The teenager who came into my monotonous and lonely life and disappeared without a trace.
"Grace, grace..."
"...." "That voice is, Young Master Sawyer..."
Hearing Master Sawyer's voice, I straightened my skirt and pushed open the door to run to the kitchen.
Grace: "Master Sawyer, I'm coming."
Soya: "Grace, what are you doing, so slow." Soya was only wearing a shirt, revealing his firm chest. Even though I'm used to seeing him like this, I can't help but lower my head.
Grace: "Young Master Sawyer, can you get dressed first?"
Sawyer: "What, can't I do this?"
Enn: "No, that's not what I meant, I'm just afraid that you'll catch a cold, Young Master Sawyer." I explained in a panic, afraid that Sawyer would misunderstand something.
Soya: "How many times have I told you to call me Soya." Sawyer suddenly came up to my ear and said.
I replied, "Sawyer. Sawyer..."
Sawyer: "Hey, that's more like it." Hearing me call him that, the corner of Sawyer's mouth hooked and pulled into a perfect arc.
Enn: "Young Master Sawyer, I'm going to go clean up first." Sawyer's action caused me to panic, and with a haphazard excuse, I ran out the door.
Where to go next? Everything was done.
Thinking to myself, I couldn't help but walk out into the hidden grass of the Bujinkan. Sure enough, it's still the most cozy place to be. When I was bored, I would stay here alone for a long time. Sitting on the grass, I breathed in the fresh air, raised my palms and watched the sunlight pass through the cracks between my fingers and splash on my face.
After walking for a while, I could faintly see an unfamiliar figure under a tree. Feeling puzzled I moved towards the figure.
It's.... It's...it's...it's...it's. A man with a mask on half of his face. He was in a deep sleep, with even breathing coming from between his nostrils, and his long, curly, thick eyelashes fluttering slightly. It made me lose my mind for a moment.
This man. Who is this person? I had this question in my mind and carefully sat next to him.
Without realizing it, I sat and watched him from dawn to dusk. What was wrong with me, acting like this towards a stranger. It's just that I can't take my eyes off this man. He seems to have some kind of magic. Hooking my mind and soul.
"En...." The man sleeping under the tree murmured softly as if he was about to wake up.
I was so scared that I got up in a hurry, afraid that he would realize I was watching him.
Grace: "Excuse me?" I asked cautiously, while trying to be eager to know who he was.
"...." He was silent with his eyes closed, not wanting to pay any attention to me.
Grace: "This is a private compound, how did you get in here?" This belongs to Young Master Sawyer's domain, how did he get in?
"Nosy."
Enn: "Hey?"
"I said you were nagging." "。。。。"
The man with his eyes closed opened them, his eyes were like ice blades in the winter, sending shivers down my spine.
"What are you doing here."
Grace: "Me. I'm the maid of this other house and I'm here.... Came here by complete accident." I shivered and told him the truth, afraid that any word would upset him.
"Oh? An accident?" He gave me a thoughtful look, one that made me shiver.
Grace: "Ah ----" He pulled me by my wrists and pinned me to the ground. He tugged on each of my wrists with each hand and leaned down on top of me.
Grace: "You.... What are you doing..."
"You're saying that you're here by complete accident?"
Endian: "Yes, it was a complete accident."
"You 。。。。"
"Young Master Anno?" Before the man could finish his words, he was interrupted by another man.
Zor: "Young Master Anno, it is indeed you." I was relieved to see the visitor, so it was Butler Zor.
But.... Wait, what did Zor just call this person? Young master? Young Master Yasuno?
Anno: "Zor, you're really shady."
The person called Anno loosened his hands that were restraining me and got up from me, patting the dirt on his body.
Zor: "If Young Master Sawyer comes back and realizes you're missing again, I'll be the one in trouble."
Anno: "Heh, that guy." Anno actually smiled when he heard Young Master Sawyer.
Zor: "Oh, Grace, what are you doing here?" Noticing my presence, Butler Zor asked me questioningly.
Grace: "Me.. I..." I stammered, not knowing what to say, and instead subconsciously looked at Anno, who was not far from me. And the latter just glanced away.
Zor: "Well, go back first, young master Sawyer can be looking for you all day."
Master Sawyer? Crap, I forgot all about it.
Grace: "Zor, I'll go first or else Master Sawyer will be angry again." After bidding farewell to Zol, I hoofed it back to the other courtyard. Damn, I can't believe I've been watching that Anno guy here for a day. Just as I stepped into the kitchen, that familiar voice came.
Soya: "Grace, where have you been all day, are you trying to starve my young master to death?"
Enn: "I'm sorry young master Sawyer, I'll go make you dinner right now." Full of apologies, I walked towards the kitchen when Sawyer grabbed my wrist.
Sawyer: "Forget it, you don't have to do it."
Grace: "But..." Is this really okay?
Looking at Sawyer's face full of smiles, I didn't know what to say.
Suddenly I remembered the person I had just seen.
Enn: "Young Master Sawyer, do you know someone called Anno?"
"...." I regretted saying that as I saw some changes in Young Master Sawyer's expression.
Sawyer: "How did you know?"
Grace: "Over in the garden today, I saw him."
Sawyer: "Really, he's back." Sawyer closed his eyes as if he was thinking about something.
Sawyer: "Grace, go ahead and go to sleep."
Endian: "Huh? En..." I was surprised that young master Soya reacted like that, but I still didn't ask anything.
Back in my room, I flopped down on my bunk and couldn't sleep for a long time.
。。。。
Anono. Why was I thinking about him? What kind of person is he though? How could he show that kind of expression. That cold, that rejecting look.
。。。。
Oops, whatever, hurry up and go to bed. I scratched my hair and buried my head in my pillow.
Early the next morning, I made breakfast and went to the bazaar to do some shopping. Today, it was time for me to go to the church to see the Suffragette.
When I came to the entrance of the church, the figure of a man caught my eye.
。。。。
This person.... This person.... Why does he look so much like Anno? But he doesn't look like Anno. This person in front of me was all smiles.
This man was surrounded by the children of Notre Dame at the moment, and the children were scrambling to get to him. Instead of being anxious or angry, he looked at each child with a smile on his face and gave them something to say.
This man. It really seemed like a gentle prince.
No matter what, I can't get away from the sight.
。。。。
As if he noticed me, he looked up at me. But the face that was full of smiles stiffened. This.... What's going on here....
"Who are you and why do you keep looking at me."
Grace: "I'm sorry, you look like someone."
"Oh? Really, that's quite a coincidence." His expression was no longer so stiff, but instead somewhat gentle.
"Arthur, it's time to go." I was about to say something when a woman came to me and spoke to him beside me.
Arthur: "I'll go first, bye."
Grace: "Bye." After saying goodbye to him, I watched him until he disappeared.
Arthur?
Sophie: "Grace, what are you looking at?"
Grace: "Ah, nothing." Seeing Saint Sophie, I realized what I was doing and shyly lowered my head.
Sophie: "Were you looking at Arthur?"
Grace: "Sophie Saint, do you know him?"
Sophie: "He's a pianist who's been red hot lately, and he comes to see these children at Notre Dame whenever he can."
A pianist? Or such a caring pianist.
Sophie: "But Grace, how can you watch him when you don't even pay attention to that?"
Grace: "He's a lot like a person."
Sophie: "Is it someone Grace likes?"
Grace: "No, no no." I reddened my face and eagerly explained, fearing that the Sophie Holy Maiden would misunderstand something. "Sophie Holy Maiden, let's not talk about that, have you been doing well for a while?"
Sophie: "With you coming to visit often, can it be bad?"
。。。。 I spoke with Saint Sophie for a long time, so long that I thought I had forgotten about the man I had just met.
A group of people shouting at dusk made me avert my eyes. I saw that the crowd was gathered around a man. The man wore a magic hat and a pair of round slice eyes on the bridge of his nose.
Is this magic?
But the man 。。。。 It was Anno. This time, I would never be mistaken, it was definitely Yasuno.
Anno seemed to notice my gaze, and his eyes fell on me. Only his lenses were colored with light from the setting sun, and I couldn't see the expression on his face at all.
His hand stretched out, and he unexpectedly changed into a white dove. The dove circled around my head a few times and then caught my hair in its beak, and I let out a cry of pain.
It was. What's this for 。。。。
Only to see the white dove back to Anno's hand, Anno he used his hand to take a few strands of my hair in the dove's mouth. Anno gave me a meaningful look and placed my hair against his lips in a gentle kiss.
。。。。
"Bang bang.... Bang bang..." I heard my heart beating. Damn, what was my heart beating for.
I panicked and left the crowd, trying to get out of this place in a hurry.
Eager to leave, I didn't notice Anno's sparkling eyes and the smile that curled up at the corner of his mouth.
Finally. Finally left.
Staying there for a few moments, I was afraid I would be compelled by Anno.
"Bang bang bang.... Thump thump thump..." It was like I heard my heartbeat again.
Might as well go back.
When I reached the courtyard, I touched my chest and took a few deep breaths before pushing the door in.
Pushing the door open, the lights in the hall startled me.
This is.... What is this....
Sawyer: "Hey ~~~~ little Grace, you're back."
Endian: "Young Master Sawyer, may I take the liberty of asking what this is all about?"
Sawyer: "Can't you see, I'm hosting a ball."
Grace: "Hosting a ball?" This young master Sawyer, what is he thinking about all day long.
Sawyer: "Well, go get changed."
Grace: "Wait 。。。。" I didn't refuse Young Master Sawyer and followed up. Geez, even the stairs were set up like this.
Master Sawyer pushed me into the room and man gave me the clothes I had held in my hand at some point. Sawyer: "Hurry up and get me changed."
Truly, what a ball all of a sudden. I mouthed off and changed anyway.
Enn: "Young Master Sawyer, the clothes are changed." I called out to Young Master Sawyer and opened the door to my room.
Sawyer: "Not bad, not bad, this young master's eyes are still this good."
I looked at Young Master Sawyer's gaze and lowered my head in embarrassment. Well, I really don't know how to answer him.
Soya pulled me to the ball, where quite a few people had already gathered. Suddenly, a piano came from the quiet hall.
It was. Chopin's Nocturne.
Sawyer: "Do me a favor and dance."
Grace: "Master Sawyer..." Looking at Young Master Sawyer's hand, I handed it over. I looked at Young Master Sawyer and smiled meaningfully. Young Master Sawyer wrapped one arm around my waist while teaching me the steps of dancing.
Grace: "Young Master Sawyer, what made you think of having a ball."
Sawyer: "You guess."
Endian: "...." Are you kidding? How could I possibly guess? "Young Master Sawyer, how can I guess."
Sawyer: "I won't tell you if I can't guess."
Grace: "。。。。" This Young Master Sawyer, even though I've been his maid for five years, I still don't know what he's thinking.
Bored, my eyes looked around and that familiar figure came back into view. Anno.
Anno was sitting at the piano wearing a mask playing Chopin's Nocturne, his eyes were closed and he was enjoying the performance.
Grace: "Him..."
Sawyer: "What, curious that he's here?"
Grace: "He is..."
Sawyer: "You sure are curious." "He's, ah, the kid my parents adopted,"
Endean: "What?" I was surprised to hear that Anno was the adopted child of Sawyer's parents.
Soya: "What's the shock for."
Enn: "No.. No shock."
Sawyer: "But he left here a few days before you came here to work as a maid, and now it's been five years since he came back."
Grace: "Master Sawyer, why are you telling me this?" I was curious as to why Sawyer would tell me this.
Sawyer: "I'm not telling, I'm warning."
Grace: "Eh?" A warning? That's what it means.
Sawyer: "Even though this guy is usually a man of few words, he's as addictive as a poppy." "But ----" but what? Sawyer purposely paused, and his expression began to change a bit. "He could die at any moment, though."
。。。。 Could die at any moment, what does that mean? How could that be possible.
Sawyer: "Are you afraid?" Sawyer smiled like that, but it made me feel horrified, but in the next moment, Sawyer returned to his original expression. "But it's okay, little grace, you just don't have to fall for him."
。。。。 Don't fall for him? I turn my head to look at the man sitting at the piano. Yasuno 。。。。 At the moment with a smile on his face he looked so lonely.
Don't you like him? Just don't fall in love with him?
At night, the ball had long since dispersed. The lights are out, the people are gone, the light is gone, and the darkness is eternal.
But I stood on the stairs, motionless. I didn't know what I was thinking or what I was upset about.
"What are you doing here?"
"Ah -------- " the voice that came out of nowhere interrupted my words, and without looking, I actually stepped on the stairs. Only instead of the pain I expected, there came warm body heat. This is 。。。。 Anno!
He actually hugged me directly as I was about to fall down the stairs! I rested my head against his chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat. "Thump thump thump.... Thump thump thump..."
Grace: "Anno...." I called out his name out of breath. I clearly felt the hand holding me tremble slightly.
He let go of me and Grace, "What are you doing here."
Enno: "Can't I be here?"
。。。。 He actually smiles. Grace: "I.... I didn't mean that..." Damn, it seems like I'm incoherent when it comes to him.
Enno: "Let's get you to your room."
Ennu: "Ah, okay 。。。。" It's kind of hard to believe that Anno would even offer to walk me back to my room. Obviously when I first met him, he had that look and words. Which one is the real him? Is it hard to believe that he has a dual personality?
Anno: "Here we are."
Enno: "Ah, yeah 。。。。 Thanks." The hall was all dark, but the hallway lights were on.
Does this mean that he's leaving? Why was it so hard to leave?
Anno: "I'm leaving."
Enno: "Eh, good night." Looking at his departing back, I called out to him, "Anno!"
Anno: "Eh?"
Enn: "Nope. Nothing." I can't believe I just blurted out his name like that, it's so embarrassing.
Anno: "I'm leaving?"
Enno: "Uh.. Good." I stood there, watching his back until he disappeared. What's going on here? I would feel something fall out of my heart. Shaking my head, I twisted the door handle and entered the room.
About a week later, I came back to the church.
But was it fate? I met him again.
Arthur. Why did I think he resembled Anno so much? He was still playing with the children around him, like an overgrown child. I guess it's just me, Anno never had that side.
Arthur's smile disappeared after the last time the woman appeared, frowning instead. Was something bothering him, was he?
Suddenly, as if he had noticed my presence, he walked quickly towards me.
Arthur: "Grace, do you play the piano?"
Grace: "Yes.... A little..." Wait, why does he know my name?
Arthur: "Good if you can, come with me."
Grace: "Hey..." Before I could respond, Arthur was pulling me away, gesturing to the woman behind him in the process.
Walking down the street, I saw a carriage parked there.
Arthur: "Get in."
Grace: "What?" Arthur commanded, making it impossible for me to argue. He walked over to the wagon, opened the door handle and pushed me up. "Arthur, where are you taking me?" I questioned as I looked across at Arthur.
Arthur: "There's a performance tonight, and my four-handed female companion had a problem and couldn't make it, so I'm looking for you to fill in."
Grace: "Ah, what do you mean? You want me to fill in?" Is this a joke? My piano level isn't even beginner. "No, I could never do that." I started fidgeting, trying to get off the carriage. Arthur held me down with just one hand.
Arthur: "Don't worry, I've got you."
。。。。。 Grace: "Grace." Hearing my answer, Arthur stopped talking. I couldn't find anything to talk about on the way.
After the carriage stopped, Arthur took me to the piano room.
The piano, it was something I had dreamed of.
Arthur: "Come and try it out."
Grace: "Eh."
Arthur: "Do you recognize the sheet music?"
Grace: "Yes." It's a good thing I had a piano teacher teach me to read music when my parents were still alive, or else I'd be in trouble.
Arthur: "That's much easier, I'll play it a few times, you look at the sheet music first, then look at my fingering, and I'll correct you if there's any mistakes later."
Grace: "Okay." Arthur finished and sat down at the piano and began to play.
When Arthur pressed the first note, I knew what the song was. The Magnificent Encounter. That was the name of the tune. Is that the tune Arthur is going to play?
Gorgeous Encounters...
This is the song that Arthur was going to play. But I can't get him out of my head.
When did I develop different feelings for Yasuno? What's wrong with me?
Looking at Arthur, who was playing, his eyes were slightly closed as if he was enjoying the feeling of playing the piano at the moment. He was worthy of being the pianist who was glowing red and purple today, and this piece, when played from his hands, actually gave people a feeling of happiness.
As a child, I always aspired to be a great pianist, but now that I've seen Arthur, I feel like my dream is so far away. Wait, why do I feel that Arthur looks very familiar at this moment.
Yes, Arthur looks a lot like Yasuno at the moment, it's almost like he's from the same mold. Is it an illusion? Or is this true for everyone who loves the piano?
I was so deep in thought that I didn't see Arthur looking at me at the moment.
Arthur: "Notice that this is where you start playing."
Grace: "Uh, okay." I looked back and listened carefully to the part Arthur was playing. Never mind, let's not think about that for now, playing the tune is the most important thing.
Next, Arthur taught me patiently, telling me which notes were easy to get wrong and correcting my wrong fingerings. I couldn't help but marvel at what a competent player Arthur was, so strict with every detail.
In the blink of an eye it was evening, and I searched for Arthur. Surprisingly, he was leaning against the piano in a deep sleep. When was it that he fell asleep? How did I not notice? His watery face, how come it also resembles Anno so much? The two of them, there can't be any connection. Looking at Arthur's watery face, I actually dared to reach out and touch him.
The idea of "wanting to touch him" became clearer in my mind.
"Arthur!" Before I could touch Arthur, the woman from the last time I was at the church pushed open the door to the room, causing me to shrink my hand back in fear.
Grace: "Hello."
"Hello." The woman didn't look much better when she saw it was me.
Grace: "Arthur's asleep now."
"What? He's asleep again, this is going to be a problem." Hearing her words, I was confused instead. What is 'asleep again'? Does Arthur often fall asleep? Besides, what's wrong with sleeping? Why don't you just wake him up? At that time, I didn't realize the seriousness of the matter.
"Why don't you go to the dressing room and leave Arthur to me."
Grace: "Uh-huh."
When I got to the dressing room, I actually saw Saint Sophie.
Grace: "Saintess Sophie, what are you doing here?"
Sophie: "It was Ms. Vina who brought me here and asked me to do your makeup, but I didn't expect Arthur to pick you." Vina, was that the woman just now....
Grace: "Ms. Vina?"
Sophie: "Don't you know, Ms. Vina is Arthur's head." The person in charge? Then isn't he in charge of everything Arthur does? Ms. Vina looks like a very strict person, can Arthur stand it? Wait, why am I worried about him? That's just weird.
Grace: "Saint Sophie, does Arthur fall asleep a lot?"
Sophie: "Well, I've heard from Ms. Vina that Arthur sleeps for a day or two at a time and can't be woken up, and because of that, Arthur has delayed a lot of performances, and Ms. Vina is having a headache." Sleeping for a day or two? And you can't wake him up? Gosh, Arthur this is how it will not be thunder and lightning can not be woken up.
Arthur: "Grace, it's time to go."
Endian: "Ah, good." Sure enough, ah, you can't talk about people behind their backs.
Coming backstage with Arthur, I secretly lifted the red curtain. There was no one there.
Grace: "Arthur, is anyone really coming back?"
Arthur: "Cut the crap, you should think about the score." Well, it is indeed time for me to think about the score.
After a few moments, the candles and lights backstage went out, and the light from the stage spilled onto the floor backstage through the cracks. Had it started?
Arthur: "Grace, no failure."
Grace: "Uh, I will."
At this point, I look at the stage ---- Gosh, so many people came to see it! Did they all come to hear Arthur play? I didn't realize that Arthur had so much gusto.
In a trance, I saw a familiar figure among the VIPs on stage.
Sawyer? Why is he here? There was no reason, he was never interested in piano. Did he and Arthur know each other?
I was surprisingly pensive at the thought.
Arthur: "Grace, it's your turn to harmonize next."
Grace: "Eh." Arthur whispered to me and I snapped back. Arthur he. Was he helping me?
The song ended and the stage cheered and applauded. It worked, Arthur and I did it.
Next, I exited the stage, leaving Arthur alone to play.
I also went into the audience and watched Arthur play to his heart's content.
Arthur, he, is truly a man who shines.
After the show, Arthur and I stood at the intersection of the alley.
Grace: "Arthur, I'm going back."
Arthur: "Wait, I'll walk you back."
Grace: "It's okay, I can get back on my own."
Arthur: "The carriage is here." Arthur yanked me to the carriage and I still couldn't resist. He unscrewed the carriage door and gestured for me to get in.
Grace: "Arthur, thank you so much."
Arthur: "Thank me for what?"
Grace: "Thank you for letting me see the shining you. You know how much you shine on stage, just like the stars in the night sky."
Arthur: "Is that what you think?"
Grace: "Yeah."
Arthur: "Thank you." Did I hear you right, Arthur actually said thank you to me.
The carriage came to the alibi, and after saying goodbye to him, he still eyed his carriage.
Sawyer: "Did you have fun, little grace?" Soya? What was he doing here?
Endian: "Young Master Soya, why are you here? Scared me to death."
Sawyer: "Just be moderate."
Endian: "Huh?" Sawyer's tone suddenly changed drastically and his expression began to look stern.
Sawyer: "Grace, stop in moderation."
Grace: "What did you say?"
Sawyer: "Didn't I warn you?" Sawyer doesn't look like he's joking with that expression.
Endian: "You showed up at the theater tonight, didn't you, I saw you."
Sawyer: "You.. Say what." As expected, the expression and tone of voice were different after hearing my words.
Enn: "Young Master Sawyer, you went, I saw you."
Sawyer: "You must have been mistaken, how could I have been there."
Grace: "I wasn't mistaken, young master Sawyer, you were in the VIP room on the third floor of the theater." Hearing me say that, Sawyer had no words to refute.
Sawyer: "Nosy. Long." Sawyer stuttered, something must have happened.
Grace: "Master Sawyer, you..."
Sawyer: "I'm tired, I'm going back to bed."
Endian: "Eh, good night young master Sawyer."
Sawyer: "Hmph." Sawyer grunted and turned his head away.
I stood still, thinking about what Sawyer had said to me. What was wrong with him, Sawyer?
Early the next morning, I cleaned up my room and came back to this meadow. Without realizing it, I had walked to the place where I first met with Anno.
Only, I didn't expect that I would meet him.
Anno.... He.... Why is he here?
Come to think of it, I haven't seen him since that time I was sent back to my room. It's nice to finally meet him.
Why, when I saw him again, I felt a sense of solidity in my heart. I'm getting really weird.
Shaking his head hard and telling himself to calm down, he looked back at him.
Anno, at that moment, was teasing the little bird flying between his fingers. He gently stroked the bird's wings with his hand, and I don't know if it was an itch or what, but the bird fluttered its wings and let out a clear chirp. Hearing the little bird's chirping, Anno's face also began to mild up. This smile. It's like that smile when he sent me back to my room. Anno, when he smiles, it's this nice. "Bang Bang..." The heart actually started beating violently again.
I stood there without moving. I couldn't bear to break such a scene. I wanted to see Anno smile from the heart like that again.
After a while, Anno raised his hand and released the bird in his hand.
Anno: "Come out." Oi? Is he talking about me? Has he already spotted me? I still didn't dare to move.
Anno: "Grace, come out." It's over, he really did see me.
I still walked out and stood in front of him not daring to move a muscle.
Anno: "Come here."
Enno: "Huh?" I was a little surprised, but I looked at Anno and walked out.
Who knew that just as soon as I passed, Anno pulled me on the lawn. As soon as I sat down, Anno complied by laying on my lap.
Grace: "Anno..." I started to struggle when I saw Anno like that.
Anno: "Don't move." I stopped struggling after Anno said the word "don't move". These two words seemed to have magic power.
Anno: "Let me sleep for a while." When Anno finished the sentence, there was actually a sense of sleepiness in his sentence. I didn't reply, just acquiesced. Not long after, came the sound of Anno's even breathing. Sleeping really fast.
Then again, does Anno like to sleep a lot? The first time I saw him he was also sleeping.
In the blink of an eye, it went from early morning to late evening.
You damn, I'm exhausted, there's still a third, I'll give it to you tomorrow, it's just too much, and it's called a short story, so please take it!!!! I typed very hard, from the afternoon to the evening.