"Never was a more foolish creature than a man insulted." --Zhi philosopher, c. 260 AE
April 16, 1112 AE
Shiromori Castle, Ayumora, Shiromori
As Kitasaka could have expected, Kohashi opted to play dumb when faced with the accusation. "I don't know what you're talking about, Father."Damn right he didn't know; he didn't know, and the sky was a brilliant shade of emerald green. Of course he knew. "Kohashi, don't flatter yourself by thinking you're a half-decent liar; you're well aware of what I'm talking about."
"Look, Father, I'd think I'd know if my missing wife had sent my children any letters--"
"But she did!" Kitasaka snapped, crossing his arms and biting his lip so firmly that he could taste a small amount of blood trickling into his mouth. "And you do! Those letters didn't just hide themselves in the dark recesses of your desk drawer, you realize!"A vein throbbed in Kohashi's temple. "What the hell were you doing in my drawer?"
"Never you mind that! In any case, there must have been twenty letters in there, all for Maru and Kawa. I take it that neither of them were told that their mother had written?"
"If I don't get a letter from Takamari, then nobody does!" Kohashi roared, his anger quickly swelling from annoyance to outright fury. "I am the king, in case you've forgotten, and further more, I am the head of this household! When she writes to me, then I shall distribute the other letters--and not a moment before!"This was irrational even for Kohashi. Where did the boy get it from? Had Kitasaka been the sort of man to doubt his loving wife's fidelity, he might have wondered if Kohashi was truly his son. "So you're blaming her, then? Even though there's not a chance in hell that she could possibly know your terms?"
The younger man clenched a fist; at this point, Kitasaka almost wanted a punch in the face, if only on the off-chance it might startle Kohashi more than it did him. "What goes on between my wife and myself is none of your business, Father!"
"Maybe so, but what goes on with my grandchildren is," Kitasaka informed him, his brow furrowing to a point where it began to ache, "and if you don't tell them about the letters, then don't think for a second that I won't."NEXT CHAPTER:
Yaaaaay, just made it before the end of the month! :D
ReplyDeleteSorry it had to be such a short chapter, though. The next chapter will be short too :(
Also: Yes, Takamari's father died shortly after she left, after a long bout with a grueling illness. Kohashi has been officially king since then. Shiromori is so doomed O_o
ReplyDeleteOh wow and I bet Takamari doesn't even know that he is king does she...or does she? At any rate I want to slap Kohashi in the head...silly man pride. Although to his credit, that probably is a rather smart move keeping the letters from Maru.
ReplyDeleteAurius looks very sad in the preview...
I'm sure she's heard by now. She sees her brother and sister-in-law all the time, and even if she hadn't, the death of a king would surely reach her ears, even if she wasn't in the country.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, Kohashi definitely needs that slap. You are officially the first in the "let's-beat-up-Kohashi" line (after Takamari and Maru, of course) :D
Ah... that's not Aurius, but it is someone we've seen before.
Oh my bad...I should know better than to read, comment, look at shots when I am this tired...can barely see straight.
ReplyDeleteHeheheh :P
ReplyDeleteGo, Kitasaka! You tell that idiot king exactly what's what!
ReplyDeleteOf course, he's been trying to do that since the beginning of the story, and it doesn't seem to have done him much good ...
I wonder, though, if the people of Shiromiri think it at all odd that both of the late king's children got the hell out of Dodge and went to live in Zhian. If the royal family can't even stand to live in the country, what must the common people think?
WOO HOO!!! FINALLY Kitasaka mans up!! Hopefully it he follows through on his threats! I can't believe Kohashi is such an idiot...okay! Never mind. Yes, yes I can!
ReplyDeleteGod, I wonder if the kingdom realizes how silly their king is? Seriously!
Morgaine: Yeah, that's pretty much been Kitasaka's role so far, but I think this is the first time he actually raised his voice. The other times were just general fatherly nagging, but this time it's personal because Kohashi's purposely keeping his kids in the dark.
ReplyDeleteInteresting observation. We don't see all that much of the common people, but they probably have some thoughts on the subject (even if it is Shiromori, where abstract thinking isn't exactly encouraged). Zhian may experience a population surge at some point if the people follow the royal family's lead.
Phoenix: Yeah, so far, Kitasaka's really just been giving light slaps on the wrist in regards to Kohashi, but it seems that his breaking point has been reached.
I'm not sure if they know all that much about their king, other than the fact that he's the king. Shiromori has a lot of silly people, though--Maru's friends in the last chapter are a fair sample.
Ye Gods, Shiromori is screwed, what a goof for a king. He needs a kick in the cleats. Intense exchange between father and son.
ReplyDeleteThey're definitely up the creek without a paddle, and I imagine he needs a lot more than just a kick :S
ReplyDeleteOkay, this does it! I want a place in that "Beat-up-Kohashi" line!! I'm so angry at that self-righteous pompous bastard right now! Someone should just go and kidnap him, so Maru can take the throne! And then they should throw him into the worst dungeon that's ever been invented and let him rot there!
ReplyDeleteThat line is always open--and, looking at my outline, it will continue to be so for quite some time :S
ReplyDeleteUmm how much were tickets for the beat up Kohashi line again? I have my wallet on me.
ReplyDeleteThey're free ;)
ReplyDelete