The morning after the fanatical vow, I woke not to a peaceful silence or a cup of tea, but to a new mess. It was becoming a tiresome pattern.
"My lord," Taro said cautiously as he entered, his voice tight and strained, like it might snap any second. He held a freshly unrolled scroll between trembling fingers. "The Western Alliance has delivered their treaty. They insist the 'Tsurugi Seal' be placed upon it as ratification."
I raised an eyebrow before he hurried on.
"Also, a delegation from the Southern Merchants' Guild has arrived. They seek exclusive trade rights for Kageyoshi-style blades. They've brought a hefty sum of silver as an offering."
I frowned, glancing from the scroll to the eager faces bustling through the town beyond. The issue was clear: negotiations, treaties, endless talking. All things I never signed up for.
