1 Young lady

Holding the basket of clothes in her arms, the young girl walked on the veranda. Her footsteps steady and soft against the wooden floor. Walking towards the door, she knocked twice to see if there was anyone inside. Receiving no reply, she entered to remove the used sheets and putting them in the basket. Ready to leave, she turned around to only stub her toe against the desk.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed, placing the basket down and sitting down on the floor to let the pain subside, "Every time."

Yuki Mura was a young maid who worked at one of the prestigious samurai family. Being born to a poor family of farmers, and after her father passed away less than half a year ago, she had sought out to work to support her family; taking employment under the Takeda family as a servant girl.

"Yuki?" She heard her friend, Manami call for her, "Are you done with this side of- What are you doing sitting down there?" her friend asked her confused.

"I was taking a small break," Yuki replied getting up and picking the basket of clothes she had placed down previously.

"Did you hit your toe again?" Manami asked knowingly to see Yuki give a small nod, "Oh my. How hard is it for anyone to not look at the desk. No no. I mean the same desk. I think you're getting older faster than anyone. It is time you settle down," hearing this Yuki smiled.

"Why is that everything boils to marriage in your case. There's no such thing and my eyes are perfectly fine. It as if the desk moves in my direction ready to attack my legs," Yuki replied as they walked together down the corridors.

"Right! Did you know what I heard today before coming here?" Manami leaned to whisper, "It seems Lady Takeda has sent word through the head magistrate to search for a prospective bride for the eldest master."

"Really?" taken aback with the news, Yuki looked surprised.

"Yes. I also heard that one of the magistrates far relative who lives up in the northern province is going to visit the castle soon. Looks like the magistrate of our province wants to build a stronger alliance with the Takeda family," Manami pondered before turning to Yuki, "Don't feel bad about it."

"Ah, I am not. I knew this was bound to happen," she sighed softly, "Being the eldest son of the Takeda, Lord Seokjin has responsibilities he needs to fulfill in place of his father. Maids like us can only wish for our lord's health and happiness without asking anything in return. I will be fine," she assured her friend.

"Of course, you will be fine! We are going to find another man of lesser status than the Lord!"

"Yes, yes," Yuki answered.

By noon Yuki and the other maids had finished washing the clothes at the bank of the river and had returned back to help in the kitchen. The kitchen had always been a space of noise, with the hustle and bustle of the maids cooking or cutting vegetables. It didn't take much time in the castle for the news to spread about Lord Seokjin's search for bride.

"Lord Seokjin is going to get married?"

"Do you think it is Lord Akihito's daughter who visits the castle often? She is a beautiful woman..."

"If only the maids had a chance," Yuki nodded her head hearing the maids gossip in the kitchen, only if, she thought to herself.

Yuki had begun working for the Takeda's after the head, Takeda Kiyoshi, had taken his last breath battling against consumption. She had never seen the man except for his paintings that adorned the walls. With what she had heard from rumours and gossips in the castle, the late Takeda was a man of few words but with a brilliant mind when it came to war strategy. It was unfortunate to not just the family but also the retainers that fought under the name of Takeda.

"What are you girls doing, chattering by yourself instead of working. The lunch is in less than an hour," the head cook, who was an elderly man in his late thirties spoke with narrowed eyes, annoyed, "Do you think you have time to gossip?"

"No," the maids murmured with their eyes cast down.

"Hmph, that's what I thought!" the man said before looking outside the kitchen's window and suddenly exclaiming to himself, "I can't believe that Lord Seokjin has come to an age where he is going to marry," the man placed a hand on his chest dramatically while sniffing softly.

On one evening, when Yuki was on her way with the tray of tea in her hands to the main hall, she caught sight of the samurai's sparring with each other to test their swordship. She wondered if another war was going to place. Men had been in constant battles against each other for claiming or keeping the title of lordships along with the lands that came with it. It seemed like an endless cycle and every time the retainers went out to fight there was no guarantee that they would return back safely. Sacrifices and difficult decisions had to be made by the samurai lords. Everyone wanted to unify the lands but it came with the cost of losing lives. She wondered if the war would ever end. It was a far fetched dream.

"Yuki! What are you doing standing there?"

Startled from her thoughts, she saw the head cook call for her as she had halted to see the samurai's practice. At the same time, the voice of the head cook had attracted the attention of the retainers who were at the sidelines.

The second lord who had been sitting in the corner and watching his men spar, lazily relaxing heard the head cook's voice and leaned back to see a young maid with a tray who looked ready to bolt out after receiving the attention from him and his men. Catching sight of the second lord looking at her now with a smile, Yuki 's eyes widened before she quickly bowed her head, hurrying out of sight.

"You! What were you thinking standing there and dreaming?" the head cook reprimanded her after they had got back from the hall, "If it weren't for me being acquainted with your uncle I would have kicked you out from here. Are you listening to me?"

"Yes," Yuki replied softly.

"Look at me when I am talking to you," seeing the young girl look up and blink he let out an exhausted sigh. Raising his finger he spoke. "Don't look at me like a lost puppy. If I see you dawdle again, I am going to increase your work."

"Yes, Mr. Hatori. Can I go to pull the weeds from the garden?"

"Do you think the weeds are going to pop out by themselves? I don't know what is with all the maids asking silly obvious questions," the man shook his head in false surprise, "Go now and be quick. The night is going to fall soon," he waved his hand.

Yuki bowed her head and saw the head cook's feet disappear from her vision. Standing straight up, she headed outside to see the endless sky turn crimson from the blue. Bending down in the garden she started to weed the garden. When she couldn't look at it anymore due to the darkness that befell on the sky, she stood up, going towards the pond which was built in the vast garden. Leaning forward she saw it reflect back herself. The old, dirtied kimono looked dull along with her complexion. Before she could turn away from the pond, she caught something in the reflection of the moving water.

"Lord Seokjin..." she whispered seeing the eldest lord who stood on the bridge that was built not far away from where she was.