Author's Note: Hi, annoying author's note here. I have to take a moment before this chapter to let you all know how freaking amazing my guest reviewer Cristal's fan art is! You all need to check it out ASAP! I'll leave the link at the end of this note, but you will have to edit the link because FanFiction sucks when it comes to sharing these things. Just remove the spaces and substitute what's in the parenthesis with you know what.
As for you, Cristal, be proud of your art! Your style is adorable, and the colors are absolutely gorgeous! It's so beautiful I don't know what to do with myself! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love it so freaking much I can't stop using exclamation points!
Thank you again, Cristal, for you gorgeous artwork! Seriously, you all to need to go to her profile and give that fan art a like! On with the update!
- Fantastical
www. Instagram (dot c o m)/ p/B7sy9hhnmtY/
"You have to be joking," Kaito said, rubbing one eye as the other glared at Master Tonio's face on the screen. Sunlight peaked through a split in the curtains, letting in a sliver of the early morning sky. "You want me to do this now?"
"No," Master Tonio drawled, "I woke you up at dawn to tell you about this highly important mission for chuckles. I don't really want to send you to investigate. After all, it's no concern of mine what the Thorns do in your continent."
"I detect sarcasm."
"Then I think you know what's expected of you."
Looking at the time, Kaito turned back to his tablet and growled, "It's six in the morning. Did you really wake up at midnight to inform me of this?"
"Who says I went to bed in the first place?" Master Tonio didn't give Kaito an opportunity to respond. "You volunteered to help this cause on your own free will, and by doing so, you pledged to help me in any way necessary in order to prevent this rebellion from becoming a true threat. We need to snuff out this flame before it gets out of control and there's collateral damage."
"The Thorns already blew up a school," Kaito reminded him.
"Schools can be rebuilt. Lives lost can never be found again." Master Tonio sighed. "It's that girl, isn't it? Hatsune Miku?"
The need to protect ignited in Kaito. "Leave her out of this!"
"Don't worry, I have no plans to involve her," Master Tonio promised, "but you have to ask yourself if you're comfortable with her knowing what it is you're doing for me."
"I thought you wanted to keep your operation a secret," Kaito pointed out.
"I do," Master Tonio confirmed, "but I don't think keeping secrets is healthy in a relationship. If you believe she's trustworthy, then I won't protest to your telling her."
At Kaito's frown, Master Tonio continued, "Any fool can see that you have developed feelings for this girl, but that doesn't mean you two are suitable for each other. Think of Wil and Mew: they are partners and equals both in love and in life. They live and fight side-by-side. Is that what you desire for yourself, or do you merely want a pretty girl to come home to everyday to distract you from the chaos of the world?"
"What are you saying?" Kaito asked. "Do you want me to end our relationship?"
"That's not what I'm saying," Master Tonio answered. "Despite how it may appear, I don't disapprove of the match. The point I'm trying to make is why are you keeping Ms. Miku in the dark? Are you afraid she will not approve of your undercover work, or are you afraid she will want to join you?"
"Miku will never want to join the hunt to squash a rebellion." Kaito snorted at the idea. "A lady like her is too delicate to even think of doing such a thing."
"Then at least let her know what it is she's getting into if you decide to marry her," Master Tonio advised. "If she herself wouldn't join such a cause, then it's possible she wouldn't support it either. If she doesn't support it, you might be forced to choose between that and her."
"Then I suppose the best choice of action is to never tell her, or at least not until we put an end to things." Before Master Tonio could reply, Kaito said, "Now, if you will excuse me, I have a lady to disappoint since it seems I'll be investigating the Thorns instead of taking her on our date. Expect my report by this evening."
Master Tonio started to speak, but Kaito hung up before a word could be said.
Standing, Kaito ran his fingers through his hair and opened the curtains. Rising sunlight poured in, overflowing the room in a lavender hue. It was a beautiful day, and Kaito was sad to miss it.
Tell Miku? Kaito questioned. What is Master Tonio thinking? Then Kaito stopped to wonder what he himself was thinking. Four months ago he left home with the intention of investigating the rebellion, finding a potential wife not even on the agenda. Now here he was, considering whether or not to throw it all away so he could spend more time with Miku. It made canceling on her a much harder task he was not ready to complete.
After she had dressed for the day, Rin sat on the floor and opened a book she had borrowed from the Shion library. Ms. Shion Kaiko had told Ms. Hatsune that she was welcome to borrow any book she desired, and Ms. Hatsune passed that permission onto Rin. Of course, Rin knew Ms. Hatsune had no right to give her permission to read any of the Shion books, but Rin didn't let that stop her. Not when Rin wasn't interested in reading the same three books again and again during the three weeklong stay.
Rin knew Ms. Hatsune returned to her room when the door slammed shut and she stomped across the floor. Looking up, Rin watched Ms. Hatsune throw herself face first onto the bed. Ms. Hatsune huffed and remained motionless.
With a frown, Rin returned to her book. She had finished the chapter and started the next when Ms. Hatsune got back up. Her face was red and tear stained, but she seemed more determined than anything else.
"What are your plans for today?" Ms. Hatsune asked, sounding calm.
"Whatever you wish, my lady," Rin answered.
"Then would you care to join me on a trip to the beach town?"
Rin furrowed her brows. "Isn't that the journey you and Lord Shion intended to take together?"
"It was, until he canceled on me." Ms. Hatsune sighed. "It would have been nice if he told me why he had to cancel. Oh well, nothing to be done about it now."
"But why request my presence?" Rin asked. "Certainly, Lady Shion or Ms. Shion would be fine company."
"They have obligations they can't postpone," Ms. Hatsune answered. "Besides, I don't think I know them well enough just yet to want to spend so much time alone with either. At least I'm so used to your presence that spending the day with you can be enjoyable."
As she felt her face grow hot, Rin said, "If that's so, then we can leave whenever you please."
Her neck also began to burn as Ms. Hatsune smiled at her.
Sketchbook in her lap, Miku occasionally looked up at Juliet CV02 before returning to her latest masterpiece. Unknown to the Juliet, Miku was attempting to draw the blonde as she read one of the Shion books. She was so lost in the words that Miku was confident Juliet CV02 had no idea what Miku was doing.
As she drew, Miku noticed little things about the Juliet. How her brows furrowed, how she occasionally smiled, and how she blinked as her lips parted slightly all conveyed what she felt as she read. Miku had never seen anyone so invested in a story. Either the book was really good, or Juliet CV02 was able to lose herself in a story just as easily as Miku was able to lose herself in her painting. It was then Miku realized that no matter how well she captured Juliet CV02, her sketch could never be a masterpiece when compared to the real thing.
She's pretty, Miku thought as she tried to draw the arc of Juliet CV02's delicate nose. Not in a Cinderella way, but in a . . . more natural sort of way.
All Miku's life she had been lead to believe beauty came from clear skin, long hair, and lacey dresses; any and every weekly beauty treatment was a must. Yet Juliet CV02 had freckles that hinted at a childhood spent under the sun, hair cut no longer than her chin, and the plain clothes all Juliets wore. Even though she grew up receiving no beauty treatments of any kind, Juliet CV02 was pretty as if to defy all of Artemis's core beauty standards. For a fleeting moment, Miku wished she could be that sort of pretty too.
Kaito didn't know and didn't want to know how Master Tonio was able to give him the exact address of the possible hideout for the Thorns. The address lead to a brothel of all places. There was no way under the lavender sky Kaito would dare step foot in such a business. For one, it would ruin his reputation if it were made known he was seen walking into a brothel; and another, he would have no choice but to tell Miku the truth if she knew he canceled their date to go to a house of prostitutes. If Miku would even believe the truth in the first place.
"Nope, nope, nope nope nope," Kaito muttered walking away.
Is this Master Tonio's idea of a joke? I wouldn't be surprised if he's laughing at me right now. "Oh, that Shion child. So gullible." Yet at the same time, Kaito couldn't help but wonder, But what if there's something worth investigating in there after all?
"Why, if it isn't my perfect cousin," Akaito said, slinking in. "I never in a hundred years thought I would catch you eyeing such a filthy business. Especially in broad daylight!"
Perhaps Akaito knows a way for me to get in.
"Never have I," Kaito agreed, making a show of looking this way and that. "I suppose when a man considers settling down, he gets . . . curious."
Akaito raised his brows. He leaned in and whispered, "You have never been intimate with a woman, have you?"
"Mother wasn't wrong when she often joked how I would grow into an old man behind a desk, married to my studies," Kaito replied, feeling uncomfortable. He knew where this conversation was going, but it was the price to pay if he were to get inside the brothel without anyone knowing who he was. "Except now that I think I found my future wife . . ."
"You want to try studying a whole new subject altogether," Akaito finished. "I don't know, cousin, I doubt you're in the physical health required to keep a pace to please a lady."
"Then I suppose it would be best to learn as much as I can now so I can surprise my bride on our wedding night." Kaito tasted slime as he said the words. He felt dirty.
"But you fear ruining your reputation." Akaito shrugged. "You're such a stickler, you know that?"
"More like I fear any of those harlots claiming I'm the father of her child," Kaito said, and hated himself. "How many times has such happened to you?"
"That is a good point," Akaito replied. "No harlot cares about the men they're with until they land one who has money. Actually, that's most women regardless of caste or profession."
"Perhaps you should try courting Cinderellas instead of the lower classes," Kaito suggested. "Cinderellas more often than not have some good standing in their finances."
Waving a hand in the air, Akaito said, "Let's not worry about money and other such things right now. You have need of a teacher, but you desire private lessons. Don't worry, I know a way to get you in without anyone else knowing any better."
It was both a success and a failure to hear Akaito say that.
The moment the carriage door opened, Miku took in a lungful of air.
"Oh, I love the smell of sea salt!" she exclaimed, jumping out of the carriage, ignoring the driver as he held his hand out to her. Miku turned around and called to the Juliet, "What do you want to see first? The beach, the museum, or the antique shop?" She gasped. "Or the flea market, perhaps?!"
Juliet CV02, also ignoring the driver, climbed out of the carriage. "A place with a toilet is a great first visit," she said, wringing her fingers.
"Yes, great idea, Juliet," Miku agreed, feeling her own need to go.
Fate decided for them. The first place they found with a rest room was an antique shop. After they finished, both girls looked around the store.
"Old things are so fascinating!" Miku loudly whispered.
"Reminds me of home," Juliet CV02 said, running her fingers along an old wooden table. She then snatched her hand away before any of the employees noticed her touching the merchandise.
"My old home, I mean," she quietly corrected herself.
Miku looked at Juliet CV02 and tried to imagine her as something other than a servant. "Where are you from?"
"A village in the Hera District. It was really small and not immediately connected to any major cities."
"Did you like it?"
Seeming to consider her response, Juliet CV02 said, "It wasn't perfect, but I liked it for what it was."
They walked together through the aisles, silent as Miku tried to summon more questions to ask. "What did you do when you lived in the Hera District?" she asked quietly as if to not be overheard.
Juliet CV02 raised her brows. "Do you mean for work?"
"Yes, I suppose."
"I mostly worked on my father's farm," she answered. "I also worked the odd jobs at a tailor shop, a bakery, and a church. The church was my favorite."
"Is that where you learned to read?"
The question got Juliet CV02 to smile. Miku thought the smile lit up Juliet CV0s' whole face.
"Yes," the Juliet said. "I began working at the church when I was twelve. The pastor thoroughly believed anyone no matter man, Cinderella, Alice, or Juliet should be able to read the Bible. He taught me to read, and he taught me to write as well. Soon I devoured every book in the church library during my free time. There were quite a few books on history and science. It was never much, but I received my primary education that way."
"Impressive you started learning later in life but still can be equal to the Cinderellas at the academy," Miku whispered. They were at the far end of the shop now. The corner was filled with old puppets and kid toys, all staring at the girls as if they threatened to spread word to the whole world about these two interacting almost as friends instead of mistress and maid.
"I retain knowledge very well," Juliet CV02 said. Not as if she was bragging, but merely stating a fact. "I also always had a knack for problem solving, thinking things through, and planning ahead. The cost of this is I have no real talent." She shrugged. "Though as a Juliet, perhaps not having a talent is a blessing. I can't begin to imagine having a passion your caste would never allow you to chase after."
Whereas a Cinderella has all the opportunity in the world to pursue higher education and find her talents and passions. Miku knew Juliet CV02 didn't say what she did to make Miku feel guilty, but the guilt came nonetheless. When Juliet CV02 was twelve, she was working at a church and learning to read and write. When Miku was twelve, she wasn't doing anything important, just giving her tutors a hard time because she didn't want to study the lessons they had prepared for her.
"Are you ready to go?" Juliet CV02 suddenly asked. "I would like to see this flea market you mentioned."
"Yes, I'm ready," Miku answered, looking at the Juliet as if seeing her for the first time.
As they walked out of the antique shop, Juliet CV02 leaned close and whispered, "Do they really sell fleas at this market?"
Miku furrowed her brows. "Haven't you ever heard of a flea market before?" Yet when she looked at her companion, she saw the Juliet grinning.
"You!" Miku lightly slapped Juliet CV02 on the shoulder. "That wasn't a funny joke."
"No," Juliet CV02 agreed, "but your response was funny. Though I am surprised you know what a flea market is."
"Oh, shush." Unable to stop herself, Miku laughed. The Juliet began laughing along with her. Walking together down the crowded street, Miku couldn't help but think she and the Juliet were acting almost like friends.
For the first time in a long time, Rin felt her walls weaken. She let the mask slip away. In this moment, she was no longer Juliet CV02. Not until she had to be Juliet CV02 again. Before then, she could be Rin once more.
Nobody looked at her twice. If anyone thought it was odd to see she and Ms. Hatsune interact, they didn't show it. For the first time in her life, Rin felt nobody knew or cared what was tattooed onto her wrist.
"Oh, pretty!" Ms. Hatsune exclaimed as she studied each and every painting on display. While Ms. Hatsune gushed over the paintings of flowers, Rin studied the more abstract ones.
"Hmm." Rin tilted her head to the side, trying and failing to understand what it was she saw.
"What's that?" Ms. Hatsune asked as she approached.
"I don't know," Rin answered. "A bird? Tea kettle? Demon?"
Snorting, Ms. Hatsune said, "And here I was thinking it could be an upside-down tree."
After their trip through the flea market, Rin and Ms. Hatsune ventured through the museum, and then finally the beach. They stopped to purchase sandwiches to eat as they walked barefoot along the shore. Rin curled her toes into the sand.
"I never did this before," she admitted before taking a bite of her sandwich.
"Me, neither," Ms. Hatsune replied as she swallowed. "The ocean is so beautiful."
"When you're not drowning in it," Rin commented.
"Agreed," Ms. Hatsune didn't hesitate to say. They walked a while longer before coming across a bench. Sitting down, the two watched the sun set.
"Thank you for coming with me today," Ms. Hatsune suddenly said.
Blinking, Rin looked at her and replied, "Well, you did order me to come."
"Asked," Ms. Hatsune corrected. "I asked you to come, and you were great company. It was nice, having the opportunity to spend time with you and get to know you. Juliet . . . you're not like anyone I have ever met."
Rin tried not to roll her eyes. She used the time to chew and swallow the last bite of her sandwich before she said, "Well, it's not like you know many people with blood rose tattoos."
"That's not what I mean," Ms. Hatsune insisted. "You're smart, funny, down to earth – there's so much more to you than meets the eye. Like . . . one of those books you're always reading. There's so much inside for me to read but so little opportunity for you to open up. I feel as if I'm barely past the first chapter."
Rin's face burned so much she knew was blushing. Looking away, Rin hoped her hair, short as it was, did something to conceal her flushing cheeks. "You are not who I thought you would be, either," she softly confessed.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you're kind, caring, and you don't see my tattoo. You see me. It's . . . it's been a long time since anyone has really seen me for me, not the rose."
The silence stretched on, and Rin, believing she had said the wrong thing, looked at Ms. Hatsune to apologize. Yet when she turned her head, she saw Ms. Hatsune staring at the sunset, lips pressed together. It was the look Ms. Hatsune had whenever she was in deep thought.
"This caste system is so unfair," she whispered, and Rin blinked. Never had she ever expected a Cinderella of all women to ever say anything like that.
"I beg your pardon?" Rin didn't know if she heard right.
"This caste system makes no real sense." Ms. Hatsune stared at her wrist, at the silver crown tattooed there. "When we're five, we're visited by the Sisters who read the stars and use the stars' alignment to tell them what tattoo to give us as we scream from the pain? How do the stars predict our future? What do the stars know? They're stars! I wouldn't be surprised if some of the greatest women who ever lived never had the chance to do anything with their lives because a Sister forced a rose onto her wrist and told her she had to be a slave. I—"
"Ms. Hatsune!" Rin hissed. "Don't speak such blasphemy aloud. Even you aren't exempt from flogging for speaking against the goddess and her children."
"I don't think I believe in the goddess," Ms. Hatsune whispered. She looked at Rin and cautiously asked, "Do you believe in the goddess?"
Not even stopping to wonder if this could be a trap, Rin didn't hesitate to answer, "No."
Ms. Hatsune didn't reply to that. She sighed, stood, and said, "We best be returning to the Shion manor. I don't want Lady Shion to worry about us."
"You're the only one she will worry for, Ms. Hatsune," Rin replied as she stood and began walking alongside her mistress.
"Miku," Ms. Hatsune corrected, saying her name more out of habit than expecting Rin to address her by her name.
"Miku," Rin tried, surprised to find how easy it was to say Ms. Hatsune's given name.
Ms. Hatsune, Miku, looked at Rin, brows raised. Then, she laughed a little and smiled. Rin couldn't help but smile back.
"You have to be the pickiest bastard I have ever met," Akaito told Kaito after he walked out of one of the rooms, harlot not far behind, and found Kaito sitting in the same seat at the bar he was in when Akaito left.
Kaito blew some of the hair out of his face. Why Akaito had a black wig on him, Kaito neither knew nor wanted to know. At least it gave him the opportunity to search around without anyone suspecting who he was. Too bad there was nothing to discover. This place seemed to be nothing more than a standard brothel. Master Tonio really had sent him here as a joke.
"None of the girls are rubbing up on you either," Akaito pointed out as he sat next to Kaito and ordered a drink.
"They all gave up when they realized I'm not interested," Kaito replied, requesting another water as the bartender filled Akaito's order.
"You are such a pain. Here, let me call a girl over." Ignoring Kaito's protests, Akaito called, "Hey, Galaco! Over here!"
Eyes narrowed, a girl with light brown hair marched over.
"Not tonight, Akaito," was how she greeted the Shion. "Even Master agrees you should not be allowed to touch me until you repay the dress you tore when you couldn't undress me fast enough."
"Not for me, sweet cheeks," Akaito purred. He threw his arm around Kaito, "I meant for my friend, Zeito. He's kind of inexperienced," Akaito mumbled the word, but Kaito still elbowed his cousin for it, "and I thought you would be the perfect woman to show him where to put his weapon and how to please a woman in the process," Akaito finished, undisturbed.
"May you be infested with the fleas of a thousand dogs," Kaito growled low enough for Akaito to hear. The red head merely shrugged.
"Just trying to help you out," Akaito replied before returning back to Galaco. "So, will you help the poor soul?"
Galaco glared at Kaito as if she wanted to say no to spite Akaito. Then, "Fine, but not for you."
Not giving Kaito a chance to respond, Galaco turned on her heel and began marching away. Kaito didn't know what else to do but follow. When Akaito called out for "Zeito" to enjoy himself, Kaito had to keep himself from spinning around and throttling his cousin.
Once they entered the room, Galaco sat on the bed and asked, "So, how shall we proceed? Or, do you have any questions? Lots of young men have questions their first time, and I've heard everything, so don't be embarrassed if you must ask something."
"Actually, well," Kaito muttered, twiddling his thumbs, "I don't really think I want to proceed."
"Hmm?" Galaco crossed her elegant legs and rested her chin on her palm. "Then why are you here?"
With her arm upright, Galaco's sleeve fell down to her elbow and exposed her wrist. Kaito looked closely at the blood rose tattoo on Galaco. There was no thinking as he stepped forward and took her arm. He was gentle as he pulled her wrist closer to his face, but Galaco still growled in warning. Yet he paid her no mind as he saw that her tattoo was different from the identical tattoos all Juliets had.
"This rose has thorns," Kaito mumbled, dropping her arm. "You're part of the Thorns, are you not?"
Galaco grinned. "Whether or not I'm a part doesn't matter. Although if you're wondering if I support them, the answer is yes."
"You're a fool to admit that so openly."
"Please," Galaco rolled her eyes, "we're still too small to be a real threat. Yet, anyway. Artemis's society wasn't built in a day, and neither will taking it down happen in a day. It could be years before any progress is made."
Kaito didn't know if Galaco was ignorant about the attack on the Equinox Continent or merely pretending to be. "I heard a Juliet from the Shion manor was abducted last week. Is that true?"
Frowning, Galaco seemed to think about her response. "I heard a Juliet whose mistress is visiting the Shion manor was kidnapped but then let go, if that's what you mean."
"Why would anyone do such a thing? Kidnapping a Juliet just to let her go? Not unless . . . someone was wondering if she brought news. I doubt Juliets have access to phones and wouldn't use them to discuss battle plans if they did."
"Look, sir," Galaco then said, "we could sit here all day talking about conspiracy theories, but unless you plan to sleep with me—"
She was cut off when Kaito dug in his coat and pulled out his wallet. After dragging out a few bills, he handed them to her, saying, "This is double than what you normally make, isn't it? I have no problem paying you to keep your clothes on and then tell everyone otherwise when our hour is up. All I ask for in exchange is we talk."
Galaco looked at the bills in his hand for a long, silent moment. She then took the money, tucked it into her bra, and replied, "What do you want to know, my good man?"
The sun had set by the time Miku and Rin were on the carriage ride back to the Shion manor. Rin shivered although the Summer Continent was not all that cold. Whatever happened between Miku and her that afternoon seemed to linger. When they entered the carriage, Miku sat beside Rin instead of across from her. For most of the ride, they discussed art, and Miku offered to teach Rin how to paint. Even now, as Rin thought of her mistress, the Cinderella was no longer "Ms. Hatsune" in her mind. She was Miku. Calling the Cinderella by her given name felt too personal, yet now that Rin started, she didn't want to stop.
Their conversations came to an end when Miku yawned and expressed how tired she was. It didn't help how early the sun set now that it was winter, and Miku must have not slept much the night before. Dozing where she sat, Miku rested her head against the glass. If there was still light, Rin would have read, but she didn't mind listening to Miku's soft snores instead.
Readjusting in her sleep, Miku turned her body just enough so that her head now rested on Rin's shoulder. Rin stiffened, her heartrate going from resting to sprinting in a record of two seconds. The unconscious Miku slept on as if undisturbed by the change.
This is fine, Rin told herself. Miku's hair tickled Rin's chin, and Rin bit the inside of her cheeks to keep from giggling. There's a pretty Cinderella asleep on me right now. Nothing to freak out about. Just shut up and wake her when we arrive at our destination. You can do that.
After a minute, Rin found herself leaning her head to the side. She slowly kept leaning until her cheek rested on top of Miku's head. Sighing, she closed her eyes and breathed Miku in. The Cinderella smelled of vanilla and jasmine flowers. Her turquoise hair was soft to the touch, and Rin subconsciously ran her fingers down the hair laid across her lap.
Despite the long distance travelled, the carriage came to a stop far too soon. Rin opened her eyes to see they had arrived back at the Shion manor. Shoving aside her disappointment, Rin began to shake Miku.
"Huh?" The drowsy Miku sat upright and rubbed her eyes. "What is it?"
"We're here," Rin said. "We're back at the manor."
"So soon?" Miku yawned. "Do you suppose dinner is ready?"
Always thinking about food. "I suppose you'll need to go inside to find out."
Again both of them hopped out of the carriage without accepting help from the driver. They walked side-by-side into the home, down the hall, and towards the dining room. The smell of spices filled the air.
"Oh, it smells delightful in here!" Miku exclaimed. To Rin, "What do you think smells so good?"
Rin didn't get the chance to answer before a familiar face stepped into the halls.
"How about we go find out?" Lord Shion suggested, smiling at Miku and seeming to make a point to not even look at Rin.
Bitterness rose up in Rin like bile. Their day had been fine without Lord Shion. He didn't have to ruin it by showing up at the end.
Miku, however, seemed far more forgiving. "All right, but I must let you know that you missed out on a fun trip to the beach town. It was rather enjoyable."
"Many apologies," Lord Shion said, stepping forward and taking Miku's hands in his own. "I had business to attend to, but I vow this shan't happen again while you're here. After asking you to spend the holidays with me, I would be an awful host to ignore you the whole time you're my guest."
"Apologies accepted," Miku replied, "but I will hold you to your vows, Mr. Kaito. My friends are expecting all kinds of stories when the spring semester begins, and you owe it to me to have plenty of stories to entertain them."
Lord Shion kissed the back of Miku's hand. Rin wanted to swat him away as if he was nothing more than a fly. "Let's go to dinner then, shall we? I want to hear all about your day."
Watching as Miku and Lord Shion linked arms, Rin swallowed the building lump in her throat. She began to follow them down the hall. When Lord Shion noticed this, he said, "Tonight is a private dinner."
"Oh?" Miku arched her brows.
"My family is entertaining guests. We want as little disruption as possible."
Rin understood what Lord Shion said before Miku did. He was asking Miku to dismiss Rin. Hoping against hope, Rin desired for Miku to refuse.
However, what Miku did was turn to Rin and say, "I shall have a plate sent to my room. Would you mind drawing a bath for when I return?"
Forcing a smile onto her face, Rin replied, "No, Ms. Hatsune, I do not mind."
Miku winced, and Rin knew it was because she switched back to calling her "Ms. Hatsune" after spending the last few hours addressing Miku by her given name. Guilt mixed in with the bitterness. Even though she told herself she had to address Miku as "Ms. Hatsune" in front of Lord Shion, Rin knew she addressed her mistress so formally out of spite.
Unable to do anything save watch Miku and Lord Shion walk away, Rin blinked back the rising tears. It didn't help, for the tears came too fast for Rin to stop them. Rin marched towards Miku's room, cursing herself as she futility tried to wipe her tears from her face.
The anger and sadness became a swirling mess inside of Rin. Her chest didn't just ache. Her very heart hurt. Struggling to breathe, Rin thought she was going to die the pain was so intense. She couldn't understand why her heart was breaking.
Then the thought of a broken heart gave Rin clarity. She had to stop in her tracks as the realization poured over her. The pain, anger, sadness – Rin did know this feeling. Until now, she didn't put a name to it. Now she understood the purpose, the label behind the pain in her chest.
I'm jealous, she thought before crying harder.
Miku was pleased to see that the guests were none other than Zola Wil and Mew. They greeted Miku with warm smiles, and Mew planted a kiss on Miku's cheek.
"We had to make a point to visit before the holidays kept everyone tied," she told the younger Cinderella.
"We're so glad you could make it," Kaito told the couple before introducing them to his family.
"It's an honor to meet you," Kaiko said, curtsying after the introductions had been made.
"Likewise," Akaito added, not so much as bowing.
If Mew and Wil noticed Akaito's lack of manners, they didn't acknowledge it.
"After that cake you brought on that picnic," Wil said, "we knew we had to try the rest of the Idun District's cuisine."
"Someone might leave ten pounds heavier if you feed him too well," Mew teased, poking Wil in the side.
Hearing Mew's words, Miku tried not to pinch her softer stomach. Although she was determined to not care so much about her weight, that didn't mean it would flee her subconscious. The Summer Continent food was so rich in flavor and spices there was genuine effort on Miku's part to practice some restraint.
"It will be a compliment to us if that were the case," Ms. Yanhe laughed, and that alone was enough to ease Miku's racing mind. "Come, let us eat before the chicken gets cold."
All sitting together at the table, Kaito and Wil were almost immediately engaged in a hushed conversation. They spoke too quickly for Miku to pick up on what either of them were saying, and it was clear they would want to step away to converse in private after the main meal was done. Trying to take her mind off the men, Miku allowed herself to get lost in the lime taste of the chicken and the cilantro seasoned quinoa.
"How have you liked your time in the Idun District thus far?" Mew asked Miku. While Kaito and Wil were lost in their discussion, the rest of Kaito's family talked plans for Christmas. This left Miku and Mew as the only ones not partaking in a conversation.
"I have enjoyed myself greatly," Miku answered. "We visited the beach town, browsed an antique shop, and saw the museum. That's been the best part of my visit thus far."
Something about Miku's comment had Mew frowning. "'We'?" she questioned. "I thought Kaito had business to attend to today. That's why he and Wil need to talk."
"I'm sorry, I should have explained." Miku wiped her mouth. "Kaito canceled this morning for . . . whatever this business is. So instead I went with Juliet CV02, the Juliet assigned to follow me."
Miku didn't know it was possible for Mew to frown even more. "You and your Juliet?"
Brows pinched, Miku asked, "Is there something wrong with that?"
"No, no," Mew answered. "I'm a little surprised is all, but it's nothing." She smiled.
As Miku returned the smile, she couldn't help but wonder what Mew was now thinking about. She had some ideas. Miku didn't like any of them.