Ivalo

(you are a girl)

"Why didn't you take an umbrella? If you had told me, I would have come and got you."

You lived in the imperial court, it was very beautiful - flowers no bigger than ponds everywhere. But everything was surrounded by one high wall that closed everything off. You worked as a servant for a concubine, so you had to go to school, so to speak, to learn letters and learn to write and read. You loved to study, so you always went to school with joy.

A year later, you had become quite accustomed to your work, but when the emperor came to your concubine's chambers—Yawalo, why did everything change?—he paid attention not to the concubine, but to you, an ordinary servant. He was very tall, his body was strong, his hair was long and gray, his gaze always tired but clear. His clothes were always well-groomed, just like him.

Today you went to school again without an umbrella, even though you knew it would rain. The girl was a good student and excelled at it, so she was praised more than anyone else. As you were returning to the concubine's quarters, it suddenly started to rain. You didn't have an umbrella, so you walked faster, but suddenly the rain stopped, and someone's kimono was above you. When you turned your head, you saw an angry Yavalo with his eyes closed.

• Why didn't you take an umbrella? If you had told me, I would have come and picked you up - he said in a hoarse voice from sleep.

"your actions?"