Chapter 5: Last days
Misaki stood in the center of the ballroom. A thick volume of Noble Women's Etiquette balanced on her head as she gingerly performed dance steps under her mother's scrutiny. Misaki felt her tight dress cutting off oxygen but didn't dare complain.
Minako stood with her arms folded, face serious. The Countess was not in the mood for games today.
"You are sixteen and almost betrothed!" Minako said, shaking her head. "This behavior of sneaking out is unacceptable."
Despite Suzana's flawless cover, Misaki's mother still found out. After Misaki rested for the remaining of the day, her mother called her in for a scolding.
"I didn't say stop!" Minako said.
Misaki did her best to breathe and resumed dancing. Her feet ached as she slowly twirled around and around.
"I do not think you understand how irresponsible that was..." Minako continued. "If something happened to you, how do you think we were to answer to the Duke? Do not think just because you know a little sword play that you can be so reckless. To think, you are going to be a duchess. Duchesses don't climb walls and they especially don't wear men's clothing! Explain yourself to me right now, Ayuzawa Misaki"
Misaki paused. "Mother..." she complained.
"I didn't tell you to stop."
Misaki gritted her teeth as she began the steps of a waltz. One foot after the other. It was really hard to dance, balance a book on your head, breathe as well as explain her actions to her mother, all at the same time.
"I'm sorry..." Misaki said almost tripping over her dress.
"No," her mother replied. "I've heard that excuse one too many times."
Misaki licked her lips as she thought of an explanation. "I-I wanted...to feel...free" Misaki said.
"Go on..."
Misaki groaned on the inside. "I promise...I...won't...ever do it again!" Misaki exclaimed. The book was sliding off her head and Misaki did her best to not let it fall.
"Well then," Minako said. "Since you decided to do things I do not like, I punish you with things that you do not like."
Misaki paused her dancing and dipped into a painful curtsey to accept her punishment.
"Lady Ayuzawa Misaki," Minako announced. "I expect a memorized piece of my choice on the piano as well as ten copies of the Duties of a wife."
"Thank you," Misaki said.
Minako sighed and walked away. Her train swept across the floor as she disappeared down the hall.
Misaki let out a groan and collapsed on the ground. The book went skittering across the floor and her champagne colored gown fanned out on the floor. Misaki pressed her warm cheeks onto the cold marble. Kick off her dancing shoes, she grappled with the buttons on her dress. The fancy dress was impossible to remove by herself.
"Satsuki!" Misaki yelled in a very childish manner. "Satsuki!"
Her nurse came prancing in. "My lady?" she asked.
"Help me out of my dress," Misaki said. Satsuki nodded and walked over to where Misaki was laying.
"Let's get you up then," Satsuki said sweetly, helping Misaki to her feet. Satsuki proceeded to pick Misaki's shoes and book. "Come along dear," she coaxed.
Misaki stumbled after her, feeling exhausted. "You are my hero," Misaki said when her dress was loosened.
Satsuki laughed. "My poor child," she soothed.
Misaki collapsed onto her bed in nothing but her thin chemise. "I'll be sleeping until the next full moon," Misaki announced.
Satsuki sighed and covered Misaki with a blanket. "I'll send Sakura and Shizuko up later," she promised.
Misaki heard the door close and drifted off to sleep. She didn't even want to think about the piano and writing she had to do later.
"Misaki?" a voice said shaking her.
"Hmmmm?" Misaki asked sleepily.
"It's time for dinner" Sakura said.
Misaki groaned. "Few more minutes..." she complained.
Sakura shook her again. "The Countess is calling a family dinner."
"...We always have family dinner..."
Sakura and Shizuko forced Misaki to get up anyways. Misaki yawned as Shizuko laced up the back of a green taffeta dress. Sakura brushed Misaki's hair and plaited it into one long braid.
Misaki wandered down the staircase and into the dining hall.
"Hello Mother, Suzana," she greeted. She sat down on the other side of her mother.
"Tomorrow is your big day," Minako said. "You and the Duke will be meeting."
Misaki stifled a yawn. "Wonderful..."
"Please take this seriously," Minako said.
Misaki nodded. "Don't worry," she said. "I will...for our people."
Minako nodded. "That's my sweet daughter," she said. "Serve dinner," she told the maids. Misaki grabbed a roll and ripped a chunk off. She pulled off another chunk and buttered it.
"Misaki, don't scare your fiancé off with your appetite," Suzana joked as she daintily sipped some soup.
Misaki rolled her eyes and helped herself to another roll.
Dinner finished and Misaki found herself staring at the grand piano in the ballroom. Suzana played sometimes but she preferred flute or the harpsichord.
Five sheets of crisp music were waiting for her. Misaki sighed and sat down. The music looked like someone scribbled circles and lines everywhere. She placed her fingers on the black and white keys and pressed down.
Misaki's piano skills were very rusty and now everyone was going to know. She stumbled through the first line playing more wrong notes than right ones. The second line didn't sound much better and neither did the third.
Suzana was headed to the library when she heard awful sounds. She winced guessing that it was Misaki's piano. She turned on her heel and headed to the ballroom. She couldn't read knowing her sister was banging on the piano.
"Misaki?" Suzana asked.
Misaki looked up. "Suzana!" she exclaimed. "Please help me!" she begged. "Mother is so harsh..."
Suzana smiled and sat down next to Misaki. "Show me what you have so far."
Suzana fought to keep a straight face as Misaki played. Suzana was even beginning to wonder if Misaki still knew how to read music.
"Shall I show you?" Suzana asked when Misaki gave up.
Misaki scooted over. Suzana studied the music and let her fingers glide over the smooth keys. Misaki listened in awe as her sister played the song, which was actually a beautiful song. Suzana seemed to be at ease as she swayed slightly to the music.
"That's how it's suppose to sound" Suzana said. Misaki nodded feeling even more hopeless.
"I will get this right even if it takes all night" Misaki said, determined.
Misaki played the song over and over, struggling to hit all the keys at the right time. Her fingers felt cramped yet she refused to give up.
Misaki decided to rest when it sounded decent. The thought of having to write made her want to scream. She pushed back from the piano bench and stalked off to the library.
Penmanship was a forte for Misaki. Her writing was neat and elegant but Misaki didn't like copying the "Duties of a Wife" though. Minako had bookmarked a page which talked about poise and household responsibilities.
Misaki rolled her eyes as she wrote the cliché lines over and over. Her mother insisted that she read the book before marriage but it had been brushed aside.
The finished papers were stacked and left them on the desk. Misaki was thoroughly bored to death and didn't expect tomorrow to be much better.