Year of the Boar, Tenth Month, Day 14.

I had a long talk with Ryouko yesterday who actually used the word 'deranged' regarding her mistress. Deranged... my initial reaction was not to rebuke Ryouko for speaking ill of the woman who keeps her employed... no... my reaction was to think that 'deranged' is not a word a maid would likely use and to wonder in who else's employ she could possibly be... Perhaps spending time with Yuika with all her talk of plots and machinations is having more of an effect on me than I had thought... However, I realised quickly that Ryouko was equally unlikely to be quite that honest if she did not think that I could be trusted and have concluded therefore, that I can probably trust her. She is an interesting girl; not as earthy as Nanami although she is just as blunt. It seems she is the youngest in a long line of women who have served at Dying Crane for generations although, I suppose unsurprisingly, she has ambitions of which her mother disapproves. Perhaps I will take her with me when I leave for Purple Lightning; it would be good for me to have a travelling companion...
If Ryouko is able to ensure that Yuika eats and takes some fresh air each day, perhaps Yuika will be some way to being prepared for the delegation which is due to arrive. Once I had finished discussing matters with Ryouko this morning, I gathered all of the Diplomats together. None of them were particularly happy about being summoned but I am not overly concerned about their feelings at this juncture. Preparations for the delegation have not even begun and with the arrival of a messenger to let the House know that Princess Rani will arrive ahead of schedule, I felt the need to take matters firmly in hand.
There are so many things to arrange that I had not even considered, not least of all ensuring that we have enough bedchambers for the Rani's entourage. I have discovered today that although I was schooled in the ways of each of the nine Kingdoms and their languages, this did not extend to individual members of the Royal Households so we have no information about Queen Aasha, King Gulpinder or indeed, the Princess herself. Perhaps it is worth sending someone to see if the scouts are still lurking about the border; they may be able to give us some useful information. In the meantime, I shall spend some time in the library...

Year of the Boar, Tenth Month, Day 13.

Yuika has already reneged on her agreement to eat properly and get some fresh air today. I am seething; mostly with myself for ever believing that I had made any sort of breakthrough but also with her. I just cannot understand how she thinks she is going to restore order if she refuses to engage in any attempt to help her. I intend to have a long conversation with Ryouko about this shortly and decide what is to be done.
The arrival of a bird from Aoki this afternoon should have done more to improve my mood since Aoki tells me that he has begun training another two birds which he will be able to send to Silent Thunder and Golden Harvest. Until now he has managed to maintain contact with my other agents by sending notes between the Houses but the birds will allow news to be sent faster and more frequently. He has made use of his annual holiday to go to meet Haru and Keita so that he can familiarise the birds with their targets. It is too bad that I am not in a position to have more birds trained to find me but until I am free to travel about and meet my agents in person again, this is at least a step in the right direction. I will have to find a way to compensate him for the extra effort he has made. I am sure that once I get over my fit of pique, I will be a good deal more grateful than I currently feel.