When he was three or four years old, Seiya had a brief, intimate relationship with the Matsudaira mother and daughter for a few months.
However, he was too young to retain any impression.
It was only later when his mother occasionally mentioned it that he managed to fill in some of the memories of that time.
After the age of four, his connection with the Matsudaira mother and daughter was maintained through letters, occasionally with accompanying photos of the two.
This gave Seiya a clear image of Aunt Nai and Sister Tachibana in his mind.
Unfortunately, the photos showed Aunt Nai and Sister Tachibana wearing court robes, which emphasized their dignity and extravagance but lacked feminine charm.
Today, the mother and daughter were transformed, wearing exquisite and elegant qipao dresses, concealing their cold authority and fully showcasing their graceful demeanor.
Seiya, seeing this for the first time, couldn't help but lose himself and stand rooted to the spot.
Megumai secretly shook her head.
They were just a pair of beautiful mother and daughter; for her son to lose his composure simply by looking at their appearance, wouldn't others look down on him?
She would have to put in effort in the future to significantly raise her son's threshold in this regard!
With a thought, Megumai smiled faintly and praised, "Separated for more than ten years, Madam and Princess, your elegance surpasses that of bygone years."
Matsudaira Nai smiled reservedly. "I am but a humble flower; I do not deserve such high praise."
Matsudaira Tachibana nodded in agreement. "Aunt Net's beauty is inherent. Even without makeup, it makes me feel ashamed of my own appearance."
While the three women exchanged compliments, Seiya finally regained his senses and lightly cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment.
At the same time, the maids in the outer hall quietly left, gently closing the hall doors.
Matsudaira Nai and Matsudaira Tachibana's personal maids gracefully retreated from the inner hall and stood by the rose-colored bead curtain.
Within the curtain, only the Tojo mother and son and the Matsudaira mother and daughter remained.
"Net, Seiya, please sit."
The mother and son walked to the chaise lounge on the right and sat down as requested.
The mother and daughter sat on the chaise lounge on the left.
The two families sat opposite each other across a tea table.
The design of the tea table was peculiar.
It was the right height, sufficient to block the sightline from the opposite side when looking down, effectively creating a private space below the knees, allowing for discreet and non-awkward small movements.
The four legs of the table were made of sandalwood, but the tabletop was reflective, transparent glass.
The sightline could easily pass through it, offering an unobstructed view.
This immediately made the cleverly designed height seem pointless.
However, Seiya was able to appreciate the scene below, which he hadn't seen earlier due to the angle.
Aunt Nai's and Sister Tachibana's calves were slender and firm, pressed together without a gap; their ankles were as white as porcelain, and their arches were delicate and soft; their toes were neat, and the nails were painted with a vibrant burgundy polish, which was quite eye-catching.
Seiya glanced away quickly, feeling little emotion.
He had seen plenty of delicate, beautiful feet.
His mother's, Yugito-sensei's, Samui-neesan's, Shion's, and Mikoto-neesan's. Each was beautiful and flawless.
He had even had intimate contact with some of them.
For example, with Mikoto-neesan's, grasping her foot and tickling her arch would make her body go limp.
Getting back to the main topic, Seiya faced the two pairs of beautiful feet with composure, even picking up his teacup and taking a slow sip of the exquisite warm tea.
He was puzzled about Aunt Nai and Sister Tachibana's situation.
It was understandable not to wear court robes in the private chambers, but why didn't they wear something more relaxed?
Instead, they were meticulously dressed in qipao dresses, all dolled up?
Well, that was somewhat understandable.
After all, his mother also occasionally took care to dress up at home.
Moreover, Aunt Nai and Sister Tachibana were meeting his mother today.
Women, no matter how much they complement each other, do not want to genuinely be overshadowed.
It was only natural for Aunt Nai and Sister Tachibana to put effort into their appearance.
However, the mother and daughter being barefoot was truly perplexing.
He and his mother were asked to wear slippers, so why didn't Aunt Nai and Sister Tachibana wear anything?
Given their upbringing, they shouldn't so openly display a distinction between host and guest.
Seiya couldn't figure it out and was very puzzled.
Consequently, he focused so much on these thoughts that he didn't pay much attention to the long-awaited intimate conversation.
Since his mother was present, he was just a junior; he only needed to respond occasionally and didn't need to be the main conversationalist.
...
He didn't know how much time had passed.
By the evening, Matsudaira Tachibana had ordered dinner to be prepared, inviting the mother and son to stay and eat with them.
So, the four of them ate dinner together harmoniously in the outer hall.
Then, after a heartfelt farewell, Megumai and Seiya followed the attending maid and left the Daimyo's Manor.
The streetlights were coming on, and the foreign scenery had a different charm.
Megumai linked arms with her son and leisurely strolled down the street.
Seiya thought back for a moment, finally asking in confusion, "Mother, didn't we come to discuss the mission today? Why do I feel like Aunt Nai and Sister Tachibana only talked about old times, and didn't mention the mission even once?"
Megumai smiled and countered, "Son, do you know how old your sister Tachibana is this year?"
"Twenty-four."
Seiya replied without hesitation.
After chatting all afternoon, he at least knew this basic fact.
"By aristocratic standards, this age is not young," Megumai said meaningfully.
Seiya frowned slightly, unable to see what the mission had to do with Sister Tachibana's age.
However, after his mother spoke, she remained silent, and Seiya knew that asking further would not yield an answer.
So, he switched to another lingering question.
"Why didn't Aunt Nai and Sister Tachibana wear shoes today?"
"What do you think?"
"I don't know."
"Then what was your most immediate reaction upon seeing their bare feet?"
"Uh... beautiful."
"That's right then."
"Just for beauty?"
Seiya found it unbelievable.
He had guessed many possibilities-such as bare feet being more comfortable on the carpet, or a hidden injury on their feet that made wearing shoes unsuitable-but he never expected the most direct one.
Seeing her son's surprised look, Megumai couldn't help but smile, changing the subject.
"Let's not talk about this. Let's go to the mall to buy some things. Mother has an idea of how to use Kurotsuchi in a plan."
"Okay," Seiya obediently replied.
Meanwhile, in the Princess's private chamber.
The maids stood guard outside the door.
Inside the rose-colored bead curtain.
Matsudaira Nai looked at the beautiful woman in the full-length mirror, whose figure was completely revealed, and complained playfully, "You girl, you wanted to wear a qipao yourself, but you insisted on dragging Mother into it! I was utterly mortified!"
Matsudaira Tachibana stood beside her and said plainly, "Mother couldn't wear court robes while her daughter wore a qipao, could she? That would be neither fish nor fowl; how would that look?"
"Decency? What decency is left!"
Matsudaira Nai huffed, turning to lightly poke her daughter's forehead.
"You girl, you've been willful since you were little! Wearing a qipao is one thing, but you also insisted on being barefoot and swapping the sandalwood tea table for a glass one! Your schemes have layers upon layers!"
"I don't understand these things. It was Grandmother who advised me," Matsudaira Tachibana replied plainly.
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