Chapter 26

26

A celebratory luncheon is served in the banquet hall. I sit with my cousins minus the Shining Twins, whose seats are empty. Tables are draped in swaths of white linen and set with crystal and china. Low flower arrangements display golden chrysanthemums. Chandeliers cast a warm glow, and chilled, chrysanthemum-soaked sake is served. Toasts for longevity are made. The emperor sits at the head of the table, my father next to him. The prime minister is present as well; upon entering, I inclined my head to him, and he bowed. All is well. The mood is jolly.

“All I’m saying is”—Yoshi uses his fork to push a bit of pork with brown sauce around his plate—“you should consider releasing bald eagles instead of doves at your wedding. You know, as an homage to our fair American cousin here.” My laugh spurs Yoshi on. “We’d have to have them imported from the States, but that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“I am one hundred percent sure Fish and Wildlife Services would not go for that,” I pipe in.

“Chickens then, maybe? Wasn’t that supposed to be the national bird?” Yoshi asks.

Masahito sighs, slumps back in his chair, and throws his napkin on top of his plate. “Turkey. The national bird for the United States was supposed to be the turkey.”

“Well, that shouldn’t be a problem,” says Yoshi. “Turkey it is. They don’t fly and aren’t nearly as magnificent, but I guess in a pinch, they’ll do.”

Sachiko rolls her eyes. “I’m not releasing doves, eagles, or turkeys at my wedding.”

“Yes,” Ryu chirps. “Save the idea for your own wedding, Yoshi. Whoever the very unfortunate girl may be.”

Yoshi pouts and frowns at the same time. “Don’t blame me when the wedding is a bore. You could’ve had turkeys.”

I wipe the corners of my mouth, take a sip of sake, and let my eyes scan the room. The wall behind the emperor is papered in silk, the print a blazing sunset. White-gloved servers line the walls alongside imperial guards. I find him. Our eyes connect, then dart away.

Slowly, I stand. “Excuse me.”

“Can’t hold her sake,” Yoshi announces at my departure.

The hall is quiet, but there are a few stragglers—a dignitary speaking on the phone, a couple of chamberlains squabbling over schedules, the Shining Twins’ ladies-in-waiting … huh. They’re blocking the bathroom, as if guarding it. Curious. One holds a glass of water in her hand and opens the door. I glimpse the Shining Twins bent over a woman. Their mother. Midori. Her hands are pressed against her head. She is dressed to the nines in a silk gown, but it is clear she is unraveling. Harsh words are muttered lowly and the lady-in-waiting retreats, water untouched. My steps slow. Pause. Then I’m turning. The ladies-in-waiting stand shoulder to shoulder as if to stop me from entering. Like there’s a chance of that. I look sharply at them, let the weight of my stare settle on their shoulders. They part, gazes downcast.

I step forward, open the door and make sure it’s closed before I speak. “Is everything okay?” I ask softly.

Midori moans low and averts her head. The twins’ eyes narrow at me. They step in front of their mother, hiding her. I shift, trying to peer around them. “Do you need me to get someone or something? Water? A doctor?”

Noriko steps forward. Her dress is a high-necked, sky blue number. It complements the angry gold flecks in her eyes. “You will not speak of this to anyone,” she says.

“Of course, I won’t—”

Akiko comes to her side. She’s in pastel green. Her hands curl into fists at her sides. “You don’t belong here.”

I back up. “I won’t tell anyone.”

“You even think of it and we’ll ruin you,” Noriko promises.

“Like I said, I won’t tell anyone. But this isn’t the ideal place. If you can, you should try to move her.”

The twins share a look. It’s Noriko who speaks. “We will decide what’s best for our mother. Now please go.”

I take a beat, eyes flickering to each. It’s really none of my business. Time to move on. I switch on a smile. “I hope you feel better,” I say, voice rising to reach their mother. They watch me as I exit.

Back in the hallway, I resume my course. I walk away from the banquet hall, deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole. I turn right. This wide hallway is nearly empty. Two imperial guards positioned under bamboo lanterns stand at attention as I pass. The red carpet hushes my footsteps as they become more hurried, more frantic to match my beating heart.

Finally, I come to a set of doors. I slide them open and close them softly behind me. It’s the same room where my photograph was taken earlier. Through the windows the sun is bright and light filters in, dust particles suspended.

The doors slide open. I whip around. Akio. I knew he’d follow. For a moment, he stands quietly, watching me with a tilt of his head. The sunlight catches him, lighting up all the hard planes in his face. He is beautiful. Cut from marble and glass. “You left the banquet,” is all he says.

I smile gently. “You said we needed to talk.”

He trudges forward. “Right.”

I tip my chin up. “So?”

Silence stretches on. He shakes his head. “I’m not sure how to begin.” I stare at him, transfixed. Heart lodged in my throat and all that. He reaches out, fingers skirting down my elbow to my palm, then catching mine. “Izumi. Princess. Radish.” He pulls me close. “Will you dance with me?”

“I don’t know,” I hesitate. My head is spinning. “Last time didn’t go so well.”

“Last time, I was a fool.”

When the man is right, he’s right. I place a hand on his shoulder. “We don’t have any music.” He’d said the same to me before.

At last, he smiles. “I’ve come prepared.” He slips his phone from his pocket, scrolls through the options, and chooses a song. “The Rose” starts playing. “I couldn’t find the Gay Men’s Chorus version. The original Bette Midler will have to do.”

“I’ll get over it.” My body relaxes with a sigh. All is right with the world.

He rests his chin on my head. We start to sway together. “How did things go with the emperor and empress?”

“Good, I think.” I snuggle into his chest. Briefly, I fill him in on the luncheon. Yoshi’s jokes. The Shining Twins in the bathroom with their mother.

“Princess Midori has not been well for some time. The press will be hard on her for missing the emperor’s birthday speech.”

I stop. “That’s unfair.”

His gaze is tender, his voice fierce. “Better her than you.”

“You shouldn’t say things like that,” I say, though it’s always nice to have someone stand up for you.

“It’s true.”

I pat his chest. “Just try not to repeat it.”

“I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.”

We resume dancing. The song ends, then starts again. “You put the song on loop?”

“I learned from the best.”

“I didn’t think you noticed.”

“Of course I did.” His voice drops, sounds a bit a hoarse. “There isn’t a thing I don’t notice when it comes to you.”

We stop again. My breaths are shallow. His heart is pounding. “Are you going to tell me what you wanted to talk about now?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” His hands move up my waist, fire burning in their wake.

“I’m the kind of girl who likes things spelled out for her.”

His brown eyes shine suspiciously bright. “Kyoto was the best night of my life. The thought of never having it again, the thought of never having you…” His grip tightens. “Radish, I’m so heartsick for you.” I shudder, racked with all the feelings. These are the sweetest words I’ve ever heard. All I ever needed to hear. I close my eyes, open them. “Please, say something,” he begs.

I tip my chin up and smile. Everything has come together, like fingers interlacing, or a key sliding into a lock. We fit and shouldn’t be apart. “I definitely think you should kiss me now.”

He exhales. “Best idea I ever heard.” His head lowers. His lips brush mine, tentative at first, then he presses in. I do, too. Our bodies are flush. We break apart, stare at each other wonderingly, then come back together. Lips find lips. Hands touch hands. Here, in this room, in this building, on this soil, millennia of traditions come crumbling down.

Some rules are just made to be broken.

THE TOKYO TATTLER

Breaking News! HIH Princess Izumi caught with imperial guard

May 15, 2021

In an exclusive story, The Tokyo Tattler reveals Her Imperial Highness Princess Izumi’s affair with imperial guard Akio Kobayashi! The two have been secretly cavorting all over Tokyo and Kyoto. Our sources reveal sparks flew the moment they met.

It all started with a heated discussion between the two when HIH Princess Izumi arrived in Japan. HIH Princess Izumi had an unscheduled stop in the airport to use a kitchen restroom.

Busboy Denji Kanroji remembers witnessing a tense discussion between the princess and her guard. “It was clear they did not like each other,” Kanroji says.

So how did these enemies turn to lovers? The turning point happened one night in Tokyo. The princess escaped for a night on the town and got into some trouble. In pictures obtained exclusively by The Tokyo Tattler, we see HIH Princess Izumi being carried, obviously inebriated, by her imperial guard out of a karaoke club. The two grew even closer while in Kyoto, our palace insider says.

Then, of course, who can forget the hospital incident a week ago? Here, Kobayashi appears to be covering HIH Princess Izumi after a cart was knocked over. “He held on to her for way too long,” our palace insider says. “Even after the threat had passed, he hugged her tightly.”

Lastly, at the emperor’s luncheon, the two were caught dancing and kissing in an empty ballroom.

Who is this imperial guard who has caught the princess’s eye? His name is Akio Kobayashi, and his father is a former highly decorated imperial guard. Despite his family legacy, Akio was set to enlist in the Air Self-Defense Force. “His father was devastated when Akio chose not to follow in his footsteps,” an anonymous family friend says. “It wasn’t until Akio’s mother grew sick and his father retired that Akio begrudgingly decided to become an imperial guard. The boy has always had his head in the clouds. Wanting to be a pilot one day, now the princess’s consort!”

“He’s overreached,” imperial blogger Himari Watanabe says. “I feel awful for the princess. It’s clear she’s been taken advantage of. Kobayashi should be fired, to say the least. It’s such a shame. The princess deserves better.”

Others don’t see things as clearly as Watanabe. “Both are to blame,” a source within the Imperial Household Agency says. “The princess courted the guard’s attention. She’s a romantic at heart—much too American. Brash, bold, and headstrong. Both overstepped their roles.”

The Imperial Household Agency declined to comment.