Volume 1 – Chapter 10

Each Person’s New Year (1)

The evening of New Year’s Day, Tenbun 22 (1553).

I had been ordered by my Lord (Nobunaga) to remain behind and guard Nagoya Castle.

When my Lord set out for the New Year’s greetings at Suemori, he had left the castle with a sullen expression, yet upon his return, his expression was radiant—he was in a refreshingly cheerful mood.

We, who had braced ourselves for his return with a fearsome look on his face, found our hearts warmed instead.

「Nagato, I am back.」

「Welcome home, my Lord. Kicho-sama is waiting for you in your chambers.」

「I wonder what she is fretting about.」

「You seem to be in high spirits.」

「It was quite a spectacle.」

「A spectacle?」

「That fool Nobukatsu picked a quarrel with that brat and took a spectacular tumble.」

「Ah, I see.」

「He likely thought that since he was a child with an adorable appearance, a little intimidation would make him burst into tears.」

「Nobukatsu-sama