Chapter 1

Kaede sat on the edge of the back palace’s walkway, kicking her bare feet in the night’s breeze. The moon, as it had always been, was full, illuminated the courtyard that was the shared space between the young ladies-in-waiting, as well as the oiran who served the emperor, and the guardsmen. Gakuto, the young swordsman who Kaede had practically grown up with was practicing with one of the training effigies someone had snuck out of the barracks. The effigy in question was specially enchanted with magic that made it move in unpredictable patterns, meant to mimic an actual opponent in combat. It would be no understatement to say that the young boy was struggling.

This particular corner of the back palace was shaded by a large, old plum tree and was a favorite training spot for all the guard apprentices. That probably had something to do with its proximity to the young oiran and ladies-in-waiting.

The effigy, which had turned when Gakuto had lunged past it, thinking his practice sword would land cleanly, causing him to lose his balance in the process, the effigy scoring a clean hit. He let out a pained cry as he fell into the damp grass.

Kaede snickered, as her eyes turned back to her fallen friend, flicking the long sleeves of her elaborate yukata back before leaning forward on her hands. “Wow, you really showed it, Gakkun!” A wide smile was plastered across her face as Gakuto sat up and wiped off some dirt smudged on his face.

“S-shut up! And I’ve told you to stop calling me that!” Gakuto shot back, his pride more wounded than the small scrapes received from the fall.

“Ehh? But Gakkun is Gakkun!” Kaede said, tilting her head to the side wondering why she had to change how she referred to him.

“It’s embarrassing to be called that…” Gakuto muttered as he stood up, dusting dirt from his hakama. “B-besides, I am about to join the Imperial Guard! I can’t be known by such a childish nickname if I’m protecting the Empe–”

“Hey, did you hear? Mother said I could attend the matsuri tomorrow night!” Kaede said, cutting off Gakuto’s objections. She grinned, leaning back and gazing up at the moon. It was a first, her mother had never let her venture beyond the walls of the palace in all of her fourteen years! She had wanted to attend the matsuri, which was dedicated to the Moon Princess, yet her mother had outright refused.

It made sense, with Kaede being the youngest, the eighth generation, in line of the Emperor’s personal oiran. She was constantly learning to dance, write poetry, and serve tea. All of the training required to one day become the top entertainer in the main palace, just like her great-grandmother and her grandmother before them. Her mother hadn’t yet been called to the main palace, but it was only a matter of time, now that the war in the Far East was settled.

“You’ve been talking about it all week…” Gakuto said, leaning against the porch, crossing his arms.

“Of course I have, Gakkun!” Kaede lunged forward, her eyes meeting his and Gakuto turned away, face flushed from her radiant smile and cheerful demeanor. “You might not understand it, since you’ve been outside the palace walls…”

Gakuto kept his gaze averted as Kaede’s voice trailed off. Sure, it was a life of luxury for her, in retention to the Imperial throne. Yet, it wasn’t all that different from a prison sentence, as the value of a skilled oiran came with its share of political insight and knowledge. It was calmer now, during the current regime, but for Kaede’s grandmother and great-grandmother, there were several kidnapping attempts as well as threats on their lives. After all, powerful men tend to spill things when in the comfort of beautiful women.

Especially ones with the skills of the Yumekawa line.

Kaede was inheriting that lineage and she had been born during a time of upheaval, with wars raging in both the Far East as well as the Southern border since she was an infant. Even the young prince, the presumed successor to the current Emperor, had ventured beyond the village that surrounded the Imperial palace.

It would drive anyone stir-crazy.

Kaede was kicking her feet off the edge of the engawa, happily humming an old folk song albeit off-tune. This one was about the Moon Princess, Kaede’s eyes locked on the fully illuminated orb. She had always loved the stories of the Moon Princess, perhaps feeling some kinship with the young maiden perpetually trapped in her kingdom’s palace. Perhaps it was how the princess’ father, the Moon King who, all in the name of protecting her, had confined her after the ancient thief severed the reins of the Moon Serpent and raided the princess’ treasury.

At least, that’s how the old stories went. Kaede knew they were folktales, meant to explain the unexplained, but she still liked them all the same.

“Kaede… say, if you’d like, I can…” Gakuto started to mutter and she turned towards him, inquisitively.

“Hm? Did you say something, Gakkun?”

He coughed, muttering to himself walking back towards the tree and the effigy underneath. “I was going to say your humming was off-pitch!”

Kaede glared at him before sticking her tongue out to his retreating back. “I already know I can’t carry a tune, you jerk!” She stormed off, her heavy footsteps reaching his ears.

“Just think I was going to invite you to come along with me!”

Hearing that caused Gakuto to flinch as Kaede disappeared down the corridor of the back palace. He rested his practice sword on his shoulder as he gazed up at the moon, covering half of his face with his hand.

“Why do you have to run your mouth, Gakuto?”