Samurai Love Ballad Party: A Series of Short Stories

Feverish Condition

MC x Tokugawa Ieyasu
Included: Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Rating: G

I'm walking with another maid down the hall when Lord Hideyoshi stopped me to ask something. I tell the maid it's okay and to go ahead.

"Good day,Lord Hideyoshi. I was on my way to the kitchens. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Well, yes. I was kinda wondering if you could help me with an experiment." He had a knowing look and a smile that, I felt, was hiding something behind it. I was hesitant to reply as I was on my way to make Lord Ieyasu his afternoon snack. I was about to tell him just that when another voice made me jump as it came sharply from behind me.

"Here we are again: the monkey trying to take what is clearly not his. I know you have retainers of your own, but do you truly covet such a useless wench as she?" The tone of Lord Ieyasu's voice was icy and felt like it was trying to skewer Lord Hideyoshi.

"Oh, come now, tanuki. Unless you had her running an errand, she's free to do as she will, isn't that right, [___]?" Lord Hideyoshi smiled brightly towards me as he held his stance against the bitter lord.

I'm standing there half gawking between the two as I would usually agree with him. However, since I'm one of Lord Ieyasu's retainers, I can't exactly pipe up right away unless I want a severe tongue lashing. It must have shown on my face because Lord Ieyasu was glaring at me in an icy way.

"You look like a deer that's been caught at the sharp end of my line of fire. Is that what you are?"

I shake my head quickly.

"So then you were idly waiting for some poor fool to come and pick you up for a date, it that it?" The loathing in that glare could freeze the hottest of hot springs.

"Th-That's not it at all!" That came out way louder than I wanted it to and my hands flew to my mouth to clamp it shut.

The smirk that grew, I swear, could cut stone. "Is that so? So... you were merely on your way to the kitchens to make my usual afternoon snack?"

"Yes!" Stupid voice and it's ability to squeak.

"Ieyasu, you're making it really hard for [___] to talk. See? She's squeaking like a little mouse." Lord Hideyoshi always has a way to describe things and, between that and how he was looking at me. I couldn't help blushing.

This only added to Lord Ieyasu's ire. He grabbed my wrist forcefully and began dragging me past the source of his ire. "How many times do I have to tell you not to allow yourself to be drawn away from your duties to me? Now you've caused me to hurt you. I'll have to find a punishment for you now."

I wasn't sure if I really wanted this to happen or not till I noticed we were heading to the kitchens. "Mi-Milord?"

"You're to make double the snacks since I'm now famished due to your lacking ability to stay on schedule. Then you'll..." The last part was kind of muffled.

"Milord? I didn't catch that la-"

"Feed me, you deaf dullard. If you think making me repeat myself is going to save you from being punished, you'll think twice once you've had it."

Was Lord Ieyasu blushing? Was he actually jealous of what just happened? I tried to hide the smile from my face as I was dragged into the kitchen, witnessed the other maids being chased out and then commanded to pack all the snacks I could make before we headed to the river. All the while, I listened to this man threaten more punishment if I looked at him or told anyone about his "feverish condition" that required my personal attention at a place that was meant to help relax him in his current condition. I hurried to do as I was told so I could tend to my duties and take care of his lordship's "feverish condition".