Chapter 150
Nara Prefecture, Japan
Horyuji Temple
Murai headed up the steps to the ancient temple; he wore traditional garb and carried his swords at his hip.
Evie followed, walking behind him out of respect for his heritage and position in society, her hands folded together in front of her.
The temple and grounds had no tourist lingering, and the monks were stationary in the courtyard. Armed guards held the perimeter, and those on the inside bowed in respect when Murai approached then passed.
They purposely didn’t look at the woman walking behind him, that was heavily armed, they were most certain.
Evie Blanchar was well known throughout the Guard, and she terrified them more than their former Commander does.
Into the octagon temple Yume-dono Murai went.
Waiting for him in front of Guze Kannon, kneeling on the ground in meditation, was his oldest friend.
Evie stayed back and didn’t enter the temple; it wasn’t her religion, not that she had one, and she wasn’t dressed for it.
This was something her husband needed to do.
She already had her suspicions as to what happened, but never would Murai take her word for it.
Evie could read her sullen, quiet, closed off son better than anyone, and she knows enough to put the blame where it truly belongs.
When Murai reached the base of the statue, he folded himself down to the ground next to him then bowed.
Murai grew up within the palace walls; his father and his father before him commanded the guards that protected the Imperial Family. Because of that, Murai grew up with the current Emperor and his siblings, and viewed him as a brother. They were best friends, served in the military together— Murai as his personal protector— and raised their children together.
Evie knew when she met him that Murai and Meiji were a-sexual soulmates, best friends and brothers that went beyond blood and crown. Meiji had hoped that one day one of his children would marry one of Murai’s heirs, solidifying their families through blood.
That, regrettably, wouldn’t happen because of the Prince’s sexuality and the Princess being complicated.
Emperor Meiji opened his eyes and looked to the man bowed next to him. “Murai, Brother, my oldest friend. What have I done that has offended you so?” he asked pointblank.
Murai sat up and looked at him with wide eyes. “Your Highness?”
“I have not heard from you in months,” Emperor Meiji said. “Did my daughter offend your family so severely that you turned your back to me and our friendship?”
Murai shook his head. “Your Highness, a family without honor cannot grace your presence or court. Until my family’s honor is restored it was an insult to try.”
Emperor Meiji looked from him to Evie and she shook her head, making a face. “Your son did not dishonor your family name or the Family. I feared my daughter insulted him beyond forgiveness with her antics and persistence. I, myself, have not spoken to her since her actions that drove your son, my nephew in heart, away. I beg for your forgiveness-”
“You two are old fools,” Evie called out, well aware that they would spend the next week apologizing to each other. “Pride on both sides caused your absence from the other.”
They turned to regard her, both looking sheepish.
“I married the love my life, my soulmate,” she reminded them. “But his soul is split between his two best friends; his wife and his Emperor. I married him knowing this, and I’ve spent the past months keeping quiet and waiting for you two old fools to pull your heads out of your asses and talk to each other.”
They looked from her to each other.
“She truly has a way with words,” Murai said.
Emperor Meiji nodded with a chuckle. “Yes, her subtly is truly one of her greatest attributes.”
“What happened?” Murai asked. “I have treated my eldest son horribly, he was dead in my eyes because he failed you.”
“Kita did not fail,” Emperor Meiji promised him. “I should have never allowed my daughter to sway me as she had-”
“It was to protect the Prince that Kita was assigned to her protection detail, not that of your son,” Evie reminded them. “Kita succeeded in protecting the Prince even if it was indirectly.”
That, Murai hadn’t thought of.
Nothing was making sense now.
Murai went to Japan to beg for forgiveness, and instead he is being asked for forgiveness from the Emperor. If Kita hadn’t failed, then their family honor was intact, there was no reason for him to turn his back on his son…
How he treated Kita was unforgivable.
“You knew,” Murai accused, looking to his wife.
Evie merely shrugged. “I read between the lines, Husband, Meiji,” she reminded them. “Kita did not need to say the words for me to know what happened, for the most part. Since neither of you old fools talked to your children in regards to it, why do we not take a lovely little vacation? There is an opera premier in Italy that I would rather enjoy seeing. Is your schedule clear, Brother?”
Emperor Meiji smiled, getting to his feet and Murai got to his. “For family my schedule is always open. Regrettably, my children are already heading that way. I can attempt to have their jet diverted, but I fear that will cause conflict within the walls of the jet.”
Evie’s nostrils flared.
“I got word of their departure from Tokyo when you arrived,” he said, walking over to her. “Is there a reason why you are so heavily armed, Sister?”
“We will discuss it on the flight,” she said with a slight bow of the head. “Otherwise my colorful language will desecrate this holy place.”
Emperor Meiji laughed and kissed her on the cheek. “I have truly missed you and your mischievous smile. I am so very grateful you did not pull the trigger and instead married him,” he teased.
Murai glared at the two reminiscing over the only failure in his career.
Sleeping with the enemy, or a hitman sent to kill him, was amateurish and made him the butt of the joke when Emperor Meiji and Evie got nostalgic.
However, her mood would darken considerably once she got absolute confirmation of what ended Kita’s assignment in Japan from the only person that would tell them what they knew without editing.
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