows drew together slightly.
“Then how does the Crown Prince spend his days?” the Empress asked.
“My main job is to water the potted plants, so I don’t really know,” Yukiya said. He tried to appear contrite and had no idea how successful he was. “I’m very sorry. It seems I’m no help at all. If you like, I can deliver a letter from you to the Crown Prince. Then he could answer all your questions.”
The Fujimiyaren woman went as still as a statue. The Empress remained silent for awhile.
“I have heard that you are related to the Lord of Hokke by marriage,” the Empress said.
Yukiya nodded. “You’re well-informed.” He was wary because the Empress had changed the subject so abruptly.
The Empress ignored his response. “My son spoke to the Lord of Hokke on your behalf and brought you to the capital. That means you owe him a favor, don’t you agree?”
Her words were not a question, but a statement of fact.
Yukiya slowly blinked. “I suppose you could say that.”
“Then I ask you to help my son when the time comes.”
“Of course I will,” Yukiya said. “I would never do anything to harm anyone in the imperial family. And if I can help them, I will.”
The Empress narrowed her eyes. “The Crown Prince does so love his games. Perhaps it would be easier for him to play them if he didn’t have the burdens of power to consider. Do you think he would like to abdicate?”
Yukiya slowly blinked again.
“I really do feel for him,” the Empress said. “After the mess the Emperor and I caused ten years ago, he ended up being the heir through no fault of his own. I have seen his struggles to make friends and allies. Without both, his rule cannot possibly go well. Prince Natsuka has nothing but support, so it seems clear that he will rule as Yamauchi’s next Emperor. You understand all that, right?”
Another slow blink, and then Yukiya shook his head. “All of that sounds so complicated. I didn’t understand most of it. I’m sorry. Could you say it again? I’ll listen more carefully this time.”
There was a painful silence.
“Does the Crown Prince wish to become the next Emperor?” the Empress asked.
“I have no idea,” Yukiya said. “He doesn’t talk to me about things like that.” He was wearing his stupid face at the moment. His father always said that this deliberately dumb expression made everyone want to punch him.
“Is there anything you want?” the Empress asked. “You could ask for a government post, or money, or anything at all.”
“Something I want, huh? Well…” Yukiya pretended to think it over. He looked between the Empress and the Fujimiyaren.
The Empress was still composed, but the Fujimiyaren appeared to be quite irritated.
“I haven’t been home for a while. I want to eat my mother’s mushroom soup.”
The Fujimiyaren’s eyes widened.
“And there is nothing else you want?” the Empress asked.
“Hmm… maybe sugared kumquats.”
The Empress frowned in puzzlement. “You like sugared kumquats?”
“No, not really. They have a strong, overpowering flavor. But I don’t dislike them, either. It’s hard to explain. I’d like someone to throw them to me, if possible, so that I can catch them.”
The Empress remained silent.
Yukiya grinned.
A different Fujimiyaren approached the Empress from behind. “Empress,” she said.
“What is it?”
The newcomer whispered a few words in the Empress’ ear. The Empress nodded.
“The Crown Prince says that his attendant didn’t finish watering his plants,” the newcomer said. “He wants his attendant sent back.”
“So that means I can leave now?” Yukiya asked.
The Empress turned her back on him as if she’d lost all interest in his existence. “Do as you please,” she said.
“Well then, please excuse me.”
The Fujimiyaren led Yukiya out of the hall and back to Sumio. Sumio ran over to meet Yukiya.
“Yukiya, are you all right? I contacted His Imperial Highness just in case.”
Yukiya nodded enthusiastically. “Thank you very much, Sir Sumio. You were a great help.” He was practically bouncing on his heels, he was so excited.
Sumio noticed, but he didn’t understand why. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“The archer. I found them.”
“Found them? Where?” Sumio asked.
“I recognized the woman who brought the message from the Crown Prince. It was one of the Fujimiyaren. That archer was a woman! I only caught a glimpse of her at the time or it would have been much easier for me to have noticed that. But she was wearing a feather robe like a man would, and that threw me off.”
Yukiya returned to the Sun Palace with Sumio. Kazumi had gone to the Keisōin and Sumio needed to do security patrols, so Yukiya and the Crown Prince were left alone. Yukiya told the Crown Prince about the archer while munching on sugared kumquats that the Crown Prince tossed his way.
The Crown Prince slapped his knee. “Well done, Yukiya,” he said. “I had my suspicions, but proof like this helps us a lot. Knowing that one of the Fujimiyaren was involved in trying to assassinate me is a huge win.”
It was rare to see the Crown Prince so pleased. Yukiya didn’t even try to hide his own smugness. “I appreciate your praise, but I really do wish you’d tell me what you were doing and thinking sometimes. For my own sanity.” Yukiya sometimes fantasized about chopping the Crown Prince into tiny little pieces for all the grievous wrongs he’d done to him.
The Crown Prince shrugged. “Sure, sure. I’m sorry.” He didn’t sound remorseful in the slightest.
“Do you think saying ‘sorry’ is enough? Thanks to you, I went through a horrible ordeal! I was chased around by the Fujimiyaren! And the Empress is terrifying!”
“Oh, Kazumi also asked me to tell you he’s sorry,” the Crown Prince said. “I just remembered that.”
Yukiya glared. “Perhaps Kazumi should reflect on his own carelessness, but he’s not the only one who would benefit from such self-reflection.”
The Crown Prince listened to Yukiya’s grumbling and showed no signs of guilt. But he did seem serious, at least. “I didn’t get to tell you before, so I’ll tell you now.”
“What is it?” Yukiya asked.
“If you’re ever summoned again, don’t spend too long in the Empress’ chambers.”
“Why?”
“Did you notice her scent?”
Yukiya recalled the unfamiliar fragrance from her fan. “Some kind of sweet-smelling perfume?”
“Yes. Wait a moment.” The Crown Prince turned his back to Yukiya and started rummaging through a wooden chest. He brought out a palm-sized incense container and opened the lid. Yukiya saw kneaded incense inside, rolled to about the size of a fingertip. Yukiya picked up a piece of kneaded incense and inhaled, breathing in the scent. It was sweeter than honey.
“This is called karon,” the Crown Prince said. “The fragrance is rare. The ingredients to make it only grow in Nanke territory. Only the Nanke family and the imperial family are allowed to use it. If used in small amounts, it’s harmless. It has medicinal effects in slightly larger doses and is poisonous if too much is used. It can be used as a painkiller or a sleep aid, but even when used appropriately, it can cloud the mind. An overdose can cause someone to fall asleep and never wake up.”
Yukiya sucked in a breath. “Is it really that dangerous?” He set the incense back in the container quickly.
The Crown Prince closed the incense container. “We have only a small amount here. It’s perfectly safe. The Empress uses karon in various ways. Sometimes, after audiences in her chambers, I have felt numbness in my hands and feet. I’ve been trying to build up a tolerance to karon, but it’s difficult to acquire in large quantities. We must be careful.”
Yukiya nodded.
The Crown Prince sighed and then rubbed his temples. “So the Fujimiyaren are involved. That means that Kazumichi was conspiring with the Empress. Or perhaps the Empress recruited him and she abandoned him when it looked like he would be exposed.”
Yukiya tilted his head. “I don’t know how much sense that makes. If they were conspiring, why would the Empress want Rokon to kill Lord Kazumichi? The Empress, Rokon and Lord Kazumichi are—were—Prince Natsuka’s supporters.”
The Crown Prince nodded. “The Empress supports Natsuka’s claim, but they do not agree on everything.” He glanced at Yukiya. “Did the Empress say anything about my brother?”
“Nothing surprising. She said that Prince Natsuka had support and that you had none, and that he would be the next Golden Raven. I think she was trying to get me to defect to her side.”
“Anything else?”
“Nothing else about Prince Natsuka. She asked about the duchesses in Sakura Palace first.”
The Crown Prince frowned. “She’s not the only one asking probing questions about that recently.”
“Really?”
The Crown Prince told Yukiya that he’d gotten the same question from all of the Four Families in the past week. “Kazumi was sent here from Hokke as a spy specifically so that he could report back on Duchess Shiratama. His orders are to find out which duchess I intend to marry.” The Crown Prince said this like it was nothing—like it wasn’t important at all.
Yukiya was at a loss for words. He coughed to clear his throat. “Are you out of your incorrigible mind?! You had a spy from Hokke come with us to Sakura Palace!”
Yukiya was somewhat disturbed by Hokke’s connection to the Crown Prince’s affairs. Lord Kitashijōke’s involvement in the assassination attempt was bad enough. Yukiya was the Crown Prince’s attendant, and he was also from Hokke. And now Kazumi had shown up as the Lord of Hokke’s spy.
“Can we trust him?” Yukiya asked.
“No need to worry. He’ll do anything for Duchess Shiratama. He won’t cause trouble for us. All he wants is to see Duchess Shiratama. In exchange for that, he’ll be our double agent. He’s been giving me news about what’s going on in Hokke territory.”
Yukiya thought that the Crown Prince was talking about Kazumi—a person like him—as a convenient tool. Duchess Shiratama was being used as a bargaining chip. He frowned severely.
“Your Imperial Highness, that’s—”
The copper gong at the gate rang out, interrupting him.
It was completely dark outside.
“A visitor at this hour?” the Crown Prince asked. “How unusual.”
Then Sumio burst through the doors, slightly out of breath. “We’ve got an unexpected guest.”
“Who is it?”
“It’s Atsufusa. Prince Natsuka’s personal attendant has come.”
“Atsufusa?” Yukiya asked.
“Yes, and he’s unarmed. He says there’s something he absolutely has to discuss with the Crown Prince directly. I checked, but there was no one around. He’s hiding his face and asked to be let in as quietly as possible, before anyone notices. He’s probably alone.”
“What will you do, Your Imperial Highness?” Yukiya asked.
“Let him in,” the Crown Prince said.
***
“I’m sorry for barging in unannounced like this,” Atsufusa said. He bowed. He was wearing an imperial attendant uniform that was light blue to help hide his status and identity. He was very pale and had deep shadows under his eyes.
Yukiya’s eyes flicked from Atsufusa to the Crown Prince. Both men were aloof and detached like works of art, but Atsufusa was more obviously alive, like a wilting white lily. The Crown Prince’s cold beauty was like the moon’s, mercurial and unreachable. Atsufusa’s haggardness made it easier for Yukiya to view him as an ordinary young man like himself.
“I have no great use for apologies,” the Crown Prince said. “Why don’t you tell me why you’re here.”
Atsufusa responded with a beaming, satisfied smile. “Then I will be direct. I am aware that Your Imperial Highness’s life is in danger. More than that, I know that the Imperial Court is turning a blind eye to it. I propose that we handle this matter on our side.”
The offer was unexpected. Sumio, who was standing next to the Crown Prince as his guard, was stunned by it. Yukiya was also surprised, but he showed it less.
The Crown Prince remained calm as ever. “That is a very generous offer. Are you saying that you’re going to protect me? How?”
Atsufusa didn’t falter. “Before I get to that, there is one thing I want in exchange—only one. When you ascend the throne, I ask you to protect Prince Natsuka from his enemies.”
This time the Crown Prince couldn’t hide his surprise. “Protect my elder brother? Me?”
“Yes. His safety is at risk, too, and things will only get worse if they remain as they are. You may already be aware of this, but there are two factions supporting Prince Natsuka. The first faction is moderate in its views; they support the imperial family and admire Prince Natsuka personally. The second faction is more radical. They are dissatisfied by Prince Natsuka’s current status at court and wish to depose you immediately, Your Imperial Highness. Violence is not unthinkable for the radical faction. They are responsible for recent attacks on your person.
“Rokon, Prince Natsuka’s bodyguard, leads the radical faction. He’s rallying his forces—gathering strength. I believe that he is testing your mettle and the skill of the people you surround yourself with. He has not acted decisively yet because he’s waiting for you to fail on your own. He believes you to be foolish and is convinced that you will dig your own grave.”
The Crown Prince was composed again, but his previous agitation transferred to Sumio, who shifted from foot to foot.
Yukiya understood why Sumio would be upset. He could hardly believe that Atsufusa was being so blunt about the internal affairs of Prince Natsuka’s supporters.
“I do not believe that Rokon’s plan will succeed against you, Your Imperial Highness.”
“Why?” the Crown Prince asked flatly.
“Because you are not the fool he thinks you are. If he waits for you to fail, you will discover some way to succeed.” He chuckled. “I believed that Prince Natsuka would be the next Golden Raven once. I truly thought that he was the best candidate to rule. But I was wrong. Many palace ravens don’t support you openly, but they won’t support Prince Natsuka, either. There are far more people who either support you secretly or are neutral. Prince Natsuka’s power base is smaller than he knows. I don’t know why you’re pretending to be so disliked or how you’ve gained your supporters, but you have them.”
Yukiya cast a questioning glance at the Crown Prince, who remained expressionless.
The Crown Prince shrugged. “Who says I know why? Perhaps the officials in the Imperial Court are merely pragmatic. They’re waiting to see whether siding with me or with my brother would be more advantageous for them.”
“Then they also know that you are not a fool,” Atsufusa shot back. “If they thought you were, they would support Prince Natsuka without a second thought. I believe that they know more about your capabilities and strengths than they let on.”
The Crown Prince gave him a fleeting smile tinged with bitterness.
“I will say it again: you are not a fool. That is why I have given up my previous ambitions. If I keep going as I’ve been, I’ll only drive Prince Natsuka into a corner he can’t escape. Prince Natsuka himself does not wish to take your throne by pushing you aside through violence, but Rokon doesn’t understand that. If he continues to scorn you and take you for a fool, then both he and Prince Natsuka will suffer for it. Prince Natsuka desires only peace for Yamauchi. He would not dream of taking your place through warfare. I fear that violent rebellion is on the horizon and wish to act for all our sakes—including Prince Natsuka’s.”
“And that is why you wish me to protect my brother? In case there is violent rebellion?”
Atsufusa nodded firmly. “If the radicals start acting suspiciously, I’ll let you know as soon as I can. I will also have my subordinates gather evidence. If you require anything from me, let me know and I will do whatever I can.” He bowed deeply. “I do this for myself and for Prince Natsuka. I hope that, whatever happens, people will know that Prince Natsuka is innocent of any plot that involves violence.”
The Crown Prince rested his chin in one hand, considering. “I understand your motives, but this is not something I can accept so easily. I will consider my own response based on your actions. Is that agreeable?”
Atsufusa smiled. “Thank you. For now, that is more than enough.”
“Well then, I have a request to make.”
“If it is something I can do, I will do it.”
“I would like you to arrange a meeting with the Lord of Nanke.”
Sumio gasped. Yukiya looked up.
“I have never been able to speak with the Lord of Nanke personally. I have tried to approach him several times, but it seems that he dislikes me. I still don’t know his true intentions for not opposing my ascension during that meeting in the Imperial Hall. If possible, I would like to have a one-on-one conversation with him without having my elder brother present.”
The Lord of Nanke was Atsufusa’s uncle by marriage.
“Is this something you can do?” the Crown Prince asked.
Atsufusa grimaced. “I am terribly sorry, Your Imperial Highness. A one-on-one meeting might be a bit difficult to arrange. The Lord of Nanke dislikes me as well.”
The Crown Prince nodded. “I see.”
“Also, it would be troublesome if he suspected that you and I are connected in some way,” Atsufusa added. “I am ashamed. I might not be able to do this.”
“You have your own circumstances,” the Crown Prince said. “Perhaps I should send a letter to the Lord of Nanke myself. He will certainly attempt to make excuses for not exchanging correspondence, so I shall have to be persistent. Perhaps two months’ worth of letters will wear him down. By the time he gets sick of ignoring me and my letters, it will be time for the Star Festival. The Four Families each hold splendid banquets during the Star Festival at their estates, right? How about suggesting that I be invited to that event?”
Atsufusa was taken aback and hesitated to speak. “But the Star Festival… isn’t there an important ceremony in Sakura Palace on that evening as well?”
“Precisely. Use that as your pretext.”
Both Atsufusa and Yukiya understood what the Crown Prince meant immediately. The Star Festival ceremony required the four duchesses to prepare special clothing for the Crown Prince and themselves. Unlike previous festival days where the Crown Prince’s absence was tolerated to some extent, this ceremony could not take place without him. The duchess whose clothes he chose would be presumed to be his future bride.
If the Lord of Nanke invited the Crown Prince to his Star Festival banquet, he would know in advance that he had previous plans. The Star Festival was the perfect time to extend an invitation to the Crown Prince from the Lord of Nanke’s perspective because there was no way that the Crown Prince could accept.
“This will allow the Lord of Nanke to save face. He will be extending the invitation to me out of politeness. You can convince him with arguments like that. Can you do it?”
Atsufusa nodded. “Yes, I believe so.”
“Thank you,” the Crown Prince said.
Atsufusa bowed shallowly. “Well, then. I shall leave the rest to you.” He deepened his bow and then stood up. “Before I make any suggestions to the Lord of Nanke, I’ll send information about what the radicals are doing. Please be cautious. They’re getting aggravated and might do something rash. You must do all you can to protect yourself, Your Imperial Highness. I hope you will understand in time that my motives are pure.”
Impressed by Atsufusa’s intelligence and seeming honesty, the Crown Prince asked, “What would you do if I asked you to serve me instead of my brother?”
Atsufusa gave the Crown Prince a sly, crooked smile. The shadows under his eyes lightened a bit. Some new source of energy animated him, making him look younger. “I would say that I was deeply honored,” he said. “But I would decline. I have always served Prince Natsuka, you see. That is not something that can easily change. My family’s circumstances were dire when Prince Natsuka rescued us by having me enter the Imperial Court.”
Seeing Atsufusa’s demeanor change so quickly made Yukiya think that he was used to wearing masks. Maybe they were finally looking at Atsufusa’s true self.
“I can only negotiate with you now because of Prince Natsuka’s generosity ten years ago,” Atsufusa continued. His eyes softened as he gazed into the distance, thinking about events long past. “After I gained a reputation inside the Imperial Court, several bureaucrats wanted me to enter their service. A certain person took care of introductions, and then Prince Natsuka approached me himself. I was nothing but a skinny, impoverished boy at the time. If you want me in your service now, you should have spoken to me ten years ago, Your Imperial Highness.”
The Crown Prince smiled slightly. “You have a touch of rebellion in you. I wouldn’t know it by looking at you.”
Atsufusa laughed. “Prince Natsuka often tells me that. I’ve got a short temper, but I keep a tight leash on it. If Rokon weren’t so much worse than me, I might have run rampant long ago. But I wouldn’t have killed anyone. That’s not what I want. I have no intention of spilling blood needlessly.”
“Nor do I,” the Crown Prince said. “Let’s try to prevent all the bloodshed we can.”
After that, Yukiya went out to the gate to see Atsufusa off.
“Um, I’m sure you already know without me having to say it, but please be careful,” Yukiya said to Atsufusa. He didn’t want to think about what Rokon would do if he found out what Atsufusa was doing here.
Atsufusa laughed mischievously. “Oh? You’re worried about me? You’re a good kid. There’s no need for concern. My loyalty to Prince Natsuka is unshakable, and he knows that. And in a battle of wits, I’ll always win against Rokon.”
Yukiya nodded slightly. “But he’s loyal to Prince Natsuka, too. Won’t that cause problems?”
“It will,” Atsufusa said. “Rokon’s lack of foresight is troubling to me. If he were a more thoughtful man, things wouldn’t have become so complicated. I could never like or respect a man who acts only on instinct.”
Yukiya smiled slightly. “I’m glad I don’t need to worry about you, then. Sorry if you thought I was meddling or something.”
“I thank you for your concern, personal attendant to His Imperial Highness the future Golden Raven.” He bowed his head.
No one had addressed Yukiya so formally before, so he was flustered.
Atsufusa gave Yukiya a kind smile. “I once thought I would be in your place, but I have given up all those hopes. Prince Natsuka’s life is more important than anything else.”
Yukiya almost told Atsufusa that he’d be leaving the Crown Prince’s service in less than a year, but he didn’t have the heart to do that. He wasn’t sure Atsufusa would understand why.
Atsufusa crossed the stone bridge and walked back to the Imperial Palace. Yukiya watched him go until he was out of sight. Then he returned to Sumio and the Crown Prince, who were still discussing Atsufusa.
“Most of what Atsufusa told us is probably true,” Sumio said.
“I am convinced that Atsufusa is genuinely worried about Natsuka’s safety, at any rate,” the Crown Prince said. “But I’m not sure we should trust him completely.”
“Why not?” Yukiya asked. “Aside from the fact that he just showed up out of the blue, that is.”
The Crown Prince nodded. “The timing is convenient. And I’m sure he didn’t tell us everything. Everyone knows that the Empress is eager to assassinate me, but he didn’t mention that.”
“Maybe he didn’t think of it because Natsuka’s not currently planning to assassinate you,” Sumio said. “He was fixated on Natsuka.”
“If I can slip into the Lord of Nanke’s estate during the Star Festival, Atsufusa’s help will be worth the risk of trusting him a bit,” the Crown Prince said. “We must be vigilant, but I don’t think he’ll try to sabotage us immediately.”
In the end, Yukiya, Sumio and the Crown Prince decided to keep a careful watch on Atsufusa’s future activities.
Translator's Notes
The koto is a Japanese plucked half-tube zither instrument and the national instrument of Japan. Koto are roughly 180 centimeters (6 feet) in length, and made from Paulownia wood. The most common type uses 13 strings strung over movable bridges used for tuning, different pieces possibly requiring different tuning. Seventeen-string koto are also common and act as a bass instrument in ensembles. Koto strings are generally plucked using three fingerpicks (tsume), worn on the first three fingers of the right hand.
Medicine balls, or kusudama, are ornamental ball-shaped scent bags full of herbs. The word also describes more basic decorative paper balls that are used for festive occasions. Since there is a purification ceremony involved with the Boys’ Day festival, I have chosen to translate kusudama as “medicine balls.”
The karaginu is a Chinese-style jacket worn by women during formal occasions in Japan’s Heian Period (794-1172). It is part of the formal court attire known as jūnihitoe, which also includes the mo (a long, pleated train). The karaginu is typically a waist-length, wide-sleeved jacket, often decorated with brocade, embroidery, or painted images.
Kneaded incense is made into pellets instead of strips or sticks, as is common. A popular form of kneaded incense in the Heian Period was takimono, which was made famous by the ancient Japanese novel The Tale of Genji.
Karon is a made-up word; the kanji used to spell it mean “nurse” and “rebellion” or “revolt.”
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