
The softness of the mat beneath me was a stark contrast to the heaviness pressing on my chest. My ears twitched as muffled footsteps approached, and before long, the door slid open.
"Good morning, Lady Murasakikiba," Hana chirped, her cheerful tone cutting through the haze of my thoughts.
Miko followed closely, offering a small bow. "We’ve brought your attire for the day. There are matters that require your attention."
I sat up, brushing a hand through my hair. “Matters?” I asked, though my tone came out sharper than I intended.
Miko’s gaze flicked to Hana, who stepped forward with a practiced smile. “You’ve been summoned.”
Summoned. My stomach churned at the word. My thoughts immediately went to Nessa. Facing her after last night felt unbearable. I could still feel the shame of my breakdown clinging to me, like a weight I couldn’t shrug off.
I frowned, my fingers instinctively curling into the hem of the blanket. What could she possibly want now? To scold me? Pretend yesterday never happened?
But then, the memory of her silence crept in. Last night, when I’d fallen apart, she hadn’t said a word. No lectures, no sharp remarks—just that hug. Her arms around me, firm and steady, had felt strangely comforting.
It wasn’t like her to hold back. Nessa, of all people, never hesitated to speak her mind, yet she’d chosen silence. The thought was as confusing as it was grounding, leaving me with a flicker of something I couldn’t quite name.
“Lady Murasakikiba?” Hana’s voice broke through, her tone as gentle as her smile.
I blinked, realizing both she and Miko were waiting for my response. Their patient presence steadied me, pulling me back to the moment.
“You’ve been summoned,” Hana repeated, the word laced with just enough softness to dull its edge.
“Summoned,” I echoed, my voice hollow. Anxiety stirred again, despite the fleeting comfort of the memory. Still, Hana and Miko’s calm determination had a way of easing the worst of it.
Hana stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on my arm. “We’re here to help,” she said warmly.
Her sincerity was impossible to ignore, and Miko’s quiet efficiency as she moved toward the wardrobe gave me no excuse to resist. I let out a slow breath, nodding.
“Fine,” I muttered, though the weight in my chest hadn’t entirely lifted.
As they set to work helping me prepare, the exhaustion of constantly meeting expectations pressed heavily on me. But I had no other choice—this was what was required, wasn’t it? To push through, no matter how much I wanted to stop.
When we finally reached the doors, Hana adjusted the collar of my robe, her touch light and comforting. “Are you ready?”
“Ready,” I said, though the word didn’t feel true.
They stepped aside as the doors slid open, revealing not Nessa, but Rael seated at a low table. He looked up, his easy smile lighting the room.
“Good morning, Lira,” he said, his tone warm and casual.
I froze, my ears twitching in surprise. This wasn’t Nessa. This wasn’t what I expected.
Rael gestured to the seat across from him, his demeanor calm but expectant. “Come, sit. Breakfast is ready.”
I hesitated, glancing back at Hana and Miko, as though they might offer some explanation for this unexpected turn. They offered only polite bows before retreating, sliding the door shut behind them with a soft click.
Alone now, I took a cautious step forward, doing my best to maintain the calm, composed air expected of me. The aroma of fresh bread and steamed vegetables wafted toward me, though my stomach twisted too tightly to appreciate it. I moved forward with careful deliberation, smoothing the folds of my robe. “You’re the one who summoned me?” I asked, my tone polite but guarded.
Rael chuckled, his easygoing nature somehow both reassuring and irritating. “Not exactly. I requested to meet with you this morning. Nessa agreed it might do you some good.” He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. “You don’t look convinced.”
I bit my lip, feeling the weight of protocol pressing down on me. “I’m simply surprised, Lord Rael.” I bowed my head slightly, adding, “I had assumed Nessa would be the one to request my presence, considering… everything.”
He nodded as if expecting that answer, then gestured to the seat across from him. “Well, now you’re here. Sit, please.”
I hesitated just long enough to make it awkward before complying, lowering myself carefully into the chair. My tail flicked nervously behind me as I sat upright, hands folded neatly in my lap. My eyes flickered briefly to the food but quickly returned to Rael, as though I might miss something if I let my guard down. “You’ve prepared quite a spread, my lord.”
Rael’s gaze softened. “I thought you might need it. You’ve been running yourself ragged, haven’t you?”
I kept my expression neutral, not allowing any sign of discomfort to slip through. “I am simply following the responsibilities expected of me, Lord Rael.”
“Mm, I’m sure,” he replied with a knowing look, pouring tea into a delicate cup before sliding it toward me. “But you’re not a slave, Lady Murasakikiba. You need to care for yourself too.”
I blinked at him, surprised by his tone, and briefly considered refusing the tea out of habit, but I reminded myself this wasn’t a formal audience with Nessa or the nobles. It was… different. I accepted the cup, fingers brushing the porcelain, but I didn’t drink immediately. “Thank you,” I said quietly, my voice more respectful than relaxed.
Rael didn’t press. Instead, he studied me for a moment, clearly noticing my tension. “I won’t keep you long, I promise. You don’t need to worry about formalities with me, though.” He smiled a bit, as though reading my thoughts. “That’s a lot of weight for someone your age to carry.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond. A part of me wanted to assure him I was capable, but I also couldn’t deny the truth of his words. I had been feeling the strain—more than I’d let anyone see. “I’ll do what’s needed,” I said simply, still clinging to the expected answer.
Rael’s smile didn’t fade, but it softened. “I can see that. But for now, just relax. I’m not here to add to your burdens.”
I swallowed, still unsure how to respond to such an unexpected shift in tone. It felt strange to hear someone—especially someone in Rael’s position—acknowledge that I might need a break. Still, I didn’t let my guard down completely. “Thank you, Lord Rael.”
“Please, no need for titles. You’re not in court now.” He poured himself some tea, his voice light. “Let’s just have a meal. What’s been on your mind lately?”
I looked down at my cup, feeling an internal battle between my ingrained sense of duty and the odd comfort his words provided. But as I lifted the tea to my lips, I realized I didn’t have to be as stiff as I usually was. Not here, at least, not now. Still, I wasn’t entirely ready to abandon all sense of decorum.
“I’ve been… adjusting,” I said after a moment, letting my fingers circle the cup slowly. “To everything. It’s a lot to handle.”
Rael nodded, his eyes thoughtful. “It’s overwhelming, I’m sure. You’ve had more changes in a few weeks than most do in their entire life. I'm curious who you were before all of this.”
I felt my tail twitch. Rael’s question was casual enough, but it that made me wary. I hesitated, my thoughts skittering between the lines I could afford to share and the ones I couldn’t.
“I... had a different life before this,” I replied, careful not to give too much away. “But that’s not something I like to dwell on.”
Rael’s gaze sharpened, though his tone remained neutral. “I understand. Still, you must have had people—family, perhaps—who were part of your past?”
I met his eyes, trying to remain composed, but a flicker of discomfort sparked inside me. I’d never been one to talk much about my family. It wasn’t as if I had much to say. My relationships with them had been distant, strained even.
“My family,” I began slowly, “they’ve never been close. I was never... what they expected. I was more of a loner, really. I do believe they had good intentions but... I’ve always had a difficult time connecting with others.” I paused, the words hanging in the air. The memory of their cold indifference, their lack of understanding, gnawed at me. I didn’t need to go into the details. “I drifted away from them these last few years,” I added, offering him the most basic explanation I could.
Rael leaned back. “So, you’ve been on your own for some time now?”
I nodded, relieved that the conversation hadn’t pushed too far.
Rael studied me for a moment longer, as if weighing something in his mind. His gaze softened, and he gave a small, knowing smile.
"Do you have any siblings?" he asked, his tone casual but laced with curiosity.
'Why does that matter?' I thought. I opened my mouth, then closed again as I grappled with the fleeting impulse to offer a response.
Rael, noticing my hesitation, cut in smoothly, his voice light. “Nessa has handed you off to me for the time being, so consider me your temporary… caretaker, if you will.” He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my reaction.
I blinked at him, my tail swishing involuntarily at the thought—was my breakdown last night really so bad that it required this change in course? The idea gnawed at me, but I kept it to myself.
Rael’s smile remained, his eyes twinkling as he leaned in slightly, clearly intent on changing the subject. "I have a favor to ask of you, Lira. A simple one, really. If you’re willing to accept, I can grant you quite a bit of freedom in return."
I looked at him, eyebrow raised. “Freedom?” I repeated cautiously.
He nodded, his expression warm but enigmatic. “You’ll have the freedom to move as you please inside and outside of the embassy, no restrictions.” His voice softened with a subtle hint of mischief. "And, perhaps most enticing of all, you’ll have the freedom to attend a certain party invite I happen to have access to."
The words hung in the air between us as I processed what he had said, and my breath caught in my throat. Was he perhaps talking about the party with Elias?
Rael took a sip of his tea, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Yes, I know about the invite,” he said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “And I do believe it would be beneficial for you to attend. However…” He trailed off, as if letting the weight of his words settle.
I leaned forward slightly, anticipation rising. “But what?”
Rael gave a small shake of his head, his lips curving into a knowing smile. “You won’t be going alone. Hana and Miko will accompany you, of course. Especially Miko.” He muttered something under his breath, something I couldn’t quite catch, but it sounded like he was commenting on the ambassador’s fondness for her.
I couldn’t help the spark of excitement that flared in my chest. The thought of attending the party, seeing Elias, made the idea seem almost… appealing.
I opened my mouth to accept, but Rael held up a hand, cutting me off before I could speak.
“This is all well and good, but,” he said, his tone shifting to something more serious, “there’s a condition.” His gaze locked onto mine, piercing and unwavering. “Before you can go, I need you to do me a favor. A big one. One that will benefit everyone involved.”
The excitement I’d felt faltered slightly. I raised an eyebrow, trying to gauge the seriousness of his tone. “A favor?”
Rael nodded, his expression unreadable. “Yes, and it’s not something I can take lightly. But if you’re willing to do this, I’ll ensure that you can move freely within the embassy, and I’ll make sure the invitation is yours.”
I stared at him for a moment, my mind racing. I didn’t like the idea of owing anyone anything, but I also knew I couldn’t afford to turn down an opportunity like this. If it meant some small amount of freedom, some relief from the constant pressure, I was willing to take the chance.
"What is the favor?" I asked.
Rael seemed to beam. "Follow me."