Chapter 10: Miku
Rin lay in her bed, feeling useless. She could barely move, and yet, this was her day off. She touched her right cheek; she didn't know if it was any better, but she knew she looked horrible.
Someone knocked at the door.
"Come in."
It was Prince Len.
He came next to her and gently put a white rose in her hand.
"May I?" he asked, taking her hand.
She nodded, and he kissed it.
…
Len was to meet his brother at the gate. He wasn't sure who he was going to meet, but he was quite curious.
He saw his brother walking with a gorgeous teal-haired lady.
"Len, this is Miku," Kaito said.
The girl's eyes widened.
"Oh! You're Len!" she grabbed his hand. "Pleased to meet you; Kaito's been telling me a lot about you!"
Len was taken aback; he wasn't used to this type of attention.
"The pleasure is mine," said Len.
She looked at Kaito. "Shall we walk into the village? Len, will you join us?"
Kaito nodded and Len accepted the invitation.
…
"I feel horrible! This is my entire fault!" sobbed Neru.
"No…" Teto tried to cheer her friend up, but without much success.
"I broke the pot! And…She… S-sh-e… H-a-aaa-ve you s-seeeeeeeen her?"
Her friend's crying wouldn't cease.
"But she's alive!" Teto said. "And Rin took the blame, so it's partly her fault."
"But….."
"Certainly, if I'm still moving; I'm living."
The maids turned around to see Rin, on her feet.
"You should be in bed," Neru suggested.
Rin smiled.
"I'm alright; I can walk; only one of my ribs is broken."
"But, it must hurt."
"Thank you for your concern, but I assure you; I'm fine."
…
Len came back from the town and couldn't help but feel monstrous. He had everything he wished for, and these people had barely enough to live. Also, he realized how great of a man his brother was. And the peasants seemed to respect him. Not the way you respect a prince though; the way you respect a friend. Len wasn't used to this either.
And Miku. She was very sweet. But, she was someone special to Kaito, and he knew it. He swore to his brother that he wouldn't tell about her. Kaito had never told about his little brother's affairs anyway.
He went into Rin's room to find it empty. And so, he figured she was in the garden.
…
"Are you ready for your first lesson, Sire?"
"Only if you call me Len."
Rin looked at the Prince.
"Alright, here," she said, lending him her harp.
He took it, not knowing what to do next.
"No!" she said, taking his left hand. "You need to hold it like this!"
…
Kaito looked out of the window and saw his little brother with Rin. She seemed to be telling him what to do and what not to.
He smiled at this scene.
…
When the lesson was done, Len walked Rin to her room. He had enjoyed the lesson; Rin was a good teacher. Finally, at the door to her room, he kissed her hand, and wished her good night.