Chapter 001

Chapter 1.

It was nightfall in Binomae prefecture with no lights on in any of the houses but it was unusually bright and beautiful. The moon hung low and seductively in the dark violet-blue sky, shedding its light on a black slave who was out by a stream doing the laundry of her owner's household.

This black slave was an illegitimate child of her owner, Lord Kaneko. Lord Kaneko had taken fancy to a black slave woman that was brought with his merchant brother, Kaneko Sora, from his trips to the east. The beauty of this black woman was exotic, unlike anything he had seen and lust overcame him and he took her from his brother and went into her, and she conceived and bore him a girl.

The girl, however, looked nothing like lord Kaneko except for her fair skin which was still not as fair as lord Kaneko's, so he was able to deny her when his wife questioned him about it. Because of her delicate identity, she was often mistreated and made to do jobs even the lowest of slaves in the Kaneko household would refuse to do. Like tonight, she was made to do the laundry when everyone else was asleep but she didn't mind, as long as she was alive she had hope. That was what her mother always told her.

This poor slave was named Kaoru by some kind servant who wasn't revolted by her, they said she had this sweet smell that made people comfortable around her. Her mother called her Keon while the first young master of the household called her Yami. She decided she loved Kaoru more and adopted that as her given name. They often marvelled at how she was able to smile despite going through so much in lord Kaneko's household.

After a few more hours, the sun shed its first rays on Kaoru who was still at the edge of the stream, she was washing the last of the clothes when the other servants saw her.

'Isn't that the ever joyful Kaoru' a maidservant her age by name Ayame sneered at her, 'what are you doing at the stream so early? Oh! Don't tell you've been here since yesterday!'

However, Kaoru just smiled at her increasing theatrics, 'good morning, Hinata-san, good morning Haru-san' she greeted the older maidservants and went on her way.

On getting back to the Kaneko residence she hung the clothes in a hidden place so that Ayame wouldn't ruin the laundry for her, she had learnt her lesson after suffering twice. It was almost six o'clock which meant Lady Kaneko would be expecting her bath to be ready.

Kaoru rushed to reheat the water. Thankfully, the maids had already boiled the water for the lady's bath, although it was slightly cold now so she had to reheat it. She then added some herbs and tonics to the bath water and called the Lady to have her bath.

'This is the reason why I keep you around' lady Kaneko said to her once she had gotten to the bathhouse. 'You inherited your mother's skills with herbs, and surprisingly, it has kept me looking like I'm thirty even though I'm well into my fifties' she shot her a glance, 'you'd better keep it up if you want to stay in one piece.'

'It is my honour to serve you, my lady' Kaoru responded servilely.

'Scurry along, and get maidservant Nomura for me' lady Kaneko dismissed her. Of course, she had a ton of housework to do.

On her way to get maidservant Nomura, she heard some alarming gossip. The last young master Kaneko was returning to the residence today. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't return when maidservant Nomura flicked her head for acting so disrespectful, it wasn't as if she could have done anything if she wasn't lost in her thoughts.

That bastard young master had always tried to have his way with her but the only thing protecting her was her identity as the illegitimate daughter of lord Samurai Kaneko, surely one would have some misgivings about having illicit relationships with one's sister, right? But that was barely holding that bastard back. She needed to get into serious trouble to be sent away fast!

'Kaoru-san…' Hinata-san, one of the older maidservants she met this morning called, snapping her out of her reverie, 'you looked troubled, is it because of last young master?' she gave her a knowing look and she nodded.

'Don't worry, the first young master is coming with him.'

Kaoru was still worried, there was only so much the first young master could do for her. Lord Kaneko has three sons followed by one daughter, excluding her. The first young master Yuukou was a one-star general in the Daio's army, the second young master Yuuta was a commander in the same army while the last/third young master was a renowned scholar highly favoured by women, little do they know about his dirty attitude. The first young lady Kohana was fifteen, three years younger than her and a vile creature. Her favourite pastime was ordering her around and torturing her, the only thing she had the privilege to learn from her was how to play the shamisen and read and write because her maids can't be "incompetent and illiterate".

Since then she had a slightly favourable impression of this younger half-sister of hers and tried as much to help her with anything she wants, even when it was detrimental to herself.

After racking her brain for a while she came up with a plan to destroy first lady Kohana's favourite shamisen, this action would surely banish her to Amaterasu's shrine in Hirubara.

'Kaoru!' a maid called her, 'first young master demands your presence in his quarters.

'What?!' Kaoru exclaimed, 'he's already back? That means the third young master is back too, oh that bastard!' she stood up to her to master Yuukou's quarters but the maid stopped her and handed her a parcel.

'He says you have to wash up and wear this before coming'.

She opened the parcel to reveal a green silk kimono with beautiful patterns on it, there were all sandals and jewellery fitting for the kimono, why would he give this to her?

There was only one way to find out. She had to go there.