It was different to all the other patio. It wasn't extravagant like the other patio with bushes of roses everywhere. Or the one with the rarest flowers, or decorated the prettiest. It was simply just beautiful and Lira just loved the simplicity of it. It had waist height hedges like a small maze on the right, it was trimmed perfectly that gave it extra points.
Beside the hedges was a stone pavement leading to the chamber, with little stones evenly shaped that made up the pathway. Along with a small pond and a wooden bridge, close to it. It allowed Lira's mind to settle and be at peace, although it wasn't one of the things that made her happy, but now this patio was her new thing that made her happy.
The design was a classic palace patio, to her it felt like it was impossible to imagine living in such expensive housing. But to a Prince born in the imperial family, the richest family in all of Divia and holding the strongest empire. This was just - an ordinary house. They might even think it's boring and too simple. The general layout of the house was wooden with paper sliding doors. As a child Lira had grew up in a poor family so she had never seen such expensive and delicate housing. While Lira had admired the place for a decent minute and drooled over her new home, the Prince was smirking slyly. Lira made eye contact with the Prince. His smile was genuinely cute and deep down through his eyes she could see joy. Real joy that she hasn't felt in herself or seen in anyone's eyes for a really, really long time. When you've lived through so many hardships it's always cherishable to see such amazing times when someone close to you are just genuinely really happy. Although not to make conclusions, Lira had just met the Prince for an hour.
"Do you like it?"
Lira exploded with joy and began laughing like mad, "No,"
In response the Prince raised his eyebrows.
She gave a magical giggle, "I love it,"
The Prince lips stretched all the way to his cute dimples. Lira's eyes cast towards the depth of those ancient eyes the Prince had, they were sophisticated. Full of messages.
To her surprise he gestured towards the chamber. Her small startled expression must have been the reason for him raising an eyebrow. He began walking up the wooden stairs towards the hallway leading to the house. Lira quickly following suit while she walked with minor steps. The minor steps of life, and the minor problems along the way of graduating the Heart Servant Academy, but most importantly her second lesson there - small steps for elegance.
The 10th Prince abruptly came to a stop in front of the Shoji, waiting silently on the engawa leading to the main tatami room. Lira swiftly went in front of him to open the Shoji to the room. The 10th Prince entered while gently lifted his gown out of habit. He glides smoothly towards the center of the room and sits on a zabuton. There are two zabutons around the chabudai. The only thing in this room are 2 zabutons, a chabudai and tokonoma.
Lira swiftly closes the Shoji and sits across from the 10th Prince. They haven't talked for a while and the only sound audible is the shishiodoshi outside which Lira hasn't spotted yet. Without the training from the Academy Lira begins pouring water for the 10th Prince. As she has done for someone special for a really long time. With minimal eye contact with the Prince she scoops up a yunomi from the table and pours the water into the yunomi. Without hesitation from the weight of the full cup she places it in front of the Prince. While placing the pot aside.
The Prince devours the whole cup of water in a mouthful.
"The weather today is abnormally scorching, I'll go get you some more water."Lira suggests quietly.
She begins to grab the pot again when suddenly the whole table flips. From all her training she thought it was a common drill of an assassin cutting through the floor and attacking the Prince. She pushes the chabudai out of sight to get a view of the Prince.
The chabudai vigorously moves aside revealing a Prince safe and sound, but he seems to be moving closer and closer towards Lira. That moment lasted so long, she was scared that she would fail her mission of protecting the Imperial Family in less than a day. Her eyes masked fear. But she eyed the room and saw nothing, no threat at all.
With those split seconds she was blinded by the Prince who had pounced towards her. His sweating hands stationed her wrists towards the floor.
This definitely wasn't part of her training.