Tenth Arc: A Letter from Meridiona As the Seasons March On
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Chapter Ninety-Five: Affection and Responsibility
RAIYA noted the moonlight spilling into his room and turned off his “switch.” He took off his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose, and stretched his body with a groan. The magical work process that the Wagtail Priestess, Sai, had invented was extremely efficient.
Two magpies flapped noisily over to Raiya when he finally stopped working. They perched on his shoulders as though asking for attention.
“Okay, okay. I know.” Raiya stroked the enchanted birds, then transformed into the child form that he used in public. He rolled up his baggy sleeves. “All right then, let’s go.”
He used a finger to push his glasses into place as he walked in the shadows of the moonlit path. He was hiding his presence with magic, so none of the guards noticed him on his way to his destination—Kita Palace, where he had been summoned.
When he looked up at the building, he spotted a silhouette admiring the moon on the balcony. It was the person who had called for Raiya, Emperor Haruka, glowing under the moonlight. Next to him seemed to be a bottle of liquor. Judging by the look of it, the alcohol was from Meridiona.
“Your Majesty.” Raiya bowed.
The other man lifted his veil and smiled before beckoning Raiya up. Transforming into a magpie, Raiya took flight and soared onto the balcony before landing with a fluttering of cloth. “A rare sight for a lightweight like you,” Raiya commented.
“Well, we’re going to have guests from there soon, so I need to build some tolerance at least.”
The emperor didn’t handle alcohol well. And it was evident that he was simply forcing the liquid down his throat like he would any other day.
“Meridiona’s liquor is potent, so please be careful.” Raiya untied the white silk ribbon securing hair and returned to his adult form.
As if witnessing something dazzling and special, the emperor gazed at him. “You’re using that form, huh?”
“To serve as your drinking companion this late at night in the body of a child is a little too improper.”
For a while, the two sipped liquor in silence. The moon was bright, and the emperor’s glossy wings shimmered like a galaxy. His expression, however, was dark.
“Why…?” the emperor muttered. He sounded more like he was talking to himself than to Raiya. There was a vulnerable, almost fragile look on his face, reminding Raiya of when the man used to be his young pupil. “Why did I end up wanting more? I swear, I only thought of Sai as the girl to whom I owed a lifetime debt. Nothing more.”
“I’m aware.” Raiya paused. “Humans are creatures of greed. Everyone’s like that.”
“Yeah, but I’m a god though.”
“Indeed. But Your Majesty, indulging in alcohol doesn’t mean you can run away from making a decision.”
The beautiful man extended his wings and hugged his knees. He shrouded himself within his feathers as if he was trying to hide from the world. “I can’t marry Sai. If she becomes the empress, then…she’ll be sad.”
“But you gave her special treatment despite knowing that from the very start. You need to take responsibility for your change of heart during that process…” Raiya paused again. “…And for the girl’s heart as well.”
Emperor Haruka let out a dry laugh. He lifted the envelope lying nearby and opened it with a rustle of paper. Inside was a letter from the distant Meridiona.
“From Meridionan King Kuze Ikinoka concerning the priestess’s marriage,” it read.