Pure Hands Part Seven

Although it was unkind, Baron Humbert von Gikkingen couldn't help his natural reaction when the guard outside his door opened it and said one of the phrases he hated the most in his new life.

"Hiromi is here to see you, my lord."

The lord's left eye twitched with distaste, even as he internally screamed at the news.

She normally saved daily reports on his wife for just after supper, and it wasn't yet noon. What could she want right now?

"Send her in," he replied, wishing that he could plead a headache again, but he'd used that excuse the day before to fend off the overly chatty servant girl.

He grew even more certain that he wouldn't like the latest news when his wife's maid skipped happily into the room with a giant smile and a scroll in her hand.

The scroll was new, at least. It had been tied shut with a ribbon, and a wax seal had been used as well, but he couldn't see what the seal was from here.

"I have a letter from the lady!" Hiromi announced proudly while presenting it to him with both hands, as if she held an ancestral sword instead of correspondence from an unwanted wife. "It's good news!"

Although it was the last thing he wanted to do, Baron forced himself to smile politely and take the scroll, which only made her more excited than before.

He took a second to look at the seal. It was a family crest, but not from the Yoshioka family. It looked familiar until he remembered that particular crest was from the queen's family, of which Haru's mother was a member.

He made to break the seal, but then gave a curious look to Hiromi, who was nearly holding her breath from excitement.

"Your lady said that you would have instructions for me after reading it," she explained, looking like she had been promised a great reward for the simple task of walking the distance between her lady's quarters in the East Wing and to her lord's study in the West Wing.

'That's at least interesting.' He had some unfortunate guesses about the contents of the scroll, but he still forced himself to break the seal, undo the knot of the ribbon, and opened the parchment enough to start reading.

My lord;

Hiromi's been shamelessly nagging me to slip into your chambers around midnight whenever you're home, no matter how many times I've explained that it's the only thing that will make negotiations worse between us.

His golden eyebrows shot up with surprise as his blood ran cold.

That should make certain that you read the rest of this. I had it explained to me many times that Hiromi's the best the baronetcy has to offer for a personal maid, but I just can't endure her useless, brainless chatter anymore and all the terrible, unwanted advice about our marriage. I can't even adopt a pet thanks to her allergies, and despite my best attempts, I haven't made a single friend in the six months I've been forced to live here.

Baron's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'Allergies?' He knew for a fact that the maid could handle a dog or cat since he'd seen her playing with both when not serving Haru.

If you want her to keep working in this castle, I won't naysay you, but I don't want to see her ever again. Even as you read this, I'm composing a letter for my cousin to send my old maid from the palace that I was forbidden to bring in the first place, as well as a cat so that I have company and someone I can lavish all the love I want on without running risk to my reputation more than what's already been done.

Baron blinked, not understanding that part.

Incidentally, I would take it as a kindness if you would send me a note through someone else concerning how much longer you're going to avoid having a real discussion with me, because my upmost limit is our first anniversary. I will be asking the king for an annulment if nothing changes by then, as little as I enjoy using blackmail. Consider this your only warning. You never had to love me, you never had to like me, but I think I'm allowed to draw the line at 'a few scraps of respect'.

Baron winced, since he knew full well he deserved that.

By the way, the reason Hiromi's acting so bubbly is because I let her think that she wore me down about taking the first step with you in spite of your clear signals that you would not appreciate any such behavior from me, and that this is actually something along the lines of a love letter that's supposed to magically transfer your affection to me.

I'm sure you'd love to have a few words with her about unauthorized women of rank helping themselves to your person without your consent. As a personal favor, don't hold back.

-Haru

Baron's jaw clenched, and it took all of his royal training not to let his anger show. He set the scroll on his desk and forced a smile on his lips for the maid who had been tormenting both him and his unwanted wife about their marriage for six months.

"I must say that I certainly wasn't expecting this kind of speech from my wife. I suppose I have been unfair to her concerning our marriage. I think I'll invite her for tea today."

Hiromi squealed with delight before giving him as big of a curtsy as her maid's skirt would allow. "I'll tell her right away," she promised, already halfway to the door, which was already opening for her thanks to the guard.

"Wait a moment, Hiromi," Baron said sternly, shaking his head at the guard, who gave him a brief baffled look before shutting the door again. "It's really thanks to you, you know. I imagine my wife wouldn't have written this letter without your urging."

"She wouldn't have," Hiromi confessed with a big smile, not realizing that she was condemning herself. "My lady kept saying that she wanted you to come talk to her when you were ready, no matter how many times I explained that women need to take a hand on matters of the heart."

'She calls being violated 'a hand'?!' Baron's smile twitched as he slowly stood up from his desk. "I really do believe that you deserve a reward for your… unwavering diligence in trying to bridge the gap between me and my lady. But what would be suitable?" he mused, casually walking around the room with a clenched hand to his chin as if in thought.

"Could my parents come live here?" Hiromi wasted no time asking. "I know they're old, but surely there's work for them that will be easier than farming?"

So that was it. The easy life for her parents. It would have been noble if her methods had been the same.

"That's not good enough," Baron sniffed before seeming to do a double take of Hiromi. "You're of marriageable age, are you not?"

She lit up happily. "I don't have a dowry, so it's hard for me to catch a husband."

"Well, why don't we fix that?" Baron asked with just a hint of smugness. "I believe I know just the fellow! You know Kamaji, don't you?"

Her ecstasy fell away to horror. "Uh, do you mean some Kamaji that works outside of the castle?"

"Of course not, I speak of the smith. He's a good man, steady temperament, and a hard worker. I find it surprising that he hasn't taken a second wife yet."

"My lord, no!" she begged with terror. "He's so old!"

"He's responsible and practical. I'm sure he won't mind sharing his quarters with your parents as well as you, what do you think of fifty gold pieces for a dowry?" Baron twisted his words the way he'd twisted his sword into more than one enemy. "After all, you might need help with your future children."

Hiromi started retching at the idea before getting on her knees and literally begging him. "Please don't do this to me, I would rather have someone young and handsome!"

Baron sighed in faux regret. "I may not be the best judge of male beauty, but I'd say that everyone I can think of with that description within my baronetcy is either married or saving up to marry their sweetheart. I'm afraid that if you want someone young and handsome, I'll need to send you to a different district."

"I'm all right with that," she agreed quickly without a thought.

"You'd so readily switch your allegiance from me? I'm disappointed in you, Hiromi," he chastised, secretly enjoying watching her squirm. "Is a young handsome husband worth leaving the land you've known your entire life? Kamaji really is a good man, you know."

"Please, my lord," she begged, now putting her forehead to the cold stone floor. "If you insist on marriage as my reward, send me away."

Baron sighed, though he had to make it sound regretful instead of like he was finally dropping a heavy load. "Oh, very well. I'm sure I can think of a friend at court that would be happy to find someone in their service for you. Why don't you gather your things and send for your parents? I'm sure you don't want to be separated from them and perhaps never see them again."

A huge wave of relief engulfed her as she hurriedly got back to her feet with another curtsy. "Thank you, my lord. I'll have everything ready for us to leave by the end of the day, my lord."

"No need to be so hasty. I'll send you off tomorrow morning so that you can be well-rested for your trip. Also, it will give you some time to think about whether you're certain about Kamaji."

"I'm certain my lord, thank you, my lord," Hiromi quickly answered before nearly bolting out the door.

It was only when she was gone that Baron let his grin turn vicious. 'It's always easier to send someone away when they think it's a reward. Kamaji can do better anyway.' Then he sighed and called out to the guard, who was looking in on him with somewhat disgusted bafflement. "Would you see if you can round up one of the servants? I have some special requests for teatime today."