Culinary Chronicles of the Court Flower: Volume 11 [Complete] by Miri Mikawa

Author:Miri Mikawa
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 5: The Final Thing You Desire

I

“No... No...” Shohi continued to mumble to himself.

The emperor had his head in his hands while he was dragged outside of the cell by Jotetsu. Shohi was forcibly being guided outside, which allowed him to walk, but he couldn’t stop talking to himself.

“Your Majesty, please calm down,” Jotetsu said to try and get Shohi to settle down, but the words never reached the emperor’s ears.

“No... No... No. No. No!”

Jotetsu used his arms to shield the confused emperor as he quickly walked through the Hall of the Rising Dragon.

“Don’t set foot near the living quarters for a while,” Jotetsu ordered the guardsmen and the aides.

“Shall we fetch a doctor for His Majesty?” the dubious servants asked, thinking that the emperor had fallen ill.

“No need,” was all that Jotetsu said before the two entered the room.

The entire time, Shohi’s confusion hadn’t subsided. He had barely even registered that he’d entered his own living quarters.

“Your Majesty,” Jotetsu said.

“No. No no no no no no!” Shohi cried.

“Your Majesty!” Jotetsu bellowed, clasping the emperor’s shoulders and violently pushing him against the wall.

The sudden shock snapped Shohi back to his senses. His lungs, which had been filled with cold air, had finally managed to expel it all with one large exhale.

“Please keep it together!” Jotetsu shouted.

Behind the man was an open door. Fresh snow fell onto the desolate branches of winter, and the snowblooms seemed to shiver as they bloomed on the ends of the branches. Jotetsu had put both hands on the emperor and used all his power to push Shohi against the wall.

“Shu Kojin believed you’d make the correct decision, Your Majesty. So, he decided to make you choose. He could’ve kept you in the dark, but he didn’t. I don’t like him very much, but I respect how he didn’t keep the most important secret from you and entrusted you to come to a decision. He regards you highly—there’s no room for you to panic and stop thinking!”

“Jotetsu...” Shohi’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw tears streaming down Jotetsu’s face.

Jotetsu...is crying.

His eyebrows were arched up in anger, but beads of tears dripped from his cheeks. Shocked by the sight, Shohi’s confused mind had finally returned to normal. Instead, a torrent of sadness flooded from the emperor’s heart. Watching Jotetsu cry had made him do the same as tears formed in the corners of Shohi’s eyes.

“What do I do?” Shohi asked, his voice trembling.

“Only you can make that decision, Your Majesty.”

Jotetsu’s hands, which clutched Shohi’s shoulders, were wet and cold. Even through his clothes, the emperor could feel how icy they felt.

“Why... Why must Kojin force me to make this decision?” Shohi wondered.

“Because I believe that Shu Kojin couldn’t make the choice himself. He knew that whichever path he chose, he’d surely feel regret. And so, he entrusted it all to you, Your Majesty.”

“Why me?”

“It’s obvious. Because you’re the emperor.” Jotetsu firmly gazed at Shohi. “If one were to regret their actions no matter what route they

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