A/N: This one has been in the making for probably a year or more. I thought about this basis for at least that long, this being the first full SP! story I have written. Quite a bit of forethought has gone into this story and where it may go.
I chose Imperial Russia for my love of that period in history. There will be some interesting twists and turns for this story though it may start out mellow. I will make the changes to genre and rank accordingly. Thanks to Elder-Master yet again. While I am remembering, disclaimer applies. These characters belong to Media Works.
(Imperial Russia: St. Petersburg: Winter Palace: 17th March 1733)
The ominous sky over the old city gave of an aura of semi death, as if the Great Mother had yet to rise from her slumber. Winter didn't come to pass in Russia until after April some years and before it in others. The pride of the former Tsar showed just by looking at the metropolis from afar. Some might consider it a wealthy country by looking at this one city. Truth be told however, mostly nobles lived in this city during the winter months. Most subjects worked the farms and lands as serfs. Russia was one of the last nations to utilize such an old caste system.
"Look over there Milady! That church is so beautiful! I'll never get used to the beauty and oddness of the churches here." A young woman spoke from inside a carriage. The soft clop of hooves began to meet cobblestone, as if to say 'they had arrived'. The woman looked across to her Lady who seemed occupied by the sky. She then looked over to a much smaller girl that sat beside the noble woman who looked amiss to what was going on.
"You always like such odd things, Tamao. Your rooms back home were full of books and other odd things. Father used to say you act more like his daughter then my lady-in-waiting." Nagisa said with a half smile, the pain of losing her father returning to her face. Months before they had begun this trek, death had come to claim him. Even Nagisa had not understood why.
But the family had rushed to have him buried, soon after which Nagisa had been told of a pre-arranged obligation that her father had set up before she had even been born. She was to represent the branch family in the capital of Russia. At first, she had questioned and refused to go, but then Nagisa was reminded that even she 'must take her place'.
Nagisa had blossomed into a beautiful noblewoman. Even when she was in her teens, she had been turning heads. Now in her early twenties, she was even more beautiful. Long ago she had been told that the beauty of a woman was meant for a husband to savor. Though high up in the Teutonic hierarchy, even she was not immune to the overtures of over anxious suitors.
However, the protective nature of Tamao allowed Nagisa relative comfort. Even though in another line of thought one could conclude that Nagisa was just letting Tamao chase them off.
"U-um, Milady, will everything be alright? We are so far from home. I do not feel as if this place is very welcome." Chiyo asked as she seemed somewhat nervous. Chiyo was the youngest of the three. She was also the most shy and untrusting of strangers.
"Chiyo, I think that is rather a moot point now. We are here, are we not? It is pointless to cry over spilled milk." Nagisa said in an attempt to galvanize her own misgivings. As she looked across Tamao's warm smile seemed to, at the very least, push the uneasy thoughts back and out of sight.
(Imperial Winter Palace: Main Entrance)
The carriage had passed though heavy gates and along a road. From the arrangement of the concrete skirts and the like, it looked as though these areas may be filled with flowers. The sound of hoof stopped just before turning the horse around. Guards approached from the outside of the palace. The sound of someone getting off a horse had drawn their attention away from the carriage. After a few words that Nagisa could not understand, they saluted and returned to their posts. She did not notice the person in question approach and open the door.
The person looked as if they might be one of the 'Cossack' that Tamao had told Nagisa about. Soon afterwards, the person removed their hat, revealing stunning dark hair and a pair of soft yet serious eyes.
"I have accompanied you to the capital as promised, Lady Nagisa." The light yet still husky voice said further revealing the guide to be female. Though her words fell on nearly unknowing ears.
"You'll have to forgive Milady. She is not fully accustomed to the language." Tamao said in the other's language. Truth be told, Nagisa spoke German in addition to French and Austrian. However Russian had been difficult to learn in only a few weeks. Even though Tamao had done her best to prepare her Lady, it had proven largely fruitless. It wasn't as if Nagisa was somehow lacking in intelligence, but rather took longer to grasp things.
Tamao reached out to take the woman's hand as both her feet now stood on the carriage's side stair. Soon after, she leapt off landing with her legs bent. This was not a very ladylike way to depart, but unfortunately there was little choice. Nagisa had followed suit easily. Tamao thought it because she rode horses back home; also, this was not a very ladylike hobby. The Cossack woman seemed somewhat surprised at how easily the noblewoman had hopped down. Perhaps she had misjudged her.
The last and smallest of them seemed very afraid to make the jump to the ground, Chiyo could not be reached well either. Their escort changed her position as to allow the smaller girl to simply land in her arms. After a quip about the carriage turning into a pumpkin soon, from Tamao, Chiyo leapt and as anticipated landed into the escort's arms. The petite Chiyo blushed and remained for a moment, before coming to her own feet and thanking the escort.
"Carriages do not turn into pumpkins, Tamao. That was deceitful." Nagisa said in mock annoyance.
"I did not want to hold up our escort while Chiyo continued to fret. She is not a very strong willed girl, Milady." Tamao said quietly as stewards walked by her. The escort walked up to the two of them. She then bowed and pulled a letter from her pocket.
"I ask no payment other than that this letter be delivered to a person inside." The woman asked handing the envelope to Tamao.
"Who shall receive it, good escort?" Tamao asked.
"A noblewoman…by the name of Hikari…Lady Hikari has probably been waiting long for this letter. Until a week ago I had been up in the mountains. Could you see that she gets it?" The woman asked. Nagisa could translate that the envelope was something important and that the escort wanted it delivered, but from the light in the woman's eyes Nagisa could tell that this was no normal letter.
"I am curious ..." Tamao trailed off as she did not know this woman's name. She had been in the forest where they had gotten lost and offered to lead them to where they were going. It looked as if she was going the other way though.
"Amane…" The woman replied.
"I am curious Amane, why do you not deliver it yourself?" Tamao asked. Amane remained quiet for a moment, as if the gather her thoughts before she spoke.
"I am not fit to see her. I have been away for so long. In addition, it is not proper to walk into the halls of the royal palace in such an unrefined state." Amane replied thoroughly embarrassed.
"I see, so what am I to tell her when she asks the same question?" Tamao asked.
"Tell her that I will come to her when the moon is high in the night sky." Amane lamented. Apparently Tamao was not the only one who had a flair for the romantic. She smiled at Amane and nodded. Amane seemed relieved as she replaced her hat and mounted her horse. A few moments after her departure, Tamao slid the letter into her pocket and all three entered the main hall.