Nightingale's Song Chapter One: A Slave for a Duel
In a far away land, there lived a king that was just and compassionate. His people adored him, but the love was not universal. One magician, jealous of the young king's good fortune, cursed him to look like a horrible beast. The princess that was to wed the king fled from his ugliness, and the enchanted ruler left his widowed mother to look after his people while he searched the world for one who could break the curse. He found one…
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"There! You look wonderful." Haru finished adjusting her mistress's kimono to flatter her. Princess Hiromi daintily stepped off the stool with relief, having stood on it for nearly half an hour while her friend fussed over her. Looking at herself in the huge mirror propped up on the wall, she twirled around to give herself a good look-over. Her silken kimono was a deep emerald green with golden leaves embroidered all over, and her hair was long enough to twist into the traditional style of her people. Her face was lightly powdered to accentuate her features, which gave her a star-stuck look.
"Once again, Haru-chan, you have worked magic. Tsuge won't be able to keep his eyes off of me."
Her favorite slave smiled warmly at the praise while cleaning up the scattered face powders and hair accessories. Her own kimono was sturdy gray cotton with a yellow edging, indicating her status as a personal slave to the Imperial Princess. Her only decoration was a polished steel ring around her neck, a special engraving on the center of it. Her dark brown hair was pulled back with a thin cord. The princess twirled around in front of the mirror before addressing her slave again.
"I know how you like to watch my brother fight challengers, but after your behavior yesterday, you'll have to miss this year's competition."
Haru hung her head in humility, her cheek stinging from the remembered slap.
"I have some mending to catch up on anyway. Enjoy yourself, Highness."
Hiromi nodded and left her dressing chambers, her slave still bowing on the ground as silent tears began to flow.
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"Ah, Hiromi!" The emperor embraced his daughter before entering the royal box. "Are you excited for the festival, my dear?"
The imperial princess nodded enthusiastically as she took her seat and started looking for her favorite samurai. He was talking with her brother, Prince Machida. Hiromi's heart faltered when she thought of her favorite slave, who secretly admired him. But a union between a crown prince and a slave, not even of known heritage, could ever be. This is even truer, concerning the fact that the prince didn't appear to be aware of Haru's existence outside of being a shadow next to his twin sister.
"Are there any challengers this year?" It was a tradition in the empire for the finest samurai to accept challenges from all who wished to test their skill on the summer solstice celebration. If they won, they could name any prize they wish, even marrying into the royal family. But if they lost, they would be bound to the emperor's service for ten years.
"Three have issued the challenge already, and I expect one or two more at the least. These fighters just can't accept that my son is unbeatable." The emperor's face glowed with pride as his heir stepped into the arena, the surrounding people shouting his name. He nodded coolly at them, causing several women in the same direction to swoon. He glanced at the challengers and snorted in contempt.
All three were covered with daggers and scars, undoubtedly roadside bandits that wanted a crack at the royal treasury. According to tradition, the three drew straws to determine who would be first, and the one with a single ear won. At least, he won the drawing; he barely survived the match. His two companions fared no better, barely able to be taken off the arena to the nursing tent. The crown prince stood in the middle of the arena while his father got up from his seat and proclaimed for all to hear.
"My son and heir, the crown prince Machida, will now take all comers. All who wish to cross blades with the finest warrior in Kalmia may do so!"
The crowd laughed and murmured, since no one seemed willing to take the challenge.
But then one figure stepped from the crowd and into the arena. He didn't wear a kimono, but a black suit with a navy cloak and plumed hat, proclaiming him to be a foreigner. What Prince Machida found the most amusing, however, was that the man was wearing a head mask to make him look like an orange cat. A second mask made of steel covered his eyes.
"I challenge the prince." Although he was clearly not a native, his command of the language was impeccable. The heir laughed.
"Best return to the crowd, Cat Man! Go find a circus somewhere!"
The foreigner ignored the chatter and raised his broad sword. The prince stopped laughing, and the opponents lunged at each other. They crossed blades once, the foreigner leaping into the air and landing gracefully on his feet like the cat he was impersonating. The heir turned to face him, his crown and kimono falling apart after a few seconds. The half-cat didn't even turn to know he had won, his own outfit untouched. The prince couldn't even blink in astonishment. No one could believe that the finest samurai had been beaten in less than three seconds, all who were present staring at the plumed figure that turned to address the shell-shocked ruler.
"I believe I get to choose my prize. Is that correct?"
The emperor could only nod, words lost to him. The princess at his side had locked her eyes on her brother, suddenly glad that her friend couldn't witness the crown prince's humiliation.
"Name it, stranger."
A dark crow flew from the crowd and landed on the cat-man's shoulder, and he idly stroked the feathers.
"Yesterday, I saw a rather intriguing slave wearing the colors of your family. She was saving a child from a rather gruesome fate, if memory serves."
Hiromi's heart froze, knowing exactly who he was talking about, and where the idea was leading. The foreigner noticed her panic and smiled.
"That slave is my prize."
The princess turned quickly to the emperor.
"Father, please tell him he can't have Haru. Tell him she's bound to me-"
Prince Machida had broken free from his self-pity.
"Hold it; you challenged me for one measly slave when you could have asked for literally anything my father has?!"
The stranger smiled, still stroking the crow.
"I would think your father would be grateful I didn't ask for your sister instead."
The emperor paled and turned to Hiromi.
"Fetch the slave he requested. Before he decides he wants you."
The princess fought back tears of anger as she fled the royal box and ran to her personal chambers.
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Haru was sitting in a corner, a fine kimono resting on her lap as she carefully mended a sleeve. She looked up sharply as her mistress stormed into the room and slapped her. The startled slave rubbed her cheek and looked at the princess questioningly. She had learned by now not to make a fuss over pain.
"Highness?"
"I told you," Hiromi hissed. "I said helping that little boy was a mistake. A foreigner saw you do it and asked for you after beating my brother."
Haru's eyes widened.
"He beat Prince Machida?"
"I just said that he did. I came to fetch you for him."
The slave's eyes became clouded with unshed tears as she set the kimono aside and stood up.
"This means I'll probably never see you again."
Hiromi nodded angrily, her own tears overflowing as she embraced her companion for the last time. Haru returned the embrace a little hesitantly, still afraid of overstepping her boundaries. After a minute, the princess gently shoved the slave away and started back down the hallway, her companion following a few steps behind. The slave had learned self-control enough not to cry.