Chapter 4: Persuasion

Hello all!

I'm so sorry I haven't updated in such a long time. I've spent quite a while thinking about how to continue this story and I've come up with a vague plan which involves a lot of luke-bullying. hehe :) Just kidding. But I do hope you like the direction it is going and I hope you are having a fun summer! Please do leave a review as well :)

Love mushimushi123

"You have no idea what it is like to be blind or have needs or be stamped about in this world. So I ask you do not associate yourself with a commoner blind woman such as me"

"Your right that I have no idea what it is like to be blind or not be accepted by this world. And I, Prince Keith, do not like not knowing something. So I shall experience it and find out for myself. Tomorrow I will be blind then I will be proud enough to speak to you, Lady Yukina…"

The next day…

KEITH

"LUKE LEFT… LEFT A BIT! YOU INSOLENT FOOL! THE PICTURES WONKY!"

I come up with an excellent way to find out what it was like to be blind. Using Luke as my experimental specimen…I blindfolded him and asked him to continue his daily work but he kept making more mistakes than usual. I sighed watching Luke stumble off the ladder with a loud "OUCH". Maybe this wasn't the most efficient way of understanding what Yukina was talking about. I shook my head…Why was I so bothered by what she said? But I really dislike not knowing about issues and any information could be beneficial to the kingdom of Liberty.

Yes. I'm conducting research for Liberty. Not for that silver-haired woman!

"Onii-san? What are you doing?"

I turned round to see Cathy at the doorway, her face showing complete confusion at a blindfolded Luke currently sprawled on the floor. I grinned in excitement.

"I'm conducting research, Cathy"

"…On what?"

I explained thoroughly about the issue that Yukina had told me about not understanding the world through her eyes. If there was anyone I trusted…it was Cathy. She would help me find an answer. Cathy looked at me astounded and glanced at Luke before sighing.

"Oh…Onii-san…I think the best way to find the answer is to ask Yukina herself!"

"I would not do so! That woman told me to stay away from her"

She looked curiously at me.

"It never stopped you before Onii-san. Since when have you listened to what she says?"

"I-I never,"I stuttered red-faced,"W-why should I see such a rude woman?"

Cathy tilted her head and placed her finger to her lips thinking.

"Onii-san…then how badly do you want to know? Enough to let go of your pride?"

"I will not bow to such an uncultured swine"

"…Then do you want to know? About what it's like to see things through Yukina's eyes? Because the best person to ask is the one knows best, don't you think? I mean when you wanted to know about the theory of gravity, didn't you go to Isaiah Newston?"

I stared moodly at the ground. I really hated it when Cathy was right.

"I'll ask her for you then, onii-san! I don't think you're quite capable of asking her right now especially if you're on her bad side!"

I slowly nodded in agreement. It'll take a miracle for her to say yes though…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

CATHY

I exited onii-san's room and began walking to my piano lesson with Yukina. I reflected on my conversation with my brother and smiled at Luke being so obedient despite my brother's stupidity. My brother knew a lot of things but he was not very good at speaking with other people and lacked…empathy. He was a good brother and leader and I loved him and I loved how he would do anything for the kingdom. But I knew that there was more to this meeting with Yukina than meets the eye - Why would he bother? I laughed to myself and smiled. If anybody saw me in the corridor, they might think I was crazy. However, I believed that, if Yukina agrees, that she would be the only person in the world that could change the way my brother sees things.

George Bernard Shaw once said,"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything". Indeed, I hoped that a certain silver-haired girl might change the way my brother thought about the world and make it a better place.

I smiled to myself.

Indeed, what kind of person would onii-chan become if he saw things through Yukina's eyes?

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

YUKINA

I sat in the bench in the garden waiting for Cathy to come for her lessons. I had a couple of pieces in mind for her that I thought she might want to learn. I smiled. She was such a breath of fresh air and a very sweet girl. I imagine that she would be quite pretty considering her heart was beautiful too. The stories she tells me about her brother seemed to be quite different to how I've met him so far. A very rude arrogant man.

A gentle breeze passed by and I could hear the leaves rustling and quiet footsteps of the servants walking. I imagined what the castle of Liberty would be like? Was it so amazing as that arrogant bastard had said? I wonder if he cared about the poor and the unfortunate as well as the greatness of Liberty.

I shook my head. Why should I think of such an unpleasant man?

"Yukina-sensei!"

Ah Cathy must be here. I smiled and opened my arms as she raced and hugged me tight.

"Cathy, you can just call me Yukina!"

"Oh no! I admire you too much to just call you Yukina"

I scowled. Yukina-sensei felt so old but whatever. It didn't matter. I sighed and then smiled at the direction of her voice. I found her arm and hooked it with mine.

"Shall we start your lesson then, Cathy?"

"Ah…Yes…but before that, I have something to talk to you about!"

I tilted my head in curiosity.

"Um…it's about my brother actually…I want to apologise first for his rudeness"

"It's no issue at all. I…myself have difficulty talking to him…agreeably as well…", I admitted embarrassed. It was not a lie that everytime he spoke arrogantly, I wanted to argue back.

"Oh! It's okay! I sometimes get mad too at onii-san. He can be very insensitive some- actually most of the time…"

I laughed at her confession.

"Well…You know the other day when you told him that he couldn't understand the way that you see the world-"

"How do you know? Were you there?",I asked curiously. As far as I was aware, I distinctly heard her walk away.

"Er…My brother told me…Anyways, I was wondering if you could do that?"

"Do…What?"

I was confused. What on earth did I have to do for that ignorant lump of arrogance?

"Well…Just teach him what it's like to be…you?"

"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand what you're asking me to do?"

"…Yukina, you're one of the wisest people I've met so far in my life. And my brother…well he's so clever and passionate about Liberty but I feel like he could do so much better if he could see things through your eyes…"

"I'm blind, you know that?"

"I mean…I'm curious too. How do you live with such a condition?"

I smiled.

"Alright, I accept your offer for the benefit of Liberty. Ask your brother to meet me tomorrow morning at 8am at Liberty Entrance with a carriage. We'll head to town that way"

"Er…What are you intending to do?"

I began to walk towards the direction of our piano room and turned back.

"Show him how I live with my eyes"

Even if I choose to live this way…