I'm afraid of trusting people. I have been for as long as I can remember.
Is there a blade hidden in the robes of the man smiling at me? Is the hand held out to me a hand meant to drag me down? I couldn't trust anyone, not from the bottom of my heart.
And yet there was one.
One man I came to trust with all my heart.
—My sister's husband.
Azai Nagamasa.
A young warlord who governed Odani in Omi, the man who had taken my sister Oichi as his wife. Which made him my brother-in-law.
And he was simply a straight, good man.
Dutiful, sincere, without the faintest smell of a lie on him. Whenever we met, he'd look up to me warmly—"Brother, Brother"—and we could laugh together endlessly, talking swords, talking horses.
Me, who plays the Demon King in front of people, speaking low and final.
In front of Nagamasa alone, my shoulders would loosen without my noticing.
The world saw this match like this:
"Oda married his sister to Azai and cleverly drew the Azai of Omi to his side."
"Just what one would expect of the lord of Tenka Fubu. Even a marriage is a move in his schemes."
Schemes. A move.
Every time I heard it, I smiled wryly. It was nothing so grand.
I just wanted my sister to be happy. And, if I could, I wanted someone—just one would do—I could trust with no thought of gain or loss.
Nagamasa was a man who gave me both.
When I visited Odani, Oichi came out to greet me, beaming. My sister's face, smiling beside Nagamasa.
Every time I saw that face, I felt warm deep in my chest. In my life—afraid of people, unable to trust anyone—could there really be a sight so dazzling?
Pouring my sake, Nagamasa said:
"Brother. Whatever may come, I, Nagamasa, am on your side."
I believed those words without a shred of doubt.
I went and believed them.
Kicho watched me quietly from beside me. One night, she spoke softly.
"You're very fond of Lord Nagamasa, my lord."
"...Yeah."
I nodded honestly.
"He's someone I can trust. My sister seems happy too. He's a better brother-in-law than I deserve."
Kicho started to say something, and then closed her mouth. That her profile had clouded over, just slightly, as if worried.
At the time, I didn't notice.
I trusted Nagamasa. Less like a brother-in-law than like another little brother.
Me, so afraid of trusting people. The one person, the only time in my life, I unlocked my heart and let in. That was Nagamasa.
—Which is why, later.
When everything came crashing down.
I had no idea.
No idea at all how I was supposed to take it.