"The sedan chair should be made of mahogany, how about having eight bearers?" Yukiko sat at her desk, troubled. "Even if that old fool Higurashi is going in place of Dan-sama, everyone will still see Dan-sama's face. We can't make the procession too modest."
"As for the accompanying retainers, let's have Shutenmaru go as well. After all, he was originally the bandit leader of Kuri, and now that he's submitted, people will feel Dan-sama's might when they see him. But having just him alone won't do."
"And the gifts to bring..."
"Um..." Keiko, who was sitting nearby reading a music score, overheard Yukiko's worries and softly asked, "Lady Yukiko, aren't you going?"
She addressed Yukiko as "Lady," not just because Yukiko held a high position as the head of the Finance Commission, but more importantly, to express her respect and gratitude for Yukiko, who had once saved her from a life of hardship.
If it weren't for Yukiko, Keiko would likely have ended up as a courtesan in the pleasure quarters, or worse, living a miserable life.
However, Yukiko preferred that Keiko call her "older sister"—not based on age, but in terms of their status within the inner court.
"Me?"
Hearing Keiko's question, Yukiko grew even more troubled.
"I don't want to waste time going to the Flower Capital to meet some sickly old man," Yukiko sighed. "But, no one else has the presence you do, Lady Yukiko. I've heard the townsfolk call you the 'Frost Bloom Princess,'" Keiko said with a light laugh, her eyes filled with admiration.
Yukiko, who had been the first to follow Dan, was now extraordinary. No one in the estate could match her in martial skill, and with such a reputation, she seemed almost like a legendary figure.
"I've heard that your fame has even reached the Flower Capital."
"It's reached the Flower Capital?"
"Yes, I heard Dan-sama mention it before. He said, 'Yukiko's reputation has spread to the Flower Capital—no, perhaps it's more accurate to call it her allure. The Frost Bloom Princess.'" As she spoke, Keiko began to mimic Dan's expression and tone.
Yukiko's beautiful face immediately fell, and she pouted, slumping over the desk like a dead fish.
"How annoying. If I don't go to the Flower Capital, that old fool Kozuki Sukiyaki might think Dan-sama isn't taking this seriously enough. I guess I have no choice but to go..."
Keiko giggled softly. Who would have thought that Yukiko, who was as cold as frost to the outside world, would show such a side within the daimyo's estate?
After all, Yukiko was only in her teens.
"If Lady Yukiko goes to the Flower Capital, perhaps every man in the city will come to see you."
"Hmph, if any of them dare to look at me with lecherous eyes, I'll gouge them out!" Yukiko said angrily, though it was clear she was only joking. She would never actually do such a thing.
"If you really don't want to go, you could use official duties as an excuse," Keiko suggested.
"Forget it, I'll go. It's not like there are many people who can make a proper impression," Yukiko shook her head.
It wasn't that Kuri lacked people, but too many of them hadn't been properly trained. Many had come from other regions, but they were only mediocre at best, not quite fit to serve as the face of the domain.
"Keiko, when I leave Kuri, I'll leave the affairs of the Finance Commission to you."
"Eh? Me? I couldn't possibly!" Keiko panicked, like a young child suddenly burdened with the full weight of life, feeling both fear and tension. Unconsciously, she clenched the book in her hands tightly.
In reality, Keiko was several years older than Yukiko.
Yukiko was only seventeen, while Keiko was already twenty-one. However, Keiko's personality was much softer, and she lacked Yukiko's confidence.
She felt as though she had just been a woman from Udon, struggling to even get enough to eat. With a bit of luck, she might have become a courtesan, at least avoiding starvation, but with bad luck, she could have ended up a beggar on the streets. How had she suddenly been tasked with managing the finances of all of Kuri?
Keiko was actually quite intelligent. After arriving at the daimyo's estate, she began learning to read and write, cherishing the opportunity so much that she spent her free time studying. Sometimes, while serving Dan, she would also glance over documents, and through this exposure, she learned quickly. Occasionally, she even offered Dan advice.
"Don't worry, it won't be too difficult for you," Yukiko said. "The basic tasks will be handled by the subordinates. If nothing unexpected happens, you'll just need to verify the data they submit."
The job was somewhat similar to that of an accountant. In fact, when it came to teaching arithmetic, Dan had included accounting as one of the essential subjects for the Finance Commission.
"For larger expenditures, if you can't make a decision, you can consult Dan-sama," Yukiko said, spreading out the documents on the desk and making room for Keiko to sit beside her.
"Since I need to prepare for the trip to the Flower Capital, I'll teach you now."
"Okay!" Keiko nodded firmly, as if she had made up her mind.
"Look, this is the budget for gifts and ceremonial expenses submitted by the Cultural Commission ... It's fine if the expenses related to Dan-sama are a bit higher."
The Sha-bugyou (Cultural Commission) was one of the three commissions, responsible for managing rituals, customs, and cultural affairs. Typically, aside from certain festivals, their duties involved educational funding. However, this time, they were also in charge of preparing the ceremonial procession to the Flower Capital.
As Yukiko explained, Keiko nodded along. These tasks weren't too difficult, especially since in Kuri, where corruption was almost nonexistent, the accounts were clear and straightforward.
After a while, Yukiko angrily slammed a document and cursed:
"That bastard Shutenmaru is asking for more military funds again!"
"Can't we increase the budget for the Military Commission?" Keiko asked, puzzled.
"It's not that. The Military Commission reasonable expenses should be met, but what is this he's submitted? 'Drinking expenses'? I really want to crack open his skull and see if it's filled with nothing but alcohol!" Yukiko was furious.
Keiko couldn't help but giggle.
After calming down a bit, Yukiko picked up another document.
"Documents like these, about construction projects, can be set aside for now," Yukiko showed her the document.
"Building a reservoir?"
"Yes, to prevent floods and droughts, constructing waterworks is very important."
"If it's so important, why not approve it immediately?" Keiko asked, confused.
"Keiko, building a reservoir requires a huge amount of resources and manpower. Moreover, whether a location is suitable for a reservoir and how it should be built requires extensive surveys. So, it's fine to leave these documents aside for now. Once the survey results are submitted, Dan-sama will personally decide whether to proceed."
"I see," Keiko nodded in understanding.