As this is in first person, I may make some mistakes concerning the character's personality. Please tell me if there is anything wrong.

Disclaimer: I do not own Uta no Prince-sama or any of the characters. I only own my OCs and the plot.

Let the show begin!

Chapter I

I woke up early in the morning, like I do every day, getting ready to carry out my tasks. The sun shone through the small window in the room where I sleep. It was a very small window, just like the room itself. The room only had a cot, which I used as a bed, and a small chest, where I kept my things, if I had any. The walls were thin, and they didn't keep out the cold very well, but it was enough for me. I was used to it. I got up from my not-so-comfortable 'bed' and adjusted my dress. It was not really a dress, more like a dress that has been overused. It would be described more as rags.

"Nanami, you worthless slave! Get up, you lazy lass and get to work!" came the harsh voice of my mistress. It sent a shiver down my spine, frightening me to the core. I rushed upstairs, and found my mistress waiting for me. She was holding a list in her hand, and a long, thick stick in the other. Her glare terrified me especially that I knew what that stick was capable of.

"Y-yes, ma'am?" I said quietly, to which she growled.

"Don't slack off, Idiot!" she yelled, shoving the list at me, along with a small bag of coins. "Now go and work, you worthless idiot! Don't dare sit down before your work is done!" I nodded and rushed out of the house before she gets angrier. I closed the door and sighed, looking at the list in my hands. I had a lot of tasks to do, but who am I to object? No one will believe a slave.

My mistress, Nora, lived in a large house in a small village known as 'Holan'. This village was famous for slave-trading. Each day, I would see lots of slaves coming here to be sold. They were beaten and treated cruelly by the traders and their masters, save for a few who are considered lucky. I saw fellow slaves each day at the market place. Some would be there with their masters, helping them out with their tasks, and some would just be like me, doing work for their masters.

I walked through the village, heading to the tailor's shop. Her name was Leena. She was one of the few who treated slaves well. Usually, when my work is done, I would sneak out and spend some time with her, listening to her speaking about foreign lands. Such stories were interesting to me. Oh, how I wished to go out and see the world, to travel around the isles, exploring that mysterious world out there. Unfortunately, I had to snap out of these dreams before I could forget my duties.

"Hello…?" I called out as I walked into the shop. Leena was there, working on a dress. She looked up at me with a smile, waving at me.

"Oh hello there, Haruka. How may I help you?" she asked kindly, putting her tools aside. I walked over to her and bowed.

"Yes. My mistress sent me to pick up the dress she ordered." I said. The young woman pointed to a dress that was put on a mannequin in the corner of the shop. It was a white dress with golden linings and a golden bow and the middle. A silken long ribbon was tied to each sleeve. The dress was simple, but it looked lovely. I carefully picked it up and carried it over to Leena.

"Thank you, dearest." she took the dress and folded it carefully, placing it in a bag and handing it over to me. "Just be careful with it, dear. You don't want your mistress yelling at you for that. As for Eiichi's travelling clothes, they will be ready tomorrow." I nodded and thanked her then walked to the door. Before I left she said, "Oh and, come by at dusk, dear. I have something for you…" Something for me? What could that be, I wonder. But there was no time to wonder. I had to get my work done first.

Next, I headed to the market to buy some food. The smell of fresh bread and pastries filled the air with its sweet, delicious scent. I saw most of the people look at me degradingly. They were those that detested slaves. When I walk past them, they would scoff and turn away, or shove me harshly out of their way. I didn't mind it and went on, buying the things that were on the list. After a while, I was almost done. I walked back to the Baker's to buy the bread, but then I saw it.

"Nobody is capable of making bread as fine as mine in the isles! How can you, a slave girl, judge my bread?!" The baker yelled. The girl he spoke to was a young girl, about 16-17 years old. I recognized her by sight. She was a fellow slave who was called Haruka, like I am. She was always silent, rarely speaks to anyone. I managed once to speak to her, but she didn't speak much to me. She was standing there in front of the baker; holding up several loafs of bread.

"It was not me. My master said: "Shove these disgusting rocks in that idiot's face!" So I am back here…" She said. The woman glared at her and shoved her forcefully. Haruka landed on the hard ground with a thud, and the loaves of bread fell by her side. Her ragged dress got its sleeve torn due to the forceful act of roughness. The people standing were all shouting at her, calling her names and making fun of her. They soon dispersed gradually. The pale girl was still on the ground, gathering the now ruined bread. I knelt down by her and put the things I held down.

"Are you okay?" I asked, offering my hand to help her up. She looked up at me with her peculiar-looking crimson eyes for a while, as if she didn't know if she should trust me or not. It was not long before she took my hand and got up, thanking me quietly. I looked at the dusty bread. "What are you going to do now…?"

"My master is going to punish me…" she said, her face stoic as ever. Did it not matter to her anymore? Could it be that she was so used to it? She turned to walk away, but before she could leave, I grabbed her arm. She was thin and weak. I guessed she had not been eating well lately. I didn't want her to be punished. It could kill her. I had to do something.

"Wait…" I said, pulling out five golden coins and handing them to her. "Take these back to your master." She looked at me with shock and surprise.

"B-but… Your mistress will-"I quickly cut her sentence off.

"No. Don't worry about that." I said with a smile. "I know what to do." She bowed and thanked me with a smile.

"I owe you a lot, Nanami…" She said. "Thank you." With that, each of us went back to our respective houses. Luckily, my mistress was busy, talking to her son. I placed the things I bought down in the kitchen next to the cauldron, and then went to my room. I opened the chest in the corner and go out five golden coins I have saved. I quickly went back upstairs and picked up the bag where the dress was put, and then I put the coins with the others, so my mistress would not suspect anything. I went to the main room, where she and her son were sitting.

"I'm back, mistress." I said quietly. She looked at me with a harsh glare and got up, walking to me.

"Have you done all your tasks?" She asked. I nodded and held out the bag I was holding. She looked into the bag and then back at me. "Where are Eiichi's clothes?"

"The tailor said they'd be ready by tomorrow, ma'am." I said, hoping she wouldn't snap at me. She didn't, much to my relief.

"Where is the rest of the money?" She asked. I gave her the bag of coins. "She counted them and turned away. "Good. But you were late. No supper for you tonight." I frowned at the statement, but I could say nothing. I simply walked back to my room and sat down. Then I remembered what Leena told me. I had to sneak out of the house and come back while they didn't see me. The best time to do that was when they were having supper. I went to the kitchen and cooked their meals like I do every day. After I set the tables, I walked out of the kitchen and went to my room again. After a while, when I was sure they were in the kitchen, I sneaked out and rushed to Leena's shop.

"Ah, you are back, Haruka." She said with a smile and handed me a package. "Here, his is a gift from me to you. I hope you like it, dear." I smiled.

"Thank you, Leena." I said. "But, why are you so nice to slaves like me?" I tilted my head with a confused look. Leena blinked then laughed softly.

"Well, you might not believe it, but I have been a slave myself for a long time." She said. "I know how a slave feels when he is treated badly by people." So that's why she was not as haughty as other people. Leena was a really nice example for a noblewoman. If only there were more people like her.

"I need to get going now. Bye." I said, walking out of the shop and back to the house. I sneaked back in and went straight to my room. Sat down and opened the package carefully, and I couldn't suppress a smile from appearing on my face. It was a dress; a light blue one with blue ribbons decorating it. It was the same dress Leena was working on that morning. I felt so happy, but I had to hide the dress, or else, my mistress would take it or worse; rip it to shreds. I folded it carefully and placed it in the chest before locking it. I was so tired by that time. My eyelids felt heavier by the minute, and before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

Okay, so that's all for the first chapter, everyone. The next chapters will be longer than this one, I hope. And I hope someone will read this. If so, I'd love to hear your opinions, minna.

Until next time. :D

KuraiHaru17