041　Pretend not to know

Princess Saigu, who had gone to Ise with my abdication, will also be replaced. She returned to the Imperial Capital with her mother Lady Rokujo. This is the first time in six years that they have returned. At that time, Lady Aoi passed away and it was really painful... The world seemed all gray. I fondly remember giving Princess Saigu a farewell comb.

I heard that Lady Rokujo has repaired her mansion and lives in a very elegant manner. There are many beautiful ladies, and it seems to be a social gathering place for young aristocrats. 

However, Lady Rokujo may have been not in good health and passed away soon after becoming a Buddhist nun. Hikaru apparently presided over all of her funeral and gave her a wonderful send-off. I put my palms together and prayed to the western sky, remembering that she had accepted my letter of apology. I wonder if she has met and talked with my uncle by now?

"I'm talking about Princess Saigu."

One night, on a rare occasion, Hikaru came to my house and we had a drink together.

"Would you like to marry her?"

"Oh, what?! ...Thanks for your offer, but I'm fine."

I shook my head in surprise. There are ladies living in my house who were my consorts but have no home to return to. Honestly, I'm having trouble dealing with Lady Oborozukiyo, so I don't think it's possible to have more ladies.

"Got it. That's good."

Hikaru is drinking with a relieved expression.

"Is she going to marry someone?"

"Yeah. She's planning to marry Reizei-san."

"That’s great."

It can't be helped because he is Mikado, but I thought he was being sent marriage partners one after another.

"Princess Saigu is very beautiful, so I think the two of them will be a good match."

"I think so too. I've heard her beauty."

Hikaru seems to be interested in her and he is thinking about it for a bit.

"Would you like to marry her?"

"Well, I'm forbidden by Lady Rokujo. Her last will was 'Never touch my daughter.' " 

I couldn't help but smile bitterly at the fact that he had received a will that was unthinkable. As expected, I don't think it would be possible for him to have a relationship with his girlfriend's daughter...

"I talked to Reizei-san's mom about his marriage. At that time I told her that you wanted to marry Princess Saigu." 

"Oh, that's not my wish."

"I know, that's on purpose. Just to see her reaction. Then she said, 'Let's pretend we didn't know about that and let her marry our son. Suzaku-in won't be too angry either.' "  

"Exactly. I'm not angry at all."

Originally, I had no intention of marrying her, so I nodded. Hikaru is deep in thought for a while, holding empty sake cup.

"I never thought she would say such a thing."

He looked quite shocked.

"Come to think of it, I've never talked to her about anything other than love. She's very smart and I'm helped, and she thinks like an authority. As expected, I feel she's the daughter of the late emperor and empress. In short, she disrespects you. It may be revenge for being mean to your mother, but I'm frustrated by her attitude towards you who were Mikado until recently."

When I poured sake into Hikaru's cup, he stared at it intently and then slowly drank.

"I know your personality, and I knew you would decline this offer. Even so, her suggestion to 'pretend not to know' the former emperor's wishes and prioritize her own son's marriage is terrible. This is the same as stealing. If I stepped into your shoes and the same thing happened to me, I would definitely be angry. I'm shocked to know she's the kind of person who would say such things without any hesitation."

"Between me and Mikado's mother wouldn't she be in a higher position?"

"Father had tremendous power even after his abdication. He was holding down your mother. I have mixed feelings about her, wondering if she would behave like that once her son became Mikado."

I couldn't say anything and just looked at Hikaru. He was looking at the moon reflected in the sake.

"I thought she was a delicate and fragile lady I should protect, but maybe that was just my selfish belief. I guess I was so desperate to love her I couldn't see her true nature. With no one to stand in her way anymore, she must have begun to show her true self." 

Hikaru poured me some sake and while I took a sip, I was lost in thought.

"I realized women can transform." 

After saying that, Hikaru fell silent.