"Lady Hinata, what exactly is going on?" Mami whispered. "The shogun looks like he'll kill anyone with just little provocation. He reminds me of a wolf that's waiting to pounce."

"It's because I think I saw Ayaka with your cousin earlier," I answered. Upon hearing this, Mami's face contorted in anger.

"What!?" she hissed furiously. "How did she manage to leave Miyake-jima!?"

"I have no idea."

"No wonder Kaname-sama is bristling with controlled anger!" she covered her belly protectively as her eyes darted around cautiously as if we'd be ambushed.

"You'll be fine," I a.s.sured her. "We'll all be fine."

"Nagahito, if that was indeed you that I saw, what do you intend to do for colluding with that treasonous woman!?" I screamed in my head, my hands balling into fists. "Is it because you've been unable to have your way with the shogun's wives!? In your silence, have you actually been secretly harboring a grudge against us all these years!?"

I looked at the children sleeping in my maids' arms and swore that I won't let anything bad happen to my family again!

~~~

Even inside the ooku, I still felt restless and anxious. Mami was no different, making me guilty for telling her what I saw.

"Lady Hinata, could you and the children stay in my room until things are settled?" she asked with pleading eyes. "I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep a wink if we all sleep in separate rooms with this possible danger hovering above us."

"I was going to ask you the same thing," I agreed and told my maids to get the children.

The rice b.a.l.l.s were overjoyed by the fact that they were sleeping in their G.o.dmother's quarters, simply because it was "big and had lots of treats." Looking at their carefree faces, I couldn't help but smile. I was glad they didn't notice the tension surrounding the entire castle despite being so sensitive to their surroundings. They don't deserve growing up fearing for their safety, children should live happy lives. I glanced at little Riku who looked so much like his mother.

"Ayaka, you might have carried him in your womb and delivered him into this world but you don't have the right to be Riku's mother! I don't care about your reason for coming back, but I will make sure that you won't be able to come within a touching distance of my son! I am her mother, I won't allow you to ruin his precious life!"

~~~

I personally bathed and dressed the three little rice b.a.l.l.s while Mami tucked them to sleep. I was about to go and join them after my bath when I received a note saying that Kaname wants me so sleep in his room in the nakoku. When I told Mami about it, she was hesitant at first, but when I informed her that an additional of twelve female shadow guards from the first cl.u.s.ter would be guarding her quarters the entire night, she felt rea.s.sured and let me go. Two guards immediately escorted me to the underground tunnel that led to my husband's room.

"How are the children and Mami?" Kaname asked as soon as he saw me. He was still dressed in his festival robes, exhaustion was etched on the corner of his lips.

"The children are tucked and ready for bed. When I left, Mami was singing them a lullaby," I told him as I searched his bureau for his sleeping clothes and towel.

"I heard she wanted to sleep with everyone in the same room?" he asked as I undid his obi.

"Yes, I'm glad she suggested it. I, too, wouldn't be able to sleep soundly if we stayed in our respective rooms," I peeled off his robe and pulled him to the bathroom.

"You don't have to a.s.sist me, just wait in the bedroom," he stopped and caressed my face. "I can't sleep in the ooku and be with everyone. I hope you forgive me for selfishly asking you to stay with me tonight."

I closed my eyes and leaned my face on his hand. "You don't have to apologize, my love. I understand you without your having to explain things."

When I read his note, I automatically understood the reason behind his request. He is not done yet with the investigation but didn't want to sleep alone and away from me. Ever since I gave birth, he always made sure we slept next to each other. It's as if he needed me to recharge himself for the next day. I have, in a way, become his security blanket and charger.

"I don't think I'll be able to function well tomorrow were I to sleep alone tonight," he pulled my waist and hugged me.

"Say no more, my love, I understand," I a.s.sured him while hugging him back.

He let go of me and kissed my forehead. "I'll bathe on my own. I know you're tired, too. Please wait for me in the futon."

"Alright," I said.

~~~

After about fifteen minutes, Kaname emerged from the bath clad in the sleeping robe I prepared for him. He looked better after his quick soak, it was as if the soap and water washed away his tiredness.

"Hurry up and join me," I said while patting the s.p.a.ce beside me.

He smiled and walked towards me and the waiting futon.

"You lit the brazier?" he asked as he pulled me in his arms.

"You need to sleep well," I nodded while caressing his face. "Do you want a ma.s.sage?"

"No, thank you," he caught my hand and kissed its back. "Your presence here is enough to calm me."

"So there really is a reason for us to be worried," I said, trying to understand the meaning behind his words.

He exhaled deeply and told me the report his informants submitted. It turns out that Ayaka vanished from the island of Miyake-jima three days ago without anyone knowing who smuggled her out. The main person in charge of guarding the island and the criminals inhabiting it was severely punished and already replaced. At the moment, Kaname's men are investigating her whereabouts as well as the crown prince's actions. If it was indeed him that I saw earlier, another controversial execution will rock the country soon.

"Shouta sent word that the kotaisha is indeed in the capital. A dozen shadow guards are currently conducting a surveillance of his residence and watching his every move."

"What is that idiotic prince trying to do!? Things are going so well these past few years, why must he cause us trouble!?" I couldn't help but lament.

"I have been hearing rumors that Nagahito wants to return the seat of power to the royal family," Kaname said, an evil smirk on his lips. "Apparently, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d is getting tired of the fact that he and his family are beneath the shogun."

"You never meddle with their affairs unless necessary, you make sure that the treasury is full to the brim and the country is peaceful! Can't he be happy with that!?"

"For someone who values himself more than anything else, his social standing is his priority. Don't worry, my love, I will take care of this. It's not really a huge matter, I'm just angry that he dares to defy me!"

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused. Wasn't he stressed out because he's up against a powerful person?

"If you're not with me right now, I'd have mobilized my troops, dragged that audacious f.u.c.ker to the execution grounds, and shown his poor excuse of a father how I deal with his son!" his eyes gleamed with murderous intent as he said these words.

"You mean… You're not even bothered that he's going against you...?"

He scoffed. "He doesn't even know how to ride a horse! How is he even a worthy opponent!?"

"Then…"

"I'm angry that he dared to challenge me! But some people never learn, I guess. My love, I've been the shogun for almost two decades now, he is nothing but a mouse waiting for the hawk's talons to rip him apart!"

Seeing that my husband was confident that he could easily settle this matter, I felt somewhat relieved. However, I still could not shake the nagging feeling that things were not going to end as quickly as he believed.