Taro gave a quick smile as he handed the older woman the treys she would be serving to the royalty of the palace. He was one of the few male cooks, though the Fire Lord insisted he made meals worth the title of running the kitchen. He wiped ivory strands of hair from his forehead with his arm; breakfast was done so he had a few hours to cool down and wash up.

"Taro!" Shino almost ran into him. Her face was as excited as that of a five-year-old, and he knew that could only mean something bad was happening. Regardless, he wrapped his arms tight around her before pulling away. She tensed and patted his back. He was sweaty from work and knew that always disgusted her. She took tasks that required less work, but he wouldn't dare call her lazy.

"What is it?" He watched her golden eyes shift to the sound of his voice. Taro courteously opened the door for her and she smiled in thanks, walking into the hallway with her. The sad part was he knew Shino didn't really care for him, but at the same time he was the only person who put up with her. He was the closest thing she had to a friend, and for some reason he wanted more than that.

"Well, I heard some of the nobles speaking with the Fire Lord today…" She was whispering now, perching over his shoulder. He arched a brow curiously; servants may hear things they shouldn't but they were never to speak about them. She always found a way to bend the rules. "And this week a noble is bringing his daughter here, to meet Prince Sozin!" He gave her a look to hint she was speaking too loud. She bit her bottom lip with a smile and he sighed, returning it.

"Why's that excite you so much?" He stopped outside her chambers, knowing she wouldn't want to walk to the men's hallway.

"It can lead to so many changes…Sozin is already kinder than the Fire Lord and Lady…and once he marries he's soon to take the throne soon." It was the dazed glint in her eyes that caused him to frown. This all went back to her hope of Sozin noticing her; particularly the way he noticed Bai. She claimed she was too good for all this work and labor, how one day she wanted to be on top of it all. Despite her malicious nature about it all, he admired her ability to hold onto such hopeful thoughts. Wishful thinking for a servant who only arrived a few years ago; he wondered if it would start to deteriorate as time went on.

"You shouldn't get your hopes up so much, Sozin will stay loyal to his Nation but I'm not sure he'd go along with an arranged marriage. It's a new time, y'know?" Ha gave her a knowing look that twisted her frown into a smile. "Walk with me?"

"Where?" She arched a brow with a faint smirk.

"The garden." He held his arm to her and she hesitated before taking it, walking outside with him.

Daiyu made a 'hmph' sound as she turned the corner as the youth exited. Arranged marriage? It was only so long before Bai found out. How would it affect her? Terribly. She knew she would have to deal with her daughter's heartache but it was certainly a lot sooner than she'd expected, and with Shino already opening her mouth it was only so long.

She would admit that the pair did share a peculiar bond, Shino and Taro. She would also admit that Taro was far too genuine and good-natured to be attracted to such deceptive beauty. Shino was a fair girl with glistening golden eyes and silky black hair. That was where her beauty ended. She was rotten inside, filled with jealousy and lust and lies. He was going to get his heart broken, too. Only his case would be unrequited love, right? At least she wouldn't have to deal with his tears.

"Ma!" Bai called from the room. Daiyu lightly rolled her eyes before entering. "Look…" She whispered, gesturing for her mother to shut the door behind her. Daiyu peered over the velvet box in awe. A gold necklace with the Fire Nation emblem. It was beautiful. Beautiful and real. How she wanted to rain on her daughter's parade and tell her he didn't love her. How she wanted to say he was marrying a noble's daughter, that they could take the necklace and leave. It was worth so much…so much money, they could have their own house away from the palace with middle-class work.

It was the look in Bai's eyes that changed her mind. She was so innocently excited. Daiyu brushed the scanty strands of graying brown curls out of her face and smiled warmly to her daughter.