Masked Man

Over the past weeks, since Hina's arrival at the estates, it had become apparent how lively and warm everyone was around her. Hina had a certain allure about her that made the servants like and respect her. Despite her young age, she was very composed and mature yet easygoing and playful. Stories about how nice she was had spread throughout the household and everyone already held her in high esteem. She was also very smart and adorable, so most of the maids found her to be very cute. Hina Kudo's personal maids never missed the opportunity to boast about their lady. It seemed as if many people had forgotten about Tanaka as Hina's enchanting looks and proper manners had completely overshadowed Tanaka.

With the news of Hina's sudden outing, her maids were running helter-skelter, searching through her walk-in closet for the perfect dress for their mistress.

"Try this one, my lady! It'll be stunning on you!"

"No! This one, lady Hina!"

"My lady, please wear the white dress. You'll look like an angel!"

"Lady Hina is already an angel!"

Suki and the other maids were like buzzing flies the way they kept pestering Hina about what dress to wear and what jewellery to match with it. It was suddenly so stressful. She didn't think it was going to be so chaotic to dress up just to go out.

[This is giving me a headache]

After they finished arguing amongst themselves, they finally agreed on a sky blue dress that was embroidered with fine white lace and tiny white designs at the edges of the sleeves. They paired it with some kanzashi, some white and blue fabric flowers for her hair and brushed her golden-brown shimmering hair down her waist.

"My lady, you're so beautiful!'' Suki clapped with excitement as they all stared at her with awe. Hina smiled at them and praised them for their hard work. Moments later, the head maid soon came to inform her that the carriage was ready and explained to her that she would be escorted by two of her maids and two bodyguards. Hina nodded in agreement and made her way downstairs to the carriage, along with Suki and Aoi (one of her three personal maids).

Indeed going out was the right decision. She had been unnecessarily stressed out for some days now, but she suddenly felt relieved and better being out of the estates. The city centre was so beautiful and crowded with people dressed in exquisite clothes. It somehow reminded her of when she travelled to New York City in her past life, as they were tons of foreigners that filled the busy city centre. The carriage had stopped at a new French cafe which seemed to be one of the most popular spots attracting young noble ladies called "Beaux Reves"

Hina was followed by her two maids into the cafe, where she was given a window seat at her request.

"My lady, isn't this place so pretty? The decorations are so beautiful and eye-catching!" Aoi was awe-stricken.

"Indeed it is" Hina was not truly impressed by the cafe, finding it a little mundane as it was not her first time visiting one. It simply looked like a typical cafe, but she understood how intriguing it could be for a first-timer. She ordered a cream cappuccino milkshake with a variety of chocolate desserts to share with her maids, but they adamantly refused to eat from their master's plate. Despite being a bit crowded, the atmosphere was calming and warm to a point that Hina didn't notice any of the young ladies that were staring at her from the other end of the cafe.

Although news of the noble merchant who recently held a private wedding to his third wife had become everybody's gossip in the city, people only knew bits and pieces of the new wife, like the fact that she was younger than most of his children and that she was extremely beautiful, but no one knew who she was and what she looked like. Also, Hina had ridden in a plain carriage rather than the type that usually had a family name or crest on it. This made it easier for her to blend into the crowd.

Hina drank the last bits of her milkshake and eventually ordered some pastries to go. The day was starting to turn to evening as the sun was slowly disappearing from the blue skies.

"My lady, we spent quite some time at the cafe. Should we head back home now?" Aoi asked as she helped her into the carriage.

"Not yet. I'd like to visit one more place"

"Where, my lady?"

"A bookstore. I'd like to get some books. Is there any close by?"

"Lady Hina! Is there anything you cannot do? You're smart and beautiful" Aoi parroted

"Ah, sorry. Yes, there is a book shop close by actually. Should we head there now, lady Hina?" Suki asked

"Yes. Let's go"

Since Hina Kudo got to the Merchant's estates, she had been engulfed in boredom. Despite the presence of some modern technology, there were still too many things this world did not have. There was no phone, no internet, no YouTube, no kdrama or Netflix. She felt like she was slowly losing her mind. She couldn't understand how the former Hina Kudo dealt with such boredom. From her observations during these past weeks, she noticed that most nobles here either had brunches, threw a garden party or spent their time in the casino. The noble ladies also attended embroidery classes or hung out at the cafe. All these activities felt very cumbersome to Hina. As a result, she spent most of her time reading any and every book at the estate's library but most of them were about history or business. She had once heard some maids discussing a hot new romance novel and had made up her mind to get some nice novels in town today. Anything nice would suffice.

The bookstore was closer to the cafe than she thought and there was a variety of genres of books for her to choose from. Hina had entered the store alone, as going in with her maids and bodyguards felt too extravagant to her. Unlike the cafe, the store was cold and lacked any visitors. Hina asked the attendant if they had a novel section and she was directed towards the shelf at the back of the store. The section contained horror fiction, adventure and mostly romance novels. She picked out a random few that had interesting titles and went back to the counter to pay for them.

"Such a beautiful young lady. Thank you for your purchase, my lady" the attendant said.

She smiled in response, collecting the books from him as she hurriedly turned to leave. Oblivious to the hooded figure behind her, she collided with the stranger as her head hit his chest, sending her falling on her behind.

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't focused" she apologized to the hooded stranger who bent down to help her with her books.

She wasn't paying any attention to the figure who couldn't stop staring at her. All she could think of was the commotion her maids would have made if they had witnessed this incident. It would have been such a scene.

"The Soldier's Weakness... You have a peculiar taste, my lady"

Hina caught a glimpse of the stranger's beautiful blue-grey eyes, as the rest of his face was covered with a black mask.

"What?" She asked in confusion

"What weakness could the soldier have?" He handed the book to her.

Despite his covered face, Hina could tell that he was smiling.

[What's so funny to him?]

She collected the book from him and apologised again, completely dismissing his weird question.

"Goodbye" she made her way out of the bookstore as she rushed towards the waiting carriage.

"The young lady that just left, who is she?" The hooded figure asked the attendant.

"I don't know either, my lord. This is the first time I'm seeing her around here but I hope she comes often"

"Hmm...I hope so too"

"Have you taken a liking to her already, my lord?"

"Maybe"

He stared down at the white fabric flower in his palm that he had picked up while helping her with her books. The accessory had fallen off from her hair when she tripped herself. It was his first time seeing someone so clumsy. On top of that, she ignored him with such fearless golden eyes.

[Not bad]

He indeed hoped to meet her again. The clumsy nameless golden-eyed girl.