[Repost] Plus - Houki & Nobunaga
Part of this set of WIP Wednesdays
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"Kiniku, you are dismissed." Houki said calmly, the other maids around her gasping in horror.
"…What?" the maid before her, growled.
"I am no longer in need of your services." Houki said, putting her hands in her haori sleeves. "I have spoken with the head maid as well as Lord Hideyoshi and they are more than willing to help you find other places of employment. I've tried to be amicable, but I do not think this arrangement is a good fit for either of us."
"You're being petty, Lady Houki."
"On the contrary, I would rather not have such hostility in Lord Nobunaga's castle. My other maids have expressed concerns and they are in agreement that here isn't the best place for you."
"Fancy way to say you don't like me."
"You have called me, quote, 'fat cow' and a 'pig' on various occasions to others you thought were companions, behind my back. While cows and pigs are lovely creatures, I would rather not be referred to as such."
"Can't deny what is true."
Houki sighed, closing her eyes as the other maids came to her defense. She held up her arm to stop them.
"That's enough, all of you. Kiniku, please leave this place before I call for the guards to remove you."
"Ha! You think you have power here? Just because your pathetic, weak ass got in with Lord Nobunaga, you think you're so high and mighty! You're nothing but a-"
"Enough." A new, deeper voice joined the conversation. The room immediately frosted over, the other maids lowering their heads. Kiniku looked in the direction of the new voice, terror soon entering her eyes.
"L-Lord Nobunaga!" She fell to her knees, her forehead touching the floor.
Nobunaga crossed his arms, a dark scowl marring his eyebrows.
"Your chatelaine has dismissed you. Leave."
"M-my lord! Please reconsider!"
"I have heard more than enough." His carnelian eyes were lit like twin blazes. "Leave my sight before I consider killing you myself, here and now."
"Spare her, my lord." Houki said, deadpan. "It would not be worth your time."
"You-" Kiniku growled.
"I'll leave first to let her gather herself." Houki said. "The rest of you know your duties."
"My lady!" the other maids scattered as Houki walked out of the room, Nobunaga following a few paces behind her. They walked in silence for a few minutes, finding themselves in the garden. Houki sat on a nearby bench, letting out a breath.
"Speak, Fireball."
"What is there to say? I was merely dismissing a maid as I no longer needed her services. Nothing more."
"She insulted you."
"It wouldn't be the first time someone has insulted me over my appearance, nor is it likely the last time.”
“You sound as though this has happened frequently.”
“In the past, yes. A lady that spends her days reading inspires a surprising amount of jealousy and animosity among her staff, I have found. It’s the strangest thing.”
Nobunaga laughed.
“Only you would see it that way.”
Houki looked at a nearby tree, the branches swaying in the wind.
“More likely, it’s because I’m a stranger here. Not everyone likes change. For a… foreign woman to suddenly appear out of nowhere and to have her suddenly accepted with little to no explanation how she came here or why the lord of the castle and his closest consorts suddenly are fond of her, it’s no mystery why there would be such rancor sown in the ranks, so to speak. Others dislike that I’m not as much of a weakling as my appearance would lead them to believe. In terms of strength of will, at least.”
Nobunaga hummed in agreement.
“You remind me of my younger sister in that way. Physically, she was of no match to any of us. Her strength of will when she wanted something, she was quite formidable.”
“Perhaps she learned from your fortitude?”
“Perhaps. It made her an annoying brat at times.”
Houki thought it best to not comment on that statement.










