The Princess and the Paige
By: The Dreaming Fangirl
Chapter Seven: The Meeting
For the rest of that meal, Izumiko ate in silence, allowing for the servants to carry on with their private conversations. After finishing the third and final course of the night, the servants began to collect the dishes and take them towards the kitchen to be washed.
It was at this point that Izumiko nervously stood up and turned her body towards her grandfather. His face was stiff with anger, and he motioned her and his two guests towards a side-room that she recognized immediately. This was the room that he used specifically for when he wished to speak with members of his counsel. She had never been allowed to enter the room, as her grandfather had forbidden all but his most trusted advisors to enter inside.
She slowly entered inside the space, blinking her eyes to adjust to the darkness that arrived to greet her. Her grandfather stepped outside of the room for a moment, bringing with him a lit candle which he used to light the other candles placed throughout the area. Finally finished with his task, he spoke, "This will make walking much easier. Izumiko, please take your seat."
"Of course, grandfather." She moved her body towards the table that lay in the middle of the room and found herself a cushion to rest her legs on. She sat down in her seat, and using her chance, glanced around to get a better look at her surroundings.
From her left side, on the wall closest to the window, a set of samurai armor was sitting on top of a box, most likely needing to be put away, but in its current position, it served as an intimidating figure, the perfect balance of both artistry and power. The moonlight shone to reveal her grandfather's desk, completely cleared of any debris save for a small pile of paperwork, and what she assumed to be an ink-stone and a brush. Her grandfather had always made it a point to be tidy, so the barren desk was of little surprise.
It wasn't until a voice spoke up that Izumiko was dragged out of her thoughts, "Well, Miyuki, I think it is high time that we sat down, don't you agree?"
She looked up to Yukimasa who was gesturing to the young man next to him. He continued to speak. "The emperor said that he wanted to speak with us. Now, Miyuki, sit down."
"Fine, I'll do it." The young man sat in the spot in front of her, his eyes flashing an angry stare as he added, "The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can get back to my real training."
"Please excuse him. Ever since he was a boy, he has always had a foul temper, and it seems his former mentor did little to curb his unruly behavior. Izumiko, this is my son, Miyuki. You two used to play together when I was stationed here at Tamakura Castle, but I doubt you remember him." Yukimasa placed his hand on the top of Miyuki's head, forcing it to bow toward the two royal members in due reverence. Miyuki resisted initially, taking both of his hands to try to get the hand off him, but upon feeling the tightness of the hand that was currently pulling on his hair, he relented, staying still until Yukimasa released him.
He lifted his head up towards her, allowing her to get a better glimpse of his face. His hair was tied in a small ponytail, and he had no visible touches of facial hair. His eyes were as brown as the oak trees which lined the castle's forests, but there was a layer of irritation that forced her to look away as soon as their eyes made contact. She dared to glance at him again once more. If only for the hair and the obvious growth spurt, he looked the same as he did all those years ago.
"I remember him, Mister," she paused as she remembered the drop-in formalities that Yukimasa had offered, but Yukimasa simply nodded and motioned her to continue, "Sagara. For the most part, he looks the same way as he did all those years ago."
This caused Yukimasa to release a small puff of laughter before he asked, "Oh, really now? Don't you think that my son has grown up even a little bit?"
"Well, he obviously has grown older with time, but other than that, he hasn't really changed since I last saw him years ago."
This caused Yukimasa to break out laughing as Miyuki tried not to show his embarrassment. Realizing what her words had, albeit unwittingly, done, she quickly shut her mouth before the situation could get worse for either of them. Yukimasa continued to laugh until there was a knock on the door.
Her grandfather answered, "Come in, Sawa."
Sawa, Izumiko's former nursemaid, opened the door and gave the group a warm smile. "I brought the tea that you requested, Lord Takaeyomi. Is there anything else I can get your highness? We should still have some cakes if you would like to have that for desert."
"Thank you, Sawa, but that will be all for tonight."
"Very well then, your grace. Please do not hesitate to call on me if you need me." Sawa then exited the room, closing the door behind with a noticeable knock behind her. Izumiko's grandfather passed out the cups of green tea, first to Yukimasa, then to Miyuki and lastly to Izumiko. She blew on the surface of the tea and was about to place the drink up to her lips when her grandfather stopped her.
"It is still too hot, Izumiko. You'll burn yourself."
"Thank you, grandfather." She placed the drink down onto the table and leaned a little closer to savor the aroma of the green tea as it reached her nose.
"Now that we have our tea and are all properly seated, Ser Sagara," the former emperor paused for a moment before adding, "Izumiko, I think it is high time for you both to explain yourselves. Ser Sagara, what business do you and your squire have here?"
"Lord Takaeyomi, the emperor sent me here to bring Princess Izumiko and her belongings safely to the capital, and I am to assist her in her transition to living in the main palace."
"What?! My son wants Izumiko to move back to the capital? But, why?"
"Milord, as the crown princess, she needs to start building relationships with members of the other noble houses to better rule the empire someday and she certainly can't do that here. Not to mention, she is of marrying age, and you know as well as I do of just how important it is that she attract a proper suitor to strengthen the empire."
"Yes, I am aware of all that! That isn't what is concerning me though. Is the capital safe? My son put Izumiko into my care because of the dangers that surrounded her there in the capital, and I will not let you come in here and take her away from me only to throw her into the lion's den."
"Even if they were orders from the emperor?"
"You forget that Daisuke is my son. He doesn't have the power to give me orders. Now, answer my question, is the capital safe?"
"The capital is as safe as most of the other cities in the world, your highness, if not safer. She will have at least one palace guard with her at all times, and you know the main palace has some of the greatest security measures across the known world. The fact that I am here is only proof of your son's dedication to Izumiko's safety."
"That is true, but now I feel the need to ask another question, Ser Sagara."
"Ask away, your grace."
"Why is it that you didn't inform me as to the purpose of your arrival when you first entered the castle?"
"I assumed that you had received the letter from Emperor Daisuke and already knew as to my purpose here, just like Princess Izumiko."
The former emperor quickly snapped his head towards his granddaughter. "And why didn't you tell me this, Izumiko?! You've never kept secrets from me before."
"I just received the letter today! I never meant to hide anything from you. There was just never a good time to tell you. In either case, I refused father's orders to go."
"You what?!," Miyuki's voice broke through the conversation with the speed of the snap of a whip, anger fuming off him in waves, "You mean to tell me that Yukimasa,"
"Now, now, Miyuki. Don't forget that you are still my son."
"When you start acting more like an actual father, I will behave more like a 'proper' son, but for now, Yukimasa, shut up," he turned back to Izumiko again, "This bastard dragged me away from my studies and my friends to come here in the middle of nowhere and take you back to the capital, and you mean to tell us that we came all this way for nothing!"
"Young man, I would advise that you best learn to control your tongue lest it get you into a good deal of trouble." Lord Takaeyomi's face got tenser with each passing second and, upon the realization, Miyuki quickly shut his mouth, "Ser Sagara, it seems you squire is quite the feisty lad indeed."
"While he may have title of squire, your majesty, he is still nothing more than a paige in my eyes. He still has much to learn and to improve," he bowed to his knees as he continued, "Please, your grace, forgive him for his rudeness."
"Hey! I graduated to the rank of squire fair and square, Yukimasa!"
"While you may have exceeded expectations regarding your academic prowess, the practical applications of your abilities are minimal at best. You have a long way to go before I deem you worthy to follow me into battle, so for now, until you develop some proper strength, you are still worthy of being nothing more than a paige. Now, do not interrupt while the adults are talking. One more outburst from you and I promise: you will regret it."
The pause that followed was brief but carried enough tension in it to make the hairs on Izumiko's neck stand on edge. She held her breath as her body unconsciously stiffened to suit the air that surrounded her. Luckily for her, she did not have to wait long until Yukimasa started chuckling.
"Well, it seems we have certainly gotten ourselves into quite the mess. Don't you agree, Lord Takaeyomi?"
The former emperor began to chuckle as well as he said, "Indeed."
"I think I might have a solution. Before I left the capital, Empress Yukariko asked me to deliver this to the princess." Yukimasa's hands rifled through his kimono until he pulled out a paper envelope. He placed it on the table for both members of the royal family, and they eyed the paper with suspicion.
Izumiko took the envelope and opened its contents.
Upon seeing Izumiko's widened eyes, Lord Takaeyomi asked, "What is it, Izumiko?".
"It is an invitation to the Floral Festival. Since Mother can't come home for the Floral Festival this year, she has asked me to visit her in the capital."
Yukimasa's face returned back to his signature smile before he spoke, "This can serve as a good opportunity for both of your majesties. Lord Takaeyomi, you have stated that your major reason for Izumiko returning to the capital is because you worry about her safety. I'm certain that if your majesty came to the capital, you would be able to put your security concerns to rest. As for the princess, this would give you the opportunity to see your mother and, with what time is left during the festival, your highness will be able to see the capital with your own eyes. Sound good?"
"That works well with me, Ser Sagara. Izumiko, what do you think?"
Izumiko looked down at the invitation in her hand. Although her mother wrote to Izumiko now and again, it had been far too long since she had seen her mother. Surely, the capital couldn't be that bad anymore. What harm could it do?
"Sure, grandfather. Let's go visit the capital."
