You are the youngest daughter of an aristocratic Inari family. For almost all of your life, your childhood friend and attendant has always been there to support you, such as bringing you your food and water during your training lessons, taking care of your possessions, fixing your toys and shielding you from bullies even if he goes home battered and bruise as long as there’s not a single scratch on you. Despite knowing that your welfare is above his life, he didn’t care for that a bit and is always glad to see you happy and content. He also swore that he will always be there for you when you need him, even if he’s not your servant.
Time passes by and you grow up, and still he’s there for you, but you can sense something growing in his heart. Love. Shame. Even if he still worked for you without complaint, you can sense that he has fallen for you and at times you would catch him fantasizing about you but he won’t admit it, much to his chagrin. But when the time came you are to be betrothed to another man of a rich family, try as he might to conceal it from you, you could see that he’s painfully heartbroken, just from the look of his eyes. Even if he smiled, you could see that it’s just forced, even if he willfully do his chores so that you can focus on preparing yourself for your marriage. Not once he admitted that he is still in love with you, even when he left to join the Army .
One week before your wedding, while the radio is broadcasting the declaration of war against an enemy nation , you saw him outside the villa, now wearing an army uniform. He was hesitating to enter, so you yourself went outside to greet him and ask why he won’t go inside.
“Ojou-sama. . .” he began “I’m sorry I was lying back then. Your suspicions are right. I love you.” The anguish and regret in his voice is tangible. “I always fantasized that we can run away and get married to each other instead, b-but then, I don’t know what this humble servant can give to you. I don’t want you to suffer. I don’t want your parents deprive you of your inheritance because of me. That’s why I decided to join the Army. Maybe if I’m away fighting, we don’t have to think of each other anymore.” A tear fell from his eye, but he wiped it with his hand and tried not to cry more. “B-but then, by doing so, I’ll break my promise of always being here for you. That’s why I ask you for forgiveness. But I don’t care if you don’t anyway.” he sniffled, frequently wiping any tear that streams down his cheeks. “Just. . . I wish that you will live a happy and content life that you always wished for. I hope that your future husband will give you the love I was never able to. Forgive me for leaving you forever.”
After bowing in front of you, he finished. “Sayonara, Ojou-sama. I love you.” Then he turned to leave, his pace progressing from a walk into a run, on his way back to base so that he can prepare being sent out to fight.
What will you do?
