"Nozomu-san?" I called him out as we walk outside the palace. The latter looked back at me while he is eating a dango that he just bought a few minutes ago. "Why do I have to wear this peasant* clothing outside?"
I am now wearing a less expensive kimono and less comfortable garment used to make this clothing. As I inspect my kimono, Nozomu laughed at me. In confusion, I lifted my head and looked at him.
"It is because you are the daughter of the next Shogun, a royal, Rin-chan" He said.
"I think I was not able to understand your statement Nozomu-san."
Nozomu gestured to come closer to him. I responded him by approaching. The moment I was standing near my samurai, he gave the other dango to me.
"Look at these peasants, what will these people do if a princess came to this dirty and noisy place?" He asked. I looked back at him, not really sure what to answer. "These people will bow their heads to respect a member of the royal family which is you Rin-chan. And that's really boring." he added.
"But I think it is right to bow whenever you see a royal family before you. I hope these people were taught very well." I replied, confidently standing before the noisy street of my city.
"No!" He took the dango from me and ate it. "I am pretty sure that you won't be able to enjoy your walk if everyone is doing that." He paused for a moment as he try to chew the dango in his mouth. "That is why I made you wear those cheap clothing."
Well this guy has a point. Come to think of it, this is the first time that I am not getting any attention. No one knows who I am right now and how high my status is. I somehow smiled at him and snatched the remaining dango that he have and ate it.
"The food in the palace is more delicious than these." I teased at Nozomu as I walked away from him.
We walked around the place. He introduced a lot of people to me and informed a lot of places that I haven't been. I might be living in this small country called Japan but I don't really know a lot about the country that my family leads.
Finally we stopped in a small house. We entered inside and sat on the tatami floor. I looked around and noticed a lot of swords hanging on the wall. I patted Nozomu's shoulder softly and shortly got his attention.
"There are a lot of katana around here. Is this a house of a swordsman that you might know?" I asked.
"No." He replied. "This is the house of my favorite swordsmith. Our clan might have our own swordsmith but I only rely my katana to him."
"Are his skills really exceptional to have your choice towards him?"
"Well, that's one thing but it is because he listens to my stories."
I don't understand this guy.
"What kind of stories?" I continued to ask.
"About my little adventures and sometimes my little problems. He always listen to everything I tell him."
"He must be a kind person." I replied.
Nozomu paused for a moment, took out his katana from his sides and place it beside him.
"Something is bothering you right?" Nozomu asked me as he looked at me. "You seemed so distracted ever since this morning."
I stayed silent. No way that I will be talking about my dream to someone that I can even understand. At least not to him.
"Hamada-san will listen to everything that bothers you." He spoke again.
"Hamada...san?"
"It's the swordsmith's name. He's like a brother to me!"
Soon , someone went inside the house and noticed us. The man who is a little smaller than Nozomu smiled at him.
"Are you trying to introduce to me your new woman Nozomu?" The man probably in his 30s talked to Nozomu.
"Please don't include me to the people that had taken interest with this man. A princess is not suitable to a samurai." I retorted.
"A princess?" He echoed, obviously surprised. "Nozomu, did you bring the princess here you idiot?!"
"Hama-chan, we are just taking a walk."
"No one will bring a princess in a swordsmith's house!"
"I am the first one I guess." Nozomu replied as he chuckled.
The katana maker looked at me and bowed for a while. "If I knew that the daughter of the next Shogun will come, I should've prepared something."
"That is alright afterall we came here unannounced." I replied.
"May I know what should I do for Your Highness?"
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(*Peasant is what the Japanese call to middle-class people in the early era)
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