Chapter 10
Accept your life, and move on.
Sakura wanted to strangle something right now.
She walked back with the guard early next morning, under the suggestion of her father.
When she got back, Riku-san asked her if she was well enough to serve the Master, Sakura lazily replied, "I'm having some trouble these couple days. You know, it happens every months."
Riku-san stared at her in a strange way. Normally girls would kill for the chance to jump into bed with the Royal Prince. They'd fight and back stab each other to sabotage their chances. This girl is able to save four lives with just a plead, yet she doesn't want to continue on getting the good graces of the master. It almost seems like she's avoiding him.
Then she understood. This girl is playing a long game. The game of the con. The game to set longer fishing lines and hook bigger fish.
Riku-san smiled and reported back to Shino-san that Sakura is inconvenient for the next few days.
Sakura isn't lying. Her period really did came.
The way that people dealt with it here was to use extra thick clothes and pad it in their underwear. Their normal clothing would be long dresses, so if blood accidentally soak through, they themselves would feel it but it wouldn't show. This is a very messy way to deal with the period but that's how girls lived. Sakura missed the days where she could buy all sorts of hygiene products and still move around freely.
Sasuke thought Sakura would miss him like crazy by now. Here is a girl who tied her hair on his finger and made up lies to see him. So he took pity on her, and said, "Have her serve me my meals."
Shino-san was puzzled, but didn't question the decision.
So the next morning, Sakura had to serve Sasuke at breakfast. She was woken up very early in the morning to be taught lessons and mannerism.
She has to stand next to him, bowing slightly at all times, and pick food he wants to eat.
"How will I know?" She asked.
"He will look at it."
And she has to make sure to fill the jade plate with a tiny portion of each, so he will have a combination of food to choose from.
So next morning Sakura washed and dressed just as the sun came up, and ate a small bowl of congee for breakfast and rushed to the main court, where the plates were already arranged. All breakfast foods, but all colourful and nutritious. Some of them smells delicious and lovely, containing things Sakura have never tasted before.
She asked the kitchen servant girl, "what is this plate of dark berries in the middle?"
The girl was more than happy to explain, "these are called mountain berries. They were picked last year at the earliest sign of fall, deep fried of their moisture, and pickled in a mixture of salt and spices. After that they are sealed within a clay pot filled with white wine and buried under the ground for a whole year, taken out and placed on top of a layer of crunchy mixed but shavings..."
Sakura is practically drooling, "all these work in preparation for one dish? Aren't there any simple dishes like eggs?"
The girl pointed to the other plate which looks like a golden rose flower, "that's eggs!"
"What?" Sakura was surprised.
"Those are eggs mixed with fish roe, stir fried in a large pan, then lined with various thin slices of vegetables soaked in salt water, and cut into strips and rolled into roses."
"My god." Sakura was more amazed than ever. What happens to the left over food that the master doesn't eat?"
"The master is a kind and gentle being. We usually share them among the staff with his permission."
By this point Sasuke was on his way, so everyone stayed in position and awaits for his arrival.
He first looked around the room, then sat down.
The servants quickly motioned for Sakura to walk up. She did, and carefully observed Sasuke to see what he wants to eat. He showed no sign of wanting to eat anything. Maybe it's too early in the morning to tell, but he looked blank and uninterested in the food in front of him.
Sakura thought she can't do nothing, so she picked up a jade plate and carefully picked out five small portions of eggs, berries, pickled vegetables, salted meat, and a strange looking sauce. She then poured a small amount of milk porridge into a bowl and carefully placed them in front of him. Those are the ones she wants to eat the most.
The servants are silently moving their faces signaling Sakura to add more variety into the plate, but Sakura misinterpreted their hint and thought they wanted her to introduce the food. She congratulated herself in talking with the kitchen servant girl before.
"This is milk porridge." Sakura said with excitement.
The servants wanted to knelt down and beg for death. They pray to god the master doesn't think she's intruding, apparently talking during meals are s huge taboo. Especially with people of different societal ranking.
Luckily Sasuke took no notice and didn't blame anyone. He lifted his hand and took a small silver spoon and started eating the porridge.
Fresh milk is especially rare in these times, when there aren't fridges available. Sakura haven't drank any milk for the longest time, and she wanted to stare at the food some more but she can't, so she stood beside him and serving him as best as she could.
Sasuke finished the milk porridge and ate a bit of each on the plate, then waited for her to bring more variety.
She quickly brought more this time, but arranging them according to color. She said to him quietly, "I heard the human body can maximize its efficiency with at least 20 different types of food everyday."
Sasuke made a "mhmm" noise, and ate everything on the plate.
The servants were sweating profusely due to fear, but are now a bit more relaxed.
After breakfast, Sasuke said, "serve me st my bedside tonight."
Sakura understood, he doesn't mean that he wants to sleep with her. He just means he wants her to serve him so he'll have a good night's sleep."
"Yes, Master." Sakura said, quietly sighing.
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A/N: I'm running out of saved up chapters. Days just fly by so fast :(