Even the restrained Noriko couldn't control her salivation, feeling the incredible aroma coming from all the food on the table, and without delay pulled the plate closer, literally digging her teeth into the best meat she had ever tasted in her life.
Meyumi and Makoto tried to maintain decorum for some time but quickly gave up and began eating as if before execution.
"No need to rush. From now on, you can eat like this every day if you want," Kenshin said, not wanting the girls unaccustomed to such amounts of food to overload their stomachs with heavy food. And if Noriko's health didn't worry him, the weak Makoto had already left a mark on his heart in just half a day.
Hearing his words, Makoto and Meyumi reluctantly slowed down, while Noriko completely ignored him. Eating was a sacred act in her native tribe, and distracting a person from food was the most terrible taboo, which is why Noriko completely ignored everything happening at the table. If someone had disturbed her at that moment, she would have pounced on them with all her available rage without a shadow of doubt.
This unusual state of Noriko slightly resonated with Kenshin's feelings, making him, like a perfumer, constantly distracted by a new, unexplored "scent." Noriko's aggressive and unyielding character, combined with her beastly habits, awakened genuine interest in him, and Kenshin eagerly awaited the opportunity to uncover her secrets.
Everyone became so engrossed in eating the juicy pork ribs that they completely forgot about the other dishes until Kenshin forcibly removed Makoto's plate, caring for her health, and served her a salad known in his homeland as "Crab Louie." He really enjoyed taking care of her, and Kenshin was very pleased with the results of his trip to the city.
Makoto whispered "thank you, sir" with her lips alone and tried a piece of the unknown crab meat, then opened her eyes in shock. It was the first time she had tasted something so extraordinarily delicious and immediately began devouring all the pieces of crab meat on the plate, only occasionally nibbling on pieces of tomatoes and olives.
To Kenshin's surprise, Kasumi and Hitomi were also charmed by Makoto's cute behavior and couldn't wipe the smiles off their pleased faces. Due to her fragile build, she looked like a teenage girl and reminded both of them of their lost childhood.
"Hitomi, examine Noriko. Everyone else except Meyumi is free," Kenshin said, feeling a slight awkwardness. Usually, any meal was much freer and more relaxed, but all his wives agreed that formality would help make the right impression on the new girls and strengthen discipline.
After Hitomi and Noriko went to the medical point, and Kasumi took Makoto to the recreation room to show her many interesting games, Kenshin was left alone with Meyumi, who felt extremely uncomfortable.
"Meyumi, allow me to clarify something for you. Starting tomorrow, your new life begins, and I will give you one single chance to become a new person. We will forget everything that happened this afternoon, and my attitude toward you will become neutral; everything else depends only on you. Do you understand me?" Kenshin said measuredly.
"Y-yes, sir, thank you," Meyumi said excitedly. She had been racking her brains all evening over how to fix the master's negative attitude toward her, and this news was a pleasant surprise for her.
"You should thank little Makoto, not me. It was because of her that I decided to give you a second chance. Do you understand what I don't like about your behavior?" Kenshin asked with a smile. He felt like a psychologist, and this feeling was new to him. All his wives and sons had absolute loyalty and didn't try to hide anything from him, which is why communicating with an uncontrollable, cunning girl aroused considerable interest in him.
"Y-yes, sir. You don't like it when I bully Makoto, and I promise not to bully her anymore!" Meyumi declared selflessly. Having seen more miracles in a day than in her entire life, she was firmly convinced to do everything to stay close to this incredible person.
"No, that's not it," Kenshin sighed sadly and continued: "I don't like your black heart, and only because you thought about working on yourself am I still talking to you."
"I… I don't understand what you mean, sir. Tell me how I should behave, and I will never disappoint you!" Meyumi said confidently. She greatly valued her new position, so she allowed herself a little boldness. To her surprise, Kenshin didn't get angry at all and only smiled.
"I mean your insatiable envy, your callousness, and most importantly, your deceitfulness. The main rule of your stay in my house—forget how you used to resolve conflicts. No provocations, no deception, no setups. If I find out that you're trying to play your hidden games, you won't like the consequences," Kenshin said. He perfectly understood that telling a recidivist "don't do that anymore" was not enough, but he was interested in what would come of it. He couldn't wait to test the effect of empathic influence and the Patriarch's charm on her.
"I will try to improve, sir," said the completely calmed Meyumi. For some reason, all her fear and excitement passed, giving way to relaxed serenity. That's why she allowed herself to ask: "Forgive my boldness, but why did someone like you need three useless women from the House of Flowers? You can even create food out of thin air!"
Kenshin couldn't help but smile at how wonderfully the empathic influence worked. Although he had used this ability before, it hadn't been this strong. However, Meyumi had been under his Patriarch's charm for several hours, and Kenshin's empathy effect had increased many times over.
"Since you'll find out in the next few days anyway, I'll satisfy your curiosity. The thing is, I was looking for a wife," Kenshin replied with a smile, causing a real storm of emotions in Meyumi's mind.
Hearing his words, Meyumi experienced real shock. Since childhood, her most cherished dream was to marry a very rich and influential man. She understood how difficult it was to meet and seduce such a person, but this dream never truly faded, lingering in the back of her mind, making the young girl occasionally plunge into blissful dreams of a happy life.
"D-did you find her?" Meyumi asked, holding her breath. She was afraid to hear the answer but couldn't calm her pounding heart.
"Let's say I haven't decided yet which of you three will become my wife," Kenshin said with a smile, deliberately giving her food for thought.
"Which of us three?!" Meyumi thought in shock and, for the first time in the entire conversation, dared to raise her gaze and look Kenshin straight in the eyes.
"C-could I really have a chance too?"
"At the moment, you're barely suitable for the role of a concubine. However, if you can cleanse your black heart, I promise to think about it."
"I will definitely improve, sir, I promise!" Meyumi declared joyfully and barely restrained herself from jumping up from the table and throwing herself at his feet. In the half-day spent next to Kenshin, she had come to the conclusion that he was exactly the person she had been waiting for all her life—incredibly rich, strong, and also very young and handsome. In some completely incomprehensible way, the "beautiful prince" she had imagined took the form of Kenshin, and Meyumi realized that she must do everything in her power to become his wife.
"That's all I wanted to discuss with you; you may go," Kenshin said calmly, feeling that the conversation had been extremely fruitful and Meyumi had reached some understanding.
"Thank you, sir! I won't let you down!" Meyumi said and quietly headed toward her room.
After she closed the door behind her, she joyfully jumped onto the huge bed and blissfully stretched out. A huge weight had been lifted from her heart, and some of her problems had resolved themselves. Her only concern now was controlling her behavior.
For about an hour, she did nothing but think about everything that had happened during the day, constantly getting distracted by thoughts of the rejuvenated master. She didn't understand why her feelings were in complete chaos, not allowing her to concentrate on anything except Kenshin's image. With these thoughts, she fell into a deep sleep, hugging the pillow as if it were the person occupying all her thoughts.