Catching Feelings? (TodoDeku x Reader)

Chapter Six

—First Person POV.—

I only had enough time to write a letter for my family, letting them know that I'll be away to aid Lady Hikari in a trip and won't be back for a while.

Obviously using the ancient tactic called: Lying.

I mainly said that in case I died but by the time I had signed the encasing 'to: Sato's' I was bombarded by a flurry of maidservants and was, not so peacefully, escorted out.

Or to be more precise, I was dragged out— Is this what being pampered was like?

The time of two hours had hardly even been up when they had me mounted on one of the Dukes gentlest mares, an Appaloosa whose mottled skin shimmered beneath the suns rays.

Duos of guards held position a bit in the back and front of me, moving in sync to keep a good distance as we started down the trails—leading far off from Kyushu's Castle.

With the rain from last night leaving the air pleasantly humid, I glanced up—surprised to see the sky bearing zero clouds and hopefully promising our journey with no rainfall.

I inhaled deeply, enjoying the lovely petrichor.

Kinoko Komori, the one being sent as my personal maidservant, was riding on the horse directly next to my side—she was originally a kitchen servant who worked on supplying edible mushrooms due to her fae heritage.

In my opinion, she's absolutely stunning, I wanted to question why the Duke hadn't picked her to go in Hikari's place instead.

But that was quickly answered when her wide, cat-like gaze flicked my way, showcasing warm bronze irises adorned with long lower lashes—while her pupils resemble small black crosses.

I believe she mentioned it was a reminiscent of shiitake mushroom caps? A magical mark of her lineage, that would've given us away immediately.

She's sporting a honey-brown mushroom bob that falls just below her shoulders—her long fringe originally concealing most of her face has recently been swept aside to reveal one of her eyes.

And despite her being a few years older than my twenty, she is naturally very short, a petite girl with a slender frame.

"I always wanted to go on a long trip!" Her voice beams like sweet honey, saying the statement and looking around at the scenery as if she was simply talking to herself.

"And now I'm a Lady's maidservant! I am sure to get a glimpse of the Prince, and so many Ladies—" Her words are cut short with an excited gasp "Maybe more Dukes and Duchesses!"

Kinoko's excitement is accompanied with a wide smile that made a laugh bubble up in my throat.

And despite trying to disguise the sound with a cough—she seemed to catch on to it, turning her attention back on me to offer a sheepish giggle.

While the newly maidservant approached the dangerous situation with flippancy, I couldn't be more grateful for the distraction.

A part of me found comfort in the presence of any familiar companion.

Glancing over my shoulder, my eyes caught sight of the traveling bag—securely strapped onto the back of my saddle.

Inside was all of the garments Lady Hikari had left behind, due to me not owning any clothing that was deemed suitable enough—thankfully, I was always nearly the same size as the mistress.

The old man also insisted that I take Hikari's jewelry—it was an attempt to help me look the part of the Dukes daughter.

But I had to carefully inform him that Hikari had taken the jewelry with her.. Along with a majority of her best gowns.