Chapter 07
7. The Emperor’s Palace Courtyard
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When the food was brought in, I sat upright as I had been taught at the academy, using my cutlery properly to eat. Madame Laval stood before me without touching any food herself, quietly observing me.
“During meals, His Majesty the Emperor may at times address you in conversation. To prepare for such occasions, let us practice conversing.”
“Yes, please.”
“What subjects did you enjoy at the academy?”
“I loved all the language classes. Discovering that a word in one country changes in another, or realizing that certain languages may share the same origin—it was fun to reflect on such things.”
“Was there any subject you struggled with?”
“I was poor at music. I majored in vocal performance, but I was bad at matching pitch and could not keep in time with the piano.”
Even from these light exchanges over the meal, I could sense Madame Laval was already planning my future course of education. She must be a very earnest person.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if it was proper for me to ask her questions in return, but then I tried.
“Is His Majesty the only one who lives here in the Emperor’s Palace?”
“From today, Lady Lacy, you will reside here as a bride candidate. Aside from that, yes, only His Majesty lives in the Emperor’s Palace. Her Majesty the Dowager Empress resides in the Dowager Empress’s Palace. Chancellor Kayetan has left the imperial residence and now lives in a villa in the capital.”
“Is it really all right for me to live in the Emperor’s Palace?”
“Originally, Lady Lacy, you were to live in a palace befitting a consort. However, His Majesty expressly insisted on residing together with you, which is why you are placed here in the Emperor’s Palace. As you know, His Majesty has no consorts at all. Since Chancellor Kayetan renounced his right of succession, unless His Majesty has children, the country will fall into turmoil. I do not mean to place undue pressure upon you, but you should understand the entire nation is pinning its hopes on you.”
Chancellor Kayetan was His Majesty’s uncle—the younger brother of the late Emperor. Until His Majesty reached adulthood, Kayetan served as regent and ruled in his stead. When His Majesty came of age and ascended the throne, Kayetan became Chancellor and continued to support him.
At the time of the regency, there were strong voices calling for Kayetan to ascend as Emperor permanently. To avoid conflict, after His Majesty took the throne, Kayetan renounced his right of succession.
I fully understood that the expectation was for me to bear His Majesty’s child. But His Majesty had proclaimed upon his accession that he would not marry. For him to overturn that declaration could only have been the result of enormous pressure. Most likely, he made me his consort in name only to quell that pressure.
Thinking of this, I feared that if I remained childless for years, the blame and pressure would turn against me. Perhaps that was His Majesty’s very intention. But I wished only for a peaceful life.
As I trembled inwardly, a maid entered the dining hall and handed Madame Laval a slip of paper.
“Excuse me,” she said, checking its contents.
When the meal ended, I dabbed my mouth with the napkin and rose. Madame Laval gestured toward me.
“His Majesty has informed us that Lady Lacy wishes to create a kitchen garden. He says you may do as you please with the gardens of the Emperor’s Palace. Shall we go take a look?”
“The gardens of the Emperor’s Palace?”
When I had come in by carriage, I saw through the window that the palace gardens were already beautifully arranged with flower beds and hedges. The thought of destroying them to plant vegetables filled me with guilt.
“The gardens are already carefully arranged. Another space would be perfectly fine.”
“There is no other space. All the gardens have been designed for His Majesty’s enjoyment. Yet if you, as his chosen consort, wish to change them, there is no issue.”
“I could never do something like uproot rose bushes or demolish a flower bed! I would hate to spoil such a carefully tended garden.”
I pleaded desperately. After thinking for a moment, Madame Laval changed direction.
She brought me to a courtyard where seasonal flowers were planted.
“It is not very large, but how about this place?”
“Do you mean to tear up this flower bed for the vegetable patch?”
“This courtyard is planted with flowers for His Majesty to enjoy each season. When the season ends, the flowers are replaced. At that time, we could plant whatever fruits or vegetables you wish.”
“Is that really possible? In that case, I would be grateful to use this courtyard.”
So she was not only earnest, but also flexible.
I had never wanted to destroy the beautiful flower beds or hedges. Madame Laval’s suggestion—to plant my desired crops only when the seasonal flowers were removed—perfectly matched my wish to preserve the beauty of the gardens.
Relieved, I thought I saw her smile slightly.
“As His Majesty’s chosen bride candidate, I was prepared to serve you no matter what sort of person you were. But I am reassured to find you a woman of common sense.”
“Your words put me at ease as well.”
It seemed I would be able to get along with Madame Laval.
All afternoon, we spoke together, and from my words she seemed to be shaping the future course of my education as consort.
By evening, she rose gracefully from the sofa.
“You must be weary after arriving today. His Majesty will surely summon you for dinner. Until then, please rest and prepare yourself.”
“Yes. Thank you very much for today.”
After my bow, she returned the gesture elegantly and left the room.
I was tired, and I wanted to wash my hair, so I headed for the bathroom, a maid trailing behind.
“I can manage alone, so your help isn’t needed.”
“It is my duty, my lady.”
“Please, allow me to bathe by myself.”
“If I have no tasks, I will be dismissed. I beg you, let me assist.”
So even in the bath, I was not free.
It was suffocating.
With resignation, I allowed her to help me wash my long black hair and body. Then I sank into the tub, the warmth lulling me toward sleep. Forcing myself awake, I emerged, whereupon the maid carefully rubbed scented oil into my skin and hair, then dressed me in one of the gowns prepared in the room. It was slightly ill-fitted, but it would do.
Opening my trunk, I took out my sewing kit and began embroidering a handkerchief. I stitched the familiar pattern of blue vines, one I had repeated countless times in my dreams.
This motif was believed to ward off misfortune, and was very popular.
“Even His Majesty’s handkerchief bore this pattern…”
Back in my academy days, I had sold such handkerchiefs to shops in town. If it was true that His Majesty had bought them all up, then that handkerchief must indeed have been my work. I even felt I vaguely remembered stitching it.
But why did His Majesty use that handkerchief so often?
Why had he gone so far as to purchase them all?
His Majesty remained, to me, a man shrouded in mystery.
