Seiko had lived with voices for as long as she could remember, and she treated them as a part of her. They spoke to her while she was awake, and took the appearances of people she knew whenever she slept. They told her reassurances, stories, warnings; on a few occasions, they even seemed to be prophetic. She spoke aloud to them when she was a child, and they were such a constant thing that she was lost for words whenever they left her.

Seiko…it’s time to get up. Wake up, now, get started with your day. Mikka is coming to get you.

As the voices said it, she heard the door to her room slowly open. Seiko opened her eyes in response, seeing her mother standing there. The voices grew quieter—but did not completely go away—as soon as she fully recognized it.

“I have a little trip planned for you,” Mikka said softly. “Get dressed in your best travel clothes, dear; you’ll be heading out to Gin no Shuto by noon.”

Seiko sat up, brushing away her blankets. The capital! her voices cried. You’re such a lucky girl, Seiko. Oh, but ask her why.

She complied with the voices’ request. “Is there a specific reason?” Seiko asked curiously.

“Ujuro and I were talking,” Mikka replied, giving a few telltale signs of hesitance—a sad smile mixed with a wistful expression, leaning on the doorframe. Her voice was quiet as she continued, “The royal family is looking for someone to watch over the younger children. You meet their qualifications perfectly. We were thinking…it might be better. You have experience taking care of others.”

Receiving some words from the voices, Seiko replied to her mother. “I won’t protest,” she said carefully, standing up from the bed, “But who will be watching you? You’re still not well; you’re barely standing now.”

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Mikka put on a smile that never once reassured her daughter, remaining close to the door. The voices pointed out little things about her—she’s swaying slightly, uneasy on her feet. Ujuro is unlikely to stay here to watch her.

“One of the miko offered to help while Ujuro is working,” Mikka explained.

Seiko, wanting to make sure that her mother was completely sure, continued on with a kind of insistence. “And what if Ujuro goes out to fight? He’ll forget I’m not home. He would—”

“Peace, dear,” Mikka said kindly, adding a faint smile that wasn’t necessarily genuine. “The same miko has agreed to stay here if he goes away for any amount of time. We thought of every possible scenario.”

The voices pleaded Seiko to ask another question. “…When did you make the decision?”

Mikka frowned slightly, but still answered. “Yesterday, when you were out of the house. We’ve been considering it for days.”

“Do I really have a choice, then?” Seiko was at the whims of the voices, even if they were just murmurs and whispers whenever she knew Mikka was close, and as a result her words, tone, and true feelings didn’t quite align. The voices made her speak before her own mind had time to process it, leading to her sounding more upset than she intended.

Mikka came a bit closer and smiled sadly at Seiko again. She brushed Seiko’s dark hair behind her back, tucking a few strands behind her ear. “You’re a beautiful girl, Seiko,” Mikka said kindly. There was pain in her voice as she continued, “This…will be a better arrangement than what you can ever have here. The royal family is very generous—you’ll be taught well, and you won’t have to worry about…anything, really.” She gave a little chuckle, and wistfully added, “Besides…I met your father in the capital. Maybe you’ll have the same luck.”

The comment didn’t feel as encouraging to Seiko as her mother had intended, even without the voices’ influence. “Hopefully better luck, if I could manage,” she noted dully.

Mikka’s smile was genuine and happy now. “You’re far too beautiful for any man to leave you,” she assured her. She held her, then pulled away after a few moments. “Now, gather your things. You’ll be traveling with a few other girls; you can take one of Ujuro’s knives on your way out, just in case.”

Seiko only nodded, even if she wasn’t entirely willing to leave. As soon as Mikka left the room and closed the door again, the voices returned, loud enough to be mistaken for someone in the same room. They entertained her with both ill and pleasant thoughts as she gathered whatever nice things she owned.