EVERYBODY’S voice has its own unique color, Yura thought, as she sat in a chair.
Perhaps it was just an idle thought, but it seemed true. Anytime people were talking, it seemed to liven up the place, just like when flowers bloomed.
That night, there was a particular excitement in Yura’s room. It might’ve also been because of the light offered by the chandelier through the dark night, but the ladies who were consumed with work throughout the day were bustling about, fussing over her new dress. They brought with them several flowers to match its color, worked on finding matching gloves, and generally made a huge commotion.
Yura’s mood still hadn’t improved in the half-day since everything happened. She tried to bar those thoughts from her mind, but every time she imagined that face that shouldn’t have seemed malicious, she naturally went rigid. Hearing the splendor in their voices, she realized she was the downer in the room.
“…Are you not feeling well?” Leila asked with concern as she set a flower into a vase. Yura shook her head frantically, her fingers tracing the design inlaid on the table.
“No. Leila, you’re not going to join them?” Yura asked, glancing at the other ladies gathered together. Atop a table pulled to the corner of the room, Sisty had set out several pairs of shoes. She was taking great care in comparing pairs of high-heels or mules to a skirt pulled halfway out of a box. Leila chuckled and shrugged.
“There are already plenty of people over there.”
“I see…”
“So, will you be going to bed soon?”
Yura shook her head. There was too much excitement for her to sleep.
“I’m going to stay up a little longer. I like watching everyone.”
Leila was silent, save for the snip of her shears. She then brought the new flower arrangement over to Yura. Wrapped in a pure white doily, she handed it to Yura with the most attractive side facing her.
“Is it because of what happened this afternoon?” Leila asked pointedly.
Yura stared back at Leila instinctively. Perhaps the look on her face told Leila she’d hit the nail on the head, as Leila laughed at her reaction. However, she seemed to realize it was not the right time to laugh. She quickly resumed her serious expression and lowered her eyes with a sigh.
“I was afraid you were concerned about that…”
She looked around, then leaned closer to Yura.
“I know this is rude of me, but…Lady Yuura, please be wary of Marquis Ermetel’s daughter. She hides fangs beneath the guise of a raven butterfly.”
Yura stared blankly back at her. Leila looked worried.
“…He has a daughter?”
Leila nodded silently.
“When you meet her tomorrow, which you likely will, please…”
Yura blinked several times at her.
If Leila called her a butterfly, then she must be lovely…
Yura nodded. Seeing that, Leila seemed a little more at ease.
“Oh, that’s right,” Leila said, clapping her hands. “I asked that you be seated next to Lord Evayne tomorrow.”
Yura’s eyes widened. Leila winked mischievously and put her index finger to her lips.
“My uncle!”
Like a withering flower perking back up, Yura’s soured mood began to brighten.
Yura was smiling without realizing it.
“Thank you, Leila!”
Leila smiled bashfully and gave a little bow.
“Now, it’s time to clean up,” she called to the other ladies. Watching Leila reminded Yura suddenly of Tomoko directing her teammates.
“Come on, don’t be so slow!”
She could still hear Tomoko in her mind, a ball in one hand. She was looking at Yura.
“Sorry, just hang on a little longer,” she would say.
“Lady Yuura?”
Leila had turned back around and was staring at her. Startled, Yura came back to the present and smiled back.
“Wh-What is it?”
At just that moment, Yura heard the one-hour warning bell and rose from her chair. The maids watched her in shock. Yura turned back to them and offered a bow in the elegant fashion Leila had shown her.
“I’m going for a walk.”
✦ ✦ ✦
EARLY the next morning, Castle Westgard was enveloped in a rare sort of chaos.
Carriages bearing members of the clergy were coming and going through the castle gate. Visitors from the town below and the surrounding area had scarcely been inside. Horses and ornate carriages bustled about the white marble paved road.
First thing in the morning, Yura was changed into her clothes for the day. It was a neat, blue dress so pale that it was almost white, with a full, ruffled skirt. Since it exposed her shoulders, she wore gloves that came up to her elbows and firm mules. At least, she thought, she might be able to avoid falling for the most part.
“It seems we won’t be in for good weather…” Leila said, gazing out the window after getting Yura dressed.
Yura didn’t know how, but Leila and the others would always look up at the sky and be able to accurately guess the weather. Yura tilted her head, gazing up at the bright and sunny, albeit cloud-filled, sky.
Instead of the usual accessories in her standard hairdo, several fresh flowers were used, making Yura feel like a vase. Soft, white flowers dotted her hair, interspersed with five little pale blue ones. Sisty told her that the clergy liked azaleas.
She encountered Sei on her way down the cloister to the room where the ceremony would be held. He was dressed differently from usual, sporting a navy-blue coat and dress clothes with brass buttons. He gave Yura a bow when he spotted her.
“Ah…”
They kept walking. As she passed, she looked back. Sei passed a guard at the corner and turned without a word. Once he disappeared, Yura sulked just a little.
Oh, Sei, you’re so unsociable…
The ceremony was to be carried out in a room in the castle’s left wing. The closer they got, the slower Yura seemed to move. Seeing Yura losing her nerve, Leila flashed her a wry grin out of the corner of her eye.
“There is no reason to be nervous, Lady Yuura.”
“H-Hard not to be…”
Yura was regretting agreeing to it so easily, even if it was a little late for it.
Her memories from the day before kept coming up, painful as they were. By the time they reached the door, Yura had completely frozen up. The ladies-in-waiting collectively heaved a sigh.
“This is truly troublesome.”
Yura gulped. She could hear voices just inside the door before her. She dreaded being sat down and jostled about. If she could, she would remain where she was.
“W-Wait, Leila…”
“But Lord Evayne is already here.”
Urged on by words she couldn’t argue with, Yura stood tearfully before the door. Guards clad in heavy armor were waiting to open it for her. Yura stood up straight and turned back to the two women.
“I-I don’t look strange, do I? Just give me a minute, I need to check my clothes again.”
“There’s nothing strange about you.”
It wasn’t a great comparison, but to Yura, Leila and the others were like pirates. Making her walk the plank over the ocean, prodding her along the whole time. All while sharks loomed below.
“Wh-What if Ashes laughs at me?”
Yura said it, feeling like Ashes wouldn’t let things slide if he knew the truth about her. It felt like she was about to be thrown to the sharks.
But the pair took it differently. They exchanged glances, suddenly seeming moved.
“No one will laugh!”
They each took one of Yura’s hands, trying to urge her on.
Guess I just kicked the hornet’s nest, Yura thought.
“In you go!” Leila and Sisty brushed aside the guards and opened the door.
It was like visiting another martial arts dojo and having to defeat their best members in a fight.
With a bang, Yura was tossed into the hall before she could make a sound.