HIROMI

Chapter 18

"Yes, Hiromi Gushiken is the only one I love! The first prince looked at Hiromi.

Hiromi immediately left in front of Prince Haru and Princess Fumiko after hearing this. Lord Kenji and Yumi followed her.

Princess Fumiko was irate at the first prince for his statements on Hiromi. The princess vowed to prevent their forthcoming nuptials from failing. Prince Haru said he would inform the emperor of his decision to cancel the wedding. The princess left the first prince alone after being upset.

Hiromi appeared to be thinking deeply about the first prince's statement as she cast her gaze off the horizon. Lord Kenji and Yumi exchanged glances, indicating they would leave her alone for the time being.

The emperor ordered Lord Kenji to return to the training grounds, and he was the first to do so.

Yumi finally had enough and went up to Hiromi. She was aware that she needed to talk right now. Hiromi's shock at what the first prince stated was palpable to Yumi.

Yumi is concerned about Hiromi's condition and asks, "Young mistress, are you alright? Would you like something to drink?"

"Yumi, I'm sorry, I just remembered something, which is why I ran earlier. Don't worry about me. What's that to drink, then” Hiromi answered.

In response to Hiromi, Yumi smiled. The two went to the place where the saké was stored. They were both amazed by the number of saké barrels.

Saké barrels are empty barrels used for aesthetics. Since ancient times, it has been used as a saké container in Japan. It is currently used as a container to diffuse a woodsy scent. Around two weeks before use, it will be added to a saké barrel.

They looked around the room, but no one was there. Hiromi wondered, "How did you discover this place?"

Yumi told Hiromi, "Young mistress, I observed a man whose demeanor appeared intriguing because he was scanning the area, so I followed him. When he reached here, I saw he was carrying a komodaru."

Saké is a Japanese alcoholic drink transported in a wooden barrel known as a komodaru. A straw mat, or komo, is used to cover the rigid portion of the barrel, which is then secured with rope. Different saké brands are frequently distinguished using the Komo as a "label."

"What do you mean? How did you say that the man is suspicious? Maybe he's the one watching over the sakés? Or maybe he just checked that time for security purposes?” Hiromi explained to Yumi.

"Young mistress, I'm suspicious of that man since I observed him hand the komodaru to one of his companions, and then they looked around as if hiding something," Yumi replied.

Hiromi orders Yumi to keep an eye on the surroundings because she is going to the place Yumi said to be the path taken by the person who brought the komodaru. Yumi nodded while looking at her surroundings.

Due to the palace's size and width, Hiromi was not yet familiar with its other parts. Certain areas of the court are occasionally limited to casual guests.

As soon as Yumi said where the komodaru was, Hiromi arrived immediately. She stepped back and looked around the room after discovering it was unlocked when she first came.

Hiromi knew that entering areas of the court that were off-limits or restricted to sure folks were against palace policy.

Hiromi muses on the notion that she must do something that might that someone stole the komodaru, as Yumi had forewarned her.

She walked into the room to look around while Yumi stood guard outside in case someone came in.

Hiromi reasoned that if there were many saké barrels in the first room she and Yumi entered, and then someone brought a komodaru to the room she was in, there might not be anything weird going on. Hiromi thought Yumi was overthinking what she was witnessing.

Hiromi made clear in her mind that she knew it was wrong to intervene in this situation. She may have turned into a detective during the attack on the palace and the theft of the scroll, but that doesn't give her the right to enter the room, even if it is clear they are doing bad things.

She continued inside the dimly lit room, and she just noticed a lantern lamp that illuminated the room. It reminded her of a meeting room with a big table with chairs on either side. On the table, she noticed some scrolls. Hiromi had no idea what they were.

Hiromi is unable to understand the scroll because it is in Chinese. It shows that she has difficulty reading particular written articles. But she insisted on reading until she saw a Japanese character written on it.

"The right death at the right time," Hiromi read from the scroll.

But she came to a halt as two people entered the room. Hiromi quickly hid under the table with a cover to avoid being noticed.

Before the two people spoke, Hiromi felt the door close.

"Where is the guard? Why is there no one watching here? They will be decapitated for carelessness if anyone comes here!" an angry man said when Hiromi heard this.

However, the man who spoke had a voice she recognized but couldn't see.

"Your Highness, I am asking for forgiveness because I was designated to command the guards in this chamber, but I did not do it," a soldier quickly bowed to the prince.

"I'll give it to you for now, but the next time this happens, I'll not just cut off your head, but your entire family!" he said to the soldier viciously.

Hiromi was terrified by what she had heard since she believed this prince was highly evil.

"We must act before everyone gets caught. We have to do this on the day the winner of the best writer is declared," the prince told the soldier.

Hiromi was still listening to the conversation between the prince and the soldier.

When the prince spoke again, Hiromi paused.

"I don't think we're the only ones in here since I know someone is listening in on our talk," Hiromi was shocked when she heard the prince say this.

Hiromi considered this prince to be the plague in Oshiro Palace. He has a dark heart and intentions that the Emperor is unaware of. The prince fills Hiromi's thoughts with rage. She will battle this prince as soon as she learns about him.

The prince instantly removed the table's cover to see the hidden person on the table.

Hiromi was surprised to see the prince as he removed the cover from the table.

"Prince Haru?" her eyes widened.