Thoughts were galloping through my mind like bolting horses, their hooves pounding against the mush of my brain.
What just happened?!
Should I believe my eyes?
Was Aiko's story true?
If it was true, then was it possible that Keiko… was… my sister?
Sister! Then not only was I inside my sister, not only had I just showered her womb with my cum for the umpteenth time, but I had also made my sister pregnant.
Keiko is my sister!
I finally zoomed in on her eyes, staring at me in total confusion.
My sister is carrying my child!
I was about to tell her what was going through my head, but then I stopped myself.
How could I possibly tell her? She's such a good-hearted, sensitive girl. Finding out the truth might completely crush her. Would she have the will to live after such a revelation?
"What is it, Taro-dono?" she asked me in the meantime. "Did something happen?"
"I… I had a very odd vision," I stuttered.
How could I have been so blind? How had I failed to see the truth, the one thing that should have been the clearest to me? Sister! Keiko must be my sister... Now it was so obvious why I felt so conflicted about her from the very beginning!
"A vision?" she kissed me on the lips, concerned. "It must've been something really bad, Taro-dono. You looked terrified. What was it? Tell me."
I caressed her hair, trying to pull my cock out of her.
She resisted. "Let me make you feel better," she purred, pulling me closer instead. "Don't worry about a thing, Taro-dono, when you're with me."
I felt horrible. I was a horrible human being. A monster, in fact.
"I'll be fine, Keiko. Everything will be fine."
Fine! How could it all be fine? Our mistakes were irreparable. My mistakes!
In the morning, I summoned Takumi. I couldn't sleep well – I don't know whether I slept at all. Gnawing doubts were preying on my mind. Among them, there was a sudden thought of my father. Did he know that Keiko was his daughter? Was that why he brought her into his place?
Was that why he wrote I should never let her leave this house?
"Takumi," I asked my chamberlain when we were alone at last. "I count of your complete discretion. What I'm about to ask you shall never leave your lips. No one should ever know I even asked you this question."
"Very well, master," he bowed, his eyes alert.
"Did my father ever have sex with Madam Keiko?"
A trace of something that might have been a blush appeared on Takumi's face. "Master?"
"Did you ever hear my father having sex with Madam Keiko?"
He frowned slightly. "Your lordship, it would be beneath my station to listen at the doors and windows. Whenever your father had amorous desires, he satisfied them in complete privacy of his bedroom."
I shook my head, growing more impatient. "Takumi, this isn't the right time to discuss the moral code of the Matsuda household. I have no doubts in your tact and discretion." He bowed, but I raised my finger to indicate that I was staying on my point. "But – but I must know the answer. I can't stress how important your answer is going to be. Did they or did they not have sex?"
"Master…"
I folded my arms. "Not buts, Takumi. Tell me what you know."
He sighed. "Master, if you really must know, I have never heard anything that would lead me to believe they made love. That doesn't mean they didn't…"
"I understand," I interrupted him. "But you heard him with others?"
"Yes," he admitted dryly.
"For example, with Madam Haruko?"
I detected a semblance of a grin. "Certainly."
"You're sure?"
"Unless Madam Haruko acted out her ecstasy. Which I think was unlikely."
I considered. "You're probably right. She's kind of loud."
"Yes, master."
I felt bad again. Then, was I the one who took Keiko's virginity? My sister's virginity… I looked out the window. How could the spirits allow this to happen?
Takumi waited patiently for me to address or dismiss him.
I sighed. "Tell me more about the time when Madam Keiko entered the household," I asked him.
Takumi cleared his throat. "As your lordship might remember, it happened soon after your mother had passed away," he replied, tentatively.
Damn! How can I tell him I wasn't here then?
"It was a very difficult period," I muttered. "I can't remember it well. Tell me, when did you first learn of her? Who recommended her to my father?"
Takumi lowered his head, apparently thinking. His thoughtfulness tended to drive me crazy at times, did I mention that already?
"I believe the first time Madam Keiko's name came up was shortly after your mother's funeral," he said slowly. "Your father, the late Lord, had mentioned that she was recommended to him by Lord Katsuya…"
I couldn't help but shudder.
"Lord Katsuya!" I exclaimed.
Takumi raised his gaze. "Yes, I also found it odd, master. Your father had always been at odds with the Shiroyama clan. Especially when your mother…" He halted abruptly.
I pressed him. "When my mother–what?"
He chewed his lower lip. "When your mother was alive."
Did I mention that I also disliked Takumi's persistent political correctness?
"Takumi, let's be straight with each other," I said, frowning. "What do you know about my mother and Lord Katsuya?"
The chamberlain didn't even blink, meeting my gaze. "Only that they were in correspondence regarding the access rights."
Yeah, yeah, the damn timber of the Shiroyamas… I remembered that story…
"Which my father had been against. And yet they introduced Keiko to him?" I snorted. "That doesn't make any sense!"
Takumi nodded, keeping his silence.
"It seems like a visit to the Shiroyama's is called for," I uttered. I knew full well that Takuma would offer an opinion on the idea. However, in this instance, I was wrong. He didn't. Just kept his mouth shut.
I took it as a sign of agreement. "Get the horses ready," I told him.
"Yes, master."
He left, and I squeezed the handle of my sword. I was finally about to meet my family's nemesis!