Well done, Amane! Kagaya had intended to berate her, but he suddenly noticed the sympathetic looks around him growing even stronger.
Now he felt even more confident!
Kagaya forcibly broke free and snapped at Amane, "How can you behave like this on such an occasion? Go back at once!"
"There's no need. Everyone can see how deeply your wife loves you. Besides, this nonsense about women and children not being allowed at the table is a feudal notion that ought to be abandoned. I'm not that particular."
Tetsuhiro stopped the women and children from leaving. "Add a few more seats for them beside Kagaya. Come on, everyone, squeeze in a little."
There were already plenty of people, and with Tanjiro and his sister joining them, the table was rather crowded. If they added another six people...
Kagaya asked respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, but this would go against propriety and the duties of a host. Your Majesty is an honored guest, and we have already failed to entertain you adequately. We cannot make matters worse. How about I have another table set up? What does everyone think?"
"Yes, Oyakata-sama is right."
"We mustn't neglect you."
With everyone urging him, Tetsuhiro did not insist, and Hiruzen and the others breathed sighs of relief.
It looks like rooting out old ways of thinking will be a long, hard road.
After all, these were habits they had grown up with, and observing proper conduct and etiquette was indeed something they ought to do.
Seeing that His Majesty agreed, Kagaya ordered another table set up behind them.
He quickly slipped back into character and continued his tragic performance from earlier, his voice gentle yet resolute. "Amane, I'm sorry for all the suffering you've endured over the years, for making you marry