Worry
Yoshiro couldn’t sit still.
It wasn’t because the program dances or music weren’t entertaining enough. It was because his mind was somewhere else, worrying.
He glanced to the far eastern side, at the fourth-highest platform, on the chair where Kazuki would supposedly be seated. The man hasn’t recovered from that fainting spell he had. Yoshiro started to worry, out of guilt. He didn’t want Kazuki to die from the wounds he got by punishment for simply helping him survive that war. All the more he couldn’t concentrate on the dancing ladies on the stage in front of him. He glanced to his side and saw Nobu wasn’t enjoying the banquet either. The man was solemn and would often be found frowning and drinking. Yoshiro figured Kazuki must be in a grave condition if Nobu’s that distracted.
His father’s eunuch approached him. The eunuch curtsied, “Your Royal Highness,”
Yoshiro lowered only his eyes.
“His Majesty, the King, tells you to sit properly and stop fidgeting.”
He glanced behind his shoulders at his father. Jaesook, his father, was intently staring at him. He had no other choice but to bow his head.
The head Eunuch was about to leave when Yoshiro’s eunuch arrived. The man bowed before his Master and the head Eunuch. Both returned the curtsy.
“Your Royal Highness, I have found a suitable place for you to alleviate your bladder.”
The Head Eunuch’s eyes widened. He glanced between the Eunuch and at the Crown prince alternatingly then he whispered to the Prince, “Why have you not told me, Your Royal Highness?”
“Obviously, there is no need to inform anyone of my needs except for Eunuch Lee.”
The Head Eunuch nodded his head, “I agree, Your Royal Highness. However, there is one just behind the stage, in the monk’s---“
“I’ve sent my Eunuch there. He says it’s not to my liking and I don’t want to see the place just to prove it so if you’d excuse me, I need to go. Please relay the message to my father.”
The Head Eunuch nodded his head, “Surely, Your Royal Highness.”
As soon as the Head Eunuch left, Eunuch Lee quickly whispered to his Master, “I’ve found a secret route to Prince Kazuki’s room. I’ve also gathered a medical team.”
Yoshiro lightened up, “How is he?”
Eunuch Lee’s face darkened, “He still hasn’t gained consciousness.”
The Crown Prince’s mood followed suit. It was only a while when the Head Eunuch came back to relay the King’s approval for Yoshiro to leave. The man wasted no time: he turned to his father, curtsied, and left with his Eunuch. They no longer alerted Yoshiro’s entourage; it would only cause rumors. They followed the regular path to a bathroom until when no one saw them, they started on another path towards Kazuki’s room. Eventually, the medical team Eunuch Lee had promised joined them, following behind Yoshiro’s steps.
Along the way, Eunuch Lee asked, “Your Royal Highness, do you really have to visit him?”
Yoshiro stopped and thought over his actions. He was thinking solely about his emotions. Oh, where was his judgment? He thought of turning back but he was already close to Kazuki’s room. What a waste---never mind, let it be a waste. He turned his back and retraced his steps. Eunuch Lee was surprised but said nothing. He was already used to his Master’s ever-changing mind.
“Yoshiro!”
The Crown Prince halted. He recognized the voice and his face quickly turned sour. He turned around and frowned, “How dare you call me by my first name---“
“I’m alive! Be a little lenient, could you?” Kazuki smiled, his eyes almost buried by his cheeks being lifted up by the curves of his lips.
Yura was beside Kazuki, helping the man walk. Miurio was behind Kazuki and behind her was their entourage, both Yura’s, Miurio’s, and Kazuki’s combined. All curtsied before the Northern Crown Prince. Eunuch Lee and his little medical team bowed and like the other servants, he didn’t straighten his back not until the conversation between the princes would be over.
Miurio straightened and sighed, Oh, another hindrance. How many hours will this take? The banquet will totally be over by the time I get there.
As if hearing her thoughts, Kazuki glanced at his sister over his shoulder and smiled, “Go ahead. I know you’re impatient.”
Miurio’s face brightened. She quickly curtsied at her brother and when she passed by Yoshiro, she and her ladies curtsied again before running to the banquet.
Yura smiled and whispered to her husband, “She’s so adorable.”
“Hah, if only you knew what she truly is.”
The woman chuckled and shook her head, ”Oh, why do brothers look down on their sisters?”
Yoshiro cleared his throat. Kazuki and Yura eyed him.
What a great couple they look like.
Yura bowed her head and stepped back to allow the both of them to talk. Kazuki smiled as he saw the group of doctors and nurses behind Yoshiro. Yoshiro blushed but he tried to keep his poise. He cleared his throat.
“Well, I see that you are okay now. I have no business with you anymore.” He curtsied and without his curtsy being returned, he turned the other way when Kazuki said:
“Thank you.”
He stopped.
“But you didn’t have to feel guilty or anything like that. I told you your debt with me is already settled.”
Yoshiro continued his way without replying. His entourage followed behind his every step. Kazuki watched as the Eunuch’s lamp was out of his sight and the last of the entourage disappeared. Only then did he sigh, “That man is difficult.”
Yura smiled as she took a step forward. She glanced at her husband’s eyes then chuckled, “Aren’t you the same?”
Kazuki rolled his eyes and laughed, “You’re one to talk, huh?”
...
Yoshiro and his Eunuch returned to the stage, only to find that the banquet was over. He let his breath out, out of relief. That program was boring him to death (or he was extremely distracted to enjoy it.) He felt glad that the next part of the banquet, the more-exclusive portion, has started.
He stared at the building where the stage, shaped like stairs, has been leading to the monks’ building. The place was where the next region to be fought for would be announced. He started to ascend the stairs but before he could reach the doors, the King’s Eunuch awaited him. The Head Eunuch had a stern expression on his face. That was when Yoshiro knew his father sensed something suspicious in his actions.
“You already know why I have been sent here, Your Royal Highness.” The old man curtsied.
Yoshiro sighed, “If that’s the case, then, I don’t have to explain anything to you anymore.” He curtsied as goodbye and started his way. His Eunuch followed, lighting his way with a lamp.
“Your Royal Highness, guilt binds people, whether they are a Northerner or a Southerner but you cannot be bound to this guilt for all eternity. The Southerners are known to be treacherous. That doctor-prince will use it one day against---“
“I’ll hear none of that. I know what I am doing and I won’t let this be his advantage.”
The Head Eunuch sighed, he’s as stubborn as his father when His Majesty was younger. He turned, only to see the Crown Prince staring at him. Yoshiro nodded towards the door. The old man sighed, took a few steps forward, and announced the Crown Prince’s arrival.
....
Although tradition has stated that the right side of the table is where a wife would sit, Miurio sat beside her brother, Crown Prince Nobu. Nobu didn’t protest at all and instead, welcomed his sister to his side. Once seated, Miurio sighed as if she carried a heavy burden on her shoulders.
Nobu turned to her, “What’s the matter, Miurio? Are you ill?”
Miurio pouted and fumbled with her fingers. Nobu saw there were wounds again on the side of her nails, something his sister only does when she’s anxious. He shook his head, “What’s bothering you?” and repeated the same question thrice more.
His sister complained, “Why do you repeat your question?”
Nobu shrugged, “That is because you’d often hide things from me…just like Kazuki.”
“Am I being interrogated about Kazuki---“
“No, but what happened to you?”
The Princess sighed again, “It’s the Northern Court ladies. They’ve called me a demon because my eyes are red and my hair is white.”
Nobu chuckled---he tried not to but there, his laughter went out of his control. Miurio elbowed him[4]. He straightened and smiled at his sister, “Isn’t white skin the trend today? And look, you have got it effortlessly. You are a living painting, Miurio, and don’t worry. If they tell you that, then, it means I’m a demon---“ Nobu stopped.
Despite knowing her brother’s message, she waited for the continuation but it never came. Nobu’s eyes were somewhere else. His sister followed where his attention was and to her surprise, she found him staring at the Northern Crown Prince with such strange-looking eyes. She wanted to ask if he felt guilty for almost killing the man but when the Crown Prince moved away, Nobu’s eyes did not follow. Instead, it remained on the Crown Prince’s Eunuch. She saw the pain in her brother’s eyes but could not decipher what all this had meant.
FOOTNOTES
[1] The stage looks like stairsteps. The highest is where the kings and queens would sit and they would see everything from their view. The second highest would be for the crown princes, Nobu and Yoshiro, while the third-highest would be the other princes, which would be Kazuki for the South while none from the North. The last step before the ground would be the princesses’. On the sides of the tables was a legit stair where they’d climb up to get to a building called Monk’s place (bc monks sleep in here). In there, they’d discuss the next region to be fought for.
[2] You cannot call a royalty by their first name except when they allow it or if you’re their parent but even their parents rarely call them by their first name.
[3] Curtsies are always returned, just like salutes.
[4] Although this type of behavior isn’t allowed in their time; them doing this casually just proves how close they are as siblings.