Chapter 106: The Princess Diaries V
"The princess that is here is the only daughter the Daimyo has. But she is also the daughter of his second wife and is known to be close to her maternal family."
I raised an eyebrow. What does that have to do with anything?
"The second wife's family joined the other royal faction that had rebelled. Her family was spared, but they are on a narrow line. People think that her family may yet become history."
"So they are desperate for an achievement to prove their worth and ensure their survival?"
"It sure looks that way. Did something happen?"
Considering it was already known to third parties. I chose to tell them.
"When the Kurokami came to surrender to me, she offered them asylum."
Tsume paused. Then, she carefully continued.
"That would indeed be a big enough achievement to ensure her family's survival. Provided, of course, that you let them go. What did she promise in exchange?"
"Nothing. She threatened displeasure from the Daimyo."
"Poor move. A bluff seldom works against a major military clan. She will no doubt try to rush this and vanish before you realize. She has overestimated the Kurokami value. It could have been simply a blunder too."
"How so?"
"I think she has equated roughly a hundred Fuinjutsu masters as fight-worthy reward. After all, the Daimyo fought for you, didn't he?"
"But they are a fight worthy reward."
"Not if they come with an enemity of a major military clan attached."
She paused. "Have you taken any actions against her or the Daimyo yet?"
"No actions. But I just sent Haruto to snuggle up in circles where the Daimyo is not very well liked."
"That much is enough. Yes, that would make her life hell. The Daimyo certainly cannot afford to make an enemy out of you now. Anything that threatens his hard-earned stability will face severe consequences. You should get a pacifying letter in one or two days."
"If that's all it takes. Then this was a foolish move, wasn't it? I didn't take her for a fool."
"She is not. She knows politics. She just hasn't practiced it. She is treating you like a major family of nobles in the capital. If her bluff works. She would be out of here in less than a week. Once they get to the capital, it is over."
"It is?"
"At least according to her. But she is not a politician. She is making a mistake. She usually stays away from politics because of how ruthlessly cutthroat the courts are. Her background and pacifism prevented anyone from going after her. This is her first real political upheaval. Your clan had the potential to become a major military clan. The Daimyo wouldn't have supported you otherwise. The Kurokami are never gonna be a major clan. The Daimyo will choose to pacify you over antagonising you for a bunch of mediocre masters. At least, that's my opinion. She has not taken that into account. She saw the Daimyo trying to get his hand on Fuinjutsu masters. She decided to get them for him.
If she had bluffed a non-shinobi clan and successfully snatched something back to the capital, It would have become the Daimyo's property. He would have had to pay money. But that was it. Her inexperience with military clans is shining through. Pulling this off really would have been a masterstroke against civilian clans."
That was a lot of food for thought.
So I ate my food and ended the meeting.
The princess now reminded me of the political blunders I had made. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
On the way back, I and Hina stopped at Ichiraku. "Hoh, If it isn't the famous Kurosawa-sama!"
I laughed. "Really, Teuchi? How long have we known each other?"
"Hahaah, That's the spirit. Don't forget your roots now that you are a bigshot. Anyway, what do you want to eat today?"
"The usual."
"Coming right up!"
We settled down and started chatting.
"Hey, Hina. You have been silent all day."
"It's nothing, Lord Ren."
"I think you should start calling me Ren now. We are going to be married, you know."
"I-I just…"
Her cheeks reddened.
"You just?"
"I was just thinking,"
"About what?"
"About all of this."
"Are you regretting already?"
"What, No. Not regretting. It. It just still doesn't seem real."
I laughed.. I guess we skipped a lot of steps, didn't we? I was tired now. But I made a mental note to do something nice for her. In a romantic sense. That's when a shadow appeared over me.
"Hello, Lord Kurosawa! May I have a moment of your time?"
I looked up to see a Hyuga Shinobi standing respectfully.
"Hello…" I didn't remember him.
"My name isn't important. The message I have is."
"What's the message?"
"Lord Kenta asks if your agreement with him still stands?"
Oh right. The research proposal. It made sense for him to ask. The circumstances had changed a lot. I no longer needed to take unnecessary risks. They didn't know that they were necessary to me. I needed a kekkei genkai. In this tale of Eyes and Otsutsuki, these normal eyes are nothing more than decorations.
"I see. Tell him that the Kurosawa pay their debts. He will get the tags I promised him. Some things aren't ideal. But he should come to my compound someday. I'll tell him all about the new tags I am planning to make."
He bowed formally and left. I had spoken the last part loud enough to be overheard.
"Are we making another powerful tag?"
"No, but I had promised him priorities. But since we signed that contract with the Gekko clan. I can't really send him cluster grenades. But I am sure we can work something out."