Sanuki no Suke’s Diary (26)

 

     A rattling sound, as if something were being torn down, echoed from the midday chamber (Hi-no-omasho), accompanied by a commotion of many voices. When I listened intently, wondering what could be happening, a lady-in-waiting—with whom I had shared a long and close service—suddenly rushed into my room. She wept bitterly, unable to find words. Seeing her state, an uncontrollable urge to cry surged within me, even before I knew the cause.

     After a while, struggling to suppress her tears, she managed to speak: "Oh, how pitiful it is! At this very moment, there is a great stir as the Imperial Seal and the Sword are being transferred to the New Emperor. They are drawing the curtains around the midday chamber and removing the sacred mirror and other items. That sound you hear... it is the sound of them dismantling the curtain stands." Her words struck me with unbearable sorrow.

Earlier that day, Takashina Nariko had already been assigned to the duty of guarding the Imperial Sword. She was there, attending to her task and recounting stories of the Emperor’s life. Since I had had no part in what went on in the Breakfast (Asa-garei) Room, her words were nothing but a distant, hollow murmur to me—beyond my concern, and beyond my heart.