For miles, all Rin could see was trees. Perhaps a hillside here and herds of cattle there, but no matter the hills she traversed or rivers she crossed, there were always more trees. She was almost ready to collapse for the day. Never mind the wild creatures that roamed at night or the pesky insects that would take up residence in her shoes, that pile of leaves under the shade of that tree was looking very appealing. Suddenly, Rin was shaken from her thoughts by the sounds of bells. Not just any bells, but the toll of church bells in the distance. Maybe she was closer than she thought to a warm meal and proper bed.
Rin hurried up the trail she had been walking on since the earliest hours of dawn, reaching the top of yet another hillside. But this time, she looked down and saw a manor that seemed to stretch on past the horizon. It was hard to believe the cottages dotted around the countryside, the parish from which she heard the bells, and the several tilled fields surrounding them were all just one parcel of land. Even though it was not the destination she had been seeking, Rin was nonetheless spurred on by the grumbling of her stomach.
After receiving half a loaf of bread and a small wedge of cheese from a kindly farmhand, Rin decided she would conquer the next river tomorrow. It may have been young in the day, but she much preferred the noise of light hammerings to the rustling of the forest.
Before she knew it, Rin happened upon a garden. Not just any garden, however, but a courtyard of the manor house. Surely the nobles that lived there were charitable enough to allow her a few minutes of footrest. Rin practically threw herself upon the first piece of rock wall fencing she saw. With the butterflies coloring the air and the trickling of fish in the pond, she breathed in the floral scents. She was about to let her eyes shut when-
"My, a child? I have not seen your face here before..."
Rin, eyes now wide, saw in front of her a tall woman, who looked not more than a couple decades older than herself. Rin had sworn that she was alone a second ago, but judging by the clean, fair dress of this new person, she was likely of the family who governed the manor. Rin, herself being the daughter of a lower-class guildsman, knew better than to make a fuss, but she couldn't help taking offense to the way the woman stared down at her. In all fairness, the woman really did stand a few more heads above her.
"Child? I am no child! I will have you know that I am seventeen years of age, miss."
The woman let out a light laugh to Rin's dismay, her tresses of pink hair giggling along with her. Instead of shooing Rin out, the woman took her seat next to Rin, among a bed of growing rosemary and sage.
The woman, with an inviting smile, then spoke, "I meant you no offense, young traveler. It is simply that I walk this path every day at noon and never I have encountered another soul besides the gardener himself. I could not have imagined today would be any different. Tell me, what brings you to this manor?"
"Oh, um...well, I've just come from Lucifenia. I am on my way to visit my brother in the city across the river. I suppose I thought I would rest here before crossing it."
"I see. Then I reckon in exchange for your rest, you wouldn't mind enduring my company?"
Now, Rin had already been traveling for over a week just to get to her brother, Len. She had encountered foxes, who thought her food was theirs. Bandits, who were sorely disappointed when they discovered she had no money. Not to mention the time she was rudely awoken in the middle of the night and thrown out into the cold just because she mistook someone's house for an abandoned one. This whole time, Rin had only herself to talk to. The woman's offer was all she could ask for to regain some peace of mind.
The woman was now closely staring at Rin, awaiting an answer. In her internal judgement of the woman's character, she could not help but notice her clear blue eyes which shone in the light. It was as if she could read the intention in them, but Rin, for a second, felt an air of loneliness about her. Yet, on her delicate face remained a warm expression. Rin shifted in her seat to sit straight, concluding this woman made her offer in earnest.
Rin finally answered, "If you would not mind it, miss? I have not had a single day's rest since I began my journey."
"You are free to rest in this garden as long as you please."
"I am most grateful. I promise I will not stay more than a couple of hours as I had planned. If I may, what shall I call you miss?"
"My name is Luka. And yours, dear?"
"I am Rin. I am ever so pleased to be in your company, Luka."
Aside from formalities, Rin wasn't quite sure what else there was to be said. She was just as tired from walking as she was curious about the manor. Luckily, Luka continued on in her musings and Rin was not bored by it one bit.
"Ah, it is quite the contrary, as I have not seen one as youthful as yourself around here for a while. To be as free to travel as you was all I ever wanted as a young girl. I used to ride on horseback all around this manor and up the hillside from which you came."
"Forgive me if it is not my place, but why not leave? Though this manor is beautiful, I could not imagine being confined here all my life."
"I am afraid it may be a bit late for that now. I did, at one time, consider leaving however."
Intrigued by the mysteriousness in Luka's soft voice, Rin questioned, "Only once? What was the reason?"
"Oh, well it is rather a long story than a mere circumstance."
"But I would be delighted to hear! You see, my travels have really passed by quite dully and I assure you I am much comforted by your presence. Surely, my brother can wait."
Luka appeared somewhat stunned by Rin's response. She took a moment to think, but Rin sensed no reluctance in her eyes.
"I suppose if you will it, it would not be good practice to refuse a guest. My answer to your question is not so short nor simple."
Rin then slumped back down against the side of a wooden arch that was behind the rock wall she sat on. Once she was comfortable, she crossed her arms and looked back to her in anticipation. Luka simply smiled at her, letting out a relieved sigh. She looked ahead to the hillside in the distance, before beginning her story.
When I was of about the same maturity as you, this manor was headed by my father. Many of the peasants that worked our land were fond of him because he allowed them to use our mills and breweries without tax. Just as any diplomat, he knew good relations with his subjects were important to growing his wealth. I could never understand why he was not content with the land we had.
I was particularly rebellious during harvest season around this time. He was sincerely unamused by my constant refusal to meet with suitors. My father had only tolerated it because he was constantly away, sometimes fighting abroad. But, seeing that I was now seventeen and his only child, I no longer had an excuse. Indeed, I traveled. I was sent all over the country to meet these men, who always seemed so oblivious to my disdain.
One day, I could no longer take his lecturing and I stormed out into this very garden. He made no effort to stop me, simply asking the servants to bring out the dessert. I did not care much for where I was going to go, just that I no longer had to hear about this earl's son he was sure I would like and who I was to make an impression on. I was so angry and distraught over the idea that my own father would have me whisked away and given to a person I barely knew.
I walked for hours pondering this. It was getting late in the day as the fog cleared and the sky turned orange. I was so determined to spend as much time away from the manor house just to inconvenience my father. Soon, I came upon the edge of our estate. I ventured up into that hillside overlooking the manor. Back then, it was modestly covered with trees and shrubbery. I was searching for some water when I heard a voice.
It was enchanting, calling out a melody that resounded through the forest. I may not have found any water, but curiosity washed over me all the same. I mindlessly followed the sound until I saw a clearing, and a girl.
My hands were clasped to a tree trunk as I peaked into the meadow. I was awestruck by the utter calm and happiness in her voice. She sang as if there were no troubles in this world, which I greatly envied. Around her were seven sheep. They were congregated in a fashion that made it seem they were her loyal audience. She had flowing teal hair, neatly bound by ribbons into low pigtails which sat gracefully upon her shoulders.
I moved to approach her until my foot crunched loudly onto a stick, breaking it in two and startling the girl. With a gasp, she spun around with her crook in hand. When she saw me, the fear slowly subsided from her eyes and her cheeks began to tint a light, but visible, shade of red.
"Oh, f-forgive me," her gaze darted up and down my figure,"...milady, you startled me! This hillside is usually so quiet and I-".
She cut herself off, unsure of how to proceed. Though she was no longer scared, I was disappointed by her hesitance toward me. I was not the lord of the land after all, but I suppose to her I was a noble, nonetheless.
The girl stood up. Despite revealing her small stature, it was apparent we were the same age. She had on a faded blue kirtle which fitted around her waist with the rest of the fabric falling down past her knees. The thin straps of the kirtle slightly dug into the crook of her shoulders, making the sleeves of her beige chemise puff out. The apron atop the skirt of her kirtle was of a similar beige color, but noticeably more dirtied.
She bowed before me, clearing her throat, and saying, "Milady, I apologize for my unruliness. How may I be of service to you?"
"Please, there is no need for this. I have simply come here on a stroll and heard your voice. If anything, it is my apologies for stalking around." I tried to ease her nervousness, but she remained in her position.
"But, your grace, it is customary. S-surely, there is something you desire of this servant?" I almost flinched at those elevated titles she used. It had now become clear to me that she was not any wandering shepherdess. She must have been a peasant of the manor to know who I was. I admit that I never thought our lands spanned this far out.
"If there was anything I could not desire more, miss, it would be to again witness that singing of yours. Now, I beg you face me and cease such formalities."
The girl shakily straightened her back and raised her head. Her face was completely red. My words had done nothing to quell her uneasiness, except confusion was now added to her expression. After some seconds, she gathered the courage to look toward my face, but not in the eyes, and speak again.
"I apologize, milady. I am so accustomed to walking these woods at my own leisure. I thought it were only the sheep who could hear me, but...y-you are the lord's daughter, right?"
"Yes, I am indeed Luka Megurine. I pray you do not remind me of that. In fact, I prefer you did not refer to me as 'milady'."
"Of course, Miss Megurine." With that, I internally gave up on trying to ease this obnoxious social barrier between us. 'Miss Megurine' would just have to do. I suppose I could not blame the girl for being hesitant toward my status, but I so longed for someone to speak my mind to.
"Well, it seems you have been long aware of my existence, but what might I call you, miss shepherdess? Unless that is your name."
"My name is Miku, I am from the Hatsune household, the one that sits at the foot of this hill." Her bluntness truly began to fester my sore for curiosity.
"Tell me then, Miku." I sat down among the seven sheep, all of which were lazily picking at the grass. "Do you often spend your days in this here forest?"
"Why, it is all I do from dawn to dusk. Not that I dislike this work, on the contrary, I am most thankful for this land and my dear sheep." Miku, retrieving her staff, knelt down and sat next to me, using it as support. She turned to me with a curious face, "And what brings you so far from the manor, Miss Megurine?"
"To spare you the length of my woes, marriage. My father has grown rather impatient with the prospect. I've just returned from across the country, after meeting countless suitors, only a day ago and already he has presented me with a new list of connections to seek out."
"Ah, I may not be held to the same obligation, yet it is certainly expected of me. My parents have asked who I might consider, but I much like to think there is more to life than marriage. Sometimes I dream of living out my days in a forest, raising all sorts of animals, for they have always been my truest companions."
At some point, I must have lost track of our conversation, because Miku was suddenly panicking loudly. "Miss Megurine, your dress is stained! Oh, p-please forgive me, this is all my fault! I-I should have offered you my apron. I should have known-"
Just when she had started to speak more freely, Miku still somehow returned to the subject of my nobility, all over a few grass imprints! I had finally reached a boiling point with her nonsense and interjected.
"Enough. Can you not see that I do not care how dirty my dress gets nor how highly you address me? I wandered into this forest hoping to escape the suffocating conduct of nobility and the withering faces of that manor house, who tell me to tuck in my sleeves every hour of the day! I thought I had, for a change, found someone who might humor me, but I cannot understand this façade. Why do you insist on speaking to me so? As if at any moment I will have your head for using the wrong honorific?"
"I-I...Surely, you...", Miku slightly backed away from me, keeping her gaze fixed on my dress. "You must understand the etiquette between a lowly peasant such as myself and as fair a noble as you, Miss Megurine?"
"Certainly. And I thought I had excused you from those formalities? Truly, it is you alone I am interested in, Miku, not this act society asks us to entertain. Your song, I heard it and I enjoyed it with the same ease you relished in singing it. I heard how vastly your voice reaches, yet I feel I have drained all color from it with my presence."
"Miss Megurine, you must be aware it is not so simple as that."
"I understand well by now that you work this land for a living and for my family. What more have I missed?"
She sighed, looking to the sky, her eyebrows now furrowed and her hand cupping her cheek in thought. "I am not a free peasant. There is no living to be made. I speak to you in this way because it is what his lordship has enforced."
She redirected her gaze straight to me, raising a hand to her chest.
"I am property, Miss Megurine, a part of your father's estate, which eventually will be the estate of whomever you marry. I will forever be tied to these lands unless permitted otherwise." I was taken aback at the time. I had known the peasants of our land to be too poor to leave, but this convention I had never thought much about.
I simply stared at Miku in astonishment, trying to process it. How could such a girl so young and delicate be condemned to work the pastures from birth? It was no different from my quarrels with my own duties. Why must it be so irreversible that I marry? My heart softened as I laid eyes on Miku. Perhaps we were both captives to our own lives.
"Miku, hear you this, from the moment I bore witness to your voice, I did not once think you as property. I admit, I should have known better of your status. Though I have only known you for these past several minutes, I have already seen the glimmer in your eyes when you speak of your life. You are far too lively to be likened to mere property."
If it were possible, Miku fell more silent than before, her breath hitched and seemingly stopped altogether. Her eyes were now fixated to the ground. She began to submerge her hand atop one of her sheep's heads as it lay by her side. Worried she may somehow take offense to my declaration, I kept my eyes on her, hoping her next words would have a new rhythm.
"What you have said just now, Miss Megurine, it is something I have never been permitted to think. I have always spent my hours in this meadow alone and have grown content with my place here. But sometimes, I find my gaze drifting off past the horizon, in hopes I may one day see what else lies beyond those hills."
"Then, I command you, to entertain me by your own personal will. It is my wish that you act toward me how you deem fit, that you speak to me as a girl and not a shepherdess. As the daughter of this manor, you shall rest assured that my authority is as good as my father's."
"Milady, your insistence to make conversation is unlike any luxury I have been afforded within this manor or from anyone I have met. Others will offer nothing more than a scoff and grimace when they see my pitiful clothes, but you have regarded me with the kindest eyes this whole time." Before I could interject, she smiled up at me and clarified further, "For this, I will continue to call you milady then. Not because it is enforced, but because I will it. Because I believe you to be the only one I have met who is worthy of it and whose commands I will rejoice in following."
I could feel not only my cheeks, but my chest growing warm. I took in the sight of the other girl's face, who now looked confidently back at me. I stuck my hand out to her. She was unsure of how to take it, so I slowly took her hand in mine as she observed.
"Do you accept this friendship, then? This friendship no one shall need know of, which will only exist from our own mutual will?"
"With pleasure, milady." This time, her voice did not waver as before. Her pearled lips made only a small, elegant movement, yet produced such a clear tone.
"Then it is as you say." I shook her hand and catching on, Miku cheerfully repeated the motion.
"So you, a noblewoman, made a friend of your own servant? How is it you had never crossed paths before?" Rin kicked her legs off the stone ledge from which she sat, doing so without tearing her curious gaze from Luka.
The older woman went still for a moment. Not in shock, but rather to recede into her own mind and ascertain her answer. Luka then returned to the garden in spirit and picking a small flower from a flax plant, admiring its vibrant violet-blue petals, she responded, "I always thought her hair was the most unusual blue, perhaps even brighter than this flower. Had I seen her, even if she walked against the colors of this garden, I would have noticed her immediately. But I suppose she had simply been confined to that hill all her life. I seldom ventured up there myself before that day, for I had truly thought it was not a part of the estate."
Rin watched as Luka rose and took a few steps to the pond. She kneeled down to set the flower on the surface of the water, watching it float to the center. Luka then turned around to face Rin.
"My, it is already time for the sun to set. Though I did say you are welcome to stay in the garden, I think it best for us to sit inside by a fire. Are you still willing to see this tale through?"
"Without a doubt!"
"Then would you care for some grapes I picked this morning?"
At the mention of fresh fruits, Rin's eyes lit up and with insistence clear in her voice, she said, "Well…if it does not trouble you at all?"
Without giving response, Luka instead gestured to Rin to follow her. The pair walked deeper into the walls of the garden before reaching an archway leading to an even grander inner courtyard. Rin looked at the various statues of what she could only assume were knights, who seemed to charge from out of the stone walls as they walked on. Finally, they reached an entrance consisting of a pair of wooden doors. Luka opened one of the doors, first allowing Rin to enter then closing it behind her.
"Please do continue down this hall here and have a seat wherever you would like. I will soon join you." Luka disappeared down a small flight of stairs that Rin could see led to a kitchen.
Doing as Luka said, Rin stepped away from the entrance, turning down a short hall to her left. When she reached the other end, she was greeted by a gigantic dining table lined with heavy spruce chairs. It took Rin almost a dozen breaths to reach the other side of the table. She pulled out the chair that was adjacent to, but not directly at, the end of the table.
As she seated herself, Luka emerged with a tray of all kinds of fruits. She approached the table humming a quaint tune. Rin took note of the other woman's bright notes despite her lower speaking voice.
Her eyes following Luka's movements, Rin asked her, "So, what did the shepherdess have to do with your inclinations to leave? Did you ever see her again?"
In a most graceful manner, Luka settled on the chair across from Rin. She set her clasped hands upon the tabletop.
After that day we first met, I returned to the hill almost everyday thereafter. Our meetings always occurred in a similar fashion, except I now bounded towards those hills in high spirits. I would wander into the forest and listen for her presence, following her echoing calls to wherever she sat with her sheep. Sometimes in the very same meadow or in the open fields I would find her.
It took no time at all for us to find a richness of spirit in one another. She would often teach me how to assemble her flock with hymns she had made up herself. I, in turn, told her everything I knew of the mythologies and histories I had encountered in my short scribal studies. If we had nothing else, we would then partake in some mockery of the countless suitors I had met. My father would never have allowed me to speak of them in such a lowly manner, but Miku always begged to hear more.
On one particular afternoon, she led her flock to the banks of a river. As the sheep stretched their heads over the water, she had become engrossed with stories of my recent travels.
"Pray tell, Miss Megurine, why do you brand this particular man most memorable of the others you met? Was he handsome? Was he kind?" She stood and rested against her staff, turning only her face to me.
"Handsome? Perhaps. Kind? Not in the slightest! If you could imagine, he had no problem telling off his dying and deaf kitchen staff right in front of me." I cringed at the memory of this suitor as he had done so all because his chicken was invisibly overcooked.
"I must know what was so memorable about him! Surely there was something you admired." Miku began hopping about toward me, letting her crook fall to the ground and almost startling the sheep. "Oh! Did he greet you in song?"
"Not quite." I folded my arms and watched her little game of instrument charades in amusement. I nearly lost my balance when she suddenly jumped straight to my feet. She lowered her knee and put one hand to her heart. I giggled at her idiotic grin as she fought with her bangs, trying to pull them back.
"Did he proclaim; Why, Lady Megurine! None the more sweeter I have seen as you among my orchard. How is it I have been kept from such saintly fruit for so long?" Miku dramatically took my hand, kissing it, then slapped her own hand to her forehead. We fell to the ground laughing in an instant.
In between pants, I rebutted, "Well, Sir Hatsune, scarce are such fruits you speak of in my own orchard. I suppose I must keep looking for one ripe enough."
Miku began to laugh and roll even more wildly on the ground. She cared little for the blades of grass that now stuck to her hair and apron. Her giggles tickled my ears like the hums of a nightingale. I never realized that one could afford to look so lovely with such strewn about hair and smudges of dirt on their face until I looked upon Miku's. Despite her lowly status, she smiled and snorted so freely without losing any beauty or grace. I felt my very heart begin to overheat. I wanted the moment to last for eternity.
"Ah. Miss Megurine? Miss Megurine!"
I had been staring.
"Hahhh, you were smiling so peacefully, milady! You enjoyed your stay at his shire that much?"
I collected myself with a sigh, rolling my eyes at her remark. She knew well that I have miraculously failed, time after time, to find any ounce of interest in these men. Miku propped her head up with a hand in order to bring her eyes to my level, waiting attentively for my response.
"Indeed, there was one thing I enjoyed about this visit. When he introduced himself, he had a devilishly confident smirk, as if he were so sure I would fall for him. He kneeled down with both his knees when he took my hand."
"And?"
"And when he rose, he turned out to be so thin that his breeches gave way!" We could not help but let out another burst of laughter.
"Oh dear! A thin noble, you say? I cannot believe such men in this world exist! I sat up as Miku stomped her feet on the ground in excitement. She stumbled over to retrieve her staff, continuing, "Will ever you find a worthy nobleman, milady? If I were your father, I'd waste no more time and seek out the king's sons themselves!"
She let out a final huff of giggles and joined her sheep by the riverbank. With cupped hands, she gathered in them clear water that caused the sunlight to shine on her sullen skin. Her crook now tucked between her arm and breast; I thought I was admiring a scene in a divine mural as her gaze remained down on her hands.
The illusion was broken when Miku let the water fall on her face and wash all the dirt away. She ran her fingers through her hair, letting it flow free. Specks of green fell around her as she brushed the grass out. Leftover droplets sparkled upon her face. And then, aquamarine eyes suddenly caught onto mine. However, this time she did not call out my lingering observance, she simply smiled. Warmth once again invaded my chest. I felt as if I could not move, as if her song had cast a spell on me. But within my stupor, I was enlightened. At once, it was as if I was freed from one prison and subsequently shackled within another.
I had fallen for her. I, a woman of noble descent, had fallen for another who was doomed to peasantry.