HIROMI

Chapter 19

First Prince Haru and Hiromi faced each other and exchanged glances. Then he commanded the soldier to go out first and guard the perimeter so no one else could enter.

"What exactly does this mean, Your Highness? Does this mean that you are behind the palace attack?" Hiromi was nervously addressing him.

The first prince approached her and leaned against the wall of the chamber. What he intended to say, he whispered to Hiromi.

“I'm with you, be quiet and don't meddle. By the time the entire palace and the emperor find out about it, there will be chaos.”

After that, the first prince grinned at Hiromi. The first prince's smiles, according to Hiromi, were giving her a clue.

The twenty-third day came for the trial of the woman who stole the scroll that contained important documents. However, when three soldiers checked her, they discovered that she was no longer in jail since the woman had escaped.

It quickly reached the Emperor, infuriating him. He dispatched soldiers to seek the woman, knowing she was not yet far away on Oshiro. The twenty soldiers left to find the woman who had fled on horseback.

Yumi noticed this when they passed in front of her. Yumi is desperate to find Hiromi because she hasn't seen her since Hiromi entered the forbidden room where she believes the komodaru is hidden.

Yumi was ready to enter the room when she noticed soldiers standing in front of the door, blocking her from entering and asking about Hiromi.

While the men of eighteen years above were practicing on the training ground, someone approached Lord Kenji. Yumi wants to talk with him, according to the soldier.

Yumi seemed nervous when she faced him that there was something wrong with Hiromi.

“Yumi-san? Why are you just now showing up? Where is Hiromi-san so you may begin training? Is she feel bad?” Lord Kenji asked Yumi.

"Lord Kenji, the young mistress Hiromi, mysteriously disappeared when she entered a forbidden room. I couldn't see her any longer. I would need your help in finding her," Yumi begged.

Lord Kenji and Yumi had a conversation outside the training area. Regarding Hiromi's disappearance, he questions Yumi.

"Where did Hiromi go? What room did she enter before disappearing?" asked Lord Kenji.

Yumi recounted what had occurred to her. Lord Kenji considered his decisions after learning everything.

Lord Kenji decides to inform the emperor about this, but Yumi advises not to disturb the situation as the thief has escaped from the palace, and the emperor is still hunting her.

First Prince Haru and Princess Fumiko were getting married at the palace, and Yumi revealed they were still getting ready for the upcoming royal family gathering.

Lord Kenji listened as Yumi continued to explain the upcoming event with the palace acquiring the best writer and painter.

“My point is that Lord Kenji, there is already a lot going on in the Oshiro palace, so let's not add anything else,” she said.

"Use what you've learned in training because we're going to find Hiromi!" he remarked to Yumi.

Lord Kenji and Yumi acted right away. First, they figured out how to get inside the chamber so the soldiers on guard wouldn't notice them. They had no choice except to fight the soldiers.

Yumi called the guards by whistling. As Lord Kenji slowly entered the room, she rushed to the soldiers to get their attention.

Lord Kenji signaled Yumi to proceed with their next plan. Yumi fought while hiding her identity by donning a disguise. Yumi is dressed in all black and has her face covered. She uses a spear in her fight with the guard soldiers until she throws a smoke bomb to escape the fighting.

Yumi came into the room and saw Lord Kenji standing there. They looked around the room for something to help them figure out where Hiromi was.

When they hear soldiers approaching, Lord Kenji tells her they must flee. They were about to leave when Yumi's stepped on something. Yumi took it and checked the bracelet.

Yumi remembered that Hiromi had given this bracelet to First Prince Haru.

"Why? What's the problem with that bracelet?" Lord Kenji inquired.

"I know who took Young Mistress Hiromi!” Yumi responded.

"Who?"

"I hope I'm wrong, but First Prince Haru is the only one who could take Young mistress Hiromi," she told him.

"Be careful what you say, Yumi-san!" Did you know you could face punishment if you accused the first prince? Lord Kenji responded.

"Lord Kenji, please forgive me for what I said, but Hiromi's life is at stake. I'm not sure where to look for her. What if her father discovers she is missing?” Yumi was concerned.

Yumi told Lord Kenji that Hiromi's father, a shogun in Gushiken Province, had great trust in her. She is devoted to the Gushiken family and will not abandon Hiromi.

They immediately escaped before the soldiers could catch up with them. Yumi hurls the smoke bombs to conceal them both as they flee.

Lord Kenji yelled for them to mount before the soldiers grabbed them till they stopped at one end where a horse was waiting.

To flee, they only needed one horse. Yumi believed Hiromi was in good condition as the horse was galloping.

Lord Kenji tells Yumi to prepare herself as he will accelerate the horse's speed. As they ran, more arrows flew in their direction.

Yumi didn't flinch when the arrows almost struck her since she was clinging to Lord Kenji's waist when she almost fell from the horse, even though it was forbidden to touch a higher rank's body part.

They exited the palace by using the back entrance. A horse nearly ran over a woman in black.

Yumi sees a flashback of the female thief's face when she and Hiromi visit her in detention.

“She stole the palace scroll!” Yumi yelled out.

The female thief bolted immediately, and Lord Kenji apprehended her while riding his horse. No matter how fast she ran, they could catch up to her.

The woman came to a halt as Lord Kenji, and Yumi dismounted.

Lord Kenji yelled fiercely at the woman, "You thought you could get away with it, you thief! The punishment is heavier for you because you escaped!”

"Like you, many people immerse themselves in the palace!" the woman responded.

"Your friend Hiromi is completely useless in the palace. What exactly are you doing at the palace? Is it only designs? Lord Kenji was recently elevated to the position of shogun then, and he acts as if he is so powerful. You're all idiots!" said the woman in front of Yumi and Lord Kenji.

"If you don't stop me, Lord Kenji, I'll rip this woman's tongue out!" Yumi retorted.

Lord Kenji drew his sharp sword and approached the woman, pointing it at her.