"Seems like it," Nagahito"s eyes lingered at me for a few seconds before he looked away and gestured for us to enter the lavish room behind him.Inside the huge room were rows and rows of tables for the food, drinks, and guests; music was playing from a group of musicians while a group of high ranking people gathered around the emperor and his wife who were both seated on their thrones. When the imperial court announcer announced the shogun"s arrival, the people around the old man turned towards our direction and paid their respects towards Kaname. The rest of the people in the room did the same. Kaname ignored everyone and walked leisurely towards the raised platform were the emperor and his wife sat.
"Our great shogun," the old man stood and raised his arms in welcome. "Thank you for accepting my invitation despite your busy schedule."
The sight of him and his wife almost stopped me in my tracks. They both looked like Tyler"s parents! What the h.e.l.l is going on? I thought I"ve met all of the people who were related to me in my modern life here but it seemed like I was wrong. This whole scenario made me think that somehow, Kaname is also part of my life in the modern world. But if this was the case, who could he be? Aside from in my dreams, I haven"t met him before our fated encounter in the pine forest years ago…
"I always remember important people," Kaname answered with a slight curve on his lips. "And the people from the imperial family are one of them."
I stole a curious glance at Kaname. His words just now… Did they mean something else?
"Then we are deeply honored that you take us with high regard," the mikado replied.
We stopped in front of the throne. I bowed respectfully at the royal couple while Kaname just tilted his head forward a little. The old man and his wife returned his acknowledgment.
"Congratulations on your sixtieth year," he reached for the bag on his waist and produced a small but beautifully embroidered pouch.
"Thank you," the old man took his gift and was immediately delighted by the pouch"s contents. "As expected of you, Lord Kirishima."
Kaname just smiled while the aristocrats nearby craned their necks to glimpse at what was inside the bag. After a few more exchanges, we went to our table and the banquet officially started.
"Just give me two more hours," Kaname whispered gently when he saw me yawn.
"It"s alright, my love," I murmured. "Maybe my exhaustion will vanish after a sumptuous meal."
"Then you should eat plenty," he smiled.
"I will," I smiled back.
A servant approached our table and started serving us our food. I had quite a lot of everything save for the salt and pepper venison. In the modern world, I rarely ate beef and avoided both chevon and mutton because of their gaminess, so of course deer meat is obviously another no for me.
"You didn"t touch the venison," the servant remarked with slight confusion.
"I do not eat red meat that much," I answered simply.
"A man should have his fill of protein," it was Nagahito again, behind him were the three ladies from earlier.
"I prefer seafood and vegetables as my source of protein, your highness," I replied, internally wishing he"d scram and not show his annoying face to me again.
One of the women giggled. "No wonder you have great skin."
"That and good genes are my secret," I told her jokingly although deep down I wanted to roll my eyes at her. Being a woman myself, I immediately knew she was trying to flirt with me.
"Maybe the kind sir would be generous enough to share his good genes with me," the woman said flirtatiously while batting her lashes at me.
I almost spat out the tea I was sipping. Did she just indirectly ask me to have s.e.x with her!? Just who exactly is this shameless woman!?
"Dear cousin, introduce us to these esteemed guests," the woman tugged at Nagahito"s arm playfully. As her b.r.e.a.s.t.s jiggled, I almost feared they"d spill out of her kimono.
"Of course," the crown prince smiled indulgently at her. "These are of course the tenka bito, his right hand Taneyuki-san, and his personal guard, Jin-san. Tenka bito, pardon this careless prince for his oversight. These are my cousins, Lady Sen, Lady Rin, and Lady Misaki."
"Jin-san already has someone in his heart, I"m afraid," Kaname said after giving the ladies a quick once-over.
"Oh? So he is taken?" the woman named Sen didn"t bother hiding her disappointment at all.
"Well, there"s always the option of taking in a concubine," Nagahito spoke while giving the flirtatious woman a small smile. "Although I am not sure if Lady Sen would be willing to be the second wife."
"For a man as dangerously attractive as Jin-san, I wouldn"t mind," Sen replied with unhidden coquetry.
"There will only be that person in my life," I hurriedly replied when I saw that Kaname was about to speak again.
The other two women snickered, relishing the look of mortification on their cousin"s face. I noticed that, while they were also interested in me, their eyes lingered on my husband more.
"Nonsense!" the crown prince exclaimed. "You"d be blind to reject a beauty such as Lady Sen here."
"I"m a one-woman man," I said without caring about the other party"s feelings.
"Does the shogun not pay you enough?" he asked jokingly. "Maybe that"s the reason why you won"t consider taking in another woman?"
"I only give my heart, body, and soul to my beloved," I answered hurriedly as Kaname didn"t looked pleased. "And the shogun pays me more than a simple personal guard like me should earn."
"Tenka bito," the woman named Rin spoke with hope in her tone. "Have you not considered getting a third wife? It"s been three years since the lady of the Hasekura clan"s banishment."
"I have not met anyone worthy of being part of my household these past few years," Kaname told her. "To be my wife, a woman has to be outstanding."
"I am adept in playing the thirteen-stringed koto," Rin said. "I am also good at making tea."
"I, on the other hand, have always been praised for my beautiful voice and the way I dance," Misaki interjected.
"My wives are already wonderful in those areas," Kaname answered with a bored expression on his face.
"T-then, if you were to choose a third wife, what qualities must she possess?" Misaki asked helplessly. "What does outstanding mean to you?"
"An outstanding woman is the type who wouldn"t throw herself at me. I prefer doing the chasing and not the other way around," he looked at the two women meaningfully, their faces reddened in embarra.s.sment. "And to be honest, my current wives are enough for me."
I looked down and bit my lower lip to fight the smile that threatened to form on my lips. Such savagery, my love!
Nagahito cleared his throat and told us to enjoy the rest of our meals before leaving with Rin and Misaki. Sen, on the other hand, stayed on our table and suddenly placed my hands on her chest.