The sun had risen high in the sky, and all that remained was to wait for it to set.
The current time is 12:00 PM.午horse
Inside the Sugawa Castle mansion that Ichihime and I are renting, my beloved wife and a renowned military strategist are facing each other.
For some time now, both Ichihime and Haruhime have remained completely silent, staring at each other without moving.
They may appear motionless, but both are likely exchanging a variety of information solely through their gaze.
Women's sensitivity is far beyond that of men.
(Oh no... this is bad...)
Even though I've made up my mind to stay here, to be honest, I desperately want to run away right now.
Such a tense, palpable atmosphere permeated the mansion.
Naotsune left the mansion to arrange for ninjas, but perhaps he didn't want to stay in that place any longer.
The situation that has now unfolded is such that even he, who displays such bravery and valiant fighting on the battlefield, is forced to flee so quickly.
(But if I were to turn my back and run away now—it's obvious that I would lose the trust of both Ichihime and Haruhime.)
Women actually pay close attention to every move men make. If a man shows even a moment of weakness, it sinks into their memory like sediment, eventually becoming a firmly established negative impression.層Kush
And indeed, at some unexpected moment, it erupts into a massive explosion, coinciding with the eruption of magma of anger.
I had heard from a female classmate that the mechanism of women's anger was roughly like that.
(Calm down, me—)
A tension far greater than anything I've ever felt on the battlefield surrounds me.
(First and foremost, the main goal is to alleviate the city's... governance , and ideally eliminate it altogether.)敵愾心Tekigaishin
I swallowed hard.
It seems like Ichihime is observing Haruhime, but in reality, she's observing me as well.
She is now, in fact, a mother carrying a child inside her.
The mother must protect the child in her womb, and together with the male, she must protect them from external threats.番Pair日常生活territory
But the one who appeared before Ichihime, the mother, was none other than a thieving cat brought by the male cat that was supposed to be her mate.
While it may not be quite a case of internal or external trouble, it was understandable that Ichihime would be sensitive to the premonition that her established way of life was being threatened.
However, it should be fine.
At the very least, given Osamu's character, there's no way he would pick a fight with Ichi—
"I believe there is absolutely no need to conceal anything from your wife. Now, to put it bluntly, I, Shigeharu—I have feelings for you, Lord Bizen-no-kami."
(Whaaat!?)
Why, why would you say something like that, Princess Chihime?! Why?! Hey, why?!
To dispel this unpleasant atmosphere that hangs over the mansion, I needed to prove my and Haruhime's innocence—but how did things end up like this?
Well, it's true that at Bodaiyama Castle , I did experience feelings that were dominated by sexual desire , and we even kissed, but—邪wicked
However, the latter in particular was unavoidable. I might be criticized for being short-sighted and thoughtless. But it was only natural for a human being to want to save her after her dignity as a woman had been thoroughly trampled upon.
And as a result of those actions, it led to the liberation of Haruhime from that despicable scoundrel Tatsuoki , and also to the protection of the Asai family and Ichihime.軛yoke
As an extension of that, the Takenaka forces, including her, have pledged their allegiance to the Asai family. However,
(That was a double-edged sword.)
That is certainly true.
Hoping to prevent the nightmare he once witnessed from becoming a reality, he took actions to live with Ichihime—but before he knew it, these actions had become entangled with problems involving women.
"--is that so"
As expected, Ichihime's gaze sharpened.
Seeing that, I finally understood that she really was "Nobunaga's sister."
Such a sharp gaze, as if slicing its target to pieces, is something that ordinary people could never possibly imitate. It can only be described as a talent.天賦Tenbu
"But...please rest assured, madam."
Looking directly into Ichihime's sharp gaze, accepting it, and speaking in a reassuring tone, Osamu said:
There was a powerful determination there that seemed to envelop the other person in an endlessly gentle embrace.
In that respect, it seems that Princess Osamu is the superior actress.
Indeed, it was in the Saito family that she witnessed and experienced firsthand the ugliness of human nature.
He was adept at acknowledging all of Ichihime's wariness, yet still managed to overcome crises and assert his own will.
"I am a warrior. It is only natural for me to be completely devoted to the master I serve... Or rather, I, Shigeharu, am not so easily swayed as to serve someone I cannot be devoted to."
Haruhime said this and then smiled faintly.
Her wavy, dark brown hair swayed in the breeze blowing in through the slightly ajar sliding door, and Haruhime pushed the hair at her ears aside.
"Besides, as a woman, to harbor feelings for Lord Bizen-no-kami—my body is already completely defiled..."
Therefore, I would like to serve you not as Takenaka Osamu, but as Takenaka Shigeharu—with that, she bowed deeply.
◇
The time that felt like it was going to give me a stomach ulcer passed when Haruhime left the room, saying, "I'll go check on my brother."
Ichihime seemed reassured by Osamuhime's words and demeanor; the sharp eyes that reminded her of Nobunaga had completely vanished, replaced by a soft, languid look.
—But I couldn't wholeheartedly rejoice at that situation.
(In the end, it's the same thing.)
I've come to understand that.
In that situation, she held back out of consideration for me and Ichihime, suppressing her true feelings—she didn't show them.
That may indeed have been the right thing to do in that situation. It may have been the best way to avoid a chaotic situation.
But isn't that exactly the same as her past situation?
I kept it all to myself and became withdrawn—
It's not funny at all, because I'm the one who's letting it happen.
Because of me, Haruhime can't have an honest conversation with Ichihime...
"The fish should be cooked to perfection by now."
It's completely dark outside.
It's probably around 6 PM right now .卯cormorant
While Ichihime was cooking porridge in an earthenware pot, she was intently observing the skewer of Biwa trout that she had stuck into the charcoal in the hearth.
Normally, meals would be prepared by the cooks of Sugawa Castle or by the ladies-in-waiting.
However, Ichihime had refused all offers from both Sugawa Castle and her ladies-in-waiting.
"As long as I am in this place, I would like to personally take care of Lord Nagamasa's meals and sleeping quarters."
That was her assertion. Perhaps there was also a feeling behind it that, "Outside of war, I must protect Lord Nagamasa..."
This is the castle of Endo Naotsune, a trusted subordinate of his, but it is not him who prepares the food, but one of his subordinates. And if that subordinate were to be swayed by the Asakura or Rokkaku families and poison the food—
In the Sengoku period, it's impossible to say with certainty that Ichihime's fears were unfounded.
That's probably why Ichihime decided to cook meals herself at Sugawa Castle, which isn't my main castle.
It was precisely because he understood this that Naotsune instructed the cook to hand the ingredients directly to Ichihime.
Incidentally, Biwa trout are a type of salmon that inhabits only Lake Biwa, and they can grow up to 70 centimeters in length.
Indeed, when Ichihime's ladies-in-waiting brought in a large fish about 50 centimeters long, saying, "We received it from the cook at Sugawa Castle," Ichihime quickly prepared it, cut it into fillets, rubbed it with salt, and began grilling it on skewers.
I was amazed by the skill with which he handled the fish, but apparently, in the past, he was often tasked with filleting the fish that Nobunaga had caught.
It seems my brother-in-law had unconsciously been improving Ichihime's wifely skills.
Incidentally, some of the fillets produced by Ichihime were given to her ladies-in-waiting.
Firstly, there's no way we could eat such a huge fish ourselves.
However, Tsubaki, who was also in charge of the ladies-in-waiting, initially refused to accept it, saying, "We cannot accept something that will be eaten by Princess Ichihime and Lord Bizen-no-kami..."
However, noticing that one of my maids, Kaede, was staring intently at the fillet, drooling a little, I quickly came up with a plan and decided to shove it into her hands.
Indeed, she accepted it with a beaming smile, and with Ichihime's firm instruction to "make sure you get enough to eat," the situation of leaving the Biwa trout untouched and letting it spoil was narrowly avoided.
Since there were no refrigerators during the Sengoku period (Warring States period), preserving perishable food for extended periods was quite difficult.
By now, the three daughters are probably gathered around the hearth in an outbuilding of the mansion, grilling fish.
"Lord Nagamasa, let's have dinner now."
As Ichihime stirred the porridge in her bowl, she wore a beautiful smile reminiscent of a white lily.装other
"This is the first time the city has received Biwa trout, so we are very much looking forward to it."
"I see."
Incidentally, Biwa trout seems to have been a fairly popular ingredient around Lake Biwa, and it appears that fermented versions, similar to funazushi (fermented crucian carp sushi), were served at festivals and other commemorative events.
Therefore, it wouldn't have been surprising if it had been served at my wedding ceremony with Ichihime, but since Ichihime said it was her "first time," it probably wasn't served.
"Um, Lord Nagamasa, is the porridge... does it suit your taste?"
"Well..."
I put some porridge in my mouth, chewed it, and then answered.
"It's just right. Now, you should eat quickly, don't just worry about me. Eat plenty for the sake of the baby in your womb."
"Y-yes...! I understand, that's correct... For our sake as well..."稚児Yayako
Ichihime gently stroked her still-developing, slender belly through her kimono with affection, then picked up her bowl and began to eat her porridge with grace.
The fact that nutritious fish like Biwa trout were served as ingredients was probably due to considerations for her health.
The fact that a mother's nutritional status affects her child has always been recognized as common knowledge, regardless of the era.
The fire in the hearth crackled and danced quietly.
In the dimly lit room, Ichihime and I huddled together and sipped our porridge.
Having lived a life detached from the world as a feudal lord during the Sengoku period, the experience of eating meals together by the hearth these past few days was very refreshing.
Perhaps the current situation is the closest to the image of a newlywed couple in the world I came from.
Thinking about it that way made me feel even closer to Ichihime, and my affection for her grew even stronger.
"Oh, no, Lord Nagamasa..."
When I reached out to touch Ichihime's stomach, she immediately twisted her body and pulled away.
"Well, we're still in the middle of our meal, and more importantly, you shouldn't do something like that when you have a baby in your belly—"
"What are you talking about...?"
I was a little shocked to learn that my wife saw me as a sex fiend. Though, I suppose that's not entirely wrong.
"Is it wrong for me to want to cherish our child, even if it's just through its clothes...?"
"Oh...! No, no! That's not true!"
Ichihime rushes over to my side in a panic.
"Seriously, do you really think I'm always thinking about that...?"そのようなこと...
As she murmured this, Ichihime smiled mischievously.
"I apologize for being so blunt, but that's what I think."
"...What?!"
"But even so... wasn't it none other than Lord Nagamasa who gave Ichi, who knew nothing, those lewd lessons night after night...?"
As Ichihime leaned her head over my shoulder, she let out a blissful sigh and said:
"Again and again, you have penetrated Ichi with your magnificent... We have only been married for a short time, yet it was Lord Nagamasa who impregnated Ichi... When the sun sets and Lord Nagamasa's hand reaches out to Ichi—unconsciously, Ichi's body braces itself, anticipating what is about to happen."そのようなこと...
"So, you're saying it's my fault?"
"...This is something that, unfortunately, is beyond the city's control."
Ichihime leaned her lips close to my ear and whispered,
"Lord Nagamasa imprinted and trained me in that way in the deepest parts of my body that I cannot touch—"
He said it with a bashful look on his face.
I felt an overwhelming love for her, so I quickly wolfed down the porridge and fish, then hugged her soft body.
"Um, excuse me... Lord Nagamasa?"
"You should continue eating as is."
I sat cross-legged and dropped Ichihime right in the middle of me.
And once again I was struck by the sheer size of Ichihime's body. She's 170 centimeters tall, which is quite tall for a woman. Yet, she fits perfectly into my arms.
Ultimately, it was because her torso wasn't particularly long, but her legs were exceptionally long—on a completely different level than the average Japanese person.
Imagine the torso-to-leg ratio of a supermodel, like those who perform at fashion shows in Paris, the cutting edge of art. It's exactly like that.
In addition, her slender body is adorned with bountifully large, beautiful breasts, and her neck is topped with a head that is described as "the most beautiful woman in the world."
Even without much thought, it's clear that Ichihime is an extraordinary woman in every sense of the word. In terms of beauty, she is worlds apart from the average woman.鼈Soft-shelled turtle
"But, well... I appreciate it, but eating while being petted is..."
"Do you dislike it?"
I stroked her lustrous, beautiful black hair and asked.
The smooth, flowing sensation as it passes through the gaps in your fingers is reminiscent of a clear, pristine stream.
"...There's no way I wouldn't like it."
Leaning her back against me, Ichihime whispered shyly in a voice only I could hear.
"Only Lord Nagamasa is allowed to touch Ichi... And only Lord Nagamasa wants to touch Ichi... How could she possibly dislike being touched by someone like him..."
When I hugged her, Ichihime smiled with happiness.
"Hey, can I pet you...?"
"Of course, Lord Nagamasa"
Ichihime took my hand and placed it on her stomach. Through the thick uchikake (outer robe), I couldn't feel any skin at all.誘Izana
Even so, beneath this, there is indeed a tiny life, the fruit of my love for Ichihime—
"It's okay to eat while you listen, but please listen carefully."
"yes..."
Ichihime nodded.
Seeing that, I stroked her stomach and said:
"Brother-in-law... Lord Nobunaga will surely capture Inabayama Castle today or tomorrow. If that happens, the powerful clans of Mino will immediately pledge allegiance to Lord Nobunaga. When that happens, the world will undoubtedly begin to move more violently than ever before."
In my mind, I pictured Nobunaga, a figure exuding dignity, mounted on that enormous, majestic gray horse.
With Nobunaga controlling Owari and Mino, two of Japan's leading granaries and densely populated areas, there were few forces left that could directly challenge him.
Having secured Mino, he will eventually advance into southern Omi, aiming for Kyoto, and along the way, he will also seize Ise.
How the Asai family behaved at that time was a crucial factor in predicting their future.
"My brother-in-law will likely win over many allies and make enemies of many others. I, Nagamasa, find Lord Nobunaga's fierce and ruthless character, which can even pierce through rock, very appealing. However, there will also be a considerable number of people who do not approve of it..."
"...I agree with you on that point."
Setting down the empty bowl of porridge, Ichihime said:
"My brother clearly distinguishes between friend and foe... It is now inevitable that he will clash with the feudal lords of the land for the sake of peace throughout the realm."
"That's quite a clear statement."
"That is only natural."
Even though there's a significant age difference, we are still siblings, Ichihime said with a wry smile.
"Whether someone is an ally or not—my brother only has black and white criteria in his mind. Any shade of gray is immediately painted over with one of those two colors. Therefore, wherever my brother goes, there will inevitably be unrest."
"Well, I suppose so."
As I stroked Ichihime's hair with my right hand and her stomach with my left, I recalled the many conversations I had with Nobunaga.
He's a charismatic figure, but his ruthlessness would certainly clash with the traditional "rulers" of other regions...
"In other words..."
I bury my nose in Ichihime's lush hair, which smells wonderful.
"If we, the Asai family, were to assist Lord Nobunaga, we would be forced into conflict with the other feudal lords of the land. It would become a bloody war of annihilation between two opposing camps, white and black... If that were to happen, we would not be able to afford any complacency whatsoever. We must constantly assess the current state of affairs and make the appropriate move."
And so, I finally decided to get down to business.
"But the ability to discern the trends of the times is now largely determined by innate talent. And if you ask me whether I, Nagamasa, possess that talent—it's questionable. I'm not saying I lack observational skills, but I'm nowhere near as good as Lord Nobunaga. I certainly don't possess the talent to forge my own path through everything with my own judgment, like my brother-in-law. That's precisely why I need a skilled strategist—"
"..."
Ichihime picked up the empty bowl and seemed to be deep in thought.
"So that's the woman, Lord Nagamasa..."
"That's right."
I stated it clearly and definitively. Otherwise, I felt like I would be needlessly fueling Ichihime's distrust...
"Osamu is an exceptional individual whom Lord Nobunaga himself desired to welcome into his household. That alone should give you an idea of just how remarkable she is, shouldn't it?"
"...yes"
Ichihime responded, still clutching the bowl in my arms.
"But why is Mr. Takenaka using a male name like Shigeharu? That's something the city doesn't understand."
Ah, I thought so too.
I was inwardly wondering, "What should I do...?"
Should I tell them about Haruhime's past here, or not? To put it simply, that's the choice I'm being forced to make.
(But—there's probably no need to hesitate.)
Ichihime is not a foolish woman; rather, she is intelligent.
If she was wary of Haruhime, then I had to clearly explain to her why Haruhime had come to me.
And ultimately, this must serve as an opportunity for Ichihime herself to reconsider the relationship between Osamuhime and Ichihime.
I made up my mind and decided to tell her everything I knew about Haruhime's past, and why she called herself Shigeharu and how, through a series of events, ended up coming to me.
I don't know what kind of changes that will bring about. But in any case, things won't move forward unless we talk.
Holding Ichihime in my arms, I began to speak slowly, starting with the circumstances of my relationship with Osamuhime and then moving on to her past.
Of course, I did fabricate some parts, like peeking into the bathroom and kissing, so I didn't tell the whole story exactly as it happened.
◇
To put it simply, it seems that Ichihime has drastically changed her perception of Osamuhime.
Midway through my story, Ichihime became extremely upset, and by the time I finished, tears were streaming down her beautiful face.
Even I, a man, desperately wanted to save Haruhime after learning about her horrific past.
As a fellow woman, Ichihime must have felt a great deal of sympathy for Osamuhime's plight.
"So that's what it was..."
Ichihime rubbed her eyes and murmured as if she had finally understood.
"Lord Takenaka... Ichi must speak with that person again. Ichi... was far too inconsiderate. She only thought about protecting herself... even though that shouldn't have happened. She was only afraid of losing Lord Nagamasa's favor..."
I hug her tightly as she blames herself.
"No, you're not to blame. Just like Osamu has a terrible past, you too have a lonely past where you were mistreated by your father..."蔑Naigashi
"But...!"
"Listen. People must use the past as a stepping stone to leap into tomorrow... We must not be bound by the past, but at the same time, the past is absolutely essential as a stepping stone. Without the past, the future cannot exist. And that past will be completely different for each individual."
He scooped up the tears streaming down Ichihime's cheek with his index finger and put them in his mouth. A hint of shame mixed into her expression, which had previously been filled only with self-reproach.
"It's because people have different pasts that they have individuality. I don't need a standardized individuality. People fall in love with each other because that individuality is irreplaceable and more precious than anything else. Ichi, whom I love, loves kissing, is good at spoiling people, and yet, she likes to be spoiled herself..."
At that point, Ichihime hastily turned around in my arms and reached out to cover my mouth. What a cute girl.
"That's why I understand why you're worried. You thought Osamu would take me away from you, right? You were so happy to have a child, and you were afraid of having that taken away from you, weren't you?"
I grabbed both of her wrists, gazed into her beautiful face, and asked.
Ichihime nodded and relaxed. I released her hand and put my arm around her slender shoulders again.
"Don't worry. You're the most important person to me. No matter what happens, that will never change. I have only one wife in this world, Ichi... you."
Ichihime's arms wrapped around my shoulders, and she hugged me tightly.
My beloved wife pressed her face against my chest and rubbed it against me, whispering passionately, "For me too, Nagamasa-sama is the best..."
"Tomorrow... I will sit down and talk with Mr. Takenaka Shigeharu—no, Mr. Takenaka Osamu—again tomorrow. I will stay close to him so that it doesn't turn out like it did this afternoon."
Ichihime lifted her face from my chest, smiled, and nodded.
"Otherwise, it wouldn't be in Lord Takenaka's best interest... and more importantly, the person who will likely become Lord Nagamasa's strategist wouldn't be happy working for the Asai family. I left the Oda family and experienced the Asai family's customs, and I realized that those who genuinely care for Lord Nagamasa and work willingly are truly strong."
"If Lord Takenaka serves the Asai family without suppressing his own feelings, it will surely be beneficial to Lord Nagamasa," Ichihime asserted.
"Ichi is Lord Nagamasa's wife. A wife must help her husband and also help with household matters."
Ichihime picked up the empty bowl and pointed it at me, saying:
"Ichi must become one with Lord Nagamasa, forming a bowl. She must become one with Lord Nagamasa, a sturdy bowl without any holes... And like porridge, she must accept her retainers, who, while retaining their individuality, blend together and support each other for the sake of their shared purpose."
Then, Ichi stretched out and lightly touched my cheek with her lips, and with a motherly expression,
"Let Lord Nagamasa and the young boy from Ichi drink that porridge and make it part of their flesh and blood."
That's what he said.
I was a little moved by her words, and as I touched her soft cheeks with both hands, I kissed her beautiful, blemish-free forehead.
Then she stretched out and brought her lips close to my nose.
They continued to exchange playful kisses, deliberately avoiding kisses on the lips.
I was absolutely certain that if our lips were to touch and our tongues were to intertwine, we would both lose our reason.
Nevertheless, I was a man. I was an undeniably strong man.
He inhaled the gentle scent emanating from Ichihime's body, filling his nose with it, and savored the feel of her soft skin with his lips; there was no way he wouldn't react.
"Ah..."
Ichihime noticed this and her cheeks turned red. At the same time, she wore a look of apology and sadness.
"I'm sorry... Lord Nagamasa. Well, right now, I'm not able to accept something so wonderful from you—"
"It's okay."
I stood with and hugged Ichihime.熱Iki
"I know. There's a baby inside you... I can't just shove it in."
That was my responsibility as a father. I must never succumb to my desires and commit such an act, even to the point of killing my child.
But how am I supposed to deal with my already intense sexual desires since being transported to this era?
(At worst, I'll have to somehow distract myself with masturbation.)
"Hey, what the hell are you doing?!"
My beloved wife crawls on my crotch and begins to fumble around, pulling aside my hakama.
And the next moment, after I saw her move, her hakama was swiftly pulled aside, and my big sun, which was craving a woman, sprang out with a thud.
"We offer our condolences to Lord Nagamasa."
With her fingers entangled in the erect rod that seemed to pierce the heavens, Ichihime looked up at me with her eyes cast upwards.
"It is a wife's duty to keep her husband company... But now that I cannot accept Lord Nagamasa, please, at least let me do this much."
Saying that, Ichihime began to slowly stroke my son, who had recently grown thicker, with the technique I had thoroughly taught her.