Chapter One Hundred Seven: Didn’t I Tell You a While Ago That I Was Gonna Marry a Girl from Meridiona?
“DIDN’T I tell you a while ago that I was gonna marry a girl from Meridiona?”
A few days after Lord Kuze embarked on his return journey to his country, I asked Lord Hiaki about my sister. We had ended up working as a pair during a purification ritual of Kita Palace, and that was the answer he gave me along with a wide grin.
“You did, but…” I shook my head. “I had no idea it was my sister, of all people.”
Even the emperor had been unaware of my sister’s existence, and naturally, the conversation had erupted into pandemonium when Lord Kuze dropped that bombshell on us.
“Ah, I see, you didn’t know, huh!” Lord Kuze had laughed heartily as he gave us the good news. Meanwhile, those of us receiving the news all had an internal breakdown—me, the emperor, and the entire imperial court. The only person in Orient who had known about the existence of Sakura Cutrettola was Lord Hiaki.
We were scattering purification salt together, and Lord Hiaki shrugged without a hint of guilt. “I mean, I haven’t asked her permission to tell everyone, and more than anything, my family wants you to be my wife, so I had to chase you until the last possible moment. So yeah, because of all those complicated circumstances, I couldn’t exactly tell the emperor upfront, either.”
I let out a long sigh.
He raised an eyebrow. “But hey, congrats. You must be happy to hear that you have a sister now.”
“Well yes, I am, but…”
“By the way, you got that ribbon in your hair from the emperor, right? Wooow, you’re wearing it for the entire world to see, huh?” he said in a teasing tone.
He was referring to the sash I had received on that special morning. Apparently, to wear it meant that I was someone dear to the emperor. Oh, that reminds me. Lord Raiya, who was rumored to have had the favor of the previous emperor, also tied his hair with a silk ribbon, though his was worn down with time.
Lord Hiaki gazed at me with the warm and gentle eyes of an experienced, older man. “Makes sense, because you’re already his, right?”
“……”
“Ah, I’ve never seen such a face on you before!”
I glared at him. “A reminder that my trust in you has plummeted to an all-time low. If you knew, you could have at least told me or mentioned in passing that I have a younger sister.”
He shrugged, appearing completely unaffected by my hostility. “Seriously, I couldn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure whether she’d marry me, and I can’t disclose confidential information before our diplomatic relations with Meridiona become official. I’m sure you understand.”
“Well…I guess…” I muttered begrudgingly.
“You’ve learned how to express anger, Sai, and it’s adorable.” He grinned wide. “But you know, I have you to thank for the fact that my betrothal to Sakura progressed so smoothly. It’s because you dutifully fulfilled your role as Wagtail Priestess, increasing your title’s reputation and status here in Orient.”
“I have never done anything that grand…”
“You have,” he declared. “I mean, even when the emperor said he’s gonna take you as his empress, no one spoke out against it, remember? Well, I guess that was partly due to his ridiculously thorough scheming, but still.” He barked out a merry laugh as if he’d remembered something funny. “Anyway, now the Gou clan will have a Wagtail Priestess bride too. Everyone’s celebrating.”
It was the best outcome possible. Or…is it? A nasty thought flashed across the back of my mind, and I stilled.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Lord Hiaki, does this mean…I will be forcing the responsibility of the Wagtail Priestess onto my sister…?”
My sister had been born after me, so she wasn’t supposed to be the successor of the title. But because I was marrying the emperor, she had to shoulder the duty of the Wagtail Priestess and continue our bloodline by marrying into an Oriental family. That…might be a tragedy for her.
Lord Hiaki, who seemed to have read my mind through my expression, reassured me. “It’s okay, she doesn’t mind.” He grinned slightly. “In fact, she actually seems eager. She was the one who proposed to me at first sight.”
“…Huh?”
“Okay, you gotta listen to this. She was raised in Meridiona, where everyone’s hot-blooded. She looks really similar to you, but she’s so feisty that I got a little fed up with her.”
“R-Really…?”
“I’m the type who doesn’t like people taking the reins from me. That’s why I thought I’d prefer you, since you’re a more mild-mannered girl, but…” He sighed.
“Stop right there, Lord Hiaki.” I stared daggers at him. “You must not have such an attitude toward my sister as the one who will be her life partner.”
“Ha ha, I’m joking, I swear! She’s really cute when she smiles, so it feels like I’m going to have a new little sister. I can’t wait.”
In the end, Lord Hiaki was also going to fulfill his goal of having a Wagtail Priestess in his clan. Fate worked in the strangest ways—we had both come out happy.
“Personally though? I don’t recommend the emperor as a husband,” he added.
“Why is that?”
“It’ll be hard to sleep in the same bed with those wings of his.”
I fell silent as I recalled the night we had shared a bed. Was it really? “That was not the impression I had.”
“Oh? Does that mean you were so…busy that you didn’t even have the time for such thoughts?”
“Huh…?”
“Tell me, what kind of sweet nothings do you and the emperor say to each other normally? We’re relatives, so don’t be so stingy.”
But before either of us could reply further, cold air literally drifted from behind us. With a start, I turned to see the emperor, who stood with his wings outstretched to their fullest and his arms crossed.
“My Right Wing!” he said in a sickly-sweet voice.
“Y-Your Majesty,” stammered Lord Hiaki.
“Now… What. Were. You. Talking. About. Without. Me?” He paused between each word for emphasis as he extended his wings in a gesture of intimidation. There was a wide smile on his lips. Even through his veil, I could tell that his expression was as dark as thunderclouds.
We hurriedly kneeled and greeted him.
The emperor’s tone was cold. “Keep your mouth in check around my wife. Even if Sai is related to the Gou clan, you are not permitted to disgrace her.”
“Yes, Your Majesty… My most sincere apologies.”
“Sai, raise your head,” he said in a sharp voice. The emperor met my eyes and lifted his veil. His mist-colored eyes lit up, and he gave me a gentle smile. “I’ll come over tonight as well. Wait for me.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
But for some reason, he wasn’t satisfied with that response. His smile still wide on his face, he tilted his head. “Call me Haruka, will you?”
“Um, but we are in public…”
“Call my name.” His tone was sticky like honey.
“E-Emperor Haruka…” I stuttered.
“Thanks,” he purred, triumphant. Silk rustled as he walked away.
When the sound finally faded into the distance, Lord Hiaki, who was still bowing, groaned, “Please don’t threaten your vassals outright like that…”