Chapter 24: Taking a step
After applying the ointment to Haruka's thumbs and the rest of her fingers Ane bandaged them one after the other with a piece of neat cloth before packing up everything and standing to her feet.
Turning to face Ito Hana, she bowed slightly with her hands clasped below her lower torso.
"My Lady, it's done," she announced.
"You may leave," Hana ordered calmly, allowing her to go back to her work.
Haruka was so immersed in her thumb that she didn't even know when the maidservant left. It was not until she heard the sound of the door closing that jolted her from her thoughts.
Hana, noticing that she was lost, inquired, "Why are you staring at your finger that way? Did Ane roll the cloth too tightly?"
"Mother, how am I supposed to go about with my finger like this, this will attract a lot of attention," Haruka complained.
Hearing that, her mother's ears perked up as she stared with raised brows, "Go where exactly?"
This was when Haruka realized that she has misspoken, and hurriedly shut her mouth.
She was still locked up at home and under watch, where could she possibly go? And who would have eyes on her apart from the servants in her home?
She must have been delusional.
Since she didn't dare to bring up the matter again, Hana also let it go before asking her to quickly pick up her needle to continue with her work.
"Even with my injured finger?" Haruka grumbled as she unhurriedly picked up the needle and the piece of cloth.
Staring at the ugly work she had, Hana shook her head disappointedly.
She was blaming herself internally for not raising her daughter right.
How could a young girl her age not know how to sew? What would happen if there was a need for this skill in the future?
That would surely be problematic and shameful to their family for not raising a daughter right.
Having looked at this predicament from all angles, she came up with the best solution, and that was to drill her daughter into every skill she needed as a daughter, a wife, and a mother.
Letting out a sigh, Hana gave her order, "When you finish sewing the edges, I will inspect your work, and then you can have some food."
However, Haruka did not react instead she stared intently at the things in her hands.
She too heaved out a long sigh that escaped her lips in an unladylike manner before her hands began to work.
'I don't even see the need for this when wielding a sword is so much easier.'
About two hours later, Haruka was done with her work. Howbeit, being in a messy state, she got a good round of scolding before she was allowed to put something in her stomach.
Lying down on the futon and staring at her numb fingers, she suddenly heard her mother calling for her.
"Haruka, come out, it's time to prepare lunch!"
"Aish!" Haruka exclaimed unhappily as she rolled on her stomach and kicked her legs about.
Burying her face inside the soft bedding, her palms flew to the side of her face to shield it.
It was time for another skill drilling. And this time around, it had something to do with cooking.
When Hana waited for a moment and did not hear any response or any signs of movement from the room, she called out again in a loud voice.
"Haruka!"
Hearing the tinge of annoyance in her mother's voice, Haruka turned on the bed before propping herself up.
Sitting up on the futon, her lips pouted as her annoyed gaze turned toward the shut translucent sliding door.
Knowing that each task for the day was tied down to putting something in her stomach, she felt her heart bleed.
Sadly, she was left with no other choice but to rise from the bed before stepping out of her room.
Over the next few days, Haruka suffered while being forced to learn skills she was not interested in, while Naoki on the other hand, continued to make several potions.
There were many things Naoki had to care for which concerned the medical store he was running and his retainers.
Surprisingly, all these required him to make several potions to meet the urgent needs.
Today, being the seventh day of Sato Naoki's awakening, Daisuke has been pacing up and down in the large library with a distressed look on his face since the early hours of the morning.
Coming to the open path that led to the Rabo, he paused in his steps and thought, before continuing to pace about. 'When does he plan on coming out?'
His Master has been inside for 7 solid days with probably no plans of coming out.
But Naoki wasn't the only one who has been occupied. His righthand man has also been busy running some errands.
Surely, he needed some ingredients for the several potions he was making, and someone had to go get anyone he needed.
Looking out through the open sliding window to see the rising sun, the corners of Daisuke's lips tugged downwards as his entire face was smeared with worry.
Suddenly, he shuddered and stopped in his tracks at Naoki's voice that thundered from the Rabo located underground.
"Will you stay a place or leave!"
Instantly, Daisuke's gaze darted around the room, and finding a chair nearby, he went to sit over there, not daring to utter even a word of apology.
He just knew that his Master had exhausted his patience, and any more mistakes on his part, would land him in trouble.
He just knew that the next thing Naoki would do would be to grace him with his fearsome presence.
Imagining his Master suddenly appearing in front of him without warning in an angry state, he felt his heart race against his chest.
It was truly hard serving this great Immortal.
After a few minutes has passed, Naoki made a grand entrance into the study, when he suddenly appeared with a wave of air, announcing his coming.
Immediately, Daisuke rose to his feet and offered him a silent bow.
Stretching his right hand out, Naoki revealed a pretty ceramic porcelain bottle with blue markings on the body.
Daisuke quickly reached out to receive it while listening to his instructions.
"Give it to Hana."
A look of surprise flashed past Daisuke's eyes. His Master wanted him to give the bottle to Hana so openly.
As surprising as that, it was not as terrible as what he should say to her while delivering it.
Thinking about his, he couldn't help but be a little flustered.
"The dye she uses on her daughter's hair can be easily washed out during a heavy downpour. This one I made can last for a year without losing its effect, come rain, come sunshine," Naoki explained.
Then gazing intently into Daisuke's troubled eyes, he asked, "Have I answered your questions now?"
Instead of responding, Daisuke threw back another question with a doubtful gaze.
"Master, is it okay to give Lady Ito an idea of your identity? Surely, she would begin to suspect how you came to know about this little family secret."
Naoki's gaze remained unbothered as he replied, "It is good to leave her with the ideas, and the earlier the better since she deserves to know a little about the man she would be marrying her daughter off to."
With the look in Naoki's eyes, one could tell how very confident he was with his plans while having the mindset that nothing could go wrong.
He might have trusted Hana, a mere mortal for a reason otherwise, he wouldn't bother to take a bold step this soon.
And no matter how Daisuke tried to look at it, it seemed like he was getting ready to reveal his identity bit by bit.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone