Chapter 88 Small Tour
" Where did you find her? I saw her with her parents." I asked.
" What no! She was outside the door, there was- l-loud shouting, s-so I came to check that's when I found her."
" Did you hear what we were talking about?" I asked seriously; it is best not to involve her in a matter which doesn't concern her.
" N-no, I heard some of it but I saw Desu hanging around, so I went with her."
" It doesn't matter if you heard it or not we came here for sight seeing, I doesn't want you to worry about these things. By the way who is 'Desu'?"
" Eh? Desu is her name, right? She also made the whole hand motion like me when I tried to introduce myself. " She said, pointing at the princess.
" What does she say? Can you explain it. " Hana asked from behind. She seemed amused by the whole situation.
" If I remember it correct, it was 'K-keiko desu' something like that?"
Princess, on the other hand, was confused. She didn't understand our language but became interested in our conversation when she heard her name.
Hana and I looked at each other before we started chuckling. Hannah began to explain herself.
" Why are you laughing? I asked around before and they told me Japanese people have their name reversed right? Stop laughing, I am serious. Tell me."
" Haha, this is too funny!, Her name is not desu, its Kako. You kidnapped the princess but got her name wrong? How will you ask for ransom money? "
" W-what? I didn't kidnap anyone! S-she followed me, no, I mean I-i follow--" Hannah started going in circles while Hana and I started laughing at her antics.
" Samuel-sama ?" Kako needed clarification about why we were laughing.
I explained to her, and she also giggled at Hannah's blunder. Hannah saw us grumble and stomped her feet in embarrassment.
It lessened the tense atmosphere from earlier. I became the official translator for these two, and for a few minutes, I resolved their confusion. Hannah also mentioned our purpose for visiting the country which
Hana also helped in between.
We made our way outside the room when I met with Kako's parents.
" They must be worried about their daughter." I thought.
But my thought got interrupted when I sensed an unfamiliar presence, it was far but I clearly felt it. As soon I turned in that general direction, It disappeared.
" What was that?" I thought to myself, but it got interrupted again.
" Where were you? we have been looking everywhere for you ?" Kako's mother started questioning her.
Princess on the other hand became distressed seeing her mother but she explained as best as she could. Hana also chimed in to lessen their worries.
" I am so sorry that she disturbed you. You must be resting. But since the time she met you, she has been wanting to meet you again." Her father explained.
" It is okay. I also promised her a certain gift at that time; I will make time to give it to her." I said, not minding her presence.
" That's good, she mentioned it before, but we should talk some other time, you must be tired. We will take her off your hands." Her mother motioned the princess toward her, but instead, she grabbed Hannah's hand.
" Mother, Father, I-i would like to accompany them tomorrow. I ask for your p-permission." She said something unexpected. This time Hannah was in the dark, but holding hands with the princess made her happy.
" What? No, it is too dangerous. We can go separately some other time." Her mother outright denied her request.
" Yes daughter, you understand that we are busy right. Daddy has a lot of work this week. We can go in the coming weeks, i promise." Kako's father was hesitant but still took her wife's side.
They tried their best to convince her but she was not budging; Hana was also present but didn't meddle in their conversation. I also stayed out of it. Princess was relentless, her mother was furious seeing her stubbornness, but her father acted as a mediator to calm both parties. After a few back and forths, Her father turned to me, seeing how the princess glued herself to Hannah.
" I am sorry, I know you have to rest but please let her accompany you for a little while. I am sure she would change her mind. She is never like this but I can't let her disturb you on your trip."
" It is okay, Hannah is also excited to meet her. We can look around to calm her down."
" I will also keep an eye on them. You can rest assured no one can give a better tour than me inside these four walls." An old woman said from the side, which calmed the couple down.
Hannah was also curious, but I decided not to tell her.
" I know she would accept in a heartbeat. She would definitely used her puppy eye face to get her way and we will have one more child to look after." I thought.
" My wife is not a bad person. She is stubborn, though; I guess Kako inherited it from her mother. " Kako's father muttered to me, but his wife heard it. Another fight started, and they went back and forth while we left them in the hallway. It was one two many arguments for the day for everyone.
Hana started showing us around, with the princess following us.
" I will also ask someone to give others a tour later. I don't know when we will not get a opportunity like this." I thought in my mind.
Hana started explaining some things--
" Except for the Imperial Household Agency and the East Gardens, the main grounds of the palace are generally closed to the public, except for reserved guided tours from Tuesdays to Saturdays. If we walk toward that place, we could see some people coming in after few more hours. It is not the visiting hour right now, but you can see some worker tending to garden or patrolling. "
" Are many bad people c-come to this place? I have seen many bodyguards like those with sister Iblis. " Hannah asked.
" No, No one could come to this place without permission. They are for protection, your brother also has many people following him right? Important person sometime have people protecting them. " Hana said with a smile.
" Yeah, sister Iblis and brother also have many people, It makes me want to have my own." Hannah muttered.
" You have to become important then."
Hana began taking us to different places inside the compound.
The Imperial Palace and the headquarters of the Imperial Household Agency was the main building with many people going in and out of them.
There are six main halls. Halls include the Minami-Damari, Nami-no-Ma, multiple corridors, Kita-Damari, Shakkyō-no-Ma, Shunju-no-Ma, Seiden-Sugitoe , Seiden-Sugitoe , Take-no-Ma, Ume-no-Ma and Matsu-no-Ma. Several exquisite artworks were present in the corridors or the rooms.
Hana told us that the Kyūden is used to receive state guests and hold official state ceremonies and functions. The Matsu-no-Ma is the throne room. The Emperor gives audiences to the Prime Minister in this room, as well as appointing or dismissing ambassadors and Ministers of State.
We only visited some places inside it, but we did see the dedicated garden. People were surprised to see children wandering at the place but seeing Hana alongside us calmed them down.
We visited the East Gardens, where most of the administrative buildings for the palace are located there were several sections with it. The music hall is octagon-shaped, and its eight outer walls are decorated with differently designed mosaic tiles. Several eastern-inspired designs were scattered around the structure to give it a distinct look. It was a different type of building that we don't see in the united kingdom.
Inside Ninomaru Garden, there were symbolic trees representing each prefecture in Japan are planted in the northwestern corner of Ninomaru. Such trees have been donated from each prefecture, and there are a total of 260, covering 30 varieties. It symbolizes integrity and a kind of support for the family, having the symbol of every land in one place.
Hana took us to our final destination, a tea house laden with flowers; the view was spectacular, and the scent of fresh flowers was enticing.
Hannah was excited to see the beautiful scenery; she was dragging the princess behind her and visiting several places to look closely.
" Don't go too far!" I reminded her before she went outside my line of site. I also repeated it in Japanese to remind the princess too.
The Suwa no Chaya is a teahouse that was located in the Fukiage Garden during the Edo period. It moved to the Akasaka Palace after the Meiji restoration but was reconstructed in its original location in 1912. But it never felt like anything was tempered or destroyed; everything felt natural.
" This really is a beautiful place." I said out loud.
" Yeah, I often come here during morning to enjoy warm sunlight."
" Yeah, it is good for the bones and also helps keep serene mind."
" "
I turned around to an old couple about the same as Hana standing beside her. They replied to me earlier but--
" how come these people keep sneaking on me today?" I thought.