Onmyoji, a nobleman in Heian-kyo

Page 1127

"...At least wait until the day of the Sunrise Porridge to be this enthusiastic, okay?"

"Yes, if you want to experience the 'passion' of the maids in the Sewing Palace, please come with me, Kyosuke-sama."

"No need."

"Hum~"

Sei Shonagon slightly closed her eyes, let out two joyful guttural sounds, lightly tossed her long, beautiful hair, and turned to enter the Sewing Palace.

Kyosuke Kosaka watched Sei Shonagon's retreating figure and chuckled to himself.

I feel that this era is indeed very interesting.

In the palace, as long as pranks or wild antics are not too excessive, those in power generally don't bother to investigate and simply laugh it off.

Although it is essentially a cold, impersonal power center, it has some characteristics that surpass those of many other places.

"But if someone's status is just average, I doubt anyone would dare to do that kind of thing."

Kousaka Kyosuke secretly said again.

The women who were able to come to the palace to serve as ladies-in-waiting already had powerful backgrounds.

Even an ordinary-looking person may have bloodlines that can be traced back to royalty.

This kind of thing is not uncommon.

After all, if the royal family doesn't demote excess royal members to commoners, its expenses will only increase.

Ultimately, it will absolutely not be able to maintain a dignified appearance.

As a result, too many nobles were demoted to commoner status, and many even became ordinary commoners due to the decline of their families.

There are also many people with royal blood who only hold certain social positions.

For example, the female officials in the palace.

Indeed, many of them are in this situation.

Using a porridge stick to drive away some lecherous men is not considered going too far.

It must also be said that...

The female officials in the palace possessed formidable fighting power.

If a real fight broke out, even ordinary male nobles might not be able to defeat them.

Especially when the female officials were armed.

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.

Kyosuke Kosaka quietly moved some distance away from the Seidon Dormitory.

If those female officials thought he was a lecher, it would probably reach the wives' ears very quickly.

In the end, gossip and information from the palace always managed to reach various residences through various channels.

If one doesn't have bad connections, then gossip and information about various noble families are shared among them.

At a certain moment, as if sensing something, Kyosuke Kosaka unconsciously looked towards the door.

A black-haired girl holding a porridge stick appeared by the door.

The black-haired girl looked at Kousaka Kyosuke silently, seemingly not intending to say anything.

"..."

"I'm waiting for someone, waiting for someone, don't be impulsive!"

Kyosuke Kosaka hurriedly said.

As he spoke, he took several steps back.

The black-haired girl looked to be at most a junior high school student, her expressionless face showing no emotional fluctuation.

Kyosuke Kousaka wondered if he was being treated like a pervert.

"Isn't this just making excuses for those male nobles who are always spying?"

I have to mentally complain.

Kyosuke Kousaka retreated further and further.

He really didn't want to be chased around by a young girl waving a porridge stick.

That would mean losing all face.

I guess when there's nothing new to say in the palace these days, they'll use him as a source of amusement.

This kind of thing was actually quite common in the palace.

This must be avoided.

Step, step...

Several footsteps were heard, and the black-haired girl also retreated, shrinking to an inconspicuous side.

Was it frightened?

Or are you still planning a sneak attack?

Unsure of what was going on, Kyosuke Kosaka chose to "stay away".

"This vibe feels quite familiar."

Kyosuke Kousaka couldn't help but think to himself, "I'm ready to move quickly at any moment."

For a long time.

Sei Shonagon arrived with a girl who also had black hair.

This dark-haired girl looks more like a high school student.

She is larger than the average woman in both height and build.

But Kyosuke Kousaka knew very well.

The girl named Ayase Aragaki is the same age as her stepsister.

And she doesn't look like a second-year junior high school student at all.

Kyosuke Kosaka also knew that Ayase Aragaki, like his stepsister, worked as a magazine model and dressed just as fashionably as her.

Their relationship is so good that they could definitely be described as best friends.

For this reason, Kyosuke Kosaka has no intention of meeting Ayase Aragaki in the real world.

Other friends related to her stepsister are also included.

After all.

He is a loner.

In school, regardless of the stage or class, they are marginalized.

I haven't seen any bullying incidents in anime series.

At most, he'll just become a nobody like Hachiman, someone with little presence.

That's why Kyosuke Kosaka doesn't really want his stepsister's friends to know him.

Having an ordinary older brother shouldn't be anything to brag about, right?

"Lord Kyosuke, have you had your porridge yet?"

Sei Shonagon, who had brought Ayase Aragaki with her, asked with a smile.

Kyosuke Kosaka shook his head: "Thanks to you, I can wait until the full moon of next year to taste the porridge."

—On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, there is a festival offering of "Wangri porridge". On that day, old women from all over the country and female officials in the palace would play around with porridge sticks and act recklessly. It was not impossible for nobles and officials to get hit by the stick.

This must be one of the most fun things to do in the palace.

At this moment, Sei Shonagon was playing on this "meme".

It seems that people in ancient times also enjoyed using internet memes.

"I'll cook porridge for you next time."

"I'm really looking forward to it."

"Okay, let me introduce her. Her name is Ayase, which is a very rare surname~"

"Kyosuke-sama... my name is Hata Ayase."

After Sei Shonagon began her introduction, Ayase Aragaki immediately bowed again and introduced herself.

The girl bowed respectfully as soon as she approached Kyosuke Kosaka.

This is the second bow.

But what surprised Kousaka Kyosuke even more was Aragaki Ayase's surname.

"Separated from the main family?"

"Yes, Lord Kyosuke, we became independent during the reign of Emperor Murakami."

"Oh dear, Ayase, could you at least let me keep you in suspense for a moment?"