“H-Hey, Hakurei...”
“You can’t slip out of this one, so why don’t you suck it up already? And you call yourself a man.”
I made an embarrassing sound at being called out, but my expression in the mirror as Hakurei fixed my black formal clothing was one of abject sorrow. The little birds singing from outside the window made me so jealous. Ahh... If only I could fly away from here too. Hakurei was wearing her white-and-green formal robes, a floral ornament decorating her bangs. She’d already finished her own preparations, so she was tidying up my outfit with a practiced hand.
“It’s one thing for you to visit... But someone like me going to the emperor’s palace?” I couldn’t help but grumble.
From the outside looking in, my position in the Chou family was quite bizarre. In the past, father and auntie had both said to me, “Of course you’re a member of the Chou family! Do you even need to ask?” As for the girl in front of me...
“Hmm? What’s the matter? Why are you making such a strange face? All right, you look presentable now.”
Hakurei was the same as the rest of her family. At least, I assumed she viewed me as her brother. However, that didn’t mean that society accepted me as a legitimate member of the Chou family. Chou Tairan’s nickname of “National Shield” had come from all the times he’d repelled Gen’s attacks. As the people praised his accomplishments, they naturally started to refer to him by that name. It eventually became so widespread that it reached even the emperor’s ears.
I was considered an outsider of the Chou family. Apparently father wanted to officially adopt me and grant me the Chou name, and he’d petitioned the court for this many times, only the attempts had always ended in failure. The Chou family was the most vocal supporter of a northern campaign—but not everyone wanted war. Those who were against such a campaign and held power within the government didn’t want more people who would be able to argue in the Chou’s favor.
With allies like these, who needs enemies? People didn’t change, no matter how many years passed. I sighed, lamenting the despair of human nature.
“His Excellency, the grand chancellor, was the one who arranged for you to visit him. When we spoke with him yesterday, he said that he would love to see you on our next visit,” Hakurei said. She was replying to my earlier complaints. “Isn’t this a good thing? He’s interested in you.”
“Ugh.” I could feel goose bumps on my skin and I shuddered. I couldn’t see myself playing the mind games necessary when socializing within court.
Hakurei stepped forward so that she was standing in front of me and then reached out. “Your collar is lopsided.”
“I can fix it myself.”
“Don’t move.”
“Okay.”
Surrendering, I looked out the lattice windows. My eyes found Asaka and the other maids. As soon as they noticed me staring at them, they moved their mouths to form words.
“Lord Sekiei, you look fantastic!”
“Please take good care of Lady Hakurei! ♪”
It looked like they were heading out to the south to discuss some business deals. I supposed they had auntie’s teachings to thank for being able to go on this job. I sighed on the inside.
Booming footsteps rang from the hallway and then my father was entering the room, wearing a dark green military uniform. “Hakurei, Sekiei, have the two of you finished your preparations?!”
“Yes, father.” Hakurei’s reply was immediate.
“Father...” I said slowly. “Do I really need to go?” The wheedling tone I used as I pleaded to be left at home was, I admit, pretty pathetic. I could tell even without looking over at her that Hakurei was giving me an unimpressed look.
Father’s face shifted to that of a noble general. “Sekiei, give up; this time you’re not getting off the hook so easily. You can simply kill some time in the waiting room near the front entrance of the imperial palace—I’m sure the sons of other nobles will be there as well if you get bored.”
I sighed. So it really doesn’t matter if I’m there or not. Father stared at me for a moment and then, the movement almost imperceptible, nodded.
Women with silver hair and blue eyes will bring misfortune to the country. An ancient superstition that had come about during a time when very few people were born in the western regions of the mainland. At this point, no one cared much about it... But. There were probably old geezers—like the nobility fighting for power within the palace courts—who still took the saying to heart.
So this way, Hakurei won’t be left alone and if anything does happen, I can act as her shield. Thinking of things that way made the trip to the imperial palace seem a lot more bearable. “I understand everything you’d like me to do,” I said to father. “Please treat me to some delicious food tonight.”
“Of course! Leave it to me.”
“Please stop telepathically communicating with each other. It’s time to leave,” Hakurei said, pointing to the water clock in the garden. If we didn’t head out now, then we wouldn’t make it in time.
And so, we departed for the palace!