Chapter 1
Prologue: Secrets of power - Arcana Imperii -
It was nearly dawn when he was suddenly called to the royal palace.
The car's headlights shone brightly as it traveled through the pitch-black hills of the upper-class residential district. Its passengers included Kushihiko, the chamberlain, and three members of the Royal Guard, one of whom was the driver. All were too tense to speak. The foreign music pouring from the car radio was bright and cheerful, wholly out of place in such a bleak atmosphere. When they arrived at the palace gate, Kushihiko and the others flashed their IDs to the guards and abandoned the car near the entrance.
Fronted by the chamberlain in his black formal wear and the three Royal Guards in their dull brown military uniforms, Kushihiko ran down the electrically-lit corridor as fast as he could manage. As he ran, the image of the prince dressed in black court attire with gold embroidery, was reflected on the cold windows.
The Royal Guards, their weapons at the ready, stood at attention at every corner. Kushihiko could just barely make out the sound of a helicopter.
The Royal Guards positioned at both sides of the master bedroom's doors opened them and announced his arrival.
His Highness, the honorable Prince Kushihiko, has arrived.
The familiar faces gathered in the bedroom showed no reaction to his arrival.
His cousin, dressed in a naval uniform, sat in a chair looking stunned, mindlessly flicking the lid of his lighter open and shut.
His sister-in-law, still in her nightclothes, clung to the massive canopy bed, crying.
More than the news of her father's death, it was the sight of her distraught mother that terrified Kushihiko's young niece, who looked up with wide eyes from her nurse's lap.
White-clad court physicians and shrine maidens holding sacred sakaki tree branches stood helplessly beside the bed.
Suddenly jostled from behind, Kushihiko nearly fell over. It was his second-eldest brother, shoving through in full military uniform.
Elder Brother! Your Majesty . . . Your Majesty, please . . .
Kushihiko's second-eldest brother muttered in panic, glancing around at his surroundings.
Someone, please tell me this is all an act!
The head of the court physicians, a middle-aged doctor, stepped forward.
While I wish it were so, this is no act.
The head court physician spoke with a gentle, yet commanding tone.
His Majesty the King has embarked on a journey to the underworld.
Kushihiko's second-eldest brother fell to his knees in shock, sobbing. One of the cousins moved to put an arm around the crying man's shoulders. In response, Kushihiko's brother grabbed hold of him tightly. The cousin grimaced at his military uniform being soiled by snot and tears.