Page 62 of The Tainted and the Tamed
Haruki finished his cup. As he reached for the bottle, Tanabe seized it, as if she would pour for him. Instead, she held onto it.
“Don’t waste it,” she said. “Don’t waste that feeling of being human. You should be grasping it with both hands. You should be bringing that humanity back to the Diet, to remind them of what actually matters.”
Haruki combed his fingers through his disheveled ponytail. “Why does everyone keep telling me what to do?”
“Because it’s obvious to everyone but you.” Tanabe set down the bottle just out of his reach. “Ms. Mukai resigned today. I told her that if she was even an hour later, I wouldn’t have been able to accept. I’ve resigned my position as well.”
“What?” Haruki’s eyes widened. “Tanabe, you can’t.”
“Why can’t I?”
“The Diet—”
“Take care of it for me, then. Since you are so concerned with avoiding civil war.” She smiled weakly. “After I fled the country, I carved out a life of my own in Handeok. I learned the language, found work, rebuilt my life—and then it was all dashed to pieces when I was caught and dragged back here.”
Haruki’s stomach clenched. He’d had no idea. He’d never even asked her.
“I should’ve left a long time ago,” she said, “and gone back to pick up whatever pieces I could.”
“Why stay and clean up after me, then?”
“Because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to put those pieces back together again. And that if I couldn’t, I wouldn’t be strong enough to accept it.” Tanabe sighed. “I wonder whether you can relate.”
He could. All too well.
Haruki rubbed at his temple. “I need to return to the capital, don’t I?”
“Before the snow begins in earnest,” Tanabe agreed. “I’ve booked you a train ticket for a week from now, to give them time to clean and prepare your private car. I’ve also sent word to your housekeeper at your capital residence to have the house prepared and new servants hired. Mr. Uno is already packing to accompany you.”
Haruki’s nostrils flared. “You couldn’t resist running my life one last time, could you?”
Tanabe went on, ignoring him. “I told her to hire a lady’s maid and prepare an additional room, adjacent to yours, preferably.”
He stared at her, furrowing his brow. “Murasaki is leaving.”
“Then you must stop her. Her train doesn’t leave until early tomorrow morning.”
“It’s not that simple, Tanabe.”
The housekeeper held his gaze for a long moment, then asked, “But what if it was?”
Then I’d feel a fool for wasting so much time.
It couldn’t be that easy. Could it?
He mopped at his face. “I’m going to miss you, Tanabe.”
“Despite everything,” she replied, “I think I’ll probably miss you, too. Do good things, Chairman Asami. Good enough for me to hear about them from afar.”
Haruki couldn’t promise her that. But—
“I’ll try,” he said. Something almost like a smile warmed his face.
Chapter 27
Murasaki
It should’ve been a relief to dress in her regular clothes again. After months in a kimono, her midriff felt far too exposed. She hugged her coat a little tighter and knocked on the Setouchi’s garden door.
