Yu watched the child running in the grass. "A butterfly! Look, Mama! It's so colorful!" The butler turned his face away from the scene. Patricia belongs to someone else. This is the only way I can stay by her. Of course, it was painful, but his leaving would bring sorrow to Patricia, even if she didn't love him. He would die for her, if she asked it of him.

Gerald danced around at Patricia's feet, chasing the butterfly. Yu closed his eyes. It's been several years since he was born. If only I could forget her...if I could lock my heart... But that was impossible. Patricia was Patricia, and he could never bring himself to build a wall between them, the wall a butler and mistress should have.

"Hirose." She'd taken to calling him that as the years flew by, a surname, not implying any closeness, that didn't anger anyone in the castle. Yu hurried to her side. "Ma'am, is everything alright?" Everything's not alright. I did not even have a chance of winning your hand, because of the way life works. I was not able to make you love me, because my rank is too low. Because love is only possible if you are high on the rungs of society. "Perhaps you are not comfortable? I will get you a larger blanket to sit upon."

"I'm quite comfortable, Hirose. I have a special request."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"It's now or never. I take it you know I have a weak body, correct?"

"Of course, ma'am."

"I don't have much time left, Yu." Yu? She hasn't called me that since... "Don't say that, ma'am."

"It's true, and you know it." Yu stayed silent. "What is your request, ma'am?"

"Yu." She narrowed her eyes, as though trying to read his mind. "How many risks would you take for my sake, not as an employer, but as a person?"

^.^ O.O ^.^ O.O

It's been awhile...sorry...I couldn't think of the way this would end, so I just wasted my time drafting up conclusion after conclusion...augh...my apologies. Thanks for the read!