❦
The letter was short and simple, written by Tokugawa Iemitsu's own hand. It did not resemble an official decree from the shogunate at all.
'Dear Rin-chan, I heard that an interesting rumour is spreading around in Saga Domain. Have you heard of this? A bakeneko is wandering the streets, crying for justice… I've sent someone to tell you more. Will you find it as entertaining as I do? Let me know. Iemitsu.'
Yoka read out the letter for her young mistress who scowled at the placating tone the shogun was using.
'What's he pretending to be friendly for?' she sneered. 'I know my place very well.'
When the shogun agreed to clear her father's name and return her domain, it didn't come out of the goodness of his heart.
There were conditions.
Terazawa Rin would be the shogun's spy, a hidden dagger at his disposal, someone who shed blood for the cause of the shogunate and eliminated those who threatened Japan's peace and prosperity.
She was to operate quietly, using whatever methods necessary. And if her underhanded dealings ever came to light, she was to bear the blame alone and die a traitor's death.
Her only other option was to rebel against the shogunate and have Yoka kill indiscriminately until she thought her revenge was complete.
That kind of revenge wouldn't quench the resentment in her heart at all.
She wanted to hunt down every single person who plotted her family's death and watch them die an agonising death in front of her own eyes.
[Read the full story at novelconbini.com!]