The rest of the night passed like a blur. I ended up with a lot of new numbers in my mobile, though I admit I was a little disappointed I never got the Pri Minster’s direct number, although I did score the number for his under-secretary if I needed to contact him urgently. Damn, it would have made persuading my father easy, if I could have shown him that. Still, considering my phone only had family and my friends from Uni in it a couple of months ago, now it’s bursting with contacts.
I had Fujiwara-san’s personal secretary as well, and Tsumura-san’s actual number, and having a direct line to the Minister for Defence definitely made feel a big-shot. Though to be honest I felt It was more because I would be hanging around his beloved granddaughter, rather than the concerns of the country. He definitely seed the doting, overprotective sort.
Before leaving Shaeula went back for more food at the party, and I was again amazed where she put it all, seeing as she had a small fra. I made a joke that I should start calling her Goku from now on, and the puzzled tilt of her head as she was confused was shockingly cute. I then rembered she was more into magical girl and fantasy ani than stuff like Dragon Ball, so she hadn’t seen it. Anyway, we made a bit more small-talk with the lingering guests, and since so of them had seen us leave the private room where Fujiwara-san was residing, this ti they were not so dismissive of us, and we made a few contacts that might be useful for various matters in the future.
On our return to Shirohebizumi shrine we went to bed, not for any fun, but rely to rest, as it had been quite the exhausting day, ntally anyway. Tomorrow we would need to be up reasonably early, as Kana-chan was having guests, and our ho had been selected as the venue. Before I had left to pick up my suit and run various arrands that morning, Kana-chan had co up to , red-faced and nervous, to ask about her own gathering. I had smiled and told her it was fine, and that her parents had already asked . She managed to flush more, going almost purple, and her pouting was quite charming. Still, I told her I’d left her plenty of money, so she could go wild, and my reward was a bright smile, her annoyance forgotten.
Thinking of the events of the day, Shaeula already asleep beside , only wearing her underwear, I slipped into slumber myself, the alarm set for six in the morning, as we could manage with just a few hours’ sleep, and I wanted to check in on my Territory before the upcoming events of the day and the important eting with the priest of Hisuikomushi shrine…
********
“Well, this is quite the change.” I said, surprised, as I looked around the Boundary version of my ho. The dilapidated building had been completely refurbished, the floors now wooden boards, polished until they literally glead, and the decrepit walls and gap-filled roof had been patched with wood and vines, making it look a lot like so of the rustic cottages I had seen in so of my mom’s old photographs from her youth back in Britain.
“Indeed is it.” Shaeula agreed beside . “Still, this is more suitable for us, is it not-not? Having the shrine be shabby is an affront to… oh, it is you two.” Shaeula finished, her tone not exactly delighted to see her two weaselkin maids, who on sensing her arrival had rushed over to provide assistance.
“I see you have returned, mistress. Though your form-form would sadden your father.” One maid said. Risha maybe? Or is it Velna, I still can’t really tell them apart…
“Indeed, your beautiful amber fur is sothing to-to treasure.” The other said, bowing to Shaeula. As they settled in behind her, ready to follow and attend to her needs, I couldn’t help but notice the maids were giving dirty looks. Shaeula noticed too, and a sudden whip-crack of wind made a thunderous noise, causing the maids to flinch back, unnerved.
“If you feel you must follow , I shall not-not stop you.” she growled, displeased. “However we shall not-not repeat the mistakes of the past. My pride was too high, and entirely unearned. Now-now I shall only take pride in achievents I have earned, so be aware of this.” At her harsh words the maids looked a bit confused, but they agreed.
“And lastly, and much-much more importantly…” her amber eyes blazed and another whip-crack of wind broke the silence. “I shall tolerate none-none who disrespect my husband. So show him the respect he has earned. Besides…” she took my hand, smiling proudly. “… you do him a great disservice, looking down on him. Why, only last night, did we not-not et the leader of a very powerful country, who did hang on your every word, eager for your counsel?”
Well, I don’t think he was ‘hanging on my every word’ but I suppose you can definitely say he was seeking my advice. Although in exchange… Damn, I was going to have to speak to Haru-san while I was here, a task I wasn’t looking forward to.
“I see-see.” One maid said, and the other nodded too, deep in thought. “I would expect no-no less from the princess. Even if she must consort with a mortal, he would be a noble one, right-right?”
As the maids took Shaeula’s words literally and ran with them, she gave my hand a squeeze and a wry grin. Since I could tell she was looking for praise I leaned over and gave her a kiss, before we left the main room and entered the corridor, only to find the little Zashiki-Warashi Azuki wearing an apron and gloves, her hair tucked behind her head with a handkerchief, wiping furiously at the newly-laid wooden flooring with a polishing cloth. On seeing us she looked up, her ruby eyes moist.
“Oh, you’ve co back. Please, help ! She’s a tyrant, she…”
“Azuki, yooou better not be slacking! I feel the master and mistress have returned.” Hyacinth shouted from the doorway as she raced inside, her long hair swaying behind her, though now it was neatly bundled up into a ponytail, her black, green and purple hair looking rather fetching now it was clean, grood and tied with cloth ribbons. Her rags were gone too, and she now wore a similar maid outfit to Risha and Velna, the older, Victorian-era style.
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