14

Messages of condolence were already coming in, for the news had spread swiftly. A dazed Yu~giri was among the first to send condolences. There were messages from Genji and To~ no Chu~jo~ and many others.

There was an especially touching letter from the princess's father, the Suzaku emperor. The princess forced herself to read it.

“I had known of her illness for some time, but I had known too, of course, that she had long been in bad health. I see now that I was not as worried as I should have been. But that is over and finished, and what concerns us now is your own state of mind. Please be sure, if it is any comfort, that I am grieving with you, and please try to take some comfort from the thought that everything must pass.”

Through her tears, she set down an answer.