“Lord, the lady’s maid is here.”

When she was announced, Sakura walked quickly into the hall and greeted the Yoris.h.i.+ges and Takeda n.o.butora. As she looked up, her gaze met n.o.butora’s, who frowned and seemingly recognized her, then looked back at Nene, his daughter..

 “Nene, isn’t this girl your dowry maid Sakura?”

 “Yes, father, Lord Yoris.h.i.+ge gave me several new maids, so I told Sakura to go help Lady Yiu.” Nene answered with a smile.

 “Then where is Lady Yiu? Didn’t you say she was coming to see me?” n.o.butora stroked his beard and looked at Sakura coldly.

What’s that look for? Sakura was very sensitive toward malicious expressions, and the way n.o.butora looked at her was filled with menace. When Madam Ooi tried to save her by making her the dowry maid and putting her in Suwa, he agreed at the time, but he may not have given up on wanting to kill her. Sakura was betting on everyone being around and this being Suwa’s turf that even if he wanted to kill her, he’d have to consider his daughter and son-in-law.

 “Lord, the lady is not feeling well and cannot meet guests.”

 “Not well? Yiu’s sick?” Yoris.h.i.+ge looked so surprised and worried, he almost stood up from his cus.h.i.+on.

n.o.butora’s eyes glinted as he stared at Nene and then Sakura. Suddenly, he turned to tell Yoris.h.i.+ge, “if your daughter is not feeling well, then I really have to visit her.”

 “No!” Sakura opened her arms and blocked his way.

Yoris.h.i.+ge saw her lack of manners and yelled, “Sakura, how can you be this rude to Lord Takeda!”

As n.o.butora stared at Sakura viciously, Sakura was not scared, she actually replied seriously, “please forgive my offense, I’m just worried you would be infected by Lady Yiu.”

Nene couldn’t help asking, “what are you talking about? Yiu has an infectious disease?”

 “Lady Yiu got a cold a few days ago, as you and the lord know. When I was asking her to come see guests just now, I noticed a red rash covering her face and hands, so I notified the doctor, who said she needs to be quarantined.” Sakura looked very concerned, making Nene and Yoris.h.i.+ge worry too.

 “Father, it sounds like Yiu is really sick, please return to Kai for now.”

With Nene’s cajoling, n.o.butora had no choice but to gather his aides and to start for his return trip, claiming he’d revisit when Yiu recovered. When Sakura followed to see him out, she secretly smiled. Old bully, go back to your nest. I’d act out the whole show to make sure your plot was foiled!

 “Kid, you better not play games with me.”

Before n.o.butora got in the palanquin, he turned to warn Sakura, who trembled. Did he see through my scheme?

“Lord, I... I don’t understand.”

 “You don’t understand? Even if Yiu died from her illness, Suwa would still be part of the Takeda family one day. It’ll be a piece of cake to take care of you then.” n.o.butora’s face was grim as he clutched his fan.

 “It’s getting late. Please allow me to see you out. Do you need me to find an inn for you to rest overnight?”

 “Don’t you worry about it. We’ll see what happens.”

He’s still threatening me? Does he really want to make me angry?

When Sakura sent off n.o.butora and returned to Yiu, Yiu complimented her on her ingenuity, but she didn’t look relieved.

Sakura knew Yiu was a girl who matured even faster than Nene. Yiu’s life in Suwa was calm now, but she was not carefree. She remembered watching a Taiga drama, where someone said, “when a renowned family in the Sengoku era had a daughter, everyone in the family should be prepared for using this daughter in an political marriage.” Yiu was young, but she knew the brutality of political unions. Even if she escaped this time, she might not be so lucky next time.

 “Sakura, I don’t want to pretend to be sick anymore, my father would be worried.”

Yiu was quiet for a while. When she looked at Sakura, her eyes held resignation.

 “If it’s my fate something were to happen, I can’t escape it.”

 “Stop the nonsense. Others’ lives are theirs and your life is your own. Don’t accept your fate. Do you not trust me, your good sister?” Sakura pouted.

 “I didn’t mean it like that...”

“Relax, I’m joking. Hey, do you think there’s any messengers going to Suruga recently?”

 “I think my father said there is. Why do you ask?”

 “I like to help people as much as I can. I want to go to Suruga in the next few days, so, please lie to the Lord and Madam Nene for me.”