"Not a beauty," Kasumi-hime's voice rang coolly in the air as she scrutinised the woman kneeling respectfully in front of her. "And quite old."
Otsu, who considered herself quite good-looking, felt slightly miffed at that harsh judgement. "Where I work, tis not a pretty face that be making folk spill the beans." Indeed, a nice round face that seemed kind, a soothing word, a smile, and being a woman gave much better results.
Kasumi-hime's red lips tightened in displeasure at the coarse language. "I have heard of your success and discretion," she said, sounding unconvinced. "Do you have a younger assistant? Someone that a man would find more…appealing? More likeable?" she clarified for her benefit.
Otsu kept her eyes on the princess' left sleeve. "Men be havin' all sorta preferences to get 'em off," she replied confidently. "But ye, I do. Kuro-chan," she said. "Seventeen years old. Dunno, that man could be finding appealin' ." Appealing. Noble folk always used new words.
Kasumi-hime nodded. "Is she pretty?"
Kuro was many things, among others a very solid boy built like an ox, with the face of an angry boar and the personality of a pissed off skunk. "Very pretty soul," Otsu replied.
"I see," Kasumi-hime replied.
Otsu did not contradict her, for she was much higher on the pecking order than herself. Because had the princess seen Kuro-chan, she would have screamed for the guards and fainted. Kuro-chan had that effect on people with a sensitive nose.
Kasumi-hime called for tea then, instead of telling her the business she had called Otsu for. The green tea was rich and sweet, not bitter, which meant it was horribly expensive. Otsu wished she could put the powder in paper and sell it rather than drink it. But since she could not, and it was free, she drank as much as she could. In the evening she would regret her greed, for the tea was strong and her head was pounding as she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. But that was the future.
"There is a man," Kasumi-hime suddenly said.
Otsu regretfully swallowed the last cake, not even tasting the sweet bean paste and waited.
Kasumi-hime took an elegant sip from her own cup. "His name is Senju Tobirama."
Otsu waited.
Kasumi-hime's young face seemed put out at Otsu's lack of reaction. "A famous shinobi in the Land of Fire, the younger brother of the Senju Clan Head."
Otsu mentally adjusted her price.
"He will stay at one of my brother's villas for autumn. You will be the maid tasked with cleaning his room and bringing him his meals."
Otsu nodded. It seemed that Kasumi-hime had thought of everything.
Kasumi-hime took a deep breath. Otsu tensed. Here it was. The actual mission.
"You will make him become attached to you," Kasumi-hime announced, finally sounding like the fifteen-year old she was.
Otsu blinked.
"I would have wanted you to make him fall for you but it might prove an insurmountable task," Kasumi-hime continued sadly.
Otsu had no idea what insurmountable meant, but it was definitely not praise.
"I am certain that a woman of your calibre would fulfil the task successfully," she said, full of doubt. "He's coming in two weeks. I will pay you half now and half at the end of your mission. Your clothes, lodgings and meals are free, as well as any expenses made for it."
It was all well thought out, Otsu thought, except for the actual mission.
She had started in this almost by accident, finding a noble's cat during a festival. Then, as she helped a noodle maker to sell his wares, a young bride to find clothes to fit her husband's sallow complexion, and a distressed hairdresser to buy black dye in record time, people had started to come to her with their problems. Fortunately for them, Otsu discovered she liked being nosy, and helpful, and being paid for it.
"This be a delicate matter," Otsu said, using the word she had recently learned.
"I will pay you 100 gold ryo," Kasumi-hime announced. "The first half."
Otsu bowed to the floor. "I'll 'ave him eatin' outta palm of my hand," she promised.
"Good," Kasumi-hime replied. "Then you will disappear."
Otsu tensed.
"And break his heart," Kasumi-hime finished with satisfaction.
Ah, Otsu thought, so this was revenge. She should have asked for a thousand gold coins instead.
"This is the contract," Kasumi-hime said as the maid presented Otsu with a scroll. Otsu opened it and looked at the contents blankly. It was written with ink. With flourishes. With the nobles' writing, which she could not read. She could barely read the commoners' writing system. In her life, she hadn't found much use for it. Speaking with people yielded more results.
"The terms are exactly what I told you," Kasumi-hime informed her.
Otsu did not quite believe that, for the ghost of a smirk was there on the princess' round face. But she could read the sum of money and it was correct. She dipped her thumb in ink and pressed it on the page.