Len brushed a piece of choppy blonde hair out of his eyes. The hot sun beat down behind him, it's strong rays sweating up the back of his neck.
His servant uniform, a black frock coat with teal embroidery over a teal and silver embroidered vest, was doing little to keep the heat off of him. And, he fought to keep himself from tugging at the white cravat which was starting to choke him a bit. His medium length, golden hair, as it always was, was tied in a small ponytail with teal ribbon, and his vibrant azure eyes squinted against the bright sky.
But, even though he felt like he could drown in his own sweat, and the thickness of his clothing made him even hotter than he would've normally been, he stood perfectly still as he held the white laced parasol over Princess Miku's head.
"Len, aren't you boiling in this blazing weather? Do you want to go inside?" Miku questioned, concerned.
She was sitting at a small round table that stood in the royal garden, sipping her small cup of rose tea. Len stood behind her, holding the parasol over his princess's head. Flowers of all sorts surrounded the two, most hand-planted, some wild, all filling their noses with many pleasing and somewhat overwhelming scents.
The princess's gentle nature made Len smile.
"M'lady, I already said I am perfectly fine. Besides, the heat is nice. It's rather cold in the servant's quarters and it's nice to get outside on such a lovely day as this," He bluffed.
As a servant to the Hatsune family, Len always tried his best to please his masters and mistress's. However, he did tend to do more than he needed for Miku, due to his fondness of the girl. After all, she was the person who saved him from starving on the streets. And, the only person left that he cared about.
Len could still remember clearly, that time, three years ago, when he was thrown out of his own home, and forced to nearly freeze to death in the early winter air. He was only thirteen then. Although he was young, he had already experienced many hardships.
His sister, who was once innocent and sweet, had blackmailed, and tried to seduce him. His mother, who was cruel and hated him with a passion, disowned him for something he never did. And the only person whom he trusted and was close to, betrayed him and lied to his face.
He remembered crying himself to sleep that night, as he lay in the filthy cobblestone streets. But, it was not just because he had lost his home and life of comfort. He cried because it meant he had no one left. His father was dead, his friend betrayed him, and even though the only people he had left were cruel to him, he still felt a hollowness without them. Like the last piece of a puzzle, beat up and broken as it was, was stolen from him. Now he was just an empty canvas, thrown away because the puzzle pieces that completed him were gone.
He was all alone.
He had fell asleep in tears, his last wish being that he would never wake up tomorrow, and that he would just freeze to death in the cold.
His wish wasn't fulfilled.
The next day he sold his fine, silken clothes for cheap thin ones, a cloak, and enough money to last him four weeks for food if spent well. Then, he took the short journey to the neighboring land, Namanamashi. He entered the city of Greenmeadows seeking work, a place to sleep, and kind people willing to give him any show of compassion. Twice he was robbed, and once cheated out of his money.
Each night he begged the cold to wake him from this nightmare, or end it altogether. The night never listened and he would wake up to spend another tiresome day with the living.
Then, on the last day of November, everything changed.
It was a warm day. Just warm though. The autumn wind switched to a breeze, and the rain clouds pushed aside to let the sun shine. At first, he resented it a little, because many people began to stare at him. His blonde hair caught the sun, and made his hair shine like gold. He felt awkward being stared at, which was a new feeling for him, since he used to be quite proud of his envied golden locks. But, that confidence was washed away with his tears thirty nights ago.
He pulled his hood over his head and looked down as he continued to wander down the streets, so he didn't notice the girl racing down the street until she barreled right into them.
"Oh I am so sorry!" The girl exclaimed apologetically, as Len's backside hit the streets.
He didn't say a word in response.
The girl held out her hand, "Here, let me help you up."
He stared at her hand in awe. Such smooth, beautiful skin. Her nails were painted a beautiful rose pink. He gingerly placed his hand in hers, and was disgusted by how filthy and grime-covered it was. She didn't seem to mind it though.
"Thank you," He muttered quietly as he got to his feet.
"No problem!" Her voice held an angelic tune.
When Len finally looked at the face of the person who helped him, he felt his own breath escape him.
Her thin, petite figure was draped in light pink frills and expensive silk. Waist length, silky green tresses fell over her shoulders in two separated ponytails held up with pink ribbon. An extravagant silver necklace hung from her small neck, as did two chandelier like earrings. Her movements were graceful and effortless. She was the most beautiful thing Len had ever laid his eyes on.
"You're awfully dirty," She had commented.
Len felt his cheeks flush. For the first time in awhile he felt embarrassed by his own appearance.
"Sorry," He mumbled.
The girl chuckled, and even her laugh was melodious, "Haha, its not your fault, I'm sure. My name is Miku."
Len wondered for a moment if this girl was an angel, perhaps about to take him from the world of the living at last. He had never met a person who brought so much light and warmth. Just looking at her made the nip of the cold winter air disappear.
"Miku! Miku!" A boy called out from afar. He rushed to the green-haired girl's side. "Goodness Miku, why'd you have to run off like that?" He breathed heavily, winded like he had run a far distance.
The boy had to be related to the girl in some way, Len decided, because he shared the same odd forest green hair and eyes she did. He was lean and tall but not lanky. He wore a long white coat with a high collar lined in gold with gold and blue epaulettes. Underneath he wore a white shirt and a blue vest with white pants.
With all the white he wore, Len wondered if he was an angel too. Either that or incredibly wealthy aristocrats.
"Sorry, Mikuo. I wanted to get to Madam Julia's Dress Shop before she closed up," Miku apologized.
Mikuo looked at her sternly, his arms crossed, "Well no need to rush, she doesn't close until dusk and the sun is still high in the sky."
"Haha that rhymed," Miku giggled.
Mikuo cracked a little smile, "You're such a silly girl. How did I end up with a cousin like you?"
He uncrossed his arms and ruffled her hair.
"If I weren't your cousin, your life would be such a bore," She teased slyly.
"That it would," He laughed.
Len watched as the two relatives joked with each other, and his face grew grim. He missed the days when he could do that with his sister. But, that was before she changed.
"Oh! Mikuo! I met someone!" Miku exclaimed motioning toward Len, "I quite literally ran into him." She giggled.
Mikuo turned to the poor looking stranger. He wrinkled his nose and rephrased what Miku had said earlier, "You're rather dirty, aren't you?"
"That's what I said!" Miku answered nodding, "We should give him a bath."
"Miku he isn't a dog. He's a peasant. A poor man. For all you know he could be a robber to," He added, lowering his voice so Len wouldn't hear. He heard anyway.
Len looked at the two nervously, "Erm…I promise you I am not a thief."
"See! He's just an innocent boy!" Miku exclaimed, "He's hardly any older than me!"
"Miku you can't jus-"
"Alright, Len! Time for a bath!" She chirped like he was stray she decided to take home. Then, grabbing his hand, she dragged him down the street. Len, incrediby confused, let her drag him along the streets.
"Wait! Miku!"
"You're lucky the princess found you and brought you here," The servant taking care of Len's bath commented as he cleaned the boy's hair with lovely smelling soaps.
Len merely nodded. He was still coming to terms with the idea that the sweet, kind girl he ran into earlier was the King of Namanamashi's daughter.
When he realized she was taking him toward the castle and asked why, she revealed she was Miku Hatsune, daughter of Lord Masaru Hatsune and first in line for the throne. It turned out that Mikuo, the boy with her, was a close cousin of hers, and Lord of an island right off the coast of the Land of Green. This took Len so off guard that he yelled at Miku demanding why she didn't tell him sooner. She smiled nervously and said she figured he already knew. Len looked at her his mouth gaping open and stuttered trying to figure out what to say. He simply decided to say nothing all together and continued to follow her into the castle the shock still running around in his mind. She then ordered one of her servants to prepare a room and bath for Len and told him she would meet up with him later on.
And so, here he was, sitting in the white porcelain tub, warm water and soap bubbles surrounding him.
Once the servant decided he was clean enough and left, Len covered himself in oil the serf told him to use and put on a thin robe. He walked into the bedchamber and looked around the room, at the soft teal carpet, the beautifully carved furniture, and comfortable looking bed. He had a room similar to this one once.
The memories from the familiar looking place fell on Len like a twenty pound slab of rock. His mood, which had brightened a lot after his bath, quickly dropped back to the brooding and sad one he had held for days before.
He trudged slowly over to the bed where fresh clothes were laid out for him. They were nice, but a little big. He threw them on anyway and then laid down on the bed, the softness, and the comfort of it made him realize how tired he was. Suddenly, he heard a soft rap on the door.
"Come in," He called.
The door creaked open and in emerged Miku. She was smiling as bright as ever.
"Good evening!"
"Good evening," Len replied holding back a yawn.
"May I sit with you?" She asked.
Len nodded and scooted to the edge of the bed. She moved swiftly, and gracefully over to the bed and sat on the edge beside him. Len could smell her hair from how close she was. It smelled like lavender.
"Sorry I didn't tell you I was the princess, sooner," She apologized.
"It's was quite a shock. But, I am thankful that you showed me so much compassion" Len replied, "I wish I could repay you."
"There is no need," Miku answered and smiled, "I just love making new friends."
Friend.
A bit of sorrow slipped into his expression. Miku was quick to notice it.
"What's wrong?" Miku asked.
"What?"
"Just now, you looked sad."
"It's nothing," He muttered.
"I see..." Miku pursed her lips, "Does it have something to do with how you ended up on the streets?"
Len did not answer.
"You know…my father once said that, when you have a problem, you should talk about it. Because through talking, you create a bridge that the person you're talking to can take. This way they can help hold your heavy burdens."
A weak smile crossed Len's face. "My burden is too heavy to be held by only two people."
"But it's better than it all being held by just you, right?"
She had him there.
Len took a deep breath.
"I used to have..this friend. We were very close, and I trusted him deeply. He was the only person who I talked to in the castle, who I actually cared about. But...one day I was framed for something I didn't do. My mother got upset, and she set me to trial. At the trial, there was no evidence that I had committed the crime, but there was a witness. A false one. That witness was my friend... And with that my mother disowned me, and tossed me to the streets."
"So you have no family to go back to now?"
"No," Len answered, "But, I will find a job somehow."
"This city doesn't have any much open work, though."
"I'll just keep on the streets until it does," he shrugged.
Miku looked at him surprised, "B-but you'll freeze to death!"
Len stared down at his lap.
"I could care less what happens to me. No one will be sad if I died anyway. Everyone I cared about is either dead, or has abused my trust."
"What an awful way to think...How can you live that way? "
Len scoffed. Staring at the wall he said emotionlessly, "I've been begging to be dead for months now."
Miku was quiet. Len turned to face her and was surprised to see that tears were streaming down her face.
"Wh-why are you crying?"
Miku sniffed the tears still pouring out, "Y…y-you…can't mean that! Len!" A shiver went down his spin when she said his name, "Th-th-there is someone….someone out there who probably cares a lot about you….c-can you imagine the pain they will feel? T-…to know your dead?"
"No one cares about me. I am all alone in this world."
"….I care," Miku mumbled tears still trickling down her rosy cheeks.
"What?"
"I care, Len." Miku looked at him, her green eyes full of sadness.
Len's eyes widened.
"I don't know why….but…" She paused, confused herself, like she really didn't understand why she felt so close to this stranger she just met, "When I saw you…you looked so miserable. Your eyes were empty like your soul had been sucked from your body."
Len was surprised. Did he really look like that?
"The instant I saw that I knew I had to do something. As a future queen, I cannot watch people suffer like that on my streets."
So it wasn't just because I was dirty, he thought.
"Len, if you saw that look you had. The hollowness in your eyes gave me shivers. And, you're so thin...I nearly mistook you for a corpse."
Len looked down and realized she was right. The clothes he wore weren't too big, he was just too skinny. He could practically see the bones sticking through his ghost white skin.
"You looked as if you were just waiting for death to take you. And I couldn't bear to see that look." She suddenly broke down in tears, she covered her head in her hands bawling her eyes out.
"M-Miku," Len hovered a hand over her, unsure how to react.
Thoughts reeled though his head. Why is this girl, I don't even know, so worried about me? Is she an angel? A message sent from God? No human could possibly be this compassionate. This loving.
It was then that he realized that it wasn't death that he wanted to find him while he wasted away on the streets, it was a friend. He wanted someone to be there, to lift up his burdens, to share his tears, someone to comfort him, and show him the kindness that that person had shown him before he betrayed him. And his secret prayers were answered, with this girl.
Soon enough he had tears streaming down his own cheeks.
After that, Len promised Miku he would repay her for all she did. As her servant.
Miku at first tried to talk him out of it, but he practically begged the princess for the position. Finally, she let him do as he pleased, and after talking to the King, he was given the title he asked for. Miku reminded him he would have to sleep in the servants quarters, but Len didn't care. So long as he could serve this new person who had stepped into his life. The person who had taken his neglected canvas and placed a new puzzle on it, a more beautiful one.
"I think we should go inside, it's too hot out for me," Miku said setting down her cup of tea.
"As you wish M'lady," Len answered and scooped up the china cup with his free hand.
"Len, stand beside me with the parasol, I will feel colder if I am directly beneath it," Miku requested, as she rose to her feet.
Len nodded and stood beside Miku holding the parasol over her head.
She took his hand and moved it so that he was holding the parasol so that both he and Miku were underneath.
"There that's perfect."
She smiled up at him.
Len smiled back seeing her trick.
"As you wish, M'lady."
