Chapter 115
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: To Mikawa (5)
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"Well then, it's time for you to head back."
"Understood."
Once the conversation with the Matsudaira retainers concluded without any particular points of contention, the acting castle lord sent everyone off without further ado.
As night fell, she showed belated courtesy by assigning Motoyasu a room that, while not the finest, was still of upper quality.
There must have been plenty of reasons, but above all, since Motoyasu enjoyed the Imagawa clan's favor, the acting lord couldn't openly snub her no matter how much she might mock her in words.
"Well, it's fortunate for me."
Matsudaira Motoyasu murmured as much while dragging her languid body to sit on the tatami mats and pulling the futon cover over her legs.
At that moment, Hanzō—the only one permitted to follow her into her chambers—knelt on one knee, bowed her head, and spoke.
"If you command it, I can deal with that arrogant wretch right away."
"That's always been your problem, Hanzō."
"Pardon?"
Doubt flickered in Hanzō's eyes as she listened to Motoyasu. To be frank, the acting lord's insolence was serious enough to warrant concerns of assassination.
Yet the very one who had been insulted, Motoyasu, shook her head as if there were no need for such measures, adding,
"What would change if we killed her right now? Mikawa as it stands couldn't hold out even a single month squeezed between the unified Oda clan and the Imagawa."
It was a truly despairing prediction, but truth was always cruel.
Hanzō seemed about to say something in response to her lord's self-mocking murmur, but Motoyasu's tirade was far from over.
"What can we do? All our foundations were seized by the Imagawa long ago, and from the looks on the faces of the remaining retainers, more than half seem ready to serve under the Imagawa."
Of course, a few retainers had shown faint glimmers of ambition, but she saw no need to mention them.
Hope was a cruel thing—once you'd tasted it even a little, you craved the whole fruit.
'A fact I know all too well.'
How could she not know?
Her entire first life had been a precarious tightrope walk, always bartering with hope.
"Enough of that talk. Shall we discuss something else?"
With that, she changed the subject, flashing Hanzō a gentle smile.
"What do you think of my marriage, Hanzō?"
"You mean the marriage...?"
Hanzō let out a groan at the question.
As the acting lord had insolently recited before, Motoyasu was fated to wed the son of Sekiguchi Jikanari, one of the Imagawa's key vassals, once the formal ceremonies concluded.
Matsudaira Motoyasu knew it.
The kunoichi called Hattori Hanzō knew it.
Both understood it was Imagawa Yoshimoto's scheme to bind Motoyasu to the Imagawa clan.
"But we can't refuse it, can we?"
No matter what anyone said, Imagawa Yoshimoto held Matsudaira Motoyasu's leash.
Thus, her marriage was essentially forced upon her.
"...My lord."
Unlike Hanzō, whose expression darkened endlessly, Motoyasu merely shrugged once and said nothing more.
"What is it?"
Was she in good spirits? No.
But neither did she intend to wallow in gloom. It was only natural.
"Imagawa Yoshimoto wants to raise me."
There were various reasons, but narrowing down the main ones she could guess:
First, because she was Mikawa Province's legitimate heir. Second...
"A lack of staff officers."
He was renowned now as the foremost bow wielder of the Tōkaidō, but war inevitably required aides.
Yet with the health of his famed staff officers steadily declining, it wasn't much of a stretch that he coveted Motoyasu, whose keen mind he had noted since her youth.
"No wonder whispers say even the great Daigen Setsuai won't last the year."
Hanzō nodded as if wishing the man dead at Motoyasu's murmur. Finding her reaction endearing, Motoyasu let out a chuckle.
And soon added,
"He thinks he can tame me."
Whether that was possible, she wasn't sure—but she swallowed those words, shaking her head helplessly as she spoke.
"At any rate, I'll have to go through with the marriage."
It would also serve to show him that possessing her body didn't mean he owned her.
In these chaotic times, a mere shell of flesh and any qualms about it could be discarded without hesitation.
It was amid such conversation.
—Thud, thud.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor connected to their room.
Motoyasu immediately fixed her gaze on the door, while Hanzō instinctively melted into the shadows behind it, her hand caressing the hilt of the tanto tucked in her bosom.
There was a common misconception: that the katana—so often called that—was deadlier than a tanto.
It might hold true on the battlefield.
But in a situation like this, the tanto was far more versatile.
Simple logic.
Japanese swords like the katana had long blades, leading to wide, sweeping arcs. In contrast, a tanto could thrust and twist into vital spots with ease.
How much time passed?
The candlelight's shadow swallowed a figure at the door, and soon a voice called out.
"Before you retire, the acting lord has sent some fine tea. May I enter for a moment?"
The shadow's owner spoke in a refined tone.
Yet Hanzō remained vigilant, concealing her presence to strike the girl's throat the instant she opened the door.
"Hmm."
Motoyasu, meanwhile, ran her fingers over the tatami grain where she sat, staring at the door before finally replying.
"Come in."
"Yes."
At her words, the young maid promptly slid the door open and stepped inside with cautious footsteps, placing a well-appointed tea set before her, just as described.
Of course, under Hanzō's watchful eye.
Once the maid had set down all the utensils, she opened the wooden box containing the tea leaves and said,
"She said the aroma is excellent and will help you sleep well."
Surprisingly eloquent for a young girl.
Motoyasu nodded in acknowledgment.
"I see. Convey my thanks."
"Yes, understood."
...Though she had no intention of drinking it.
As if reading her thoughts, Hanzō said nothing more. The two women watched the maid, waiting for her to leave.
But then.
"Um."
The maid lowered her voice unusually and pointed to the bottom of the neatly packed tea leaf box with her finger, swallowing hard.
She flipped her palm as if urging them to check below, then backed out of the room.
"..."
"Mm..."
Naturally, the two women's eyes turned to the bottom of the tea leaf box. Motoyasu nodded.
—Swipe.
Her fingertips, which had gripped the tanto hilt moments ago, scraped the bed of loose tea leaves.
Soon, she furrowed her brow at the foreign texture snagged on her finger and pulled it out.
"...What's this?"
It was a neatly folded scrap of paper. Hanzō glanced at Motoyasu before scanning the room for any lurking eyes.
Fortunately, no presences were felt.
Still, she signaled the guarding ninjas nearby by tapping the wall, refusing to lower her guard.
And at that moment.
"Hm."
Motoyasu unfolded the note and slowly scanned the elegant handwriting within.
The contents were concise, yet shocking.
—
I will follow you.
I have hidden assets.
I will tell you their location later, so send your ninjas to retrieve them in secret.
Torii Tadayoshi.
—
Torii Tadayoshi.
Confirming the name and handwriting matched, she ran her fingers over the note, recalling the one retainer from their earlier meeting who had gazed at her so intently. A faint smile crossed her lips.
'So I'm not entirely abandoned.'
She didn't fully trust him.
After countless betrayals from those she'd believed in, perfect trust was impossible for her.
Hanzō was perhaps the limit.
But she wasn't fool enough to let mere suspicion squander what might be her last chance.
Thus, she handed the note to the loyal ninja who had approached and prostrated herself at her side.
"It seems not all of the Matsudaira retainers have turned their backs."
"...Indeed."
Hanzō nodded at her words.
At the same time, she saw it.
"Heh."
A truly long-absent, satisfied smile gracing her lord's lips.