When Tsuru stepped out of the suite, the sunlight outside the door shone upon her, warm and comforting.
The world hadn't changed, but everything felt different.
The Four Nations Joint Inspection Team. Regional inspections. A storm was about to sweep across the Land of Lightning.
For her, a woman who had nothing left, it was a stepping stone.
The only stepping stone for her nine-year-old son to climb the path to the throne.
Returning to the inn, Tsuru sat quietly by the window, her eyes cold as she looked down at the bustling street below.
She was waiting.
Waiting for the man who had thrown her into the cold palace for eight years, making her suffer endless humiliation.
Time passed.
By afternoon, the peaceful rhythm of the town was disrupted by a dusty convoy.
At the same time, in the town's luxurious inn, on the antique street, and aboard the lakeside pleasure boat, the Daimyo of the Land of Earth, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Water all paused their activities.
They gazed leisurely from a distance at the convoy entering the town.
The owner of the convoy, the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, remained unaware of all this.
When he stepped onto the town's soil, what greeted him was not the respect of equals, but a cold notice.
A Five Nations Conference would be held the following morning.
He was given no time to breathe or prepare.
Holding the invitation, the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning clenched his fists, veins bulging, face dark.
He could sense the shift in the town's atmosphere.
On one side were the sounds of singing and celebration from the other nations' delegations. On the other, his own convoy was surrounded by a chilling aura of death.
A sudden wave of isolation, as if abandoned by the entire world, seized his heart.
The moment he saw Tsuru, all the majesty of a sovereign vanished.
"Tsuru!"
The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning rushed in with a roar, grabbing her wrist with such force it felt as if her bones would crack.
"How is it?!" His voice twisted with fear, eyes bloodshot. "Did he... did he agree?"
Tsuru didn't resist.
She simply looked at the panicked man before her, watching the desperation in his eyes.
How pitiful.
And how absurd.
In that moment, she suddenly felt...
Those eight years in the cold palace had been worth it.
She slowly raised her other hand and gently pried his fingers off one by one.
"Daimyo-sama," her voice was gentle, "please compose yourself."
"You are the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, a ruler."
The Daimyo trembled. His panic and fear froze instantly on his face.
He stared hard at this woman.
It was still the same familiar face, yet those once-gentle eyes held no trace of the past.
Only detached scrutiny remained.
He, the ruler of a great nation, was now being publicly reminded to calm down by a discarded consort he had imprisoned for eight years?
The humiliation hit harder than any slap, accompanied by an even deeper sense of dread.
He opened his mouth, but his throat seized up. Not a word came out.
Standing there stiffly, his face turned pale and green.
He suddenly turned and snapped at the stunned guards by the door.
"Get out!"
As if granted a great pardon, the guards quickly retreated.
But as the door closed, he noticed a few shadowy figures standing quietly in the corners of the room.
Their presence carried heavy pressure.
They were not his people.
"You..."
"They're from the Land of Fire. Sent to protect me."
Tsuru's voice was calm and steady, but it made the Daimyo stiffen.
She turned and said gently to the figures, "You may all leave for now."
The shinobi nodded silently, their figures flickering as they vanished.
This action said more than any words could.
The Daimyo knew, from the moment he sought out this woman, he could no longer treat her as someone under his control.
Now, she was his, and the Land of Lightning's, only lifeline.
He had to act.
In the next second, all the stiffness and rage on his face melted into regret and sorrow.
He took a step forward and tightly held her hand, his voice trembling as if sobbing.
"Tsuru! You must save me! Save the Land of Lightning!"
He acted with great sincerity, like a broken man seeking forgiveness.
A trace of pity appropriately flickered across Tsuru's face.
She didn't pull her hand away. Instead, she gently patted the back of his hand and softly consoled him.
"Daimyo-sama, please sit."
The Daimyo allowed her to help him sit on the bed, his eyes still fixed on her.
"What... what exactly did he say?"
Tsuru let out a long sigh. Her face showed exhaustion.
"He's firm in his decision. He said this is a matter of state, not something that can be resolved through family ties."
The Daimyo's heart sank like a stone.
It was over.
Just as he was about to break down, Tsuru spoke again.
"However..."
Those two words stirred his emotions once more.
"I am his aunt, after all." A complicated look of helplessness appeared on Tsuru's face. "Even though his words were harsh... in the end, he didn't send me away."
Hope ignited in the Daimyo's eyes.
There was still a chance.
"Tsuru! Please, plead with him again!" His voice was almost incoherent with desperation. "No matter what conditions he asks for, as long as the Land of Lightning can be saved..."
Tsuru interrupted him.
Her gaze sharpened, and she clearly stated, "Daimyo-sama, rest assured."
"We were husband and wife, after all..."
She paused, then said meaningfully, "And the Land of Lightning is also my son's home."
"He worries about the nation too, but he is still young, and his voice carries little weight."
That final sentence, though soft, struck the Daimyo's heart like thunder.
His excited expression froze.
The air grew still.
He looked at the woman before him. Deep in her calm gaze was a hidden blade.
This was the price.
He took a deep breath. His face changed instantly, now filled with the tender emotion of a father.
He held her hand even tighter, his voice filled with emotion.
"I know. Makoto has always been responsible."
"Unlike his older brother, who only knows how to drink and chase pleasure. He has no sense of duty!"
"The country is in crisis, and he's still out partying in the capital!"
"Useless. Completely useless!"
"..."
The two locked eyes, saying nothing more.
The room fell into silence.
One had offered a price.
The other had accepted it and implied more could be offered.
A silent deal was struck.
Throughout the exchange, the word "Heir" was never uttered.
Yet, the matter of succession had been decided.
Tsuru slowly lowered her head. Her expression showed just the right mix of emotion and satisfaction.
"Daimyo-sama... it's good that you understand."
"I will do my best."
She knew her offer had been fully received and accepted.
The Daimyo let out a long sigh, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted.
He thanked her repeatedly and left, his steps heavy.
The door closed behind him.
All emotion instantly vanished from Tsuru's face, leaving only cold calculation.
She summoned Asaba Toru and had him report everything that had just transpired.
Soon after, Arashi received the news.
"Directly asking for the position of the heir?"
"Haha. She moved quickly."
"As times change, only those who scheme boldly can shape the future."
"To be this eager..."
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)