kscans

Chapter 7 - In Full Bloom

"I hear there is a swordsman in the east who has made a name for himself at a very young age, is that correct?" At the Emperor's words, Saneyuki immediately recalled Sahei's story. But he avoided giving a direct answer and prompted him to continue.

"And what of him...?"

"Oh, it's nothing, just a bit of curiosity. If the rumors have reached my ears, he must be quite something. If he is as skilled as they say, I thought I might like to keep him close and see for myself."

The Emperor's gaze was full of meaning. Sweat beaded on Saneyuki's forehead.

"So, you mean to say that if we observe him at our Tower and he passes muster, we are to have him serve in the Imperial Court?"

"You catch on quick," the Emperor said with a grin.

"When my reign ends, the only one left behind will be my daughter... this Shion. I want to secure her future while I'm still alive. If that man is not only skilled but also has an honest heart, and if Shion takes a liking to him, I will consider a suitable arrangement."

"And what would that be?" Saneyuki pressed anxiously, but the Emperor only offered a bold smile and did not answer. Yet Saneyuki understood his meaning.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Failure would mean there was no tomorrow, but success would bring with it greatness.

Saneyuki and Kiku ended up staying at the Imperial Court for a while. The Emperor had decreed that they should deepen their friendship with Shion before their departure. The period was three months. If they aroused even the slightest suspicion in Shion during this time, the deal would be off, so they couldn't let their guard down.

"I am the servant, Nana. I am in charge of taking care of the young mistress. I will be accompanying you on your journey, so I look forward to working with you."

The servant, Nana, who had brought Shion to the garden, greeted Saneyuki and Kiku. She was fifteen or sixteen, a plain girl with no makeup or adornments. But her movements were precise. She must have been well-trained.

As Saneyuki was giving a light bow with this thought in mind, Kiku's voice rang out.

"Oh, that won't do at all! A young girl shouldn't be like that!"

Saneyuki had expected this to some extent, but he was still surprised. He was exasperated with his sister, who seemed intent on showing off her meddlesome nature here of all places.

"Sister, now is not the time for that."

"You be quiet!" Kiku scolded Saneyuki, then approached Nana while pulling out her own hairpin.

"See, just decorating like this makes a difference, you know? A woman won't shine unless she's polished. Don't you have any makeup? You're coming of age, so you should at least wear a little rouge."

"Ah, um, I don't really need such things." Nana was flustered, but Kiku paid her no mind.

"What's this? You're not interested? That won't do, you know."

And with that, Kiku took out a small container of rouge from the sleeve of her kimono. It was a round, golden container, about the size of five stacked coins.

"I'll give this to you. Put some on your little finger and apply it to your lips. Here, like this, see?"

Urged on by Kiku, Nana applied the rouge to her lips.

"There! Isn't that nice? It brightens up your whole face!"

Though still bewildered, Nana blushed slightly.

"D-Do you think so?" As this was happening, Shion, who had been set aside, was staring intently at Nana.

"You're beautiful, Nana," Shion said with a gentle smile.

"You look lovely." Nana grew even more flustered, her face turning bright red as she looked down. Her happy face was truly beautiful, and Saneyuki was momentarily speechless.

Of course, compared to Shion's beauty, Nana's fleeting moment of beauty was nothing. But he was captivated by that moment. And he realized that it wasn't the rouge that had brought out Nana's beauty, but Shion's words.

For a plain girl to be able to genuinely rejoice at being complimented on her appearance by a peerless beauty must be a very rare thing. That was how much trust Nana had for Shion.

"Nana-dono, how long have you been serving in the court?"

"Since I was ten," Nana replied to Saneyuki's question.

"Since you were that young? Forgive me for asking, but your parents..."

"They are no longer with me. My father was a gardener in this court, but he had the misfortune of falling from a tall tree and passed away."

"I see. That must be lonely for you."

"Not at all. Shion-sama treats me like an older sister." As Nana spoke, she gazed at Shion. When Shion smiled happily, Nana smiled back. The two girls, close in age, truly seemed like loving sisters.

After that, they spent the day strolling through the gardens, and in the evening, their first get-together came to an end. Nana and Shion parted from Saneyuki and the others and retired to their room where dinner awaited. They would enjoy their conversation while eating their meal face to face.

"Fufufu, Saneyuki-san was only asking about you, Nana," Shion said in a teasing tone. Nana's face turned red as she retorted.

"That must be because he was nervous in front of you, Shion-sama, and didn't know what to talk about."

"I wonder? He seemed interested in you."

"That's impossible. A man who is to be the next Tower Master would never take an interest in a plain girl like me." Nana answered the precocious Shion with a troubled look. Finding it cute, Shion elaborated further.

"It would be lonely if you got married and left, Nana. The Tower is so far away."

"My lady!" As Nana raised her voice, Shion let out a quiet giggle.

"Don't get so worked up. We don't know what kind of person Saneyuki-san is yet. I can't just give away my precious Nana if he's not a good person." Nana was touched by her devoted words.

"I, too... would not want to entrust you to some unknown scoundrel, my lady. Please be careful when choosing who will sit beside you."

Shion's large black eyes widened in a flash.

"It seems Father is thinking of taking the renowned swordsman from the east as my husband. I'm worried."

Nana, who had been told about the purpose of the journey beforehand, adopted a serious expression.

"His Majesty the Emperor must be hoping for someone strong enough to protect you from anything. I hear he is only about three years older than you. Perhaps you should decide after you've met him?"

Shion sighed.

"But—what if a swordsman from a farming family is uncouth?"

"He may have some rough edges. But rumor has it that he is so handsome that daughters from noble families come down to the villages to appraise him."

When Nana told her this, Shion's expression brightened a little.

"Where did you hear that?"

"A childhood friend sent me a letter."

"Did this person see him?"

"Yes."

"And what did they say?"

"That he is so strikingly handsome that a girl of average beauty wouldn't be a match for him, and that when he wields his sword, he is as majestic and graceful as a lion or a dragon."

Shion clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling. Like any girl her age, her heart fluttered and she was thrilled by the rumors.

"Then, it's just his personality we need to worry about. Oh, I hope he's a sincere person..." Shion's eyelashes trembled slightly as she lowered her gaze.

"I wonder if he will come to love me, even though I am losing my sight."

Nana laughed.

"There is no one who would not love you, my lady."

"Nana, don't be silly."

But in reality, there was no man who would not fall in love with Shion.

So Nana thought. After a month had passed, she often saw Saneyuki talking with Shion in secret. Saneyuki, his cheeks slightly flushed, his conversation animated with a touch of shyness, looked for all the world like a man in love.

For Nana, who had been somewhat conscious of Saneyuki ever since being teased by Shion, it was a painful reality.

"What do you think of Saneyuki-sama, my lady?" one day, Nana finally asked Shion.

If she thought he was a good person, then it should be fine for Saneyuki to be the one to sit beside her. His lineage was impeccable, and they could set out on their journey, which would also serve as a pre-wedding trip, without any extra baggage. In any case, if Shion made up her mind, Nana thought she could come to terms with her own feelings.

Shion looked at Nana and laughed cheerfully.

"Nana likes sweet dumplings. Nana likes cherry blossoms. Nana collects handkerchiefs with floral patterns."

Nana was bewildered.

"Huh? Um, my lady?" Seeing Nana's confused state, Shion laughed even more amusedly.

"What kind of food does Nana like? Does she have a favorite flower? What gift would make her happy?... Saneyuki-san is the kind of person who only worries about such things. I've told him everything, so he should be giving you something soon, don't you think? How exciting, Nana."

Nana's eyes widened, and she felt her face grow hot.

Just as Shion had said, Saneyuki soon gave Nana a floral-patterned handkerchief. It was a beautiful silk handkerchief with white cherry blossoms scattered across a pink background, a luxury item far beyond Nana's means.

Even though the Iron Tower's financial situation was far from good, he had purchased this expensive piece. Woven into it were Saneyuki's feelings.

I will never experience love. Even if I develop feelings for someone, it will end in unrequited love. I will never be adored by a gentleman.

That was how Nana had thought. She was so surprised by Saneyuki's gesture that she burst into tears.

Saneyuki was flustered, but when he saw that Nana was smiling happily even as tears streamed down her face, he was relieved. And he felt an unparalleled joy in the fact that the one who brought out Nana's fleeting beauty had shifted from Shion to himself.