"Lady Ayaka, is something wrong?"

She looked like she was about to cry. "I can't run anymore, Lady Hinata. I might miscarry if I continue." She hugged her stomach.

I looked up at the sky and then back to her. The rain will pour heavily soon. I turned around then got down on one knee, "I'll give you a piggyback ride. Hop on."

"But.."

"Do you want to stay here and get soaked? I don't. Now hurry up!"

I heard the slow clacking of her zori as she approached me. She then wrapped her arms around my neck before saying, "I'm sorry, I think I'm a little heavy."

I grabbed her legs and hoisted her up. She immediately rested her chin on one of my shoulders as soon as I started walking. I focused all my attention to every step I made. I was very careful not to slip, especially since I was carrying Ayaka.

When we finally reached the castle, I gingerly got down on one knee so she could get off my back safely. Ayaka didn't let go of me immediately but gave me a back hug instead.

"Thank you, Lady Hinata. I'm so glad to be your sister," her embrace was tight and reflected her gratefulness.

I looked behind my back and chuckled. "I'm an only child and I wished I had a sister when I was growing up. Now I have a little sister, I'm as happy as you."

She looked up with a huge smile on her face, reminding me of our height difference. Ayaka is very pet.i.te, were I to make a guess she'd only be around four feet and eleven inches. I slightly towered above her in five feet and seven inches.

"You'd better go to your room and change now," I reminded her of our wet state.

"Mmm!" she nodded and, along with her servants, went to her chambers.

~~~

I took a long, warm bath as soon as I returned to my room. The water felt amazing, reminding me of the ryokan's onsen. After dressing up, I told my maids that I'll take a nap first. I zonked out as soon as my head hit the pillow.

When I woke up, I heard the maids whispering fervently to each other. I looked at Ryuko-san questioningly, wanting to know what was up.

"My lady, it seems like Lady Ayaka is down with a fever," she answered my unspoken query.

"It must have been because of the rain earlier," I said. "How is she?"

"Her temperature is still frighteningly high," Nanami said, her face worried.

"Could you and Tsubaki brew her something to make her feel better?" I asked. She is pregnant, her illness might affect her baby.

"We did but as we were about to deliver it to her chambers, Lady Mami arrived and threw our concoction away. She even accused us of wanting to poison Lady Ayaka."

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. When I opened my eyes, a smile spread across my servants' faces. "Brew another concoction for Ayaka. Yoko, please get my bag. Once the twins are done, we're paying Ayaka a visit."

"Yes, my lady," they said unison.

~~~

It took two hours for Tsubaki and Nanami to finish the medicine and another half hour for it to cool down. We went to the west wing where Ayaka's room was situated. As soon as we were ushered in, Mami stood up and sneered.

"What bad luck Ayaka must have to be graced by your presence."

"Lady Mami, I came here to bring Lady Ayaka medicine. I do not intend to argue with you," I bowed respectfully at her.

"Is that so?" she walked towards me. "Your mere presence is enough to put me in a bad mood, do you know that?"

"I am neither blind nor stupid. I am aware of Lady Mami's feelings towards me." I said with a straight face.

"Then why did you still come!?" she shrieked. The sound was very unpleasant.

"This isn't Lady Mami's room, she also isn't the reason why I came here. Like I said, the reason behind my visit is Lady Ayaka's health."

"Such insolence!" I wasn't expecting it so I wasn't able to dodge her slap. It landed on my left cheek. "Who gave you the right to talk to me that way!"

I looked at her whilst trying to contain my anger. "You asked me a question so I answered you. Lady Mami, since when was it insolent to answer when one is asked a question?"

"You know full well what I am talking about, peasant! Don't twist things!"

"Peasant? Did you just call me a peasant?" I took a step towards her, she subconsciously stepped back.

"I did! According to my resources, you were just someone Kaname-sama found in a forest!" she spat the words.

"That's right, he did find me in a forest," I continued to walk towards her until we were mere inches away from each other. Mami is five feet three but I was still taller. I looked down my nose at her. "But whoever said I was a peasant? Do you even know why I was in the forest in the first place?"

"W-why else? You were in cahoots with those bandits who kidnapped my niece!"

This b.i.t.c.h is stupid, I said to myself. "Lady Mami, you disappoint me. I never thought you were stupid." Several gasps in the room could be heard as soon as I insulted her. "If I was indeed one of the kidnappers, why would the shogun take me in as his wife? Why would he spend his visits with me if I was some lowly bandit?"

"I.. It's because.."

"It's because I'm neither a bandit nor a peasant. I was also unfortunately a victim of kidnapping at the time," I lied convincingly. "Lord Kaname rescued me. When he found out that I was a princess held captive by those men, he automatically decided to save me. My hands and legs were tied, my head was covered by a cloth sack. When he freed me he immediately fell for my beauty."

I heard my maids behind me cough. I ignored their poor attempt at hiding their amus.e.m.e.nt and continued. "I am a princess from a faraway land. I was traveling to China when a pirate s.h.i.+p pillaged the one I was in. The pirates sold me for a hefty price to the very same bandits that kidnapped little Yuki. I thought I was done for but Shoutkun and Lord Kaname came."

"Lies!" Mami said fiercely. "You? A princess? Don't make me laugh!"

"Mami," I didn't bother with addressing her respectfully. "Don't you see the difference between our skin complexions? Yours is milky white while mine is tinged with brown. I am not j.a.panese."