We have met the blind girl and the crossdressing girl. Now how will the two come to meet...? We're starting off with Claudine's POV on this one, but it will swap!
Remember that the public don't know Maya's first name, so when Claudine's perspective refers to her, she will simply be "Tendo", whereas Maya's father would be "Lord Tendo."
Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.
Chapter 3. A Meeting Of Secrets
After twenty-two years, nineteen of which she'd spent being completely blind, Claudine had self-taught herself how to be as efficient as possible.
She was alone in this world, and in this mansion. Not her sisters, nor her parents, nor the servants wanted anything to do with her other than to sell her off to the highest bidder.
She was no fool. She may have been blind, but she wasn't deaf. She'd heard the whisperings throughout the years, the plans they had for her…
They'd sell her off to any man that paid well enough, regardless of his age or intentions. Claudine had decided early on that she refused to be the helpless pretty victim they all made her out to be. Patriarchal law be damned, she wasn't about to roll over and sleep with, or take abuse from the first man who tried to claim her.
And so for nineteen years, she'd learned to take care of herself in every way shy of being able to actually see what was around her.
For instance, she knows the exact time of morning it is as she wakes in bed. She can determine the time by several factors.
Such as the angle and intensity of sunlight slanting in through her curtains and soaking into her skin. Today is a sunny one, but on the days when it rained or was cloudy, she would judge the time based on the noises in the mansion.
She confirms the current time of morning by listening. She can pick up on the sounds of servants shuffling around and muttering about preparing the Saijous' breakfast. Based on which servant is where and what they are discussing, Claudine is able to gauge how much time she has before she, too, needs to rouse herself.
Normally, she might've been able to give herself a few more minutes. But today is a highly important and stressful day for the Saijou estate.
Today, Lord Tendo's son was coming to pay a visit.
Every noble in the empire had heard the news that Tendo was now looking for a bride. Over the past few weeks, all the noble families with daughters at a marriageable age had been in a tizzy, scrambling to prepare their girls to meet him, buying new dresses, tightening their corsets, purchasing every sort of makeup and jewel and accessory.
Tendo has been making his rounds, visiting every single family amongst the nobility, from the richest to the poorest. The fact that he hadn't simply agreed to the first and richest woman he'd seen said at least something about his character, Claudine had thought.
But it turns out he wasn't saying anything about any of the women he'd met.
No announcement of any decision thus far. Clearly, he intended to visit every single family - even the poorer nobles like them - before choosing.
And today was their day.
Claudine lies in bed, feeling herself blink as she exhales. Though she knows it's nearly impossible, she prays he'll choose one of her sisters. Not only to get at least one of them out of her hair, but also too for the handsome monthly stipend that would come along with it.
If her parents were receiving money from the Tendos of all families, they might even be well-off enough to drop the idea of selling Claudine to some old wealthy creep.
But the odds of Tendo choosing one of the Saijou daughters - from such a poor noble family in comparison - were devastatingly low.
Even so, Claudine knows she needs to make today a roaring success.
Slowly, she pushes herself up so she can get started. She reaches out to her nightstand, exactly where she knows her walking cane should be. It's always a gamble of whether it will still be there or not in the mornings, depending on if her sisters bribed one of the servant children into sneaking in overnight to steal and hide it.
Nine times out of ten when that happened, Claudine woke from hearing them and would snap at them to chase them off. But if she'd been in a particularly dead sleep, it was possible she'd let them slip by.
But thankfully, everyone must have known how important a good night's sleep was for today and had kept to themselves last night, because Claudine finds her cane undisturbed.
She stands, then makes her way to her personal bathroom to bathe. After drying off, she wraps a towel around herself as she heads to her wardrobe. It's only a tenth of the size of her sisters' selection, and she only has a handful of real dresses. She'll choose one of those for later when the guests arrive. But for her morning chores, she feels around to select an everyday dress.
Once she's taken care of her hair and gotten dressed, Claudine heads out, making sure to lock her door behind her and slip the key into her dress' deepest pocket. Since her room only locked from the outside, she couldn't keep out others when she was asleep inside, but at the very least she could keep her humble belongings safe during the daytime.
Claudine proceeds to the kitchen, where the chefs have her chop vegetables and meats.
In her younger years, Claudine had been extremely nervous about holding knives, and no one had bothered to help her. When she inevitably cut herself and bled all over the cutting board, she was scolded rather than assisted.
But by now she'd learned exactly how to hold and cut any food they threw at her with expert precision.
She finishes all of her kitchen chores in under an hour, then takes up her cane again to begin the household cleanings.
She can hear the maids preparing water and soap to mop the floors, so Claudine decides to avoid that area; no matter how in-tune to her working senses and her environment that she is, wet slippery floors were still one of her most nerve-wracking situations - especially if they were going to have visitors. So for the sake of avoiding making herself look like a complete invalid, she opts to clean and dust the windows and furniture instead.
Normally by now, she would've encountered one or two of the mischievous servant children running rampant instead of completing their chores. But today, there's a heightened sense of urgency in the air, so she assumes the maids have strictly kept the children in-check and on their best behavior.
Even so, Claudine knows full-well that doesn't mean she's safe from pranks.
As she goes about her routine, she is as cautious as ever, listening for whoever is passing by and if they make an attempt to approach her. But thankfully no one approaches or even addresses her this morning.
She can hear her parents and her sisters scurrying about all over the mansion, trying to find the best of the best dresses and shoes and accessories to adorn themselves with for today.
Claudine cleans and dusts, humming faintly to herself to warm up her voice for her entertainment portion of the ordeal.
Once the rest of her family has finished breakfast, Claudine moves in with the rest of the servants to clean the dishes and table. And again, Claudine is spared any 'accidental' bumps that would make her lose her grip on something, simply due to how focused everyone is on making things perfect for the Tendos' arrival.
Only after their morning kitchen duties are finished are Claudine and the servants allowed to take food for themselves. Claudine takes a plate of eggs, rice, and fruit back up to her quarters without incident for once. No one tries to startle her, or sneak up on her, or trip her and have her make a mess. She almost wishes they could have important visitors like this every day.
Once she's back inside her room, she still pauses to listen for any strange sounds. Just because she'd locked the doors from the outside and was in possession of the only key didn't mean the children hadn't snuck in from outside the window and let loose birds or rats in her bedroom.
But after a moment of assessment, Claudine can't hear anything out-of-place. And when she steps in and reaches out with her cane, she's relieved to find none of the furniture had been moved around in hopes of tripping her up.
Only then does she relax enough to eat - and she only eats food she herself had prepared.
With her sense of smell also being superior, she was almost always able to determine what she was eating. It was odorless, unwanted, ill-intentionally added substances that had sometimes resulted in hours of stomachache and vomiting.
But that hasn't happened in the recent decade due to Claudine learning how to prepare her own food.
Once she's finished her meal, she changes into one of her nicer dresses. They were fine articles, but not half as expensive as her sisters' everyday clothes - let alone the gowns they would be wearing today. Not that Claudine could see what they looked like, or even ever get the chance to touch them to feel what materials they were made of.
It may have been odd for some to consider that Claudine didn't even know what her own parents or sisters looked like, but to her it was normal.
And truth be told, she didn't honestly care, either. All she had gathered over the years from the servants' whisperings was that her sisters were on the average side of beautiful, and that they had darker blonde hair than Claudine herself did. Her lighter hair was evidently rare, and she was the only one of the family to adorn it.
Several times in her childhood, her sisters had snuck into her room at night and attempted to cut Claudine's hair off and make it a pitiful mess, but she'd caught them every time. Of course, a few times she'd ended up getting cut with the scissors as she was fending her older sisters off, but those scratches healed quickly. Due to her diligence and fiery temper to chase away her bullies, Claudine's hair had remained intact.
Nowadays, she could feel its smooth, silken curls, and knew it was beautiful - more beautiful than her sisters' straighter, darker locks.
As she finishes putting on her dress, Claudine tosses her hair back over one shoulder and smiles to herself. Soon Lord Tendo's son will arrive. Which meant that soon, Claudine would be able to do what she loved most in this world.
Perform. Sing, dance, act, play. All in that safe, unperturbed space of the parlor, where she knew every tile on the floor, every inch of space between the furniture lining the perimeter, every placement of every light and chandelier overhead. Timing certain steps and moments in her performance with specific rays of light or sunshine was a technique she'd come up with herself, and was quite proud of.
Soon, she could be in her safe space - if only for thirty minutes. She would entertain the company, sing and dance and play instruments for them, while her parents and sisters made last-minute preparations. No one would be able to touch, harass, or ridicule Claudine for that amount of time.
Perhaps the guests could make fun of her for being blind, but that was nothing she wasn't already used to and no longer took offense to. Her performance was always stellar enough to have them applauding in the end.
It is her honest hope that Tendo's son will choose one of her sisters, against all odds. That he would take away one of her tormentors and supply her family with all the money they desired, so that maybe - just maybe - they would be content and distracted enough with their spoils to leave her be.
If she could avoid being sold off to some rich old nobleman, Claudine dreamt of striking out on her own to work her way onto the Empire's theater trope. She could forge friendships with people who shared her love for the stage, and create a safe environment where no one sought to harm her for her disability.
But of course, this was only a shadow of a dream.
In reality, Claudine knew what fate awaited her - to be a mistress or concubine.
To entertain no one but the old men who sought out younger women to satisfy their sexual desires.
To be used and abused.
Her most realistic dream was that whoever ended up buying her would at least give her her own bed to sleep in.
Claudine hadn't realized when her smile had faded. Now, she heaves a sigh, then takes up her cane again to navigate her way to the door.
For months now, Maya and her two advisors have been traveling the Empire in search of her future bride.
At the commencement of all this, Maya had made a deal with Rei and her father; that Maya would not formally select a bride until she had met with every eligible noblewoman in the Empire. She wanted to make absolutely certain that she was selecting the right person fit to bear such a hefty secret. She did not want to choose immediately - only after she had entertained every candidate available.
Maya kept a small list of the more notable names, and would pay those select few a second visit to narrow her options down further.
Naturally, they had started off with the richest families. Maya had been introduced to dozens and dozens of young women thus far, all with various appearances, statures, and worldly materials.
But the issue she found rather quickly, within the first five visits, was quite disheartening.
In spite of their different appearances, all of the noblewoman had cookie-cutter personalities. They were all the same. The same formal manner of speech, the same etiquette, the same gestures.
Of course, this wasn't too much of a shock, considering they all learned the same rules of noblewoman etiquette from the same scholars as children. But even beyond that, they were all the same.
They had the same interests, the same hobbies, the same taste in music, the same appetite, the same nauseatingly fake smile… It was as though they'd all studied the same dull answers in an effort to cheat this exam.
By the time she was visiting her 15th potential bride, Maya could already predict every single one of her answers.
All of these women were varying degrees of attractive, but they all enjoyed painting and reading and going for strolls, they loved listening to music, and they all insisted they had amazing odds of bearing sons. They all had the same laugh and would give the same responses to Maya's questions. They were excessively giggly, coy, and sensual, particularly when Maya's advisors left them alone.
Surely, these things would have worked on any young man. And to be quite honest, they had worked on Maya, too.
But once she'd seen and heard it all twenty, thirty, and forty times over, she'd grown rather bored out of her mind with it all.
She was as physically attracted to some of these girls as any man could be, but the bleak, cheap personalities they all seemed to recycle turned her off every time.
For months now, Maya has been visiting potential brides with the same sigh-worthy results. She had made up a list of only seven names, and only because she absolutely had to choose someone. None of the seven on her list weighed any more than the others, and Maya is convinced that the final decision will come down to a blind raffle.
Who she thought was most trustworthy hardly even factored in anymore, because with the sum of money her father would be offering, any woman and her family would happily keep their mouths shut.
But no matter how exhausted she is of this process, Maya knows she must treat every young woman with the same respect as all those before her. Even if she was from one of the poorer families.
Today, Maya, Rei, and Shuuichi will finally be visiting the last family on their list. After today, Maya will reconvene with the two of them and her father. They will discuss the potential of the girls on the narrowed-down list she has kept in order to help her make a decision on which ones they should pay a second visit to.
Presently, Maya is seated in the back of a horse-drawn carriage with Rei and Shuuichi on either side of her. Being they were two of the only people who knew Maya's secret, she had formed a deep personal bond with them both throughout her lifetime. And being that the only other two who knew the truth were the Emperor and her father - who were both very busy men - her advisors were the two she was closest with, and could speak openly to.
As the carriage rattles along the streets, Maya sits up straight and gentlemanly, dressed in a navy-blue suit, a tasseled tailcoat, pants, and boots, with her hair tied low in a ponytail as always. Only now, since no one else is around, does Maya let her true emotions show.
"Finally," she sighs. "This is the last one."
"Indeed." Rei smiles warmly at the girl she'd nearly raised as her own child. "I know you're just reeling at all of the incredible options."
Maya rolls her eyes.
"I swear, if these two finish each other's sentences, we're leaving."
Even Shuuichi chuckles at that.
Maya's advisors know how drained she is from this process, but thankfully it can all come to a close today.
And unfortunately for the Saijous, Maya has already decided she won't be choosing either of them.
Families that had more than one daughter to offer were always failures in her mind, simply because if she chose one over the other, things would get messy. It would only breed rueful hatred from the other daughter, who would legally be family and related to Maya.
Even with the promise of a heavy lump sum to keep the parents and other siblings quiet and happy, Maya feels that jealousy between sisters was something that would persist until the end of time. She would rather not risk such a touchy family situation.
But even though she knows she is going to deny the Saijous today, Maya still needed to keep up appearances and be fair enough to visit every noble family who extended the invitation to her.
At last, the carriage rumbles to a halt. Shuuichi stands and opens the door for Rei, who then takes Maya by the hand and helps her down.
From there, it's the same old story.
The servants of the Saijou estate swarm to greet Maya's group and offer refreshments. Once they are escorted inside, the Saijous themselves are waiting to receive them.
Maya puts on all her best manners as per usual as she speaks with Lord and Lady Saijou. They are one of the only blond-haired families Maya has seen in her travels, and as they talk she is informed they are of a half-French lineage.
This further solidifies Maya's decision to deny their daughters. Choosing a bride who was not entirely of Japanese blood might have a societal impact on the Tendo image.
But even so, Maya smiles handsomely and listens to all they have to say.
However, the daughters have not made an appearance yet.
In every other estate she had been to, Maya had been thrust into meeting the girls almost immediately. Tt's what Lady Saijou says next that sparks Maya's interest.
"Please," Lady Saijou smiles. "Enjoy some light entertainment as we prepare Maria and Elizabeth for you."
Maya is perplexed. This is a first. Every other family had more or less welcomed Maya and then immediately pushed their daughters at her. This is the first time they're being offered entertainment first.
As Lord and Lady Saijou retreat to prepare and fetch their two daughters, Maya and company are left in the servants' care. They are led to a wide open parlor with a high ceiling, decorated by a large crystal chandelier and several small windows. There is a piano off to one side, so Maya can only assume what this 'entertainment' will entail.
She and her group are provided cushioned chairs to sit and relax in while being served drinks and fruits. Maya steals a glance at Rei and murmurs quietly to her.
"Entertainment?" she parrots. "Did you know about this?"
The maid shakes her head.
"Unfortunately not. I hope they're quick about it. The sooner we can meet the daughters and get out of here, the better."
"I admit I must agree." Maya says as much, but she can't deny that her curiosity has been slightly peaked - by the prospect of this entertainment more so than the prospect of meeting the daughters.
After another moment or so, Maya is just putting down her glass of water when she spots movement at the threshold of the parlor.
A young woman appears, set in a poised, confident stride across the open floor. She is wearing a light orange dress, like a milky sunrise, and white shoes adorned with gems. Her attire is on the casual side of fancy and formal to show that she is merely a worker for the actual family themselves.
Maya takes note of the girl's curly, light blonde hair and has to wonder if she is of foreign blood like the Saijous.
But what dazzles Maya the most about this girl are her eyes.
They are rose-colored, bright, shining…
And yet… somehow Maya can't shake the feeling that they are off somehow. She can't explain it, but there's just something about this girl's eyes…
But there's no time to dwell on that right now.
The girl pauses at the exact center of the room, right in front of Maya at the center chair, and gives a deep bow. Off to the side, one of the servants begins playing a record, and light music starts to fill the parlor.
Immediately, the performer begins to move. She dances with the fluidity of water, curving like the push and pull of the tide, twirling like a spiral of rainfall.
When the song crescendos, she moves with all the power and force of the ocean. When it quiets, she softens her movements like dewdrops.
The timing of her steps is impeccable, and when the song reaches its peak she even positions herself directly in a beam of sunlight and throws her head back in a cascade of sandy curls. She is poised, graceful, and undeniably stunning.
Maya can't tear her eyes away from this girl. Out of the corners of her eyes, she can see that Rei and Shuuichi are equally as engaged.
Maya hangs on the dancer's every move, until the final note of the song. It leaves Maya breathless as if she herself had been the one to perform such a rigorous routine.
But the blonde girl isn't even slightly out of breath. In fact, she begins to sing an aria, a hauntingly beautiful song that presents Maya with the image of ocean combers at night.
Her voice is incomparable. She hits every note with smoothness, and flows through each verse with ease.
Surely she was some professional the Saijous had hired for today in order to help earn Maya's favor.
But then why was she dressed so plainly? And why did she seem to know the layout of this parlor and seem to be familiar with its lighting as though she'd lived and danced there all her life?
Still, Maya found it difficult to believe the Saijous simply kept such a talented girl as a servant...
Regardless of the girl's circumstances, Maya indulges herself in the sound of her voice. It's so beautiful it nearly brings tears to her eyes. This was to be considered "light" entertainment before the main event of meeting the Saijous' two daughters, but to Maya this was the main event.
The girl was nothing short of ethereal.
When the song comes to an end, Maya is craving to hear more. She is whole-heartedly enthralled. She doesn't want this performance to end.
Luckily for her, the girl then proceeds to the piano at the side of the room. She begins to play, letting the sweet melody spread through the air. She sings another song as she plays, and all the while Maya can't stop watching her.
She can feel her heart leaping in ways it's never leapt before. Maya is convinced she's never been in love, but if it was possible to be in love with a performance, this was the one.
The piano number ends all too soon, but then the girl picks up a violin that had been leaning against the wall. She walks back to the center of the room and begins to play.
Maya tries to meet the girl's gaze, to try and wordlessly convey to her just how awe-stricken she is. But the girl closes her eyes as she lifts the violin to her shoulder and begins to play.
It's a lively tune, this time giving Maya the image of a forest and all its creatures moving about. She follows the blonde girl's lead and closes her eyes, allowing the music to sweep her away into another world…
Again, all too soon, the song ends. And with this, the performer takes her final bow.
Maya and her advisors applaud, though Maya admittedly claps harder and more fervently than was proper for a nobleman whose purpose here was to meet with other women. She even stands from her seat to show the performer just how impressed she is.
The girl smiles, but doesn't react to Maya's standing ovation, and she turns away before Maya can hope to catch her eye again. As the girl takes her leave, Maya feels a slight tug on her sleeve.
"Tendo-sama," Rei says, clearing her throat. "You're getting carried away."
Maya quickly corrects herself.
"My apologies. But wasn't she marvelous?" She says it loud enough in hopes that the girl can still hear her, but the dancer gives no indication that she had.
"Indeed she was," Rei agrees. "But that isn't why we're here."
"Right. Of course."
The maid rolls her eyes playfully. A moment later, Lady and Lord Saijou return to them, looking a bit bashful.
"Tendo-sama," Lord Saijou explains. "It would appear our daughters are having a bit of difficulty with their dresses. We humbly apologize for the delay. Please feel free to have a look around the mansion while you wait."
"That is quite all right," Maya says. "Please come find me when we are ready to proceed with the marriage interviews."
The Saijous dip their heads, then begin asking questions of Maya's advisors. Maya catches Rei's eye, inclining her head to inquire if she may wander a bit. Rei waves her off with a subtle flick of her wrist. Maya smiles and leaves the adults to their discussion.
The Saijou mansion is rather small compared to the Tendo estate. There is nothing here that Maya doesn't already own, nothing she hasn't seen before. At least, not in terms of material items and architecture.
However, there was one single thing that she was curious about.
Maya exits the threshold the way the blonde-haired girl had gone and casts her gaze around in hopes that she might spot her again. But she makes certain not to be too obvious in what she is doing; should any of the servants find her deliberately following the performer, potential rumors could start up.
She ensures to make it appear as though she is simply wandering the premises as she was invited to do, admiring the paintings and statues and flower vases.
And by some stroke of luck, she manages to glimpse a splash of orange.
After checking to make sure that no one else is present in the hallway, Maya casually sets her course to follow after that dress.
The stuffy, contained air of the mansion soon changes as a lively breath of outside air reaches her. Maya follows the blonde-haired girl to a small enclosed garden area.
To her, it appears that this had been the originally-intended backyard area when the mansion had been being constructed, but some blueprints had changed the layout later on and left this as the forgotten section. It was a small space, nestled between two corners of the mansion with one side open to the rest of the outdoor property. There was a single tree to provide shade, as well as a bench and a few small flowerbeds.
The girl steps out into the grass. Maya assumes she is a bit tired from her performance and simply wants to rest and breathe in some fresh air.
Remaining hidden inside for the moment, Maya watches her from the doorway as the girl makes her way toward the bench.
It's then when Maya notices something in the grass.
It appears to be a thick rope, which had been secured between a small stump and one leg of the bench. Her assumption was that it was some sort of trap to catch rabbits or other pests that would threaten the main gardens.
But to her astonishment, the blonde-haired girl doesn't notice the rope at all. She's set in a path for the bench, and never once pauses or seems to realize the rope.
Confusion quickly turns to alarm as Maya realizes she's already too late to warn her. The blonde-haired girl steps right into the trap, snaring her ankle on the rope and pitching forward. With a yelp she crashes to the ground, bumping her head against the seat of the bench in the process.
"Ah-!" The girl cries out in pain, moaning as she tries to push herself up out of the dirt.
"Ojou-sama!" Maya can't stay still after watching that. She doesn't care if someone did see her alone with this girl.
She hurries forward into the grass, avoiding the rope that had felled the one before her. Maya has every intention to check the girl over and help her up.
But the moment she gets near her, before Maya can even hope to ask to touch her, the blonde-haired girl gasps as if she'd been struck. Maya has only gotten into a half-crouch with half a question on her lips.
"Are you-?"
But that's as far as she gets before the blonde-haired girl rams her shoulder and her entire body weight at Maya.
"Bon sang!" The girl snaps out some harsh-sounding comment in a language Maya isn't familiar with. She isn't sure if she's more startled by having watched the girl fall at the rope that had been blatantly obvious in her path, or by the vicious reaction she's receiving for trying to help her.
Either way, Maya has ended up on her backside in the dirt, knocked back by the girl's hard shove. Rather than hurt and whimpering, she's now spouting profanities.
"Why you… little cretins! Where are you? You'd better run! If I catch you in my sights I'll turn you to stone, remember?"
These comments further add to Maya's bewilderment. This pristine, beautiful, graceful performer who had dazzled the room in song and dance was now suddenly a spitfire of a girl spitting curses and superstitions.
Maya is utterly flabbergasted.
And yet… somehow still impossibly curious.
Clearly, this girl had enemies of some sort - enemies who had set up this obvious trap. Maya can only assume she'd been so preoccupied with thoughts after her performance that she'd failed to see the malicious rope that had been placed right in front of her.
She must have still been so heated by the fall that she'd automatically assumed Maya was the one responsible for the trap, hence her violent reaction toward her.
Once Maya has snapped as far out of her confusion as she could get at this point, she pushes herself back up into a crouch in front of the girl.
"Ojou-sama?" She offers out her voice gently, placidly. "My deepest apologies. I didn't mean to startle you. I saw you fall and merely wished to offer my assistance."
And it's now that Maya notes a significant change in the girl. She gasps again, much more deeply this time. It's the gasp of a person who's just realized they've made a grave mistake.
She whirls around to face Maya, and her rose-colored eyes have gone wide with horror. But even now, Maya can tell they aren't focused on her, but rather are slightly off, looking at an angle that almost misses her.
"M-My apologies!" the girl cries. "I-I had simply presumed you were one of the children, a-and I-" She cuts off, choking on her own words.
Within the course of only minutes, she'd transformed from an ethereal dancer to a cursing, fiery personality, and from there only seconds later she'd now sunken into a terrified girl.
Maya can see that terror very clearly on her face. It was the horror of a lower-class person who had done wrong against one of the wealthiest. Someone who was preparing themselves for a declaration of divine punishment for the crime they'd committed in shoving a nobleman.
The girl spirals into a stuttering panic. It's all so jarring so quickly that Maya's heart aches for her. She does what she can to try and put her at ease.
"Please do not concern yourself, Ojou-sama." Maya offers out her hand, but the girl continues looking at her and doesn't seem to notice at all.
And by now Maya can tell it isn't just out of fear or avoidance.
No. This girl… truly can't see her hand.
Or… anything, for that matter.
Impossible… Someone who demonstrated such skill just now in the parlor…? She couldn't possibly be…
But then again, the way she'd completely missed spotting the evident rope just now, and the way her eyes never seemed to look just right…
"I'm sorry-" The girl fretfully throws her head forward in apology, letting out a hiss of pain from moving too quickly after hitting it against the bench.
Maya shakes her head, but then realizes the girl can't see her, so she speaks again.
"Not at all." Maya keeps her tone gentle and soft, conveying that she isn't angry or upset. "If anything, I should be the one apologizing. You were just so dazzling earlier in your performance… I hadn't even noticed. I don't think my advisors did, either."
Maya retracts her hand only to reach into her suit pocket and pull out a white handkerchief. She offers this out to the girl, lightly touching the back of her hand with the material so she can feel what it is.
"I must apologize," Maya says. "I hadn't considered your condition or your comfort when I tried to touch you. I merely wanted to ensure you were all right."
To her relief, the blonde-haired girl seems to be calming down a little, now that she knows Maya isn't going to have her beheaded or exiled. She swallows, then draws in a deep breath as she slowly turns her hand over in her lap, lifting her palm into the handkerchief. Maya smiles, and since the girl can't see her, she makes sure the sound of her content makes its way into her voice.
"May I?"
The girl exhales, then dips her head.
Maya gently takes the girl's hand in hers, then begins cleaning the dirt off of her skin. Once she's finished, she does the same for the other hand. She also notes a scrape on the girl's left temple from where she'd hit the bench.
"Ojou-sama, you're bleeding. May I?"
The girl reaches up to assess the scrape for herself.
"It's nothing."
"I beg to differ."
The girl sighs again. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shove you. I thought-"
"That I was one of the children, you said?" Maya recalls. "I presume you mean the servant children. Do they always do this sort of thing to you?"
"They're just stupid pranks…" she mumbles.
Maya frowns. "Considering how you hit your head just now, I would say they are much more dangerous than simple pranks."
"It's fine. I can handle it. Well, usually I can predict and avoid them. This was a place no one else really knew about, so I didn't think I needed to bring my cane with me. But I guess they've finally found out about it… Wonderful. Now I can't trust coming out here either…
"Thank the gods I can at least lock my bedroom door so they can't sneak in and release rats or dogs while I'm out. I'll have to fetch my cane now anyway. I bet they've already rearranged the furniture upstairs in hopes of tripping me up again.
"And the maids probably intend to leave all the cleaning of the west wing in my hands again… So long as they didn't smear manure on the walls or leave puddles on the bathroom floor. Ah! And my sisters are surely going to be in a chipper mood once they've sat and had their interviews with Tendo-sama… I bet they'll celebrate tonight by sprinkling pebbles all over the carpets and making a minefield for me to dodge…"
The girl mutters and grumbles to herself for a moment, leaving Maya dumbfounded to process what she's hearing. She hardly has the time to comprehend how terribly the fellow residents are mistreating this poor girl due to her blindness before one thing in particular stands out to her.
"J-Just a moment, if you please-" Maya stops the girl from her rambling long enough to try and gaze into her eyes, even though she knows she won't see her. "Just now… did you say… your sisters would be meeting with Tendo…?"
The girl snorts.
"Yes. Maria and Elizabeth have been swooning for days now. It's maddening, and it's only made them more vicious."
"Your sisters!" Maya exclaims. "Maria-sama and Elizabeth-sama are your sisters? I never knew the Saijous had a third daughter!"
"Why should you?" The girl grunts. "When I'm like this…" She turns away, and for all the emotions and sides of her Maya has witnessed within the past half hour, this is the one she likes the least. A tormented, deep sadness comes onto the girl's expression, her shoulders slump with crestfallen weight, and her blind eyes waver.
Maya's heart twinges. Once again, she allows her handkerchief to touch the girl's hand.
After a moment, the girl turns back to Maya and tilts her face, allowing Maya to clean the streak of blood from her temple. Maya touches her with the utmost care - something she's certain this girl has never experienced before in all her life.
Even though Maya barely makes contact with her at all, she still flinches at first. Maya waits until she has calmed down enough before proceeding. Once she's finished cleaning her off, Maya folds up the handkerchief and tucks it away into her pocket. She stands and dusts herself off, then offers both of her hands.
"Ojou-sama, please reach up your hands. And please do not worry. I promise you can trust me." Maya has to wonder how many times she'd heard those words before and they'd been nothing but lies.
But the blonde-haired girl looks shocked enough that it tells Maya she'd never heard them at all.
As sad as it is that it's taken this many years for her to hear kind words, Maya is glad that she could be the first to give them to her. Because she intends to keep giving them to her in the future as well.
The girl hesitates at first, but perhaps she can detect the truthfulness in Maya's tone, or perhaps she's just willing enough to trust her. A moment later, she draws in a deep breath, then cautiously reaches up her hands.
Maya carefully cups her palms on the undersides of the girl's hands and grasps them gently. Bracing some of her weight, Maya helps the girl to her feet and steadies her.
"Ojou-sama," Maya says. "May I ask your name?"
The girl, who still has no idea who Maya is, gives another snort.
"I don't see why I should."
"Very well. That seems fair enough to me." Maya didn't want to use her name and status as a way of spooking or forcing this girl to obey her. She rather enjoys not being a Tendo right now, as far as this girl knows.
But now that the blonde-haired girl has recovered from her accident, and has had the time to think back, Maya watches the exact moment when the realization finally hits her. The girl's chest tightens up, and her breath becomes short and nervous.
"H-Hold on… Before… you said 'your advisors', which means you're…"
Maya dips her head. The moment had arrived.
"Tendo," she confirms. "I had arrangements to appear here today in order to interview your sisters for marriage purposes."
"T-Tendo-sama…" The girl is struck by such an intense wave of shock that she would've fallen backward again if not for Maya's secure grip on her hands. "T-Tendo-sama… the Tendo-sama? The man my sisters are supposed to be meeting with? The richest young noblemen in the Empire? A-And I shoved you into the mud-"
"Please, please," Maya says in complete earnest. "Do not fret. You hadn't the slightest clue as to who I was. In fact, you presumed I was a threat, due to how often you face animosity in your own home. I place no faults on you, Ojou-sama. In fact, I'm rather impressed. Not only by your self-preserving actions and your resilience to continue thriving in such a hostile environment, but also by your extraordinary theatrical skills and your colorful personality."
Maya showers her with praises, hoping to put the frightened girl at ease. She swallows, but when she next speaks her voice is thin.
"I… If there's anything I can do to compensate-"
"As I've already mentioned there is no need."
"Please. I insist."
"Very well, then." Maya keeps a comfortable hold on her hands. "Your name please, Ojou-sama. Or perhaps I should say Saijou-sama?"
"Don't-" she hisses softly. "I'm not on such a level…" She inhales deeply, then lets it back out. "Claudine," she admits at last. "Saijou Claudine."
"Claudine-san…" Maya already loves the sound of it. "Ah, though perhaps using your first name is a bit too much so soon. May I call you Saijou-san?"
"If I said no, would it really stop you?" she mutters. "You're the Tendos' son… you can call me whatever you'd like."
"Then it's decided. Saijou-san it is."
"Even though no one is supposed to know I'm a Saijou?"
"Why ever not? Simply because you can't see their money-hungry faces?"
This actually makes Claudine snort with laughter. Maya smiles.
"My apologies. That wasn't right of me to say about your family when I am about to meet with them." Maya begins leading Claudine back across the garden, guiding her and helping her avoid the roots and rocks. She leads her safely back inside before releasing her hands. Claudine lowers her hazy pink eyes.
"Merci…" she murmurs. "I mean… thank you… for…" She doesn't finished, but Maya can fill in the blanks: 'Thank you for not hurting or ridiculing me.'
It makes her blood boil to know this girl has been subjected to such treatment by her own family and servants all her life.
"Please don't mention it," Maya says.
"If… If there's anything someone like me could ever do to repay you…"
"Well," Maya hums. "If you're offering…"
Claudine perks up, hopeful that she might be able to do something to show her appreciation. Maya grins.
"Actually, would you mind accompanying me to this marriage interview?"
"Accompany?" she repeats. "You mean escort you to the room? Of course. In spite of everything, I know the layout of this mansion like the back of my hand; so long as no one rearranged anything on me-"
"No, no," Maya says. "Not just escort. Accompany."
"...Eh?"
Maya offers out her hand again, and somehow Claudine must've felt the air move in front of her, because she slowly reaches out to lay her palm over hers.
"My mission today," Maya says. "Was to interview the Saijous' daughters for marriage. That would include you, would it not?" She gives Claudine's hand the lightest squeeze to convey the excitement coursing through her veins. "Therefore, please accompany me, Saijou Claudine-san."
A/N: What an eventful chapter! They've finally met, and Maya has uncovered Claudine's secret - that she is the Saijou's third daughter! Though Maya's own secret must remain undisclosed. Hence the meeting of secrets!
What could Maya be planning by wanting Claudine to attend the interview...?
Please review!