It had to be.
I fell asleep thinking about how I’d spend the rest of my life supporting a man I couldn’t help but worship and envy.
About how much I loved him and couldn’t wait to watch him succeed.
Chapter 13
Haru
It took three days of riding for me to finally begin to relax.
That should have been my first warning.
The trip had been mercifully boring. Autumn painted the hillsides in shades of rust and gold, farmers worked their fields with steady rhythms unchanged by distant wars, and twice we’d even stopped at small villages where the innkeepers bowed and brought us their best food without asking questions.
If I didn’t think too hard about where we were going or why, I could almost pretend this was a grand adventure with companions I trusted and the open road stretching before us.
“You’re doing that thing again,” Esumi observed from beside me.
“What thing?”
He smirked and flicked his hair back. “The one where you forget to frown for five whole seconds. It’s deeply concerning.”
“I’m allowed moments of not-misery.”
“Are you?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Because you’ve been very committed to misery for three days straight. I was starting to worry you’d forgottenhowto smile.”
“I haven’t forgotten. I’m just conserving energy.”
“For what? The performance of Imperial grief when we reach Bara?”
“For not strangling you when you get too clever.”
His grin was unrepentant.
Behind us, I heard Kaneko murmur something to Yoshi that made the younger man laugh—an actual genuine laugh that echoed across the empty road.
Giichi rode at the front of our formation with three of the Samurai. The other three followed at the rear, their vigilance constant but unobtrusive. So far, the greatest danger we’d faced was when Yoshi’s horse spooked at a rabbit and nearly threw him into a ditch.
“I think we might actually make it to Heiwa without incident,” I said, keeping my voice low. “Maybe the gods are feeling generous.”
“Or maybe they’re saving the worst for when you’ve let your guard down,” Kaneko replied, earning a chuckle from Yoshi.
“Thank you for that comforting thought. I suddenly miss the days when you two were terrified of my royal wrath.”
“We are here to serve, Your Most Holy and Divine Highness.” Kaneko bowed awkwardly in his saddle. “And, forgive this one, but your royal wrath was never really a thing.”
Yoshi, the traitorous boy, nodded and shrugged.
“What?” I glared, trying to look as stern as, well, an emperor. “I am truly terrible when angered. You should fear my wrath!”
“You’re insufferable, you mean,” Esumi joined the fray.
“That, too,” Kaneko agreed.
“I should have you all beheaded or flogged or at least starved of dinner. Iwillhave your desserts!”
“Yes, Most Exalted One. Excellent options. Starve children so the people may know your grace and favor,” Esumi snarked.
