Bab 58: Extra Chapter: A Noblewoman's Destiny, Nagisa Masami.
General Shimura is not the only person who knows the inner workings of Kiko's planning tree. Yes, he does manage military affairs of Kiko's armed forces, but when it comes to the governmental side of the state, it is me who handles it from start to end.
"Good morning, Lady Nagisa. It's time to wake up."
"Mrm…"
My day usually starts an hour after sunrise. I am awakened by my personal maid inside our dojo-estate at the outskirts of Naka city. She would first open the thick curtains and bamboo blinds in my room before greeting me a good morning.
"What do I have in my schedule today?"
"A meeting with the Commons Chamber at 9 AM. A lunch meeting with East Naka Merchant Alliance at Guili Dining Pavilion at 11 AM. An on-site inspection of the new Kiko Congress building at 2 PM and… A dinner meeting at 5 PM with the regional village chiefs."
"It's another long day, huh?"
"Yes, my lady. I only outlined the major events. The minor meetings and events happening in-between those that I've spoken are more numerous than you expect."
Well, it's my job. As Kiko's internal government minister, I bear most of the brunt in the planning and execution stages of the public works in Kiko. My adjutant, Fumikage Rie, is supposed to be the one who has to handle this. But since she was sent to Shinka to handle the road building projects to connect each of the allied states to Kiko, I've been the one left to do all of these things in her stead.
"Have you warmed me a bath? She would scold me if I went to work without following the traditional customs."
"I admire your willingness to follow traditions, Masami-sama. But in the first place, the reason for such a custom to exist is to make sure that any woman will be presentable to other people when she comes out of her home. Please keep the real reason in mind instead of just following for the sake of following."
"I will."
After cleaning my self and being dressed up by our servants, I went out of the villa where the disciples of the Nagisa-no-butoku (Nagisa Martial arts) are having their morning training.
"""Good morning, Lady Nagisa!"""
Two years ago, this yard would've no one other than our already senior disciples. Following the enthronement of former lord Akizuki and the Shinju clan's lack of support for our dojo, no new disciples came to our martial arts school to study. With that, our family went into debt until Iwasawa-sama caught the Kawasumi clan who took over the Shinju clan's business endeavors and we were again supported by the Shinju clan's remaining members.
"Good morning too, disciples of our art. Please don't mind me. Return to your training and embody the martial spirit."
"""Yes, Lady Nagisa!"""
I walked to the courtyard where a carriage was waiting for me and rode it to go to my office at Misao Pavilion.
"Lady Nagisa, these are the reports regarding the bridge laying project at Iso river. This is the one near the border of Fuku province."
"Good, just place it here in my table."
At times, I can't help but believe that being a minister was quite the ideal job for me.
"Geez… my glasses are getting foggy because of the coffee."
I mastered all of my family's martial arts, but it wasn't really my passion to swing the spear and sword around and challenge random people to a duel.
"Is this actually addressed to me? This seal is supposed to be directed to Minister Toshinori."
"Ah! Sorry, Minister Nagisa!"
I also don't want to be the stereotypical noble girl who does nothing but tea ceremony, flower arrangement and calligraphy all day long and not being of use to those around her.
"Minister Nagisa, these are the documents you requested from the finances board. Should I place it here?"
"Yes. Just stack them at the table, I'll handle them later."
I am happy to be taken by Iwasawa-sama to serve my country. Ever since I became one of the ministers of Kiko, I've been able to serve the people and also be thanked by them for my service.
"Lady Nagisa, your schedule has been cleared."
"What?"
But… I am still a noble woman.
"This was requested by Lady Yumi. Your… mother."
"WHAT?!?!?!"
There are still parts of my life that I don't have a complete control over.
"L-lady Masami! Where are we going-"
As he heard the carriage door being audibly opened, the driver almost fell off of his seat and hurriedly grabbed the reins of the horses.
"To our estate! Make haste!"
"Y-yes, Young lady! Hiya!"
Hearing that that woman has interfered with my work, I went back to our home and forcefully opened the door of a room where an elderly woman dressed in luxurious clothes is sitting amidst a circle of other noble women.
"My, my… If you may excuse us, esteemed ladies. It seems like my daughter has something to tell me in private."
"Y-yes…"
The other noblewomen exited the room, leaving me and my mother in the room all by ourselves.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
"Shush, child! It is not acceptable for a noble woman to raise her voice for personal complaints."
"But…"
"It's time, my daughter… I've tolerated your childish whims for long enough."
"Why are you calling it childish whims? I am serving the people of Kiko! Our citizens and Iwasawa-sama's subjects!"
"A profession that I never approved of! Why are you handling a job not meant for a delicate maiden like you anyway?!"
This woman… why is she doing this?!
"Come on, your childish games must come to an end now. I've already arranged for your suitors to come to our lakeside tea house to meet you. Servants! Get her dressed and refreshed!"
"""As you wish, Lady Yumi.""'
"Ah! What are you doing?!"
While standing still, I was grabbed by several servants who took off my clothes to replace it with an Irouchikake kimono and a veil while spraying sweet perfume to me.
After several moments, I was prepared to be presented to a number of men who has come for my hand.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Nagisa."
There were young men that came from rich merchant families…
"Ho, ho! I believe that child will be pleased to meet you in the future!"
There were also fathers and uncles who are finding women to arrange to their children.
But knowing her, they were just allowed in as a courtesy. None of them are actually in her long, exclusive list of favorable families or individuals to marry me off to.
After a while, the only person who fit that bill appeared and it was the only time that she responded to the other side's greeting.
"Hello, Lady Nagisa. It's pleasure to meet you."
"It's a pleasure to see you too, Sir Tosa!"
The young man was from an influential family in the opposition party of the Noble chamber.
"It's a delight to see you in such a fine and beautiful garb, Lady Nagisa. I always see you at Misao Pavilion when my father asks me to represent our family during congress meetings, but this is the first time that I saw you in such a magnificent appearance."
"What a refined praise, Young Tosa! Such a magnanimous display of nobility!"
"Thank you, Madame Nagisa."
As they talked, I thought up a reply that can make this chalk-faced maru to shut up.
"Is that so? Do I look unsightly during meetings then, Young master?"
"A-Ah! N-no! Please don't take it in that way, Lady Nagisa. What I meant is-"
"I don't want to talk to a rude man like you anymore. Mind your words next time and try to be more tactful."
"Masami! Ah… Young Tosa. Please don't mind her, she is just like this when-"
"Go now. I have lost my interest with you."
With those words from me, the young man lost all light in his eyes as he hung his head and groaned.
"S-Sorry… I'll go now…"
After he exited, I knew what would come next, so I sprang up from my Seiza position and hopped back from where I was sitting.
"You ungrateful wench!"
"Tch-!"
This isn't the first time that this happened. All of this arranged marriage attempts started when our family went into debt and one important person in our family died which caused great grief to my already ailing father.
"You are the daughter of House Nagisa! You are the only child that can continue our family line!"
"And I don't want to! Who are you to choose such my future for me?!"
Since then, this woman did nothing but to find rich and influential people and attempt to marry me off even though my father was against it.
"I'm tired of your hard-headedness, Masami! Is this really how you're going to repay all the years that we spent on raising you?!"
"Argh!!!"
Too frustrated to reply, I went out of the tea house and stomped towards our main villa to lock myself in my room.
"That woman… why is she always like this…?"
*Tak! Tak!*
Suddenly, I heard someone knocking on my door which annoyed me as I knew she or her attendants will be pulling me out of my room to continue the marriage negotiations.
"Get away or I'll strangle you to death!"
*Tak! Tak!*
Yet the knocking continued which filled my frustration as I took my naginata from its stand and opened the door to scare away whoever it was that was knocking there.
"Didn't I tell you to go away?! Do you have a death wish?!"
"EEEEKKKK!!! S-Stop, Nagisa-san! It's me!"
"Kazuya-kun?"
"Y-yes…"
But instead of her or her servants, the one who was standing in front of the door was Shinju Kazuya, the current leader of the Shinju merchant clan and a close co-worker of mine as he is the vice-minister of trade and commerce working under Toshinori-san.
"…Sorry for scaring you."
"Y-yes… I'm sorry too since it seems like I worried you."
This kid was only 13 years old when his uncles and aunts was caught by Iwasawa-sama and Shimura-san's raid after they heard that they are making fraudulent and unlawful trades. With no other grown-ups left after the Kawasumi clan was taken off of their family tree, he stepped forward and took the responsibility and burden of leading their damaged noble family.
"Get in. Let me treat you to some tea."
"E-Eh? N-no need, Nagisa-san. I just wanted to bring these documents to you since you weren't in Misao pavilion earlier."
"Then let's talk about it over some tea. Come on."
"I-I… Haah… Pardon the intrusion…"
While wearing an embarrassed face, the now 15-year-old young man entered my room as I closed and locked the door behind him before proceeding to brew some tea for the two of us.
"Some of the factories has to be shut down?"
"Yes. The factory managers of Site A and Site F said that the metal casting machines and mechanical lathes had to be shut down for a week to check the wear and tear in them. The last maintenance run reported some problems so the managers said that it would be better to handle this as soon as possible."
The factories that produce processed goods in Kiko belongs to the Shinju and Nagisa clan. Thus, Kazuya-kun needs to inform me and ask for my permission for every decision that had to be done in the business.
"Let's allow it then. If I remember correctly, Site A produces the bullet casings for the Seiryuu rifles while Site F makes the Kusa bayonets. We have buffer stocks for both and the expansion plans for the army is still on hold as said by General Shimura…"
"Let's wish that there will be no major issues or a need to replace the machines so we can return to production after a week."
"Right."
Many would not place their favors on Kazuya since he's too young and his tendency to look like a helpless, crying child when taunted makes him look unreliable.
"Next would be the expansion to Shinka province. We currently have two factories in Shinka but Lady Kusanagi said that she wants at least 20 factories to be built in her lands, especially in the southern villages where metals are abundant."
"That's reasonable. Shinka is in the center of the allied provinces. She's aware of her position and aims to be the production center of whatever product Kiko will formulate."
"My concern is, will that align with Iwasawa-sama's plans?"
"Hm… I will have to write a letter to him and ask for his opinion. But for now, it would be good to prepare for the first steps already and send engineers and cartographers to inspect the area."
"Understood, I will arrange for it!"
He's really reliable. He's young yet his talent and tenacity is unmatched by any other people I have worked with.
"Nagisa-san?"
If only those louts who want to be with me is as reliable as he is… Maybe I can actually consider it.
"Nothing, I just remembered my appearance."
"An Irouchikake kimono… were you in a meeting before you arrived here?"
"I… yes, you can call it like that."
"I see. Was it a meeting with a merchant alliance? I heard that they are getting more and more profit after the alliance has been officiated and the tariffs in the allied provinces was lifted."
"I guess you can consider it like that."
Why am I going on spirals just to explain this? I could've just told him that it was a marriage negotiation and he'd be too young to even understand my frustration.
Yet… I feel like it would be better to not tell him about it after all.
"Hey, do you want to check out the Koi fish you left in our pond?"
"Ah! I almost forgot about her!"
"Ehehe… let's go and take a look then."
I unlocked the door and checked the hallway if any servants were waiting for me to go out and I signaled to Kazuya to follow me quietly.
"Here we are. Just at the right time to feed them too."
I spoke and took the pot where the fish food is placed and together with Kazuya, scattered it on the pond water.
"Wow! They're so colorful and huge!"
"Our pond is special. So long as you take care of them, any fish placed in here is sure to grow up big and bright."
I proudly stated as I felt glad to see his face filled with wonder.
But that quickly turned into a gritting snarl after I heard that woman's voice.
"Masami! This is the last time that you're going against me!"
"Argh… she again…"
I turned around and saw that woman walking with her servants and even some of our guards who are loyal to her.
"I have already talked to your father. He said that he will not allow you to turn down another marriage deal! You will be married to who I choose, or you will be kept in our estate for the rest of your life!"
She shouted her threat as a smile of victory was plastered on her face which made my blood boil yet again.
"You-!"
"Wait…"
Unexpectedly, Kazuya turned around and talked to her with a firm voice that I haven't heard before.
"Nagisa-san is an important minister of Kiko and a direct retainer of Iwasawa-kou-sama. I beg your pardon Madame Nagisa, but she cannot be kept in here when the nation needs her services."
"Hah! What can that girl do anyway? She's a noblewoman. She's supposed to follow the traditions and be wed off to be of use to her birth family and her wedded family."
"I see that you're terribly arrogant for someone so ignorant, Madame."
"What?!"
"Lady Nagisa is a talented woman that even Lord Iwasawa personally scouted just to hire her services. If not for her, the Noble and Commons Chamber would not be established and the local government units from each of the 120 cities and towns would never be consolidated. It was her efforts and talents that made such a thing possible."
"So what?! She's born to a prestigious noble clan. The family owned her the moment she was born until the day she will be wed. I am her mother! I will decide what is best for her!"
Her statement was irrefutable. But Kazuya's next reply shattered the glass where her ego and entire identity stands.
"Are you really her mother, though?"
"-!!!"
"Lady Masami's mother is Madame Madoka who died ten years ago when the mysterious parasitic disease from Iso river appeared. You… aren't you just an opportunistic servant who seduced her broken-hearted father to get out of your debts which caused House Nagisa to bear it for you?"
"Pfffttt-!!!"
The moment I heard that and saw her nervous, sweating face, I tried to stop my laughter and hide my face.
"Who are you to decide the life of a child who isn't even yours. More so after it was only through her efforts did the Nagisa clan rise out of their debts and obtained disciples on their dojo again?"
"That's enough out of you-!"
"How about you? Chuckling with other noblewomen while playing mahjong and dressing up with luxurious clothes that you bought by secretly taking money from the clan's coffers?"
"-!!!"
"It might be ironic for me who is a merchant clan leader to say this, but someone as opportunistic as you are worse than the scummiest merchant that I know. So, learn to shut up… old hag."
His last statement was already dripping with venom. It hit her so hard that her true self seeped out, the side of her who shows that she isn't even a true noble."
"You bastard!!! I will break your neck for that insult!!!"
She charged at him with her palm open to slap him. But I wasn't going to allow that.
"Hyup!"
"Wha-?!"
I caught her arm and slowly ducked down to lift her between my shoulders.
"I've been waiting to say this all this time!"
"H-hey! Let go of me, you brat!"
And in a sudden standing motion, I threw her down to the pond water.
"Get out of my family, you fraud!"
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Later that night, the news reached my father who finally had a good reason to get rid of her who has been blackmailing him using the fact that he did made a move on her when he was heart-broken after her wife and my mother's passing. Now that he had the testimony of everyone who heard Kazuya's words, he took everything that she got from us and personally threw her out to the streets where she actually belongs.
"Hey…"
"Yes, Nagisa-san?"
While we are walking towards the dining hall, I asked something to him.
"How did you know everything? Only the old servants and guards here knew about that except for my father and me."
"Ah. Remember Uncle Iruka?"
"Your uncle from the Kawasumi family branch? Why?"
"He had connections with servants from every noble house. He asked me to handle that work and I used to pay them to find weaknesses in every family that he can use to blackmail them later."
When he said that, I found it a bit scary to know.
"E-Eh?! Umm… that's a bit creepy."
"S-sorry. I stopped it when uncle was arrested but that information was already leaked to us by that time."
Hearing him sounding like a kid again, I can't help but admire how this kid was able to speak firmly earlier.
"Hey, Kazuya-kun."
He is 15 and I am about 20 years old. Even though we are co-workers, my position may be higher, but he is still more powerful due to his connections and influence. Knowing that, I felt a bit insecure about being her Senpai yet not being able to do anything to reward him.
"Yes?"
Haah… forget about it. As her senpai, I should reward him with at least something for his job well done.
*Chu-!*
"-!!!"
I ducked to his height and planted a soft kiss on his right cheek.
"Wa-wa-wa-what…?"
"Teehee~!"
I winked towards him as I walked ahead while he is still stunned there after my small reward prank.
"That kid… I'm sure he'll get my side one day when he matures a little more. I can't wait for it."
It seems like I still got a prospective partner even without a marriage negotiation.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone