USAGI:

… I spoke with Prince Zyfan.

WASHI:

Did the talk enlighten you?

USAGI:
Yes. He claims you never mentioned your wife to him.

WASHI:

I do not recall your name ever coming up in our conversations.

USAGI:

So, you admit to having this affair with him without my permission?

WASHI:

It was not an affair, Usagi.

USAGI:
I believe he was in love with you.

WASHI:

That is irrelevant to me. I was only following orders.

USAGI:

Whose orders?

WASHI:

The orders of the Empress.

USAGI:

Why should my Mother give you such orders?

WASHI:

The Prince is of the Mountain Clan. We have no alliance with his Clan. They are very powerful. I was to acquire information on him. I used every means necessary. It was a successful mission.

USAGI:
You hurt him, deeply. Explain how this helped my people.

WASHI:

Any hurt caused had nothing to do with me. I would’ve preferred to end 

my tryst with him under better circumstances, but as you know, 

I was ordered home. If you have issues with these policies then 

speak to the Empress, not me. I am only her loyal servant.

USAGI:

I will not have you serving my Mother before me. 

You are husband to me first.

WASHI:

By serving your Mother - I serve our daughter.

USAGI:

You will not blame your dishonor on Yana. She has nothing to do with this.

WASHI:

Since I realized neither one of us will ever rule due to the order of our 

birth. However, Yana is the Empress' only grand daughter. That makes her 

second-in-line. I will do all I can to see her safely upon the emerald throne.

USAGI:
We will do all we can Washi, for I will see to it that she rules as well. 

That is why I agreed to leave her with Mother. Mother dotes on her so.

WASHI:

I've noticed.

USAGI:

If the genie is not your goal, then why are we here?

WASHI:

I am to make nice with Zyfan for diplomatic purposes while I continue to 

gather information on him, his sister, and their reasons for staying 

in this inferior human realm.

USAGI:

Leave Syrrah to me. If Mother needs information on her

she will need to go through me.

WASHI:

I have my orders.

USAGI:

Consider them changed! Syrrah and I studied together as maidens at

the Celestial Temple. One day we wandered too far into the forest. I was

attacked by a panther. Syrrah saved my life with her knife. I am indebted 

to her. It would be dishonorable to spy on her until my debt is repaid.

USAGI:

… If you do not obey me in this, I will tell her all.

WASHI:

Have it your way. And what of Zyfan?

USAGI:

It could only serve our greater purpose to be in his good graces. You

have my blessing to do as you will with him. Use any means necessary.

WASHI:

I have always admired my wife's way of thinking.

USAGI:

I'm pleased to know this for there is one here I find … interesting. 

I may wish to bed him - if it advances our goal.

WASHI:

Which one?

USAGI:

Racolo the mage.

WASHI:

The human? You would lower yourself to be with one of those ... 

barbarians? I cannot give my approval on such a ...

USAGI:

But you will. After your disgrace with Zyfan you owe me.

WASHI:

A human Usagi, really.

USAGI:

He is gifted. The magic is strong in him. I must know 

how magic works in his kind.

WASHI:

You present a valid point. I had forgotten his magic. I grant you my blessing.

USAGI:

I knew my husband would see the wisdom in my choice.

WASHI:

You will need to make haste Usagi, I want to leave this realm quickly. 

It is distasteful to me.

USAGI:

I agree. I miss our Yana already.

WASHI:

Yes, Yana our jewel. She will achieve what you and I never could. 

It is too bad that she is only second-in-line, behind your eldest sister.

USAGI:

I know. Suzume will rule next after Mother, unless ...

USAGI:

… an accident were to befall her.

WASHI:

An accident? Yes, that would be tragic.

USAGI:
It would, but then I never had any use for Suzume.