Chapter Seventy-Five: The Emperor and Hiaki
THE General of the Right Wing, Hiaki Gou, stood before the emperor as he reported on the Meridionan military and the results of his investigations into the current state of affairs. When he finished, the emperor cleared all the other people from the throne room. The powerful officials in attendance all filtered out, leaving only the emperor and Hiaki behind.
From his throne, the emperor addressed his vassal. “We hear that you visited Sekirei Palace.”
Hiaki lowered his head. “Yes. My apologies for going there without proper clearance. I returned from Meridiona only recently, which caused my ignorance. I beg your pardon for my insolence.” As he spoke, he touched the thorny, spikelike line etched into his neck.
The graze from the dagger hadn’t healed. Instead, a jagged pattern had been magically seared into his skin. If anyone dared to step out of line within Sekirei Palace, a curse activated, and it would not spare its target until the creator of the security spell, the emperor, personally lifted it.
“Currently, only We and the Left Wing are aware of your transgression. Before We determine your penalty, We shall grant you an opportunity to argue your case. You must have your reasons for trespassing without prior request and committing such an atrocious act. Speak.”
The emperor had given Hiaki a chance to defend himself away from prying eyes. If it were any other person in Hiaki’s place, immediate punishment would be the natural course of action. But the emperor couldn’t make a hasty judgment when it came to the heir of the Gou clan. After all, the Gou clan had contributed much to the establishment of Sekirei Palace.
“I wish to welcome the Wagtail Priestess into the Gou clan as my wife, and I went to greet her. These excuses, however, do not change the fact that I trespassed on property that is under your command, Your Majesty.”
“…Is that so.” The emperor recrossed his legs, switching the limb on top. “You must know that the choice of the Wagtail Priestess’s spouse remains undecided. Our plan is to carefully evaluate her abilities and wait for her status to stabilize before We issue her an imperial mandate.” A beat. “Are you saying that you have objections?”
Silence.
Finally, the emperor said, “You are Our Right Wing, and We trust that someone of your capabilities would not act so thoughtlessly. There must be more, yes?” There was a gentle, coaxing note to his tone. “You may speak your mind. We permit you.”
Hiaki cast his eyes down. “Please pardon me for my impertinence, Your Majesty, but I think that you should make a decision as soon as possible.”
“…Oh?”
“I hear that the Wagtail Priestess is sixteen this year. If we account for the eventual exhaustion of her reproductive faculties and her safety during pregnancy, the viable number of children is five by the age of thirty: her first childbirth at eighteen, then at least a one-year gap between each of her subsequent children, so her second at twenty, third at twenty-two, fourth at twenty-five, and fifth at twenty-seven. Considering the possibility of stillborn infants, she will need to bear at least this many to secure her bloodline.
“Unlike men,” he continued matter-of-factly, “women must nurture their children in their wombs for some time. There is a chance that her arcane abilities and title will still prove useful after she has offspring, so I believe that it is better if she marries and has children as soon as she can.”
“We have already weighed the concern you raise, Right Wing.” After a sigh, the emperor’s voice echoed down from the throne. “The Wagtail Priestess has only just arrived here in Orient, and her position is yet unstable. Many challenges still face the newly established Sekirei Palace. Not to mention that she is the sole possessor of knowledge about the Wagtail Priestess that might otherwise be lost to time. The actual records have all been burnt and disposed of, so we can rely only on her memory.”
“…No matter how many times I hear about that incident, I still doubt my ears. How can that nation set fire to the historical and cultural heritage of a land that our empire gifted them out of goodwill?”
Hiaki had a good grasp of the Wagtail Priestess’s history in Centoria. Presently, their neighbor’s most pressing issue was its conflict with Meridiona, so the Wagtail Priestess and her close ties to Orient had likely been of very low importance to the Centorian government—they simply hadn’t cared.
In addition, until recently, the Order had been growing increasingly influential in Centoria, and they had supported the movement to conquer Meridiona. Their political clout had tipped the scales in favor of invasion, the other country proving to be a convenient scapegoat to distract from the Order’s internal corruption.
But immolating the Wagtail Priestess as a human sacrifice to appease the masses was the most foolish move one could make. At least, that was the opinion of an Oriental warrior such as Hiaki. Maybe the Centorian aristocrats had good reason to attempt what they had. Maybe, he emphasized in his mind.
The emperor’s voice was steady as he said, “Her blood is not her only value—the knowledge that her clan passed down over the generations is just as important. Most pressing is for her to impart her expertise and history to suitable personnel in Sekirei Palace and the clergy before her memories lose clarity. This is vital for the training of the next Wagtail Priestess, whom she will one day birth.
“And We think We must use utmost caution in selecting a man of suitable status, for his family background will affect the future of the Wagtail Priestess’s descendants.”
“Understood, Your Majesty… My limited knowledge caused me to make such an impudent suggestion, and I am deeply ashamed of my ignorance.”
“That is fine.” The emperor paused. “It is, after all, evidence that you care a lot about the Wagtail Priestess’s situation. Do continue to voice any opinion you have in the future.” He lifted a finger and slowly thrust his hand forward. He drew a line in the air in a purifying rite.
Almost immediately, Hiaki’s throat grew hot. The thorny pattern on his neck vaporized into black mist and faded away. Silence descended on the throne room.
The emperor’s voice cut into the stillness. “We will overlook your transgression this time. We ask that you continue to support Us with the Left Wing as Our Twin Wings.”
“You have my deepest gratitude for your benevolent verdict.”
“It is not every day that We have the chance to speak with you in private. Is there anything else you would like to inform Us of?”
“Thank you for granting me such an honor, Your Majesty. There is.” Hiaki bowed once again before saying, “The Gou clan has already made all the necessary preparations to welcome the Wagtail Priestess as my spouse. Ever since your decision to offer her asylum within the borders of your empire, Your Majesty, my clan has done everything we can to realize your wish. As part of those efforts, we have naturally considered taking her under our wing and are willing to protect her as one of our own.”
“You have Our gratitude, Right Wing. We are aware of and grateful for the contribution your clan has made to Our empire.”
“It is our honor.”
“…But We hope you understand that even when presented with such an offer, We must thoroughly ponder the subject of the Wagtail Priestess. We will eventually ask for the aid of the Gou clan and that of you, Our Right Wing. We will be relying on you then.”
“Understood.” His Majesty has no intention of handing the Wagtail Priestess to my clan, he concluded silently. Hiaki was regarded as the most eligible candidate for groom but had been abruptly dispatched to Meridiona only days before the Wagtail Priestess’s planned arrival. And upon his return, the Wagtail Priestess’s circumstances had changed completely. But as the Gou clan’s heir, Hiaki could not just sit down and allow the situation to snatch the reins from him. His status would not let him.
He persisted. “Your Majesty. I believe that there is no bloodline more suitable than the Gou clan for a union with the Wagtail Priestess.”
“A bold statement.” Slight amusement colored the emperor’s voice.
“The Wagtail Priestess is also the pride of the Gou clan. In the distant past, when Sekirei Prefecture was still a part of Orient…” Hiaki trailed off. “The blood of the Wagtail Priestess’s male lineage runs in our veins. I do hear rumors that…you plan to make her your empress, Your Majesty, but…”
The emperor chuckled. “You have started to heed baseless word of mouth of all things? Are you still under the influence of Meridiona’s liquor?”
“Unfortunately, these rumors have spread so far and wide that I hear them even when my mind is clear. No matter your decision in the end, Your Majesty… As a member of the Gou clan, I will do everything within my power to prevent a second coming of the Wicked Fox of Septentrion.”
“The maiden is not a fox but a bird.” The emperor sighed. “But We understand your concern. For convenience’s sake, We shall arrange more opportunities for you to interact with the priestess. If you are not familiar with her, you will be rather troubled if she does end up your wife one day, yes?”