Yatagarasu Series
Volume 1:
Ravens Shouldn't
Wear Kimono
Author: Chisato Abe
Part 3: Autumn
Section 2
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While Kikuno was interrogating the intruder in the Autumn Hall, Asebi sat in the Spring Hall with Ukogi. Her lady-in-waiting was teaching her about perfumes and fragrances.
“These three types of incense are known as the Three Noble Fragrances of the Mountains,” Ukogi said. “They are famous not only for their pleasant aroma but also for their medicinal properties, so it is worth remembering them. The ingredients of the Three Noble Fragrances can only be found in a few locations.”
As she said this, Ukogi presented a fan that Princess Fujinami had loaned to her.
“Karon is the finest of the three, found only in specific places in Nanke territory. 1 I have heard that it is made from the tears of a young dragon, though the truth of that is disputed. Depending on how it is used, it can be either a poison or a medicine. Karon is so rare that only the Nanke family and the imperial family are permitted to use it.”
The fan was scented with a bit of karon, which Ukogi encouraged Asebi to smell. Karon was as elegant and wonderful as its reputation would suggest. Asebi remembered smelling a similar fragrance when the young man had found her in the treasury. She tilted her head in curiosity.
Well, he is an imperial servant. Perhaps it was a residual scent, since he lives and works around the imperial family all the time.
Ukogi completed her lesson, and then she and Asebi started putting away incense containers. They were still in the process of cleaning up when there was a commotion outside the Spring Hall. Hurried footsteps and raised voices echoed outside the hallway. A few of the voices were calling for Asebi and Ukogi by name.
There had never been such a disturbance since Asebi’s arrival in Sakura Palace.
Ukogi frowned in puzzlement. She was about to step out into the hallway to see what was going on when a lady-in-waiting barged in. She was slightly out of breath.
“This is just terrible!” the distressed lady-in-waiting said. “One of our ladies-in-waiting was found in the Autumn Hall’s inner chambers without permission.”
“What?” Ukogi asked.
“She is being questioned by Kikuno now. I have a message from Kikuno asking you to come immediately.”
Ukogi nodded sharply. She’d left the Spring Hall before the distressed lady-in-waiting could finish speaking.
In Sakura Palace, the failures of a servant were blamed on their master or mistress. An ill-trained or misbehaving servant was seen as a weakness to exploit. Asebi might be able to smooth over some issues of etiquette if one of her servants misbehaved in her own hall, but she didn’t know what she could do for a servant who’d chosen to go to another duchess’ hall without permission.
Pale-faced and very nervous, Asebi hastened after Ukogi. She passed by the Summer Hall and Wisteria Hall on her way to the Autumn Hall. The arch of the Merchant Wings Gate was just ahead. She saw a crowd gathered between the gate and the entrance to the Autumn Hall. Ladies-in-waiting from the Autumn Hall, Summer Hall, and Wisteria Hall were mixed together in the crowd.
As Asebi approached, the ladies-in-waiting noticed her. They showed her deference by making a path for her.
Samomo stood in the center of the crowd, blushing furiously. Kikuno was next to her.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Masuho no Susuki raged. She stood near the Autumn Hall’s entrance.
Samomo’s shoulders shook. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes were red and puffy. In no way did she resemble an imperial servant. She didn’t say a word, even when direct questions were posed to her.
Already irritated, Masuho no Susuki gritted her teeth. “This girl attempted to steal the kimono I made for the Star Festival,” she said. That kimono was in her hands. She glared at Samomo with murder in her eyes.
Ukogi was unexpectedly calm. She met Masuho no Susuki’s gaze bravely. “Please pardon me, duchess,” she said, “but this attendant is not assigned to the Spring Hall.”
Ukogi turned to Asebi, then gestured to Samomo. “Duchess Asebi, which hall is this woman assigned to?”
Asebi looked at Samomo, her eyes wide with surprise. “Samomo serves in the Summer Hall.”
Before she could say more, Ukogi raised her voice. “I understand that she is known to be a friend to Asebi, which may have caused this misunderstanding,” she said.
Masuho no Susuki’s attendants and ladies-in-waiting exchanged displeased frowns.
“Someone fetch the duchess of the Summer Hall,” Masuho no Susuki commanded.
“Yes, mistress,” several maids replied. A group of them ran off together.
“The Nanke family attempts to sabotage me at every turn,” Masuho no Susuki said. Her eyes hadn’t left Samomo for a moment. “How am I supposed to deal with this mess?” Her anger, already poorly controlled, threatened to boil over.
Asebi stepped between Masuho no Susuki and Samomo in alarm.
“Please do not be too harsh in your judgment, duchess,” she said. “Samomo is a good and honest girl. She must have had a good reason to do what she did.”
“Duchess Asebi, please don’t concern yourself,” Ukogi said.
Asebi ignored her. Samomo was under attack and needed protection. She placed her hands gently on Samomo’s shoulders as if she wanted to encourage the poor girl. “Perhaps she wanted to see the kimono for my sake,” she said. “I admired your kimono very much on the evening of the Star Festival, Masuho no Susuki. Maybe Samomo wanted to know how it was made. If that is so, then she is not at fault.”
Kikuno’s expression turned stern. She moved her fan as if to brush away dust. “Even if that were the case, you bear no blame, and you cannot take responsibility in this girl’s place. No matter how much she dislikes it, the Nanke duchess must make proper amends. Even if she insists that Nanke is not at fault, we will compel them to make some redress.”
“There is no need for that,” one of Hamayū’s maids said, firmly but not loudly. Everyone turned to look at her. She didn’t speak often, so it was rare to hear anything come out of her mouth. She walked through the crowd, and it parted for her. She remained calm and composed.
Seeing Hamayū’s maid approach caused Samomo’s trembling to worsen.
“How do you intend to answer for this disgrace?” the maid asked Samomo. Her voice was calm, but also devoid of emotion.
When Samomo didn’t answer, the maid’s eyes narrowed sharply. “You have brought shame upon the Nanke family,” she said. “You once served the imperial family. This transgression cannot be forgiven. Are you prepared to face the consequences of your actions?”
Samomo’s shoulders shook even more violently. She kept her eyes on the floor.
Masuho no Susuki frowned in displeasure.
Hamayū’s maid bowed her head to Masuho no Susuki. “We, too, are shocked by this girl’s foolish actions. Who could have imagined that a servant educated to serve the imperial family would do something so disgraceful?”
Kikuno seemed displeased by the maid’s implication that those in the Summer Hall bore no responsibility for this situation. “It sounds as if you are trying to say this has nothing to do with you or your mistress. Surely, a servant of the imperial family would never do such a thing without orders,” Kikuno said.
“The duchess of the Summer Hall issued no such orders, I assure you,” Hamayū’s maid said. She avoided blaming Duchess Hamayū for anything.
“Of course, that may be so,” Kikuno said with a slight frown. “However, this matter can no longer be settled just between the duchesses of the Autumn and Summer Halls. It is only natural that there should be a severe punishment meted out to this servant. I believe we should also consult Princess Fujinami and clarify the truth of the situation.”
Masuho no Susuki went white and looked to Kikuno. Kikuno gave her a small, but decisive nod.
When disputes or thefts occurred in Sakura Palace, it was customary to resolve them in private. Choosing to escalate this matter to Princess Fujinami went against precedent. Masuho no Susuki hadn’t anticipated the situation getting out of hand like this. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to draw so much attention to herself by pressing the issue.
“I would hate to make such a commotion over a single kimono,” Masuho no Susuki said. “It seems rather childish to do so. If this girl sincerely apologizes, I might consider forgiving her.”
“That is not possible,” Hamayū’s maid said. “I express gratitude for your kindness, Duchess Masuho no Susuki, but an apology from the servant will do nothing for the Nanke family’s honor. Having Duchess Hamayū caught up in a scandal involving theft is not acceptable. A kimono of sappan wood silk is a precious thing, so there are those who will think that Duchess Hamayū would seek to take it. If that were true, it would disgrace the name of Nanke.”
Masuho no Susuki realized the gravity of the situation. “But… is that really right?”
Hamayū’s maid kept cutting ties between Samomo and Hamayū, pretending that the two had nothing to do with one another. She would abandon Samomo to her fate without any mercy or hesitation.
The other attendants and ladies-in-waiting present exchanged anxious glances. Masuho no Susuki was close to panic. She’d never wanted things to get this serious. Everything had escalated because of her terrible mood. If she had been her usual self, she wouldn’t have let her emotions get the better of her.
Masuho no Susuki had no idea what to do, and Hamayū’s maid knew it.
Hamayū’s maid faced Kikuno. She promised that Samomo would be severely punished after she was handed over to the Summer Hall. “You should have no reason to object to that, should you?” the maid asked. She took a step forward.
Hamayū’s dignified voice rang out behind her. “My, you’ve become quite self-important, haven’t you, Karamushi? Are you planning to dismiss one of my servants without even consulting me?”
Karamushi frowned. She faced her mistress and bowed stiffly. “With all due respect, Duchess Hamayū, this matter is unworthy of your attention.”
“Is it?” Hamayū arched an eyebrow. “To think that you wouldn’t even inform me at all. Don’t you consider an incompetent lady-in-waiting to be a disgrace to the Nanke family?”
Karamushi was about to reply, but Hamayū interrupted her. She pushed Karamushi aside without ceremony, ignoring the flustered Asebi and the tittering crowd. She knelt before Samomo.
When Hamayū spoke again, her voice was quiet. “Samomo, nothing will be resolved if you remain silent. Say something—anything will do.” Her tone was unexpectedly gentle.
Samomo looked up in surprise.
One of Masuho no Susuki’s ladies-in-waiting stepped forward. “Samomo envied the ladies-in-waiting of the Autumn Hall,” she said.
Hamayū frowned. “Why?”
The woman who had spoken shrank into herself. When she saw that she was not about to be reprimanded for speaking out of turn, she ventured, “When Samomo served the imperial family, she was known for her scrupulousness and tidiness. She was good at sewing. She received bolts of cloth from Princess Fujinami herself sometimes.”
Understanding dawned on Hamayū’s face.
Encouraged by Hamayū’s straightforward curiosity, more women stepped forward to speak.
“I was also sent to the Summer Hall recently, so I understand how she feels.”
“Our usual clothes are fine, but we haven’t gotten anything new since coming to serve Nanke. Samomo has been wearing the same clothes as before.”
“And the Saike family’s servants received especially beautiful clothes for the Star Festival.”
“It’s only natural to want to touch them.”
Hamayū gave these women a somewhat strained smile. “I see. I understand what you’re saying, but even so, that doesn’t mean we can pretend that Samomo didn’t do anything.”
The women’s faces all turned sullen. Hamayū ignored them and shifted her attention back to Samomo.
“There’s only one thing I want to ask you. Did you try to steal Duchess Masuho no Susuki’s kimono?”
Samomo’s eyes widened in shock. She looked down, shaking her head adamantly.
“So you weren’t trying to steal it?”
This time, Samomo gave Hamayū a firm nod.
Hamayū suddenly burst into laughter. “I see. So that’s how it is. It appears that the fault for this whole incident lies with me.”
“What do you mean?” Masuho no Susuki snapped.
Hamayū faced the Saike duchess directly. To everyone’s surprise, Hamayū bowed her head deeply to Masuho no Susuki. “I apologize. I have done something inexcusable, but I ask for your forgiveness. The faults of a lady-in-waiting are ultimately the faults of her mistress. If you would pardon Samomo in this matter, I will make amends however you see fit.”
Everyone was speechless. Hamayū never acted this way.
Karamushi, Hamayū’s maid, opened her mouth to speak. Hamayū silenced her with a sharp gesture.
“Be silent, Karamushi,” Hamayū commanded.
“But Duchess Hamayū! Think of the honor of your family…”
“I ordered silence,” Hamayū said.
Karamushi's mouth snapped shut.
“This situation is troublesome for me, but it could be devastating for Samomo,” Hamayū said. “Imagine if she were dismissed from service over such an incident. Her future prospects would be ruined. All because she was captivated by a pretty kimono that she didn’t even want to steal.”
Samomo hadn’t been born to a noble family. If she were expelled from Sakura Palace, she wouldn’t have anywhere to go.
It seemed that Samomo herself hadn’t thought quite that far ahead. She trembled like a leaf as Hamayū spoke.
“Are you prepared to take responsibility for this girl’s family and future?” Hamayū asked Karamushi.
Everyone who heard these words was deeply moved.
Karamushi considered a response, but said nothing. She bit her lip and looked at the floor.
Hamayū shifted her attention to Masuho no Susuki. “Well, that’s how it is. I don’t mind if you demand compensation from me or make sarcastic remarks, but please, could you let this girl go?” Her tone was casual, but her eyes were completely serious. The duchesses of Saike and Nanke engaged in a tense, silent standoff. The women surrounding them held their breath.
Masuho no Susuki broke the standoff. She laughed quietly. “There’s nothing for me to forgive, really. I said so from the beginning.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Hamayū said, relaxing her expression. “Sorry for causing trouble.”
“That’s enough. Please stop bowing to me. It’s unbecoming of you.” Masuho no Susuki frowned slightly. “I don’t need any money either,” she said, turning away. “I’ll give the kimono to the girl. It is precious to me, but I can make something better. I never intended to force some grand apology out of you. This is a trivial matter, after all.”
Masuho no Susuki turned to Samomo. “This time, I’ll forgive you for your mistress’s sake. Make sure you reflect on your actions.”
Samomo nodded over and over, sobbing without making a sound. She composed herself with great effort and said, “I’m sorry.”
The tension in the room eased gradually after that. Asebi felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest.
Masuho no Susuki excused herself and prepared to return to the Autumn Hall.
Before she left, Hamayū glanced at Samomo once more. Her expression was inscrutable, but it was utterly at odds with her previous gentle curiosity.
“Duchess Hamayū?” Asebi asked.
Hamayū’s expression cleared. She smiled at Asebi and then at Masuho no Susuki. The smile appeared sincere.
“Is there something else?” Hamayū asked.
“No, it’s nothing. Please don’t scold Samomo too much.” Asebi bowed slightly and then hurried back to the Spring Hall. She couldn’t shake a vague sense of unease.
Unfortunately, Asebi’s unsettled feelings proved to be prescient.
Translator's Note
1 伽乱: Karon appears to be made-up; the kanji used to spell it mean “nurse” and “rebellion” or “revolt.”↩
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