Miku's POV

I quickly chopped vegetables for the salad.
I wanted to hurry. I didn't even know why I felt such a draw, a attraction, to this boy, it wasn't like me.

It's nothing, you just feel bad for him. He looks so innocent, he just... Doesn't deserve beat, that's all. These feelings aren't love. They can't be. I thought to myself, trying to slow down chopping the veggies before I cut my finger.

Madam IA Rose put a hand on my shoulder, and I stopped to look at her.

"Calm down child, before you hurt yourself" she warned.

I nodded. "Yes Ma'am"

She went back to stirring the soup.

Ahh, it smelled so good.
It was leek, my favorite.

I went back to chopping the vegetables, slower this time.

I looked over to where Len was sitting, in the corner.
It felt weird to even call him by his name in my mind...

Why? It shouldn't...
I was born a princess, even if I was nothing but a slave to my father and brother.

When I had learned Prince Mikuo was my brother, I had run up to him every chance I got. He had pushed me away, time and time again, and when I had told him he was my brother, he had hit me.

I had been heartbroken.
I was furious at my father, and I still was.
He had no right to send his daughter to work in the kitchen as a servant.

Why did father want Mikuo and not me?

I sighed.
I didn't deserve better than others, I should stop thinking as if I did.

I put the vegetables in a bowl with some lettuce, adding bacon, boiled egg, sesame seeds and dressing.

Madam looked at me.
"I think that the food is ready now dearie" she said kindly.
Madam had always been a mother figure to me. If not for her, I don't know how I would have survived.

I looked over at Len again, and heard Madam sigh.
"Don't get to attached dearie"

"Why not?" I asked. Why couldn't I get attached?

"You're father could change his mind any day, you don't want to have slept with a servant, right?"

I blushed, why would Madam even think that!
"I wouldn't, you know me. I want to wait till marriage!"

" Tsk tsk, you never know" came Madam's reply.

I glared at her. She had no right to even suggest a thing like that.

She shook her head. "I just don't want you getting hurt because of a young, foolish love. You are a princess, no matter what your father thinks"

"It's not love" I snapped. "And I'm not a princess"

Madam just pat me on the shoulder and left the kitchen.

I sighed and went over to Len.

"So, how are you doing?" I asked.

He looked up, he was just finishing his plate of food. "I'm fine, thanks to you" he said smiling.

I smiled back. "I really didn't do much, but okay"

Len shook his head. "I disagree, without you, I don't know when Master would have left me alone, and I'd not be eating for 5 days"

I frowned. That was sad to think about.
How were some people so cruel? Especially to Len? It was way better to be nice to him, he was so thankful and happy.

"Yeah, but it really wasn't hard. Actually, why was he beating you, do you mind my asking?"

"No, I don't mind... Umm, because I sat down when I was supposed to be working" he said, as if it were nothing.

That was awful! Just for sitting down?
I jumped to my feet.

"What!? Why is that okay?" He looked up at me surprised and smiled.

"I'm fine, you don't have to worry"

I sat back down by him.
"I do have to worry, when you think it's okay for him to do that to you just for sitting down!?" I still couldn't believe this.

"Yeah? I am a slave... I shouldn't have sat down, I knew he would get mad"

"You're still a person, just like everyone else" I retorted. I absolutely hated the stable master... He was a cruel man.

To hurt a boy, as young and kind as Len?
That was sickening.

He just shrugged. "No one else seems to think so"

I sighed. What else could I say?
"Well, it's true... Some people are just cruel though and don't care"

"Well, I'm glad you aren't one of those people" he said, smiling at me again.

I managed a small smile back. It was really hard to smile when people would just hurt him for nothing.

I looked down at his arm and noticed a bruise, reminding me that he had just been beat. I touched it, causing him to wince.

"Does that hurt?" I asked, though I knew the answer.

He nodded. "Yeah, but just a little bit, not that bad" he said. I could tell he was lying.

"Don't lie" I shook my head at him.

"Sorry..." He said, putting on a pout face, causing me to laugh.

"It's fine I guess... Let me see your back" I said in as commanding a voice I could manage.

He looked at me surprised. "Why?"

"So I can see if there are any wounds I can tend to, and see how bad it looks"
I said. "Now let me see"

I could tell he didn't want to, but he ended up giving in.

I gasped. It wasn't only bruises and cuts, from maybe a stick or whip, but there appeared to also be burn marks!

"What are the burn marks from?" I asked, my voice barely more then a harsh whisper.

He cringed.
"W-well... I have had trouble sleeping, s-so I wake up late sometimes... "

"What do they do to you for waking up late?"

"It's just a few burns, it's not important..." He said quietly.

I shook my head and washed my hands thoroughly in the sink.
I got some water with ice in it and a wash cloth, and wetting the cloth instructed him to lay on his stomach.

I hoped I was doing the right thing.
This was what Madam had done when I had burned myself.

He complied, I could tell this was a little awkward for him, but I couldn't leave it unattended.

I wrung the cold water from the cloth over the burns, and he tensed at the sudden cold, but didn't make a sound.

I continued till I was out of water.

"Umm, I'll be right back again, sorry" I said, getting up and left to find the burn ointment and bandages.

I spread the ointment on the wounds and bandaged it. Finally done I pulled the shirt back over his back.

"Hope that helps..." I muttered, but looking at his face, his eyes were closed and he appeared to be sleeping.

Good. I hoped he was able to sleep well.
But, maybe the middle of the floor isn't the best place...
I lifted him up gently, he was so light, and took him to my bedroom, since I didn't know where he slept.

I laid him on my bed gently and left.
I hoped he slept well...

I had to try to get him a job in the castle.
He couldn't work in the stables anymore.
Not with that evil man there.