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Upon entering the mansion, we were led to a large room, and Hisashi and I sat down directly opposite Nobunaga.
Midway through, Kicho entered the room accompanied by two women who appeared to be Nobunaga's concubines, placed tea, sweets, and sake down, and then left.
His movements were very refined, as one would expect from the son of Saito Dosan.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
"Not at all, I'm actually sorry that I can only offer something so humble."
As Nobunaga offered me and Hisashi sake manju (steamed buns filled with sweet bean paste made from sake lees), he said:
"I never imagined my brother-in-law would come himself. I assumed he would send a messenger first to check on me and wait for a response before coming... but this is quite a surprise."
"I'm very grateful."
I bowed to my brother-in-law before responding.
"It was a youthful indiscretion born from my overwhelming desire to see my brother-in-law... Please forgive me."
"What are you talking about... You're a hopeless case."
Hearing Nobunaga let out a small laugh, I repeated myself.
"For now, I have gone ahead with just myself, so I believe the packhorse will bring any gifts later."
"Don't worry about it."
My brother-in-law said this while munching on a sake-filled bun.
"But I'm envious."
"What do you mean?"
"It means having a child with the city."
Nobunaga sipped his tea and muttered softly.
"My Kicho is..."
There's a certain melancholy about him.
I blurted out "It's okay" without thinking, and then hastily came up with the next words.
"If you're still in your 30s, you can easily do it."
"Hmm..."
"The 30s are arguably the most attractive period for a woman. Having experienced both the good and the bad, both mind and body have matured."
"—Your brother-in-law is a strange man."
Nobunaga's serious expression as he questioned me meant I had to prepare my next verbal bullet once again.
"No... or rather, I think my brother-in-law understands that too, don't you?"
"...What are you talking about?"
"It's not just about a woman being young. You should be with a woman you find attractive."
"That may be true."
I chewed the sake-filled bun and washed it down with tea...
Nobunaga let out a deep sigh.
"If you desire children, don't you think it's a little too late?"
Life is only 50 years long.
For people in this era, who have only a short time to live, their 30s are undoubtedly a time when they cannot help but become aware of the end of their lifespan.
That is clearly different from the worldview I had in my previous world.
"If you're in your 30s, it's not too late."
"...Hmmm"
In response to my statement, Nobunaga crossed his arms and tightly closed his eyes.
In the Sengoku period, daimyo families were also a society that desired children above all else.
Therefore, it was common for the principal wives to distance themselves from their husbands' beds as soon as they reached their mid-twenties, and for their husbands to recommend concubines.
What I'm saying is the exact opposite of that view of society.
"Let's put that aside for now."
Nobunaga let out a deep sigh, then opened one eye and looked at me.
"We must discuss what to do next. First, we will send a messenger from the Oda family to the Tokugawa family. Then, the Governor of Mikawa will come to Gifu with his entourage."
It seems I've jumped the gun.
"First, it will probably take four to five days for the Governor of Mikawa to arrive."
"Is it really that bad...?"
"You fool! There's no one else like you who can just decide to go to another country on a whim!"
Indeed, the daimyo families of this era were sustained by a delicate balance of power between themselves and their retainers...
If a daimyo left his castle, even casually saying, "I'm just going out for a bit," there was a possibility that an ambitious retainer could seize control of the base.
In that sense, I suppose I was indeed being thoughtless.
Actually, I'm currently building my own castle, so I'm staying at one of my retainers' houses.
"So, brother-in-law, what are you planning to do now?"
That's certainly true.
Is it really alright for me to stay at the Oda family's residence for the next three or four days?
But if I were to immediately say, "I'm going home!", I might just end up causing trouble for the Oda family...
That's quite a dilemma.
"If you're planning to stay the night...that's fine too."
Nobunaga said this and reached for the second sake bun.
I took one too and handed it to Hisa.
Then she began to eat, looking at both my face and Nobunaga's.
"If my brother-in-law says he's having trouble finding women, I'll arrange for someone suitable for him."
But I can't exactly ask my brother-in-law to take care of the younger necessities as well...
I decided to ask my brother-in-law a question.
"I can't possibly ask you to go that far... so would it be alright if I summoned Ichi and Osamu here?"
"...Are you out of your mind?"
Nobunaga's eyes gleamed as he asked a sharp question.
"Listen, think carefully... Can't you even imagine what would happen if I took your women hostage...!"
But, to be honest, it's not a problem for me at all.
"My brother-in-law would almost certainly never do something like that."
As I met his piercing gaze, so sharp it seemed to gouge deep into my soul, I responded by spreading my arms wide like a pacifist.
"He's your brother-in-law. He can't possibly take his own sister hostage and kill her now."
"..."
"Besides, the city would be pleased too, if they could talk to you directly instead of through letters."
Nobunaga looked up at the ceiling.
At that moment, Hisa hesitantly reached out and grabbed one of the sake-filled steamed buns from the tray.
It seems they liked it.
"My brother-in-law."
"yes"
"You're a fool, a complete fool!"
"That's perfectly fine."
I smiled back at Nobunaga, who was giving a wry smile, and said clearly.
"Especially in times like these, we must cherish our families. And that is the attitude that the head of the Asai clan should show to the Oda clan."
"...Hmm, hmm."
Nobunaga nodded with a broad smile and quickly stood up.
"Therefore, the Oda leader must also demonstrate that stance to the Asai."
"...teeth?"
My brother-in-law grinned as he looked down at us as we sat down.
"Kicho!"
"yes"
As Nobunaga shouted, the sliding door slid open slightly, revealing golden hair.
"Send a messenger to Lord Tokugawa. Also, we will have a banquet tonight. Prepare immediately!"
"Understood."
Kicho smiled faintly and asked Nobunaga:
"If you value your family so much, how about it? Shall I also invite Lord Nobutada and Lord Nobuo?"
"Were you listening? You're so tactless... Fine, I'll leave everything to you!"
Nobunaga shouted, slamming his hand down, and rushed out of the mansion.
"Come on, Renzen Ashige! We're heading to Omi now!"
"Squeak, squeak oooooon"
He probably wanted to be near Taishakutsukimo.
As I listened to the mournful neigh of the stallion, I bowed respectfully to my beautiful sister-in-law whom I had reunited with.