Souma and Megumi enjoyed their food right in the kitchen while talking to one another. Souma learned that Megumi lived with her extended family and the performance she participated in was their tradition. What he had seen was Megumi's debut presentation.

"That was the first time you did it in front of a crowd?"

"Yes. I was so nervous." She would have been even more so, had she known the prince was in attendance. But Megumi couldn't say that out loud to his face.

"I couldn't tell. You looked really confident. You must have worked hard before going up on stage."

"Everyday", Megumi smiled, soaking in the praise for her work.

She learned that Souma lived here just with his father. The absence of an empress was known to the citizens, but it was another thing to come face to face with a motherless prince.

"I don't really know what happened to her. I never asked. I don't know how." Souma looked down at his empty bowl. Megumi reached out and put a hand on his shoulder, in an attempt to comfort him. He gave her a soft smile.

"I'm not really torn up about it. You can't really miss someone you never knew, right? But, I wish I could see her just once, to thank her for bringing me into this world."

Megumi returned the smile. "I'm sure she already knows how grateful you are."

After lunch, they left the kitchen where they ran into Mayumi. "There you are. You father is meeting someone and wants you to be there."

"Who?", Souma asked.

"Some woman. But I don't know who she is", Mayumi admitted as she led him along. Megumi followed, unsure of what else to do.

They entered just as the sounds of an instrument filled the room. Souma sat down next to his father. Mayumi and Megumi stood behind them. The melody faded on the instrument Souma had never seen before. The musician faced her audience with a bow. Joichiro applauded and the others followed suit.

"This is Mito Ikumi. She came a long way with the goal of performing for our court", he explained.

"My piano playing is the best you'll find anywhere", she assured him.

"I think it would be great to have her play during the Harvest Festival", Souma suggested. "For the court and the people."

"My level of music may not suit the ears of commoners. But if the prince wishes it", Ikumi replied with another bow. "It would be my honor."

Joichiro stood. "Then it is decided. You shall have your room near your piano so that you may practice until the celebration."

"Thank you, my lord."

With that, he left the room Souma was about to approach her when in came an elderly woman, dressed formally and with a stern expression.

"Are these it?", she asked.

"'It'?", Souma repeated.

"The new harem."

"Oh, yeah. This is them", he answered.

"Then we have a lot of work to do."

"Who is this woman?", Ikumi asked, crossing her arms.

"This is Fumio. She trains members of the harem on court etiquette, which is what I wanted to talk to you ab-"

"You three have deplorable manners in the presence of royalty! And being fledgling nobility is no excuse. You three will be under my tutelage until you can conduct yourselves properly and not be an embarrassment to the prince."

Mayumi and Megumi held their heads low while Souma and Ikumi looked confused.

"Three?", Ikumi looked around for the third member of the harem."

A trio of maids came in and gathered the three girls, escorting them out of the room and off somewhere else, leaving Souma by himself. He stood there for a moment, taking in the situation.

"Ah, well, I guess that'll take care of itself."

About an hour later, after several lessons and exercises, as well as many, many objections and attempts to explain, Ikumi escaped Fumio's clutches and stomped through the halls. She finally found her target, Souma, sitting in the garden. It was a pretty tranquil scene, according to any bystander. He sat on a bench, some tea and snacks next to him. He took a sip and sighed, enjoying the peace of nature.

"With the wind comes life, my mind is as the soft gust, I want takuan."

"Yukihira!", she yelled without any regard to rank.

"Oh, Ikumi. Are your lessons done?"

"I shouldn't be taking ANY lessons! I never agreed to be part of your stupid harem!"

"I meant to ask you before Fumio-san took you away. Do you want to be a part of it?"

Ikumi's anger deflated somewhat. She hadn't expected Souma to ask her. She thought he'd throw a princely tantrum, or perhaps get serious and force her to be in his harem. But this was...why was he being so nice?

"Hmph, why should I degrade myself like that?", she crossed her arms.

"My dad told me I needed to build one up." Soum shrugged. "So I thought, why not fill it with interesting people?"

Ikumi thought back to Mayumi and Megumi "And those two back there were interesting to you? Just who do you think I am?"

"Mayumi's lived here for years. She respects me as a prince, but she treats me as a friend. And Megumi's got some skills, if you care to observe her. And you, I don't know anything about pianos, but I know you're good at what you do. I want to know more about what you do. You'd be free to explore your craft here. But if you don't want anything to do with it, that's your choice."

"My choice..."

"Well, think it over. You'll be here until the Harvest Festival. That gives you a couple weeks to think it over." Souma stood and left, his snacks finished and having a mighty need for some takuan at the moment.

Just a few miles away, Erina looked out her carriage window. "How long until we arrive."

"We should be there before nightfall, Your Highness", her attendant answered.

"Good. I trust my lodgings will be acceptable?"

"Of course."

"Tonight I will rest before presenting myself to the Emperor tomorrow." She couldn't very well do it after travelling. It would be most unbecoming. But even so, her body buzzed with anticipation. Tomorrow they would finally reunite.