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Hime's Medieval Adventures

A small sheepish smile flashes across Kieran's face when he realizes how his "confession" sounds.

Kieran: *Chuckles* I mean in the sense that you have been a great worker. Yuriko has reported nothing but good things about you. You have done well here and I'm grateful for that.

Hime: There is no reason to thank me. I'm only doing my duties. I should be thanking you, Your Highness. You helped me in a tough spot. You saved my shop. I'm only paying back my debt.

Kieran: No, You have done more than that, truly. Honestly, my payment for your shop was nothing more than a prepayment for the kindness you've bestowed on me. *He takes a deep breath* As you know, my mother passed away years ago. ...She was killed. Before meeting you, I must confess as my mother's death anniversary is approaching... I had grown cold inside you know. It's been eight years already, I know, but it seems that each year hurts more. Growing further and further away from her. *Kieran pauses then gives a dry chuckle* you can understand that right?

Hime: *Quietly nods*

Kieran: The moment I met you, it felt like that darkness I was sinking dissipated. There was-is something about you...your eyes. They are special almost like a fire blooming within. Just seeing them fills me with the warmth I'd been missing. That's why I wanted you near me nearly every hour of every day. You've become a precious jewel to me, Hime. Something I cherish and wish to protect.

Hime: Your Highness...

Kieran: *Oddly flinches at the reservation in Hime's voice* I am being rash. I apologize. *he takes a breath to regain his posture* Hime, in two days' time, I am to go away for a while. A task my father has forced upon me honestly. It's not something I wish to partake in but it's unavoidable. I'll only be gone for two or three weeks.

Kieran: I understand that you must return to your own life soon but...I wish to make a humble request.

Hime: *Very hesitantly* What is it, Your Highness?

Kieran: I need you, just for a little while longer, please remain at the castle. Just until I return.

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Hime's Medieval Adventures

Quietly Hime redresses and allows Kieran to lead her out of the castle to a secret garden she had never seen before.

Keiran: *Keiran sees the look of awe in her eyes as he leads her in* It was my mother's secret place. I used to the come her to play.

Hime: I see...

Kieran: I'm ashamed to say it wasn't well kept after she passed. I think my father just wanted to forget really.

Hime: It is still beautiful.

Kieran: *smiles* I'm glad you think so...I'm sure my mother would've been happy to hear you say.

Between them, it grows quiet and Kieran's smile fades into something a little more pensive. Hime can tell there's more he wants to say but she really doesn't want to pry. As they take a seat on a nearby bench, the air feels heavier to the point that Hime knows she must poke a creature she's sure she doesn't want to touch.

Hime: *reluctantly* Is there anything else, Your Highness? ... It feels like there's something on your mind...

Kieran looks up at her, his eyes soft as he does. He swallows then nods.

Kieran: I am grateful for you Hime...

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Hime's Medieval Adventures

It wasn't until late in the day that Hime realized her plan of just skating through the next two days may have been too much to ask for. As the moon arose and she readied for bed, Hime suddenly got a visitor. Prince Keiran. While seeing him had been more of the norm for her these past three months, he had always called for her- never visited- and it was never this late.

Kieran: I apologize, I was trying to catch you before you went to bed, I didn't think you'd already be undressed.

Hime: I-it's alright. Can I help you with something?

Kieran: *oddly desperate* Yes, I-I need to talk to you.

Hime: *anxious* Oh, um...May I ask what it's about?

Kieran: I-uh...it's nothing too..well, no it is important I just- Please come with me.

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Hime's Medieval Adventures

The next morning Hime awakens with nothing more than a sore spot on her head but no recollection of how she got to her bed. Really, she should ask about the things in between but she decides against it. After all, it's her second to last day there so it would be better to not stir anything up and just get these last two days over with.

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Hime's Medieval Adventures

As Sebastian returns to the castle with a sleeping Hime in his arms, Gretchen's cryptic words still raddles his brain. Like snake's venom? What does that even mean? Sebastian was poison to everyone around him; he knew that. He thought that at least. But Hime? This girl? One so gentle and patient? One that his own brother seemed to favor so much that he was willing to disobey their father just to show her off? One that looked at him with eyes that weren't so harsh and disgusted? She is like snake's venom? Impossible.

Sebastian: I never could understand Gretchen and her sayings.

Sebastian carefully hesitantly pushes the door to the servants quarters. He would simply place her in her bed and leave without disturbing anyone or anything. Well, he intended to. He certainly wasn't expecting someone to be awake.

Julia: Oh! Your Highness!

Sebastian was not good with people. Not most people anyway.

Sebastian: Ah. Hello. I-I um..s-she bumped her head and passed out s-so I'm returning her.

Julia: Hime? She's been gone all day. We were worried.

Sebastian: Right, well she's back now s-so...

Julia: That's very kind of you. I apologize for the trouble she caused you. I'll take her

Sebastian: *more harshly than intended* No. I've got her; just tell me where her bed is.

Julia: *steps back started from his sharp tone* She sleeps in the middle bed-

Without another word, Sebastian hurries over to Hime's bed and gently lays her down. He stays only long enough to remove her earmuffs before he darts out of the room without looking back.

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Hime's Medieval Adventures

Gretchen: So, when did they return?

Sebastian: *sighs* ...A few a months ago.

Gretchen: Are you still having the nightmares?

Sebastian: They're a packaged deal. I'm not fortunate to have one without the other.

Gretchen: That is unfortunate..*suddenly stares pass him into the bedroom at Hime*..Sebastian, what do you know about that girl in there?

Sebastian: ...mm..not much really. Hime doesn't talk about herself much.

Gretchen: Oh? But you seem so close.

Sebastian: I'm merely teaching her to read. That's all.

Gretchen: That's all? It seems to be more than that. Actually, it seems more peculiar than that.

Sebastian: What does that mean?

Gretchen: *pondering aloud more to herself than to him* You two are two of a kind. So troubled and so much trouble. Almost like snake venom.

Sebastian: Gretchen, after all these years, I'm still no better with this cryptic language of yours. Could to you tone it down?

Gretchen: *mischievously* No. It's a lot more fun this way...

Gretchen chuckles a little to herself for a moment as she closes her eyes. When she reopens them, her smile fades. She looks serious. Eerily so.

Gretchen: But Sebastian, understand this...while you two aren't cursed, you will cause each other a lot of pain, and in turn also be each others cure to that pain. In that respect it is a sort of a curse. Just one you'll only suffer from if you continue to fight it....anyway, it's late. You should take her back before your brother goes looking for her. You know he hates it when his favorite "possesses" get lost.

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Hime’s Medieval Adventures

Sebastian follows Gretchen into the house without another word. 

For a few minutes the two childhood friends sat in the quiet listening to the fire crackle in the fireplace. 

Gretchen: She’s fine you know. Probably just exhausted. 

Sebastian: Who are you-

Gretchen: No need to play dumb, I know you’re here for that girl in there.  She’s sleeping right now. I’m sure she’ll wake up soon.

Sebastian unconsciously lets the tension and anxiety drop from his shoulders and lets out a sigh.

Sebastian: *softly chuckles* Ah...you haven’t changed...still knowing things.

Gretchen: *shrugs* Not by much anyway. You haven’t changed either you know. Still so distant....I’m surprised really.

Sebastian: Something surprises you?

Gretchen: Of course. I maybe be able to see the future, but I don’t understand why things happen. I have a limitation too...So why are you here for her?

Sebastian: I don’t know either.

Gretchen: I assume she’s you care about her at least. You’ve made a friend; that’s good you know-

Sebastian: She’s my brother’s maid-

Gretchen: Oh? He’s still collecting strange things huh? That doesn’t explain why you’re here though.

Sometimes Sebastian hated how perceptive his childhood friend was but what could he expect from someone with a gift such as hers. He closes his eyes for a second, trying to search for answer. A logical one. One not only for Gretchen, but for himself too.

Sebastian: ...I said, I don’t know either...I really should stay away from her. For her benefit anyways.

Gretchen: *rolling her eyes* You’re not cursed anymore than I’m a witch.

Sebastian: ...I wonder...

Gretchen: Seb- Are you having those headaches again?

Sebastian’s eyes slowly drifted away from her onto the floor in front of him, then back up to her as he picks at an answer.

Sebastian: They stopped a year and a half ago.

Gretchen: ...You’re so meticulous with your words. 

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Hime’s Medieval Adventures

Sebastian arrives at a small house, a place he hasn’t been in many many years,  and quickly hops off his horse. He’s relieved to see the glow of candle light through the window (that means that someone still lives here), but remains on guard. Slowly he creeps up to the gate and crouches down, drawing his sword at the same time. Suddenly the door opens and Sebastian stands fully prepared to take on whoever or whatever comes out. To his relief, it’s only a familiar face.

Gretchen: You’re late, Sebastian.

Sebastian: *smirking* Gretchen, it’s nice to see you again too.

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Hime's Medieval Adventures-Memories

After too many hours of something she was eager to forget, laying in the scattered hay in the barn, Hime felt tired.

Beside her is the only thing that could pull her out of such exhaustion. It was no louder than a kitten's meow but it was enough to make her heart squeeze. She felt tired but somehow incredibly happy.

Beside her was a small thing. A gift. The last gift given to her from the first man she ever loved. She named this gift Annora.

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Hime's Medieval Adventures

Despite what he had said earlier, the anxious feeling that took root in Sebastian's stomach only grew. He eventually found himself racing through the woods on his horse in search of the girl he said he should stay away from. The woods, however, are vast so it would be foolish to wander around- it would also be a waste of time- for her in the dark. Instead, Sebastian decided to enlist the help of someone he knew knew these woods like the back of her hand.

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Hime’s Medieval Adventures

In a small house far in the back of the woods, the emphatic young woman gifted with foresight, sits at the edge of the bed where she placed Hime after ensuring she’s not too badly hurt. She stares at her a bit too long, her head filled with feelings and memories that are not her own, but the sleeping young woman in front of her. She let’s out a tired sigh.

Gretchen: How pitiful you are too...No wonder you found each other. 

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Hime's Medieval Adventures-Memories

Hime climbed into bed hoping to sleep it off but after two hours she couldn't suppress her groans and whimpers anymore. Unsteady, she leaves her bedroom and stumbles to the barn. Just as she placed her hand on the door another round of pain ripples through her. She leaned against the barn and grasped at her stomach letting out a hiss. God, she wishes this would end soon.

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Hime's Medieval Adventures

Back in the castle as the sun was going down, Chiaki felt anxious.

Chiaki: Hey Javi, have you seen Hime?

Javiera: Not since noon. She said she was going for a walk after she got done with her chores early.

Chiaki: It's getting late, I'm getting worried that Hime's not back yet.

Javiera: I'm sure she's fine. She's probably just enjoying some time to herself. I'd need a reprieve too after what happened at the king's party.

Chiaki: Yeah, but-

Javiera: Chi, you worry too much. She's probably on her way back now if she hasn't already gone up to the room. Now let's finish up our work so we can get a break too.

Outside the kitchen, on his way to the gardens, Sebastian overhears their conversation. At first, he thinks nothing of it. It's reasonable that Hime would want to put a distance between them after what happened. He would too...he did. That's why he'd been avoiding her- all off them. It was for her own benefit that she didn't get caught up in it. Heck, Sebastian didn't blame her if she ran away.

Sebastian shook it off and kept walking, trying to ignore the sinking feeling settling in the pit of his stomach.

...but...it was getting late...and Hime wasn't back yet...and there were bad things lurking in the brambles....

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Hime's Medieval Adventures- Memories

Tucked away in her room, Hime slumps down to the floor at the edge of her bed. She's in pain. The worst she's ever felt in her life but she keeps quiet trying not to wake her siblings up. Her back, stomach, and hips hurt and she can barely breathe, still, she doesn't say a word.

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Hime’s Medieval Adventures

Hime spent the entire day out in the brambles, partially to clear her head, though she’d be lying if she said it wasn’t also to avoid running into anymore prince-related trouble. As the sun was finally going down, she decided it was pass time to return to the castle. However, her plans were a bit dosed when a wild wolf that had been lurking in the bushes behind her, found the courage to attack. Hime immediately took off but it was fast, barely nipping at her heels. Still she managed to keep ahead of it, just before she found herself with no ground to her feet. She fell from the ledge and while it stopped the wolf’s pursuit, she hit her head on the fall down making her lose consciousness. 

Hime was lucky, though, because at the base of that ledge was someone would had been watching her since the moment she set foot in the brambles.  

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Hime’s Medieval Adventures

The next day after that cryptic conversation with Kieran, Hime yet again was free of work as Yuriko was still lessening her load in lieu of her departure coming up. Kieran had given no context to his sudden apology but instead completely shut down. He held Hime for a moment then left soon after. She can’t say she wasn’t troubled by it but it didn’t seem like something she could pry about. Besides she would be leaving soon so there was little reason to poke at feelings that he clearly meant to bury. 

To clear her head, Hime decided to take a short walk. She stumbled her way into the woods. 

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Hime's Medieval Adventures

A young woman awakens in a cold sweat plagued by visions of someone's future. A gift she had been bestrode at birth. One she wasn't particularly fond of. Though this one intrigued her. She hadn't seen her old friend in a while. How peculiar?

Gretchen: Ugh, Sebastian...they finally let you out huh?