Like irony, the multicoloured roses amassed the attention of the banquet.
Rakan beheld at it in a daze. Affected by the excessively sleepy music, he had picked up someones coronet unaware and a clump of hair had come along with it.
Oh dear, Rakan thought, leaving it on the next table. When he did so, the official next to him hastily put it on. Rakan wasnt sure, but he somehow had a feeling that he was being stared at. For now, he took off his monocle, wiped the surface with a cloth and wore it on a different eye this time.
The roses were placed in the middle of the banquet.
The look of it, like it was showing off, was as if it was showing the detestable personality of the arranger.
He remembered that he once had a banquet. A wavering shawl of thin silk. The flowing reverberation of strings. Being treated to a full course, enveloped by the smell of alcohol.
Meaningless things from long ago are truly unmemorable. He remembered being there, but the emotions from that time were completely out of reach.
The banquet was over by the time he came around. The two consorts clad in black and blue outfits were each being bestowed roses that signified their colours from the emperor.
He wasnt sure, but from all the voices around him, they were beauties.
Things like the facial beauty didnt matter to him at all.
At any rate, it was boring. Did she not come?
He didnt know for what reason he provoked her.
Since theres no helping it, lets go poke fun at a different person. Lets go look for revenge.
He looked around. There were still a lot of people left. He was bad with crowds.
He could only see most people as go stones. He could distinguish between genders, but he saw men as black stones and women as white stones. Moreover, he could only see them as indistinguishable generic faces.
Even people from the military he was acquainted with could only change to shogi pieces at most. Most of them ordinary soldiers were pawns, and as they rise in rank they become spear or knight. The job of a tactician was simple; it was better to deploy them in correspondence to their piece. Most battles are won with the right person in the right place.
It wasnt difficult, but Rakans job will be over if he did only just that. Even if he assigned it incompetently, his surroundings will arbitrarily end his job for him. There you go, Rakan thought.
Although everyone admired the man that had a celestial maidens smile, he himself didnt understand. The gold general that was followed by the promoted silver he would have no problem if he looked for just that.
He was used to looking for people like that.
Nevertheless, his eyes hurt more than usual today. The red caught his eyes. Everyone had rouge on their fingers.
Was the thing called manicure the current trend of the court ladies?
The nails that he recalled in his memories wasnt such a gaudy red. It was a lightly dyed red. It was the red of rose balsam.
When the nostalgic name of the prostitute suddenly came to mind, a short court lady was projected before his eyes.
Small and thin, but determined, a daughter that was like wood-sorrel.
Hollow eyes faced this way.
When he became aware of his own staring, she turned to her back as if to say come along.
On the opposite side of the peony garden, a shogi board was laid out in a small gazebo. There was a paulownia box on top of the board. Inside was a withered rose that was laid down like a corpse.
Will you be my opponent?
Picking up the shogi pieces, the girl asked in monotone. The gold general and the promoted silver was standing close by.
He shouldnt have any reason to decline. If it is his cute daughters request.
Rakan displayed a wide grin.
Just what did she want to do?
Jinshi was here, ignoring Maomaos words to go back if he could. Maomao seemed deeply reluctant but relented on the terms of him saying absolutely nothing at all.
Having invited the tactician, Maomao lined up the shogi pieces. Her face was completely blank of emotions her normal unsociability still had the touch of humanity. Sometimes she looked like she was scratching the back of her hand, but would she even be bitten by a bug?
First move, second move, which one is it going to be?
It is clear that he was utterly delighted from the thin eyes inside Rakans monocle. Because he was that tenacious, wasnt that a given?
Before that, shall we decide the rules and price of the bet?
Maomao proposed.
That will save me some time.
Jinshi peered at the board from behind Maomao. Rakan faced him an ominous smile, but there was no way she would lose. He returned him a graceful smile.
A best-of-five match with no irregularities. In other words, you win when you win three games.
Jinshi couldnt understand. The tactician never lost in shogi. For starters, the game chosen was a mistake.
What was Maomao thinking?
Gaoshun seemed to share the same sentiments; the furrows on his brows were even deeper.
I wonder what pieces you need. Rook or bishop?
Rakan said.
I dont need anything.
Maomao didnt accept the long-awaited proposal either. You shouldve just accepted it meekly, Jinshi thought.
Well then, if I win, youll be my child.
Jinshi was going to voice his objection to that proposal but he was stopped by Gaoshun from the back. He had promised to say nothing at all.
Since Im in the middle of employment, itll be after the end of the term of service.
Employment?
The fox-like eyes stared this way. Jinshi, smiling, had to keep his cheeks from stiffening.
Are you really employed?
Rakan said to make sure.
Yes. It was recorded in the document that way.
It was like that. It was written like so in the document that Maomao saw. But it happened that the one who signed it was the madam who substituted for the guardian. She had snatched away the brush from the man that was like Maomaos father.
Thats fine then. Leaving that aside, what about you?
Looking doubtful, Rakan said.
I dont need anything. However, is it alright if I change two things after the rules?
I dont have a problem with that.
In that case.
Maomao took out the wine bottle she got Gaoshun to prepare beforehand. She poured equally into five cups. It seemed to be strong distilled liquor from the scent.
Next, she unwrapped the medicine she took out from her bosom and added in the powder with a rustle. She added what seemed to be different powders into three cups. Maomao swirled the cups, mixing that, and quickly shifted the five cups around. It is no longer clear which one is which.
Every time you lose a game, you drink what the opponent chooses. It doesnt matter whether you sip it or however you wish.
He had an extremely unpleasant premonition. Why was that? Jinshi went around the sides from behind Maomao It seems like her expressionless face was slightly flushed. Her cheeks were eased like she was having fun.
You can take for granted what it means when she makes that face.
What in the world were the powders you added just then? He wanted to ask but he couldnt. He was irritated at himself for that.
What were the powders you added just then?
Rakan asked for Jinshi.
Its medicine. On its own.
If all three are put together, it becomes a deadly poison.
The odd girl simply said it with a smile. And then.
If you forfeit the game for any reason whatsoever, you lose. These two rules, please.
Maomao said that as she swirled the cups with medicine in it.
The pinky on her left hand that was painted red was crooked.
Rakan eyed at that finger.
Jinshi could only think of heartless things. Though it wasnt a problem if you dont drink three cups, it still wasnt something you would simply want to put in your mouth.
Was it to shake up the opponent? Certainly, a normal opponent would be shaken from that. But the opponent was the tactician who was called a weirdo. He didnt think that that guys mind would be thrown into disarray from a mere shaking up.
As expected, Maomao lost two times in a row. Contrary to expectations, she had some knowledge, but it seems like as far as knowing the rules, she had lacked actual experience.
She had already finished off two cups of alcohol. And yet, she drunk it as if it was delicious.
Just what in the world was she thinking, he thought.
The third match had only just begun, and yet the end could be seen.
He thought of the possibility of getting poisoned by drinking the third cup. The likelihood of choosing a poisoned cup at the start was five to three, the next would be four to two, and the last would be three to one. In short, with the possibility of ten to one, Maomao would ingest deadly poison.
Honestly speaking, thinking that if its Maomao, she would have no problems even getting poisoned, was scary.
He didnt know if Rakan knew that much though.
Well, while thinking about what happens after losing to the bet, when he exchanged glances with Gaoshun,
Checkmate.
He heard a voice.
It wasnt Rakans, it was Maomaos.
He exchanged glances with Gaoshun, looked at the board, and the gold general was hunted by a promoted pawn. It was by such a terribly shoddy piece, but the gold general was certainly blocked off.
Im beat.
Raising both hands, Rakan was brought to his knees.
Even if its mercy, a victory is a victory.
Maomao said to make sure.
Yeah, theres no way my daughter will ever offer me poison.
Maomao, who had drunk two cups just then, did not change her expression. There was no knowing of whether there was poison or not in what she had drunk.
Rakan gave a joking smile and regarded his expressionless daughter.
Do the medicines have a taste to it?
Youll know with a sip. They are all bitter.
I get it now. Pick one for me?
Help yourself to whichever.
So thats how it is, Rakan was planning to lose after two rounds. And he would know that Maomao wouldnt be harmed if even one was bitter. The likelihood wont change, but this was certain.
He really has a cunning man.
Rakan picked up the cup in the middle and drank it.
Its bitter.
Jinshi hung his head. With this, Maomao wouldnt win the next match.
When Jinshi was thinking about what to do with the next match.
Also, its hot.
He raised his head from Rakans words. The mans face was completely red. His head was bobbing from side to side. And then, his complexion went down gradually, collapsing limply the moment he turned pale.
Gaoshun ran up to Rakan to wake him up.
What the hell was that? Didnt you say that those were medicines that would be fine on its own?
To really serve up poison no matter hateful it was? Jinshi asked as though he was interrogating her.
No, its a medicine.
Maomao said like she was utterly annoyed. She picked up a nearby pitcher and approached Gaoshun and Rakan.
After confirming that Rakan wasnt in a dead sleep after forcing his eyes open, she shoved the pitcher into his mouth and poured in the water. Quite a violent way of doing things.
Jinshi-sama.
Gaoshun looked on with a bewildered face.
He seems to be drunk.
Its the chief of all medicines[note]Alcohol lol[/note] after all.
Maomaos nursing was so unbothered she only checked to see if he finally come to. It seems she ended up doing it solely because it was her job as a doctor.
Cant hold his liquor, this man.
He finally understood Maomaos intent with that one statement.
T/N: lets try get this arc finished by the end of this week. The next arc is so close yet so far orz
Manicure, nail rouge (direct translation lol) or nail polish?
Also, should I label the perspective changes or is it clear enough?