Chapter One Hundred Three: I Figured This Was Going to Happen Eventually
BEFORE the sun could rise, the emperor climbed off the bed and prepared to return to Kita Palace.
“I can’t miss my morning audiences,” he explained. He still seemed drowsy as he stretched his back and wings.
I helped a maid style the emperor’s hair and assisted him into his robes. The emperor kept his eyes shut so he wouldn’t burn the maid’s, but from time to time, he stole glances at me through the gaps in his veil, sneaking a smile. I had to fight the heat climbing onto my cheeks and pretended to be unaffected as I helped him dress.
As we readied him, he asked the maid, “Who’s waiting at the arch bridge?”
“The Right Wing, Your Majesty,” she replied humbly.
“Ah. Hiaki, hm?” He grinned, appearing somewhat delighted. Before he left, he turned to me. “Oh, right… Sai.”
I was bowing in front of him when he pulled one of the thin decorative sashes from his robes of white silk. He handed it to me and said, “Here. It’s a token of my feelings for you.”
Taking the silk sash into my hands, I blinked. “Feelings…” The sash was delicate—so thin that it was translucent. It seemed almost fleeting, as if the craftsperson had weaved morning mist into fabric. “Are you sure? This is such a precious item…”
“Aw, we spent an entire night together, and you won’t accept it?” He pouted like a mischievous child. Then he smiled broadly at the flushed maid. “Hey, miss. From now on, whenever you do the Wagtail Priestess’s hair, weave that sash into it like a ribbon.”
“Understood.”
“Heh heh.” The emperor grinned, smug, before caressing my cheek with his fingertips in satisfaction. He tucked my hair behind my ear and started to fiddle with the earring he had given me. A tingle spread throughout my body, and I grew restless—it felt as if he was tickling the tiny hairs on my earlobe.
His smile grew even wider at my reaction. “Your earring is mine too, and I just gave you that ribbon, so… You’re mine now, Sai, and I won’t let anyone else have you.”
I was surprised to hear such bold and possessive words from the emperor. Alongside the surprise came a bigger wave of happiness that filled my chest—I had the opportunity to see yet another side of the emperor I had never known existed.
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LATER that morning, I visited Lord Raiya to discuss religious rites. At first, he acted perfectly normal, but when he noticed my ribbon shimmering under the sunlight, documents slipped out of his hands with a loud rustle.
“Wha—”
“Are you all right?!” I exclaimed.
“How… You… Sai, you…” His complexion was shifting through various shades of red and pale like splotches on an artist’s palette, and he slowly backed away. I tilted my head, confused.
After taking ample time to calm down, he inhaled a deep breath. “Well, yeah… I see… Okay… I mean, I figured this was going to happen eventually.” He shrugged. Then his expression fiercened. “But it’s too early!” His large eyes bored into mine. “Do you understand the implications? As the Wagtail Priestess, to become his empress is…”
“I am aware.”
“On top of that, being the Orient emperor means he will…”
Magpies soared away with a noisy flapping of wings. The scenery outside the office window in the Department of Print was bright and dazzling, the crimson leaves of fall waving like flickering flames. It was the height of autumn.
He didn’t have to finish his sentence. I knew.
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Chapter One Hundred Four: My Time in Orient, Somehow Both Short and Long
LORD Kuze would return to his country in four days, and it was early afternoon when he suddenly sent a message to Sekirei Palace inviting me to join him on a stroll through the city.
I had no reason to decline, so I agreed to go with him the next day. The following morning, Lord Kuze and his guards came to Sekirei Palace—and tagging along with them as if it were only natural for her to accompany us was Lady Haruiro. Our party ballooned in size with Lord Kuze’s and Lady Haruiro’s respective escorts; we looked like and essentially were a respectable tour group from Meridiona.
“I haven’t had the chance to walk around town with you since the summer festival!” chirped Lady Haruiro happily as we formed a line outside the palace.
“I’m a little surprised you came in this form,” I said in a hushed voice.
“Well, yeah. I mean, Kuze is still classified as a mysterious intruder from Meridiona in the official records, so…”
Lord Kuze approached as we were talking. “Hm? Who’s this lady? She’s gorgeous.”
“Hee-hee-hee, hello there.” The emperor aimed a bewitching smile at the man.
Hmm. I don’t know why, but somehow she seems to be…warning him in some way? The emperor waved his long sleeve in a dainty and graceful manner as she greeted him. “I am Haruiro, the younger sister of Yukinari Kiriya, the General of the Left Wing. The emperor has ordered me to attend to the Wagtail Priestess today.”
“O-Oh.” Though Lord Kuze flinched a little, he greeted her in return. “Nice to meet you…?”