Chapter Text
The Ootori noble family’s theater was nothing short of magical. Its renowned actors and performances brought people from far and wide to the booths surrounding the simple stage hosting talent unseen anywhere else. For generations, the Ootori noble house had run the theater, a beloved entertainment hall for those of all classes, from the nobles sitting prettily in their booths to the commoners stepping on each other’s feet trying to get a closer view to the action. Saki was thrilled that her friends were not subject to that kind of chaos this bright afternoon with the sun beating heavily overhead yet not hot enough to ward off eager attendants. The performances had that type of intriguing fantasy to them.
The blazing sun above them brought a sense of relief to Saki that her two closest friends, Ichika and Honami, two commoners from the village closest to her family’s estate, were enjoying the covering of the booth, in perfect view of the action about to unfold. She’d met them just two years prior, when her father took her into town for her eleventh birthday. Rather than riding around town to observe, she’d desperately begged him to let her play with the other children, fascinated by the games they played in the streets. Time hardly allowed for her to visit with them on a regular occasion, so a day like today was precious.
Now, she couldn’t feel much happier in the moment, having her brother and their childhood friend, Rui, seated on her left and Ichika and Honami sitting in giddy anticipation to her right. It was like her father to be so kind as to sneak them into their booth.
Leaning forward on the railing, Saki breathed out heavily. She reached for a handkerchief to wipe her forehead, her skin drinking the radiant heat of the air. She looked over toward Ichika, who sat with her hands perched on the booth railing, eyes fixed on the stage. “Aren’t you bothered by the heat?” she questioned, offering the handkerchief to her friend.
“Huh?” Ichika tilted her head. “Don’t worry about me, Lady Saki. I’m just grateful to be up here with you and Honami.”
“As am I!” Honami chimed in, a grin spreading across her face, the same contagious grin that Saki felt form on her own lips. She could tell Honami had dressed up today, not wearing her usual simple dress and apron as she usually wore helping out at her family’s bakery.
“Your words bring me such joy!” Saki beamed. Seeing her friends happy was enough to cool the blaze that seemed to creep into her blood and into her forehead. A headache was forming, but she disregarded it.
Tsukasa hadn’t noticed, at least. He was much too occupied, sitting up perfectly straight, save for his hand that managed to wander to interlace his fingers with those of Rui’s, the court magician hired by their family five years prior. Rui had been meant to entertain her in her solitude, performing various magic tricks and telling stories that, while fascinating, seemed to catch the attention of her brother much more than herself, even five years later. She brought a hand to her mouth to catch the chuckle forming in her throat. If they weren’t in public, she certainly would’ve made a teasing remark.
She expected a lengthy recap of the play later, followed by different critiques both Tsukasa and Rui had on the story. Certainly, they’d perform their own version of the story, with their own interpretations and eccentric ideas laced within the original plotline. Saki couldn’t help but look forward to it. That, and a more comfortable place to sit. She hesitated to shuffle in her seat, worried it would alarm her brother or worse, her father. Today was to be enjoyable for everyone. Her sickness was the last thing anyone needed on their mind.
Luckily, a loud cheer from the pit below them grasped Saki’s attention and brought her eyes to the stage, noticing the beautiful pink haired songstress she’d seen at many shows before. Her voice was soft and elegant, attracting the attention of anyone who laid eyes on her. She held her arms out, as if welcoming the crowds.
Loud clapping and cheering made it difficult for Saki to hear, and she strained her neck as if it could help her understand the woman’s monologue more. What she did notice was the hustle and bustle of the royal family’s booth. Servants dashed back and forth, with fans, handkerchiefs, and drinks, as the king sat stoically, his eyes firmly fixed on the stage. The Crown Princess sat beside him, proper and pretty, a sparkle in her eye that could be seen across the theater. She was only a year older than herself, yet even at fourteen, the princess’s maturity matched that of a proper noblewoman. Of course the royal family could not miss one of the famous Lady Megurine’s performances.
Today’s tale was supposedly of a young orphan girl, rescued by a prince and taken back to the castle where the two fell in love after he heard her heavenly voice from the gardens. The tale seemed a bit cliche, but enjoyable enough, Saki already knew, just from the singing alone.
That’s when the stage cleared and a cluster of people dragged props across the stage floor, the audience hushing. Saki pressed her fingers to her temples, rubbing them as if to alleviate the looming pain in her head. She wished she had a cold cloth to drape over her forehead, or a soft bed to lay face down on as to relieve the pain spreading from her stomach through her limbs.
“Just a couple hours, and you can excuse yourself to your room,” she reminded herself. Her father had asked just that morning if she felt well enough to attend the show, and looking back, she realized it would’ve been wiser to stay home in the comfort of her own bed, but then, Ichika and Honami couldn’t be here with her. She could deal with her symptoms for the time being if it ensured them an afternoon of joy.
Then it hit her, the sweet melody overtaking the air. A voice strong and powerful in its delivery, like it was pulling heaven to the earth. Saki felt herself tremble for a brief moment, eyes fixing on the young actress in front of her. She looked around her age, just beginning her teenage years. Her green-tinted hair stood out among the beige colors of the stage, and her voice lit up her entire presence. She was glowing, in a sense, as her song left her lips.
Saki felt Ichika grasp her arm suddenly and firmly. “Lady Saki,” she whispered. “I want to meet that girl.”
Tilting her head in confusion, Saki lowered her voice. “I’m not sure if you can talk with the actors after—”
“I’m going to meet her.” Ichika said with conviction Saki had never heard in her voice before.
There was no doubt in the girl’s talents, just from the audience’s reactions alone. Everyone stood gaping at the young girl as she ran across the stage, throwing a hand out toward the sky, her voice fluttering as if on wings, except Ichika seemed to be the butterfly and the girl a desirable flower, something to be drawn to, from the way her eyes sparkled watching her.
Letting the song finish and a burst of applause erupt, Saki placed a hand on her own forehead. A moment longer in the heavy sunlight, and she was going to faint. Feeling Ichika’s grip loosening on her arm, she got up and brushed her heavy skirts. “Please excuse me,” she said in a hushed tone, her father nodding as she got up to exit.
Noticing his sister’s sudden movement, Tsukasa released Rui’s hand and raised from his seat. “Saki, let me come with you—” Saki had quickly climbed over her friends and exited before he could finish his statement. He looked to his father. “She just went outside, correct? Let me follow her.”
“Tsukasa, let’s stay and watch the show. Your sister will be fine,” Rui reassured him, urging Tsukasa to sit beside him once more. The Marquess nodded in agreement, to his astonishment, so he seated himself once more.
Crowds outside had all found a way to squish into the floor, making the outside of the theater completely empty. Saki leaned a hand against the stone wall and breathed out heavily, feeling a cough form in her throat. “Deep breaths,” she whispered to herself, recalling the words of her nurses. She knew that she needed something cold, but looking around, all she saw was a long stone path, a looming stone wall, a castle peaking in the distance.
She crouched against the wall, lifting her skirts as if in a desperate attempt to cool down. That’s when a voice rang out from behind her, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest.
“You don’t look too well.”
Saki looked up, her pink eyes meeting the bright green eyes of the stranger. Her stare was piercing, and Saki felt her heart pound a little harder. The heat was getting more unbearable.
“Do you need a hand, milady?”
“O-Oh,” Saki muttered in response, offering her hand to the stranger, letting her haul her to her feet. As she came to her feet, she stumbled forward, finding herself steadied by the stranger’s cold, steady hands. “I’m so sorry,” she gasped, her lungs searching for air, yet she found herself relaxing as the stranger held her steadily.
The piercing green eyes studied her again. “Your hair… you look like the daughter of Marquess Tenma, am I wrong?”
Saki shook her head. “How did you—” She felt her breath catch in her throat. “Nevermind that. I am the daughter of Marquess Tenma, Saki, but who are you?”
The stranger let out a deep breath, glancing around before her voice dropped to a whisper. “Just…” She hesitated. ”Shiho is fine, for now.”
Shiho gently released her hold of Saki, allowing her to stand up and brush her skirts off. “It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Saki,” she said, bowing. Saki noticed a sword strapped to her belt, a cape tied around her neck and flowing down to her waist as if to conceal it. For a moment, her heart skipped a beat in sight of the weapon, but she couldn’t help but wonder how Shiho wasn’t overheating under all of her garments.
“Thank you, for helping me and all,” Saki curtsied in return. She ignored the throbbing pain in her veins traveling up to her forehead.
“Y-Yeah…” Shiho said, looking away. A light blush dusted her cheeks. The two stared at one another for a moment before Shiho froze abruptly. “You should get back to your family before they worry.”
Saki clapped her hands to her face, realizing she must’ve been gone for more than just a few minutes. “Right!” She turned to pick up her skirts and walk toward the booth, turning to speak once more to Shiho. “Thank you again… Shiho. I hope to see you around!”
By the time she glanced over her shoulder, Shiho had already disappeared.
Quick steps hadn’t done Shiho any justice in concealing her presence, her boots clicking loudly against the stone floor. She held her breath before pushing back the curtain shading her family’s booth, her father not even turning to meet her gaze. He didn’t often treat her with attention anyway.
“What are you up to now? Just sit and watch the performance,” he grunted. Shiho bit her lip, crossing her arms as she seated herself behind her sister. She could’ve bothered to strain her neck to watch the play over her sister’s tall head of blue waves, but she didn’t care much for the entertainment anyway. The play was much too… cheesy for her liking.
“Lady Saki… She looked so unwell. Is that why the Marquess always looks so down?” She caught her thoughts drifting back to the blonde from earlier. Stealing a glance at the Tenmas’ booth was a risk she could not take, yet her heart stung for the poor girl. For now, she needed to remain the mysterious knight at the theater.
The crowd erupted into applause, snapping her head forward. The singing had become nothing but background music to her. Her father and sister stood up, clapping with the commoners below and the nobles from their booths. She dreaded the inevitable conversation at the palace later, about how Shizuku was becoming such a beautiful, perfect princess and Shiho was only attracting bad attention by wandering around aimlessly. It nearly made her laugh, thinking about how her father would try to convince her to be thankful for allowing her to attend such a high prestige event, as if she wouldn’t rather be practicing her swordsmanship back at the palace in the first place.
Shizuku this, Shizuku that. The perfect princess at only age fourteen, and the envy of every girl from across the kingdom. Every mention of her was another stab to the heart, another reminder that she was only half related to her in the first place. She was a disgrace to the family.
Her hand drifted naturally to the hilt of her sword, gripping it tightly. It was times like this where amongst the chaos, she’d take that anger out on a training dummy. There weren’t such things at a theater, and Shiho was no one to take violence out on an innocent. Only cowards did such things, attacking those who were weak, and she’d seen her fair share of such people among the royal houses. This was a different type of anger, a special type that started a spark within her chest. She could fan the flame, let it grow, or let the spark die out and give in once again.
“Shiho? Aren’t you coming?” Shizuku’s voice called out after her, her tone laced with a honey-like sweetness. Her pink-haired handmaiden beside her took her hand and let her step down gently from her seat. It seemed such a hassle, dressing up in so many layers just for a silly show.
Shiho sighed and reluctantly trailed after her sister.