Royal Princess of Blood

Surprisingly, the castle was pretty accommodating to Miyako and her bodyguard. They'd been considerate. They checked up on her health with their physicians yesterday when she arrived. Afterward, they prepared some spare clothes for her and Satomi, which they took of course. Their travel clothes had been pretty dirty, and it would be embarrassing to keep wearing them here.

Her spare clothes were lost in the ambush. Which was a shame, as there were plenty of good outfits there. She didn't know what had happened to their carriage, but if it was okay, then they had either left it behind or the men they sent to search for them had not yet returned. Her original travel clothes were sent for a wash.

After all that, she took the chance to get some rest in her room. She had been feeling tired, and lying on a bed was pretty pleasant. Although attempting to rest, or even sleep, in an enemy castle was not an easy experience. There was no way she could completely relax out here. So many eyes all over the place, and many potential enemies.

Not only eyes from soldiers, but she imagined there might be ninjas as well that she couldn't sense. Which was troubling in its own way. She just had to be grateful that at least they had the decency not to spy in her own room. She was certain of it, she checked. That said, if they were rude enough to spy on the lords, then this meeting might as well be over. It would destroy all meagre trust.

I'm hungry.

To find some food, she headed out of her room after fixing herself. Outside her room, Satomi was sitting on a chair beside the door. Satomi was given her own room beside Miyako's, but Miyako had no other guards. Therefore, Satomi had to work harder to make up for their lack of staff.

Miyako felt bad, but knowing Satomi, she wouldn't leave Miyako without a guard by her room. When she saw her, Satomi had her eyes closed but was still sitting up straight. The moment Satomi heard Miyako open the door, she quickly opened her eyes.

"Good morning, Satomi." Miyako smiled.

Satomi stood up. "Good morning, milady."

"Thank you for watching over me, and I'm so sorry," she said with an apologetic expression.

"Think nothing of it. It's my job."

"Still…" She shook her head, dismissing the matter. "Did you have a good rest at least?"

"Yes. No one suspicious came around."

"Of course… Then Yoshio might not be involved in the ambush, after all."

They whispered to each other.

"... Or it was just too late to try to kill you now."

Miyako let out a sigh. "It's exhausting to think about the negatives."

"Thinking negatives prepares us for danger."

"I know, I know. Let's just get something to eat."

Miyako turned towards the female servant standing nearby.

"She's been here since early morning," Satomi said.

She must be here to assist us.

Miyako smiled gently at the servant. "Hello."

The female servant flinched for a second before facing Miyako and bowed. "Greetings, miss." She seemed nervous. "I'm here to serve your needs."

"We would like to eat breakfast."

"Of course, miss. Please follow me."

They followed the servant through the hallway, and must be heading to a dining room. On the way, Miyako couldn't help but glance at the different pretty objects placed on the pedestals. The lord of this castle truly was a collector, with so many varieties of items.

She paused to stare at some porcelain cups. There were patterns and shapes painted on them. Just from the style alone, it was easy to tell it was not locally made. And to think they would just display something so precious in the hallway. The servants must be extra careful in cleaning this stuff. There were even vases of unique design.

Just how much is that man spending on these items?

She couldn't imagine spending on objects that had no use except for collecting and displaying. As they continued on, she saw a strange mask painted colorfully and intricately. It gave the vibe of celebration and fun, which she guessed must be worn during festivals.

"Do you know what I take from this, Satomi?"

"What?"

"All this stuff… Hokunoa is opening itself up for trade with lands beyond our shores. And they're going all out."

"Is that bad for us?" she whispered.

"We don't know what kind of deal they would have with merchants. But if things go well, they'll be ahead of us economically."

Although even that would take years.

"Don't we already trade with merchants from other lands?"

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"Only on our north, and only on a small scale. We don't get many merchants. And I never heard of them bringing something as valuable as these."

Compared to Nishinoa and Hokuna, the latter had safer seas to traverse. With the demon land to the southwest of Nishinoa, the seas around it were filled with sea monsters. Not many would try to risk themselves by selling to a land that might not even buy a lot of things.

Hokunoa, on the other hand, had no problems with monsters on its seas. Except for pirates, but those can be dealt with easily. Plus, if they improve their trade, then that would indeed encourage more merchants to come and trade. Who knows what kind of stuff they could buy from other lands. And who knows what kind of support Hokunoa would get. What kind of connection they get to make. How dangerous could that be for Nishinoa?

"So they're planning to get ahead of the other islands."

"... Yes. We are closed to outsiders. We have been for a long time. But this lord has other things in mind."

"What can we do about it?"

"... I don't know."

There were some things they could perhaps do. Perhaps trade cooperation between islands. That might work, but who knows if they would agree to it. For the time being, if Hokunoa could trade well with outsiders, they wouldn't share their advantage with their enemies, which were the other islands.

Nishinoa could pursue the same thing, play the same game. But they still had the great problem of environmental hazards. For a smooth trade with outsiders, Hokunoa would be the safest bridge. Hokunoa was truly now taking advantage of their location.

But I wonder, does Yoshio intend to become a shogun? Or is he different?

Was he the kind of person who would prioritize his own island or the entire archipelago without a benefit for himself? Or still, in the end, he wished to rule over all and become the shogun?

Whatever the case may be, Miyako had no intention of submitting. She couldn't afford her own people‌ to be abused or persecuted because they were not from the same island as the superior.

As they walked, the servant in front of them suddenly came to a stop. Frantically, she stepped aside, letting a group walk in, heading in Miyako's way. A man was ahead, with five men following behind him as guards.

The man, the leader, was wearing a well-made coat, pants, and boots. A katana hung at his waist. He seemed to be around in his mid-thirties. He had a cocky smirk as his dark eyes saw Miyako. He had short dark hair, and he was clean-shaven. Miyako took a subtle deep breath. She could tell he was a dangerous person, more powerful than her.

The man held out his hand, stopping his team behind him. He tilted his head, looking at Miyako from top to bottom, scrutinizing her. His smirk widened.

"You must be the daughter of that man. You look good."

Miyako frowned. "And you… you're the lord of Tobunoa Island?"

Miyako had heard a bit of this man's ascension to power. The prior lord of Tobunoa was in good health, he could have ruled his island for several more years. However, seven years ago, this man here killed him. The current lord of the east island, Takehiro Asakura. The betrayer of his family, the one who murdered his own father.

Truth be told, he disgusted her. How could someone just kill their own family member? For what? Just to take power? Because of his impatience? At any rate, he was a dangerous man who held no honor whatsoever. He was someone who could never be trusted.

"Good, you know of me! That makes things easy." He suddenly took a step forward, leaning close. But Satomi instantly went in between them. Takehiro raised an eyebrow. "Can't even let me adore the beauty of your charge?"

"Her beauty is not for you to adore up close."

The man scoffed. "Defiant. I like that." He chuckled, and he leaned back. "Miyako, you were late. Tsk tsk tsk, how rude of you."

"..."

"But I understand you were attacked?" He narrowed his eyes. "Or, to be precise, ambushed."

"How did you know that?"

"I have my ways. Words spread fast in this place." He looked around. "And your situation was not exactly a secret."

He casually walked around, looking at the collector's items in front of him with a smile. Miyako watched him carefully and glanced at his men, who were directing ‌stern looks at her.

"But I wonder… You're the only one left. I'm shocked to see that you survived."

Miyako sensed a tiny hint of frustration in his voice. "Shocked? Or are you disappointed?"

"Heh. I don't see any reason for me to be disappointed." He glanced to the side. "I'm merely impressed. How mighty you are. When I heard the daughter would be the representative for this year's assembly, I imagined you'd be nothing special."

"Are you insulting me?"

"No, I'm actually praising you. I never thought you would be this beautiful. And you surviving such an ambush, you only become sweeter in my eyes." He had a strange glint in his eyes, the eyes of a hunter. "How did you survive, sweet Miyako?" he whispered softly.

Miyako smiled and placed her hands behind her, slowly walking behind Takehiro. "Have you ever had the feeling that you are the strongest of all? That you are unbeatable? That everyone else is prey?"

"I am the mightiest in my kingdom. And perhaps even the entire archipelago. Mine is not a feeling, but a fact."

"That's what those ambushers felt when they first attacked me. They were so confident." She paused and stared at one of the special items. Another colorful painting. "They smiled as they killed my men. At that moment, I knew what they felt." She glanced at the men with the lord. "They felt unstoppable. With so few numbers, they killed all of my guards."

"They must indeed be powerful men, then."

"But such a belief is the height of foolishness. Do you know what really killed those men?" She stared into Takehiro's fiery eyes.

"... What?"

"Arrogance."

Hearing that, the lord laughed. "Hahahaha! When you're strong, you have the right to be arrogant. Now, arrogance despite being weak, that is ridiculous."

"You said it. Arrogance despite being weak."

The man paused and frowned. "Hm?"

"They were weak, all of them."

The man's smile faltered for a brief moment. "Weak? Them?"

"They died, didn't they?" Miyako smiled. "So confident, so arrogant. Yet so weak, they perished so easily."

"What killed them then, huh? You? You, who could not even save her own people?"

"Again, you are the same. So arrogant, you think you are unstoppable. How do you know I'm not strong enough? How do you know my guard is not strong enough? How do you know we could not defeat those that pursued us?"

Of course it was not them at all. But Miyako just wanted to give these people a bit of a puzzle — to confuse them. Give no direct answer. It was different for the lord of this island. But for this man here, it was best not to give him a clear answer at all. For this man was extremely suspicious. Right now, Miyako was mostly suspecting either this lord, or the lord of the southern island.

"Are you playing with me, girl?"

"Please have some respect, Mister Takehiro. I am your fellow representative."

"Heh. No, I think you're not strong enough. But… You surprised me. And to be honest, sometimes, I don't like surprises."

"Me too. I'm tired of surprises."

"I'll be looking forward to talking with you more next time, Miss Miyako." He chuckled.

He beckoned his guards, and they continued on their way. But Miyako noticed Satomi staring at the man walking close to Takehiro, and the man stared back as they went.

"Satomi, is something wrong?"

"That man… I sense something strange about him."

"What kind?"

"... I don't know… Milady, the true danger might not be the lord themselves… But those around them."

"Hm… Be that as it may, with the amount of resources they used for us, there is no way that a rogue servant would be capable of all that without a superior knowing."

Satomi still had an uncomfortable look on her face. "Maybe…" She glanced back, narrowing her eyes.

Miyako let out a sigh. It was a tiring encounter she didn't expect and was ready for. But she was glad it was only brief. "Let's go, Satomi. I'm hungry."