[Part 4/4]
"I wish he would sing instead."
Those were the princess's words after she was told to leave and disappeared, along with Kakitsugi's guard.
"Tomobe-san doesn't sing, does he?"
Kayo nodded in agreent, letting out a sigh. It was a rustic, commoner-like, 5-7-5 format song, without any elegance, sothing she'd seen the servants singing before. However, the two of them had never seen a refined Fuso song like this being sung in the palace before.
"That pig. It's like they only learned etiquette, not actual skills. Useless."
Back when he was a laborer's apprentice, he was taught etiquette, but it was only the bare minimum, focusing on arithtic, reading, and writing as a governnt official, as well as comrcial law and other such things. It was frustrating that Aoi couldn't even hear his song because of that.
"Ah, how enviable... to be a noble lady, exchanging love songs behind a folding screen... it's a scene straight out of a picture scroll!"
That was exactly the kind of scene one'd find in a picture scroll. Kayo imagined him singing sweetly to her, like a shining prince, and her heart skipped a beat. It would be perfect if she could even get him to tear down the folding screen and push her down in response.
"Hehehe. Yeah... maybe it's better if I teach him a little sothing now?"
"Is that a rehearsal? If so, I can teach him at my place."
"By yourself?"
"No way, I'll use my maids."
Kayo suggested using the trained maids to test his reactions. It was a chance to offer him a taste of their skills, and also a treat for the maids. By observing his reactions, she could decide what kind of goods to prepare for him in the future.
"Hehehe. That sounds like fun!"
Aoi giggled, a sadistic glint in her eye. She had heard about his reactions after visiting his mansion before. The maids, driven mad by him... she imagined how they would react when he ca back, and how they would respond after he left, and it was all so thrilling.
And then, she would make the maids go crazy. She was the best, after all.
"How about it? Why don't you co visit on your way back?"
"Yeah... hearing sothing a hundred tis isn't the sa as seeing it for yourself, so it's better to check the quality for myself, don't you think? I'll teach him all sorts of things myself."
She would teach him etiquette through the maids. She would even teach him the proper order of things and help him develop his skills.
...For Aoi, it was a rare thought born of goodwill and kindness.
"That's a great idea. Those girls still don't know about the Princess, after all."
The recognition of the hierarchy among the won he had trained was, above all, that he was the absolute top, followed by herself (Aoi), and then the rest. Polygamy was a man's romance, but managing it was a hassle. Kayo had a role to play in diating that. She would pretend to be submissive to him, flattering him, and keeping the other won in line. However, it was about ti the legitimate wife, the princess, was also incorporated into this system.
...Towards the man she thought about, Kayo's true nature was sadistic. Since she couldn't direct that towards him, she satisfied her desires by belittling the other won. Aoi had noticed this but didn't point it out. As long as he didn't direct his sadism towards her, it didn't matter what kind of offerings he received.
"At that ti, I'd like to see what kind of guidance you can provide. May I see it?"
Aoi laughed with an air of amus*nt, and Kayo was drawn into laughing as well. From a distance, it seed like a refined and elegant conversation between beautiful girls. The gentlen outside at least imagined it to be so. It wasn't a shallow, ridiculous fantasy. Reality was cruel.
"Hehehehe."
"Are you looking forward to it?"
"Yes, I am. I'm really looking forward to it."
Aoi laughed cheerfully. In reality, she was excited. Unfortunately, the plan the young lady was implenting was sothing she couldn't openly do at the mont. The secret paradise of wine and at, a haven to soothe and comfort him... Aoi didn't deny its existence.
Rather, she actively participated in it. She participated and received praise from him for her achievents. That was a wife's natural duty. To satisfy her husband, she would do everything... It was only natural...
"Hehe, but..."
"...but?"
The princess smiled, hiding her mouth with a fan, a pure and innocent smile like a maiden's. Aoi leaned in close to her ear, speaking in a whisper.
"Don't you think it's fun to create our own hierarchy? To be treated like pets, with collars around our necks, and to be kept in line like ducks in a row?"
"Haa..."
A sweet sigh whispered in her ear. Imagining that romantic scene, the young lady of the Tachibana family had ruined her pure white underwear once again...
* * *
Even if madness was happening sowhere, it wasn't everything. Peace existed everywhere.
Peaceful and uneventful, at least for this young lady, the day was passing by like that. At least for now.
"Princess, I have a request."
It was a carefree afternoon. The sweet treats at 8 o'clock were being savored while appreciating the traditional garden of the noble Oumi household. Peaceful. Yes, peaceful. That's how it was going.
"Suzune? What's with the serious face?"
Tamaki stopped eating the copper-grilled mochi and tilted her head, curious about her friend's polite deanor. Was there sothing she wanted? Although they had a master-maid relationship, Tamaki didn't think they needed to be so formal.
"That, yes... I was thinking of taking a few days off..."
"Days off?"
"Yes. Days off. I think it might be an inconvenience..."
Suzune's voice was really, really hesitant. Her head hung down deeply.
"No need to be so polite? And is it really just for a few days?"
If a maid said they were going ho, it usually ant there was a family funeral. Normally, if you served a good household, you could take ti off for events like weddings, funerals, and festivals. Filial piety was important, after all. A generous household might even cover travel expenses. But this was the capital. Suzune's hotown was on the outskirts of the Northern region, so it wouldn't be for a funeral or anything like that if it was just for a few days.
"If you're going ho, I'll cover the expenses..."
"No. I don't plan on going that far. It's really close by."
Suzune clearly stated that she didn't need her master's kindness. But a few days...?
(Does she want to play?)
It wasn't just Suzune. For Tamaki, this was her first ti living in the capital, and it was the sa for her. As a sheltered lady who had only known the narrow world of Hotoya village, every place she saw was new and exciting, and the capital was the most exciting of all. Her friends would probably feel the sa. It wouldn't be strange to want to play and have fun for a few days.
"Is there sothing you need? Should I prepare it?"
"No. It's not sothing that grand. If I need sothing, I can prepare it myself."
"!? Ah, I see..."
Tamaki was quietly, secretly shocked. It's not that her friend was bad with money, but rather, she was frugal and liked to save. She hated unnecessary expenses and was careful with her spending. You could even say she was a bit stingy. Unlike Iruka, she wasn't extrely tightfisted, but she made sure to keep her expenses in check. So, for soone like that to splurge on her own...
"...Sothing?"
"Ah, no... yeah, I get it."
It was unclear how much Tamaki had seen through Suzune's inner thoughts. Tamaki, who was trying to cover up her surprise, looked at Suzune with a slightly suspicious expression. As she did, she finally realized sothing.
"...A comb?"
Yes. The existence of a brand-new comb, decorated on her friend's head, was sothing she hadn't noticed until now. The presence of a man's shadow...
Tamaki felt a sense of foreboding...
Fan art:
By the way, the child with the lizard-like features has more arm strength than the main character of the first chapter of this volu!
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