I was already tired as Mila and I went to the garden because it was a large garden I had ever seen in my life.

There were no trees or plants left in the world that the garden hadn't.

Different kinds of mangoes, different kinds of fruits that I even hadn't heard of. And more than that, there was a giant cherry blossom tree in the middle of the garden in its full bloom as if it was watching over every other trees and plants.

I felt like my heart would melt as the garden was home for many, many birds and small animals and insects.

Mila had brought out meals already as we sat under the cherry blossom and started to eat.

I recalled the memories when Arashi and I went to the Kosaki's festival. We sat under a cherry blossom as well.

As we were returning back, I said, "This feels like home. It makes me feel like go back to Godoyama."

She asked, "Oh that village where Prince Rian was staying for five years?"

I nodded.

Mila looked around and smiled, "To be honest, once I came here, I don't feel like going back. Prince Rian was even willing to help me to go back to my country and search for my other relatives..."

I asked, "Then why didn't you?"

She smiled and said, "Maybe I became greedy after I received so many loving people and kindness."

She took a sigh and said, "Shinkyo had been so kind to me that I don't want to go back. And here I even found Koji. How can I leave him?"

I nodded as she continued, "Koji's parents were loving and they took care of me when they found me from that clan head."

"So, it was Koji's parents?"

She giggled and said, "One day, he took me to his home and said to his parents to take care of me and they didn't even ask why. They just let me stay and I thought I was fine by being their maid but they treated me like their daughter. They had always been very protective of me like I was their own daughter."

I muttered, "And you couldn't go away..."

She shook her head. "You know, Princess Bianka, Shinkyo is a strange city and very mysterious."

"How so?"

"It doesn't let people go away once they come here. It feels like it will shower them with love and warmth that one day, you will feel hard to leave." She said looking at a distance. "I sometimes feel like Prince Rian's mother is still watching us and showering with her protection and kindness."

I asked, "Have you seen her ever or heard about her?"

She nodded, "The moon temple. The moon goddess looks exactly like her."

I looked at her with wide eyes, "How?"

She said, "I just heard from our elders that when Prince Rian's father went away for a work, he came back with a wife so beautiful that people were blinded by her. And she loved the cherry blossom so the former crown prince made this City his home and gifted it to her. When he was making the city, they found the moon temple and everyone was shocked to see it looked exactly like her even when the temple was built several hundred years ago."

I got shivers all over my body as I asked, "Have you seen her portrait?"

She nodded and said, "I have. Even the castle have their portraits. Ask Prince Rian to show you, he will be happy to."

I nodded and somehow I wanted to go to the moon temple. I felt it was so mysterious that I wanted to go there myself.

We were still walking as I suddenly realised that I hadn't really seen Koji's parents. I asked, "So, where are Koji's parents now, I believe I haven't seen them?"

Her face saddened as she said, "Mother died two years ago while father died last year. Now only Koji and I."

I shouldn't have asked. How stupid I was to notice they weren't home all these while that meant they might be no more.

I said, "I am so sorry... I didn't really thought of this."

She shook her head and said, "It is okay." And then her lips quivered.

I patted her head as she said in a broken voice, "I have no one other than Koji. So I can't leave him. I am so scared all the time that one day, I won't be able to see him again. Maybe he won't come back..."

She sniffed and said, "I wish that I knew how to fight or anything that way I could help him or maybe save him but each day, I feel like I am useless to him..."

I said, "You're not useless, Mila... You are already saving him your own way."

She looked at me and asked, "How?"

I smiled and said, "When he come back home, he doesn't feel it empty. He feels his home is filled with you so, you are saving him your own way."

She smiled and cried at the same time and I hugged her but she tried to go away as she retorted, "No! You are a princess! I have no rights to have that privilege."

I asked, "Does being princess mean I have no rights to be sympathetic toward my people?"

She looked at me with wide eyes as she leant on me and I embraced her as she cried on my shoulders. She was taller than me so she had to bend over and I wished I was a little bit taller.

I knew she needed someone to tell her worries and lean on to cry. I knew she had many people like that but still she let her guard down around me.

I patted her head and shoulders and she pulled away. She wiped away her tears and smiled while sniffing. She said, "I guess I know why Kairo, Shin and others always talk about you whenever they come."

I got confused as I asked, "Why? What do you mean? They talk behind my back!"

She chuckled and added, "They do. But they always said that they feel like small brothers wherever you are with them. Because you feel like our older sister who is always there to shower us in her warmth."

And a few drops of tears came down from her eyes as she said, "I could ever imagine myself being sympathetic by our princess. I'm honoured." And she bowed to me.

I gave a nervous chuckle as I said, "Please, don't bow to me. It feels weird."

I let out a sigh and added, "Well, it is a habit I guess..."

"Habit?" She asked as she stood up.

I nodded. "I was the one who took care of the household in my father's abode and my sisters were older yet I was the one always took care of them."

She said, "They must be really lucky to have a sister like you." And she muttered, "I had an older brother but he didn't really care of us and when the war broke out he ran away."

I pouted, "It doesn't matter. I'm still here as an older sister then."

And she laughed as we were returning back.

But it was true that we had a lot of enemies and we don't know when we won't be able to see our closed ones anymore. Her worries were legitimate.

As we were crossing many houses, people came to me to talk or ask me how I was. They certainly were so kind and I could feel a certain kind of warmth in the atmosphere. It was love.

Shinkyo was built in love. Maybe it was Arashi's father's love that made its people so loving and caring. It was certainly a gift to his wife.

As we almost reached the castle, we saw Koji was standing there. Mila asked him, "Weren't you taking a rest?!"

He said, "I was. I am even going back now again."

Mila looked at him suspiciously as he said, "Let's go back..."

I teased, "So, home was certainly feeling empty without Mila, wasn't it?"

Koji's cheeks reddened but he maintained his straight face and Mila looked at him with wide eyes. She asked, "You came here to look for me?"

He said with an annoyed voice, "I wasn't! I was just here for a little stroll..."

I gave them a smirk and said, "So, you were waiting for her...is what you mean."

Koji's brow twitched and he said, "Prince Rian has been waiting for Princess Bianka... I think you should go now before he come looking for you."

I teased more, "Eh~ you can't change the topic, Koji."

He humped and looked away as Mila beside him was now red like a tomato. I whispered in her ears before leaving, "Told you. You are already saving him in your own way..."

She looked away shyly as the couple stood there in an awkward silence and I went toward the castle.

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5th January, 23
1519