An armored guard carved its way down the white hallway. The man in the lead fell out of step with the other steel footsteps, as if something had pulled him back.
The others all stopped at the side of the hallway and paid their respects. Unlike the usual stiff, reverent expressions they normally wore, they all looked different today. It was as if, today, that tense atmosphere was the furthest thing imaginable. Like everyone was in the process of preparing for a happy celebration.
Suddenly, a man who’d been hiding in the shadow of a pillar stepped out from its shadow. He looked for a gap in the patrol passing by and slipped in line with the others. As he made his way to the front row, he called out to the young man in front.
“Your Majesty.”
The man he had addressed as such smiled without looking at him. His eyes straight ahead, he matched his pace.
“Falco? How have you been? What are you doing here during your leave?”
The man called Falco smiled. He shuffled the bundle of letters in his arms. “Very well, sir. I spent my free time shut up in a dark room. It would’ve been better with the love of a beautiful woman.”
As he spoke, he spread out his worn, blistered hands. The young man, seeing how tightly Falco held the letters and the injuries that’d caused, lifted only the corners of his mouth into a smile.
“The previous Emperor sends his gratitude. What of the other side?”
“I’ve no idea,” the young man spat. “But it is too soon to worry.”
“Hm,” the man said with a nod. He rearranged the letters he was holding, seemingly putting them in order. After a short time, he looked up. “And who is that girl?” Falco asked, his face becoming serious once more.
The corners of the young man’s lips twitched upward in response.
“I don’t know. Take a guess, Falco,” he said, then, looking at his silent companion, his face became serious. “She doesn’t even seem to know herself.”
Falco clearly frowned. Wrinkles formed at the corners of his eyes. He shook his head, as if he was struggling to grasp the situation. Then he gave the young man a reproachful look.
“I can’t believe it would happen today of all days…”
The young man fell silent.
Watching from the corner of his eye without breaking his pace through the castle, Falco heaved a sigh and spoke quietly. “Do I have your permission to investigate?”
When he said this, the young man moved his head for the first time. He cast a glance at his waiting companion, then looked straight ahead once more.
“Do as you wish, Falco,” the young man said, his face expressionless.
A large, open door had come into view. Several people were lined up there, seemingly awaiting their arrival. The people inside were dressed in their finery.
There was little time left until they reached the door.
“But still,” Falco muttered with a smile, “to think you would have that encounter today of all days. Perhaps she really is—”
The young man burst out laughing at his words.
“Knock it off. Such jokes don’t suit you.” The young man stopped in front of the door. He lifted both hands with a smile. “So let me ask, where, in this country, does anxiety dwell?”
The man smiled back, rather irreverently.
He nodded and stepped off to the side. He remained there and watched the young man disappear through the door.
“I suppose I’ll need to improve my comedic sensibilities then.”
“Just stop. It’s an impossible task.” The young man laughed heartily as his back disappeared beyond the closing door. “It’s outside the realm of possibility for you. You need to work on a genuine, charming smile first and not something so fake.”
✦ ✦ ✦
SEVERAL hours passed in the blink of an eye.
Yura lay on the bed, facing the ceiling. So much had happened and now she was feeling dizzier than ever.
On the other side of the room, the ladies were bustling about. They sounded like they were rearranging items, making comments like “This stool isn’t a good fit for this room” and “That table is unsightly, remove it.” They didn’t stop moving the whole time.
“What in the world is going on?”
When Yura had let those words slip out during her bath, she was merely greeted with a smile from her ladies-in-waiting.
As they combed Yura’s hair, they said things like, “You’ll get used to it in time.”
Every single sight was so new to Yura, her mouth was constantly agape.
Food that looked more like decorations, the extravagantly massive bathhouse, the immense gardens. And all the people were equally as magnanimous in their kindness to the awestruck Yura.
“P-Please don’t give me a Tamate-box later…” Yura groaned, exposing her distrust. However, the women merely stared blankly back at her.
“What is that?”
“By the way, will you be having tea?”
“How are your clothes?”
“Your shoes are not too tight, are they?”
Yura thought back on what’d transpired so far as she pretended to go to sleep. She’d been turning it all over in her head this whole time. And yet, she was no closer to an answer.
How in the world had she ended up here in the first place? Was it a dream?
But no matter how many times she pinched or hit herself, she couldn’t wake up.
At one point, she’d come to the conclusion that she’d died somewhere and been brought to this world as a result. It made the blood drain from her face just thinking about it, and ultimately, that explanation failed to satisfy her. Unless the mirror had crushed her under it…
Could something like that even happen?
Wisps of memory floated through her mind. She gently lowered her head.
She had fought with Tomoko.
No, the truth was I pushed her good graces too far.
Then she’d headed home.
Then back to the shop to apologize.
After that, she couldn’t remember.
Her memory was shrouded in mist. As if a thick fog had gathered in one particular corner of her mind.
Maybe I really was hit by a car or something…
Her mind was blank and she couldn’t seem to piece everything together, so ultimately, she shook her head vigorously and chased the thoughts away.
As she sat up, she heard the rustling of her own clothes.
After her bath, she’d been offered a strange garment as her “change of clothes.” The design was intricate. Yura clutched the full skirt and heaved a sigh.
This is pretty much a dress, isn’t it?
“I feel like I’m in a nightmare…” she muttered and the bustling maids all stopped at once. They exchanged worried glances. In a panic, Yura shook her head and added, “Oh no, it’s such a lovely and amazing dress, it just feels like a dream…”
She thought Ashes might have been right about one thing he said.
About the amnesia—or her forgetfulness. Perhaps it was true? It all seemed to fit together too perfectly.
On hearing her words, one of the ladies-in-waiting flashed her a smile.
“It is understandable you might feel that way,” she said gently.
She was the lady who’d first spoken to Yura. She’d said her name was Leila.
She added, “Are you tired? Would you like to rest until this evening?”
Her friendly tone and her caring gaze put Yura at ease.
“No, thank you,” Yura looked at her and shook her head.
That was when Yura finally realized all the ladies in the room were paying very close attention to her.
“O-Oh, well, may I go for a walk?” Yura asked.
At this rate, I’m only going to cause them more trouble, Yura thought, but Leila seemed not to notice. She nodded with a smile.
“Very well. This way, if you please.”
She headed toward the door.
In a panic, Yura sputtered, “I would like to go on my own. Just…to clear my head.”
The woman smiled once more. She was utterly perfect.
“I see,” she said, simply withdrawing. “In that case, please enjoy yourself. However, if possible, please return before the sunset bell? We must get you ready for the banquet.”
Having felt a moment of relief, Yura stiffened once more.
“Banquet?”
Ignoring Yura’s gaze, she said, “What color would be most suitable? There must be something fitting…” Then her head popped up. “Do you have a favorite flower? Oh, but it would be difficult to choose! Lady Yuura, you are so beautiful, you will shine more prominently than any flower.”
The words going completely over her head, Yura stared blankly. She was here in this unfamiliar place, being complimented.
“Beautiful?”
Leila grinned. Yura blinked.
“Me?”
Leila looked satisfied. Yura stared in confusion.
“…That’s a strange thing to say.”
“Not at all!” Leila exclaimed.
Seeing Yura’s eyes widen, Leila quickly cleared her throat. She regained her composed smile.
“Please do not worry, we will see to it that you have the most gorgeous evening attire. Please entrust me with this task!” she declared excitedly.
Yura was then rushed out into the hall.
What was that? What in the world is this place? Yura wondered.
The formal compliments, the antiquated look of this building, and the clothes. The way they spoke. She had never even heard of “ladies-in-waiting” as a modern-day job outside of renaissance fairs.
Beyond the glassless windows, the sun hung in the sky.
I guess it’s like the sun I’m used to…
As she gazed outward, a sense of unease encapsulated Yura and she hugged herself in a tight embrace.