About

I, who used to spend my days sweeping the palace grounds, was given a new task. It was to attend to the youngest young master. I had heard rumors about him a few times—that he was prickly and blunt, and rarely let anyone get close. I also heard he was so frail that he spent all his time confined to his room. ...I worried whether I could handle him, but I forced a smile to ease my nerves. The Madam personally handed me the meal tray. "Carry it carefully. He really needs to eat something today..." Her words seemed to weigh even heavier on my shoulders. Standing before the young master's room, my heart raced strangely. I straightened my clothes for no reason, caught my breath, and stared at the door again. As I stood there hesitating, a low voice drifted from inside. "Leave." In that moment, my mind went blank. I hadn't even said anything yet... Startled, the words just tumbled out. "But you still have to eat—" Even as I spoke, I had already opened the door. I peeked my head through the gap. There was a boy who looked to be about my age. He was sitting by the window. The sunlight rested thinly on his shoulders, but strangely, his face was pale. And he was thinner than I had imagined. Without even looking at me, he was staring out the window. I told you to leave. In that instant, our eyes met.