We are sincerely sorry, the receptionist dropped his head really low. His already-red forehead was sweating profusely like a waterfall. Taiki, sensing that the receptionist was really suffering, urged Seirai and others.

“We were invited with open arms, don’t you agree?”
“Yes, but...”
Seirai peeked inside and outside the gate. “Then,” it was Asen who spoke up quietly.
“Leaving the subordinates here would be a good idea. It would be rude for us to bring them along.”

The Back Palace was quiet and deserted. No officer came forward to receive, and even when the ambassador party walked straight across the stone pavement and reached a gate at the inner side, there was no sight of any officers anywhere. The doormen who should be guarding the gate were also absent. As far as they could look, there was no sight of any people to introduce them to the emperor.

“No one is here...”
Taiki peered into the ajar gate. Behind the lush green front yard stood the buildings of Syuushin (小寝), but there was not even the trace of any person.

“What shall we do?”
Taiki turned back to the adults around, but they seemed to be the ones really at a loss.

“Seirai?”
“Even... if you asked me what to do...”
“I have never entered the Back Palace. Have you?”
“Well, if you count just entering, I have entered several times. Even though the Back Palace of Hakkei Palace was closed, I was there sometimes, but that was when the Back Palace was really empty... and that was no Back Palace of another kingdom...”

Sougen and Asen showed the same perplexed expression, not to mention the subordinates.

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