Chapter Text
(Author’s note: This can happen in any medieval European country you want. I know the Japanese names are out of place, but I’m going to keep them so to avoid confusion. I’m also getting arid of Miyo’s father so she just has an evil step-mother and sister, to make it more Cinderellay. Also no magical elements; Kiyoka is just a regular army commander.
Enjoy!)
She threw the teacup down onto the floor; yes, actually threw it. I wasn’t too particularly bothered by her rude, abrupt reaction. It was always like this; Kaya hadn’t given me a compliment since she moved here. Neither did Kanoko for that matter. All par for the course.
Kaya winced, making a face directly at me. “This is awful! That tea is too bitter to drink!” “I’m sorry,” I reached down to grab the still-hot, now-empty cup. “Go remake it right now,” she ordered, making me roll my eyes internally. But I straightened my back and turned to head for the door. “Yes, stepsister.” Her mother, who had been sitting quietly to the side of the room, shot me a glare as I passed her, lowering her own porcelain from her lips. “Be quick about it, Miyo. Don’t keep her waiting.” Sigh. “Yes, stepmother.” As soon as the door was closed behind me, I could hear them talking amongst themselves again. “I can’t believe she can’t even make a cup of tea properly. She should be ashamed as a member of the Saimori family.” “Unlike you, Kaya, she’s a clumsy, homely girl, just like that mother of hers.” Just like my mother, huh? After a long, deep breath, I made my way down to the kitchen for a second attempt.
So this was my life. Ever since Father died stepmother had revealed her true colours to me and turned me into a maid in my own home. It was just me, my stepmother and sister, and a few other servants; Kanoko hired and fired new ones on a regular basis so to keep them- or me- from getting too attached. Consequently I knew the inner workings of the manor better than anyone. It was up to me to ensure that there was enough coal to cook with, or water fetched from the well. I’d become quite an efficient housekeeper in my short nineteen years, not that anyone ever noticed.
After making Kaya her millionth cup of tea, I turned my attention to other chores needed doing around the estate. The first thing that needed tending to was the breakfast dishes, then the sewing and laundry, and weeding the garden before time to make lunch.
That was where my dearest childhood friend found me, outside in the mud busy pulling weeds. He watched me wistfully from the side for a moment before shaking his head, finally approaching me when I sat up to wipe the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand. He flashed me a brilliant, kind smile.
“Gardening this early in the morning? How diligent of you, Miyo.” My eyes shot open as I blinked up to him, instantly mirroring his grin. “Good morning, Koji,” my head slanted a little. Walking through the dirt toward me, he extended out his hand, patiently waiting for mine. “Here, let me help you up.” “Thank you,” taking his hand, Koji helped lift me to my feet. I noticed his fingers linger on the back of my hand a moment, not pulling back immediately. When he did remove his hand, it lowered casually, softly back at his side.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I smiled. He rubbed the back of his head a tad awkwardly. “I wanted to see if you had an escort to the ball tomorrow evening.” “A ball?” My eyes widened a bit in surprise, as did his when he saw my facial reaction. “You haven’t heard?” “Heard what?” “There’s to be a ball at the palace tomorrow night. It’s in honour of the prince’s return from military combat. I thought for sure you would have heard by now; all the eligible young maidens are to attend.” “They are?” I don’t know why I didn’t include myself in that pronoun; I guess it’s because I never imagined that stepmother would let me go anyway. This was all news to me.
Koji witnessed my still perplexed face a minute longer before relaxing his own expression. His hand waved in the air as if to banish the previous conversation away. “Ah, I suppose it’s not important. I’m only going because Father’s making me, being a commander and all.” My smile deepened as I continued to look at my precious friend, resting my shoulders a bit. “I hope you have a good time, Koji. I wish I could come with you, but I think Kanoko wouldn’t stand for it. Besides, I wouldn’t know what to wear; I’ve never been to a ball before. I’d be out of place,” my right hand rubbed my left arm. Koji’s eyes lowered at me. “Yes, you would- in all the best ways.”
“A ball, huh? Well I suppose that means that my family will be out of the house then anyway,” Koji helped me carry two baskets full of fresh vegetables back into the larder. “You’ll have the place to yourself,” he consoled me on our way in. I nodded unaffected; I never had a dream of going anyway, or so I thought. We placed the baskets down on the counter near the sink. My friend set his down and looked my way- pleasantly so.
“I wish you were coming. It’d be a lot more enjoyable with your company.” “Thank you. You’re always so flattering to me, and I’m sure I don’t deserve it.” His smile widened on its own accord, his side slanting against the counter slightly. “I wish we could spend time like this forever, just you and me.” “Koji……….” My lips parted a bit, again in surprise. His hand reached over to cover overtop of mine. He’s never done that before, been so…….. forward. “Miyo…….. I want……. I want to help you,” the palm of his hand pressed down onto my hand. “Koji!” I gasped. His head leaned forward a tad. “I’m just a plain guy, but I want to give you strength.” Oh, Koji………. My grin also intensified as my eyes shone up into his. “But you do. Your friendship gives me strength.”
Seemingly delighted to hear this, his fingers began to curl around my palm. “I’ll do anything for you, Miyo……… Anything for you to keep smiling.” “Then go and enjoy yourself tomorrow night, Koji. Your happiness is my happiness, my friend.” “Miyo……..” His face leaned in closer and closer………
“Miyo?! Miyo! Where are you?! Do you know what time it is?! The table isn’t even set up for lunch yet and its nearly noon! What are you doing?! Come at once!” Both Koji and I flinched suddenly at Kanoko’s shrill shrieking. We blinked in unison before I let out the world’s longest sigh. Then with a silent goodbye to him, I headed out to meet my stepmother, who was already in the hall tapping her foot impatiently. She shot me a monstrous look as I hurried over.
“There you are! Honestly, girl; how long do you expect us to wait?” “I’m sorry, stepmother. I’ll start making lunch right away.” She humphed with a snarl and crossed arms. “Get on with it, and it’d better be hot when you call us.” “Yes, stepmother,” I was about to leave when something popped into my mind. She fired off an unimpressed glare when my feet came to a pause so I could glance her way from over my shoulder. “Have you heard anything about a ball tomorrow night?”
Her eyes couldn’t have rolled harder, her arms changing positions so her hands planted on her hips. “What nonsense are you on about?” Nonsense……. Well I guess that answers my question. Lowering my head to a submissive posture, I turned to make my way forward again.
“Nothing.”