Chapter Text
The sparkling presence of Miss Eijun Sawamura, the sole child of the Sawamura clan of Nagano, is an invariable source of comfort and keen pleasure for the residents of Akagi Hall and its environs.
The young Miss Sawamura was born with the advantage of gentility, having descended from an aristocratic grandfather (an earl) and being sole heiress to all the wealth and lands comprising half of Nagano due to the industry, financial brilliance, and spectacular luck of her adoring father.
She lives, however, with the unpleasant stain of having owed some of their wealth to the business of trade which in polite society is heavily scorned and frowned upon, compounded by the reality of her parents’ unsanctioned marriage.
Her maternal grandfather had, more than two decades past, upon discovery of an attachment between his youngest daughter and a wealthy tradesman, fervently spurned the match and forbade her from ever coming into contact with the impudent man, convinced in the ignominy that such a connection might bring.
The Lady Yuriko, nevertheless, found her ardor for her low-born suitor much greater than her regard for society’s conventions and her father’s displeasure, and so, urged by unbridled passions, the couple eloped.
The earl, having been belatedly informed of the act, went into a fit of rage so extreme that he promptly disinherited his daughter and cut her off completely, prohibiting his wife and other children from further contact with the offender.
Tokyo society, once apprised of the lady’s shameful conduct, barred her from the ton.
The newly-wed couple were indifferent to the storm of reactions and retired to a life of enjoyment at the Nagano countryside in a small, patrimonial estate with the elder Sawamura.
Three years later, their marriage proved fruitful with the birth of a daughter.
Only then, however, did they grasp the repercussions of their scandalous alliance, discerning the blemish that their indiscretions may fall upon their baby daughter’s chances for marriage and happiness.
Therefore, Mr. Sawamura, with the aid of an unexpected and substantial inheritance from a close relative, prudently invested some of his riches in government bonds, bought several properties in Tokyo to let, purchased land to expand his estate and turned his attention to agriculture in his attempts to shed the smear of trade and establish himself as a true country squire.
The Lady Yuriko, meanwhile, dedicated herself to her daughter’s care and education, hiring several tutors and a governess to instruct the young child in reading, writing, languages, needlework, music, geography, mathematics and history. She also took great pains to ensure her daughter is well-versed in the art of music and deportment.
The effect of such a strict education, however, did not dampen the child’s spirits nor made her somber and soulless as such a stringent instruction often occasioned, for the family made sure to nurture the child’s inquisitiveness and also fulfilled her want for fun.
The young Eijun grew up to be a rambunctious and carefree child, fond of adventures, mock swordfights, and playing pranks on everyone in Akagi Hall, especially her paternal grandfather—the fiery Eitoku Sawamura. But her gentle and kindly soul shone through in her rescue of animals and in her deep and inexplicable empathy for her father’s tenants, servants, and strangers alike.
Thus, Miss Sawamura spent her years with very little to distress or vex her, secure in the surety of her parents’ brimming affection, her paternal grandfather’s fondness, and the unerring devotion of the estate’s inhabitants.
With an amiable mind and a happy disposition, she cultivated profound friendships with their neighbors and it is her abiding friendship with Miss Aotsuki, recently the Marchioness of Chiba, which occasioned her entry to polite society.
It has been her mother’s long-standing wish to see her launched successfully into Tokyo society where she would be at liberty to choose an appropriate husband.
In her quest to attain this objective, the Lady Yuriko had repeatedly attempted to reconcile and correspond with her family, but her father remained coldhearted and unfeeling to her plight and uncaring of his granddaughter’s future which considerably disheartened her.
Her expulsion from the family left her with no friends and no relations while her husband’s humble origins left him with no significant connections.
Three years ago, she had ventured to procure invitations for a house party whilst in Tokyo, but in the face of her disgrace and the extent of her father’s pervading influence, no one would dare admit her.
It had been an unpleasant and distressing affair, and only her husband’s steadfast assurance of love and constancy, and the pleasure of being his wife and Eijun’s mother scattered all emerging thoughts of regrets about their ill-conceived union.
The abrupt death of her father last year and the Marchioness’ missive, therefore, which contained the young lady’s hopes of relishing in her dear friend’s company at their Tokyo townhouse for the season, rekindled her hopes and set her ambitions ablaze.
Beautiful, vivacious, and shockingly forthright, her daughter is sure to take the town by storm.
Sawamura family's estate: Akagi Hall[ Real: Mamshead House]
