Chapter 21 - Home

Fujimura quickly ran back to the carriage where her guards continued to wait for her. She changed behind a stall near the carriage before hiding her clothes underneath her skirt. She then walked into the trading center then out through the entrance where she sees the guards playing cards on the ground while making bets on who'll win. There were glasses of alcohol surrounding them and she can clearly see that a few of them were tipsy. She wanted to yell at them, but she controlled herself, telling herself to act like a weak, little girl.

"H-hello, I'm back, " whispered Miyu. Even though she whispered, she melodious voice still reaches the ears off the guards. They quickly sat up and stood in formation.

The leader if the group opened his mouth, "Welcome back, Lady Miyu. Do you wish to go back home now."

Miyu nodded her head and let herself be escorted to the carriage by one of the guards. She got in gracefully and sat on the comfortable seating. Miyu want through another excruciatingly bumpy ride but clenched her teeth to stop herself from screaming at the guards to ride the carriage properly. She had a huge temper if she was really poked at, but she was able to keep it under control.

Soon enough, Miyu arrived home and thanked the guards. She walked to her room and closed the door.

"Hello Arata, " Miyu greeted.

The fox bounced off the bed, "Where were you? You were with the prince again, weren't you? I told you you shouldn't trust him!"

Miyu chuckled, "You shouldn't have fallen asleep, then. I would've asked you to join me if you weren't snoring in my bed."

Arata harrumphed, "Miyu, don't go without me every again. I don't want you getting hurt."

She giggled as she walked towards the bed to pick him up. She cuddled with the little fox, "Aw, look at this getting worried. Don't worry, I'll never abandon such a cute little fox."

Arata blushed and put his paws on her face, "Get away from me, woman! I don't do hugs!"

Miyu squished him harder, "Are you mad at me? Don't be mad at me!"

Arata growled at her evilly, and anyone who wouldn't heard that would've been so frightened that they would run away in terror. But not Miyu. Miyu trusts Arata, and knows that he'll never hurt her.

She let him go, though. She doesn't want to hurt him, she trusts him fully. He's been with her since day one, making her feel protected. She knows that Arata means well, but she believes in Ryota.

Miyu walks to her desk and looks out the window and in front of her. She sighs, "What time is it, Arata?"

He grumbled but answered, "Around nine at night, why?"

She rubbed her eye and yawned, "It's bedtime. Chop chop! Let's get ready!"

She made Arata get off her bed so she can take care of the sheets. After changing them, she tiptoes to the bathing house near her room. There are two bathing houses, one for the servants and one for the Lord's and Lady's. Miyu went to the one of the Lord's and Lady's and opened the door to the female entrance. She made sure no one was inside before taking a hot bath. She cleansed her body of dirt and noticed the bruises lining her body. They were light pink, meaning they it's in it's beginning stages. The bruises weren't totally red, so they weren't bad, but they were red enough to show that the bruises will last a few days. Miyu just hopes that no one will see the bruises, because if they do they'll wonder how she got them. They'll think if she got in a fight or if she was bullied. But barely anyone knew that her sisters and father bully her, so they'll suspect that she fights. They'll spread rumors about her fighting people and then she'll be branded as indecent and vulgar. Miyu doesn't want that, do for the next few days she'll be wearing long clothes in the hot, summer heat.