"Two inches from being full,"
I blinked, slightly confused. This human knew how I drank my tea?
Was this another unpleasant method of the males in this family?
"I have asked. Many had seen that little sister, Guai, show apt appreciation to tea. asking I was told that little sister Guai prefer it two inches from the cup being full'
"I do. For some reason, I find that, the flavour is different. Don't ask why,"
He chuckled, showing two dents in his cheeks. For a moment I became dazed, staring at that slight anomaly before recovering and looking away.
"I will try it then... Pour my cup exactly like the first young miss,"
"Yes Master,"
"I have brought a gift, it was made during my home teachings. Forgive me in advance for any displeasure my lack of knowledge may cause... Hua?"
Hua in question placed little Tau in the basket with downed pillows and soft blankets made from merino wool. The animal itself was known to have slowly grown wool, which took fifteen years. They were animals that had tasty meat as well, while stewed or roasted.
It was part of the first family's income, though not its greatest, the wool itself was still in demand with the first harvest always given to tribute to the emperor.
It was an extreme pleasure to weave the blankets for little tau.
"Yes, young miss,"
Hua stepped forward and presented the onyx handcrafted square hip ornament. I had crafted five in total, each with the names of the males in the family.
All with their unique traits though I had been extremely bias of me when crafting the designs on the onyx tablet for Tau.
In the Xtem wooden box, another crafted during the home lessons nestled among silk cloth was the pitch-black stone onyx it had a rectangular shape with the name "Bo Hui" written in the Cuhuai characters each character well crafted elegantly.
Reaching out with my free hand I took the box and presented it to the second master he took it and immediately attached it to his waist.
"I thank little Guai,"
Nodding to him, I picked up my cup and continued to sip my tea, closing my eyes at the flavour.
Little Tau took that moment to fuss a bit nearby, even though I wanted to rise and tend to him it would have shown to this "brother" of mines that I lacked etiquette which would reflect poorly upon my teachings so instead I allowed Hua to care for him while I sat not too far from bo hui sipping tea with the sound of water and breeze flitting through the trees.
After a while, we spoke about trivial things before I departed saying my goodbye guided to the entrance of his courtyard by bo hui himself flanked by two maids behind him while I had my three with little tau in my hands who made small sounds as I absentmindedly brushed parts of his face.
"I hope sister will visit again, before I depart for school myself,"
"Of course brother, I will."
It was not likely, but still, pleasantries needed to be said.
In all honesty, if it was not for little Tau, I would have left this family weeks ago.
The mother was fine, but the males were too much, one was too overbearing, the other dictated almost everything I wore and the other seemed to be a secret stalker.
Too many things I liked were present in his home. Nothing was too coincidental.
"young miss the second first master.."
"Mmm, it doesn't matter. You are dismissed pass little Tau to me."
Taking the boy, I stripped redressed in sleeping wear and climbed into the canopy bed.
The morning I ran then practised my skills which consisted of footwork passed on from my mother from the time I spent in the pack and then decided to play with a few hand movements using a simple stick quarter length of my hand.
Once I was finished I returned I showered, tended to little tau dressed, paid my respects to "mother" and left for school.