037　Hikaru's return

I was happy to welcome the New Year while watching my baby boy grow. Hikaru is 28 years old and Reizei-san is 10. My left eye continues to not get better. The people of the Imperial Capital were rumored to be saying, "Is one-eyed Emperor Suzaku okay?" It would be better for me if such a rumor spread, so I left it alone.

"Suza-ni, how's it going?"

Hotaru was also worried about my left eye, which didn't seem to be healing at all.

"I'm okay. It just can't see."

"It's not okay at all."

Hotaru smiles bitterly.

"Thank you so much for taking Reizei-san for a walk so many times. He was very pleased."

I was grateful to Hotaru from the bottom of my heart. He had taken Reizei-san to his mom's mansion at least once a month.

"No sweat! He's grown a lot now, so I think he can ride the horse by himself."

Hotaru also smiles happily and is pleased with Reizei-san's growth.

"Is your baby boy growing well?"

"Yes. He seems to be in good health so that helps."

All I wanted was for my only boy to grow up safely. This boy may become the crown prince in the future, and he is an important person for this country.

"Will you abdicate if Hikaru comes back?"

"Sure."

"It's a waste. You've only been on the throne for 7 years. Why don't you continue?"

"I've enjoyed it enough."

I have felt as tired as if I had been on the throne for decades. I feel bad for burdening Reizei-san with this heavy responsibility. However, I believe that the age of young people is now upon us, so I'd like to leave it up to them. 

"Not only my reign itself, but also the natural disasters were terrible. Everyone wants a new era."

I was happy and proud that Reizei-san is so popular. He is beautiful and intelligent, and a nation ruled by Mikado like him will be happy. If Hikaru supports this, we will surely become a wonderful society. 

"I liked your era. The battle with Her Majesty was fun too. Thank you for your hard work."

"Thank you so much as well. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to fight."

Hotaru straightened up, bowed to me, and dashed off with a smile. He is really refreshing and cool. If Hikaru is the blooming flowers, Hotaru feels like the wind blowing through it.

"Reizei-san has also grown considerably, so I'm thinking about abdicating soon. I would be happy if you could come back. When is it convenient for you?"

"Congratulations on the birth of your son. How is he doing? He's the future crown prince. I think I will be able to go home around autumn."

Hikaru told me this in a letter, so I issued an imperial decree for him to come back in July. Hikaru's servants were delighted with this news and went to pick up him from Akashi. They have been patient so far. Hikaru's beloved ladies must have been also very lonely.

After Hikaru returned to his previous official position, he was promoted to the provisional chief counselor. The sense of relief I felt when I was able to once again entrust official duties to him was indescribable.

"Welcome home, Hikaru. I'm sorry for making you suffer so much."

I bowed and apologized to him. During the two years and four months he had been away from the Imperial Capital, he had become slightly tanned and looked fearless.

"Is your eye okay?"

Although Hikaru was surprised to see my left eye wrapped in a white cloth, he informed me that he had survived.

"I’m home! Thank you for protecting Reizei-san. You let him meet his mom?"

"Hotaru did that for him. He really helped me."

"Her Majesty would have complained, right? I was also free to send letters, and you restrained her well." 

"Instead, it's my blame that I let her do as her pleases until now. I'm so sorry."

Hikaru gazed at me for a while, then shook his head.

"You are the only one in this world who can stop Her Majesty."

I smiled bitterly and looked up at the 15th night moon.

"It's about time I quit being a mama's boy." 

Then I stared at Hikaru with only my right eye. As we looked into each other's eyes, we both were considering the timing of my abdication.