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GIYU TOMIOKA
[note: starting from this chapter, it will now be in Giyu's point of view...]
In the war room of the Tomioka Manor felt unusually somber as I stood at the head of the long oak table, surrounded by the commanding officers of the Northern Military Force.
You can sense how serious the atmosphere despite of no one is actually talking.
Their faces also mirrored the gravity of our situation, each expression a reflection of the weight of the information we had uncovered.
"What have you found?" I broke the silence.
"Tokito, Sabito," I addressed them, my voice steady despite the turmoil within.
Tokito, with his keen eyes and meticulous nature, unfolded a map before him and pointed to various locations marked with small flags.
"We've identified several noblemen deeply involved in the conspiracy," he reported, tracing his finger along strategic routes.
"And just as you suspected, some of them manage to infiltrate the Northern Land, they're scattered across the land, each with their own alliances and motives."
"How did they manage to get through the Northern Lands, then?" Uzui interjected and pointed out the location of the Northern Territory.
"They cannot manage to cross align the borders" he added. "It is illegal."
Tokito only shrugged then continued. "Just as I was instructed to,"
"There are still noble families who resides in the North,"
I nodded.
"It is not impossible, if you look the other way." Himejima now interrupted.
"Some still feel a hatred towards the Tomioka Family." He finished.
Sabito now leaned forward, his brow furrowed in concentration. "... And Baron Kocho is one of them," he added with a grim tone.
"He's colluding closely with Count Douma, actively working to undermine your authority and tries weaken the general's position."
"You mean rallying?" Obanai looked shocked. "To eject the Tomioka family?"
The confirmation stung, though I had harbored suspicions for some time.
Still...
The betrayal from Shinobu's father cut deep, a personal wound amidst the broader threat.
"Continue monitoring their every movement." I stepped out.
"We need to know when they are striking."
"Aye!" Kyojuro saluted and smirked.
"And Kanae?" I prompted, my voice quieter now, filled with concern for Shinobu's older sister.
There was a moment of silence.
I looked at all of them, slightly puzzled...
Shinazugawa, who had been silently observing, stepped forward.
"Kanae is being used as leverage," he explained solemnly.
"She is the pawn right now."
"The Baron plans to marry her off to Count Douma, sealing their alliance and solidifying his hold over the Kocho estate."
Anger flickered within me, tightly controlled.
Fuck!
Kanae, a pawn in this dangerous game, her fate manipulated for political gain. It was a cruelty that resonated deeply.
"What of their broader plan to destabilize us in the North?" I pressed, needing a clear picture of the enemy's intentions.
What do that old bastard trying to do?!
Himejima, spoke next. "Other nobles have joined forces," he stated gravely.
"Their aim is not only to strip you of authority but to dismantle the stability we've worked so hard to uphold."
Silence once again settled heavily in the room, tension thick in the air as we absorbed the full scope of our predicament.
The clock ticked, each passing moment urging us towards action.
"We cannot afford to underestimate them, then..." I declared, my voice firm with resolve.
"Tokito, Sabito, continue gathering information coming from the capital."
"Uzui, prepare our forces." I ordered and tossed him a pile of keys.
"We must fortify our defenses and mobilize the Northern Military Force."
"Handle them." I smirked.
His expression changed and a wide smirk appeared his face. "That's why you're my favorite!"
"C'mon!" Shinazugawa interject. "Every time with this guy."
They now snickered yet nodded in agreement.
One-by-one, all of them walked out the room... leaving me in the war room.
Then—
Sanemi lingered in the war room after the others had left, his gaze fixed on the map spread out before him.
I watched him silently for a moment, knowing his brash exterior often concealed a deeper concern for those he cared about.
"Sanemi," I called, drawing his attention away from the markings on the map.
He glanced up; his expression guarded yet expectant.
"What's your take on Kanae?"
He suddenly opened up.
The mention of Shinobu's older sister often elicited a mix of emotions in Sanemi, from protective instinct to... unspoken guilt?
My brow shot up and looked at him.
Is he?
Sanemi's jaw tensed briefly as he noticed...
"Shut the fuck up."
"She's caught in the middle of this mess," he muttered, his eyes flickering with an intensity that mirrored my own concerns.
"She is being used." He uttered once more.
"I don't like it."
Right now...
I want to say something I know I shouldn't, but I chose not to.
Instead, I nodded, sharing his sentiment.
I only once talked to Kanae, she look just like Shinobu but she is actually the opposite of my wife...
She's too gentle and principled despite her upbringing, and right now she is entangled in a battle against her own father's ambitions.
It was a situation that demanded delicate handling, yet the stakes were high and time was not on our side...
Which makes everything more difficult.
My fist clenched at that thought!
"We'll find a way to protect her," I tried to assured Sanemi.
"She's Shinobu's family." I emphasized, smirking...
Sanemi nodded curtly, his features softening slightly with a rare display of gratitude.
Look at this fool.
"Yeah," he agreed gruffly.
With a shared understanding, we returned our attention to the map, silently plotting our next moves against the backdrop of looming conflict and personal stakes.
YOU ARE READING
Life of the Heir
FanficFOR HEIR SERIES #1 Shinobu Kocho, one of the daughters in Kocho House was obligated to marry Giyu Tomioka, the known cold and powerful Duke just to save their family's reputation. But not long enough after the wedding, her life began to change as sh...
