After my second refusal, the man stopped talking to . Until we finally arrived at the entrance of the forest. I felt a little confused because I didn’t hear the voices of the maids or guards who usually looked for , even though I ca ho very late. Where were the ladies-in-waiting? Did the war take my other friends again?
No, that couldn’t happen. I would forbid them to join the war!
Due to nervousness and panic, I couldn’t rember the last number I had counted. It was okay. It wasn’t a big problem for . As long as I was out of the forest, there would always be a castle guard who would help get back to the castle.
But when I stepped forward, I heard a very unfamiliar crowd. The voices of the n there didn’t seem like the voices of the castle guards I knew.
I wanted to call the na of the castle guard I knew, but before I could call out to him, a hand grabbed mine violently.
"Who are you!?" the man asked harshly.
I had never heard that voice before. Was it a new guard? But, if they were the new guards, wouldn’t they be introduced to first? And, I would usually hold their faces first to recognize the facial features of the person who would beco my new friend.
"I’m Cecilia."
"I didn’t ask your na. I asked who you are and what is your purpose in entering the castle?"
"Ah! Sir! Please don’t be like that. Sh-she... is my sister.. She can’t see. Maybe she’s trying to visit ."
I knew the woman’s voice. She was my lady-in-waiting who always looked for every evening. Finally, I t soone I knew too.
The stranger let go of my hand violently enough that I fell to the ground. It felt like my knees and both palms hurt. I also could feel the pain in that part, especially in the palm of my hand, which sting a lot. I had to endure it for now. I didn’t want to cry just because it hurt like this. It would make father or mother sad. I better treat it right away later.
The lady-in-waiting took away. Before leading , she draped a cloth over my head. Why? It was night now, right? There was no scorching sun, so I didn’t need to be protected. There was a lot of question in my head now but I stay silence.
I didn’t know where she took . All I knew was that I went very far. It was very, very far away, and I imdiately knew we weren’t heading for the castle.
"Mirai, where are we going?"
"Princess. I’m sorry... u-until the next few days, you will stay with , alright? This is an order from the king and queen."
"Why? Are mother and father going to renovate the castle again?"
I was confused. If mother and father were not in the castle, usually, I could still stay in the castle because my friends would help . In the past, I almost stayed at Mirai’s house because my father planned to expand the castle to be my playground.
But, because I couldn’t see, my mother said it was not necessary, and I also agreed. I preferred the current residence. With rooms that were close to each other, I could more easily calculate the distance of my steps. After that, the renovation was cancelled.
"Ah... I-It seems so."
I didn’t think so. I knew Mirai, the na of my lady-in-waiting, was lying. Her tone sounded flustered, like soone who didn’t know what to answer. She just answered my question reflexively.
I didn’t want to make Mirai uncomfortable. So I just accepted it.
After walking quite a distance and passing through a residential area that felt quieter than usual, we now arrived at Mirai’s house. The village we were passing through was completely quiet. It felt like there was no one at all. I didn’t even feel the warmth of the torches that were usually put in front of several houses. I wanted to ask where did they all go? But, I knew for sure Mirai would say that it was very late and they were already resting.
Having a blind speaking opponent like would definitely make it easier for soone to lie. It wasn’t that late for the village to sound so quiet like this.
"Princess, pardon the state of my small house. It’s too sudden so I haven’t prepared your bed. Would you like to sit outside first? I’ll bring you a cup of hot tea."
"Thank you, Mira. I’ll wait outside first."
"Then, I will do it quickly. Please wait a minute. The moon right now looks beautiful."
"Full moon?"
"Yes. It’s a full moon now. You can sing the song if you want."
Mirai led to sit on a wooden chair and asked permission to prepare the bed quickly.
A full moon. Mother said I was also born when the moon entered the perfect phase. She said that at that ti the moon was shining so brightly that my mother almost fainted from giving birth. I felt that the full moon was almost as bright as the sun.
It was round like a coin, if my father described it. It was as white as my hair color, my mother added.
I hoped I had just one chance to see the shape of the full moon, which people said was very beautiful.
While waiting for Mirai, I took out the bamboo flute that was placed in between the cloth that wrapped around the dress on my stomach. I was once taught by my mother the harmonious song that we always sang every ti the full moon ca.
Then, I felt it again. A strange feeling, like being watched from afar. I kept blowing my bamboo flute. The night wind blew gently. Soone ca closer, then stopped right beside . I could feel the person’s presence.
Soone touched my shoulder. It was Mirai. Mirai said that the room for had been prepared and I could rest now. It seed like it was really late at night because Mirai didn’t realize the wound in my hand. Even until she led to sit on the bed, Mirai didn’t ask about my wound.
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