Look at the stars//The Lunar Chronicles Oneshots

Of Clothes and Books

(Nineteenth Century AU)
Kaider + Thorne

Author's note: Welcome to our first cringy one-shot! This first one is set in the nineteenth century, inspired by the society in the Anne of Green Gables series. Back then, when girls turn sixteen, they change dresses for long skirts and wear their hair above their neck. However, because of the month in which their birthdays occur, some girls start wearing long skirts before they wear their hair up. That's the case with Selene here. There's also a use of old Canadian English I got from the books. If there's something you don't quite understand, feel free to message us or just comment and we'll clarify for you!
Shoutout to kslchen from FanFiction.Net for helping me with the background info! And remember, if you like this story or simply think it has potential to develop further, just put your thought into a comment/review, and we might make it a full-fledged story! Enjoy!

"Kaito, dear, come here for a moment, won't you?"
  
The boy, who had been studying at the table for school, came over and stood beside his mother in the kitchen. Mrs. Prince sighed inwardly. Time flies too fast. It seemed as if, in an instant, the baby boy she held in her arms had grown into a sixteen-year-old young man, now taller than her.
   
Kai cleared his throat. "Mother?"
   
"Right." Mrs. Prince picked up the basket she'd been arranging and handed it to her son. "The Blackburns just moved in, so I want you to take this over to them. Some baked treats that I just finished."
   
Kai grinned. "Do I get some?"
   
"They'll probably feed you, if they have any manners at all. If they don't, I'll feed you when you get back."
   
Kai leaned forward to kiss her cheek. "Thanks, Mother."
   
"Don't frighten our new neighbors!" she called after him as he made his way down the lane.
   
Kai's laugh drifted over. "That's for Carswell to do!" he called back.

                        ***
   
"What did you say was for me to do?"
   
Kai whirled around and glared at the offender. "Carswell Thorne! Would you stop doing that?"
   
Carswell laughed. "Never." He eyed Kai's basket. "Where are you off to with Mrs. Prince's delicious baked treats?"
   
"The Blackburn's place. They just moved here, you know."
   
Carswell smirked. "I heard their household is entirely made up of females."
   
Kai groaned. "I hope I won't have to save them from your evil hands anytime soon."
   
"Always the knight in shining armor, huh? But back to the Blackburns. What do you know about them?"
   
Kai pondered for a moment. "Mother said that the father died before the girl was born, so her last name is her mother's maiden name. The Blackburns have an industry in the city, but they moved here with a widow servant and her two girls because they wanted peace and quiet for a change."
   
Carswell whistled. "Lots of girls. I thought it was just a rumor. How old is Miss Blackburn?"
   
"Fifteen, I believe."
   
"So, long skirts and hair done up?"

Kai shrugged. "Long skirts, probably, but I don't think her hair is done up yet. Well, here we are."
   
They knocked and waited, hearing the sound of hurrying feet. The door was flung open, revealing a girl almost as tall as Kai. She was wearing a cream white blouse tucked neatly into a dark green skirt. Her skin was a healthy tan, her eyes alluring brown, and her hair, which was a fine dark brown, fell in waves just past her shoulders.
   
"Oh, I'm sorry, I- my clothes aren't proper enough for callers." She bit her bottom lip nervously. Kai's eyes were drawn to them immediately, and he blushed when he realized what he was doing.
   
Fortunately, Carswell made his move next. "Carswell Thorne, seventeen years old. And I must object, miss. I do not think you underdressed."
   
The girl nodded. "Selene Blackburn." She looked at Kai. "Who's your friend?"
   
"I am Kaito Prince, pleasure to meet you, Miss Blackburn." He held out his basket. "My mother made these for you and your family."
   
At that moment, he noticed a small girl hiding behind Selene's skirt. He bent down. "Hi!" He flashed a her a bright smile.
   
The girl squeaked and dove behind Selene, who laughed, a sound that warmed Kai's chest. "This is Peony, our maid's youngest daughter." She, too, bent down next to Peony. "Do you want these nice young men to come in and have tea with us?" At Peony's nod, Selene stood back up, picked up Peony's hand, and gestured for the "nice young men" to follow her into the house.