A/N: Continuing on, we're branching out to other characters here. This chapter is just as important as the others. Thanks to Elder Master as always. Enjoy.
(Winter Palace: Noble Apartments)
Nagisa had taken the night well, despite her feelings and overall misgivings. Though the same point still remained, even after a night's rest, Nagisa couldn't help but feel all of her freedom had been taken away. It was as if Nagisa's voice had been eviscerated from her throat. Nagisa spoke of course, but only words came out. No will, no power and no acceptance of individuality. Was this as it would always be here from now on? Would Nagisa simply be some fixture in a life of luxury? To become nothing more than a woman of muted power and of will?
Nagisa fought the burning sensation of having her metaphorical skin cauterized as she looked into the mirror. She could see her youthful face. There were so many things she hoped to accomplish by this stage in her life. Was it all for naught? The expression on Nagisa's face was one from well beyond her years, as if she had been broken in, in just one day. Did Her Highness really care?
"Or is this all she wants?" Nagisa whispered as she pulled the strings of her nightgown and exposed her nude form. This was perhaps the only time Nagisa cursed her beauty. Perhaps she should follow her earlier statements, because she wondered if clothes truly did mean nothing without reason. And if Nagisa was not allowed to have any reason then…
"I suppose I should just…." Nagisa paused as she began to sob. Her slender hands made to shield her eyes as she felt a blanket cover her back.
"Milady should not be so hard on herself. If you start crying now, what will the rest of the day bring?" A soft voice said from behind her.
"Tamao…?" Nagisa asked as she rubbed the tears from her eyes.
"You will catch cold if you stand here naked like that. What is wrong, Milady?" Tamao said with the soothing voice as she led her Lady to sit on the nearby couch.
"I am no longer free. Tamao, when I went to sleep last night I hoped, I prayed that I was delusional and would wake at home, or perhaps back on the road." Nagisa said with a shaky voice.
"I understand Milady." Tamao said as she gathered Nagisa's nightgown and folded it. "But I do not think standing here naked is going to solve the problem. Additionally, you will fall ill; the Russian lands are much colder than those of the Teutonic lands." Tamao stated factually. Nagisa realized that Tamao was scolding her with a history lesson, but this was Tamao's way. So Nagisa sought to further vent her frustrations.
"Tamao, if I am going to be nothing more than a …" Nagisa was cut off as Tamao turned around glaring at Nagisa, as if she had just been betrayed.
"Milady, do not speak of yourself like that! I will not hear it! It is uncalled for!" Tamao shouted and then quickly covered her mouth with her hands. However, Nagisa got the message. Perhaps she was being too pitiful.
"I am sorry, Tamao. I did not mean to make you cry out like that. I realize that you have held me in high regard all of these years. I am not being fair to you either." Nagisa said as she pulled on the blanket. Tamao quickly scrambled to take the awkward weight from Nagisa's shoulders.
"Milady, I did not…"
"Tamao! Allow me to take responsibility. I was the one who said it. So allow me to bear the shame of speaking so thoughtlessly to a friend." Nagisa said as she rose to her feet.
"Milady…" Tamao managed to say before she turned around quickly to choke on her tears out of sight.
Nagisa quickly stopped her advance and pulled Tamao into her arms. Tamao blushed brightly as her cheek touched the warm bare shoulder of her Lady. There was something Tamao wished for at that very moment. It was something that was not of her known mind, something that had absolutely no place in a servant's mind. Something, something, something …
"I am fine Milady, I am quite all right." Tamao said as she made herself pull away from what felt like glue. Forcing the 'something' out of her mind, Tamao quickly left the room and returned with Nagisa's undergarments.
Erring on the side of caution, Nagisa decided that talking would exacerbate an already awkward situation. So Nagisa remained silent. As Tamao went about dressing her, Nagisa felt Tamao's hand's linger along the small of her back and along her hips. Again, not wanting to make the situation worse, Nagisa remained quiet as Tamao finished.
"I am finished, is there anything the matter?" Tamao asked as she stepped back into Nagisa's line of sight.
"Now that I think about it, my chest is a bit tight. I thought that maybe it was because of the stress, I was feeling the tension." Nagisa reported. Tamao giggled and pulled out a small diary and made notes in it.
"Milady is still blossoming. So it is not surprising that she needs a bigger bust." Tamao said brightly as she continued to make notes.
"T-Tamao, I am not a flower." Nagisa stated nervously. Though it was indeed strange, just a moment ago she was standing in the nude staring at herself. She didn't even notice when Tamao had entered. But having Tamao talk like that, it just, for a moment …
"But of course you are, Milady. I think that you a very beautiful." Tamao said without missing a beat. "You will have to deal with the tightness until I can alter at least one of your undergarments.
… it made Nagisa feel beautiful.
"I - Oh! I have that function with Lady Hikari!" Nagisa remembered.
"That is why you have a simple outfit. Here." Tamao said as she handed off a letter. "Also, Chiyo will accompany Milady. I will set about to doing the alterations." Tamao said as she walked over and knocked on the door towards the rooms that she and Chiyo occupied. The door promptly opened.
"You will be going with Milady for this afternoon. I have to alter Milady's clothing." Tamao stated as Chiyo finished her bow. Seeming a bit perplexed, Chiyo tried to remember if her Lady's clothing had been damaged requiring Tamao to have to fix it.
"I do not recall any damage to Milady's clothing." Chiyo stated.
"Milady is still a blossoming woman that is all you need know. Now, you both will be late. Off with you!" Tamao ordered.
"Y-yes!" Chiyo said as she skittered to the doors in the front of the room and opened them.
"Do not let Tamao get you upset. She is just very anxious about her duties." Nagisa stated as both left the room.
"I am aware of this. But Milady, with what happened last night, is it such a good idea …" Chiyo cut herself off promptly remembering that she was not with Tamao so she did not have any right to address without being spoken to first.
"The Sun is out this morning, Chiyo. Let us enjoy it with new friends." Nagisa stated as the two continued down the long hallway.
(Winter Palace: Noble Apartments: Hikari's parlor)
"That is your third pudding." Hikari stated sourly. "Our guests have not even arrived yet."
"I have the Lord watching over me. I do not need you to do so as well Hikari." Yaya said as she enjoyed the aforementioned sweet.
"I-I am sorry." Hikari said as she tried to hide the ball of emotions that attempted to play across her features.
"Really, that Amane …" Yaya said completely ignoring the cobalt stare that cut into the side of her face.
"That is quite enough." Hikari stated flatly.
"If she does not tether herself to this palace the next time she arrives, I feel that I may have to. For all that is Holy." Yaya once again jabbed.
"I wonder; where is young Tsubomi? She should be here attending to her elder Sister." Hikari returned.
"That girl is tending to the chapel, as is her duty. I remember when I was the younger Sister. I was never allowed a moment's piece during the day. There are always floors to scrub, pews to polish and candles to light." Yaya said not even breaking away from the dessert.
"And you expect her to perform duties at night as well. What a horrible elder Sister." Hikari said with a smirk.
"You should not speak like that of Tsubomi; she enjoys her daily labors surprisingly." Yaya said in disbelief.
"Someone who does not complain whenever the elder Sister is away. That is surprising." Hikari said in reference to Yaya's younger days.
"Tsubomi is very dedicated and headstrong. In fact she made me give her the duties." Yaya said flatly. Just as Hikari was going to continue with a witty retort, the doors to her parlor opened and Nagisa stepped in wearing a simple dress.
"We thought you may have gotten lost Lady Nagisa, but it seems you found your way." Yaya said as she waved from the table.
"You are normally dressed today?" Nagisa asked as Chiyo pulled the chair from the table and allowed her Lady to sit.
"Not everyone follows their nose like you Yaya." Hikari sniped again.
"I hope you have that letter Lady …" Yaya was cut off as she saw Nagisa begin to speak.
"You may call me Nagisa. I see no reason why people who have shared their table with me cannot call me by name." Nagisa said as she noticed Chiyo take her place. Nagisa saw another maid standing off to Hikari's side but not one next to Yaya.
"That is correct; a nun has to move her own chair." Yaya said somewhat crestfallen. "In any case, I hope you have that letter. Hikari has been irritable all morning. It is not like her to be so … what's the word…" Yaya was cut off by Hikari clearing her throat.
"Yes. Here…" Nagisa said as she handed the letter to Hikari. The latter simply set it off to the side of the table.
"All of that trouble and you are not going to read it?" Yaya asked.
"Not in front of you, I am not. These are private thoughts, private precious thoughts." Hikari said as she took the envelope into her arms and smiled sweetly.
"You see Lady … I mean Nagisa right? All that Cossack has to do is send Hikari a simple letter and she melts all over again." Yaya said as she received another cold stare. "In any case, tell me what your homelands are like. I have never been to Germania."
"They are not really that special." Nagisa said flooding with modesty. Truth be told, she would rather be back there right now.
"Do not be silly. I know you do not like this 'ice land'. The truth is most Russians dislike the winter like any other people would." Yaya stated sourly.
"Is that right?" Nagisa asked. Knowing that it would probably made her feel better to talk about her former home and to fulfill Yaya's curiosity. Nagisa began by clearing her throat.
"Have you ever been to a land with fields filled with grass as far as the eye can see?"