Volume 6, Chapter 11: The One Who Was Waiting (2/2)

Its awkward when you consider the citizens, but its meaningless if you get assassinated first. And so, she had decided to enter the inner palace of the emperor of this country, Rii. Officially, it wasn’t seen as a defection, but rather, a way to tie a connection to the other country.

Maomao tilted her head.

You have a question? Rahan asked.

No, I was thinking that theres a lot of Shaou women in this, she replied.

It was unthinkable in this country. The inner palace aside, the position of women outside would never be higher than men. Even becoming a court lady is considered a part of training for homemaking.

Certainly, it might be important as a tool for political marriage, but they probably wouldnt be able to meddle as much as Airin did.

Do you not even know about this?

Unusually, Yao lifted her nose in a proud snigger. Apparently, she was happy that she knew something that Maomao didnt, and that she had no other choice than to explain it to her. This maidens personality was gradually getting adorable.

The country called Shaou is made up of two pillars. One is the king. And the other is the priestess, Yao said.

Maomao had heard a little about the priestess. That was the one who directed this and that with divination.

Its the king who holds the final say in the government, but recently the state of affairs have been different.

Normally they dont stay in power for more than ten odd years. The reason being that priestesses were young girls who have yet to get their first period, and occasionally were those who can be called infants.

So to speak, they exist as a symbol or an idol.

But the current priestess has already passed forty. If she were to be older than the king, she would be meddling in parts where she normally shouldnt be meddling. Moreover, from that, women would also get more power to have a say in politics.

I see. Maomao had already known about some of these, but she understood it once again.

(Passed forties and still havent got her first period, huh.)

Maomao got curious about that. It’s rare, but apparently, there are stories. Several reasons exist. Occasionally, it could be due to them being intersex. She had no idea what those people feel about it, but Maomao was very interested in it to an inhumane extent.

Are there no similar examples in the past? she asked.

That is connected to the main topic, so allow me to explain, Rahan said, as he picked up a thin slice of pig’s ear. Apparently, there are several similar cases in the past. However, even if what should come didnt come, it would be transferred to the next generation in twenty years.

It would be better politically and symbolically as well.

Then why is the current priestess still in power? she asked.

The current priestess is special. He took about a sheet of paper from his breast pocket. It looked like a drawing of a beauty, but the hair was painted in a light colour. The current priestess is probably an albino. There are several conditions on the choosing of a priestess, and among that, white children are the most sacred.

A rare albino even among priestesses. It was said that she ignored custom and was still in power.

. And with this, Maomao finally came to an understanding.

Do you want to know the real identity of the white maiden?

The western white beauty the painter of beauties had seen. That beauty could be the priestess; didn’t it match perfectly in terms of age?

It was said that albinos lack something to create the colour they should normally have. If there are cases where a white baby could be suddenly born, it is also true that they could be born through family lineages. It was the case in Rii, so it should also be extremely rare in Shaou.

Does Lady Pai also have some relation to this?

That priestess is now retired in illness. And so, she will be coming to rely on the doctors of this country, but apparently the priestess cannot be touched by males, even if they were a former eunuch, Rahan said.

And thats why you have the court ladies that will be assisting the court physicians, Maomao said.

Yeah. Just the place in itself, she has to make a long journey, and above all, it has also developed into an international problem. We require talents who are quite capable of coping with the moment.

Was this the reason for the rather peculiar selection?

And what about the possibility where no one can take it up? Enen said.

In that case, well go to someone else. As a last resort, Rahan answered.

What kind of person could that be?Maomao thought, and suddenly recalled the beauty who looked good in male clothes. If its Suirei, leaving out where she was descended from, she might be the best person for the job. She’s all but a prisonercould that be why they wanted to avoid her?

According to the story, could Consort Airin bearing in mind about the priestess’ illness be from a diversion by her so-called political opponent?”

Could she be mistaken on the whole, I wonder.

It was a vague manner of speaking. Certainly, what Rahan said had no contradictions. There weren’t any but Maomao was strangely caught up on it.

Good lies are skilfully mixed with truth. In Rahans case, he didnt lie, but he didnt say the truth either, she felt.

It was inconceivable for ‘the white maiden‘ to be the priestess who was over her forties.

(Do I ask a leading question here?)

No, if she did something careless, Yao aside, there was the chance that Enen would notice it.

Maomao decided to keep her mouth shut for the time being.