Every year in the Kaisen village there is a lottery. Only ages 10-20 are allowed to participate, well, are forced to participate. They are rounded up from their homes and forced to sign their name on a sliver of paper. The names are thrown into a bo...
The room was dimly lit with a few candles here and there.
"Ahh another?" A voice coo's. It startles Y/n as she turns to face the speaker. There was a dark haired boy in the corner. He faced the wall, barely acknowledging Y/n as he sat on the floor playing around in paint. "Are you the painter?" Y/n questions. "All Nobara does is talk talk talk. She rushes conversation and leaves out viable information." He says. "Who's Nobara?" She asks. "See what I mean." He says with a sigh. "Nobara is the chatty woman you spent all day with. I'm sure she told you a lot about the palace, gave you a nice tour, but somehow forgot to mention her own name. She is the head Maid, here at the palace. You'll see her quite often." He says. "Well who are you?" Y/n asks. "You can call me Yuta, a distant cousin of the late princess Fushiguro. And who might you be?" He asks.
It was the first time anyone had asked for your name since you arrived.
"I'm Y/n. People from my home call me Honey." She says. "Like nectar?" He questions. She nods. "Interesting." He says, finally turning around to face the girl. Yuta's eyes blow open as his Jaw slightly parts. "Oh wow." He says standing to his feet and walking around your body. His finger glided along your skin. "You're from the Inumaki tribe I assume?" Yuta asks. Y/n nods.
"Is that an issue?" She asks. "No no, of course not." Yuta begins. "You know legend has it that any king gifted with an Inumaki descendant will be triumphant. You are the first of your kind here for around a hundred years. It's very rare for them to be pulled from a lottery. Most say it's divine will." Yuta says. Y/n doesn't say much, she's more focused on the fact that it had been a hundred fucking years and she just happened to the the poor fuck that got pulled after a century!
"So what I'm hearing is there's no jojoba oil or shea butter in the palace?" Y/n asks. "I'm afraid not." He says. The girl shakes her head. Yuta chuckles a bit. "Have you ever heard of 'The reincarnation of the Zenin Devil'?" He asks. "Who hasn't heard of one of the most famous murals in the empire?" You ask. "That mural was painted by my father, he has passed, but he has left me with his artistic ability. Most murals you see being made recently are by me." Yuta says.
"Your father is incredible!" You praise. "Thank you, thank you." He says, smiling dearly. "But along with drawing murals as the old master, I am required to create a painting of the King's servant which is to be hung next to the King's own painting. Now in all actuality I am supposed to only draw one, two at maximum, but you are lucky number five." He says.
Y/n doesn't say a word. "The first one I did was quite bland. I remember wishing for a do-over. I didn't expect I would get one again and again. Each time I got more sloppy because I knew my work would only get thrown out and replaced. Plus the men and women that got dragged here were so plain to look at. But I think you'll be fun." He says. Y/n was still silent. "What? I've given you a compliment." He says.
"I don't want to die Yuta. So please make my portrait special. I hope a good picture will extend my life." She says. The boy stares at her in shock. His eyes were peeled open and his mouth was slightly gapped. His face flushed and he nodded his head enthusiastically. "I will!" He assured.
Yuta waited for night to completely fall before taking you and all of his supplies out to the open terrain of one of the many palace gardens. There was a tall rock that gave a perfect view of distant trees and the wide moon that sat low in the sky. So close you could touch it. He had you sit still if you even blinked you had to watch his face wash with annoyance.
"You must stay still." He says. You would roll your eyes and stiffen your body. This rock he had you climb in a white Yukata wasn't very comfortable and the dewiness of the night air made the fabric cling to your skin. It makes you itchy and hot.
It wasn't until late late into the morning when he finished. When you were able to see the fruits of Yuta's labor.
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