It had come to the (h/c) haired girl's attention that not only was she a fiancee of the eldest heir of a reputable family, but she was also an avid student. At least, that was what the redhead had told her. He seemed quite excited by the prospect of her being accepted into a thriving university and receiving a full scholarship. While she didn't need it and he informed her that he would gladly pay for any kind of education she wanted, it was nice to know she could function outside of the estate.

It wasn't that she disliked it. The area was vast and stunning to the eye, but despite its large size, it still felt enclosed. The rural setting of the estate was perched on a mountain overlooking the rest of the city. When she ran to the very front of the estate and climbed up the stairs to the roof, she could see the entire downtown beneath her. She wasn't certain whether she was a city person or a country person, but she could see herself being a part of both worlds.

After all, the only people she had talked to that weren't servants and helpers was Shota and his little sister, and even then, conversation was scarce. While he tried deeply to make time for her, the red-haired male was preoccupied with phone calls, and often was arranging for amenities to be provided to the company. Even if Okura had helped him greatly with his workload and there were plenty of other assistants, she always felt guilty interrupting his work. The stress must have taken a heavy toll on him. She couldn't add to that pile.

On the other hand, Nami always seemed energetic and ready to talk with the girl that was promised to be her elder sister in the near future. She attempted to grab onto (Y/n) and take her around to all of their favorite places - or at least the ones that used to be. And while the younger redhead was very cute and pleasant to spend time with, the (h/c) haired girl always felt pressured to relive her past. Nami wanted her to remember everything, and she just couldn't will it to be so. If she wasn't so worried about trying not to disappoint the younger girl, then the uncertainty that manifested in herself certainly made her keep her distance at times.

With the servants - though she thought she had a good rapport with them - there was always a barrier between how close they could get. Some of them had claimed to have been friends with her since she had come to the house and talked about all of the fun they would have together, but often, it seemed stifled. Clearly, they enjoyed the (h/c) haired girl's company and thought of her highly, but there was still that line between friend and worker. Unfortunately, despite her best attempts, the younger girls was never able to pull them past the servant stage of friendship.

That was why she was very much looking forward to going to the university in the city. While she was aware the air wouldn't be nearly as clear or the sky as bright, there would be more people she could talk with. Perhaps she would be able to make friends and push back her loneliness, replacing it with numerous people she could be herself around. Well, even if she wanted such a thing, her idea of who she was was vague at best, but that was all the more reason to make more acquaintances. Perhaps, through them, she could find out more about herself.

At that stage, Shota knew far more about her than she did, and it was both mortifying and almost unnerving. He meant well, she knew as much, but he babied her often, worrying over the slightest of things. It was as if he thought she was a fragile feather wanting to be swept away by the wind. He constantly held onto it for fear that it would fly away and attempted to protect the delicate tufts. That being said, she believed she was capable of looking after herself, and wanted to lift the burden of taking care of her off of his shoulders.

Of course, she couldn't have known, but doing something as such would have devastated him to no end. He lived for the privilege of taking care of her, wanting to protect, cherish, admire, and take inspiration from her. Losing the ability to do any of such precious actions would have likely broken him. If not just barely, then largely, perhaps prompting a spacious emptiness to swell in his chest at the absence of something so vastly comprising his heart.

That being said, no matter how hard he attempted to keep her under his care, she would have tried to wiggle away. It was just part of her nature. She was never one to accept protection so easily nor was she one to take advantage of what others gave her. As such, when she had taken on the opportunity to help raise money for those less fortunate, he wasn't surprised when she prioritized it above all else. It was something that she could do to prove herself.

No, it wasn't that selfish. She truly was a good person at heart, one that would have run in front of a truck to save a puppy or spent countless precious free hours working for the greater good. It was probably why he cherished her so much. He knew that others wanted to come along and take advantage of her, using her for all that she had, and he knew she had a lot. Still, sooner or later, that reserve would dry up, and she would be left without a purpose or perhaps with one that hurt her to hold onto it.

Like a searing hot iron that dug into her easily taintable skin, others wanted to place that burden on her. Whether or not they wanted to see her suffer had nothing to do with it. The fact that they could do something like that at all was what kept him constantly alert and on his toes. Even the most well-intentioned of people could have shattered something in her that he valued too deeply to lose.

And yet, for however much he wanted to lock her inside of their room and only ever let her see him, it was impossible. She wanted to be around others, see others, be in their presence. Doing something like that...it would only make her despise him. He wouldn't be able to take that any longer. It was something of a revelation when he had understood that he needed to let her stray from him.

Of course, it would never be more than he could bear, and he would always keep an eye on her, but she needed to see herself as independent. The first time he had gone to her house, he pieced it all together. Living mainly solitary, working extra hours after school, taking care of all of the chores and cooking, fending for herself in a household that could barely afford common luxuries, etc. She was always one to take care of herself, setting out to accomplish something no matter how small.

The younger girl sighed as she kicked her feet back and forth. The sight from the roof was beautiful, especially when the sun set over the city and the lights began shining like a thousand fairy lights. That being said, she found that staring from it from a distance was not her style. On the contrary, it bothered her so deeply that the next day, she woke up early in order to sneak out. Surely if it were only for an hour or two, it wouldn't be a problem?

She began to brush out her hair before setting the comb down on the nightstand. When sufficiently prepared for her small trip out of the estate, she scribbled down a little note for the red-haired male. She wasn't entirely sure if he would see it, but as long as she wrote it, she could claim innocence. It was entirely too obvious that he believed her every word, and in that case, it seemed to come in handy.

Becoming increasingly quiet, the (h/c) haired girl peered over the couch, watching Shota sleep soundly. He didn't seem perturbed or even alerted to her presence, the sight amusing to watch. The male only had a blank expression, breathing slowly every now and again to exhibit his still living status. Still, if there was one thing that she had learned from sleeping in the same room as him, he was not a morning person and did not wake easily. That was another point in her favor, and she felt oddly confident with her chances of not being reprimanded.

His peaceful expression put her at ease in a way that she couldn't quite grasp a hold of. After all, she was well aware that he was far from a morning person. When she caught him waking up before nine, he became easily agitated and had to excuse himself so as not to snap at her. And yet, despite that peaceful expression, she knew he would be an utter monster if he woke up before he had to. Well, even then he would still be greatly irritated and no amount of coffee would help with that.

Closing the door behind her gently, the younger girl attempted to place an inconspicuous expression on her features. Of course, it was somewhat noticeable to anyone that knew her that she was attempting to do something she felt guilty about. The closer she got to the door, the giddier she became and the faster her feet carried her. When she made her way to the large front door, she was greeted by Okura, the man curious about her goings.

"My lady, are you in need of some fresh air?" he hummed, holding back a smile as the girl flinched shyly.

"A-Ah, yes! I just wanted to go out and explore the area a little more!"

"I'd be happy to join you. I'm quite a fan of the northeast acres. Let me grab you a coat. Shota would be displeased if you caught a cold."

The (h/c) haired girl nodded reluctantly, her face giving away her little fib. Of course, the man was not so stiff, knowing of her - and young Nami's - childish personas. It was actually rather refreshing, especially since Shota was more mature than he ought to be at his young age. He didn't mind giving (Y/n) a bit of freedom. That being said, the last time the two had indulged in a secret that threatened Shota's wishes, it didn't go so well for him.

"A proper young lady shouldn't lie, my dear," the ginger-haired male chuckled, holding open the door for her, "but part of your charm is the strange innocence in it. You should indulge in more selfish lies. We both know you won't do it to harm anyone."

The younger girl gave an embarrassed flush, her features becoming shyer than they had been before. Still not used to the idea of others knowing her better than she knew herself, it prompted her to react like a child hiding behind their parents. That being said, she had yet to know who her parents were, resigned to using her shoe to fiddle in the dirt. The naivety and childish actions she exhibited only ended up proving his point, however.

"Come, I shall accompany you. No doubt you want to go out into town and stretch your legs a bit."

(Y/n)'s eyes lit up as he had the car rolled up in front of her. It was not as flashy as the limousine the red-haired male preferred to have her ride in, but it was still incredibly luxurious. The ginger-haired man stepped into the back with the younger girl as the driver rolled off. The ride was mainly silent as the elder man respected the girl's desire to rest her eyes on whatever she could see.

The ride was not too lengthy, the thought of being outside the manor making it go faster for the younger girl. She found that the moment they drove onto one of the largest main roads in the city, her excitement bounded far beyond what she expected. Even if the estate was beautiful, she didn't think there was anything better than a bit of exploration, and frankly, she was in need of some more interaction with others.

The older man helped her to exit the car, extending his hand to her respectfully. The man then assisted her in the smallest of ways on her trip out. Any threat, no matter how small, was taken care of. Some older men gawked at her and said some unsavory things, but that was the worst that happened, and even then, Okura was quick to handle it. The man was suave and charismatic about the process, standing up for his master's young lady's honor.

While it seemed normal to her to be harassed or commented vulgarly on by disgusting men, clearly it was not acceptable to the older man. Whether it was due to his own values or Shota's, he was clearly determined to protect her, reputation and all. It made her feel elated to be stood up for or valued so deeply as to be granted protection and respect. The male wasn't upset over the disrespect she was shown because he was following orders from the redhead. He obviously did it because he was offended on her behalf.

(Y/n) hummed with joy and her shy smile was plastered on her face continually. Even after they had dealt with the men and walked away calmly - the older man having sufficiently reprimanded them - it was still there. He seemed to react pleasantly to her joy as well, giving a prideful and satisfied smile. That being said, he was quiet unless she spoke to him, preferring to observe and focus his attention on guarding her.

She took her time roaming around the city, taking in the beautiful and somewhat spotless streets of the area. Every single speck of trash she saw was immediately cleaned up, the sides of buildings scrubbed spotless. There were many different workers they saw, most city workers which ensured the city was appealing to visitors, tourists, and any of its extremely wealthy residents.

"I imagine this must be a strange sight for you to see, no?" Okura chuckled, his hands behind his back as he walked gracefully, "This atmosphere is much different than your homeland."

"Is it really?! I had just assumed I'd been born here."

"It's painfully obvious to see other foreigners in Afrua, my lady. You and Shota were both born in Athain. I don't suppose you would remember what it was like?"

The younger girl frowned and gave a light sigh, shaking her head with denial. Unfortunately, all memories of hers had been robbed. Aside from the skills she assumed she had already cultivated and the hold of language she possessed, virtually everything else was wiped away. She wondered about the redhead's words over the past few days and the things he had tried to bring to light.

The foods she supposedly used to love and her favorite places to visit; she didn't have a single trace of that adoration from her "past" life. It was something she commonly revisited, unable to truly grasp her situation. Instead, it was constantly buried only to be dug up once more. The cycle repeated over and over again, but she supposed it had to be a common effect that others suffering from amnesia experienced as well.

"It feels so lonely to not know any of this," she hummed, hugging herself protectively, "Where I was born, my favorite songs, even my family."

"Believe me when I say that the young master wants nothing more than to bring back all of the things you love. He is delighted to see the look of joy on your face, to be able to earn admiration. It has always come so hard to him, after all. I can assure you that he will do all he can to bring back the things you love...or most of them."

The man coughed the last words, but they didn't go left unheard by the perceptive younger girl. It was obviously an ominous phrasing, one that she didn't quite understand, but she made sure to keep it in mind. For some reason or another, she found that the male was attempting to convey something that he couldn't quite say outright. Whether it was because he didn't want to harm anyone or because of something else, she had a feeling she would find out sooner or later. But at that point, it was clear that time would tell.

"Well, let's put that aside for the time being," Okura grinned, closing his eyes joyfully, "Why not indulge in the luxurious boutiques around here? Shota has provided you with ample funds as the lady of the house, after all."

"So it's been whispered through the grapevine," a chuckle echoed.

The younger girl gave a questioning hum as she heard an amused voice. A woman stood beside her with a curious monkey resting on her shoulder. She held a high posture and batted her fan back and forth in her hand with a cheerful smile. It was not a cruel grin, but one that seemed as though it was familiar and friendly. The woman was greeted by a respectful bow from the elder man who seemed ever so pleased to see her.

"Lady Morais, I was wondering when you would grace me with your presence."

At that name, (Y/n) clapped her hands together eagerly before being greeted with a bizarre and gleeful grin from the older woman. While it was rare that she could encounter someone she truly knew, it was also a relief. To be able to remember the same woman that had taught her the basics about high jewelry was more of a joy than it would have been to countless others. Perhaps it the rarity in the situation that she enjoyed or the ability to remember another that delighted her, but nonetheless, the feelings of elation did little to stop the embarrassed blush from washing over her face.

"You are so demure, little miss," the woman hummed, opening her fan and waving it ever so slightly to hide her smirk, "It's no wonder Shota spoke so highly of you. Innocent little things are rare as they don't stay innocent forever, eh, Okura?"

"While that very well may be true," the older man coughed, a reddened hue spreading from ear to ear, "it's best to preserve them for as long as possible."

"Well put. Now where ever were you two off to?"

(Y/n)'s posture tensed at the mention of their little escapade. While not so aware of her relationship with Shota due to the few interactions they had exchanged in her presence, it was clear the woman was a family friend, perhaps a role model for him. As such, it wouldn't shock her if she had chosen to tell the red-haired male about her sneaking out of the estate. In that case, due to the redhead's obvious protectiveness over her, she would assume she would be punished, scolded, or ignored, perhaps a combination of all three. And to drag Okura into it as she had done would only heighten the guilt through it all. She hung her head in shame.

"Oh my, now that's a face," Mrs. Morais gasped, her mouth hung open in curiosity as she closed her fan, resting it in her dainty palm, "Have you done something wrong, my dear?"

"The lady and I may have snuck out for a sightseeing of the city. Shota will be furious."

"That's an understatement. I swear, that boy gets so worked up over the most trivial of things. Goodness gracious, the last time I experienced it was when Nami invited a boy over to the house. He turned so red, I thought he might explode. Ah, but then again, he is quick to forgive. An admirable trait, and unfortunately, one that I do not share."

"S-So you'll tell him?" the (h/c) haired girl blushed, holding tightly onto the hem of her skirt.

There was a wave of silence over the two elders before a crash of ruckus laughter echoed. Okura may have been restrained in his amusement, but the woman clearly was not, bursting with entertainment. The monkey on her shoulder looked just as confused as the younger girl, but it seemed to quickly adapt, doing a little dance as if he'd mistaken the energy in the air as a cause for celebration.

"Mm, how precious," the woman huffed, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, "If there's one thing you ought to know about me, it's my unladylike qualities. The rest of the ladies in high society will tell you I'm no fun, but that's just a cock and bull story, don't you worry. You may be wet behind the ears, but I'm here to assist. In fact, I've heard the telltale of your first charity-raising event. Leave the boy behind and let us have some fun. We'll be as thick as thieves, you and I."

"Don't corrupt her too quickly, madam."

"Wouldn't dream of it, but then again, our ideas of corruption are quite different, no? Ah, now come, my dear, and let us pick out the theme of your organization. Surely you've been thinking of it. Shota has expressed his worry over your efforts."

(Y/n)'s cheeks turned pink, her body reacting even to the male's name. She was looked at with admiration by both Okura and Mrs. Morais, the two of them in awe over her pure reaction. The younger girl began blushing not only at the mention of the redhead but due to her embarrassment of their reactions. She lowered her head in shyness and fiddled nervously as the two watched her before she spoke up again.

"Well, I did have a lot of ideas, but I'm having a difficult time choosing what I want to focus on."

"That's a start, my dear! Let us head to my favorite stores to find some inspiration for this event. I shall be your guide through this all. Think of me as a mentor, but one that drinks and...has her own discretional entertainment."