His long, silky hair was tied into a medium pony which now moved in the direction of the wind. With the white kimono and purple hakama under the bright moonlight, the man looked handsome. Yuki continued to look at the man, enraptured by his presence. She had never spoken to him, not a word had been exchanged as she was nothing but a maid and a maid had no reason to converse with their masters. It seemed like the man was thinking about something and had a lonely expression on his face which she hadn't seen before.
She wondered what happened that brought such expression on him.
"This is where you were!" someone called and as the person made his way to where Lord Seokjin was, she realized it was Lord Seokjin's brother, Hoseok, "I was searching all over for you," the younger brother came to stand next to him.
"Did mother go to sleep?"
"Hmm," Hoseok nodded, "She's resting now in her room."
"I see."
"Are you alright?" Lord Seokjin smiled answering a yes, the lonely expression was hidden back behind the gentle smile, "You do know that any decision you take, I will accept and follow it without questioning it. You don't have to hard on yourself."
"I am glad to hear that," Lord Seokjin replied.
"Don't be hard on yourself. I don't mind what the men in the council had to speak about what happened during the last war," Lord Hoseok placed a hand on his elder brother's shoulder, "And my mind is currently occupied with the thoughts of happiness of my brother getting married. I have no room for other things."
"I forgot you are like this," Lord Seokjin shook his head.
The eldest son was Seokjin Takeda, who was in his mid-twenties. He was tall in stature with wide shoulders, having eyes that mirrored his soft brown hair. Not only was the man good looking but also carried polite manners among his peers and subordinates that garnered attention from both male and female. And like many women in the castle, Yuki couldn't help but be smitten by him.
The second son was Hoseok Takeda, who Yuki found to be pleasant and friendly. Unlike the eldest son, Hoseok mingled with everyone which wouldn't limit to only his samurai retainers or his elders. He would greet people with the same amount of smile and would usually be seen next to his elder brother, accompanying him on their regular duties. The third, youngest son of the Takeda was someone Yuki had never met until the day as he had gone to the mountains to train himself like his brothers and father had done previously, to be a better samurai under the guidance of a renowned monk.
"By the way, I received a letter from the mountain monks. He will be returning soon."
"Is it time already? Time did fly."
"The peacemaker, bystander, and the troublemaker are finally going to unite," Lord Hoseok clapped his hands together in excitement,
"I can't believe that father would come up with such nicknames," Lord Seokjin stated unbelievably.
"Do you think the training would have done him any good? After all, it is him."
"I hope so," Lord Seokjin replied thoughtfully before began walking down the bridge.
In the following weeks, young maidens visited the castle to meet Lord Seokjin to match their compatibles. They were beautiful ladies from well-bred families. The way they walked, spoke and sat was defined but it seemed like none of them caught the Lord's eyes. One similar day arrived when Lady Hana, the niece of a wealthy lord arrived when Lord Seokjin had gone out to discuss the dispute that was occurring between two villages in the province. As the Lord was out and would take a day before returning back to the castle, Lady Hana was asked to stay back at the castle.
Lady Hana was a petite woman who had entered the castle with a cloak over her head which covered her face. It was only later that she removed the cloak at night. Her pale cheeks stood out against the black hair that went past her shoulders which Yuki was now brushing it with a wide-toothed comb. Though Yuki had never got the opportunity to attend a lady this close by, she found Lady Hana to be different. By the time of night the lady had befriended her and had asked her to stay in her room until she would fall asleep. Though Hatori, the head cook wasn't pleased to hear about Yuki serving the young lady, he had tried to offer an experienced maid at the fear of Yuki breaking anything or doing something out of line. But Lady Hana was firm with her choice which the head cook finally had to agree.
"Is it really that bad?" Yuki asked as both the girls sat on the tatami-matted floor.
"It is," Lady Hana replied drinking the tea Yuki had prepared for her, "I envy you, Yuki. For a girl who gets to work and walk where ever and whenever you want is so much better than to be caged in the house doing nothing."
"I didn't know that a life of a lady was difficult," Yuki confessed seeing Lady Hana place the cup back on the ground, "I think it's rather strange to say but looks like the grass isn't greener on the other side."
"I couldn't agree more! A girl has all the right!" Lady Hana burst out to which Yuki had shushed her.
Lady Hana was really different, thought Yuki to herself. It looked like even though there were women who enjoyed the position of being a Lady and a wife of a wealthy samurai, Lady Hana didn't vote for it. Instead, she wanted to do house chores which her parents didn't approve of. She sympathized with the lady. The harsh reality was something not everyone understood about the high and low society of women. The women of the lower society had the power to live how they wanted but it wasn't the same for the high-class women. It was an inevitable fate for the daughters of the high-class family where they were married for political arrangements with no say of their own.
"You don't have to worry about it, Lady Hana. Lord Seokjin is a very good man. He will make sure you're happy," she consoled the lady, seeing the tears in her eyes, "Is there anything you would like me to do? Would you like to eat something?" She asked to see if she could ease the lady's pain. But what she didn't know was that she had dug a grave for herself by asking that question.
"I-don't want to eat anything but I do have favor, could I ask for it?" Lady Hana asked wiping her eyes at the back of her sleeves.
"Please," Yuki waited, wondering what the favor was.
"You see the truth is..." Lady Hana began biting her lip, "I am in love with someone and I cannot deceive the Lord."
"Eh? Why not tell your parents about it?" Yuki asked to see Lady Hana shake her head.
"Satoshi, he is a lower class man whom my parents don't approve of. After knowing about the relationship I hold with another man, my mother decided to immediately get me married. They have threatened to kill the man if I don't follow their words."
"What about the man you love?"
"He doesn't know everything but I told I would be travelling here," she said sadly, "I don't know what to do. In the state, I am it is very difficult for me to even send an out a letter to him. I-need your help!" she whispered to Yuki so that the guards outside their door wouldn't hear them.
"I will do everything in my power to help you," Yuki replied enthusiastically stepping into the grave she had dug previously.
"I heard from my personal maid that Satoshi is here. I will meet him and be back by night," Lady Hana took hold of Yuki's hand in hers and said with hopeful eyes. "I need you to switch places with me for a day."