A single ray of moonlight stretched across the smooth stone floor of the Hall of New Harmony. The chancellor of Konkoku, Shu Kojin, slipped through a slightly ajar door alongside the light. The soft moonlight was not enough to illuminate the ceiling, which was three times the height of a human, nor the elevated throne. It was almost pitch black. All that could be seen in the darkness were the colorful, but indistinct, carvings in the pillars near the door.

“Jotetsu,” Kojin called out.

Silently from the darkness emerged the imperially appointed junior military officer of the imperial guard, Shin Jotetsu. With his ever-vigilant eyes, he looked like someone who had been born from the darkness.

“May I ask why you’ve summoned me on such short notice?” Jotetsu asked.

“You have something you should be reporting to me, do you not?” Kojin said in an annoyed tone.

“Do I? Nothing comes to mind,” Jotetsu replied nonchalantly.

“I have heard from the aides that Shusei has been disappearing from time to time lately. Where is he going?”

“Is he? As far as I’ve been able to tell, he’s been acting like his usual self.”

“You must truly be slacking not to notice something so frequent that even an aide would remark on it. Extend your surveillance to figure out where he is going, and report back to me without delay.”

Kojin’s voice carried a hint of irritation. Hearing this, Jotetsu was unable to keep his mouth from forming a faint smile.

He’s always been like this when it comes to Shusei.

“You look like you want to tell me something,” Kojin noted.

“I was just observing how much Shusei seems to be on your mind. It’s almost like you’re afraid of him.”

“I can hardly imagine that he would attempt something that I would not predict. Still, I mustn’t let my guard down. If he does something even remotely unexpected, I must deal with it immediately.”

Kojin smirked slightly.

“Setsu Rimi is set to become the empress, and Shusei gave up on her as a result of his wise judgment. I can’t say how painful it must have been for him, but his prudence keeps him from approaching the woman he loves,” Kojin continued. “Still, this is what is best for Shusei. If he were to find out who his real father was while he still had a relationship with Rimi, not only would his position be in danger, but also his life.”

Despite claiming to be concerned with what was best for Shusei, Kojin seemed to somehow be enjoying witnessing his suffering. Kojin had never had a habit of doing anything to endanger Shusei’s position or life, but he still appeared to take pleasure in hurting him or putting him through distressing situations.

“Shusei is acting according to my plans, and I need him to continue doing so. That is why I am keeping him under close watch. I do not fear him,” Kojin said.

“I feel sorry for your dear son.”

“That’s rich of you to say, Jotetsu, when you are just as involved as I am.”

“That’s true. You have a point.”

After saying that he was waiting for Jotetsu’s next report, Kojin left the hall by sliding through the opening in the door. Jotetsu smirked daringly as he watched him leave.

“Yes, Your Excellency—or so I’d like to say, but I’m afraid I won’t be doing anything of the sort,” Jotetsu muttered to himself.

Jotetsu had been ordered by Kojin to keep Shusei under close watch. However, he was currently neglecting his duties, and he had therefore not known that Shusei would sometimes disappear, nor did he have any interest in investigating where he might be going. He had told Shusei to enjoy his fate, and he wanted to let him do as he pleased. If Shusei had discovered a way to enjoy himself, then that was fine by Jotetsu.

Jotetsu had no plans to do anything, nor did he have anything he wanted to do. He had simply stopped being able to follow Kojin’s orders.

“Now then, where will I go from here?”

Jotetsu laughed silently as he walked through the darkness. It was too dark to see even one step ahead, but that just made it all the more thrilling. Perhaps he was feeling a sense of liberation. Not being able to see what lay ahead was fun.

Seemingly amused by Shohi’s pouting, Shusei and Jotetsu were grinning. Guessing that Shohi was uncomfortable talking about his childhood in front of her, Rimi attempted to change the subject.

“Is my lijiumian to your liking, Your Majesty?” she asked.

“Indeed, it has a pleasant taste,” Shohi replied with a relieved smile.

Shusei handled his chopsticks elegantly, while Jotetsu brought the bowl to his mouth to slurp on the noodles. Jotetsu’s carefree and crude way of eating was comforting in a way. He had a healthy appetite, and compared to Shohi and Shusei, he ate faster and took larger bites. Perhaps that was his nature as a military officer. Rimi found it interesting how something as simple as someone’s way of eating could give you a glimpse of how they had grown up and their occupation.

“This is pretty good. It might even be better than the lijiumian I usually eat. Is this thanks to your skill as a cook?” Jotetsu asked cheerfully.

“No, I wouldn’t say it’s a question of skill. I simply added my own little twist on the recipe,” Rimi explained.

Rimi was overjoyed to hear that her idea had born fruit. But the biggest reason for Jotetsu’s cheerful demeanor was likely not the taste, but the calm and gentle mood of the room. It was clear how comfortable Shohi, Shusei, and Jotetsu were with each other after having spent so many years together.

It’s not just the taste that determines how satisfying a meal is. Who you’re eating with is at least as important.

Rimi’s food went down easily as she basked in the mood.

After he had finished his breakfast, Shohi immediately returned to the imperial palace. At the same time, as if taking his place, the four consorts entered the Palace of the Water Spirit, accompanied by Hakurei. Their handmaids were carrying a shocking amount of luggage. Rimi looked on in awe as she went out to meet the consorts. Upon seeing Rimi, Noble Consort So looked right at her and straightened her back.

“We will make you a woman worthy of the title of empress, so prepare yourself,” So declared.

Shocked, Rimi immediately tried to break free. But Shusei was too strong and refused to release her. As they struggled with their legs, the ground was flashing rapidly enough to be disorienting.

“No, Master Shusei! We can’t!” Rimi exclaimed in what was neither quite joy nor fear.

“I know,” Shusei replied with a kind voice. “But this is the last time. I—the cuisinologist known as Shu Shusei, will vanish from your side.”

III

“What do you mean?!” Rimi asked.

“Please don’t move. This will be my last crime. Forgive me,” Shusei said pleadingly, and Rimi stopped. “Thank you,” he whispered into her ear.

For each moment Shusei embraced her, Rimi was growing more distressed, and her heart was throbbing. Enveloped in the warmth and scent of agarwood that she had longed for so much, she spoke with a raspy voice.

“Your last? Vanish? What do you mean, Master Shusei?” Rimi asked.

“You’ll understand very soon. You’ll also understand why I was visiting Ho Neison. Just wait for me,” Shusei said, tightening his embrace as white flowers continued to bloom underfoot. “I don’t think I will ever be able to forget about you. You are too dear to me.”

Rimi wanted to cry. She felt the same as him, but she couldn’t admit it. Her mind was in a state of turmoil, not knowing what to think, nor understanding what Shusei was saying.

“Thank you, Rimi,” Shusei said after a while before releasing his embrace and taking a few steps back. The ground glimmered around his feet.

“What in the world happened, Master Shusei?” Rimi asked, grabbing Shusei’s sleeve. The way he was acting was so strange that she had to know. “Please, Master Shusei, tell me. What happened? What are you thinking? Are you planning on doing something? I refuse to let go until you’ve explained yourself. I’m too worried about you.”

Shusei gave her a slight smile.

“Well, we can’t have that now, can we?” Shusei said.

“Please, tell me,” Rimi repeated.

After a few moments of silence, Shusei nodded.

“Very well, I’ll tell you,” he said. “First, let go of my sleeve, close your eyes, and then slowly count to one hundred. Open your eyes when you’ve finished counting, and you’ll understand everything.”

“To one hundred?”

“Correct.”

Rimi closed her eyes as instructed and slowly started counting.

One, two, three...

She was utterly puzzled with no idea what Shusei would show her once she opened her eyes, but she continued counting.

Forty-three, forty-four, forty-five...

The sound of water falling to the ground continued without interruption. She breathed in time with the sound while counting.

Seventy-eight, seventy-nine...

One hundred was a larger number than she had thought, making her grow anxious.

Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred!

Rimi finally finished counting, but upon opening her eyes, she was met with pure darkness. Unable to tell if her eyes were even open or closed, she was startled and stumbled. The rock started shining in response, the faint white light illuminating her surroundings.

Shusei was nowhere to be seen.

“Master Shusei?”

There was no response. She couldn’t even sense the presence of anyone nearby. There was no light anywhere other than around Rimi. Her voice was swallowed up by the darkness.

“Master Shusei!” she yelled again, and her voice echoed depressingly in the cave.

While Rimi had foolishly counted numbers, Shusei had disappeared. She couldn’t understand why he would do this, especially when he had said that he would tell Rimi something once she had finished counting.

He lied. Rimi was shocked at the idea that Shusei had lied to her. Something is wrong. Something is definitely wrong.

A sense of uneasiness filled Rimi’s chest, and she started running. She exited the Cave of the Water Spirit in search of Shusei. But he was nowhere to be found in the Palace of the Water Spirit.

As of that day—as of that moment—Shusei had vanished.

“Have you still not found his whereabouts?” Shohi asked irritably.

“It is like he disappeared into thin air like smoke,” Shu Kojin explained expressionlessly. “Well, he is an adult man. I doubt we need to worry about him as if he were a missing woman or child. He might simply have gone on a trip by himself.”

“Shusei of all people would never do something so irresponsible,” Shohi asserted.

Shohi was right. Rimi was watching from the side of the room while holding Tama, feeling like she was being crushed by her anxiety, which was growing with each passing day.

Eleven days had passed since Shusei had gone into hiding. The Nocturnal Liturgy was scheduled to take place in three days, and the four consorts were enthusiastically preparing for it at the Palace of the Water Spirit. Rimi, however, was too concerned about Shusei to even think about the Nocturnal Liturgy.

Shohi, worried about Shusei, had ordered Kojin to search for him. Rimi had traveled to the imperial palace to see Shohi every day, hoping to receive word of Shusei.

Jotetsu had recovered enough to walk. As of yesterday, he had taken up his role as Shohi’s bodyguard again. He claimed to be worried about Shusei, but his demeanor said otherwise. If anything, he seemed to be waiting restlessly for something to happen. Rimi found it baffling.

“Just as Jotetsu comes back safe and sound, now it’s Shusei’s turn...” Shohi mumbled wearily.

Kojin shot Jotetsu a burning glare, as if asking what he was doing there, but Jotetsu remained unfazed.

“Excuse me,” an aide who had just appeared at the doorway said as he bowed. “Your Majesty, the head of the Ho house has requested an audience. What shall I tell him?”

Shohi and Kojin both furrowed their brows. Jotetsu’s expression turned stiff.

The head of the Ho house... Lord Ho Neison? What is he doing here? Rimi found it difficult to understand why someone who was attempting to chase Shohi off the throne would be here to see him. It wasn’t hard to guess that Shohi and Kojin would be similarly suspicious.

“I cannot say I am in the mood to see him at a time like this,” Shohi growled.

“Refusing to see the head of the Ho house is not a wise idea,” Kojin said sternly. “No matter what he is planning, we need to at least maintain an amicable relationship superficially. If it comes to light that there is a dispute between the royal families, it will cause turmoil in the court.”

“Very well. Let him in.”

The aide disappeared, and before long, the sound of footsteps and robes brushing against the floor could be heard.

Shohi sat down on the sofa at the back of the room, opposite the entrance, and crossed his legs imposingly. Jotetsu stood behind him. Kojin casually made his way to a position where he had a good view of the whole room. Rimi was undecided on what to do at first but eventually chose to retreat behind a nearby divider to avoid being in the way. Tama leaned forward from Rimi’s arms and looked around restlessly.

“Tama, could you hide under my skirt?” Rimi urged Tama. “The head of the Ho house is coming. If he sees you...”

Tama looked up at Rimi and defiantly shook her head. Even though she would usually always try to avoid being seen, for whatever reason, she was refusing to hide.

Oh no... Will he realize that Tama is a divine dragon? I’ll see if I can convince him that she’s a mouse, Rimi decided as she couldn’t very well forcefully stuff Tama under her skirt.

The head of the Ho house appeared at the doorway looking down. He greeted Shohi with a bow. Since the sun was behind him, it was difficult to get a good look at his face, but it was not an old man. It was someone much younger.

“I cannot see your face. Enter the room. I was told that the head of the Ho house was coming to meet me. Who are you?” Shohi asked irritably.

The man stepped into the room before looking up.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty. I am the new head of the Ho house,” the man said.

“What?!” Shohi exclaimed, rising to his feet.

Jotetsu grimaced as though he was in pain. Kojin growled. Tama leaned forward and squeaked happily as she looked at the man with big, shining eyes.

Rimi was stunned. Her mind turned blank.

“As of a few days ago, I have taken the place of Ho Neison as the head of the house. My name is Ho Shusei,” the man—Shusei—said with a gentle smile.

Afterword

Hi everyone, Miri Mikawa here. As announced on the book band around the last volume, Culinary Chronicles of the Court Flower will be adapted into a manga published by Hakusensha! Saki Matsubara will be handling the art. I’ve had the pleasure of reading the storyboards and rough sketches, and I can tell you it’s at least twice as much fun to read it as compared to the novel. Both my editor and I were amazed. I hope you’ll take the opportunity to read it.

To my editor: Thank you again for all your help. I know I’m always causing trouble for you, but I enjoy our conversations so much. I’m sure I’ll continue being a pain for you, but I hope you’ll stick it out with me.

To the illustrator, Kasumi Nagi: Thank you for all your lovely drawings. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Shohi’s happy expression near the end of volume four. I thank my lucky stars that I get to have you as my illustrator every time I see the cover of a volume.

Finally, to my readers: At first, it seemed like this volume would focus on the enthronement ceremony, but then there was a slight...or rather, quite a twist. I’m praying that you’ll watch how it all unfolds together with me. I hope to see you again in the next volume!

Miri Mikawa