The cool night air seemed to calm her troubled thoughts, after a moment, Akiko sighed. Seimei's words had reassured her a little. The nagging thought persisted at the back of her mind. Was she just seeking any excuse to shed her burden of guilt?
Seimei quietly observed her expression and smiled at her as she turned to look at him.
"Don't worry, my child. I've just received an order from the palace to pray for Shouko's recovery. I'll do everything in my power to help her regain her health. "
"Really?" Akiko looked up, eyes distant.
Seimei nodded sincerely, and then looked over meaningfully at Tenitsu. She acknowledged with a nod and stood, quietly approaching the pair.
"That's enough for tonight, Princess, please take care to rest early."
Akiko nodded without protest and stood, pulling her robes tighter around her shoulders.
"Good night then" She bowed to Seimei and after a pause, waved to her small audience of mononoke as well. "Sleep well !"
Seimei nodded to her as she turned away, watching as she disappeared around the corner in the direction of her own quarters.
The courtyard gradually quieted as the assembled mononoke wandered off, and the night returned to it's quiet chorus of crickets.
The small ape-like mononoke and the horned mononoke had been the last to leave. Suzaku had glared at them as she scampered over the wall.
"Those guys getting too comfortable with all this." he scowled.
Seimei didn't answer. He looked down, knitting his brows, face becoming troubled again. Of' course, the cancellation of Shouko's imperial induction ceremony , was no fault of Akiko.... nor did it have anything to do with Shouko's illness. Leaning back, he lifted his head to the night sky, his gaze lost in the boundless sea of stars.
"The stars trailing Polaris have darkened."
A dark aura, it's presence undetected has made it's way into the palace to settle beside Princess Shouko. A malice intended not for the emperor, but for Shouko herself.
To protect Shouko, it was imperative to find the source of the aura. Shouko's place in the palace has not yet been establish, should anything befall her, the position of the Fujiwara family would be affected. But in the end, he would do all in his power to protect her, even if only to keep his promise to Akiko.
Seimei stood with a sigh, still lost in thought.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login