Hearing the voices beyond the doors Erin recognized her mother and Faiya.

“Hello, mother. Hello, Faiya it’s nice to hear your voice in the morning.”

The corners of Erin's lips slightly rose up. She wasn’t sure what did it look like when she wanted to smile, but after years of training spend with her maid while listening to the descriptions of her face and through hundreds of lessons to master her expressions, she became much more confident in her own smile.

“Thank you, mistress, I’m glad to hear you too.”

With the rustling of fabric, Erin could tell she was bowing to her again. She gave up trying to make her stop a long time ago, realizing her mother wouldn’t allow it, even if she did.

“I like your voice Faiya, you helped me found mine as well.”

Turning her head slightly to the side, she could smell the fresh grass as her mother gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Your father would like you to meet somebody today. I want you to get ready to receive a guest in the lobby in the afternoon.”

Excitement tickled her body as Erin started to fidget in her chair. It was the first time when her mother expected her to be involved in meeting someone from outside of the family. Usually, she was expected to just sit next to her mother, with Faiya behind her to listen and learn the proper ways of the upper families.

“Who?”

Raising up she moved with practiced steps towards the wardrobe, avoiding the table corners with only the silk of her hanfu grazing the wood. Faiya started to untie the belt as soon as she Erin stopped next to her and slowly took the hanfu down.

“What am I going to wear today?”

Erin always wondered what her clothes looked like, what kind of color and style they had. If they were decorated or simple if they had the flowers or the animals. She couldn’t understand the words for most colors because she never had any reference for it since she was born. But she could imagine them based on the objects, red when talking about blood, green when talking about grass and blue for the sky. Years of experience made it clear which ones she was correct about and which ones were different.

She stopped asking about her clothes at some point, she realized it didn’t really matter since she would never be able to see them and making her maid always describe the fabric made her feel guilty.

Even after years of work on her studies, with countless sleepless nights trying to memorize the words her vocabulary was still limited, allowing just for simple conversations. She seldom understood the whole explanations of her mother's maids or others in the service of her house. Forcing her into solitude, the only saving grace was the friend she had in the girl she met shortly after her birth.

Faiya was the only one who seemed to understand her plight, keeping her own words and descriptions easy to understand. She thought her of the gods and stories tied with them, her favorite was Namira, the goddess of darkness. Erin imagined talking to her over the years of nights when she was alone. Her mother and Faiya didn’t like her talking with Namira, but couldn’t explain why, so Erin continued her dialog with the goddess in the secrecy of the night.

“Red dress with the golden Nara flowers”

Faiyas voice whispered near her ear. With another rush of excitement and nervousness running through Erin's body, she licked her lips.

“And who am I meeting?”

“The son of one of your father's vassals. It’s time for us to look for your future husband.”

Her body froze at the words from her mother.

Husband? I’m just ten!

Erin felt the fabric of the dress slide over her skin, with the belt being tightened around her waist.

“You can’t be serious, I don’t want to get married!”

Catching herself rising voice on her mother Erin immediately lowered her head. Erin's neck colored red and she could feel her earshot as well. She couldn't see her mothers face, but she could feel the surprise in the room, even Faiya stopped moving, holding her breath.

Not being able to withstand the tension Erin's lips opened in a whisper, her voice almost breaking.

“I’m a sorry mother.”

Taking a deep breath Klarias voice carried far more gentleness then Erin expected. Feeling her shoulders being touched by two warm hands she leaned into her mothers embrace. She wasn’t used to the parent's quick forgiveness, even though she knew her new mother never got angry with her no matter how many mistakes she made. Regardless of the things she broke mother always treated her with nothing but patience.

“It is alright Erin, you are not going to get married right away. For now, we just want you to meet him, say hello and hear him out if you like him as a friend is alright or if you don’t like him there will be others to come. I will make sure you have the best husband.”

Caressing her daughters head she slowly stroked her hair.

“Can you do it for me, Erin?”

“Yes, of course, mother, I will greet him properly. Can you,”

Stopping her words Klaria pulled Erin even closer into her embrace. The two distinct fabrics pushed on each other, creating the sound of bodies moving in the morning sheets.

“I will always hold you, my little princess. And I will always kiss you too.”

Feeling her mother's lips on her hair Erin stopped shaking, slowly rising, she turned to where Faiya was standing. Raising her hands towards her she could feel the women’s worry for her.

“I’m fine Faiya, please help me to get ready?”

Without words, Faiya started to tie the golden sash.

Walking down the corridor Erin squeezed Faiyas shoulder. She was used to the position, always one step behind her maid, with her left hand on the woman's right shoulder. But today something was different, the fabric felt softer, with an embroidery she didn’t recognize. Giggling Erin leaned forward touching Faiyas ear with her lips to whisper.

“Did you get new clothes? They feel nice, what is the pattern on your shoulder?”

She couldn’t miss the pleased tone of her maid's whisper, even when she tried to sound indifferent.

“Yes mistress, I created them myself, with ladies permission of course. The pattern is of the rose, it’s a kind of flower in your garden, I noticed you liked them more than the Nara.”

Because it is one of the only things that seem similar to my old life. They even smell the same.

“Once you get used to the shape, you will always know when those loyal to you are here with you, even if we can’t speak. At some point, you will have more maids at your service, especially when you become the mistress of the house.”

Stopping for half a step Erin pulled her head back.

“You mean you will not always stay at my side?”

“Of course I will. I might just not be the closest one to you.”

Nodding her head Faiya didn’t say anything more. Continuing to walk between the cold stones, Erin could feel the warmth of the fire on her face and the rising heat in her left hand.

Is she comfortable with me holding on her all the time? The shoulder feels padded as well, is that for my comfort? She must be hot as well.

Feeling a little uncomfortable with the idea of others enduring the discomfort for her own sake she started walking faster. Finally arriving at the doors she could hear the hinges move, they weren’t freshly oiled so the doors made more noise than usual.

But nobody else seems to mind or notice.

Walking into the reception hall her nose was assaulted with the sweet smell of fruits and honeyed meat.

At least the food smells good today, I might just enjoy myself.

Feeling the wood being replaced with something softer she knew she was at her seat, looking to her left she nodded to her father. Erin was always sitting on his right with her mother next to her.

“Erin, you look fabulous today, please meet Lorei, he is the son of my very good friend Bohai.”

Putting her fingers on the desk Erin centered herself facing the table, Faiyas fingers pushed into her side, signaling her to stop. Slightly inclining her head Erin pushed the corners of her lips into a strained smile. Sometimes she wondered what her true smile might look like without any training.

“Nice to meet you Lorei, my name is Erin Atagi. I would like to find out if we can be friends.”

Smiling she sat down pulling her plate closer.