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Mariko’s betrothed

And the future heavenly sovereign of Wa

A future sovereign as--at thesheets of ivory washi paper on the table before hihts Preparing to practice his calligraphy

Roku looked at Kenshin--as though he expected Kenshin to elaborate further on theto hi an ink stick in the well of a carved inkstone to his right

In moments like these, Kenshin wished Mariko were at his side She would be thinking far in advance of what anyoneher eues ahead of anyone in most conversations Far past anyone’s present In contrast, Kenshin often found hih the underbrush of conversations Mariko skirted with ease It was not that his sister was a particularly gifted conversationalist It was more that she always seemed to knohat people intended to say even before they did

She read people reat use to Kenshin right now

But he was a warrior Not an envoy or a strategist

Kenshin cleared his throat "I do not believe Mariko to be dead, Your Highness" He glanced toward his sister’s betrothed to see if he could sense any reaction Minaed a wordless conversation with his brother, but Kenshin could not glean the sentiment behind his expression

It could be worry It could be anger It could be suspicion

Or perhaps it could be all of these things

It never ceased to frustrate Kenshin hoas able to notice tangible things with the eye of a hawk How the s the unseen--the unspoken subtleties of life--he was far froh a world of darkness Even with As until it was far too late

After a ti breath He traded another glance with the crown prince, whose expression remained neutral Then he leaned forward almost conspiratorially "Kenshin-saan, "I was told Mariko’s convoy had been attacked in Jukai forest by a band of thieves Several uard believe it to be the work of the Black Clan--though I’ree It seems far toosimple Far too predictable Not to mention beyond the typical behavior of the Black Clan" He rested an elbow on a knee, inclining toward Kenshin even farther "Is it possible your sister still lives, despite all the evidence to the contrary?"

As Raiden spoke, concern seeped into the s his mouth He was only nineteen years old, but the effect of this concern ely comforted Kenshin As did the words his sister’s betrothed spoke They were in keeping with Kenshin’s earlier thoughts But it was also possible this was a ruse meant to earn his trust Meant to plant seeds of unforeseen doubt

Yet Mina than the crown prince Far less conniving And Kenshin appreciated how he appeared to value forthrightness er brother Raiden’s character waswith his own Since this marked Kenshin’s first interaction with his sister’s betrothed, these feelings set his e reht, pale boy clad in golden silk, cal his shodo

Perhaps Minamoto Roku had been the one to orchestrate the attack on Mariko’s convoy

And yet

A part of Kenshin did not quite believe the crown prince would strike out at his own brother byRaiden’s future wife After all, ould he have to gain by doing so? Roku was already first in line to the throne And not once in all his years had Kenshin heard of Raiden having designs to usurp his younger brother They could easily have been at ith each other Brothers in similar situations had often killed each other for power in the past But that did not appear to be the case here By all accounts, these two brothers--despite the enmity between their birth mothers--were close friends Trusted confidants

Perhaps Kenshin had been wrong to suspect that members of the nobility had plotted to murder his sister That someone in Inako had tried to thwart the nuptials between the ehter of an aood at reading people as well

As though he could hear the tenor of Kenshin’s thoughts, Raiden sain, but was ier brother

The crown prince shot a pointed look their way As soon as Roku made certain he held their attention, his eyes drifted toward the beautifully carved folding screen to his left "This is not the place to discuss such things," he said in a harsh whisper "The walls of Heian Castle possess ears" The last was said in a barely audible tone