070　Do you want to read them?

I wasn't able to go to the Imperial Palace that year until Lady Tamakazura gave birth. I was afraid to meet Reizei-san. It was the first time I had been cooped up at home for such a long time, so my son sent me several letters. Yugiri-kun and Hotaru were worried about me and visited me from time to time. 

Reizei-san didn't blame me even though I used to come to the Imperial Palace frequently, but suddenly I stopped coming. Even when I went there today for the first time in quite some time, 

"It's great to see you again."

he treated me with his usual smile as if nothing had happened. 

"I'm sorry for not being here for a long time."

"No problem." 

I was so nervous that I couldn't look at his face after I bowed. 

"Thank you very much."

Reizei-san suddenly thanked me, and I looked up at him in surprise. 

"For worrying about me." 

"Oh...thank you, too. I'm sorry for saying that I overstep my position." 

I modestly bowed my head once more. I couldn't bear the thought that he, who was worried about his real father, might end up creating a child with the same worries. I understand that I have no right to say anything to him though... 

"Your words made me happy." 

He narrowed his eyes kindly and said that to me. Those words may just be a compliment, but I was very happy and relieved too.

"I made an appointment with Kashiwagi-kun today. May I invite him here?" 

"Sure. May I be in this room?"

"Of course."

Reizei-san smiled and nodded. The court ladies had already been ordered to leave, and the Emperor's chamber was quiet. I left the seat in front of Mikado for him and sat down at the end of the room. 

Kashiwagi-kun seemed to have been eagerly waiting for him and quickly entered the room, sat down in front of Reizei-san, and bowed. Yugiri-kun also came in from behind him and sat down next to me after making eye contact with Reizei-san. 

"Thank you for taking the time for me, Your Majesty. May I ask you a question?"

"Yes, of course."

Reizei-san will politely answer anyone's questions. 

"Isn't my sister's child yours? He is a very cute baby boy." 

Kashiwagi-kun congratulated Lady Tamakazura on her safe delivery, but said that with a disappointed tone. 

"He isn't, but I'm glad he's fine." 

Reizei-san smiled and replied regretfully. 

"It would have been better if he were Mikado's son." 

Kashiwagi-kun frowned in pain, as if he still didn't want to admit that his sister had been taken by the thick-bearded Major Captain. Then 

"How did you know in advance my sister would give birth?" 

he suddenly turned to me and asked. At a loss for an answer, I instinctively looked at Yugiri-kun sitting next to me. 

"There are books in which the future is written." 

Reizei-san answered in my place in a gentle tone. 

"Will the contents of them be true?" 

"Births and deaths of people seem to be true."

Hearing Reizei-san's reply, Kashiwagi-kun is deeply lost in thought. 

"Is my future also written in them? Yugiri says I'm going to die." 

"Yes." 

No matter what Reizei-san was asked, he answered with a smile without hesitation.

"Do you want to read them?" 

When asked by Reizei-san, Kashiwagi-kun fell completely silent. I can't say anything. Yugiri-kun was also silent, but seemed to have made up his mind, just waiting for his answer with a sharp look in his eyes. 

"Could you let me read them?" 

After a long while, he answered quietly.

"Can you keep them a secret?"

"Yes, of course." 

"I will only lend you books about you." 

Reizei-san said as he stood up and started to leave the room.

"I'll bring them." 

Yugiri-kun immediately gets up and follows him to help him. While Kashiwagi-kun and I were waiting for them to return, I couldn't help but feel a pain in my chest. 

"Did you also read them, sir?" 

"No, I didn't read because I found them scary..." 

I answered Kashiwagi-kun's question honestly. He fell silent again. I don't know if he believed my words.

The time it took for those books of prophecies to arrive seemed infinitely long. There are only two books related to Kashiwagi-kun, which gives us a sense of how short his life was. Reizei-san wrapped them in beautiful cloth and gave them to him.

"Please read them when no one is around."

"Certainly, thank you very much." 

Kashiwagi-kun accepted this with a nervous look on his face, then bowed and left the room. I closed my eyes in silence. I can't help feeling anxious. According to those prophecies, there are only 10 years left until he is gone.