It wasn’t until Lunch that I saw the new chef again. Not that I expected to see him at all around the castle; his job kept him in the kitchens and food stores. Occasionally someone might go collect deliveries but that was normally one of the senior staff members. My job was preparing bedrooms for the nobles. It was actually an easy job to make beds and tidy up a little. I also had to clean their bathrooms but again that was easy. I had started on hard labour that left me exhausted every single night. He had promoted me to this, claiming it was because he cared.

            “Here you go.” Kai said, handing me my meal. He seemed to be in charge of the servants’ meals. Well of course he was; new chefs were always given this duty. It didn’t matter if our food was messed up.

            “Thanks.” I mutter, taking the plate that consists mainly of vegetables and a piece of fish. No meat for us.

            “So what do you think?” Kai asked, waiting for me to take a bite. After having a taste of the simple food, I was amazed. This was delicious.

            “It’s okay.” I mutter, unenthusiastic.  The longer it took for it to get out that Kai was an amazing cook the better for us servants. I knew all the servants would be careful to keep it quiet too. We wanted to keep the good chefs when we had them.

            Kai’s face fell and I felt guilty. Obviously my opinion meant something to him. What should I do? I’d be hated even more if I let this out. However Kai’s face was heartbreaking.

            “Good chefs always get promoted. You should be happy you don’t have to worry about nobles hating your food,” I say. “We servants always get the worst chef in the building.” Come on Kai, get the hint. He looks confused now. I wink at him. There, now he’s figured it out.

            “I guess you’re right.” Kai agrees before having to go bring a plate for someone else.

            I’m looking forward to dinner. I tell myself it’s for the food, but I’m not so sure. I suspect it’s because of him. No, it can’t be because of him. It just can’t. I’ve given him up. Go away stupid feelings, you’re not wanted here. I have to follow my head, take the logical path, the path that said ‘don’t upset Reita’.

            “Here you go.” Kai said flashing me a smile. A sweet smile that demands a smile in return.

            “Thanks.” I mutter again.

            “Can I ask you a question?” Kai asked. “Why are you staring at me all the time?”

            “I’m not.” I deny. Have I been staring at him? Possibly. That had to stop. It couldn’t get back to Reita. I knew very well that Reita had certain people within us that reported this sort of thing back to him. I had often been accused of being one, but the truth was I had never betrayed my people.

            “You have been.” Kai commented. “I don’t mind. I just want to know why.”

            “I’m probably just looking at you because you’re new.” I respond carefully. I can sense we’re being listened too.

            “I was kind of hoping it was because you liked me. Guess not.” Kai said with a casual shrug. I sit there opened mouthed at his honesty.

            “You don’t want a relationship with me.” I respond, turning away. Go away Kai. It’s hard enough pretending I don’t have feelings for you without knowing you like me back.

            “I do.” Kai responds. “Are you seeing someone?”

            “Kai, I don’t know where you come from but we don’t talk about this sort of stuff.” I snap before walking out on him, leaving my dinner untouched. Doesn’t he have any sense? Why does he have to be so open and honest? It’s not normal.

            That night, Reita was away visiting a lord so I was free of his special attention. Reita had been so stressed recently and my ass knew all about it, so him being away was a blessing to me. I lay on my bed, taking in the empty one beside me. Aoi had most likely been called for by Uruha. He’d come back looking content and satisfied. Sometimes I hated him so much. Why did he get treated with so much respect? It had given him false ideals of being Uruha’s lover.

            Sure enough, Aoi turned up looking none the worse for Uruha’s attention. I glare at him and he ignores it. He knows it’s only jealousy. I say nothing until he’s in bed, as I know that in the mood I’m in today, I’ll only say something cruel.

            “I’ve been hearing some interesting stories about you.” Aoi announced.

            “Me? What have I done?” I ask.

            “Well not you exactly, more about the new chef. Kai.” Aoi explained.

            “Oh great, it’s got around.” I mutter.

            “I think it’s cute how he just comes out with it. No games.” Aoi says grinning at me.

            “He’s insane.” I complain.

            “He’s innocent.” Aoi responded. “He obviously comes from somewhere where he can be so honest. Besides, all he did was admit he likes you.”

            “He’s insane.” I repeat.

            “Maybe.” Aoi agreed. We lay quiet for a few moments before Aoi speaks up again. “Uruha says that there’s been rebellion in some cities. That’s what’s causing Reita so much stress. There is a gang of our people travelling from city to city creating havoc. They’re sick of being treated like we are. They want equality.”

            “They’ll never succeed.” I shrug, unsurprised that Aoi knew this. Uruha often shared stuff like this with him. Secrets for Aoi’s ears only that just happened to be retold to me. They never left our room though and I was only told when they might affect me. “So what if they’re rebelling? People have rebelled in the past. It does no good.”

            “Probably.” Aoi agreed. Like me, he accepted his position in life for what it was. But then he was treated well. He had no reason to rebel because he was more or less happy. “Still, the cities that have been attacked are more or less in a line. The capitol should be next.”

            “And here they shall fall.” I respond. “Nothing gets past the noble’s here. Besides it won’t affect us.”

            “But it does affect Uruha.” Aoi commented. “You know how I feel about him. It will put strain on Reita too. Make him more stressed, more irritated. I’d be careful around Kai too. Put him off. Act like you hate him if you have too. Anything to stop the king getting jealous.”

            “It’ll be hard.” I mutter. “He’s not the only one with feelings.”

            “Yes. But you’re smart enough to hide them.” Aoi commented. If he was surprised by my statement he didn’t show it. Neither of us talked any more and we were soon both asleep.

            The next morning when Kai handed me my food I didn’t even thank him. I had to put him off me. For both our sakes.

            “I know now.” Kai said quietly. “About the king. Do you love him?”

            “What does love have to do with it?” I ask and Kai nodded and wandered off. He wasn’t been cold around me, just careful. Someone had obviously informed him about everything. Hopefully now he’d understand why I had to reject him.

            Again, my day was typical until lunch. I sat down and Aoi joined me. It wasn’t often we ended up with the same lunch break and I was pleased to be in his company. He told me an amusing story about one of the horses and I couldn’t stop laughing. Then my eyes fell on Kai and I realised he had been watching me. My amusement quickly forgotten, I return to my food.

            “Kai?” I hear another servant asking him and I look up.

            “That’s me.” Kai confirmed. I can’t help listening into the conversation even though I know it would be something boring. I wish it had been now.

            “His highness Prince Uruha has requested your presence.” The servant informed Kai. I can literally feel Aoi stiffen beside me; he’s listening too.

            “Me?” Kai asked. “Where is he? Does he want me now?”

            “He’s in his rooms and yes.” The servant replied. He gives Kai a knowing wink and walks out. I watch as a stunned Kai leaves the kitchen.

            “I know it’s hard.” I say to Aoi. “But I did warn you. Uruha has obviously taken a liking to him.”

            “It doesn’t have to be about that.” Aoi snapped. “Just because Reita is like that doesn’t mean Uruha is.”

            “Please, they’re brothers. Of course Uruha is.” I snap. If Aoi could see the truth, he won’t be so badly hurt when it happens. Denial will only hurt him in the end.

            “Uruha loves me.” Aoi snarled. “He probably has some perfectly innocent reason to call for Kai. It’s not always about sex.”

            “When a noble calls a servant to his room, it’s about sex.” I snap at him. “Grow up!”

            “No, you grow up!” Aoi shouted getting up from the table. “Get over your petty jealousy and accept that Uruha loves me.” I say nothing and watch him go. I’ve tried to make him see sense, what more can I do?

            “I don’t think this is such a good idea.” A black haired man says to the blond in front of him. “Attacking the capitol? If they catch you we’re finished. We need more supporters to our cause.”

            “No, we have enough.” The blond responds.

            “If they catch you, it’s over.” The black haired man argues back. “We can’t attack without your money and resources.”

            “They won’t. They’d never suspect one of their own.” The blond responded casually.

            There’s a knock on the door and the blond nods for his servant to open it. The servant does just that, a perfect act of obedience. No one would ever suspect that the two were allies.

            “Your highness,” The blond says, bowing to the king.

            “So what do you say?” Reita demands. “Have you decided your next move?”

            “I have. I’ll come to the castle.” The blond responds. “Someone has to help you stop the rebels.”

            “And who better than someone like you.” Reita agrees. “You understand your place in life and why they can never get control.”

            “Servants should be given what they deserve.” The blond responds.

            “So they should.” Reita agreed, not suspecting a thing. He turns and leaves and the two men wait for him to be out of ear shot.

            “And what they deserve is equality.” The blond announced.

            “And who better to show the country that than you?” agrees the man who was more than a servant. He was the half brother of the lord. A lord who in fact wouldn’t be a lord at all, had he not been born with the gift of blond hair. He was the son of a prostitute conceived by a lord. He had been born with his father’s hair and his mother had demanded money from the lord to keep her son’s identity secret. However when the lord’s wife passed away, leaving him only daughters, he had no choice but to take his illegitimate child as his heir. The official story was that the boy was the son of his sister who lived over seas. A sister who didn’t even exist.

            Luck had always been on this boy’s side. Luck had made him confident and the young lord was determined to make the classes equal. After all, he had seen the conditions his own mother had to live with, what she had to do just to feed the two off them. He was her salvation but his father had taken him from her. Given him a life of luxury and wealth.

            The blond knew all about the injustices of the world and so when his father had passed away from disease and left him everything his plans had started to form. It was almost time to take complete control and change the ways of the world.