Chapter 122

"Noriko-sama?" the tall man said with a bow, appending the title of "lady" to her name rather than the more usual "san."

"Please don't be afraid," he went on. "I am a friend of your husband's. Yuta-sensei would not object to our meeting here, and alone."

Besides being quite tall, the man had deeply bronzed skin with a patina of green and wore what she knew was a frock coat in a deep, rich brown. That was cut to reveal the waist of his buff-colored trousers and a buckle that was shaped in the form of a dragon.

"I am not a lady, sir," Noriko said, for she was proud of her peasant roots and warrior past. While she had been called "Noriko-sama" in the castle, the title was not hers by right. "My name alone is proper. Might I be privileged to know yours?"

"Ryuujin!" The contralto voice floated over them like warm honey and seemed to emanate from the pocket of his coat. "What are you doing? You look a fool!"