Deception and Manipulation [part 1]

As breakfast proceeded, the members of the Ryushin family and the guests began to exchange knowing glances and looks of curiosity.

The ever-vigilant nanny approached me with a tray of local delicacies, offering me a taste of traditional cuisine.

"Try these," she said with a genuine smile.

"These are sweets and drinks that I'm sure you will enjoy very much."

Hearing this, I immediately accepted reflexively with curiosity, letting the soft texture and rich taste of the freshly baked sweet mix with the sweetness of the golden honey that the nanny had spread on top.

Then, the scent of the freshly baked sweet joined the aroma of the tea, which was carefully poured into fine porcelain cups.

The sweet and rich flavors blended with memories of a past that felt like mine, yet I had not lived.

Where every bite was a dive into a story that belonged to me yet was foreign to me.

"How did you sleep?" she asked in a sweet voice, as she sat down in front of me, her hands gracefully resting on the table.

"Very well, thanks to your care," I replied, smiling and sipping the tea, whose flavor was savored by my taste buds, and a pleasant feeling of well-being spread through my body.

Breakfast continued in a serene atmosphere, despite the whispers that intensified around us.

The voices overlapped in a chorus of curiosity and speculation, because of which we had to interrupt our conversation.

At that, in fact, the nanny gently placed the tray down and approached, lowering her voice to a confidential whisper.

"It seems that your presence has stirred up more than a little chatter," she said, casting a quick glance towards the other diners.

"But don't worry, they're just curious to know who you are, since usually only members accepted by the family to be part of it, rest here."

Saying that, she took a pause to let me assimilate the information and continued saying:

"But the fact that you are so young, makes people doubt that you are an accepted member of the family. So, there are only a few options left for them."

Hearing that, I finally understood.

I then understood the weight of her words.

"I am here because I am a Ryushin," I said calmly.

"Whether my bond is direct or collateral, or whether I descend from a vassal family. My presence is not by chance, but part of a larger design that will soon be clear to everyone."

With these words, I stood up, letting my gesture speak as much as my words.

The nanny nodded in approval, and the others, still in silence, seemed to contemplate the weight of my words.

The dining room filled with a silence charged with expectation as I stood up, the words still hanging in the air.

The nanny followed me with her gaze, a mix of pride and apprehension in her eyes.

"My story," I continued, "is intertwined with that of the Ryushin family more than you can imagine. And while my past may be shrouded in mystery to you, my future is here, within these walls."

I approached the window, letting the sunlight illuminate my face.

"I do not ask to be accepted without questions, but to be judged for my actions and my commitment to the family."

A whisper of approval rose among those present, and some nodded, as if my words had found an echo in their thoughts.

"Now, if you'll excuse me," I said with a nod, "I have commitments to honor."

With a determined step, I headed towards the exit of the room, feeling the gazes of the Ryushin family members and guests on my back, a weight I carried with dignity.

And so, I managed to avoid further questioning for the moment, since I had managed to invent things in such a way that it seemed I was letting my actions speak for me when in fact it was not so at all.

My ability to persuade had been put to the test, but I had successfully navigated the turbulent waters of speculation and suspicion.

With measured words and a confident demeanor, I had shaped the perceptions of others, letting them believe they had intuited the truth about my identity.

The truth is I didn't even know who my real parents were and what positions they held within the family.

My strategy was simple but effective: provide enough truth to be credible, but leave room for imagination to create an aura of mystery.

I had chosen my words carefully, avoiding specific details that could be verified and refuted. Instead, I spoke of blood ties and intertwined destinies, abstract concepts that evoked respect and curiosity without committing to a precise narrative.

"I revealed nothing that could be directly contested," I reflected.

"I let their minds fill in the gaps, guiding them towards a story they wanted to believe. A story that painted me as an enigma, a potential ally or threat, depending on their perspective."

It was a game of power, a ballet between light and shadow, where every move was calculated to maximize effect and minimize risk, where truth and fiction intertwined.

With an enigmatic smile, I added:

"Sometimes, the best way to hide something is to put it in plain sight, veiled by an illusion of transparency. And now, as they continue to seek answers, I can pursue my true goals without obstacles and focus on them immediately."

"In this way, I maintained control of the situation, gaining time to discover the truth about my heritage and prepare for future moves."

My existence within the Ryushin family was like a delicate game of chess, where every piece and every move had to be calculated with precision.

And to win this game, I had to find the information I was looking for about my parents.

In this way, if their position and reputation were high enough, it was possible for me to obtain benefits using their renown.

Although this would not always work, since fame, reputation, and titles in themselves do not guarantee real respect or influence.

And, they do not guarantee safety either.

Therefore, to always succeed, or at least often, in my intent I had to be always one step ahead of the others, anticipating their moves and adapting my strategy accordingly.

Where I must be both the player and the pawn, moving on the board with intention and purpose.