Even the restrained Noriko couldn't control her salivation, smelling the incredible aroma from all the food on the table, and without delay pulled the plate closer, sinking her teeth into the best meat she'd ever tasted in her life.
Meyumi and Makoto tried to maintain decorum for a while but quickly gave in and ate as if it were their last meal.
"No need to rush. From now on, you can eat like this every day," Kenshin said, not wanting the girls, unaccustomed to such volumes of food, to overload their stomachs with heavy fare. While Noriko's health didn't worry him, the frail Makoto had already left an imprint on his heart in half a day.
Hearing his words, Makoto and Meyumi reluctantly slowed down, while Noriko completely ignored it. Eating was a sacred act in her tribe, and distracting someone from food was the gravest taboo, which was why Noriko fully tuned out everything happening at the table. If anyone disturbed her now, she'd attack without hesitation with all her fury.
Noriko's unusual state resonated slightly with Kenshin's senses, making him, like a perfumer, constantly distracted by the new, unknown "aroma." Her aggressive, unyielding character combined with her animalistic habits sparked genuine interest in him, and Kenshin eagerly awaited the chance to uncover her secrets.
Everyone got so absorbed in devouring the juicy pork ribs that they forgot about the other dishes until Kenshin forcibly removed Makoto's plate, concerned for her health, and served her a salad known on his homeworld as "Crab Louis." He loved taking care of her, and Kenshin was very pleased with the results of his city trip.
Makoto whispered "thank you, master" with her lips only and tried a piece of the unfamiliar crab meat, then opened her eyes in shock. It was the first time she'd tasted something so extraordinarily delicious, and she immediately devoured all the crab pieces on her plate, occasionally chasing them with tomatoes and olives.
To Kenshin's surprise, Kasumi and Hitomi were also charmed by Makoto's cute behavior and couldn't wipe the smiles from their pleased faces. With her fragile build, she looked like a teenage girl and reminded them both of the childhood they'd missed.
"Hitomi, examine Noriko. Everyone else except Meyumi is free," Kenshin said, feeling a bit awkward. Normally, any meal was much freer and more relaxed, but all his wives agreed that ceremony would make the right impression on the new girls and reinforce discipline.
After Hitomi and Noriko left for the medbay, and Kasumi took Makoto to the rec room to show her lots of fun games, Kenshin was left alone with Meyumi, who felt extremely uncomfortable.
"Meyumi, let me clarify something for you. Starting tomorrow, your new life begins, and I'll give you one chance to become a new person. We'll forget everything that happened this afternoon, and my attitude toward you will be neutral—everything else is up to you. Do you understand?" Kenshin said measuredly.
"Y-yes, master, thank you," Meyumi said excitedly. She'd been racking her brains all evening over how to fix the master's negative attitude toward her, and this news was a pleasant surprise.
"Don't thank me—thank little Makoto. It's because of her that I decided to give you a second chance. Do you understand what I don't like about your behavior?" Kenshin asked with a smile. He felt like a psychologist, a new sensation for him. All his wives and sons had absolute loyalty and didn't try to hide anything from him, so communicating with an uncontrolled, cunning girl piqued his interest.
"Y-yes, master. You don't like when I bully Makoto, and I promise I won't bully her anymore!" Meyumi declared selflessly. Having seen more wonders in one day than in her whole life, she was firmly resolved to do everything to stay close to this incredible man.
"No, not that," Kenshin sighed regretfully, then continued, "I don't like your black heart, and only because you've thought about working on yourself am I still talking to you."
"I… I don't understand what you mean, master. Tell me how I should act, and I'll never disappoint you!" Meyumi said confidently. She valued her new position so much that she allowed herself a bit of boldness. To her surprise, Kenshin didn't get angry at all but just smiled.
"I mean your insatiable envy, your callousness, and worst of all, your deceitfulness. The main rule of staying in my house—forget how you handled conflicts before. No provocations, no deception, no setups. If I find out you're playing your hidden games, you won't like the consequences," Kenshin said. He knew well that telling a recidivist "don't do it again" wasn't enough, but he was curious what would come of it. He couldn't wait to test the effect of his empathic influence and patriarchal charm on her.
"I'll try to reform, master," Meyumi said, fully calmed. For some reason, all her fear and anxiety had vanished, replaced by relaxed serenity. That's why she allowed herself to ask, "Forgive my boldness, but why would someone like you need three useless women from the house of flowers? You can even create food out of thin air!"
Kenshin couldn't help smiling at how wonderfully the empathic influence had worked. Though he'd used this ability before, it hadn't been this strong. But Meyumi had spent several hours under his patriarchal charm, amplifying Kenshin's empathy manyfold.
"Since you'll learn this in the coming days, I'll satisfy your curiosity. The thing is, I was looking for a wife," Kenshin replied with a smile, stirring a real storm of emotions in Meyumi's mind.
Hearing his words, Meyumi was truly shocked. Since childhood, her secret dream had been to marry a very rich and influential man. She knew how hard it was to meet and seduce such a man, but the dream never truly faded, lingering in the back of her mind, occasionally drawing the young girl into blissful fantasies of a happy life.
"D-did you find her?" Meyumi asked, holding her breath. She dreaded the answer but couldn't calm her pounding heart.
"Let's say I haven't decided yet who of you three will be my wife," Kenshin said with a smile, deliberately giving her food for thought.
"Of us three?!" Meyumi thought in shock, and for the first time in the conversation, she dared to lift her gaze and look straight into Kenshin's eyes.
"D-does that mean I have a chance too?"
"Right now, you're barely fit to be a concubine. But if you can cleanse your black heart, I promise to consider it."
"I will reform, master, I promise!" Meyumi declared joyfully, barely holding back from jumping up from the table and throwing herself at his feet. In half a day around Kenshin, she'd concluded he was exactly the man she'd waited for all her life—incredibly rich, strong, and moreover very young and handsome. In some incomprehensible way, the "beautiful prince" she'd imagined had taken Kenshin's form, and Meyumi realized she had to do everything in her power to become his wife.
"That's all I wanted to discuss. You can go," Kenshin said calmly, feeling the talk had been highly productive and Meyumi had gained some understanding.
"Thank you, master! I won't let you down!" Meyumi said, and quietly headed to her room.
After she closed the door behind her, she joyfully jumped onto the huge bed and stretched blissfully. A huge weight lifted from her heart, and part of her problems had resolved themselves. Her only concern now was controlling her own behavior.
She spent about an hour reflecting on everything that had happened that day, repeatedly drifting into thoughts about the rejuvenated lord. She didn't understand why her feelings were in complete chaos, preventing her from focusing on anything but Kenshin's image. With these thoughts, she drifted into a deep sleep, hugging the pillow as if it were the person occupying all her thoughts.