Yatagarasu Series
Volume 1:
Ravens Shouldn't
Wear Kimono
Author: Chisato Abe
Part 1: Spring
Section 5
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When Asebi returned to the Spring Hall, she shut herself up in her room and buried her face in her knees. “It was the Crown Prince that I saw that day.” Her face was so hot that she felt like she was about to burst into flames. “No… that can’t be true.”
But it was. Asebi was sure. She hadn’t been close enough to see the Crown Prince’s face when he’d stepped on the stage, but she was certain that she’d recognized him.
As Asebi struggled to calm herself, she heard a knock on her door.
“Duchess Asebi, are you all right?” Samomo asked.
Asebi blinked. “Samomo? Why are you here?”
“Duchess Hamayū asked me to check on you. Ukogi has gone to prepare a medicinal bath for you.”
Samomo’s genuine concern made Asebi want to cry. She knew that Ukogi cared for her, too, but Ukogi always seemed more concerned with her physical well-being. Samomo was worried about how she felt emotionally.
Asebi opened the door and faced Samomo. Samomo tilted her head, surprised. “Did something happen, Duchess Asebi? Your eyes are all red.”
Asebi hurriedly wiped her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Samomo asked.
“It’s nothing. I’d like to talk to you a bit, Samomo. Is that all right?”
“Of course,” Samomo replied, though she looked a bit taken aback by Asebi’s request.
“Samomo, you serve the imperial family, right?”
“That’s right. I used to serve Princess Fujinami, but now that she’s moved into the Imperial Palace, I got reassigned to the Summer Hall.”
“Have you met the Crown Prince before?”
Samomo nodded. She relaxed a bit as she understood the trend of the conversation. “Yes, I have. He comes to visit Princess Fujinami sometimes. As a young boy, he was often ill. He spent his early years in the Inner Palace alongside Princess Fujinami. They still get along well, and he brings her gifts sometimes.”
“You said he was ill as a child. What does that mean, exactly?”
Samomo considered for a moment. “Normally, a child would be given into the care of the retired Emperor once they reached a certain age. That never happened for the young prince. His constitution was too weak for that. He remained in the Inner Palace for a long time.”
The Inner Palace was where the Imperial Palace’s ladies and princesses lived. For a prince to live there for so long was unusual.
“The retired Emperor passed away before the young prince was grown, so most of his education fell to his mother’s family—that is, the Nishiie family,” Samomo said.
“Did he travel when he was young?” Asebi asked.
“A bit,” Samomo said. She shrugged. “He goes out into the world quite often now. After moving into the Nishiie family’s main estate, his health improved dramatically. He visited various places after that. I believe he even visited Azumaya territory once or twice.”
Asebi blushed reflexively.
Samomo noticed her reaction. “Duchess Asebi… have you met the Crown Prince before?”
“When I was little, I managed to sneak out of my family’s estate,” Asebi said all in a rush. Samomo was about her age and appeared honest and friendly. Asebi desperately wanted to confide in someone who wouldn’t judge her or interrupt her. “The cherry blossoms were in bloom. It was cold that day, so Ukogi wouldn’t take me.”
Asebi had not been a notably disobedient child. She’d usually listened to Ukogi and done as she was told. Ukogi had often praised her for being so reasonable.
But something about that day had been different. Asebi had been in a terrible mood. She’d spent the morning scowling and sulking and feeling miserable.
“I was in the kitchen and I saw one of the servants leave the back door wide open,” Asebi said. “Normally I would have just ignored that, but I saw the cherry blossoms through the open door. They were so beautiful that I couldn’t resist going outside to see them.”
Asebi had looked around for Ukogi and the household guards before making her escape. She hadn’t wanted to be stopped before she’d even started. She’d managed to slip out of the estate without being seen.
A steep ravine that marked the border of Azumaya territory was a short distance away from the estate. A river had cut this deep gorge in the landscape, creating cliffs on either side of the border. Asebi had looked down at the trickling stream far below from her side of the ravine. Cherry trees grew in abundance along the top of the cliff. She’d taken in the sight, gasping with delight.
“I wanted to see them up close, so I walked further up the cliff. I heard children laughing.”
Asebi had turned toward the sound, discovering two small figures standing at the base of the cliff opposite her. They were waving and chasing each other along the line of the narrow river. One of them was holding a bundle of purple silk under one arm. That was the first time Asebi had ever seen purple clothes.
“A boy had a purple kimono,” Asebi said. “I’d never seen a purple kimono before.” Asebi hadn’t remembered that detail clearly until now.
“So you saw the Crown Prince, then?” Samomo asked.
“I think I did,” Asebi said.
Those children had been so beautiful to her. The servant boys she’d interacted with up to that point just couldn’t compare. Even now, ten years later, the memory of that day still made a powerful impression on her.
“After that, Ukogi came and scolded me,” Asebi said. “When I looked for the boy again, he was gone.”
She hadn’t been able to forget the boy after that. She’d thought about him every time the cherry blossoms were in bloom. As the years passed, Asebi sometimes wondered if she’d imagined him. Perhaps the boy had been nothing but a childhood dream.
“To think that he was actually the Crown Prince…” Asebi sighed.
“Are you fond of him, Duchess Asebi?” Samomo asked.
A blush crept into Asebi’s cheeks again. She didn’t answer Samomo’s question with words, but Samomo knew her answer.
Samomo nodded firmly. “All right. I think I understand. I will do my best to assist you, Duchess Asebi.”
“Eh?” Asebi asked. “Assist… me? But aren’t you assigned to the Summer Hall?”
Samomo shook her head. “My first and most important duty is to the imperial family,” Samomo said. “Princess Fujinami already requested that I aid you, Duchess Asebi. You are my designated mistress until such time as Princess Fujinami tells me otherwise. I do not serve Duchess Hamayū.” Her face set in serious lines. “Besides… there is something odd about Duchess Hamayū. Even if Princess Fujinami hadn’t given her orders, I don’t think I’d have a favorable impression of Duchess Hamayū or her attendants.”
Asebi frowned slightly. “You believe that there is something odd about Hamayū? What do you mean?”
“She ignores her attendants,” Samomo said. “They also ignore her.”
Asebi nodded. That was true. Asebi had noticed that Hamayū’s attendants didn’t speak much, and when they did, they were taciturn and unfriendly. She remembered what Hamayū had told her about the Empress’ difficulties within the palace. Was there a divide between Nanke and the imperial family? And did that conflict extend even to those serving the two families?
“Feel free to make use of me as you see fit, Duchess Asebi,” Samomo said. “I will do anything you ask.”
Samomo’s simple sincerity touched Asebi.
“Perhaps it’s not my place to say anything,” Samomo said, “but I am truly moved by your feelings, Duchess Asebi. Especially after hearing what Duchess Hamayū said.”
Samomo told Asebi that Hamayū had said that entering the Imperial Palace should not be solely for political gain. If love was possible, it should also be a goal.
“My younger brother will soon be entering the training school for the Yamauchishu, the Imperial Guards,” Samomo said. “I should be able to hear about the well-being of the Crown Prince via his letters. There may also be other ways that I can be useful to you as a servant of the imperial family.”
Samomo spoke with passionate earnestness. Asebi had liked her from the start, but now she felt them growing closer. Perhaps they could be friends. She’d never had a friend, not really.
“Thank you. But you don’t need to help me enter the Imperial Palace as a bride,” Asebi said. “That seems quite unlikely to happen. I hope you’ll talk to me sometimes and listen to my concerns. That would help me a lot.”
Samomo opened her mouth to object, but she closed it as Asebi kept talking. She nodded. “Of course, I will be happy to speak with you,” Samomo said. “In fact, I would be honored. I’m sure you have plenty of people who are of your own station to talk to.”
“Please don’t disparage yourself,” Asebi said. “I’ve always wanted someone my own age to talk to. I’m really glad you’re here.” She looked down, and them mumbled, “You feel like a friend.”
Samomo blushed a little, and then smiled.
***
After the Doll Festival was over, Asebi received a gift from Princess Fujinami. She was summoned to Wisteria Hall for a formal reception so that she could officially receive the gift.
Asebi’s gift was the nagon that she had found in the treasury. She accepted the instrument carefully and with awe, tracing the delicate cherry blossom carving with her fingers. This was Ukigumo.
The young man that Asebi had met had told her that this nagon was sometimes used for performances at court. She didn’t know if it was really all right for her to accept such an extravagant gift.
Princess Fujinami noticed Asebi’s hesitation and quickly reassured her. “It’s really yours now,” she said. “There is no reason for the imperial family to own a nagon, you see. I explained that to His Majesty the Emperor, and he readily agreed.”
Asebi was delighted to hear this. She had Ukogi and her other ladies-in-waiting carry Ukigumo to the Spring Hall so that she could play it. Ukogi was stunned to see the instrument. She said nothing for awhile after first seeing it. She simply stared as if she were an enchanted statue.
Ukigumo was as beautiful as ever, its sound clear and pure, and it had been maintained in perfect condition. It was an ideal instrument. Asebi saw no reason for Ukogi to stare at it like it was cursed or something. She was about to ask Ukogi directly when Ukogi shook herself and sighed.
“I never imagined the day would come when I would lay eyes on that again,” Ukogi said quietly. “That nagon belonged to a lady I once served.”
“It did?”
“Yes. It fell into the imperial family’s possession at some point. ”
“Your lady had very good taste. I will play this instrument with great care,” Asebi said. She offered Ukogi a confident smile.
Ukogi was deeply moved and bowed her head, concealing her face from view.
Asebi was a bit alarmed. It looked like Ukogi was about to cry.
“Yes, I am sure that my lady would also be very pleased,” Ukogi whispered.
As Asebi tuned and polished Ukigumo, the sun dipped below the horizon.
A servant girl prepared to light the hanging lanterns in the room, but Ukogi stopped her. Ukogi composed herself, then faced Asebi.1
“Duchess Asebi, do you know why Sakura Palace’s residence halls are called
the Spring Hall, the Summer Hall, the Autumn Hall, and the Winter Hall?” Ukogi asked lightly.
Asebi tilted her head. “I don’t. This residence could just as easily have been called the Eastern Hall or something, right?”
Ukogi nodded. “That is indeed what it was called, when it was first built.” Ukogi clapped her hands.
All of the servants and ladies-in-waiting stood up immediately, halting their activities.
“The Halls are not static. Each generation of duchesses contributes different features and upgrades to the Hall where they reside. Everything from the furnishings to the garden trees and even the view have been altered according to the wishes of previous duchesses.”
“The view?” Asebi asked.
“Yes.”
As Ukogi spoke, the ladies-in-waiting quickly rolled up the blinds and opened all the sliding doors. The moon was rising. Pale moonlight shone on the polished wooden floors, accompanied by a cool gust of night air.
Asebi’s eyes took in a wraparound porch with a wooden railing. Beyond that stood a large grove of cherry trees. The last time she’d opened a screen, all of the cherry blossoms had been budding, but they were now in full bloom. She gasped.
Speechless, Asebi approached the railing. It was so bright outside. The cherry blossoms shone a brilliant white, reflecting the light of the moon. As far as Asebi could see, the mountain slope was completely covered in cherry blossoms. A petal fell and drifted to her feet. A gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of the blossoms to her.
She wanted to say how beautiful all this was, but there were no words. Expressing this emotion in words would cheapen it somehow.
“Azumaya duchesses are known for their love of cherry blossoms,” Ukogi said softly. “This landscape was created over hundreds of years by those duchesses, who adored spring flowers more than anything. And so, the hall in Sakura Palace that was the most beautiful in spring came to be called the Spring Hall, and the name stuck. Isn’t it lovely?”
Asebi said nothing in reply. There was no need to say anything; the answer was obvious. With some reluctance, she moved away from the railing and sat down in front of her nagon, running a respectful hand across the carved surface. She made sure the nagon was tuned, then put on her finger picks and started playing.
The warm wood of the hall captured the music’s resonances and carried them outside to the moonlight. Petals fell gently from trees and drifted away on the wind. The moon rose high in the sky, a silent witness to the beauty below. The scene was more than the sum of its parts. It was like a moving painting, capturing the essence of new life growing in spring.
As Asebi played, she had a sudden realization that made her skip a note. This must be why I’m here, she thought. Futaba couldn’t play the nagon very well. She could play the koto well enough, but the nagon was difficult for most people to play. Asebi thought that this wasn’t a coincidence. In the treasury, it had felt like the nagon had been searching for her as much as she’d been searching for it.
The view before Asebi bloomed in welcome.
For the first time since her arrival in Sakura Palace, Asebi felt like she was supposed to be here.
Translator's Note
1 鬼火灯籠: The kanji compound for the lanterns being referred to here is made up of 鬼火 “will ‘o wisp, jack-o-lantern” and 灯籠 “hanging lamp, garden lamp.” There is no further description than this given in the text, but it is definitely a made-up word. ↩
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