Chapter 31.

"And what are these, Tochiro?" Emeraldas asked her lover, holding up a sphere with a chain and weight connected to it.

"I haven't named them yet," Tochiro smiled, "But they're my little surprise for Kanzaki. By the way, the ones with a red X painted on them are loaded with an explosive mixture. We need to gently place them over the edge of the ship. Then draw Kanzaki in close…"

"And his ship is blown out from under him," Harlock grinned.

It took two hours to deploy Tochiro's devices, and no sooner than they finished than Tochiro called from the stern, "Just in time. I see Kanzaki's sails."

"Deception isn't much like you, Harlock," Emeraldas said, "Are you alright with this?"

"Worthy foes deserve to die in battle," Harlock said, "A contest of wills, with he who desires life the most emerging victorious. But Kanzaki is a schemer and a sneak. Worse than even the Duke de Artai, who at least is honest about being a schemer.

"Since Kanzaki employs deception as part of his warfare, then let deception be the tool that destroys him, as well."

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Building in Garderobe moved quickly. The citizens who had defected from Windbloom were highly motivated to help build the new homes, which were, thanks to the building materials that had been brought on the ships, far superior to simple log cabins. Shizuru had instructed the work crews to build the new mansion for the Baroness right beside her previous log cabin.

Natsuki woke, as she usually did, in the warm embrace of her lover, whose hands would be draped tenderly over her body. But this morning, Natsuki could smell a chill on the air. It wasn't cold yet, but the scent in the wind told her that before the week was out, She rose from bed, and Shizuru, sensing the motion, looked up to seen Natsuki's lithe frame silhouetted in the light of the rising sun, reaching over to grab a sleeping gown and a shawl.

"Is something the matter, lover?" Shizuru rose, draping herself with the bedcovers.

Natsuki smiled, "Only that it is going to be winter soon, and we have no fire in the fireplace."

Shizuru, hailing as she did from the warmer climes of a Mediterranean climate, suddenly became aware of the chill without Natuski beside her, shivering slightly. Natsuki did not fail to notice, and sat beside Shizuru, opening the shawl and extending it around her.

"You come from a place in the sun and the summer," Natsuki smiled, "While my original home is a place of mountains and snow, not unlike my new home, here. You are a Summer Queen, Shizuru."

"Ara, ara, then it is only fitting that I should fall happily into the lap of an Ice Princess who commands the forest," Shizuru smiled, running her hands absently over Natsuki's thighs, "For opposites do, indeed, attract."

"If you two insist on being intimate within earshot," Alyssa grumbled, coming out of her room, "Is it too much to ask that you have concluded your moments of intimacy in time for me to emerge and have my breakfast?"

Shizuru sighed, "Natsuki, I love you dearly, but I find my sister-in-law to be most vexing."

Natsuki giggled, "And my sister tells me the same, that she loves me, but that her sister-in-law is a troublesome creature. Shizuru and Alyssa are too alike, and so they repel."

Both Shizuru and Alyssa looked dumbfounded, and then, looking at each other, they burst out laughing.

"Natsuki, ikezu!" Shizuru doubled over with laughter.

"That doesn't make it not true," Natsuki grinned.

"It being true doesn't make it any less troubling to say," Alyssa protested.

Natsuki walked over and patted her on the head, "But is it so bad, though. I love you both dearly, and each of you love me."

"Natsuki, there is another matter we must discuss, and I know it troubles you, but as the Baroness and Governess of the Colony of Garderobe, you do have to enforce German tax laws on the citizens."

Natsuki sighed, but nodded, "I was taught such things by my Father, many years ago. And Ahn Lu was…kind enough…"Natsuki growled the words, "to refresh my knowledge. However…there are things I know and do well…and there are others that I do not. I am very instinctive? Yes, instinctive. But accounting is not my strong point."

"It doesn't have to be," Alyssa said, "A Baroness or Governess enacts and enforces local laws. You appoint people to offices to handle these things. For taxes, you will hire a treasurer. Someone who is skilled with such things, and who is trustworthy. And then, you'll need a magistrate, constabulary, a scribe, and a few other offices. And then…"

The door to the cabin flew open, and Nina Wang came rushing in, "Baroness Kuga, I…"

She saw Countess de Fujino, in a very obvious state of undress, draping herself languidly over the Baroness, and she flushed crimson, turning away, "Forgive me. I saw nothing."

Natsuki went over to her, "You needed me for something. What you saw, or did not see, is not important. I know that I can trust you to guard my secrets, Nina. But it sounds as if you need me to guard something else."

"There are men. From Windbloom. They are building a wall."

Shizuru rolled her eyes, "No, permit me a guess. 'King' Nagi says that it's to ensure that the borders between our two colonies are well established to avoid…incidents and confusion."

"That is his claim, yes."

"Nina," Shizuru embraced her from behind, "Is your reaction because you are embarrassed to see me so, or because you were attracted to the Baroness yourself?"

Nina blushed deeply, "I…I admire the Baroness."

Shizuru smiled knowingly, "Someone isn't very honest with their feelings. But I know something that you don't know."

Nina sighed, "Yes?"

There was a knock at the door, and Natsuki opened it to find Arika Yumemiya, panting hard from having run, "Is…Is Nina here? I need to tell her…"

"Arika?"

"Nina, there's a man in Windbloom, looking for you. He says…he says he's your father!"

Nina's eyes went wide, and she ran out the door.

Shizuru sighed, "Ara, ara, another missed opportunity. It must be tough on you, Arika, having such an oblivious friend."

"Oblivious? To what, Countess?"

"Then again, they say ignorance is bliss," Shizuru sighed, "Go. She'll need you, I'm sure. Natsuki, I think we might want to have another chat with the 'King' of Windbloom."

Natsuki collapsed backwards on her bed, "Shizuru, it's too early in the morning to be dealing with that tiny man!"

Shizuru smiled, "I sympathize, Natsuki, I do. I used to live with him, remember? But it's deal with him now while it's a little headache, or wait to see what he's doing, when it's a big headache."

Natsuki rose again, groaning, "Fine. I expect you to pamper me tonight, for my troubles!"

"Don't I always?" Shizuru smiled.

"That is why I expect it," Natsuki grinned at her.

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"Captain Kanzaki, we're taking on water! Some sort of explosion on the starboard bow!"

Kanzaki grinned, nodding, as he watched the Arcadia right itself, "A trap. And I'm willing to bet we just bumped into some new toys made by dear old Tochiro!

"Lumen, grab Gal and Dyne and get to the lifeboat. I'm going to ram the Arcadia. I haven't sunk yet, Harlock!"

Reito Kanzaki steered towards the Arcadia, "I'll take you with me, Harlock, or die trying!"

"Finally, you choose to live as a real man," Harlock called, "Show me your determination, then, Kanzaki."