Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 169

 "Was it good? Accepting such an offer?"

 "It doesn't matter. If we can just get him away from those people a little... it's fine with me."

 In a quiet room where a soundproofing barrier was set up, the two women responded. Immediately after, the sound of gold clinking echoed. It was the sound of pruning shears. The princess cut off the rotten red flower from the flower vase, the sound of pruning...

 In one of Oumi family's rooms, a secret meeting was held under the guise of a flower arrangement class. On the surface, it was a lesson, but the real reason was to persuade the Second Princess, and the true reason was too obvious to mention.

 "Indeed, the Omnyouji Bureau isn't influenced by those two people. But... can we trust them? They're quite cunning, aren't they?"

 "Well, that's exactly why we can't let those two people have their way. And... isn't this the time for Grandma to take action?"

 Aoi cut off the wilted purple flower and responded with a question. As for Kochou, the Advisor, she had a stronger connection with the central government than the lord and lady of the family. Many people wanted to interfere with Onitsuki's next leader, and Aoi knew that a considerable number of them were in contact with this old woman. This was one of her values.

 When it came to dedicating everything to him, this woman's connections were essential to get the imperial court to recognize him...

 "And besides, we have insurance. As long as she's attached to him, there's no way he'll be discarded. ...you understand, don't you?"

 Aoi stroked the small white flower and smiled. As the former head of the Shadow Department, that girl was quite sweet. That's why she was exiled and ended up running an orphanage.

 The orphanage she had established was actually doing a great job of raising children. She wasn't plotting anything out of power hunger.

 "Of course, if necessary, I won't hesitate, so please don't worry."

 With a hint of reluctance, but the pruning shears cut off the white half-flower with a cold indifference. It would be better to open it a little bigger, but pruning it was unavoidable for the overall harmony.

 "...You're still a decisive child, aren't you?"

 "Oh, that's rude, grandma. I'm actually quite cautious, you know?"

 "That's just a mistake of being too cold-hearted."

 "Hehehe."

 Without hesitation, Aoi finally dropped the last yellow petal. It was a nuisance, but thinking about the overall impression of this work, it was an out-of-place foreign object. Cut, cut, prune...and Aoi's work was roughly complete.

 "Ah, wonderful, I'll acknowledge it."

 "Thank you for your praise, it's an honor."

 Aoi, who had been slacking off by about 80%, responded with a nonchalant tone to her grandmother's cold praise. Between the two of them was a large, beautiful flower. A single, vibrant flower with a white peach color, and scattered around its base were countless small flowers of various kinds...a work that symbolized her majesty.

 "But it's not very ladylike...and it's quite an adventurous piece, isn't it?"

 That was her grandmother's critique, which was both like and unlike a granddaughter's work.

 Aoi was a genius with a natural talent. She was exceptional in everything, not just art. When she held a brush, she created a masterpiece, when she brewed tea, she produced an exquisite product, when she recited poetry, she was chosen as a singing prodigy, and when she played the koto, her sweet performance captivated both body and soul. And it was the same with flowers.