She scratched a vague itch on her nose. "Of course, we are childhood friends. He is one of my very close friends."
It was hard to measure her heart. Ishirō looked at her searchingly. "And what about the Second Prince? Is he also your very close friend?"
Her smooth fingertip jabbed a couple of times at the deep furrow between his thick eyebrows, the while she smiled with a broad grin revealing her two overgrown incisives. "Don't worry Ishirō, I love you the most. I would never love someone more than you, more than our parents, because my family is my heart and soul. Speaking of which, is Father well? How was the journey back? Did you come here together?"
She noted that his face became very serious. "Upon our return, he was immediately summoned to a private audience with the Emperor."
