Hearing this sharp remark, Meyumi fell silent for a few seconds, horrified to realize that Noriko was right. She really was planning to gradually undermine the authority of these pampered dolls to rise and get closer to the master. She still had questions about who they were to the master, and if they weren't his daughters, Meyumi planned to push them all aside.
"Ahem, maybe I really should be more careful, but it's not for you to teach me that. I'm much prettier, more restrained, and sweeter than you. I don't understand why the master decided to shelter such a stinking bitch. Truly, the master is merciful…" Meyumi finished with a smile, not wanting to lose the argument even if Noriko was right about something.
"Next time, ask the master which of us he finds more repulsive," Noriko replied with a laugh. She wasn't offended by Meyumi's words at all, because the customs in her tribe were much harsher, and being the chieftain's daughter only worsened her position, as everyone considered it their duty to challenge her to a duel with the strongest insult so that the proud chieftain's daughter had no choice but to accept the challenge.
Meyumi wanted to retort sharply and continue the argument but shuddered all over and opened her eyes in shock.
"Dinner in twenty minutes; don't be late," Kenshin said mentally, and she almost jumped in place.
"T-the master orders us to hurry… Move it, fool; I don't want to be late because of you!" Meyumi exclaimed and frantically grabbed the shower head, simultaneously trying to open a bottle of shampoo.
*****
Meyumi barely had time to wash herself and stood before the difficult choice of most young girls, deciding what to wear, when the door to her room suddenly opened, and Kasumi entered.
The naked blonde instinctively covered herself with her hands, but seeing that a woman had entered, Meyumi relaxed a little and more smoothly covered herself with one of the dresses laid out on the bed.
"Don't be scared; even if he came instead of me, nothing would threaten you. But if you're so shy, the door locks from the inside; you just click this little thing," Kasumi said, demonstrating the lock mechanism.
"Ahem, I'm not shy," Meyumi replied, embarrassed, unsure how to behave with this girl.
"Dress faster; you have five minutes," Kasumi said calmly and headed for the exit, intending to wake Makoto and help her dress.
Meyumi wanted to object but kept silent. She was afraid to quarrel with this girl if she was the master's daughter but decided to remember this arrogance for the future.
*****
Meanwhile, Makoto, for the first time in a very long time, was sleeping sweetly. She subconsciously didn't want to wake up, afraid to see the painfully familiar walls of the House of Flowers again.
"Wake up, sleepyhead. Kenshin will be displeased if you miss dinner," Kasumi said gently, stroking her head.
"Ah!" Makoto cried out in fear and tried to get up. She still didn't understand what was happening and where she was.
"Sorry, madam…" Makoto said apologetically when she finally realized she was safe. As soon as her sleep-clouded mind cleared a little, she almost jumped for joy at the sudden realization that she had woken up in her own bed, in her own room.
"No need to apologize, and how many times do I have to say, call me Kasumi. I'm not a madam to you," Kasumi said with a smile, stroking Makoto's head. After washing with excellent shampoo, her hair had finally become soft and gentle, and Kasumi didn't want to remove her hand from this little one's miniature head.
"S-sorry, madam…" Makoto whispered.
"Okay, let's choose something elegant for you. I'm sure Kenshin will be glad to see you in nice clothes," Kasumi said gently and opened the wardrobe, which already contained clothes suitable only for Makoto's size.
Hearing the master's name, Makoto made every effort not to forget it and silently allowed Kasumi to dress her.
Kasumi became so engrossed in dressing Makoto that she stopped only when she heard Kenshin's telepathic call. Quickly dressing Makoto in simple jeans and a blouse, grabbing Meyumi and Noriko, Kasumi hurried toward the dining hall in the "parental" wing.
By the time Kasumi brought all the new girls to the table, Kenshin and the rest of the wives were already seated, having a casual conversation.
Seeing that the master was surrounded by the very "porcelain dolls" she had seen earlier, Meyumi became a little wary. She became even more convinced of the need to behave quieter than water and lower than grass, at least until she figured out what was going on.
After everyone took their places, Meyumi again felt envy for Makoto, who was sitting very close to Kenshin. But the blue-eyed blonde immediately suppressed her emotions, fearing that the master would feel them again.
"Since everyone here is family, I think we can remove the disguise," Kens, Kenshin said with a smile, and in the same second, the stately fifty-year-old man incredibly rejuvenated. All wrinkles smoothed out, gray hair completely disappeared, and his appearance underwent only minor changes.
"Ah!" Makoto cried out, unable to restrain her surprise. Meyumi and Noriko were more restrained and only stared in shock at what was happening.
"Well… I didn't think you were just pretending to be an old man. It must be masterful fuinjutsu if even the eye idiots from the Hyuga clan didn't notice anything," Noriko said and then flinched, looking at Hitomi and seeing her completely white eyes.
"Ahem!" Hitomi snorted displeasedly but didn't make a scandal.
"Why didn't I notice your eyes before…?" Noriko said in surprise. Sinking into memories, she was surprised to find that as soon as she got out of the carriage, she saw this woman's Byakugan but for some strange reason paid no attention to it at all.
Kenshin ignored her words and peered into the interactive menu in front of his eyes, choosing dishes for dinner.
"Since our family has a small addition, I think it's worth having a hearty dinner," Kenshin said with a smile, somewhat surprising the girls who understood nothing. They didn't see a single servant who would set the table and couldn't understand what he was planning.
But all thoughts instantly left the new girls' heads, and Makoto couldn't even hold back a frightened squeal when a huge amount of various food suddenly appeared on the table.
"W-what kind of technique is this?! Such techniques don't exist! Is it fuinjutsu?!" Noriko exclaimed in shock, jumping several meters away from the table. Few things could frighten or surprise her, but food appearing out of nowhere completely threw her mind off balance.
"Calm down and sit back down. You'll find out everything later; for now, let's eat," Kenshin said calmly and smiled, stroking Makoto sitting next to him. He insisted that she sit beside him this evening, which couldn't help but hurt his wives' pride, who were displeased with their husband's increased attention to a stranger.
"Eat, don't be shy, and don't be afraid of anyone," he said gently and pushed a plate of pork ribs covered in golden crust, from which faint steam rose.