Palace Meidi – Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Divine Punishment

Akiko catches a cold, and Miya’s (darker than expected) motivations are revealed in this chapter.

This translation is intended to be read along with the ebook or paper volumes, so it isn’t a scanlation, just a translation.

I will be taking the next month off from translations. Both of us will be taking part in NaNoWriMo, and then we will be moving. Expect to see us back in mid-December!

99: {If the common people come into contact with the Imperial
presence, it is said that divine punishment will occur.}
Suke: Your Majesty/ Has your cold improved?/ The court
physician has arrived for your afternoon checkup.
sfx: splash splash
100: sfx: rustle/ squeak
Doctor: If I may humbly offer the diagnosis…
sfx: plunk
Doctor: Your Majesty…?
Small text: Furry…
sfx: wag wag
101: Small text: Your Majesty–!?
Akiko: …It seems that Suke has noticed,/ Misono.
Misono: Your Majesty, are you really feeling better?
sfx: flip
Akiko: Why are they so worried over a light cold?/ Diplomas
need to be signed.
sfx: flowing
Misono: But Your Majesty…
102: Misono: The Imperial name is upside down.
Akiko: …Ah
sfx: Ah-choo
{It was unusual for Her Majesty to catch a cold/ in the season
when plums ripened.}
Akiko: If I rest, reports and edicts will be delayed./ It will affect
the government.
sfx: mutter…
Akiko: I thought all my roles were inside./ I won’t be pitied.
sfx: sigh…
103: sfx: deep breath
Misono: No!/ Being able to work is your work.
Akiko: What?/ What do you mean, Misono?
sfx: umm
Misono: Using the writing brush is bothering your eyes./ You
will be able to work if you stay in your room sleeping./
Surely that kind of thing is your work.
sfx: umm umm
Akiko: Are you saying I should rest?
sfx: Yeah-
Akiko: I understand.
104: Akiko: Then your words will describe my “work”.
sfx: slip
Small text: whoops
sfx: wobble
Misono: Your Majesty!
sfx: gasp
Misono: If-/ If you’ll allow me!
sfx: Wahh/ turn
{It is forbidden to touch Her Majesty./ Only the court physician is
excepted.}
sfx: he
Akiko: Your hand was pleasantly cold.
105: Akiko: The divine punishment is only a superstition.
Small text: Your Majesty!/ In a place like this…
{It was the first time I had touched Her Majesty.}
Misono: Did she have a fever?
{She was surprisingly warm.}
sfx: caw caw
Oritsu: Master, I’m going out to buy more writing paper.
106: Brother: Yeah
Small text: Going there…
Brother: Otomi/ Who is that maid?
Otomi: Master, that is Oritsu!
Brother: Oritsu had bad eyes!?
Otomi: The young master gave her glasses.
Brother: Kimiyori’s an extravagant guy./ He’s already got his
hands on the maid!?
Small text: tehehe/ Doing those kinds of things…
107: Oritsu: The young master isn’t like that!!
sfx: Wahh
Small text: Why would you speak that way to your master!!
Misono: Brother.
Small text: The suspicions of a sleeze-bag…
Misono: They are only secondhand from my friend.
Small text: Friend: Kuroda
Small text: Welcome back
Oritsu: Young master!
Brother: You came back quickly today. Were you fired from the
Palace?
Misono: I’m not like you!/ Today Her Majesty…
{Don’t say anything about what happens in the Palace.}
108: {I must be careful about what I say,/ particularly about Her
Majesty’s condition./
It would only cause unnecessary anxiety/ for the country to
know of Her Majesty’s illness./
The nation would be in crisis!!}
Small text: The Grand Chamberlain is already anxious…
Oritsu: Young Master?
Misono: It’s nothing./ It’s just a little business I need to finish.
Small text: Okay/ Writing paper?
{The connection between things like human feelings and the
country}
109: {Would it be wrong to merely worry about Her Majesty?}
sfx: bon bon
Man: It’s been four days since Her Majesty last went out./ The
palace ladies have been nursing Her Majesty all night in the inner
palace./
Earnestly trying to lower her fever./ Is it really only a cold?/
What is the doctor doing!
sfx: clack clack
Misono: Those clothes…
Man: It’s meigen¹ for recovery from illness.
110: sfx: twang/ Huh?
Man: It’s an unusual treatment for Her Majesty, an exorcism…
sfx: sigh
Misono: The palace customs/ go this far…
sfx: whine…
Misono: It’s my fault./ Since I should have followed the Imperial
Edict…
111: {I was too free with Her Majesty,/ Too comfortable within
this cage./ I should be thrown out of it!}
Saeki: Hey you!/ Yeah, you! Is it possible you came from the
southeast gate?
sfx: reach
Saeki: Do you work in the Palace/ as a student chamberlain’s
attendant?
Misono: Yeah…
{Who is this man?}
112: Man: Is it true that Her Majesty is ill?
Misono: Excuse me, I’m in hurry!
Small text: My business card
Saeki: Ah- Mr. Attendant, please tell me about it./ Hey! I’m Saeki
from the Imperial Capital Daily News.
Misono: You know I’m not supposed to talk about what happens
in the palace! Or anything that happens around it!
Saeki: Ah- but/ recently, has His Highness Rokuouin-no-Miya
Takehiko not been visiting the palace!?
113: sfx: uwahh
Saeki: Don’t go!!
sfx: tightly
Saeki: Well,/ it’s a rumor.
Small text: Let me go
Saeki: Rokuouin-no-Miya-sama asked to revoke his engagement
with the Count’s daughter.
sfx: plop
Saeki: Oh?/ You didn’t know?
sfx: annoyed
114: Saeki: Miya-sama firmly stated that he did not want the
marriage./ He was not able to persuade the Souchitsuryo.²
Misono: No way!/ He’s already received the emperor’s
permission…
Saeki: Yes, according to my investigations,/ until permission was
granted, neither family made any wedding preparations at all.
Misono: It couldn’t be about Her Majesty…
{He hasn’t given up yet?}
115: Saeki: Mr. Attendant?
sfx: sigh
Saeki: Could you tell me in more detail?/ The change in Her
Majesty’s situation–
Misono: Of course not!
Saeki: Please~ The masses have an immense interest in nobles./
Especially in the young and lovely emperor. Conveying this
situation on the pages will double sales.
sfx: grab /eep
Saeki: Hey! So,/ I can give you reward money! Mr. Attendant/ It
wouldn’t be the first time I’ve serialized the words of a former
attendant~
116: Saeki: It was called “Memories of the Palace”!
Small text: Please read it!
{It’s a rumor! It’s misinformation!/ I haven’t heard anything about
the Miya family’s engagement being broken off./ And what was
that about “Memories of the Palace”!/
I don’t believe it!/ A former attendant would never/ sell the
stories of inside the Palace for money./ A former attendant–}
Brother: Exactly. I sent him a note about it./ Why are you
interested, Kimiyori?
sfx: hehe
117: Brother: I was really fired up!/ It’s my duty to report the
truth of the Palace to the masses!
{A former attendant who was fired on his first day of work.}
Misono: Brother!!
{But, in the end,/ it was only the indication of a storm in the
capital. That day}
118: {Her Majesty’s illness/ was discovered by this gentleman.}
Chamberlain: Please wait to be announced…!/ Rokuouin-no-
Miya-sama!!/
sfx: stomp stomp
Miya: I’m requesting an audience with Her Majesty!/ Grand
Chamberlain!!
119: Chamberlain: The physicians are using all their energy to
cure Her Majesty…
Miya: Physicians?/ Do they know anything about Western
medicine?/ How can they cure Her Majesty if they don’t touch
her!
Chamberlain: They can… administer medicine…
Miya: What about an injection?/ They could give nutrients with
an injection./ But they won’t put a needle in Her Majesty’s body…
120: Miya: I will give her the injection./ It’s my duty!
sfx: clatter
Miya: Moreover, Her Majesty should be examined tomorrow by
Dr. Orff of the Imperial University’s faculty!
Chamberlain: Miya-sama!?/ Allowing a foreign doctor to care for
Her Majesty…
Miya: He’s my friend. Now, call him back to the capital right
away./ I need to see Her Majesty’s condition.
sfx: turn
Chamberlain: Miya-sama! Please wait. Do not enter the inner
palace!
sfx: step step
Chamberlain: Stop him, Misono!
121: Miya: Are you going to stop me/ from entering those doors
again?/ Misono
Misono: No!
122: Misono: If you come with the doctor, I will guide you
through the doors!/ Even if it violates the customs of the palace,/
I will take you to Her Majesty.
{For me/ something like this is all I can do.}
123: {No/ Is this the only thing I can do?}
Misono: I… the people of the Palace can do nothing./ So, please
bring the doctor soon… Her Majesty’s illness…/ It is the only
thing I will ask of you!
124: Miya: …tch
sfx: [Not sure]
Miya: I don’t need your permission,/ but I will pass through the
doors with the doctor!
sfx: step
Miya: If left to all of you,/ the caged bird will die.
sfx: step step
{It’s postponed for now.}
Chamberlain: Misono
125: {Tasting my own weakness/ is postponed.}
Chamberlain: Please keep watch tonight./ Miya-sama ordered an
injection./ The physicians have said that tonight will be
difficult…/
There is a small chance that you will have to act as an
intermediary tonight.
Misono: Yes sir.
{For now, there is something I should do.}
sfx: rumble rumble
Oritsu: Young master…/ You will have to hurry back for the
night watch./ I heard that the storm tonight might be dangerous!
Small text: Here are your clothes…
126: Misono: It’s official business for Her Majesty.
sfx: tap tap
Oritsu: I don’t think that you need to go that far…/ The emperor
has a lot of servants./
You’re using your whole heart/ and serving is wearing you out./
The emperor and young master’s positions are–
Misono: Oritsu!
127: sfx: gasp
{It’s posponed for now.}
Misono: I’m leaving.
sfx: rumble crash/ tap tap/ raining
128: sfx: raining/ rrrr
Man: We’re very sorry, Your Highness./ The wheels are stuck in
the mud…
sfx: sulk/ heave-ho
Saeki: You seem to be in a difficult situation.
129: Saeki: Would you like some assistance?
sfx: raining
Miya: Has the man who aided me been given a reward?
Servant: No sir.
Small text: bu bu, the collar
Servant: He wishes to meet with Your Highness…
sfx: smile smile
130: Saeki: Why did you break off your engagement?
Servant: What…!
Miya: Please leave us.
Small text: And change his clothes.
Card: Imperial Capital Daily News/ Saeki ³
Miya: A newspaper reporter? What’s your motive? Money?
Small text: bu, It’s too long, bu
Saeki: Of course not!/ I only seek the truth.
sfx: raining/ smile
Miya: As you say, I never intended to marry the count’s daughter.
131: Miya: My queen will be the Meidi Emperor’s daughter-/ the
current emperor.
sfx: breathes
Suke: Thanks to the injection/ her fever has lowered!
sfx: Wahh
Lady 1: Wonderful!!
sfx: Oh
Lady 2: Please rest a little, Misono-san.
Small text: You must be exhausted.
Misono: No, I’ll wait here.
132: Small text: bu, That’s right, Miya-sama’s queen must be the
emperor’s daughter…, bu
Saeki: Umm, even if you say that, Miya-sama,/ the emperor’s
daughter plans to abdicate and stay unmarried her whole life…
Small text: Meidi Emperor/ Older sister, Akiko/ Younger
brother, Crown Prince/ Abdicate when he grows up.
Saeki: Surely you know that the child will inherit the throne after
he grows up and Emperor Akiko abdicates.
sfx: sigh
Miya: But don’t you think those old-fashioned ideas should
change?/ After her abdication I want to welcome Her Majesty
Akiko as my queen./
I was the man the Meidi Emperor thought was capable. I was
only only one who was given a ring.
133: Please get better soon.
sfx: raining/ gya
Miya: Write it.
Small text: What? Really?
Miya: Souchitsuryou⁴ has singlemindedly undermined me with the
imperial permission that was granted./
The count’s family also declined to break the engagement
because the rumors would hurt the girl.
sfx: fwhoosh
134: Miya: But they’ll give up if it’s printed in the paper./ You
can write the article./ However-
Small text: bu bu
Saeki: I understand.
sfx: smile
Saeki: The masses want to know about the lives of the nobility./
Especially scandals and moving stories…
135: sfx: nodding off/ snore/ flap
Small text: Y-Your Majes…
sfx: slide
136: Akiko: …Misono/ Misono
sfx: uh
Akiko: Your “work” is finished./ You should rest, so you won’t
hurt yourself while “working”.
137: Misono: Your Majesty!
Small text: You’re awake…
Akiko: Shhh/ The palace ladies are sleeping./ Getting exhausted
over something like that… It’s kind of pitiful.
Misono: Your fever!?
Akiko: It’s down.
Misono: We need to call the physicians!
sfx: grab/ touch
Akiko: It’s okay./ Here/ Touch me and see for yourself.
138: Akiko: The fever’s already gone, isn’t it?/ Well? Misono
139: Akiko: Don’t worry.
{Graciously}
Misono: It’s not…
{She allowed me to touch her again.}
140: Misono: Y-you’re still not better./ As I thought, I need to call
the physicians!!
sfx: blush/ step
{I did not know if I myself had a fever.}
Akiko: Does he have a fever?
141: sfx: huff huff
Misono: Great!/ She’s gotten better!
{But, what if that/ is the only time I touch her…/ I’m never/
washing this.}
Small text: U-huh
sfx: whine whine/ oh
Misono: Ron,/ It’s great! Her Majesty has recovered.
sfx: twitch
Small text: It’s great.
142: sfx: bites/ grrr/ Ouch–
{So,/ this was the method the heavens/ used to punish me for
touching Her Majesty.}
Brother: Otomi! The newspaper, the newspaper!/ My series
begins today./ “Memories of the Palace”!
Newspaper: Imperial Capital Daily News
sfx: okay okay/ grabs/ flip flip…
143: Brother: Where is it!!!
sfx: ka-boom
Small text: M-Master
Saeki: No, I’m sorry, Viscount Misono.
sfx: chatter chatter
Saeki: We had to replace it with a scoop that needed to be printed
in a hurry./ Yes, please forgive us.
sfx: clank/ fwoosh
{But this was/ not the only divine punishment that I was to
receive.
Heading: Imperial Capital Daily News
Headlines: Rokuouin-no-Miya Takehiko’s engagement
cancelled!/
Abrubt cancellation filled with anxiety. Count Itou’s daughter,
Princess Kyouko.
A moving tale!! Prince Takekiko’s love for Her Majesty./
The Imperial Household Department in conference.

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^{1. Footnote: A charm using the sound of bowstrings.↩}

^{2. Footnote: Souchitsuryou = The office the Miya family is in charge of.↩}

^{3. It has some more text but I can’t read it.↩}

^{4. This is the office the Miya family manages, from earlier.↩}