CH 5.2

“Why don’t you do something about that boring face, Shin’u?”

When that voice, which contained a sigh, called out to him, Shin’u looked up.

At the end of his line of sight, in the center of the corridor, was the figure of a noble man, Gyoumei, who was shrugging his shoulders in exasperation. He was wearing a robe different from the one he wore for his political duties and was looking back at him with a relaxed expression on his face. Despite his words, the virile beauty looked amused, but Shin’u quickly kneeled on the spot.

“Forgive me. I have been accompanying you to Kouki Palace everyday, and my fed-up feelings appeared on my face.”

“Don’t pick a fight with me in an apologetic tone. I’ll take you on, you know.”

Gyoumei shot back in an exasperated manner when Shin’u brazenly stated that. For the relationship between the crown prince and the head Eagle Official——as well as half-brothers, their exchange could be described as amiable. If one were to believe Gyoumei’s words, it was because Shin’u was someone he had “let inside.”

The crown prince of the country of Ei, Ei Gyoumei, was a fair and upright man who excelled in the literary and martial arts. He was a prince among princes, blessed with masculine good looks and a broad-minded personality. It was said that at the moment of his birth, dragon energy roared through the capital, his kingly appearance made all the women around him fall in love with him, and most men loved and respected him, but that environment took away his interest in people.

He was bored, according to him. Because he could get everything so easily.

If that had been said by anyone else, Shin’u would have made a wry face and thought them arrogant, but having lived close to him for several years as his half-brother, it would be a lie to say that he didn’t understand Gyoumei’s feelings. In actuality, the people around Gyoumei were too absorbed in him.

For example, women of marriageable age and even lower-ranking ladies-in-waiting would let out sighs of rapture as soon as they saw him. Scholars were astounded by his intelligence, tacticians acknowledged his excellent military arts, and even eunuchs were eager to attract his attention.

When his mother, Empress Kenshuu, had a doushi examine him, she was told that, as a result of the mixture of the blood of all five clans, the blessings of the Founder strongly resided within him. The people around him were overjoyed as they were told that he had the spirit of a supreme ruler and that anything he did would be a great success, but the man himself became apathetic when he heard that.

What. Then it would all be the same no matter what I do, he said.

Gyoumei’s father, Emperor Genyou, was a cold person, reflecting his rich Gen clan blood and its nature as the clan that ruled over water and war. On the other hand, Gyoumei’s mother Kenshuu was a woman of the Kou clan who broke up the land and loved hard work and challenges.

Gyoume was the combination of all of that, and even though his soul sought a place where he could demonstrate his abilities to his heart’s content, he had everything from the start, so he ended up becoming depressed and turning a cold eye to the people around him who leaned against coquettishly. To him, women who raised their sweet voices at him or retainers who eagerly bent their knees to him were like dolls with no personality. That was why he was able to make fair judgements without being swayed by emotion.

However, he was also a person who held a strong love for those who had gained his trust.

Perhaps it was because Shin’u had been exposed to such harsh circumstances as having his mother be taken away at an early age, being bounced around from retainer to retainer, and being sent to the battlefield, but he was someone who took a philosophical view of things from a young age.

“I like those dead fish-like eyes.” Seeing him like that, Gyoumei took a liking to him for some reason.

According to what Gyoumei told him later, the blood of the Kou clan, which liked looking after others, flowing within him was exceedingly stimulated by them.

In any case, from then on, despite his status as half-brother which tended to be excluded from everything, Shin’u was shown favoritism by Gyoumei, and even though he was forced into the inner palace by a superior with whom he had a bad relationship on the battlefield, he was given a secure position and didn’t lose his male functions. The head Eagle Official was a position where the lowest-ranking consort could be bestowed upon him.

(Although, because of that, I’m also being used a lot.)

Gyoumei showed favortism to Shin’u, but he was also shrewd, so of course he didn’t forget to use him as a judge of women. In this way, he valued Shin’u, who was an expert in his own right, and used him as a guard whenever he visited the inner palace.

The reason he was summoned today was to attend Gyoumei on his visit to Kou Reirin, who was still ill. Since there were many get-well presents, he was basically the luggage carrier.

After being forced to carry a large amount of items and listen to his half-brother’s sweet whispers, Shin’u couldn’t hide his weariness and voiced his protest.

“I don’t think you need to visit her everyday.”

“What are you saying. How could I not visit the precious Nestlings who were gathered for me?”

He replied as though it was obvious, but if it had been any other Nestling, he probably wouldn’t have visited her or even sent her a letter of sympathy. That was how much Gyoumei blatantly favored Kou Reirin.

“But that doesn’t mean you have to visit her every day. If you have that much free time on your hands, then I’ll ask the civil official, Lord Kousai, to give you more administrative duties.”

“Oh, come on. Do you have no human blood in your veins to sell your half-brother to a demon? In fact, I only have less than a quarter-hour of free time. Don’t be so uptight.”

Kousai was a civil official who was mainly in charge of finance, and although he was extremely talented, he was known for mercilessly assigning administrative duties to even the imperial family. Gyoumei’s shoulders tensed and he made an exaggerated show of fear, but Shin’u knew he was just pretending. That was because Gyoumei had been seizing the gaps in his busy schedule and finishing his enormous amount of work ahead of schedule, thus securing the time for the brief lovers’ meeting.

He was torn between admiring Gyoumei’s ability to do so and marveling at the Nestling’s charm that made him want to meet her so badly.

“I thought Your Highness didn’t really like women who were simply dainty and pretty, but I guess that Lady Kou Reirin is that special.”

“Oh. You think Reirin is only a pretty woman?”

When he muttered that, half-complaining, Gyoumei raised an eyebrow and responded. He seemed somewhat amused.

“She’s a woman of the Kou clan with a strong core, that one. She was the first woman who didn’t blush when she was introduced to me five years ago. Don’t underestimate her.”

Speaking of five years ago, she would have been barely ten years old. He was tempted to argue that the idea of love hadn’t been awoken within her yet, but it was true that, in the case of Gyoumei, it was rare for him not to receive amorous looks, even if it was a young girl. Just from that one act alone, it wasn’t hard to understand why Gyoumei had let Kou Reirin “inside.”

“It’s lovable how even though she’s sickly, she tries to not let the people around her perceive it. Whenever I’m with her, I feel something like the blood of the Kou clan surge within me, a sudden urge to cherish and pamper her.”

""

“Is that so, Your Highness.”

However, Shin’u’s response was sloppy.

The well-behaved Kou Reirin fundamentally had little to do with the Eagle Officials. He only ever happened to see her during ceremonies, and on those occasions, she was always clinging to Gyoumei, so there was no way for Shin’u to know what he meant by “Reirin’s true nature.” So, in his eyes, Kou Reirin was just as she seemed, a graceful and delicate woman.

(Is such a woman usually desirable?)

After that, Shin’u lightly paid no attention to Gyoumei, who was speaking at length in a pleasant mood. Perhaps it was because she had been frightened at the Skill Beseeching festival, or perhaps it was because the fever had been too painful, but for the past few days, she had been unusually sweet to Gyoumei. That makes me very happy, Gyoumei laughed.

“The innocence of Reirin, snuggling into me without being hit by my dragon energy, is one of her charms, but I do want to touch a woman I like. Sweet whispers have never worked on her, but now her eyes are moistening and she’s clinging to me herself. I can’t get enough of it.”

He was truly a man in love, reminiscing on what happened at Kouki Palace.

Not knowing what to say, Shin’u made vague responses. Gyoumei let out a sigh of exasperation.

“This is dull. Don’t you have a woman or two you’re interested in?”

“Regrettably, no. Perhaps the blood of the famously cold-hearted Gen clan runs deep within me.”

Shin’u’s mother was a foreign woman. It appeared that only the Gen clan blood of his father, Genyou, was expressed strongly in him.

But Gyoumei’s shoulders shook in amusement when he heard that.

“What are you saying? Then, doesn’t that make you look forward to it even more?’

“Hah?”

“Water may be calm, but it can also be rough, and it can even wash away a dam. People of the Gen clan are usually cold, but if they’re blessed with the right person, they will love them or hate them more fiercely than even the people of the Shu clan. I can’t help but look forward to the moment that you, who always looks so bored, have your heart disturbed and go into a panic.”

Unable to believe the words that were spoken with a smirk, Shin’u shrugged his shoulders. Excepting Gyoumei, he only knew people who were afraid of him, wary of him, or tried to ingratiate themselves with him. He didn’t think his heart could be moved by such people at all.

(Ah, but…)

Suddenly, the image of a woman crossed his mind.

The woman who calmly faced the beast in the cage. Immediately afterwards, she panicked for the sake of a rat, weeded while covered in mud, and innocently pleaded for salt. Shu Keigetsu, a woman who was supposed to be proud and arrogant, who always buttered up to Shin’u——

“In fact, even though it is diluted by the Kou clan blood, when somebody important to me is hurt, the Gen clan blood within me inevitably stirs. When I see Reirin in pain, I want to grab Shu Keigetsu by the collar, even if she’s a woman.”

He was startled when Gyoumei mentioned that woman’s name, as though he was tracing his thoughts.

“It’s rumored that even on her sickbed, Reirin was so concerned about Shu Keigetsu that she asked to refrain from imposing excessive sanctions on her, but that woman is spending her time at Shuku Palace laughing without a care in the world. She’s probably shrieking in that shrill voice of hers, pushing the ladies-in-waiting around with intimidation, and living the same life she was living until now.”

Though she acted graceful and well-mannered only in front of powerful people, it didn’t work against Gyoumei. He, of course, saw through Shu Keigetsu’s haughty nature.

“No——”

On the other hand, Shin’u, who actually saw the “place of house arrest,” was immediately about to refute him.

Her situation was so miserable that it could actually be called excessive, and not even a single lady-in-waiting could be found by her side. She didn’t even treat the eunuchs with high-handedness, and even when she saw the head Eagle Official, Shin’u, she didn’t try to get him to stay.

(…Not too believable when put into words like this.)

However, Shin’u kept his mouth shut, himself thinking that it was too difficult to believe.

Her change was so dramatic that it was suspicious, and even if he were to tell Gyoumei now, he would probably take it as her acting meek. He had even gone so far as to say that Shu Keigetsu’s head would be cut off if she blindly imitated Reirin again. Imprudent hearsay would only add fuel to his anger.

(Would it be quicker for His Highness to see her in person?)

Her facial expressions, gestures, and the way she paused for a moment. It seemed that the only way to share the indescribable sense of discomfort that only direct contact could bring was to take Gyoumei out to Shuku Palace.

Although, he wondered if Gyoumei, who hated Shu Keigetsu that much, would really try to visit Shuku Palace. The reason why he was allowed to enter Kouki Palace was that he was the son of a Kou clan empress. Even though he was the crown prince, he was not allowed to frivolously visit the palaces of the various families, which were not public spaces.

“Head Eagle Official!”

At that moment, a voice called out to him from behind, and Shin’u turned around.

“My apologies, Your Highness. May I make a report to the head Eagle Official at this time?”

The owner of the voice was Bunkou, who was unusually in a panic.

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When Gyoumei gave his permission, Bunkou quickly got up from his prostrate form and informed Shin’u in a subdued voice.

“I’ve received a report from an Eagle Official attached to the Nestling Court. He saw a pale vermillion lady-in-waiting with a dagger in her hand heading for Shuku Palace. Her feet were unsteady, and it feels dangerous.”

“What do you mean by dangerous?”

“He said…it feels like she’s about to stab someone. Like she’s about to take revenge.”

Shin’u frowned and looked back at Bunkou.

“Why didn’t he stop her right there?”

“This might come as a surprise to you, Chief, who can wield your eagle crest immediately, but many of us eunuchs are of lower rank than the ladies-in-waiting! It’s difficult for us to enter Shuku Palace, let alone question a lady-in-waiting on a vague reason that could be a mistake!”

The narrow-eyed eunuch explained in an irritated, rapid-fire voice, and then added, “Besides,” somewhat hesitantly.

“He said that the pale vermillion lady-in-waiting went not to the main chambers where the Noble Consort resides, but to the outskirts of the palace, where the storehouse is located.”

“So that eunuch thought that if it was Shu Keigetsu that would be harmed, he could overlook it?”

When Shin’u’s voice turned low, Bunkou was silent. That was his answer.

“After the Beast Interrogation Rite, Shu Keigetsu is no longer a criminal. How can you not discern——”

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“Stop, Shin’u. The eunuch in front of you did nothing wrong. Neither is the eunuch who made the report.”

Shin’u was about to press Bunkou in a cold voice, but a firm voice interrupted him.

It was Gyoumei.

Without thinking, Shin’u raised his tone.

“Why? Are you saying that if it’s Shu Keigetsu, anything can be done to her?”

“No, I’m not. If the people in the inner palace thought that they could punish Shu Keigetsu on their own without a trial, it was because of my attitude that made them do so. I, the crown prince, hated Shu Keigetsu too much and too openly. That is my mistake, not the eunuch who guessed my likes and dislikes.”

He shrugged his shoulders casually. Yes, he was someone who could be driven by hatred, but at the same time make such calm decisions.

“…My apologies. I was too assertive.”

“No need for that. It’s priceless to see you all red-faced and crying and screaming.”

“No, I didn’t go that far.”

Although he quickly denied it, Shin’u’s feet were already heading towards Shuku Palace.

“Wait.” Seeing this, Gyoumei stopped his half-brother.

“I don’t want to overly attack Shu Keigetsu, but I don’t want to defend her either. Since you seem to have a bit too much blood rushing to your head, I’ll tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“Shu Keigetsu once lied about ‘almost being attacked’ and tried to get a eunuch beheaded.”

Shin’u was at a loss for words.

The usually lighthearted eyes of Gyoumei were now filled with a sharp anger.

“It was still before you took your position. The people around her were fed up by her inexperience and began keeping a distance from her. As if to beg for attention, Shu Keigetsu broke a jar on her own and claimed that a eunuch thrust a shard at her. However, the claim was so poor and contradictory that the eunuch was released.”

“Why would she…”

“The reason is simple. That eunuch laughed at her when she couldn’t read a poem well at a ceremony. If she felt offended by that insult, she could have rebuked him on the spot. She has the right and power to do so. But, Shu Keigetsu humbled herself before us and let it pass, only to retaliate later.”

In the Nestling Court, the power of the Nestlings was absolute. If it hadn’t been for the intercession of Gyoumei, the crown prince, who surpassed her in power, the eunuch would have been summarily executed. Thus, her foul tactics had incurred the wrath of the fair-minded Gyoumei.

Looking at Bunkou, who was kneeling next to him, he had an unusually grim face and was keeping silent.

So this is what it means when they say, “a coworker who was made to have a bitter experience.” Shin’u sighed as he understood the situation.

“She is always like that. She begs for attention, but she doesn’t work hard, she doesn’t object fairly, she just stares at you like she wants to say something, gets jealous, offends you, and then rampages around.”

From the point of view of Gyoumei, who had almost lost his precious butterfly because of her, Shu Keigetsu seemed to be an existence he couldn’t forgive.

“…”

Shin’u’s brows knitted together.

It seemed that there was a huge discrepancy between the woman Gyoumei and Bunkou told him about, and the woman at the Beast Interrogation Rite and in front of the storehouse.

No—but, that’s the case.

Shin’u had been the subject of Shu Keigetsu’s flirtatious glances in the past. He had also dealt with the quarrels that she started.

So, was it correct to assume that her true nature was wicked and mean, with the exception of how she was in those two chance encounters he had with her?

“Of course, I have no reason to stop you from doing your job. Go, head Eagle Official. But keep a cool head.”

“…Thank you for your advice, Your Highness.”

In the end, without being able to settle his own mind, Shin’u turned on his heel at Gyoumei’s quick wave of his hand.