When the table has been cleared and our bellies were full, Taneyuki-san returned to the room."Does his lordship wish to visit the ooku?" he asked.
"Yes," Kaname got up and turned to me. "You"re coming with me."
"But aren"t men other than you banned from entering the harem?" I asked although I was already making my way beside him.
"They may enter as long as I accompany them," he fixed his hair and started to walk towards the door. "Come, someone is expecting my presence there."
"Someone is expecting him?" I wondered who it was until we reached the door that led to the ooku.
~~~
When the bells signifying his arrival was heard, the door that can only be opened from the other side made way for Kaname"s arrival. Mami and Ayaka were of course already kneeling down to meet him; a third woman wearing a familiar kimono, who was on the second wife"s left, did the same. When she lifted her head to smile at Kaname, I was stunned to see that she resembled me so well! Ryuko-san was not joking when she said that she was my carbon copy! Behind her were my maids. It had only been less than twenty-four hours but I realized I miss them already.
Megumi and I accidentally made eye contact. My youngest maid"s eyes widened before she shyly looked away, only to sneak at peek at me again. Aya, who saw her odd actions, looked in my direction then blushed. She elbowed her cousin, when Yoko saw me she also blushed. Soon, all my maids were stealing glances at me with faces as red as Ecuadorian roses.
My lips threatened to form a smile. They covered their mouths in unison, I never thought their faces could turn a darker shade of red. I was having so much fun with their reactions that I decided to play a trick on them by giving them a long wink. The poor women looked like they were about to faint! I wanted to laugh! So this was what it"s like to be a male celebrity!
"Jin-san," Kaname called me and my amus.e.m.e.nt vanished. I reverted back to personal guard mode.
"Kaname-sama," I walked to were he was standing.
"Come with me to Lady Ayaka"s room," he said as he helped her up.
I bowed my head and looked at his second wife. She was surprisingly looking at me and not at our husband. I avoided her gaze and focused on Kaname instead. His lips were taut, the tension on their corners was apparent. Kaname was displeased.
~~~
Ayaka and her maids fussed over us as soon as we entered the west wing. She asked her maids to prepare us snacks, to which Kaname declined.
"There"s no need, my lady," he said as she sat opposite him. "I came here because of your note."
Ayaka"s face suddenly turned shy, her pink lips were curved into a small but happy smile. "I"m glad it has reached you quickly, my lord."
He nodded. "What is the important thing that you wish to tell me?"
The smile on her lips widened, her eyes were sparkling. "Kaname-sama, this woman has finally succeeded and will soon bring you your biggest source of pride," she started.
"Let us dispense with the suspense," his words were harsh but his tone was soft. "What are you talking about exactly?"
Ayaka stood up, inhaled then exhaled deeply before positioning herself in front of him. Her hands encircled her belly in a loving manner. "My lord, I am with child. In six months, I will bear you your firstborn."
Ayaka"s head was bowed respectfully as she waited for Kaname"s response. My heart pounded like crazy, I held my breath as if I was the one who told him the news. Kaname didn"t utter a word and just reached out to rub her belly.
"Why didn"t you tell me sooner?" he asked when she covered his hand with hers.
"Due to certain circ.u.mstances, I was unable to inform you," her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Kaname-sama, I have longed to let you know for quite some time now. Unfortunately, seeing that Lady Hinata has been monopolizing you lately, I couldn"t get a favorable time. I was helpless, I knew I couldn"t win against her charm."
"What do you mean?" Kaname looked genuinely taken aback.
"Lady Hinata has bewitched you, my lord," she said petulantly. "She has beguiled you with her beauty."
My hands balled into fists as I felt anger well up inside me. I couldn"t believe that the very same girl who told me such wise words about being Kaname"s concubine before is actually a wolf in sheep"s clothing! While it"s true that he has been and is still spending his time with me, it was neither because I forced him nor did something to him! This Ayaka is making it sound like I did some voodoo s.h.i.t on Kaname to control his mind! The bitter taste of betrayal just triggered my potty-mouthed self, I suddenly wished I could cuss her off!
Kaname glanced at me before replying, probably to see how I was reacting to the words of the woman before him. "My lady, you are wrong. Lady Hinata has not been monopolizing me. I was willingly giving myself to her."
Ayaka gasped and looked at our husband with a complex look. "F-forgive me for a.s.suming wrongly," she said as soon as she recovered.
"Please do not put the blame on her," Kaname retracted his hand. "I chose to visit her everyday for the past few months. My spending time with her is purely my own decision as much as my coming here to meet you is."
"My apologies, my lord. I hope I have not offended you," she grabbed the edge of one of his sleeves, an imploring look on her beautiful face.
He pulled his sleeve away from her grip with a frown. "You should be careful with your words, my lady. I know you have a temper and you are used to having things go your way but you must also keep in mind that as someone who is part of the harem, your jealousy should not overrule your head."
"Forgive me," she bit her lower lip to stop it from quivering, this only made her fragile pretense more p.r.o.nounced. "This is probably my pregnancy talking."
Kaname stood and motioned that it was time for us to leave. Seeing that his visit was now over, Ayaka hurriedly held on to his waist. It would have been a pitiful sight and I would have been moved had she not tried to slander me.
"My lord, you have made me so happy just by coming and acknowledging my condition. I will do my best to stay healthy for our child," her unshed tears were now rolling down her cheeks, her body was shaking as she spoke. "H-however… Although I know I have no right to question your choices and I also do not wish to impose, please allow me to beg you… Please… From now on until our child takes his first breath of life outside my womb, I implore you to stay by my side."