Chapter 5. Truth-Revealing Party

CHAPTER 5

Truth-Revealing Party

A brief time had passed since the day Miyo returned to the house and safely roused Kiyoka from his slumber.

Humid August was gone, and September had come. While they still endured the lingering summer heat some days, the occasional chilly breeze signaled that autumn was on its way.

Finally, the day of the party arrived. Preparations were currently in full swing in Miyo’s room at the Kudou residence.

“Oh my! You look great in that, Miyo. You’re
very
pretty, I promise.”

The excited shout came from Miyo’s teacher and soon-to-be sister-in-law, Hazuki.

A long-sleeved kimono, featuring fluttering butterflies and large petals of yellow-and-white flowers elegantly in full bloom against a slightly darker crimson fabric. Wrapped up together with her lavish, gold-threaded sash, and makeup that brilliantly blended flamboyance and composure, Miyo’s finished look made her appear many times more mature than normal.

Keiko, the proprietress of the kimono store, Suzushima’s, who had hand-delivered the newly made piece for the party, and Yurie, who had helped dress Miyo, both beamed with pride.

“While she wears paler colors quite well, she suddenly gains the beauty of a woman in her prime when you put her in deeper shades.”

“Yes, yes, how true. Why, Miss Miyo, you’re so gorgeous, it’s enough to take my breath away.”

Miyo could only look on and smile as best she could while the two older women, each a generation older than her, chattered away in glee.

Ultimately, she couldn’t really tell whether she looked good or not. What really worried her was if it seemed like the kimono was wearing her rather than the other way around. With her plain features, she seemed apt to be swallowed up by her outfit’s magnificence.

“And you know, Miyo won’t be able to wear a long-sleeved kimono for much longer. Now’s her only chance to show off this perfect combination of maturity and innocence.”

“I knew you would understand, Miss Hazuki! You’re absolutely right! It feels like a bit of a letdown to think this will be gone soon, but that reluctance to part with one’s youth and ephemerality makes her all the more beautiful, doesn’t it?”

Jumping at Hazuki’s words, Keiko replied with passion. This was normal for her, so her zeal no longer took Miyo aback.

Instead, when she heard she wouldn’t be wearing a long-sleeved kimono for much longer, she felt a slight blush come to her cheeks as she realized she would be marrying soon.

“You’re very pretty, too, Hazuki.”

“Oh, thank you, Miyo. You think so?”

They were scheduled to gather together after Miyo was ready and head directly to the party, so Hazuki was already fully decked out.

Her light orange dress, decorated with lace, was slightly thinner than the average dress. It matched Hazuki’s slender body very well, and with her light hair tied up high on her head, her bare neck was captivating. It was as if she was declaring to the world that this was what an adult woman’s beauty was all about. Even as another woman, Miyo found herself captivated.

With their preparations complete, the four of them moved to the living room. When they arrived, Kiyoka was there waiting, already dressed in his military uniform.

Over the course of the past month, he had recovered back to full health. His spirits returned in a much shorter time than Miyo had
expected, enough for him to start training every day, since he’d insisted that he couldn’t stand how sluggish and weak his body felt.

And while his almost transparently porcelain skin remained unchanged, its sickly, convalescent complexion was gone.

“I’m ready, Kiyoka.”

“Got it……”

After responding offhandedly and turning around, Kiyoka froze up and had his breath taken away when he glimpsed Miyo.

“What’s this? My foolish little brother, unable to take his eyes off his fianc
é
e? Well, what do you think, Kiyoka? Isn’t she stunning?”

“……Yeah.”

Kiyoka nodded vacantly at Hazuki’s teasing smile.

“You’re beautiful, Miyo.”

“Thank you.”

Hearing such straightforward praise made her bashful. She was still a bit nervous about whether her kimono really suited her, but now she was glad to be wearing it.

“…Our car is already here. Let’s go.”

Kiyoka held out his hand. Miyo did exactly as Hazuki had taught her, placing her own hand on top of his.

It was then she remembered something she had forgotten to say.

“Kiyoka.”

“What?”

“You look very handsome yourself.”

“…………”

Miyo was convinced he’d reply with a simple, “I see,” but instead he averted his eyes for some reason and placed his free hand up against his forehead.

He remained fully silent until they had left the house; just when he was about to climb into the automobile, he finally seemed ready to say something and—

“You can’t just say things like that without warning me first…”

—was what he muttered under his breath.

“Hmm? I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it, Miyo. He’s just embarrassed; forget about him.”

When Miyo apologized, unsure what exactly was wrong, Hazuki came up from behind them and ruthlessly cut her brother down. Kiyoka frowned sourly at her remark.

“Be quiet, Hazuki.”

“What? I’m right, aren’t I?”

“All right, all right. Save your bickering for after the party, you two.”

Yurie chimed in, and they were both instantly silenced.

Miyo couldn’t help finding it all amusing and smiled. She realized that she wasn’t feeling the same envy and jealousy she had before.

Back then, I longed for a family.

She used to feel a bit gloomy whenever she saw the unreserved verbal bouts between Hazuki and Kiyoka. But now those emotions were nowhere to be found.

She was relieved. Now Miyo could say it for sure: She was going to become part of their family.

“
Sigh…
Well then, we’re leaving. Get yourself home early, Yurie.”

“Bye-bye, Yurie.”

“We’ll be going now.”

“Yes, yes, enjoy yourselves.”

Yurie and Keiko saw the three off, and they headed toward the venue. One of the Kudou family servants was driving them.

“Are you nervous, Miyo?”

“Yes… Very nervous.”

After returning from the Usuba household, Miyo had thrown herself back into her studies while making sure to rest properly along the way. On top of that, Kiyoka kept a close eye on her to make sure she wasn’t overexerting herself while he was recuperating at home.

When she showed the faintest signs of working past her limits, he would force her to rest, so she couldn’t have pushed herself even if she’d wanted to.

But thanks to this, she’d made good progress without tearing her
body down in the process. Hazuki had also given her seal of approval, declaring that she had taught Miyo everything she could.

But while she had gained some confidence, there wasn’t anything that could ease her nerves.

“You don’t need to worry; today’s party isn’t a formal affair. There won’t be any sort of stuffy etiquette to follow; so as long as you’re with the two of us, there won’t be many chances for you to be put on the spot.”

“Right, right. Outside of greetings and introductions, you shouldn’t have to speak much at all, really.”

While there was a tiny part of her that wished to utilize all the rules of etiquette she had studied, it was still her first time at a party, so it would be best for her to concentrate on getting through it without any trouble.

With that in mind, she resolved to quietly observe the scene and take mental notes on everyone’s interactions.

The venue was a small hotel in the capital.

Since there wouldn’t be dancing at the gathering, it didn’t require too large a space. It would be a buffet-style dinner party, the kind you often saw in foreign countries, where guests could enjoy food and drink as they chatted with one another.

“Anyway, if you’re able to do everything I’ve taught you up until now, you’ll be fine. No need to be so antsy.”

“Okay, I’ll do my best.”

Miyo clenched her fist and psyched herself up.

“…Like she just said, there’s no need to get so worried.”

“I suppose at this point, whatever happens, happens.”

They arrived at the venue while they were conversing.

Miyo was taken aback when she stepped out of the automobile and looked up at the building.

This is a…
small
hotel?

It was totally different from what she’d imagined.

The two-story Western-style building was grand and extravagant.

On the pure white exterior wall were a pair of hefty double doors.
Goldwork decorations were inlaid in various places, and the giant, well-polished glass windows sparkled from reflected light. A soft carpet spread out at their feet, and a chandelier, whose design was so delicate it looked as if it would break at the slightest touch, hung down from the ceiling.

Everything she saw was totally unfamiliar to her. Though she’d been given an overview of the party, she couldn’t help but feel daunted now that she was actually seeing it in person for the first time.

“Come on now, Miyo. We’re at the venue now. Make sure to act exactly as I taught you.”

A light tap from Hazuki brought Miyo back to reality.

She was right; Miyo couldn’t get distracted now. There were other guests around them, and they were already staring at her.

Puff out my chest, straighten out my back…

Move slowly. Be confident.

In spite of the strangers gazing at her, she strolled forward with composure, a half step behind Kiyoka’s dignified stride.

Though she was doing little more than walking, she grew worried that she wasn’t doing things correctly. But relief would come whenever the occasional step up or down popped up, and Kiyoka would gently take her hand to support her.

“This is it.”

“I’m ready.”

Firmly nodding to Kiyoka, Miyo took her first step into the hall.

Wow…

An entirely different world spread out before her eyes.

The ceiling was huge. From the outside, it had looked like a two-story building, but upon entering, she realized that it hadn’t been two separate floors, but two floors’ worth of open space within the hall. Straight ahead of her stood a stage with its curtains drawn, and a balcony wound around the three opposite sides of the hall.

There were tables everywhere, covered in pure white tablecloths and
set with luxurious high-quality food and drink unlike anything she had ever seen. The attendees were already enjoying their meals.

The guests all locked eyes on to the three of them as they entered the hall.

“Miyo. It’s okay.”

She was all right. She had worked so hard for this moment. She just needed to do what she’d been taught.

“Now then, Miyo. While you two go around greeting everyone, I’ll finish most of my salutations as well, so we’ll be separated for a little bit. But you can handle it, right?”

It was a little discouraging to be separated from Hazuki, but it was necessary.

Miyo nodded firmly.

“I-I’ll be fine…Sis.”

“Haah!”

Hazuki smiled with flushed cheeks at Miyo’s new form of address, which she’d spoken with bashful, upturned eyes.

“I’m happy you’d call me that, b-but it’s a bit embarrassing to hear it out of the blue… Now listen, Kiyoka, you absolutely can’t leave Miyo to fend for herself. Got it?”

“Yes, yes. I know.”

After Hazuki had finished lecturing her brother, Miyo and Kiyoka watched for a moment as she strode off, looking gallant even on her own, when…

“Oh, Commander!”

“…Godou.”

Kiyoka’s subordinate, already enjoying the party, waved to them as he approached.

His casual air, along with the loathsome expression that grew on Kiyoka’s face when Godou called out to him, were both the same as ever.

Miyo forgot where she was for a moment and broke into a smile.

“Oooh! You look lovely, Miss Miyo.”

“Thank you.”

“Please, I’m merely stating a veritable fact. You really have it good, Commander. I’m jealous.”

“…Listen, you—”

As per usual, Godou paid no heed to his superior’s threats and interjected with an, “Oh, that’s right,” before bringing his hands together.

“You haven’t greeted Major General Ookaito yet, right? I saw him over there.”

“Really? Thanks.”

“Oh, also, you haven’t seen
him
yet, have you?”

“Who?”

Miyo cocked her head as she listened to their conversation. Kiyoka, however, immediately picked up on who Godou was implying.

“You mean Tatsuishi?”

“Please, oh please, don’t say that name out loud! What if he hears you?!”

“…Huh. You guys really can’t stand each other.”

The memory of the two of them grappling with each other was fresh in Miyo’s mind.

Given that both men came off as playboys, at least as far as she could tell, she figured they would have hit it off. This must have been what people meant when they talked about disliking whom they resembled most.

“He’s an expert at pushing people’s buttons. A guy like him, a dispelling specialist? That’s a load of baloney, if you ask me.”

“Don’t say that. You’re only going to be working with him more from here on out.”

“C’mon, Commander, give me a break here!”

Leaving Godou’s pitiful groans behind, Miyo and Kiyoka headed off in Ookaito’s direction.

“You’re aware of Major General Ookaito, if I remember correctly.”

“I am. I’ve only heard about him from Godou, though. He’s your boss, right?”

“Right. He acts like a watchdog for the Special Anti-Grotesqueries Unit. He’s also the organizer of today’s gathering.”

The Ookaitos, a distinguished family known for producing many military men, had put this whole event together. Miyo had only just recently learned about them from Hazuki.

The head of the family, Masashi Ookaito, also seemed to have both a public and a private relationship with Kiyoka. As such, he was always accommodating him, no matter the circumstances.

“I-I’m nervous.”

“Well, he does look stern, I’ll admit that. But he’s a gentle guy, so there’s no need to worry.”

“…Okay.”

Despite his reassurance, Miyo’s nervousness showed no signs of abating.

Meanwhile, she heard the voice of a child call out to them from somewhere.

“Uncle Kiyoka!”

Uncle?

It was the first time she had ever heard Kiyoka referred to that way. Surprised, she looked over to where the voice had come from.

Scurrying up to them was a young boy of about ten years old. He was well dressed for a child his age, sporting a black blazer with shorts. As he gazed up at Kiyoka, his large eyes sparkled with delight.

…Wait. He looks an awful lot like someone I know…

Who was it?

Miyo felt slightly disheartened that she couldn’t immediately tell herself.

“Oh, Asahi. Haven’t seen you in a while.”

It was clear the boy was someone her fianc
é
was familiar with. Kiyoka wore a subtle but rare smile as he crouched down and put a hand on the boy’s head.

“Not since New Year’s!”

“Suppose you’re right.”

“Asahi! What did I say about running around during the party?!”

A big man in a military uniform followed after behind the boy, scowling. He seemed to be his father, but the two didn’t have much of a resemblance.

“Major General Ookaito, sir.”

“Sorry, Kiyoka. Asahi didn’t cause any trouble, did he?”

“No, we were just chatting a little. Forgive me for not coming to greet you sooner.”

“Don’t worry about it. You just got here.”

Miyo stared from behind Kiyoka at the stout man in front of her, taking care not to be rude about it.

He looked around forty years old. With his height, wide shoulders, and sturdy physique, he cut a dramatic figure. Though he wasn’t necessarily handsome, per se, his facial features were intense and masculine.

It was now clear to Miyo why some women were afraid of him.

“Sir. This is my fianc
é
e, Miyo Saimori.”

“A pleasure to meet you.”

At Kiyoka’s introduction, she made a slow and courteous bow.

While he didn’t seem to be an unsparing man, she would be mortified if a careless blunder on her part caused Kiyoka’s superior to leave with a bad impression of her.

Or so Miyo thought, but her fear proved to be a groundless one.

“Please, lift you head up. I hate it when I can’t see the face of who I’m talking to.”

“A-absolutely.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Masashi Ookaito. This here’s my son, Asahi. Come now, introduce yourself.”

“Hello. I’m Asahi Ookaito.”

Asahi introduced himself in a childish, slightly high-pitched tone of voice. Though he’d calmed down, a sharp contrast from his energy moments prior, Miyo still couldn’t help feeling soothed by his adorable charms.

“I’m Miyo Saimori… N-nice to meet you.”

Unaccustomed to interactions with children, she gave him a somewhat awkward smile.

Hazuki had taught her that she didn’t need to be too formal with kids, but when push came to shove, she didn’t quite get where that line was drawn.

“Hmph. You’ve found a very beautiful lady here, Kiyoka. Good for you.”

“……And what does that mean?”

Kiyoka replied with displeasure to Ookaito’s teasing remark.

Even Miyo, in all her cluelessness, could understand the pair was quite close with each other from watching them interact.

Nevertheless, neither man seemed to be a skilled conversationalist, so their discussion was shockingly fragmented.

“Kiyoka. How’ve you been feeling after what happened?”

“Fortunately, I’m back to perfect health.”

“Sorry I couldn’t come by and visit you personally.”

“Not at all, sir. The get-well gift you sent was plenty. Thank you very much.”

Kiyoka was right; while he’d been recovering, there were an unexpectedly large number of get-well gifts delivered to the house. The senders comprised a wide variety of people—some were military acquaintances, some were family connections, while others were Kiyoka’s own personal associates.

However, the sheer number of presents made it difficult for Miyo to deal with them all.

Miyo remembered that Ookaito had given them a stylishly designed hand towel. A far more practical item than the sorts of jelly desserts and other gifts of food her fianc
é
had received.

She’d felt that his thoughtfulness was befitting someone of his status.

“I see… I’m sure you’ve been busy now that you’re back, but I’ve been swamped lately myself as well. There were moments when I worried if this party would even happen.”

“…I wasn’t aware of this.”

“There was a lot I couldn’t be too open about. I could give you the details, but I’d probably get chewed out for it. At any rate, ask me about it later.”

Ookaito punctuated his words with a “Good grief,” and his shoulders drooped.

Miyo couldn’t make heads or tails of what the major general was talking about, and it seemed Kiyoka was in the same boat. The two of them reflexively exchanged glances with each other.

Just then, Asahi shouted.

“Oh, it’s Mother!”

“Hey, stay put.”

Ookaito grabbed his son by the back of his neck as he started to go running off again. Stopped in his tracks, Asahi pouted in visible displeasure.

“But, Father, Mother’s over there.”

“I know, I know, but don’t run. No jogging, either, got it?”

“……Okaaay.”

Still holding on to his son’s neck, Ookaito sighed. “Impish rascal’s always giving me trouble. Honestly, who in the world did you take after?”

“Well, it’s obvious—”

Kiyoka suddenly narrowed his eyes.

“Who, sir? It’s got to be his mother—”

“Oh, what are we talking about now?”

A voice that was very familiar to Miyo abruptly cut into the conversation.

When she turned around, she found Hazuki standing with a beautiful smile on her face.

“Mother!”

Huh?

Having escaped Ookaito’s grip, Asahi readily wrapped his arms around Hazuki with glee. She hugged him back in turn.

“Asahi, have you been behaving?”

“Uh-huh. I’m doing well with both my studying and my training!”

“Are you now? What a good little boy.”

Hazuki was a mother, and Asahi her son. In other words, that meant…

Incidentally, Miyo had felt as though Asahi looked like someone she knew, but now that the two of them were together, the resemblance was as plain as day. There was no denying it.

So that’s it. Hazuki’s ex-husband is Mr. Ookaito, then.

And Asahi was their child. Everything was consistent with what Hazuki had told her.

Though to be honest, Miyo still had a hard time believing Hazuki was a mother. Nevertheless, seeing her actually act the part in front of her was strangely convincing.

“……Kiyoka.”

Miyo pulled subtly on his sleeve and addressed him quietly to make sure the others didn’t notice.

“What is it?”

“Hazuki and Asahi look very much alike, don’t they?”

“Yeah… And his impishness definitely comes from the same person he got his looks from.”

He was right that Hazuki seemed as if she would have been a mischievous kid. Even as an adult, there were times when she had both childlike innocence and too much energy.

“Well, um, so, Hazuki. Been keeping well?”

Ookaito asked, eyes wandering around the hall. This prompted Hazuki to bat her lashes and smile.

“But of course! I really should be asking you that, though. Are you sleeping enough? Eating properly? Keeping yourself busy is all fine and dandy, but ruining your health will make all that hard work go to waste.”

“You’re worried about me?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Do I seem that coldhearted to you?”

“No, no, I didn’t mean it like that…”

“Don’t worry, Mother, I’m making sure to keep a close eye on Father.”

“Oh, thank you, Asahi. Mommy’s reliable little helper, aren’t you?”

The unreserved, lighthearted banter between the three of them was a typical family conversation. A happy family, without a care in the world. It was impossible to tell from the outside that Ookaito and Hazuki were divorced.

Miyo remembered that when Hazuki had touched on her past, she never once said she was bitter or resentful of her ex-husband. Now she understood that, if anything, Hazuki’s regrets stemmed entirely from how much she cared for her former partner.

“What’s wrong, Miyo?”

Kiyoka’s concern, which came in spite of the fact she hadn’t said anything, caught her off guard before slowly permeating into her heart.

Miyo fought to hold back tears that had no good reason to be welling up.

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

“You sure?”

“It’s just, I’m pleased that everyone seems happy…”

Seeing the looks on Hazuki’s, Asahi’s, and Ookaito’s faces made her understand.

Their family might have been a slight departure from the norm. But this was the arrangement that suited them most.

A botched marriage wasn’t enough to negate family ties. Miyo knew that was the case because they still loved one another.

“The bonds of family aren’t so easily broken.”

Yoshirou really had been right.

Family wasn’t that fragile. Presented with irrefutable proof of that fact, Miyo couldn’t help but be deeply moved.

The party livened up considerably. Now that they had a few drinks in them, the guests were all gaily chitchatting away.

Various entertainers had been introduced onstage about midway through, so now the banquet was in full swing.

Though she was always with Kiyoka or Hazuki and exclusively spent the time listening to their conversation, Miyo had also grown much
more accustomed to the environment, so she was slowly beginning to enjoy herself.

“What did I tell you? Parties aren’t so bad now, are they?”

“You’re right. They’re fun once you get used to them.”

Miyo nodded giddily as she stood next to Hazuki and sipped from her glass of water.

Despite her agreement, Miyo still didn’t have the confidence to stride through the hall by herself like Hazuki.

As she got a handle on things, she realized this was a good opportunity to identify the areas she needed to polish next.

On that note, she was surprised at the frequency with which men she didn’t know had struck up conversations with her, so she definitely had some examples to work with.

“Oh, Kiyoka’s coming over.”

“Looks like it…”

Kiyoka had mingled with some men for a brief while, but Miyo could now see him approaching.

She waved her hand a little, which caused him to suddenly avert his eyes, but when she considered it was simply out of embarrassment, she found his response amusing rather than insulting.

“Miyo. How are you finding the party?”

“That’s the
exact
same thing I just asked her before you came over.”

Hazuki looked exasperated. She was unsure how many times it had happened that day, but Miyo smiled at the concern they both had for her.

“Thank you for worrying about me. I’ve been slowly warming up to it, so I’m fine.”

“You have? I’m glad… Sis, mind if I borrow Miyo for a moment?”

“Fine with me. Go enjoy yourselves.”

Miyo was once again led along by Kiyoka as they moved through the party venue.

“Where are we going?”

“To meet someone who can provide details on a few matters.”

Miyo immediately understood that the “few matters” Kiyoka was
talking about were in reference to the recent events with the Usuba family and the Burial Grounds.

But just who was this person who was well informed about it all? If he meant Ookaito, then she wished he had said something before they went to greet him.

Perhaps it involved the reason why the major general had mentioned he was so busy.

As she contemplated this, she was surprised to find that they had left the hall entirely and gone around the back of the building.

They continued walking for a few moments before coming up against a large window on the other side of a terrace.

Where is this…?

The sun had already set, but the terrace looked fairly bright as it was illuminated by gas lamps.

She saw people near the couch on the patio. One was seated while another stood by next to them. From where she and Kiyoka were standing, Miyo could only see their backs.

“Prince Takaihito.”

As usual, the name Kiyoka called out didn’t resonant with her at all. While she felt as if she had heard that name somewhere before, unfortunately Miyo was still very ignorant of the world at large.

Despite the relaxed setting, there was a faint tension in the air, making it clear to her, at least, that the situation was serious.

“You’re here. Please, come hither.”

“As you wish.”

The person seated on the couch beckoned them over.

Her eyes gradually acclimated to the darkness, and as she drew closer, she was able to get a good look at their face.

They were uncannily beautiful. Neither large nor small in stature, they simultaneously resembled both a young boy and a young girl. Their overpowering presence captivated Miyo. She barely managed to deduce from his unadorned yet high-quality kimono that he was a man.

He might not have been of this world at all. The man who inspired such awe smiled as he drank from his sake cup.

“This must be the Saimori girl, yes?”

“That’s right. This is my fianc
é
e, Miyo Saimori.”

“P-pleasure to meet you.”

It was the same greeting she had repeated over and over that day, and yet she couldn’t properly get the words out. The tense atmosphere had affected her more than she’d realized.

She was only able to breathe because she had Kiyoka standing at her side.

Her stalwart fianc
é
then gently whispered in her ear.

“This is the emperor’s second son and bearer of the ability of Divine Revelation, Prince Takaihito.”

“His Majesty’s…?!”

She couldn’t believe it. No wonder she felt as if she had heard the name before.

There was no doubt that any citizen in the country had often spied the name on the pages of magazines and newspapers.

Miyo’s face went markedly pale.

“Please, please,” Takaihito said with a faint smile.

“There is no need for any formalities. As you can see, before you sits not the son of the emperor but merely Kiyoka’s childhood friend, Takaihito.”

“B-but still…”

“Miyo. It’s all right.”

“O-okay.”

Though she assented, she still couldn’t help being anxious since she was so inexperienced. She worried that she would unwittingly commit some grave discourtesy.

Miyo quietly made up her mind to do her best to remain silent.

It was then that she finally had the presence of mind to look at the other person who remained standing quietly behind Takaihito.

So it was Mr. Ookaito, then.

She greeted the large military man, whom she’d met for the first time that very day, with a glance.

With how late it was, Asahi must’ve already headed home. Ookaito was a military officer, so she could easily expect him to serve as Takaihito’s bodyguard.

The imperial prince’s security was still far too understaffed. Though it might have been a necessity for him to move about incognito.

“Come, both of you, sit.”

Following his suggestion, Kiyoka sat next to Takaihito, while Miyo sat in a chair.

It felt strange to sit as equals with someone like him, but refusing his suggestion would be just as bad. Either way, the development only added more strain on her tense heart.

“A drink, Kiyoka?”

“Thank you.”

Kiyoka deferentially took the cup and brought the sake up to his mouth.

“A drink for you as well, daughter of the Saimoris?”

“Oh, um, I, well—”

Hazuki had warned her about imbibing any alcohol. But an offer from royalty was hard to refuse.

As she tripped over her words, Kiyoka promptly rescued her.

“Prince Takaihito, Miyo is unaccustomed to alcohol, so I’d ask for something else, if possible.”

“I see. In that case, let me prepare some other sweet drink for her instead.”

Having managed to get out of that conundrum, Miyo sighed with relief.

It wasn’t long before her beverage was brought to her.

The glass was filled with a slightly thick amber liquid. When she took a sip, it seemed to be some sort of thick fruit juice, both bitter and sweet, cut with water and sweetened with honey. Its taste soaked through her tired body.

“Now then, where should we begin…?”

“Do you know about everything, Prince Takaihito?”

“For the most part, I would say. I do not know the feelings that beat in a person’s chest, so I wouldn’t say I understand it all.”

Takaihito said, glancing over toward Miyo.

“…We’ve caused you much pain. The Usubas, the Saimoris—because of my father, the path they were meant to follow was sent into disarray.”

His words didn’t really click for Miyo.

Takaihito’s father was the emperor. Putting aside the Usubas and their bargain with the emperor, what did he mean by saying the Saimoris had been led astray as well? Furthermore, what in the world did he mean when he said that “we’ve” caused her pain?

Kiyoka seemed slightly hesitant to speak up.

“In other words, and forgive me for my irreverent phrasing, the mastermind behind everything…was actually the emperor?”

“That would indeed be so. Truly a disgrace.”

It was utterly preposterous to claim the emperor had been behind it all. The scale was so impossibly large that it was difficult to suddenly accept.

Takaihito fiddled with the sake cup in his hands as he looked far off into the distance.

“Father was especially fearful of the Gift of Dream-Sight. Ever since he was crown prince.”

The supernatural ability of Dream-Sight could even surpass the Gift of Divine Revelation, depending on the degree of skill and talent the user possessed.

Both Kiyoka and Miyo had heard as much at the Usuba estate.

The emperor had been gripped with a sense of danger for a long time—if Divine Revelation was inferior to Dream-Sight, wouldn’t both he and his family be ousted from their position?

“But as long as no one was born with Dream-Sight, it posed no threat to him. Even if Father did fear the Usubas, I doubt he thought
to actually do anything about it. But then, Sumi Usuba was born to the family.”

With her awakening to the Gift of Telepathy, the Usubas eagerly anticipated that her child may be born with Dream-Sight.

But from the emperor’s perspective, it was almost as if his anxieties of a possible Dream-Sight Gift-user had manifested and attacked him. His fears were suddenly tinged with a sense of reality.

Miyo couldn’t believe it.

Had something from so long ago really all connected back to this recent incident?

“It is likely Father schemed to weaken the Usubas’ power even further.”

Basically, even if a Gift-user with Dream-Sight was born, they wouldn’t pose a threat while the Usuba family was on the verge of ruin. The power of the Usubas had already been plenty suppressed, but the emperor still considered it insufficient.

Kiyoka’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“In that case, the period of economic slump for Tsuruki Trading—”

“Does indeed seem to be my father’s doing, yes. He used his influence behind the scenes to ensure business went poorly for Tsuruki Trading. Thoroughly, at that.”

“And because of that, the Usuba family fell on hard times and could barely support themselves, is that it?”

“It would seem so.”

The Usuba family was pushed to the brink of extinction just as the emperor had hoped. But that wasn’t enough to satisfy him.

“On top of this, Father feared Sumi Usuba would marry another member of the Usuba family and produce a child thick with Usuba blood.”

“He was worried that the more Usuba blood the child had, the stronger the power of Dream-Sight in the child would be?”

“At the very least, my father seemed to think as much. Hence, he needed to obstruct her from marrying a member of her clan.”

However, the emperor was not foolish enough to link the Usuba bloodline to a family completely without supernatural abilities. Then along came the Saimoris, who were almost entirely lacking in Gift-users, and whose fall from nobility was clearly on the horizon.

“The emperor disclosed the power of Dream-Sight to the Saimoris, passed them a heavy sum, and incited them into pursuing Sumi Usuba. All that mattered was separating the woman from her family; he couldn’t care less whether the Usubas recovered or faded away thereafter. Or perhaps it was all premeditated from the start. I can’t say for sure… Though he is my father, I cannot help being impressed by his vindictiveness.”

“Yoshirou Usuba told us they didn’t know where the money had come from. So you’re saying that was because it was from His Majesty…”

From the Saimoris’ perspective, the arrangement was nothing but beneficial.

They gained money and a valuable bloodline, and since the proposal had been handed down from the emperor himself, anyone would think they had no other choice but to comply.

“From there, it is as you both already know.”

Sumi Usuba married Shinichi Saimori and gave birth to Miyo. Then, her Gift of Dream-Sight was concealed, so everyone besides Sumi was convinced she lacked powers… Even the emperor himself.

Takaihito broke off, poured himself some more cold sake, and gulped it down.

“I think I get the gist of it. When Miyo was ousted from the Saimori estate, the seal on her abilities broke, and His Majesty also became aware of the Gift she possessed. Was I the target of the Burial Grounds incident, then?”

Kiyoka sighed as he spoke before draining the remaining sake in his cup.

“Indeed,” Takaihito confirmed, turning his thin lips up in the shape of a crescent moon.

“With your marriage arrangement finalized, Father added you as
one of his targets. The way he saw it, the Kudous being joined with the power of Dream-Sight posed the greatest threat of all. Releasing the seal on the Burial Grounds was a ploy to physically distance you both and to lay the blame for the incident on the Special Anti-Grotesqueries Unit and force it from its position of power. And if things played out just right, he would have sought your death, too.”

“…I was actually in danger of just that. But why did he force Arata Usuba to cooperate with his plan?”

“He was simply using him temporarily to separate the two of you, nothing more. Though I am sure he also envisioned he could skillfully create friction between the Usubas and Kudous to encourage their mutual destruction.”

Miyo still felt as if something wasn’t right.

As she listened to Takaihito’s explanation, she couldn’t help getting the impression that the emperor seemed to be awfully anxious. It felt as if he was aiming to kill two, even three, birds with one stone.

Everyone present appeared to have the same sense that something didn’t add up.

“You are right. My father was panicking… I would ask that the next part not leave this terrace.”

“……?”

“My father, the reigning emperor, has already lost his Divine Revelation.”

Stunned silence fell over them all.

Possessing Divine Revelation was a necessary qualification for being emperor. If he had already lost it, it would go beyond a simple imperial family scandal.

No one here could breathe a word of this information to anyone else.

“He is also very sick; even getting out of bed is difficult for him. He simply passes his days sprawled out on the floor.”

His Divine Revelation was lost, and his body was withering away.

It was only natural he would panic. He was on the brink of losing both his status and his life.

“As abdication cannot be sanctioned, my father will not be stepping down from the throne for the time being. Regarding Divine Revelation, the only choice is to have me serve in his stead.”

Miyo suddenly recalled what her cousin had said.

At the time, Arata had said that the emperor had contacted him and told Arata that the Special Anti-Grotesqueries Unit would have their hands full with his Divine Revelation. It made sense, as even if the emperor had lost his Divine Revelation, he had been the one pulling the strings anyway. Everything all fit into place.

At the same time, it became clear that Arata hadn’t told her the truth about any of it.

“…Um.”

Miyo spoke up suddenly, and both Kiyoka and Takaihito turned their eyes toward her.

“Prince Takaihito.”

“Hmm. What is it, then?”

She put down her glass, its contents having grown completely lukewarm.

Miyo didn’t understand complex conversations like this one. She assumed that she didn’t fully comprehend certain elements of everything they had discussed up until that point, either. However, there was something she absolutely had to say.

“…Will there be any punishment for the Usuba family or my cousin?”

“Punishment, you say?”

“Yes. My cousin made a deal with His Majesty and acted according to his command. But in the end, he went against those orders and cooperated to help me… That would be treason, wouldn’t it…?”

The emperor would retain his position until his demise. That meant he would continue to hold authority. The fact that Arata hadn’t followed his orders wouldn’t change.

“That is true,” Takaihito agreed.

“The Usubas aren’t at fault. I was simply being selfish and forced them to act on my behalf, so please…please…”

“I understand.”

The beautiful imperial prince, with his well-sculpted face, chuckled softly.

“There is no need to worry; neither you nor your line have committed any crime. The Usubas are clearly the victims in all of this. Victims of my father’s egotistical machinations. Moreover, it would be the height of foolishness to punish the injured party and harm such a precious bloodline in the process. Quite a ridiculous proposition, would you not agree?”

“B-but if the emperor doesn’t pardon us—”

“Stay your fears. It will not be long before I am officially made crown prince. Soon, everything will be laid on my shoulders, the emperor’s duties included. Under the pretext of his recuperation, all communication from the outside world has been cut off from my father, so he is unable to do a thing.”

There would be no punishment.

Since the imperial prince himself had declared it, Miyo heaved a sigh of relief.

Just then, however, Kiyoka interjected.

“I think it’s obvious that the Usubas won’t be charged with anything, but for His Majesty…he’s effectively been confined to his quarters. Isn’t there a chance people who are unhappy with this arrangement will come forward?”

“Hmm. A few of the people in the know have indeed expressed those sentiments.”

“All the more reason—”

“Kiyoka. Though it may seem otherwise, this latest incident has made my blood boil.”

Instantly, an iciness radiated from Takaihito, which made both Miyo and Kiyoka—even Ookaito—swallow hard.

“Innocent civilians were meaninglessly sacrificed because of my father’s self-serving actions. There can be no country without the people, yet he forgot this truth and made light of them to serve his selfish desires.
Anyone capable of such madness has no right to continue sitting on the throne.”

Miyo saw fierce anger in Takaihito’s gaze as he made his judgments clear.

However, in a blink of an eye, he concealed that fire, shifting back to his pleasant smile from before as he stood up.

“Forgive me. It seems I let myself get too heated. It is time for me to leave.”

“Allow me to see you off.”

“Hmm. Should a host leave his guests behind, Ookaito?”

“No need to worry. I will return afterward.”

“Then I accept your offer.”

Ookaito followed closely after Takaihito.

After taking a few steps forward, the beautiful prince turned back toward Miyo and Kiyoka, who were both speechless.

“I am delighted we were able to talk this evening. Let us meet again.”

“Yes. I promise.”

Next to Kiyoka, Miyo silently bowed.