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We’d been called to the top of the castle. A dispute made from Juro. It was already an awkward situation; now it involved Genji’s mediation. At a wide table, Syaoran and I sat to one side, Genji opposite us, leaving Lord Kwan and Juro to sit to either remaining end. We were all far from each other. The table could easily accommodate a dozen or more men comfortably.
Before a word was said on the matter, Urekkato intruded, bearing a smug look. Claiming that the table was imbalanced, and in need of an impartial party to be fair to Juro. He lorded his title as prince to push through polite objection.
When Genji looked to me, I shook my head in a shallow and rapid motion. He sighed, and I realized my mistake. Urekkato now sat beside him, waiting to partake in the meeting.
“I have been wronged by your servant, Lord Kwan,” said Juro. “First, it is your brother who beats on my bride, and now Syaoran has fornicated with her and robbed me of my wedding rite. And I suspect this is not the first time he’s violated her.”
“That is a serious accusation,” said Urekkato. “With a serious punishment.”
Genji looked from Lord Kwan, to Juro, to me, and back to Juro, in no great rush. “You are betrothed?”
“Not officially,” said Urekkato, interrupting Juro’s start. “A proposal has been made. But I do not recall that there was any answer given. Or, has that now changed?”
“There is a planned announcement of it the summer following this,” said Juro, dismissive.
Lord Kwan kept silent and stoic, watching Juro the entire time.
“Hisa and I are fated for each other,” continued Juro. “Lord Genji, surely you can sympathize with my position and my distress.”
Shy, but needing to weigh, Genji answered. “I suppose.”
“Hisa,” said Urekkato. “Has an answer been given?”
I shook my head, my hands holding tight to the skirt of my dress.
“Speak up,” said Urekkato.
“No,” I said, timid under the pressure.
Urekkato tilted his head, resting it in the palm of his hand.
“I haven’t accepted,” I continued, quelling any implication of a delay in my agreement. This was likely my only chance to be candid about it, and avoid further unwanted advances. “Nor do I plan to.”
“Hisa!” called Juro in alarm.
Syaoran put a hand up to his mouth, forming a loose fist to press on his lips and prevent laughter.
“I did try to express this before.”
“But, you said—” started Juro.
“As a servant,” interrupted Lord Kwan, “and in a sentence of debt owed, Hisa is not in a position to speak with bluntness. That is a liberty enjoyed by those above her station.”
“A case of miscommunication,” said Urekkato, relishing in the awkwardness.
“Hisa,” said Juro, half begging and half scolding. “Reconsider, my love.”
“It’s well known in our master’s household that Hisa has no feelings towards Lord Juro,” said Syaoran. “Attempts were made to persuade her of the benefits, but she is adamant on her indifference.”
“Indifference‽” roared Juro.
While things went in the direction I wanted, I weighed in again, doing my best to sound like a respectable serf or lady, and not like a village girl. “I apologize, Lord Juro, if I was unclear. I never meant to lead you into the belief of otherwise. And the truth is that I will only marry for love, and not for any benefits.”
“Hisa,” said Juro, looking directly at me. “Reconsider. The life of a servant is uncertain, when your lord might turn you out on a whim and poverty is prevailed onto you. As wife to a lord with lands and capital, there is no such fear. Especially if there is a son between us—then you are secured. You cannot tell me you prefer Syaoran over myself, knowing that.”
“It’s been well established in my house,” said Lord Kwan, “that Hisa and Syaoran share a deep affection. Are you really so surprised?”
In hearing that, my neck started to sink into my shoulders. Syaoran, however, crinkled his nose in the fight to keep from laughter.
“But what can he do for her?” demanded Juro. “He has no home, no titles, nothing to give her.”
“That does complicate the decision,” said Urekkato. “I suppose the final decision falls to her father, or whoever heads her family.”
I needed to restrain myself from glaring. Prince or not, he said it to deliberately reverse what progress was made.
“I’ve said that I would only agree to marry for love,” I said, determined to reclaim control. “Even if he was the poorest man in the world.”
“I wonder if a father shares the same sentiment,” said Urekkato.
Lord Kwan shifted his gaze to the Cat prince.
“If there is no formal union,” said Genji, after a time, “what is the offense?”
“There is no strict ruling on a servant laying with another servant,” said Lord Kwan. “Unless the lord of the house establishes otherwise, which I have not.”
“Then, there is no offense?” asked Genji.
“Only in pride,” said Urekkato. “Typically, this would be sorted out with a duel. First blood drawn ending the match.”
“Is that not excessive?” asked Genji.
“Surely, during Mokryon, we can overlook the matter,” said Lord Kwan.
“I’ve invested in the engagement,” said Juro. “Now I’m to accept refusal on all sides?”
“Unless Syaoran is willing to take up a sword,” said Urekkato, smug in his expression.
“No,” I said, a little too loudly. All eyes on me, I thought fast on how to pacify the situation. “My Lord Juro, if it’s a matter of expense, I’ll return your gifts. But don’t let blood spill on my account, please.”
Juro glowered. “Then do so now.”
I froze.
“My every gift to you,” demanded Juro.
Urekkato snickered. “Lord Juro demands that Hisa undress this instant?”
Syaoran took a turn to glare at the Cat prince, about to argue when Lord Kwan spoke.
“That is an affront to me. Hisa is my attendant. I will not have my servants humiliated and made to strip publicly.”
Between the words spoken, and the lowered tone, Juro reined in his scowl. “Very well.”
“No blood, no stripping, it is a dull revenge for a jilted lover,” said Urekkato, trying to rile up Juro again.
“Out of respect for my friendship with Lord Kwan, I will retract my last demand,” said Juro, level.
“It’s only a shame you don’t hold that same respect for the woman you desire as your wife,” said Syaoran.
I paled; certain his comment would undo the dying tension.
“My Lord Genji,” continued Syaoran. “For your late wife, Lady Isaden, would you have behaved this way? Or you, my prince?”
Urekkato quirked a brow with interest, his tails flicking behind him. Genji, breathed in, maintaining himself as he considered. I understood Syaoran’s outburst then: an appeal to their own egos, trying to turn it to my favor.
Silence. And I didn’t know if that was a good sign, or a bad one.
“I will recoup your losses, Lord Juro,” said Lord Kwan. “Since it has been invested into my household.”
“It’s not about the cost,” growled Juro. “The investment into a bride is more than material things.”
“Perhaps I’ve misheard,” said Urekkato, “but to who do you refer? This assembly has confirmed that Hisa was not engaged to Lord Juro, and therefore cannot be the bride to which he invested in.”
“That is true,” said Genji, thoughtful.
“And there is no law to support retribution on jealous love without a break in contract. Since no contract, verbal or otherwise exists, there is no crime,” continued Urekkato, delighting in his role. “Unless there is evidence not yet brought up, we may dismiss and continue on with festivities as planned.” He smiled, giving me a knowing look.
Grumbling, Juro stood, being the first to leave.
The rest of us remained where we were in silence.
Lord Kwan stood next, and Syaoran cued me to follow suit. He gave a polite bow and apology to Genji, and we did the same. Even though, to my knowing, neither Lord Kwan, nor Syaoran or myself did anything to warrant an apology. Juro instigated the fuss. All I could think is that it was for the sake of manners in high society; something that needed to happen regardless of whether or not I agreed with it.
We left, following Lord Kwan wordlessly.
Before descending the stairs, I couldn’t bear it anymore, and spoke up. “I’m sorry, my lord.” While I couldn’t tell what Lord Kwan was feeling in that moment, I didn’t want him to be upset with me, quietly or otherwise.
He stopped. And so did we.
Breathing deep, he looked back at me, seeming weary. “It is to Lord Genji who you ought to say that. And to thank him.”
I nodded, dropping my gaze. It was my first (and probably only) Mokryon, and I’d caused such a commotion through circumstance. “Are you angry?”
He resumed his stride. “No.”
“At least let us better explain to you, my lord,” said Syaoran, in a gesture to remove some of the pressure from me.
Lord Kwan said nothing.
I stole a glance to Syaoran, seeing his ears flatten.