Yucheng openly pushed the door and walked in, wanting to see just who the guests Raiden Ei was personally entertaining were. But the very next moment, the composure on his face vanished, replaced by utter shock.
Naturally, the Oki-tan standing guard saw this too. What was going on? Even the Regent looked as though he had seen a ghost. Just who were those two guests?
A square dining table sat rather incongruously in the Raiden Shogun's office. Raiden Ei occupied the head of the table, with a guest seated on either side of her. The one on her left wore brown-and-black clothes embroidered with a subtle pattern of golden dragon scales. His long hair was tied with a ribbon and hung casually down his back. A golden earring dangled from one ear, and he wore a jade thumb ring.
He had an extraordinary bearing and looked either wealthy or noble. Though he was merely holding a teacup casually and sipping at his leisure, he carried a natural air of authority.
The guest seated on the right seemed rather more easygoing. His emerald-green robe and the white stockings covering his long legs were the most striking things about him. Had Yucheng not known him, he would certainly have instinctively assumed he was a woman.
This guest appeared to have already had plenty to drink. Even with his upper body sprawled halfway across the table, he refused to put down his wine cup, still mumbling about having another drink, then another.
Yucheng said, "Rex Lapis?! Tone-deaf bard?! What are you doing in Inazuma?"
Hearing someone call his nickname, Venti turned toward the newcomer. When he saw Yucheng, he raised his wine cup toward him in greeting.
"Yahoo! Long time no see... huh? Wait, it hasn't actually been that long. Only three days.