I handed him more copper coins than I actually needed to as I asked, “So how’s business been? Booming, I hope?”
“It’s been all right,” he replied. “There’s been a lot of foreigners coming in. Hope to see you soon.”
“Yeah, same.”
Foreigners, hmm? People from various countries came and went on a daily basis in Rinkei, but usually, a food stall on the very edge of the shopping district wouldn’t have been able to notice. I couldn’t think of a reason for the sudden influx in foreigners and turned the question over in the back of my mind as I took the bag of buns. Returning to the three waiting for me, I held it open to Hakurei first. “Here you go. Father, Asaka, you two should have some too while they’re still hot.”
“Are you trying to get back in my good graces with gifts? What a classic tactic,” Hakurei muttered.
“Thank you so much! ♪” Asaka said with a smile.
“They look delicious!” father boomed.
Despite Hakurei’s complaints, she accepted a steamed bun and started eating it, her small mouth opening wide to accommodate how large it was. After taking a bite, she pressed a hand to her mouth and blinked owlishly.
“It’s good, isn’t it?” I asked as I handed the bag to Asaka.
“It’s delicious...”
“That boy’s stall has the best steamed buns, so I wanted you to have a taste. I wrote that in my letters, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did,” Hakurei said, after a long silence. She didn’t sound like she was happy to admit it, but after taking a second bite, her expression softened. It seemed like she wasn’t able to resist the allure of good food.
Satisfied with her obvious enjoyment, I started to work on my own bun. The complex and savory flavor hit my tongue and the meat juices filled my mouth. I’d thought that the boy used seafood as a secret ingredient for his filling, but it looked like he’d changed the recipe during my absence. Hakurei and I were only halfway done with our buns, but my father had finished his in a few bites and Asaka was already working on her second.
“It’s delectable!” father exclaimed. “Rinkei is truly a lovely place. After all, you can eat food like this any time you want!”
“I agree,” I said.
In this era, when people had access to and could eat as much hot food as they pleased, there weren’t as many meaningless deaths as before. At least in that sense, the current emperor and grand chancellor were doing a good job. Their decisions when it came to the military, however, were absolutely abysmal.
We crossed the bridge, still eating our buns, and I asked, “Father, what are we going to do now? Should we say hello to auntie?” I took out two scraps of cloth from my pocket and handed one to Hakurei, who was incredibly focused on the bun in her hand. I used the second cloth to wipe my own fingers.
“Apparently, my sister-in-law has taken a trip to the southwest,” father said, a furrow in his brow. “She was disappointed that she wouldn’t get the chance to see you two.”
“Is that so...” I nodded. “I’m disappointed as well.”
Yes! Yes!!! All right! I wasn’t scared of most things in this land, but my aunt, who took care of the Chou family’s various affairs in Rinkei, was a whole other matter. She wasn’t a bad person, per se. It was just a little hard to deal with her when the first thing she’d said after she took me in was “One day, I’ll make you into the new head of the Chou family!” She had somewhat extremist ways. It seemed like this time, I’d be able to enjoy my visit to Rinkei in peace.
As I breathed a sigh of relief, father started to tell us our plans. “Tomorrow we’ll visit the palace and have a private audience with His Imperial Majesty—he must be informed of the current situation at the front. However, the grand chancellor wrote us a letter and told us to meet him in his manor as soon as we arrived. Apparently, he wants to see Hakurei’s face. Sekiei, how about you? Would you like to come?”
“Don’t mind me. I’ll be fine on my own.” I gave a casual wave as I put the handkerchief back into my pocket.
As the one who offered counsel to His Imperial Majesty, the grand chancellor was one of the most powerful people in the country. One could even say that he was the person actually calling the shots. Then there was Chou Tairan, the savior of the country. Everyone from the youngest of children to the oldest of seniors knew his name. A meeting between such great men was no place for someone like me.
“I’m just some nobody staying at your house,” I continued in a breezy voice. “The Chou family is the cornerstone of the Ei’s army; we should avoid any unnecessary rumors. I’ll behave myself and enjoy the sights around the city.”
“Hmm...” My father’s face twisted with a grave expression. Next to him, Hakurei remained silent, but it was clear from her own face that she wanted to say something.
“Lord Sekiei,” Asaka murmured, her brow furrowed.
I should learn to say things in a more considerate way... Before I could lament my lack of social skills, however, my attention was caught by an orange hat in the periphery of my vision. Careful to be subtle and not let my family or Asaka know where I was looking, I turned my gaze to follow the flash of color. I could see the person with the orange hat glancing at me while hiding in the shadows behind a stall. Did she sneak out of the manor again?
“Sekiei?” my father said, worried about how I’d fallen silent. “Is something the matter?”
“No, nothing. Actually, I know what I can do to pass the time.” I winked. “I’ll go and visit the Ou family. They really helped us out with the provisions, so I figure it wouldn’t hurt to show our gratitude.”
“The Ou family?” Hakurei asked, while behind her my father hummed in thought. She folded up the handkerchief I’d given her as she continued, “The merchants?”
“Yeah. They’re legitimate too, traveling all around the continent. Every time I visit them they tell me all sorts of interesting stories,” I replied.
Hiding in the shadows just behind the person with the orange hat was a young woman with her long black hair tied in a ponytail. When our eyes met, she offered me a slight nod. There’s no mistaking it. The young daughter of the Ou family has sneaked out of the manor again.
“It’s embarrassing to admit it, but I don’t know the first thing about proper etiquette,” I said, keeping my expression blank. Everything I was saying was as much the truth as it was an excuse. “I’ll leave the meeting with the grand chancellor to you and Hakurei. Asaka, make sure they don’t get into any trouble. See you!” And with that—I ran off. From behind me followed the three’s responses.
“Make sure you return home before it gets dark,” my father said.
“Please leave everything to me.”
“Ah...”
Hakurei seemed like she wanted to say something, but I put it out of my mind. I wove through the crowds of people in pursuit of the person with the orange hat, ducking into an alley. As soon as I was fully alone, I yelled, “I know you’re in here. Come out!”
At my words, a slender girl appeared with a cheery laugh. “I’m impressed that you were able to recognize me in that mob!”
From underneath the orange hat extended long chestnut-brown hair tied up in two pigtails. The girl’s clothes were mostly orange as well, and it was clear from a glance that they were of high quality. She had a sweet face that still bore the chubbiness of youth; it was hard to believe that she was already seventeen years old. Everything about her small body—save for her chest—was like that of a child’s. Her eyes, though, resembled shimmering stars in the sky and were impossible to forget. She clasped her hands together, an inquisitive twinkle in her gaze.
“I knew I could count on you, my husband!” she exclaimed. “Today is the day when we shall have our wed—”
“No. It isn’t. I know my place. Meirin, stop calling me your husband.”
“Wha—?!” The girl with chestnut hair—Ou Meirin, the heiress of the Ou family and a prodigious merchant in her own right—jumped, expressing her shock in the most theatrical fashion possible. She placed her right hand over her voluptuous chest. “Wh-Why?!” she cried. “I know it’ll make me sound arrogant, but on top of being rich and having a great personality, I’m beautiful too! I’d gladly be at your service and cater to your every whim. Not only that, but the daughters of the Ou family are very fertile. What else could you possibly want from a wife?!”