"How does it look?"
"I think it's wonderful, princess. She will love it."
Rin held up the finished blanket to Luka with a frown. It had not come out nearly as nice as she pictured, but she had worked so hard on it. Hopefully, that would be enough.
"I don't know why you are so worried," Luka told her, trying to lift her spirits. "Miku would love anything you'd give her."
"That's the issue," Rin clarified. "I don't want her to like it simply because she has to."
"She will love it," the maid repeated.
The princess set the finished blanket in her lap, looking it over. It had been almost a week since she started it, and she had been working on it every free second she had since then. Miku had not resumed her duties since Rin demanded she rests. A doctor had been called only a few days prior, linking her strained muscles to overwork and exhaustion, only adding to Rin's guilt.
It was not her fault, however. Preparations for the Kagamines had been hard on the head maid.
"Nevertheless," Luka continued, pulling the curtains closed on Rin's windows and glass doors to her personal gardens. "It is late. You must sleep."
Rin let out a sigh. Luka was right, her maid would love the blanket. They would also love to see each other again. It had been some time, much longer than they are used to since they could have one of their laugh-filled chats.
Rin tucked the blanket safely under her bed, crawling under the covers. "Goodnight, Luka. Thank you."
Luka smiled. "Goodnight princess." Quietly, she crept out of the room.
But Rin could not sleep. Images of Miku's smiling face as she accepted her gift filled her mind until she was too excited to keep her eyes closed. She was far from the peaceful tranquility needed for slumber. Sitting up in her bed, she looked around the darkened room.
Perhaps she could take a night walk in her gardens. It had been some time since she pushed open the chilled glass double-doors, descending the marble staircase and sitting on the edge of the fountain only a minute's walk from her back door.
But she could not imagine the walk bringing her peace. Only one thing would. So, deciding against her better judgment, she waltzed over to her closet, pulling out a light summer dress to wear over her nightclothes. She emerged from her room moments later, hugging the blanket to her chest with one hand and holding a candle with the other.
She couldn't remember the last time she traversed the halls alone, and she also could not remember the last time she traversed the halls in the dark of night. This was her home, so getting lost was not an issue for her.
She was not necessarily breaking any rules, but she wasn't eager to meet any guards or servants still milling about the halls. So she avoided them, hiding behind tapestries when they passed. Leaning against the walls, she covered her mouth to keep from giggling. It was as if she was a girl again, sneaking out of her room to battle monsters in the dark.
With a permanent smile, she walked her bare feet deeper and deeper into the palace.
When she felt she was nearing the servant's quarters, she heard a cacophony of familiar voices. The Kagamine children. The guest quarters were in the East Wing as well, only two floors above the servant's. Rin looked towards the staircase in front of her once more, before letting her curiosity get the best of her.
The children were in a large sitting room, the younger sisters playing and laughing in front of a large fireplace roaring with flames. Kokone sat in a chair, watching them. To Rin's surprise, the prince sat in the middle of the girls, smiling and laughing as they tugged at his hair and clothes.
In the few days since they had arrived, Rin had never once seen the prince smile.
Kokone caught sight of her first. "Princess!" she exclaimed, more out of surprise than anything else.
At the word, the prince ceased all movements, smile fading and gaze snapping to the door. In the light of the fireplace, he almost seemed embarrassed.
Rin smiled from the doorway. "Sorry to disturb you."
"Are they being too loud?" Kokone asked. "I know it is late, but the girls… couldn't sleep." Her eyes somberly looked at her sisters.
"No, no. They are quite fine." Rin waved off her worries, wondering what the source of her concern could be.
The prince stood, walking over to the doorway while his sisters resumed their play. Kokone turned her attention back to them.
"What are you doing out so late?" He asked, his normal, unfriendly tone having returned.
But Rin's girlish smile could not be deterred. "One of my handmaids hasn't been feeling well. So I knitted this blanket for her. I wanted to bring it to her tonight."
The prince looked at her like she was crazy. "You're bringing a maid a blanket?"
Maybe Rin's smile wasn't as strong as she thought. "She's my friend," she defended.
"Is she dying or something?"
"No, of course not!" Rin frowned. "Her… her back has been hurting her."
He raised an eyebrow. "And a blanket is supposed to fix that?"
Rin's eyes dropped to the ground. The worst part was that he was right. How was she going to make Miku feel better with a stupid piece of wool? How could she have been so stupid?
And yet she had been so excited to bring it to her. So excited to see her friend. Her self-doubt came flooding back into her mind. The dam broken by the boy in front of her.
She raised her eyes, narrowing them in anger. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes but she held them back.
"You're an ass," she sneered, using a curse word for possibly the first time in her life.
Thankfully, the girls had not heard her. But Len definitely did. He stared down at her, appalled. His mouth hung half-open in shock, and no words found their way to his surface.
Rin did not wait for him to respond. She clutched the blanket to her chest, tighter this time, before running off back in the direction which she had come.
The next morning, Miku opened up Rin's curtains, letting the light pour into the room in their morning ritual.
Although her maid insisted she was fine, Rin could not help but notice Luka's concerned glances as they fitted Rin with her morning dress.
If Miku noticed, she said nothing, tightening the princess' bodice as if she had never left.
"Just, take it easy, okay?" Rin pressed.
Miku let out a sigh. "Yes, princess."
"I'm serious," she said, waving off their working hands so she could turn to look her in the eyes. "Go lay down if you need to."
Miku refused to meet her eyes, then nodded. "I will, Rin."
The blanket was under still under her bed, hidden from sight.
The trio left her room for breakfast. It was a warm day, with harsh sunlight fluttering in through the windows in the halls. Rin's maids walked silently behind her. All three of the girls found their walk much more awkward and tense than it usually was. Other servants passed them, much busier now that their guests were present. Each dipped their head in Rin's presence.
Once they reached the Grand Hall, the maids gripped one door handle each before pulling them open.
Rin had been the last one to arrive at nearly every meal since the Kagamines had arrived, and since they did not seem bothered by it, she did not let herself be bothered by it. She took her usual seat between Kokona and Lenka, her eyes avoiding the prince completely.
She was angry with him for being so rude, but she was even more angry with herself for letting her temper get the best of her. The last time she had said an ill word towards someone; she could not remember. Let alone a curse word. During her walk back to her room the night before, the rebellious joy of leaving her room after dark had been replaced by the fear that the guards would come and throw her in the dungeons. A horrible over-exaggeration, of course, but her feelings nonetheless.
"Good morning, Rin," Kokone greeted with a smile. She knew nothing of the incident haunting the princess.
"Good morning," she responded in kind.
"Daughter!" The king boomed, spilled the contents of his chalice in the process. "I have wonderful news." A servant rushed from their place at the wall, quickly scrubbing his mess.
Rin turned her head daintily towards him. She raised an eyebrow in question, words failing her.
"The situation at the construction sites has improved greatly," he informed the table.
Rin plastered a painfully fake smile on her face. She felt the prince's presence across the table from her like a demon haunting the room. "Wonderful."
"It seems our children work well together," Kaori beamed from her place next to Rin's mother.
King Brighton's smile faltered. Despite their success, his opinion of the boy had not changed. "It seems so."
To this, Rin had no words. She simply smiled at her praise and continued picking at her food. For the first time in weeks, she couldn't wait for the meal to be over.
"The townsfolk are speaking of a celebration," Lily added. "A festival to celebrate the relations between our sister-kingdom."
"A wonderful idea-"
Rin could not help but notice the prince, out of the corner of her eye, stiffen in his chair. She picked aimlessly at her plate with her fork. Perhaps he was not a fan of festivals. Or maybe he was especially a fan. Either way, she could not have cared less.
Under the table, he kicked her in the leg.
It was a miracle she didn't throw her food at him right then and there. They were supposed to be working together, trying to make this situation just a little bit more pleasant. And yesterday, they had been so close to finally overcoming their differences.
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
Another kick. Harder this time.
She refused to meet his eyes. No one at the table seemed to notice their secret quarrel, both families engrossed in the idea of a ball. Rin stabbed a piece of meat with her fork, perhaps a bit more ferociously than she intended, and rose it to her mouth.
A third kick. Right in the knee.
She couldn't help herself. She dropped her hand to the table, glaring up at him. What kind of game could he possibly want to play now-
But he sat relaxed in his chair, waiting to catch her attention. Then, once she finally dared to look up at him, he nodded nonchalantly towards the door behind her, seeing something behind her that she had not noticed.
Rin furrowed her brow, anger replaced by suspicion, looking over her shoulder.
Her maids stood on either side of the door, just as they always did. But now, Luka's eyes were widened in worry for her partner, who stood with her hands clasped together in front of her apron, her entire body quaking.
Miku was almost standing tall, trying with all of her strength not to double over as her muscle began their spasms once more. It had been nearly two days since it had last happened and she had been so sure she could return to her work. But now, at the worst possible time, with both royal families present, she was determined not to cause a scene. Sweat beaded at her brow as she strained to keep her back straight. She was so focused on her posture, she didn't even notice the prince trying desperately to get Rin's attention for help.
From Rin's seat, Miku's forward jerks made it seem like her maid was resisting the urge to vomit.
"Perhaps we could drape the lantern-lights in the town square," Ken suggested to the table, completely oblivious to the situation. "Back in Acacia Falls, we hung those every year for the new season-"
Rin had caught sight of her pained friend only half a second ago. Without thinking, she pushed her chair quickly from the table, standing. The foreign king silenced himself as she stood, more out of surprise than annoyance. All eyes turned to her.
After an uncomfortable pause, she opened her mouth. "Excuse me," was all she said, breathlessly, as she turned and walked briskly out of the room, her maids following her.
Miku's back jerked with every step.
As soon as the doors closed behind them, Rin turned to her. "What's wrong? Are you okay? Is it your back again?"
"Let's get her back to her room," Luka suggested, holding onto Miku's hand as she finally let her muscles go, doubling over in pain.
"I'm okay," Miku lied, closing her eyes to stop her tears. "I'm okay."
"You can't even stand on your own." Rin grabbed her other hand, trying to keep her from falling to the ground. "Come on, let's get-"
The door behind them opened, and Rin would not have been more surprised if the lord himself came waltzing into the hall. Her eyes widened at the prince as he shut the door behind him. Rin just barely caught a glimpse of the stunned families watching him leave on the other side of the door.
She would have explaining to do later. Father is going to be furious, she thought with dismay.
"Here," the prince said, taking Rin's place at the maid's side. "Let me help."
Luka looked just about as shocked as the princess, but none of them were in any position to refuse help.
Miku was so caught up in her pain that she did not notice the prince of Acacia Falls practically carrying her down the hall towards the servants quarters.
Rin followed the three of them, feeling rather helpless. "Maybe it's time for a different position, Miku," she said, though the words pained her. "Perhaps in the kitchens. Or maybe we could simply get you a house in town. Let you rest there."
The maid barely heard her, on the edge of consciousness.
"She'll be okay, Rin," Luka promised, looking unsure herself.
The prince gawked at the three of them, unable to believe the casual ways they addressed each other. But, then again, he never imagined he would have a maid's arm draped over his shoulders, carrying her to her room.
Once they finally reached the stairs of the servant's quarters, they descended as one, Rin a few steps ahead to make sure no one fell. From there, they went through a few doors, turned down a few halls, and earned many appalled glances from the other servants before finally entering Miku's room.
The servant's quarters were well-kept and private, similar to the quarters of the royal family, if only smaller and deeper in the castle. Compared to the servants quarters of other kingdoms, they were heavenly.
"Thank you," Luka smiled at the prince as they laid Miku down in her bed. She nearly forgot her manners. "Th-thank you, my prince," she corrected herself.
"Yeah," he answered, strangely unbothered by the fact that she had nearly forgotten his title. Something he had never experienced before.
"You go," she continued, resting a hand on Rin's shoulder, also to Len's astonishment. "I can take care of her from here. Can you survive the day without me?"
Rin smiled, her worry showing itself through the tears welling up in her eyes. She threw her arms around her maid, hugging her. "I'll try," she answered.
"She'll be okay," Luka answered, before releasing.
The prince and the princess walked from the room together, Rin casting glances over her shoulder the entire way. The wide-eyed servants stared the same as they had before, then bowed their heads in respect.
Only once they had climbed the stairs, walking alone in the halls, did Rin speak.
"I didn't know-"
"I know," he answered before she could finish. "I didn't know how else to get your attention. I… apologize."
Rin couldn't help a sad smile. "Don't apologize. I wouldn't have known." All of her anger from the previous night had faded, only to be replaced with shame. "And… and I'm sorry as well. I shouldn't have snapped at you. Last night."
He laughed. Not like the snarky chuckles from the past few days either. A genuine laugh. "Don't be."
"Why not?"
He paused, looking down at her. "Because I was being an ass." He pulled at the cuffs of his sleeves. "It's about time someone was honest with me around here."
Rin paused, turning his words over in her head before letting another smile rise and even allowing a few chuckles to escape her as well.
They continued walking.
"It's been hard," he spoke with a sudden sadness in his tone. "I didn't want to come here."
Rin nodded. "I know. I understand."
"But you don't."
She took a deep breath. "No, I don't," she confirmed. "But that doesn't mean I can't help. It doesn't mean we can't… be friends."
He thought about this for a moment. "Your father dislikes me," he pointed out.
"Hm," Rin smiled again. "I wonder why."
This time, they both laughed.
"You can call me by my name, you know," he said, pretending to take an interest in the windows as he avoided looking at her.
Rin nodded. "Me as well."
Maybe someone isn't such a bad guy after all.
So, I'm dumb, and I just realized that when I copy paste these chapters from my google drive that my italicized words weren't getting copied, so that's why there have been randomly missing words. I just fixed it in every chapter by updating them all. Sorry for being dumb. I swear I'm not this bad at editing.
Thanks for reading :)