“I never imagined that the poison would linger in its remains… I sincerely regret that my actions have taken the lives of two different animals today.”
The girl’s meek confession was enough to make the corner of Shin-u’s lips twitch ever so slightly. “Heh…” For the first time in who knew how long, he felt the urge to laugh.
The court ladies found themselves captivated by the gorgeous captain’s never-before-seen smile, then turned their eyes to the heavens, fearing snow might start falling from the summer sky next.
Shin-u cleared his throat and swallowed his amusement. “If someone had fed the lion a mercy offering, it might have acted a little more rationally.”
Surely the irony wasn’t lost on some of the crowd. Between the women who had refused to placate the beast at their own relative’s execution and the so-called criminal who had mourned a filthy rat, the heavens had shown mercy upon the latter.
The guard stepped out from the cage, then kneeled on the spot and pronounced, “Your Imperial Highness, Prince Gyoumei! The death of the beast marks the end of the Lion’s Judgment. If the accused is eaten, they are guilty; if they are spared, they are innocent. In accordance with the sacred rules of this ritual, I hereby declare Shu Keigetsu to be cleared of suspicion!”
A stir swept through the courtyard.
Gyoumei fell silent for several moments, his brow furrowing in thought.
At last he said, “Acknowledged.”
The life-or-death nature of the trial made its verdict absolute. Not even Gyoumei could overturn it.
“No…!”
“Forgive me, Reirin. I swear I’ll protect you, no matter what it takes.”
Gyoumei’s face twisted into a tortured frown when he saw the Maiden lying under the pavilion go white as a sheet. He then turned his scowl upon the other girl, who had taken a hesitant step out of her cage.
“Shu Keigetsu. In recognition of your innocence, I shall permit your continued stay in the Maiden Court. But make no mistake. The only charge you’ve been cleared of is that of shoving Reirin over the balustrade. By no means have I pardoned your insults against her. Do bear that in mind.”
“Oh? But if I’m not mistaken, wasn’t spurring the captain to action meant to be my punishment for mocking her?” she murmured in bemusement, placing a hand to her cheek.
Evidently, she’d overheard their exchange.
The prince’s eyes widened a bit at this surprising show of insight. “Yes, well,” he said, clearing his throat. “I shall not pardon them moving forward. If I catch you disrespecting Reirin in any way, or witness another one of your brazen attempts to displace her, know that I will have your head at once.”
“Displace her? Whatever do you mean?”
“I mean that it infuriates me to see a woman of your ilk imitate Reirin’s mannerisms. Know your place as a villainess and conduct yourself accordingly,” he all but spat.
The girl opened and closed her mouth a few more times, but in the end, she gave up and nodded. “A ‘villainess,’ hm? Very well. Though I am an inept villainess, I shall endeavor to live up to the title.”
The listless droop of her body was almost reminiscent of a flower drenched in the rain. On Shu Keigetsu, whose face so rarely wore anything but a coy smile or an arrogant sneer, the meekness of her bearing was all the more pronounced.
Gyoumei sighed, the wind taken from his sails. With the consent of the empress and the four consorts, he declared the rite adjourned.
Well, well. Looks like the “cleanup” is going to be pretty easy, after all, Shin-u thought. Though he maintained his ironclad poker face, it was with a good deal of amusement that he watched the disappointed patrons leave, chattering among themselves all the while.
He shot a glance at the acquitted woman, but she didn’t appear too pleased with the outcome. She stood rooted to the spot, looking as miserable as ever.
However, by the time the courtyard had almost emptied out, she at last slapped her cheeks and snapped herself out of her daze. “Come on, a girl’s got to have backbone! I’ll just have to do what I can. Let’s do this with a bang!”
This was the situation that called for backbone, not the trial? Her choice of rallying cry was no less bizarre.
“First of all… Mr. Lion? Mr. Rat? I’m truly sorry for what happened here today. Please accept my condolences and rest in peace.”
What’s more, the first thing she had to do was pray for the souls of the beast and the rodent. Her every action was a mystery—and an entertaining one, at that.
“Shu Keigetsu.” Before he knew it, he found himself calling out to her. “Were you always this sort of person?”
For reasons that escaped Shin-u, her eyes lit up at the question. “Oh! Do I seem different to you?!”
Leaning forward in excitement, she indulged in her frequent habit of opening and closing her mouth a few times, but eventually stopped and let her shoulders sag.
“I’m not the person I used to be. I’m afraid that’s all I can say about it.”
Had her execution motivated her to turn over a new leaf? If the average woman lost her mind in the dungeon, it followed that a near-death experience might inspire yet another to change her ways.
“Oh?” Shin-u shot back a noncommittal response.
Shu Keigetsu was haughty and talentless, an unappealing Maiden whose only skill lied in sucking up to her betters. And yet…
She’s an interesting one.
Gazing at this woman who, in the mass of malice, self-interest, and sycophancy known as the Maiden Court, had displayed not a single one of those sentiments, Shin-u gave a thoughtful stroke of his chin.