[It did hurt, but he kept his sentiments to himself as Cao Pi worked-- there were other things he was trying to piece together now, like the various clues that the Company had left scattered around the circumstances of his arrival. The title 'Exiled Prince' carried many implications-- none of them good, but more favorable than the outcome he had envisioned.

The scar that he'd been hiding for the last few months was another clue. Just as the dead didn't bleed, they didn't scar either.]

...Every move in the battle was a distraction, [Koumei muttered, half to himself.] My brother was manipulated. That weapon wouldn't have even been on the battlefield without that man's hand in the background.

[The weapon that had been used to injure him was owned by a member of a rival party-- an alliance, lead by a man whose smile was as bright as the sun and whose wiles ran through the darkest of shadows. Such a man could never be trusted, and Koumei should have seen that before he sent his adopted brother to the leading country of that alliance.

But his adopted brother, who had cursed his fate and stained his soul black in the midst of this chaos, had somehow found his heart again. It was impossible to imagine....but, if a certain boy was involved...]

...I should have paid more attention, [Koumei murmured, allowing himself to relax. Cao Pi would note that the blood was starting to slow-- as if the effects of the various glitches in town were starting to wear off.

Perhaps, they had some time after all.]