home is just a pigeon away
Nakajima Gumo had been raised in the palace since he was young, him and his sister both. They were the head servants in the palace, with his sister in charge of all the other servants, and him the prince's personal butler. It led to quite an interesting perspective of the world.
Being the prince's butler meant he had to be able to do many of the same things as the nobles, and more. It meant violin lessons, dance lessons, learning how to read and write in multiple languages, learning how to cook and clean and everything else that would make him the perfect servant. He didn't complain – rather, he very much appreciated the opportunities he was given. He knew that if he had not been left at the palace doorstep as a baby, he would not be the prince's butler now. He'd probably have died as a child or ended up a peasant.
Megurine Luki, the crown prince of the country, was a difficult master. He was not hard to serve since he was very self-reliant and rarely called on Gumo to help him, but he was a very temperamental young man, and the responsibility of ensuring Luki did not step out of line or say anything to hurt people often fell upon Gumo's shoulders. The prince and Gumo were the same age, and Gumo and his sister were raised alongside Luki. It was Luki who insisted that they take the same lessons as him and become his companions, so Gumo always felt grateful to the prince for that. If it wasn't for Luki, he wouldn't be where he was today.
"Your Highness?" he called, knocking on the door. The prince didn't respond, which worried Gumo a bit, so he opened the door anyway and peered inside, wondering if the prince was busy. The eighteen-year-old royal was lying on the chaise lounge, an open book covering his face, leaving only his tousled pink hair visible. Gumo observed the slow rise and fall of his chest and guessed that the prince had fallen asleep. He sighed. And right before supper…
"Your Highness," he reprimanded, walking over to the window and drawing the curtains, allowing the soft orange rays of the sunset to flood into the room. "It's almost time to eat. You need to stop falling asleep right before your meals – it's not good for your digestion," he plucked the book off Luki's face, and the prince grimaced, one of his blue eyes flicking open.
"And you sound exactly like my mother," Luki complained, rubbing the back of his hand against his face. "Are you sure you haven't swapped spirits with the Queen? The Gumo I know used to let me sleep the whole day away if I wanted to," his words were slurred. "It's not like it'll be time to eat yet even if you wake me up now. Let me rest a while longer."
"Then you won't be able to sleep tonight, and you need to be up early tomorrow. The Duke of Calendale is visiting, and you must be there to receive him. Your Highness," Gumo sighed and reached over to shake the prince's shoulder. Luki had grabbed a cushion and stuck it over his face, blocking the sunlight. "Please stop behaving like a child. You are the Crown Prince, and you need to set a good example. Imagine your brother seeing you like this."
"Tell Yuma to go ride a horse into the sunset," Luki's voice was muffled. "Why should I care what my brat of a brother thinks? As if I don't have enough on my mind, what with Mother insisting that I get married to a nice lady. There aren't any nice ladies among the nobility. They're all crass, simpering and laughing over whatever vapid thoughts cross their minds."
Gumo resisted the urge to sigh again. Sometimes, he really did feel like the prince's mother. "The Duke of Calendale's daughter is a fine young maiden. You may change your mind upon meeting her tomorrow," he reminded him. Luki lowered the cushion and shot him a baleful glare, but Gumo held his ground, staring down at his master – and more importantly, his friend. Everything the butler said was for the prince's own good, and Luki knew that too.
Finally, the prince sighed. "All right. Tell Mother that I will see the simpering lass tomorrow, but only because you are so insistent about it," he sat up, tossing the cushion over his head. Gumo went to pick it up, dusting it off wordlessly while Luki rose and stretched, ruffling his pink hair. "However, after tomorrow you must promise to sneak out of the palace with me."
Gumo's eyebrow twitched. "You want to visit the market again?" he asked, his voice filled with disapproval. Luki shrugged, and Gumo shook his head, unwilling to consider the idea. "The last time we went to the market, Your Highness, you almost got caught by the palace servants. You know that you are not supposed to leave the palace as and when you wish. Perhaps it would be a better idea to let your father know about your plans beforehand?"
Luki rolled his eyes at Gumo's suggestion, dismissing it. "And we already know that my dear father will never allow me to go. He is adamant that I must stay in the palace, learning how to rule this country. I don't think I will need to take the throne for many more years," he shrugged. "The old man definitely isn't going anywhere soon, not unless he raises the taxes yet again and upsets the merchants. But then, if he's overthrown, I won't be able to sit on the throne either, so no matter what happens, I don't have to be concerned," he shrugged again.
The prince's blasé confidence made Gumo shake his head. Sometimes, he wondered if the prince's younger brother, Yuma, would have been a better choice to be the Crown Prince. Yuma was infinitely more serious and responsible than his freewheeling elder brother; but according to law, the throne was always passed down to the eldest son, and unless Luki was willing to throw aside his position and run away from the palace, there was no way he could avoid the responsibility of the crown. "Will you change your mind if I disagreed?" he asked.
"Unlikely," Luki shot him a wicked grin. "Either you can accompany me, my faithful butler, or leave me alone and not know about my shenanigans until someone catches me and sends me back to the palace. It's up to you," he told him, his voice sickly sweet. Gumo knew that he had no real choice here. He couldn't possibly let the prince wander around alone.
"Very well," he sighed, agreeing though he knew they would get into trouble. "We will go to the market tomorrow." Luki grinned, casually slinging an arm across his butler's shoulders, and Gumo allowed himself a tiny smile – though the prince was difficult and rebellious, he was a good friend, and Gumo would always treasure the chance to serve his master.
"Your Highness!" Gumo hissed, searching around for the prince. They had gotten separated in the throng, and with that cloak covering Luki's trademark bright pink hair, it was practically impossible to find the prince now. "I hope I didn't lose him…" he groaned quietly to himself.
Weaving through the crowd – he disliked crowds, but he reminded himself that he had to find the prince – he tried to look for a tall figure wearing a dark brown cloak but said person was nowhere to be seen. It was Tuesday, which was market day, and there were even more people than usual hawking and purchasing wares. He should never have agreed to come to the market. Maybe he should have persuaded the prince to wait for a less lively day, but he also knew that Luki would not have listened. He wanted to come here to escape.
Luki hated life in the palace. He hated how stuffy and conventional everything was, and though he knew palace etiquette perfectly well, he never understood certain rules and why it was important to behave a certain way. Today's meeting with the Duke of Calendale's daughter was, frankly speaking, a huge fiasco. Luki took one look at the girl and promptly decided that he didn't like her. Why, only the good Lord knew. Luki immediately declared that he was not interested and left the room, leaving everyone stunned and the girl quietly sobbing.
Gumo could not deny that the prince had quite a mean streak in him. His mother would no doubt reprimand him for his rudeness later, which was another reason why the prince had slipped away to the market – so he could avoid his mother for as long as possible. The Queen, Megurine Luka, was a strict woman, and even Luki was a little afraid of her.
Just then, the crowds parted and he saw the cloaked figure he was looking for, right next to the fountain in the middle of the market. He hurried forward, determined to drag the prince back to the palace, and found that he was standing over a girl wearing a shabby dress and tattered shoes. There was a small woven basket on the ground next to her, with bright flowers trampled into the dirt all around them. Gumo hesitated. The girl was looking downwards, and he could see her shoulders shaking.
"How dare you touch me," Luki was seething. Even from this distance, Gumo could hear his master. "Do you not know who you are speaking to?" he demanded. Gumo decided that he couldn't allow his master to make yet another girl cry, even if this girl happened to be just a peasant, and he went over to the prince, lightly touching his shoulder. Luki did not react, still glaring down at the girl, who was clearly sobbing now, her hands covering her face.
He was still wearing his cloak, which Gumo was thankful for, but they were causing quite a commotion and he feared that people would start converging upon them before long. "Your Highness, what happened?" he hissed quietly to the prince, hoping he could rectify the situation on Luki's behalf before anything went wrong. Luki glanced at him, and he could see the irritation in his blue eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but then the girl interrupted.
Gumo froze. "I'm…I'm really sorry," she babbled, her voice still heavy with tears. "I should have looked where I was going. I didn't mean to bump into you. I apologise," she bowed deeply to him. Her long teal hair covered her face, so he still couldn't see what she looked like, but…she had the sweetest voice he had ever heard. It was soft and melodious, reminding him of birdsong, and there was a tremor in it that made her sound so vulnerable. He could tell that she was on the verge of crying again. Even Luki paused.
"It's all right," the prince finally spoke again, and Gumo was startled to hear that his voice had softened somewhat. "What is your name?" he asked, and the butler wondered why he was suddenly taking such an interest in the girl. Was it just because of her voice?
"Um, Hatsune Miku, sir," she stammered, keeping her head bowed. Gumo was becoming very curious. He wanted to see what she looked like, but he didn't think this would be the right time to interrupt. "If there is anything I can do to…to make the situation better, do let me know and I will try my best," she gave them a wobbly curtsey, clearly still nervous.
"It's all right," Gumo cut in, deciding it would be best to steer Luki back to the palace now. "Let me pay for the flowers you lost," he gestured at the overturned basket, with its load of flowers scattered all over the ground. The girl gasped, her head shooting up, and Gumo caught sight of the loveliest girl he had ever seen – he couldn't help himself, his mouth falling slightly open in surprise. She had fair skin and large green eyes that were slightly red from crying, and fine, delicate features that would not look out of place among the nobility.
"No, no! It's all right!" she sniffed, hastily lowering her gaze again, as though she didn't dare to look at the both of them. "I shouldn't have been so careless. But thank you," she bowed once more, clasping her hands together. Gumo exchanged a look with his master, and Luki tilted his head towards the girl and the scattered flowers, silently commanding the butler to pay her anyway. Gumo nodded. He would have done so even without the prince's order.
"No, we insist," Gumo told her gently, but his tone was firm – he wouldn't take no for an answer. "Here you go," he took out his coin pouch, pressing two gold coins into her palm. The girl gasped, her fingers trembling at the sight of the coins, and she tried to return them, but he was having none of it. "Take it as compensation for all your troubles," he told her.
"But this is – this is too much for a few flowers!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. Gumo saw her face again and he bit his lip, unable to prevent himself from staring. She was so lovely…he hadn't known that there could be someone so beautiful among the peasants.
He always thought of the peasants as a faceless group of people. Poor, illiterate, struggling to make a living through farming and other forms of manual labour. He never really gave them much thought besides being thankful that he didn't end up as one of them. He also knew that allowing Luki to move among the peasants so often was probably influencing his attitude towards authority and convention, which was another reason why he'd rather his master not come to the market so often. He neither liked nor disliked the poor – most of the time, he just tried not to think about them, and he'd rather not interact with them at all.
But this girl was…she was beautiful. He couldn't think of any other way to describe her. Luki glanced at his butler, amused to see Gumo outright staring at her – it was the first time he saw his friend notice anyone of the opposite sex. From the rumours Gumi told him, there were a fair number of servants who were very, very interested in Gumo, but the butler was so dedicated to serving Luki that he didn't pay those girls any attention. Luki wouldn't deny that the peasant girl was lovely. Perhaps now would be a good chance to help his friend.
"Your name is Hatsune Miku?" Luki cut in when Gumo continued to look at the girl, unable to think of anything to say. "You seem like an interesting girl. Why don't you follow us back home and tell us more about yourself?" he suggested, the ring of authority in his words making it difficult to say no. The girl hesitated. Her eyes were still a little red from crying.
"Oh…I'm very sorry sir, but I cannot," she stammered. "My mother is sickly and I am unable to leave her for long. But I appreciate your kindness," she curtsied again. Gumo nudged his elbow, clearly wanting to leave by now, but Luki was undeterred. Going against everything he knew not to do in public, he reached up to lower his hood, revealing his identity.
"That was not a request. I am Megurine Luki, Crown Prince of Azaria, and you will go with me back to the palace right now," he commanded. The crowds around them stilled the very moment he showed his face, and Gumo wanted to groan – of all things to do in public! The girl recoiled, panic all over her face, and Luki reached out to grab her arm, pulling her with him through the crowd. Gumo exhaled and followed them quickly as people began to react, the masses clamouring for Luki, reaching out to touch him as though it would give them good fortune. The peasants had many superstitions when it came to royalty – some of them believed that the touch of the prince would bring wealth or good health.
"Your Highness, what were you thinking!" he hissed when he caught up to Luki. The girl, Miku, was still stumbling after them, terror all over her pretty face. He glanced at her, and she met his green eyes, her own wide with panic, and he glanced away, not knowing what he could say to make her feel better. The prince was whimsical and capricious – he would not listen even if Gumo told him to let her go, and he felt a little sorry that she was dragged into this entire mess. The prince gave him a blinding smile and shrugged, saying nothing.
They ran all the way to their waiting horses, and Luki climbed onto his steed, pushing the girl up with him. She didn't protest, though she did look fearful when Luki settled behind her, getting the black stallion to gallop towards the palace. Gumo followed his master, albeit at a slightly slower pace, making sure that no one was following them.
He didn't want to know what Luki had in store for the girl. If he knew the prince, then he was probably up to no good. Perhaps he had decided that she was someone he'd rather marry, compared to all the other maidens his mother chose for him? That did sound like something the prince would do – but Gumo found himself hoping that this was not the case.
Hatsune Miku had no idea what was going on. One moment, she was just walking through the bustling market, trying to sell some flowers to make money for her mother's medicine, and the next moment, she bumped into a cloaked man who instantly started berating her for touching him. He had the haughty tone of a noble, and she began to panic, not knowing what else she could do. She was afraid he would demand that she compensate him for his inconvenience – she had no money left on her, and she couldn't leave her mother.
When the other man came to intervene, she felt incredibly grateful. He had his hood up and was cloaked just like the first man, so she was unable to see what he looked like. However, he had a voice as sweet and soothing as an angel's, the complete opposite of the first man. She instantly felt better just listening to his voice, which was filled with understanding. And he just seemed so generous and kind as well. For some reason, she immediately felt like she could trust him. And in the end, the first man revealed himself to be His Royal Highness…
Meaning the second man had to be his butler. His Highness' butler was never far from his side. They were the same age, having been raised together in the palace, and she had seen the butler on a few occasions before during royal speeches and ceremonies. She was just a lowly peasant girl, too poor to be invited personally to these events, but she had stumbled across certain proceedings in the past, and wherever the pink-haired prince went, a quiet, green-haired man with emerald eyes was always by his side, never saying a word.
It was the first time she heard the butler speak. She swallowed, hesitantly putting on the dress that the prince had provided her – she felt the smooth material glide onto her body, and she marvelled at how lovely the dress was. She was not worthy of putting on such a beauty. But the prince insisted – he brought her back to the palace and told her to take a bath, then put on the dress one of the servants brought to her. She was unsure why he was making her do all these. She just wanted to return home and see her mother. She had to make sure her mother was well, and that she had taken her medication for today. Her dry cough was getting worse, and Miku was afraid it might be a sign of something serious.
She opened the door, peeking into the room beyond. "I'm…I'm ready, Your Highness," she bowed her head, seeing the prince reclining in a chair, his hands folded together on his lap, looking bored. His butler was standing behind him, muttering quietly into his ear. Both men had discarded their cloaks upon reaching the palace, and she could now take a good, proper look at the butler. She knew what the prince looked like, so she was more interested in his companion. The crown prince, Megurine Luki, was undeniably handsome, but she could not help feeling curious about his butler, whose name she still did not know.
"Oh, look at you. You do clean up well," the prince looked at her, a smug smile on his face. "What did I tell you, Gumo? She could easily pass for nobility. I definitely have an eye for beauty, don't I?" he nudged his butler. Gumo lifted his gaze, looking at her, and his green eyes widened when he saw her. Miku bit her lip. She was surprised to find that the prince was on such friendly terms with his servant. They seemed more like friends than anything else. "Gumo, stop gawking at her. It is impolite of you," the prince's voice was teasing.
"Ah, yes, it is. Pardon my rudeness," Gumo inclined his head, a small smile on his face. So, the butler's name was Gumo…well, now she knew. She stepped out of the bathroom, the dress swishing around her ankles. It was such a lovely outfit, unlike anything she had ever worn. It was nice and thick, and it would be much warmer than the thin clothes she had at home. If she could keep it, she would give it to her mother to protect her from the chill. But she knew the prince wouldn't let her keep this dress. Why would he? It was probably worth more than all her worldly possessions. There was no way she could pay him back for it.
"You can keep this dress. It flatters you," the prince told her airily, and she blinked, stunned by what he said. Did he mean it? He really was generous…he saw the look of surprise on her face and laughed. "My little sister has many other dresses. She will hardly miss this one," he mused. "And I think this pale pink looks better on you than on her anyway. Mizki does not seem to understand that wearing pink clashes horribly with her hair. Is she blind?"
"Pink is her favourite colour," Gumo pointed out. The prince rolled his eyes, sighing. Miku just continued to stand there, unsure what she was supposed to do now. Thank the prince for his kindness? Would she be allowed to go home after that, then? The butler glanced at her again, and there was a kind, warm smile on his face. "You do look stunning though," he told her, and she felt her heart beat a little faster at the compliment. She blushed, lowering her gaze, and nodded in thanks. "I don't think I've seen anyone as beautiful as you are."
"You say that to all the maidens who enter the throne room," the prince muttered. Miku glanced at Gumo, wondering if that was true – if it really was, she would feel just a tiny bit crushed. She really shouldn't since nothing would ever come out of meeting Gumo. He was not royalty, but he was still the prince's personal servant and favoured companion. He belonged to a world that was not hers. She was just a lowly peasant who knew nothing, and he was polite and well-mannered and everything she was not. He probably saw many ladies from the nobility every day. Who was she compared to the daughters of the aristocrats?
"It is only polite. You should be doing the same thing," Gumo reprimanded. Then his tone softened. "But I mean it when I say it to you, Miku. You are lovely," he murmured. She looked up again, blushing, and saw him gazing at her, curiosity in his expression. "You said that your mother is sickly. What kind of illness is she suffering from, if I may be so bold to ask?" he questioned. Her blush deepened. Why was he speaking to her as though she was someone special, as though she was worthy of his respect? She was not a noble lady.
"Um…she's coughing," she stumbled over her words, slow and uncertain. Today was a truly strange day. "And she's always tired, and she has pains in her chest. The doctor says that it might be tuberculosis. I'm trying to save money to help her get treated, but it's hard," she admitted, looking down at the floor. "It's winter and flowers are difficult to find. I have dried ones left from spring, but there are not many and…winter is always the hardest season."
Both men were silent for a while. Then the prince cleared his throat. "Gumo, give her some money and see to it that her mother gets treated," he ordered. "We have a cottage in the palace grounds, you can live there. Gumo, are we in need of any more servants?" he asked.
The butler nodded. "The chef is looking for a new assistant," he explained. "Miku, are you a good cook?" he smiled, and he had the gentlest, kindest smile she had ever seen. She took in a deep breath, wondering if this was a dream. It seemed so unreal. Could something like this really happen to her? She'd always been struggling to get by. Life was cold and difficult, and she was afraid her mother would die and leave her alone, just like her father had…
"I am not excellent, but I can cook," she admitted. Gumo's smile widened, and he nodded at her. She met his gaze shyly, twisting her fingers in the smooth silk of her borrowed dress. If he was really willing to take her in, both her and her mother…she'd be ever so grateful.
"All right, that's decided," the prince declared, clapping his hands. "Send men down to her dwelling and move her mother here. And Gumo, I expect you to get her settled in with the other servants. I must explain my reaction to the Duke of Calendale's daughter to my mother dear, so I will not be present," he grimaced. "Let me know when everything is done. I am curious to see how Gumo will help the girl who so clearly has him enthralled," he added playfully.
Miku's face flamed. She saw Gumo's face redden too. "Don't be ridiculous, Your Highness," he spluttered, shooting her a nervous look. "We have only met for a few hours. You are simply reading too much into things –" but the prince waved his hand idly and got up from the chair, departing the room without another word. That left her with Gumo, and after a moment, he cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze. "Shall we…look for your mother now?" he asked awkwardly. She nodded, trying not to look at him as well. Maybe this was all just a dream.
"You're a good dancer. You learn very quickly," Gumo complimented her. She ducked her head, blushing again – he was spending time with her, teaching her the basics of ballroom dance. She was quite sure he was only saying this to be kind – she had stepped on his foot at least five times in the past two hours, and she felt terrible about it even if he said nothing.
"Thank you for your kind words," she withdrew, giving him a curtsey. He and his twin sister, Nakajima Gumi, were the head servants in the palace, and given that she was one of the servants as well, that made Gumo her superior. She was always mindful to show him the respect that he deserved, especially since he and the prince were the ones responsible for saving her and her mother. The prince himself had insisted on getting the royal physician to look at her mother, and with good medicine and care, her mother had slowly recovered.
Now, her mother was one of the chambermaids, while she was…frankly, Miku was not quite sure what she did. She was originally meant to be one of the chef's assistants, but then the prince looked at her and suddenly declared that confining her to the kitchen was a horrible waste of her beauty. Now, she was usually summoned to accompany the prince and Gumo whenever they left the palace, and the rest of the time she spent with the prince's butler.
"You do not need to be so formal with me," Gumo chuckled, a smile on his face. She bit her lip and nodded – she couldn't help being stiff around him. Around Gumo, she was nervous – she found herself becoming more and more attracted to him as the days passed, but she could never really tell if he liked her back. His greatest priority was always the prince – when Luki called, Gumo would go to him. Miku knew that Gumo would give up everything he had to serve his master. He was probably the most faithful, devoted butler she would ever come across. And that made her reluctant to make her feelings for him known. Would he return them? Or would he simply state that he could not afford to be distracted from the prince?
"I will try my best to remember," she promised. He stepped forward, holding her gaze, and she swallowed, unable to look into his eyes. Suddenly, she felt his fingers touch her chin and she stiffened, glancing up. He was tilting her head, studying her, and he was not smiling.
"Are you scared of me?" he asked, sounding concerned. She shook her head frantically – no, she was not scared. She had never been afraid of Gumo. He was the kindest man she knew. This was someone who went to the garden every day, feeding all the birds and squirrels that made the palace grounds their home. He tended to the flowers, he was on friendly terms with all the servants – it did not take her long to realise that the girls in the palace were all rather infatuated with him, though no one said anything due to Gumo's undying loyalty to Megurine Luki – and he really was genuinely kind. There was no other way to describe him.
"Then why do you hesitate to look me in the eye?" he continued, and his voice was soft. She swallowed. How was she supposed to explain the reason why? She was too shy. She did not want him to know that she had feelings for him, afraid that it would make things between them awkward. "It makes me feel like you dislike me," there was a frown in his words, and she hastily looked up, shaking her head again. He raised an eyebrow, smiling once more. "Miku, I don't expect you to be fully comfortable with me – you've only been here for two months, after all – but it would be nice if you told me about any concerns you may have. I am the prince's butler, one of the head servants, and it is my duty to ensure that you are well looked after."
She felt slightly disappointed when he said that. He treated her like all the other servants – she was simply another person for him to take care of, not anyone special. But what did she expect? She was never anyone special. Before this, she was a simple flower girl, never daring to imagine a life beyond her measly possessions and the fleeting moments of happiness she had. It was already a miracle that she was a servant in the palace now. She should not be so greedy. "No, I do not have any concerns. But thank you for being so considerate, Gumo."
His gentle grip on her chin remained, and she felt his thumb slowly brush her cheek. "If you say so, then that is good," Gumo answered. "How about your writing lessons? You have been practicing, yes?" she nodded obediently, and his smile widened. "That's good. I've been thinking of ways I can help you," he told her earnestly, and she listened, her heart speeding up when she saw the wistful look on his face. "The palace has a few messenger pigeons. One of them is trained to always find me, no matter where I am. I will give him to you – his name is Rupert – and when you wish, write me a letter and get Rupert to fly it to me. I will read it and answer you as quickly as I can, even when I am away from the palace. How about that?"
She blinked. "That sounds like it would trouble you," she ventured cautiously. Of course, she was excited at the prospect of writing letters to Gumo – it would help her practice writing and reading, and it was definitely nice to send him messages – but she did not wish to give him any more trouble. He was already spending a lot of time with her, trying to help her get used to palace life. Her mother, for some reason, had already settled in much faster than she had. She and the other chambermaids were very close, and Miku often saw her mother happily chatting with the rest of the servants after her work was done. But Miku was alone.
Unlike her mother, her duties in the palace were very different, so she did not often get to interact with the other servants. Though they all treated her cordially, she had no close friends, and that sometimes made her feel a little lonely. Gumo seemed able to sense that, and he spent plenty of time with her – in fact, she was certain that if Gumo was not by the prince's side, then he was with her, teaching her new things. He taught her how to dance, how to read and write, how to choose the finest tea leaves, how to enjoy music and poetry, how to appreciate the different flowers in the palace gardens. While she greatly enjoyed his company, she also felt terrible about taking up so much of his time. Was he not tired?
"No, it won't be any trouble at all," he promised, meeting her gaze. His green eyes were so intense, and they were just a shade darker than her own mossy green. He had beautiful emerald eyes. "I greatly look forward to the letters you will send me," he smiled. "In the past, accompanying the prince to other nations and running the occasional errand for him could be rather lonely. But if you send me letters, then…it would brighten my day," his voice became a murmur, and for a moment, it felt like the world only existed for the two of them.
She gazed at him, her heart racing. He was looking right back at her, his fingers still on her cheek, and if her eyes were not playing tricks on her, she thought she saw him leaning just a tiny bit closer. His green gaze was soft and tender. She felt herself tilting her head up slightly, her eyelids lowering. They were so close to each other that if either one of them moved just a tiny bit, their lips would touch – but before anything could happen, the ballroom doors burst open and the prince strode in, looking like he was in a terrible mood.
She and Gumo sprang apart from each other, Miku's heart hammering in her chest. What had just happened? She couldn't help but feel a little grateful for Luki's arrival. Who knew what she would have done if he came in even just a second later. Luki did not appear to realise that he had interrupted something. "Gumo," he called, "my mother wants me to visit the Marquis of Ayre, apparently she promised him that I would talk to his daughter in exchange for a few favours. I don't know why I'm being used as a bargaining chip when it's her personal affair, but she would never let me hear the end of it if I refused," he grumbled.
Gumo's lips twitched. "As you wish, Your Highness. When are we leaving?" he asked, his attention diverted entirely to the prince. As usual. When Luki was in the room, it was as though everyone else ceased to exist. Miku tried not to feel jealous about that – he was the prince's butler so naturally, he paid Luki the most attention. She suddenly found herself wishing that she could just fade into the background and disappear. Luki shrugged.
"Tomorrow morning," he said carelessly, running his hand through his messy pink hair. The prince had hair that was impossible to tame. She had seen Gumo try on many occasions, but the tousled locks would come loose after a while, tumbling around his face. Though it did add to his roguish charm. The prince initially came across as rude and arrogant, but as she got to know him better, she realised that he could be very caring towards those who were important to him. Despite how often he grumbled about his mother, the Queen, he loved her deeply. His little brother and sister, Yuma and Mizki, also looked up to him a great deal.
That was why she could never fault Gumo for his dedication to the prince. The prince was a kind man, though that was often not obvious from the beginning. And she knew that it was the prince who insisted on Gumo receiving the same education as himself, meaning that Gumo viewed him as not only a master but also a benefactor. She understood perfectly. And she knew that she really shouldn't feel upset that Gumo gave him so much attention.
"Tomorrow morning…?" Gumo echoed. "That is very soon. Perhaps you will be able to put your writing skills to the test sooner than you thought," Gumo turned towards her, giving her another sweet smile. She smiled back, though hers was a little shaky. She was afraid of writing to him, knowing that her letters were still rough and her spelling still atrocious. She was afraid that he would laugh at her efforts, but as he continued to gaze at her with that tender smile on his face, the more she knew that she was simply overthinking things.
"Oh, yes, Miku. Here you are," the prince suddenly seemed to notice that she was in the room as well. "You grow lovelier every time I see you," he observed, approaching her slowly. She was tempted to back away, but that would be rude, so she held her ground, lowering her gaze. The prince stopped right in front of her. "Spare me the formalities. Come on, look at me," there was amusement in his words, and she peeked up, feeling shy. He just grinned at her. "You have a smile that would light up all of Azaria. I wonder how is it that I never met you sooner," he mused. "Maybe if I had you brought into the palace as a child, you would have the same upbringing as Gumo, and I could convince my mother to let me marry you. You certainly are beautiful enough to satisfy her. Like a diamond in the rough."
She felt her face warm. When the prince talked so casually about marrying her, she didn't know how to respond. She would never dare imagine life as a princess – and quite frankly, she did not want to. She was content being a palace servant and being treated like any other person. Being the princess, being royalty – all this seemed to require so much effort and self-awareness. The royal family had to be on their best behaviour at all times. It must be so suffocating to live that way. "You flatter me, Your Highness," she told him modestly.
"And you are too hard on yourself," he shook his head, blue eyes dancing with merriment. "If I wanted to give my mother a good shock, I would tell her that I intend to run away with you…" he leant down towards her, whispering in her ear. "But then I'm afraid I would have to answer to Gumo. He would never let me hear the end of it," he confided.
She glanced at the butler. Gumo was staring at the prince, and for once, she couldn't really read the expression on his face. He definitely did not seem pleased, and she wondered if he was upset that the prince was talking to her so intimately. She knew she was of low status and the prince should not be interacting so familiarly with her. She had no right to even be in the same room as him. "Your Highness, it is not proper of you to speak to me like we are friends," she told him, flustered. "I am but your lowly servant. The queen would not be pleased –"
"Oh, enough talk about my mother. Bringing her up does nothing but worsen my mood," he sighed. He glanced at Gumo as well, then turned back to wink at her. "Do you want to play a game with me?" he asked. She stared wonderingly at him, and he grinned. "Stand here," he instructed, making her move to a position right in front of him. She was unable to see Gumo from where she stood. "And just stay very, very still," he added, his blue gaze intense.
She obeyed. "Close your eyes," his voice softened to a whisper, and again she listened. She felt his slender fingers on her face and she wanted to protest, but she recalled his order and forced herself to remain silent. The prince approached her, and she could feel his breath on her face – she shivered, suddenly very aware of how close he was. His thumb stroked her cheek gently, and her fingers clenched the fabric of her dress. Then Gumo called out.
He sounded panicky. "Your Highness, what are you doing?" he exclaimed, hurrying over to them. Her eyes flew open and she let out a breath she didn't realise she had been holding. Luki blinked, staring innocently at his butler, and Gumo touched her shoulder, catching her attention. Her breath caught. There was a frown on his face. Was she in trouble for getting so close to the prince? She shouldn't have listened to him. "Did he kiss you?" he asked.
She shook her head, unsure where this was going. The look of relief was so obvious on his face that she wondered if she was seeing things. "Your Highness, you need to stop being so capricious," Gumo scolded his master, letting go of her shoulder. "You are the prince, you need to begin acting like one before the Queen decides to lock you in the palace for good!"
"All right, all right," Luki held up his hands in surrender. "I swear Gumo, you're worse than my mother. First, you stop letting me steal candy from the kitchen, and now you won't let me talk to my favourite maiden," he let out a long-suffering sigh. Miku blushed. Since when was she Luki's favourite girl? Or perhaps he was just teasing her. That seemed more likely.
Gumo shook his head. "I don't want you being a bad influence on her," he told him tersely. She was startled by that response – she thought Gumo would be more concerned about the prince than for her. "Miku is pure and sweet, unlike you. Your heart must be made of coal."
"Your words hurt me," Luki let out another exaggerated sigh. "Come, Gumo. We need to prepare for our trip tomorrow. We will be gone for a few days," he addressed her, and she nodded in response. "Therefore, you are free to do as you wish while we are away. But I assume that Gumo would want you to update him regularly regarding what you do. He is ridiculously overprotective," Luki rolled his eyes. Gumo tried to argue, but the prince cut right across him. "Send him letters so that he will not drive me insane with all his fretting."
She nodded again, this time hesitantly. Gumo appeared to have given up on the prince, instead just shaking his head every so often while his master spoke. "Don't listen to him, Miku," he mumbled. "But…" he met her gaze, and he looked almost shy. Her heart nearly stopped. "If you do want to send me letters, I won't complain," he confessed.
"I'll write to you," she promised, blurting the words out thoughtlessly. Gumo's smile was as bright as the sun. He thanked her, and he sounded so sweet and genuine – Luki just looked on, clearly bored, and a few seconds later he dragged his butler out of the room, declaring that he wanted to get his mind off visiting yet another simpering, vapid maiden.
Miku wondered what she had gotten herself into. She was terrified of writing to Gumo – he was so cultured and refined, and he was everything she was not. She knew that the letters she sent would be horrible compared to his. She knew she wasn't really anyone important or special to him. Gumo cared for all the servants equally – he probably got all of them to write letters to him too. But all these thoughts still didn't manage to calm her racing heart.
She was getting used to receiving his letters. Even when he was in the palace, Gumo liked to write to her. He had beautiful, elegant handwriting, and it made her feel horrible about her own scratchy, ugly letters, but the first time she admitted that she hated her handwriting, he promptly told her that it didn't matter – it was what she wrote that was most important.
Gradually, her handwriting began to improve, and she grew more confident about writing to him. There was an unconscious smile on his face as he read her latest letter to him – it was a fairly short letter describing her day. She woke up and visited the birds in the garden. There was a small deer which sometimes ventured into the palace grounds too, and she was right now in the process of trying to befriend it. The roses were blooming, she told him. And Gumi was very good at making desserts. He always knew his sister was an especially talented baker, but reading it in Miku's letter made him chuckle. He could imagine the wonder in her voice.
She didn't know it, but he kept every single letter she wrote to him in a small wooden box, each and every one painstakingly folded and packed together. Whenever he found himself beginning to miss her, he would take the letters out of the box and read every single one all over again, tracing his finger against the careful black strokes. He knew that her first letters – the short ones which hardly told him anything, which were messy and shy, the sentences short and uncertain – took the longest amount of time for her to write. It was so easy for him to write back to her, and he took for granted just how quickly he could craft a letter.
Miku took far, far longer than he did to write a single sentence. She was born into poverty and did not even know how to wield a quill, much less write with one. He taught her how. He wanted to teach her new things, but secretly, he also wanted her to learn how to write just for this reason. He wanted to receive her letters and read them when he was unable to be near her. The letters were like representations of her – it was like seeing her and holding her, hearing her sweet voice telling him about her day, witnessing the lovely smile on her lips.
He missed her. Gumo sighed, reaching out to stroke Rupert. The pigeon cooed, waiting for him to write a letter in response so he could deliver it back to her. Gumo was currently in another state, collecting something for the prince. One of the noblemen had a gift for the prince, hoping to gain his favour, and the prince was too lazy to make the trip himself so he sent Gumo on his behalf. He would make the journey back home tomorrow, and it would take three days. Three days before he was finally able to see Miku again. He smiled.
Truthfully speaking, he had never expected to grow so fond of her. He had always thought of her as lovely, but with the passing of the months, he started to realise that he was more than just physically attracted to her. She was shy and sweet, easy to fluster, her face going red at the slightest tease. Sometimes just standing close to her could make her nervous. It had gotten better as she steadily became used to him, but sometimes he would accidentally brush against her – though not always accidentally – and she would leap away, face flaming.
But even her constant embarrassment was adorable. The only thing Gumo couldn't stand was the way she always belittled herself, claiming that she was only a lowly servant who had no right to be near the prince…or near him. It wasn't that Gumo didn't understand. But he wished that she would know her own value. The prince had not decided to bring her back to the palace due to her social status. He did so because of some other reason, something else he saw in her that he thought would be valuable. And Gumo was glad he brought her back.
She was intelligent, though she did not think that about herself. She picked up new things quickly, and though she never mastered anything from the very first instant, she learnt fast. It was a delight to teach her anything new – she took in knowledge and remembered things easily, though she always insisted that she hardly knew anything. And she was kind. Miku was the sweetest girl he knew. She often made little flower chains and gave them to the children of the palace servants. All the children adored her. Small animals went willingly to her, eating from her hands, and the palace servants had nothing but praise for her.
Sometimes, when he looked at her, he found himself wishing that he could just lean over and cup her face in his hands and let his lips ghost over hers, a brief kiss just so he would finally know what it felt like to touch her, to taste her – but then he would hold himself back, knowing that he would frighten her and…knowing that he could not do such a thing. His first loyalty was to the prince. He didn't know if he would ever be able to have another person in his life. He couldn't disobey a single order the prince gave him. But then Miku…
He couldn't deny that he loved her. When he looked at her, his chest felt tight, and he just wanted to hold her close to him and bury his face in her teal hair. She looked so vulnerable, and he wanted to protect her. He could still remember the first time he saw her, with her red-rimmed eyes and her shaking shoulders and the most delicately beautiful face he had ever seen. He loved her, but he couldn't have her. He didn't know if he could ever hold her.
Gumo did not want to hurt her. That was the main reason why he never said a word about his feelings for her. He thought that she might like him too – her shyness, the way she would peek at him from underneath her eyelashes, the way she seemed to hesitate when she said his name, glancing away when he caught her eye – he suspected that his feelings were not unrequited. But what could he do? He couldn't just run away with her into the sunset. He was Luki's butler, the person the prince trusted the most in the world. He couldn't be with anyone else. Loving Miku would compromise his devotion. It would tear him in two.
Yet the possibility of Miku falling for someone else hurt. It was a selfish wish. He was perfectly aware of that. If he was unwilling to do anything, that he should not hold her back from finding love elsewhere. But his heart grew heavy at the mere thought. Before he met Miku, he never found anyone else who could make his heart race. He genuinely enjoyed the company of others, but he never yearned to be near them. He didn't wish to spend every waking moment with them, and he didn't feel disappointed when they told him they had to leave. When Miku shyly said she had to go and walked away from him, it took everything he had to not call out to her and plead with her to stay with him. But he never said a word.
Luki was sick of him pining. Right before he sent Gumo on this errand, the prince drew him to one side and tersely told him to make his move soon. "If you don't, then someone else will. You are not the only man in her life," he reminded Gumo. The prince's words felt like cold water being thrown all over him. He knew that the prince spoke the truth.
He wasn't the only servant in the palace, and there were others who found her beautiful as well, others who did not make their attraction to her a secret. All this time, Miku never said or did anything to indicate that she was aware of the other men, but it was still something he felt nervous about. If he waited too long…Luki was right. But again, how could he break the promise he made as the prince's personal servant? He served his master with utmost faithfulness. He couldn't make space for anyone else in his life. He sighed, his heart heavy.
Picking up a blank scrap of parchment, he dipped his quill in ink and began to write. There were so many things he wanted to say, but he kept it brief – he responded to everything she told him in her letter, about the birds and the deer and the blooming flowers. He jokingly asked if Gumi made any pastries for him, and told her to take good care of herself. The tip of his quill hovered over the surface of the parchment, wondering if he should admit in ink that he missed her – something about writing it down made it seem so tangible, so concrete. In the end, he changed his mind, signing off and rolling the parchment up.
He attached the letter to Rupert, and the messenger pigeon flew out of the window, going back to Miku. He gazed out of the window, watching until the silhouette of the bird was gone. He wished he could return to her too. But wishes were nothing but empty dreams.
He held her hand tightly, concern all over his face. Miku was lying in bed, a small white towel on her forehead. She was running a fever, and he hadn't left her side all day.
Shortly after he returned, Miku came down with the flu, and while he knew that she would eventually recover – the royal physician reassured them that it was not tuberculosis or any other life-threatening disease – he was still worried. She seemed terribly ill. Her hand was frail in his, and he gently ran his thumb over the back of her hand, watching her.
"Please get well soon," he whispered, pressing his lips to her skin. She was so cold. It pained him to see her suffering this way. Even when Luki became ill…Gumo was concerned about his master whenever he got sick, but he didn't feel the fear he did right now. He feared that she would never wake up. He feared that she would worsen and succumb to her illness. He feared – he feared that she would slip away from him before he had the chance to tell her how he felt.
"Gumo…?" he heard her voice, weak and tremulous. He looked up at her, relief spreading through him – she was finally conscious. She had been tossing and turning the entire morning, and he sometimes heard quiet moans slipping past her lips. It made her sound like she was in so much pain. "You're here…" she whispered, and she tried to sit up in bed. But he didn't allow her to rise, instead gently pressing down on her shoulders, making her stay there.
"You need to rest," he murmured, catching her gaze. Her eyelids were slightly lowered, and her long eyelashes almost hid her green eyes. Even when she was ill, she was lovely. "Don't try to do anything today, alright? I just want you to stay here and recover. It'd break my heart if anything happened to you," his grip on her hand tightened as he stroked her fringe away from her face. She frowned woozily, looking like she wanted to protest, but he pressed a finger against her lips. "Don't argue with me. As the head servant, I'm telling you to just get some sleep and make sure you recover," he insisted. Finally, she relaxed, even smiling a bit.
"I'm glad you're here," she told him quietly, closing her eyes once more. She didn't release his hand. His heart clenched. "I…I dreamt that you would be here when I woke up. And you really were. Maybe this is still a dream," she continued, her eyes remaining closed. Gumo tensed at her words, studying her intently. There was a dreamy little smile on her face.
"One of the servants woke me up this morning and told me that you were terribly ill. And you know…my heart stopped for a moment," he admitted, leaning closer to her. Though she was ill, he could still smell the faint fragrance of roses. It emanated from everything she had – her pillow, her blanket, her long hair, even her breath. He could not smell the stench of illness, and if he hadn't known she was sick, he would have thought she was just sleeping. "The only thing I could think of was going to you and staying by your side. I knew I wouldn't be able to focus on anything else if I didn't check up on you myself," he shook his head.
"Thank you for caring about me," she answered. "It makes me happy to know that you were so concerned. Did you…did you read my letters?" she suddenly asked, her soft voice hesitant. His grip on her hand tightened. She was so important to him. He couldn't afford to lose her.
"Yes. Every single one of them," he murmured. "I keep them all with me every day. And I take them out and read them whenever I find myself missing you," he watched her, and she relaxed, smiling again. Was it a mistake to have said all that to her, knowing that he couldn't ever be with her? But he had to say it. He couldn't just pretend that he didn't care.
"I keep all your letters too. You have…beautiful handwriting…" her voice was beginning to trail off. Gumo swallowed, wondering if she would continue. "And I get really happy…when I see your letters. I can pretend that you're really there with me even if you aren't," she softly admitted, and unconsciously, he reached out to touch her cheek, his fingers lingering on her skin. Every word she spoke made his chest tighten. How could someone be so exceedingly precious to him? He had never cared so much for anyone else before. Not even for the prince.
Her words were slurring slightly now. He was sure that she was beginning to drift in and out of consciousness, so he didn't want to keep her up any longer. "Go to sleep," he told her. "I will stay with you until you wake up again," he brushed his thumb against her delicate skin and she nodded, her eyes slowly opening once more to look at him. He met her tired gaze.
"I'm glad that you're here. I'm so glad…glad that I came to the palace and met you, Gumo," she whispered. Her hand reached up towards him, and he felt her brush her fingers against his lips. He caught her hand and moved it so that she cupped his face, and he leant his cheek into her palm, his heart racing at her touch. If only she knew the kind of effect she had upon him. "You promise you'll stay? Even if…even if Luki calls you?" she asked, voice wavering.
He hesitated. Desire warred with duty – he knew that if Luki were to summon him, he'd have to go at once, no matter what. But at the same time, he never wanted to leave her side. Part of him was frightened that if he did, her condition would worsen and she would slip away into unconsciousness forever. He wanted to be there when she woke up – he wanted to be there when she was fully recovered, laughing and smiling again. "I promise I'll stay. Even if he calls me," he finally answered. He spoke the truth. Her smile was a tender, beautiful thing.
"I love you," she told him, the three simple words making his heart stop. It took a while for him to decide how to respond, and by then she had already fallen asleep – her breathing was calm and even, and there was a look of peace on her face. He bowed his head, placing one hand over his heart, trying to get it to stop racing. But he couldn't help the joy which spread through him when he remembered what she said. She told him that she loved him.
"I love you too," he whispered, leaning over and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. He knew he couldn't be with her, not fully. He was already devoted to someone else. It wasn't fair to her to always have to fight with Luki for his attention. But everything he told himself in the past – his promise to stay away from her, his promise to let her go to someone else – it was all forgotten. He couldn't get her sweet voice out of his head, and he knew then that he had fallen hopelessly and irrevocably in love with her. He didn't know what to do.
No matter what, he couldn't turn back now. He would find a way to make this work out. Luki was his master, the one person he could never leave. He swore he would serve him forever, and he would uphold his promise. But Miku was his weakness. He would die to protect her. And being without her, at this point, just seemed like an impossible thing to do. The mere thought of losing her terrified him. He swallowed. "I love you," he repeated, though he knew she was unable to hear him. "More than you know. I wish I could let you know…"
But he couldn't let her know. Would it be better if he never told her that he loved her? He hesitated. The peaceful, gentle sounds of Miku breathing, her delicate fingers intertwined with his – all this made him not want to think about it. Instead, he closed his eyes and laid his head down beside her, inhaling her scent. Maybe he could think about this some other day.
A/N: This is kind of a request for Shirai. We were being all, 'R&C Gumo is super cute' but I told her I don't ship him with Miku because of the age gap. Then we came up with this idea for a butler Gumo who is basically sweet and lovable just like R&C Gumo and ship him with Miku. Also, Shirai asked for them to send letters to each other through messenger pigeon, so there you have it.