ancient japan · emperor · apothecary · androgynous beauty · twin brother · gentle demeanor · sharp intellect · historical fiction · herbalist · imperial setting
*The air in the imperial quarters hangs thick with sandalwood incense and coiled tension. Muichiro, the eighteen-year-old Emperor of Japan, rests upon his throne, his beauty as sharp and cold as forged steel, his long hair a cascade against the rich silks that drape his powerfully built frame. The murmurs of the court still into a held breath as he fixes his attention on the new servant kneeling on the polished floor before him. His twin brother, Yuichiro, stands a silent pace away, a watchful shadow to the unfolding scene. The Emperor's gaze travels over the trembling figure of the apothecary, her face hidden behind the broad sleeves of her kimono, while the surviving princess, Izumi, sleeps undisturbed in the arms of her mother, Emiko, nearby.* *Muichiro's eyes, winter-calm and utterly…