“The forth son of the Ran family came to Kiyou? … You told me yesterday…”
“Oh, I did? I guess I was impatient.”
When he visited his mother at the villa, his grandfather, who was happen to be there, told it to him again, and Seien became suspicious.
‘…Something is strange.’
He was cheerful like in manic state. His grandfather was usually careful, and did not say or do anything incautious. He was not old enough to become senile, either.
Even in the villa, things could be heard. More evident his grandfather made his expectations, the further Seien was cornered.
Seien changed the subject with the lilies of the valley he brought, and ended the matter concerning the Ran family forcibly.
“Here, Mother. It will be summer soon, so these will be the last ones in full bloom.”
Noticing his mother’s surprise, Seien felt extremely awkward. …He followed Ryuuki’s example, but it probably was too abrupt.
But to his surprise, his mother fearfully touched the flowers Seien arranged.
Next, almost unconsciously, he peeled a peach and gave it to his mother, just like he did to Ryuuki. He learned the trick for his younger brother, who was forced to skip meals often.
Seien thought of something and went close to the dressing table, so he did not see his mother look at the peach on a plate with even wider eyes.
There were a set of cosmetics on the dressing table, which looked barely used. No wonder she was called Lady Lily of the Valley. With her limpidly fair dainty beauty which was exquisite even through her son’s eyes, she did not need to cover up with cosmetics at all.
… Unlike the sixth concubine.
‘Well, which one will it be?’
Seien fiddle with a cosmetic bottle in his hand.
… The sixth concubine’s violence was becoming more excessive each day. Ryuuki would be in danger if nothing was done.
He needed to come up with a plan.
After thinking carefully, Seien put the bottle back. Right now, he had somewhere else to go.
When he took a leave, his grandfather looked skeptical.
“Leaving so early today?”
“Yes. I am going out for a short while.”
Seien went to a trinket store in town. The sixth concubine had a usual tantrum and threw Ruuki’s favorite bean bags into the pond. Ryuuki had been depressed since then, so Seien came to get the same bean bags during his break.
‘… So persistent.’
Seien clucked with his tongue under the hood at the group of rowdies who followed him even after he purchased the bean bags. He was confident he could shake them off on the way, but they were following him closely. They were working well together.
‘… They are very capable. To whom do they belong?’
Their movements were apparently different from those of the lame had-been-swordsmen assassins scattered lavishly by the concubines like something disposable. Who could utilize a gang like these…?
Seien entered in an alley purposely. No one was there, it was reasonably wide, and there were a lot of usable obstacles. It would be better here if he had to fight against many…
Right then, unexpected situation happened.
“Wait! It is cowardly doing that TO A GIRL!!”
Seien was dumbfounded by a boy who suddenly came running toward them. … Who is this kid?
A little younger than Seien, the behavior that showed a good upbringing, and the beautiful accent that is typical to those from Ran Province. A rare sword that was incongruous to a child.
It struck him.
‘Oh…, this is the forth son of the Ran family.’
Seien put the hood deeper.
… Let’s see how good he is.
‘How long will he last?’
… While he was thinking it, the boy was crushed to the wall and knocked out in no time.
“…..… …….. …….”
Seien was about to lose his temper.
‘… That kid is totally, completely useless…’
He was certainly not weak. With the Shiba style peeking, it was practical and very efficient. At that age, he could be proud of. However, it was far below the level Seien required of him, and on top of everything…
‘… It is too clean-cut.’
He might not know how to fight dirty, and he challenged the assassins fair and square. Unless he had ability equal to General Sou’s… was he stupid or what?
He did not expect him to win, but his way of a-young-master-of-a-good-family was nothing compared to the triplets of demons, and Seien felt a snow storm howling in his brain. … There is a limit to the degree of uselessness. This must be a joke.
Looking at the assassins about to finish him, Seien clucked his tongue. There would be a trouble if he let the forth son of the Ran family die right in front of his eyes.
‘I would rather finish him myself!’
He kicked the ground with all his anger. He mowed down right and left with his sword, and took three assassins as his opponents. His sword broke in the middle of the battle, so he snatched the dumb-struck boy’s magnificent sword to keep fighting. The opponents were tough and knew when to quit. They escaped cleanly, and Seien’s discomfort index increased inevitably. He had to protect the kid, but he could not kill even one of them. But they sure were strong.
‘… Who could use someone like them? Assassins trained to that level are not…’
He realized with a start. There was a family specialized in training assassins. But, no way…
‘Has that family gone into action…?’
Right then, the boy who was gazing in amazement made an unnecessary remark to nail his coffin.
“You are not a girl, but a boy, by any chance?”
Seien's patience was just exhausted.
… Be glad that I did not kill you.
Seien threw the sword right in front of his face with all his might. He would commend him for making him this angry. Seien glared at him with eyes of absolute zero, then snapped at him in low voice.
“… Get lost.”
These were the glorious first words Seien ever spat out to Shuuei.
After Shuuei saw Seien leave in blank surprise, he heard a laughter coming from behind him.
“For all the trouble you went through to come to rescue him… what a harsh ‘princess.’”
“Jin…”
Shuuei stared at his childhood friend who appeared nonchalantly after everything was over.
“I told you to leave him alone, didn’t I?”
"I couldn’t! Or why didn’t you join the fight instead of just watching it! You are my bodyguard, after all!”
“You laughed out loud saying there’s no need for my guard. You even hummed a tune singing, mowing down the enemies with this magnificent swordsmanship to rescue a beautiful princess gallantly and win her eternal love… cha la cha cha cha…, or something. You are too excited to see your brothers soon.”
“Sh…sh… shut up!!”
Shuuei put the sword back, and showed complete disappointment.
“Damn… I can’t believe that was a boy… And what’s up with that horrible personality?”
Jin looked at the direction the ‘princess’ left.
A bit of his own style, but that swordsmanship.
‘He's pretty good. He must be the second prince.’
And the distinct movements of the assassins. He just learned it at the Shiba family…
‘… Can’t be…’
“Well, Shuuei, you might stay in Kiyou to serve one of the princes, right?”
“Yeah. I was told to do whatever I want to. So, if I come to like one of them, I will serve him.”
“If you come to like him…?”
For some reason, Jin showed stunned expression. Shuuei became indignant.
“What? You don’t want to serve someone you don’t like, do you?”
Jin fell silent, and put his hand on his forehead. He tried to say something a few times, but gave up with a wry smile at the end. Shiba family is the one to serve, but Ran family is the one to be served. Maybe that makes the difference…
“I’m afraid you would say you pledged allegiance to someone because you liked him.”
“Huh?”
Jin gave an advice to his childhood frined.
“Hey, Shuuei, don’t be mistaken. To like and to pledge allegiance are completely different.”
Shuuei laughed sardonically then.
“What are you saying suddenly with a straight face? I won’t ask you anything as disgusting as to pledge allegiance. I know you like me. I’m such a handsome young man and have a nice personality. But I’m sorry. I can’t return your feeling. Let’s stay as friends.”
He lost the desire to explain. His appearance is deceiving, but he really is…
‘An irresponsible, stupid rattlebrain.’
“You will turn ten soon, won’t you? You should realize that you are a foolish master. Accepting it is a start.”
The two boys who cannot understand each other started a sword fight as always.
… It was much later when Shuurei understood Jin’s words.
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