The Prince stares blankly at his zen garden from the main tatami room. The shoji doors are wide open, the morning gusts to breeze in, and a bit of light seeps in to warm up his cold patio. He sips on some matcha tea that he prepared for himself.
Without any warning he was a bit startled by Lira stepping up onto the engawa and into the tatami room to present a bowl of steaming substance. He smelled egg and tomatoes - his favourite. His stomach grumbled slightly at the exact moment she arrived to present his breakfast.
She gently placed the bowl in front of him, the pair of chopsticks presented to him formerly and sincerely with two hands. He grabs the chop sticks and witnesses a war of red and yellow, with white strands intertwined in the bowl. And some green onion to add a bit of natural colour on top of everything.
He takes no time in tasting his breakfast. Slurping a mouthful of noodles, he chews the squishy noodles that are hard, but contain a tender texture. The flavours of tomato and egg seize all his senses, possessing his taste buds from the matcha he drank before. He quickly grabs the wooden spoon which Lira had placed in the bowl. He examines the quality of the soup from a few sips.
He settles the spoon and chopsticks, speechless to what he just had. It reminded him of the flavours of his Royal mother's cooking. The egg and tomato noodle soup she would make for him, whenever he felt unwell.
Before he started bursting out in tears, "Your job is now done Lira, you may head towards the laundry department."
As much as her eyes seemed to be filled with curiosity from the Prince's feedback of her cooking, she obediently agreed, "Certainly," she smiled sweetly as she grabbed the sack of clothing, "May I first go get changed?"
The 10th Prince directed her into his chamber, well their chamber. Before she walked through the noren with a crane, he shouts to her, "Thank you." His back faced her, but if she could see what he emotions he was expressing, it would be a few tears and a wide joyous smile.
Before Lira stepped into the chamber she replied, "It's my greatest honour to serve you, my Prince!" She bowed slightly before going into the chamber to get changed.
The 10th Prince looked back to stare at this mysterious girl, as she walked away from his sight, although still under the same roof, but that noren feels like mountains away, continents away, realms away.
He wasted no time in consuming more of this breathtaking food, tempted to devour absolutely everything within the bowl, and the bowl itself. His back continued to face the noren which Lira was now emerging from, he could only feel the vibration of her footsteps through the tatami floor.
He turned around at her farewell, "I'll be off now, my Prince." she chimed.
He returned a sweet smile, "Bye, Lira." he silently murmured as she walked out of the tatami room. "Thank you," giggled the Prince softly, as he continued to finish the last of his egg and tomato noodle soup.