Shin Uchiha looked at the two prettily dressed young girls in kimono and asked for one final confirmation.
"Uchiha Izumi, Uchiha Ye, do you truly want to come with me? Don't be afraid, and don't feel pressured. This is a decision that will affect the rest of your lives. Don't let the Elder sweet-talk you into it. If you make a hasty decision now, you won't have a chance to regret it later."
The two girls exchanged a glance at Shin Uchiha's words. In the end, Uchiha Izumi spoke, her face slightly flushed.
"Lord Shin, Ye and I are both doing this willingly. You're the pride of our Uchiha Clan. So many girls admire you, and Ye and I feel lucky to have this opportunity. Besides, from the time we've spent with you, we've realized how approachable you are. Unlike other important people, you treat even little maids like us with respect."
"And the Clan Leader's wife has told us about you too. She said that if we stayed with you, you would take responsibility for us, care for us, and cherish us. I believe in you, and I believe what she said. So Ye and I have already talked it over. As long as you don't mind that we're weak and a little clumsy, we'll entrust our futures to you."
Shin Uchiha hadn't expected Mikoto to have helped things along too. Hearing what sounded like a pledge of loyalty from Uchiha Izumi, he knew he would be taking these two girls in after all.
Sure enough, neither a banquet nor an invitation to tea came without strings attached. Shin Uchiha had never imagined that the Elder would still manage to pull one over on him in the end.
Shin Uchiha sighed inwardly, then looked at the Elder, who was