Misuzu shouts at grandfather.
Misuzu needs this man!
Oh, we’re going back in circles.
If this continues, we can’t make any progress.
.Kouzuki-sama
Nagisa speaks with a suppressed voice.
Does it feel that frustrating that this boy has stolen Misuzu?
.Eh?
For Kouzuki house.it’s all an excuse isn’t it? Kakkajust wants to have his granddaughter under his control forever, right? And yet, Misuzu found a man you don’t know, and she’ll become independent, that’s whyKakka’sin panic!
Nagisa smiles.
.Am I such a small guy?
Humans are obsessed when it comes to their blood relative.especially when it’s their dear granddaughter!
Misuzu opens her eyes wide.
.Grandfather?
Nagisa talks to Misuzu.
Think about Kouzuki-sama’s feelings too.Misuzu has seen only one side ofKakka
.Nagisa-sama, what do you mean by that? I’ve been entertaining various famous family heads you know? That’s why I know them well. When it’s just the two of us, those kind of people speak their grumble to me.
Nagisa was once the most popular prostitute ofKuromori
Of course.I’ve heard a lot of Kouzuki-sama’s grumble too
Hey, you!
Kakka’sin panic.
Do not worry. It’s not that I will speak it from my mouth.but, Misuzu, try imagining it for a bit
Nagisa gently looks at Misuzu’s eyes.
Earlier.you said that you’ve always been in pain to keep acting as agood girlto meet the expectations of your surroundings, didn’t you?
.Yes Do you think you’re the only one who feel that pain?
Misuzu looks at Ruriko-san
.No. I’m sure that Ruriko-san feels the same. Everyone in the Kouzuki house’s bloodline!
Ruriko-san nods at what Misuzu said.
.Is it only Ruriko-san?
.Eh?
Misuzu’s surprised.
Nagisa laughs.
Kouzuki-sama as well.he’s making such a gallant face but.he also had a childhood. The eldest son of Kouzuki head house.when he was a child
Misuzu’s taken aback.
When Kouzuki-sama was young, the society is also different form now.I think that he grew up in a much harsher environment than what you have experienced.
.Grandfather?
The two granddaughters look at their grandfather
Kakka.
When I was young.there were still many old customs from the feudal perior. I was born as the eldest under the Kouzuki head family. I had two younger brothers and three younger sisters.I’ve always been eating on the same dinning room with only my father. My mother and younger siblings are eating in another room. I never had a good conversation with my siblings. The eldest son, the heir son is a special existence at that time.
Kakka.keeps talking with a bitter expression.
Even when the relatives gather.I am the only one sitting next to my father. Everyone around me are adults.
I had to keep quiet so I don’t get in the way of the adults. Despite all that, I should be dignified and majestic. You must never laugh. You must never show your expressions. You must not show what’s in your mind.My father often tells me. If you show a gap, there will be a lot of people who will try to rob Kouzuki house. The owner must be strong to be able to protect the house from such evil.
I don’t get that kind of life.
But.I understand thatKakkahas spent his boyhood in solitude.
The work of the famous house’s head doesn’t change since the old times. It’s adjusting the interests inside and outside the house. Making the vassals be relieved, gaining absolute trust from your allies.be a ruthless and formidable opponent to the enemy. Above all, fairness is required. An unfair leader will be killed by the vassals. The head who’s not meeting the expectations is pushed into confinement and is made to die in resentment. There’s a lot of them in the long history of Kouzuki family. The vassal judge those whose mind and body is weak, those who are egoistic, those who are negligent and they’re banished in the darkness. Because of that system.Kouzukihouse has remained until the present age. A thousand years.is a very long time you see.
From the aristocracy dynasty in Kyoto.a noble after Meiji Era.a leading family surviving the post war distudbance.
Kouzuki house.has preserved themselves like that?
Do you know what is theFairnesswanted by the vassals? It’s not just merely giving a suitable reward for those who do good at work. It is to give a thorough punishment to a traitor. And.If there’s a weakened enemy in front of you.you have to mercilessly slaughter. The vassals are greedy.therefore the head must show more greed than the vassals. It’s ruthless greed. Their head is an aggressive one therefore it’s possible to satisfy the greediness of the vassals.
.That means
Kakkahas to act such a personality to be the owner of Kouzuki family? No, it’s not.in case ofKakka Kakkaneeded to have a personality of a person requested by the surroundings.
In a sense.I’ve lived to suit my own convenience as I wanted. Lives of people have changed for better or for worse. To make the world and the vassal think as such.
Misuzu and Ruriko-san listen to their grandfather’s talk seriously.
Of course, me too. Seki-san and Fujimiya-san as well.
However, in a different sense.I wasn’t allowed to do as I like. Even if it looks selfish.all of my actions are a norm of Kouzuki house’s head’sfairness To influence the lives of people.I have to continue living for the best of thehouse I keepadjustinginfairnessas my vassals seek. I have to put a ruthless, and cruel, fearfulman of power. !
Kakkalaughs wryly.
No. I enjoyed it. I had fun with this living. Living as the head of Kouzuki house.this solitude!
Kakkalooks at Misuzu.
Just like Shiba’s son earlier.I’ve gathered the children of the subordinates and the clan toeducate. The parents offer their children to me as hostages. In exchange.they all think that someday they can get a important position in Kouzuki group. It’s an outrageous story. To be honest.I think that it’s unbearable for those young men to take my precious time.
Then, why have you gathered them?
Misuzu asks.
it can’t be helped.That’s what Kouzuki house seeks
Kakkaanswers.
Ruriko’s father.though he’s supposed to be my successor, he doesn’t have a strong personality. If he becomes the head, the house will be divided. The current Kouzuki house is divided into the branch family and vassals from old groups, someone who’s a rising power becoming a new vassal since the last 30 years.in short, it’s divided into Shiba-kun’s group. Ruriko’s father can’t resolve the conflict in between the two groups. Rather.both groups will use him and destroy the authority of Kouzuki head family Kakkabriefly speaks about the problem inside the Kouzuki house
Therefore.I cannot retire and stay as a strong leader. I have gathered the children from both groups under the pretext of education.I know that whatever shape of the issue is, it can be cancelled anyway. If it’s the level of their sons, the old faction and the emerging factions are already gone. The friends they can talk easily exceeds the framework of their parent’s generation. Of course.the first topic of the youngsters are their complaints about me. Even that can be a motive for their interaction. The mix of the children will be spreading to the parents soon. That’s what I’m aiming for!
Misuzu looks at her grandfather.
Therefore.you engaged me with Shiba-san’s son, the top of the emerging rising group. And perhaps.Ruriko-san’s fiance is chosen from among the old faction!
The grandfather answers.
There’s no other way.that’s the only measure that can be done for Kouzuki clan’s harmony
To save face of both groups.he engaged his two granddaughters with the sons of each factions.
Misuzu’s fianceis Shiba Takahiko.their age are close, and it’s considered that Shiba would be the face of the rising group. Ruriko-san is the eldest son’s daughter so she’ll be the face of the old faction. It was intended to wait until the two were adults until he announces Ruriko-san and Misuzu’sfiance