Ch. 1: Eyes That Don't See Me
Oks in the Land of Jewels, Month of Shadow…-.
The golden sunlight filtered through the trees overhead.
As thanks for awakening Prince Keith… I was sent an invitation from the king and arrived in Oks.
(Wow, it’s so pretty.)
I walked behind the butler that had come to escort me, taking in the beauty of the scenery.
Butler: “Our country is quite lovely during the sunset.”
OO: “Yes, it is.”
As I watched the sun sinking on the horizon, I smiled.
At last, we arrived at the castle and the butler showed me to a room.
(Huh… who is that person?)
Seeing a figure I recognized, I stopped walking.
??: “…”
As soon as he noticed me, he turned his back on me.
Butler: “Oh… Lord Keith, this is Lady OO.”
At the butler’s voice, Keith only threw a glance over his shoulder.
(So, it really was Keith.)
OO: “Good evening, Keith.”
Keith: “…”
This time, Keith’s eyes went right over me and fixed on the butler.
Keith: “Have champaign brought to my room. And make preparations for the deliberation regarding the country tomorrow.”
Butler: “…yes sir.”
The butler responded politely.
In that moment, I knew neither his words nor his gaze had been directed towards me.
Ch. 2: Eyes of Ice
The next day…-.
I was invited to tea with the king and sat next to Keith so I could see his profile.
Just like the day before, Keith didn’t look at me once, acting as if I didn’t exist.
(He hasn’t spoken to me once since yesterday either. I wonder if I’ve done something to make him upset…)
Thinking that, I…
OO: “Um… have I done something to upset you…?”
I took a chance and asked.
Keith: “…”
However, he just looked at me.
(Maybe I should ask him about it. But…)
I was unable to speak with him as Keith was in an intense discussion with the man seated across from him.
In the end, we didn’t exchange a single word and the tea came to an end.
Unnoticed, Keith then returned to his room.
(We didn’t speak again.)
I looked where he had been sitting, filled with a sense of sadness.
Then…
(Huh?)
I spotted a beautiful fountain pen left on the table.
(Is this Keith’s?)
OO: “…”
I picked up the pen tightly and left the dining hall.
Standing in front of Keith’s room, I knocked on the door, which was slightly ajar.
OO: “…Keith?”
There was no answer no matter how many times I knocked, and I could hear the faint sound of a music box coming through the crack in the door.
(What a lovely sound…)
As if that warm and lovely sound was drawing me in, I peered into the room.
A soft breeze caused the curtains to flutter.
The light broke across his face like waves as Keith lay on the sofa, fast asleep.
(The breeze is a little cold today… he may catch a cold. I should close the window.)
Moving quietly, I crept past Keith.
On the desk right next to him, a porcelain music box decorated with a reindeer spun around.
(Such a pretty sound…)
As I thought that…-.
OO: “…!”
A noticeably strong breeze blew in, pushing the curtain into the music box.
(It’s going to fall…!)
I frantically moved to set it up right when…
OO: “Ah…!”
My finger accidentally bumped into the music box, knocking it off the desk.
The sound of the music box crashing to the floor echoed in the room.
Keith: “…”
At the noise, Keith woke up and stared at me in surprise.
OO: “U-um… I’m sorry… I just came to bring your fountain pen back. And then I was going to close the window…”
(What do I do…?)
Keith ignored my words and looked towards the horrible broken pieces of the music box.
OO: “I’m so sorry!”
I hurriedly crouched down and started to pick up the broken pieces.
Keith watched me without saying a word, then slowly began to speak.
Keith: “…that pen isn’t mine.”
OO: “Eh…?”
The gaze he fixed on me was so terrifying, it sent a chill through me, and I ended up freezing in place.
OO: “I’m sorry…”
Keith’s gaze moved back to the broken music box.
As he looked at it, his face fell into shadow.
Keith: “…”
Though he remained silent, Keith seemed somehow pained…-.
(I wonder if this music box was something precious to him… oh, what should I do?)
OO: “I’m so sorry… um, if… there’s anything I can do…”
Keith: “Anything?”
OO: “Yes…”
Keith looked down at me coldly, then slowly crossed his legs.
Keith: “Then you’ll be my servant from now on.”
OO: “Eh…?”
A cold wind blew between the two of us.
And his cold gaze was now simply terrifying.
Ch. 3: A Faint Smile
The cold wind that came through the window sent a chill up my spine.
(Did he say ‘servant’?)
I still crouched to pick up the broken pieces on the floor, and Keith fixed his icy gaze on me.
Then, Keith suddenly stretched out his legs.
Keith: “Did you not notice?”
OO: “Eh…?”
I blinked, not completely understanding the situation.
OO: “Um… notice what?”
Keith: “You really are slow.”
(What does he mean?)
I looked around the room, not knowing what I should be seeing.
Keith: “What are you looking at?”
Keith: “Can’t you see the dust on my shoes?”
I looked at Keith’s shoes and saw a small speck of dust on them.
OO: “Ah…”
(I-is this what he meant by servant? Why am I… but I’m sure I ended up breaking something important to Keith.)
OO: “…”
I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, but I felt guilty and took out a handkerchief.
The many pieces of the broken music box fell from the palm of my hand.
OO: “Ah…”
I hurriedly picked them up.
Keith: “…”
Keith just watched me in silence, then stood up.
OO: “U-um, wait?”
Keith: “…I don’t need a servant who can’t even clean shoes.”
OO: “…I’m sorry.”
Keith: “Get out.”
OO: “Eh?”
Keith: “I said to get out and repent.”
OO: “Y-yes…”
Keith looked down on me, but I couldn’t clearly see his expression.
Driven out by the coldness in his voice, I left his room.
(I can’t believe I’m his servant now…)
I stood there, dumbfounded, then remembered I still held the broken pieces of the music box in my hands.
(But I’m sure… this was really important to him. …I have to apologize properly.)
So as not to drop the pieces, I pulled out a handkerchief from my pocket.
Carefully, I wrapped them up as I recalled the beautiful melody.
Going out into the empty garden, the cold rain that was falling made me shiver.
(It’s a little cold… but even still.)
I thought back to the music box, broken into a million pieces.
(I’m the one who broke it…)
I hung my head, the cold rain running down the back of my neck.
I didn’t even wipe away the drops that fell from my hair and ran down my face as I stood there, at a loss.
…
……
I didn’t know how much time had passed as I stood there, unmoving.
(I’m cold…)
My body, soaked and cold from the rain, began to tremble slightly.
At that time…
A loud sound echoed across the sky, and everything was lit up in a bright white for a moment.
OO: “…!”
(L-lightning…?)
The sound of the thunder seemed intense and amplified, causing me to cover my ears and crouch down.
Then…
Keith: “You’re pathetic.”
I didn’t know when it happened, but Keith stood there, looking down on me.
OO: “Keith…”
Keith: “…”
He stared at me, wet from the rain and without an umbrella.
Suddenly, he extended his hand towards me.
(Eh…?)
OO: “Th-thank you.”
I didn’t hesitate to take his hand, though I bowed my head.
Keith: “…”
OO: “Keith… I really am sorry.”
The words flowed from my heart, and my shoulders slumped.
Keith: “…get up.”
Keith grabbed my wrist and forcefully pulled me up.
Keith: “I told you to go outside and repent, so you seriously went out and stood in the rain like an idiot?”
OO: “…yes.”
Keith: “You’re hopeless.”
Keith led me by the hand back to his room, then had me sit on the sofa.
(Now Keith is soaking wet too, because of me.)
OO: “I-I’ll… go heat some hot water for a bath.”
I spoke softly, but then Keith gently placed his hand on my head.
OO: “…?”
He smiled faintly, and my heart sped up a little.
(Keith…?)
At some point, the rain had turned to a light drizzle gently running down the window.
Ch. 4: A Definite Smile
The wet nape of my neck was slightly chilly…-.
OO: “Keith, the bath is ready.”
I had run hot water in the bathtub to help warm him up, considering he had gotten wet in the rain.
After dropping in some oils, I went to call Keith in.
Keith: “…you’re the one who’s soaked. You go first.”
Keith gently reached his hand out to my hair from where he lay on the sofa.
OO: “I couldn’t… I’m fine anyway. Please, you go first.”
Feeling my cheeks flush, I looked down as I spoke so he wouldn’t be able to tell.
Keith: “Then get in with me.”
OO: “Huh…?”
Keith: “You’re my servant, right?”
OO: “U-um…-.”
My heart was pounding, and I just stood there.
OO: “I’m sorry…”
Keith: “Don’t be so quick to apologize.”
Keith let out an exasperated sigh.
Confused, I stood there blinking before I slowly nodded.
(I’m his servant, that’s why…)
In that moment, I couldn’t see Keith’s eyes, but I saw a slight grin appear on his face.
Keith: “You don’t need to be trembling like that.”
Keith: “…well, whatever.”
Saying as much, Keith went alone into the bathroom.
As he shut the door, alone, I felt a wave of relief.
(Th-thank goodness.)
At that time…-.
I noticed the broken pieces of the music box placed on Keith’s desk.
(That’s the music box I broke… did Keith pick up the pieces?)
Inside a beautifully constructed wooden box, the pieces sparkled in the light from where they had been carefully placed.
(It really was something important to him.)
I felt a pain in my chest.
I pulled my handkerchief from my pocket and took out the pieces I had.
(They’ve gotten so beat up. What can I do…?)
Carefully, I set the pieces from my handkerchief into the box.
…
……
Eventually, Keith came out of the bath.
I confirmed the resolution I now held in my heart.
OO: “Shall I pour some water for you?”
Keith: “…”
For a moment, Keith looked at me in surprise.
Keith: “…it’s fine.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Keith turned away from me, pouring out a cup of the lemon water I had prepared.
OO: “…I apologize for being unable to perform the directions you gave me. I will endeavor to do my best from this point on. Because… I am your servant.”
Keith: “…”
OO: “However, it is a far cry from serving as proper recompense for my having broken your precious music box… so please give me any orders you like.”
I bowed deeply.
After a while, Keith muttered a response.
Keith: “It was a keepsake from my deceased sister. She gave it to me for my birthday, just before she died in an accident. The song is one she wrote herself… so that I could sleep well when I was away on official business.”
OO: “!”
(I can’t believe I broke something so important…!)
OO: “…I can never make up for what I’ve done.”
Now knowing the emotions that went along with the music box, I looked at Keith all while I felt my chest caving in.
Then, Keith looked to the box of broken pieces and closed his eyes.
Keith: “…I never thought you’d take this servant thing so seriously. That’s enough. All things that have form break eventually.”
Suddenly, Keith’s eyes were filled with sadness.
The pained smile I saw on his face broke my heart.
Ch. 5: A Distant Voice
The next day, thick clouds covered the sky…-.
(I want to do as much as I can for Keith. Though it may not be enough…)
After learning of the circumstances surrounding the music box, I made an earnest request of the maid and swapped places with her so I could clean Keith’s room.
(I hope Keith sleeps well tonight. Even without the music box…)
Having made the bed, the scent of the burning candle filled the room.
With the room thoroughly prepared, I took a glance outside and watched as a sudden downpour began.
(I heard Keith went into town today for an inspection. It’ll be awful if he gets wet.)
Panicked and with an umbrella in hand, I ran from the room.
As I made to walk towards the town, the people of the castle offered to prepare a carriage for me instead.
I tried to politely refuse, but they were insistent, and I reluctantly rode the carriage into town.
When I saw Keith through the window, I immediately had the carriage pull to a stop and ran out into the rain.
Keith: “You…-.”
Seeing me, Keith’s eyes went wide.
Keith: “You came all this way to bring me an umbrella?”
OO: “I assumed you hadn’t brought one with you… but it looks like you did.”
A servant stood behind Keith holding an umbrella.
(I’m… such an idiot.)
As I hung my head at my own stupidity, Keith took the umbrella from my hand.
Keith: “I see. Thanks for that.”
Keith moved away from his servant and held the umbrella up over me.
Then after moving himself under it as well, he stared fixedly at me.
Keith: “You…”
(Keith…?)
OO: “Um… is there something the matter?”
Keith lightly brushed my face.
OO: “…”
As he looked at me, I turned away but Keith grabbed my chin.
Keith: “Your face… it’s red.”
OO: “Eh…?”
(Now that he mentions it, I am a bit warm…)
In the next instant… the world spun.
(Huh…?)
Keith: “Hey!”
I felt something strong support me around my waist as the sky seemed to grow more distant…-.
Keith: “OO…”
Keith called my name…
As I heard his voice, I felt myself fall into darkness.