"Princess Kaede met Prince Nolan? How could that happen?" Prime Minister Mikazura asked, his curiosity evident.
The man knelt on one knee and explained, "According to our spies, they met by chance when Prince Nolan boarded the silver ship that Princess Kaede was also taking back to the empire. However, Princess Kaede did not realize that the person she met was Prince Nolan. Oh, and Prince Nolan was accompanied by his childhood friend, Evalyn Lionheart."
Prime Minister Mikazura’s expression shifted slightly. A faint smile appeared as he asked, "Then... did Prince Nolan recognize that she was Princess Kaede?"
"Yes—he did. A series of incidents on the silver ship made it clear to him, such as..."
The ninja continued his explanation carefully. Prime Minister Mikazura’s eyes glinted with cold calculation as he listened.
"Prince Ryuusei dared to go that far... I underestimated his ambition to become emperor," Mikazura whispered, his voice sharp. "It seems I must act—and soon."
Composing himself, he placed the paintbrush in his right hand on the table and slowly rose to his feet.
"Thank you for the information. You may go."
The ninja bowed once more before departing.
Prime Minister Mikazura retrieved a hand fan from his pocket, opened it, and hid half his face behind it.
"Prince Ryuusei... you started this. Don’t blame me if I take action," he whispered, a cold smile curling at his lips.
...
"So, this is the geisha district, huh? It’s quite an interesting place," Evalyn whispered.
She glanced left and right, taking in the neatly lined buildings.
Each one was a brothel—a place where geisha worked. Of course, since it was still daytime, the streets weren’t very crowded.
Even so, a few people walked by—some just passing, others entering the buildings.
"Yes, it’s fairly lively. Which one do you want to visit?" Nolan asked, glancing at her.
Evalyn fell silent for a moment, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. Then her gaze landed on the largest building in the district.
Many people were coming and going, which only fueled her curiosity.
"How about that one?"
Nolan followed her gaze and nodded slightly.
"Alright. Let’s go," he said, taking her left hand and leading her forward.
Fortunately, they had changed their clothes, so they didn’t stand out as strangers.
Besides, black and silver hair was fairly common here, so no one suspected them of being outsiders.
When they stepped inside, both were taken aback. The interior was spacious and impeccably organized.
Women stood in neat rows, ready to greet guests. They wore kimono-like dresses, their faces painted with slightly thick white makeup.
"Are they geisha?" Evalyn asked in a hushed voice.
For some reason, they looked different from what she had imagined.
"Yes, they are geisha. That thick makeup hides their real faces," Nolan said calmly.
"I see..." Evalyn nodded slightly, as if she now understood.
"Excuse me, two customers. Are you new here?" a woman’s voice called from behind them.
Nolan and Evalyn turned and saw an elderly woman, probably around fifty.
She wore a purple kimono. Fine wrinkles marked her face, and her black hair, streaked with gray, was tied back in a ponytail. She was short, but her eyes radiated warmth and friendliness.
Nolan smiled. "Yes, my companion and I have just arrived in the capital. We’re from a nearby city, and we’d like to enjoy afternoon tea here. Could you arrange it for us?"
"Afternoon tea, of course. Please follow me," the woman replied politely.
Soon, Nolan and Evalyn followed her down a corridor, taking in the unique and beautiful interior.
Pots were mounted along the walls, each holding blue flowers. They resembled sunflowers but were much smaller, giving off a sweet, soothing fragrance.
"Those are Hoshifuji flowers," the woman explained. "They come from the highlands in the western part of the empire. Their aroma calms the mind and brings comfort."
"Hoshifuji? Are those the flowers associated with the gods in the empire’s beliefs?" Nolan asked.
"Oh? You’re quite knowledgeable. Yes, the Hoshifuji flower is indeed associated with the gods. According to myth, the gods are very fond of it. Its fragrance is said to be a blessing from them. Of course, it’s just a myth—don’t think too much about it," the woman said with a soft chuckle.
Nolan smiled faintly and nodded. He didn’t believe it—after all, it was just a myth.
Evalyn didn’t understand the conversation, so she remained quiet. She planned to ask Nolan about it later.
The woman stopped in front of a door on the right and opened it.
"This is your room. Later, a geisha will come to play music and create a pleasant atmosphere while you enjoy your tea. Please wait a moment," she said.
Nolan and Evalyn nodded and stepped inside, taking in the attractive interior.
The room was small—much smaller than Nolan’s bedroom—but minimalist and meticulously arranged, giving it a surprisingly spacious feel.
They walked to the center, where a low table rested on zabutons1, a tea set perfectly arranged upon it.
Nolan took the left seat. Instead of sitting the usual way, he folded his legs, letting his buttocks rest on his thighs.
Evalyn imitated him, but her legs quickly grew sore and stiff from the unfamiliar position.
"Sit normally. It’ll be much easier if you’re not used to this," Nolan said with a soft chuckle.
Evalyn pursed her lips. He was right—she wasn’t used to it at all.
"By the way, Nolan, what were you talking about with that woman earlier?" Evalyn asked, her voice full of curiosity.
"Nothing special. It was about the blue flowers you saw in the corridor," Nolan replied.
"Oh? Can you explain it to me?"
Nolan nodded and began to tell Evalyn everything.
After hearing him, her admiration for the traditions of the Eastern Izanagi Empire grew even stronger.
"They believe in so many gods, don’t they? It’s very different from our empire," she said with a giggle.
For her, worshipping gods wasn’t an obligation. She believed in them, but she wasn’t very devout and didn’t feel the need to honor them constantly.
"Of course it’s different. The traditions of the central and eastern continents vary greatly," Nolan shrugged. "Still, easterners are actually not so different from us. They just follow tradition—it’s important to them. For them, tradition must be cultivated and respected."
Evalyn nodded in agreement. Just then, the door opened, and a woman’s soft voice accompanied the movement.
"Excuse me, sir and ma’am. Sorry to interrupt."