(Third person POV- Omniscient)
It was the time they leave as the carriages were standing before them. The Duke had personally came to see them off.
Hiroshi and the Duke were conversing in themselves while the others were getting them goodbyes.
But Miku's eyes were on Hiroshi.
Her eyes narrowed down at Hiroshi as she looked him thoroughly from his head to toe.
Her heart thumped as he laughed with the Duke and Hibiki.
But her mind was distracted by only one question.
Out of all the people, why him?!
He was rude, had no restraint in his mouth, didn't know how to talk with a Lady and had a lazy personality. He wasn't an ideal person at all! Compared to him, Duke and the others were far more sophisticated and elegant. They had mannerisms, class and style.
Her eyes fell on the Duke and his men. Everyone no doubtly handsome and very much knight-like and then her eyes moved toward Hiroshi. Her heart was a mess.
Her heart would only respond when her eyes fell on him.
'That's so stupid, heart! Don't ever think of him! He's out of my league!' she scolded her heart in her mind.
He certainly was out of her league.
Once again, she eyed Hiroshi and as he smiled at Hibiki, she realised, he wasn't bad looking at all.
He was well reputed, well mannered, liked by all even with his childish and playful personality. Everyone knew him and they respected him. It wasn't because he was the right hand of the Prince.
They respected him for who he was. If she saw him thoroughly, he was far more sophisticated than everyone in that group of men.
She even saw his swordsmanship. He was excellent. He even led Hana and Kairo without worrying about the outcome. He was a good leader and his subjects trusted him with their eyes closed.
He certainly was out of her league...
She was a lowly woman who steal food and money in secret to keep her siblings alive. She had no title nor she had any property.
The house where they have been living until now would be snatched away by the new Lord in a few months. After that, she would be called a homeless peasant or a notorious thief.
She looked away and thought, maybe that was best for her since she didn't deserve a well reputed man like him. He was out of her reach.
With the thought, she went inside the carriage.
On the other hand, Hiroshi was feeling a cold sweat as that lady had been glaring at him all these while.
Why was she glaring at him? Was she planning to steal the sword again? Or maybe cursing him in her mind until she get his possessions.
"Well now, we will be taking our leave." Hiroshi said as Hibiki and others nodded.
The Duke gave a curt nod and said, "Tell my prince that I will be there in two days."
Hiroshi nodded and asked, "What about the other response?"
The Duke thought for a moment and said, "I'm afraid, I have to ask the princess first then deside. Personally, I have no problem but I don't want to force someone. I believe my prince is also doing all of this for women so we should consider their opinions first."
Hiroshi was pleased with his answer and nodded. "Then, I suggest you can go and spent time with the princess. It would be best if you know her first. And of course, her opinion matters."
Duke Ginjiro smiled as Hiroshi asked, "So, I get your answer is still a no?"
He said, "Yes. It's a no. For now."
Hiroshi nodded and went toward the carriage. As he entered, Miku sat far away from him as if he would contaminate her with a strange disease.
He gave her an annoyed look and asked, "What's your problem?! You've been glaring at me."
She looked at him, her eyes were red and large bags had taken residence under her eyes. It seemed she couldn't sleep all night. Her mood seemed sour and her eyes were again glaring at him. She said with a cold and sour voice, "Nothing..."
Hiroshi scowled. "Are you that angry because of the last night?!"
"No..."
"Then what is it?!" Hiroshi was getting irritated with her giving him cold shoulders. She wasn't even looking at him. She was just looking everywhere but him as if she was avoiding him. And not only that, she would get annoyed with him and argue but she wasn't even arguing with him, let alone getting annoyed.
Was she doing it intentionally?!
He was already mad at her for stealing his half of the wages now he was getting more mad because she was avoiding him like a disease.
He murmured angrily, "Whatever!"
The carriages left Doshi and they didn't say anything to each other until a few hours later. When they were finally reaching the outskirts of Komaki.
It was time for Miku to get herself arrested by the knights...
They came out of the carriage but Miku was still looking away and now, she was hiding behind Hana.
"Alright! Time to go back to Shinkyo!" Kairo exclaimed happily and added, "Sister Miku will like it!"
Miku felt bad that they misunderstood everything because of her.
She said, "I'm sorry... But I can't go."
Kairo and Hana were flabbergasted as they asked, "But why?" While Hiroshi looked at her with a straight face.
"Because... nothing happened between your brother Hiroshi and me. He was saying the truth. I'm only a thief. I came there that day to steal both of your swords which were made of a different material. It would have sold with a high price since I have four more mouths to feed." She finally looked at Hiroshi and smiled, "He is actually going to hand me over to the knights since I stole his pouch that day."
"You stole the pouch!" Kairo looked at Miku with wide eyes, "Yet, he didn't even nagged you till now?"
He muttered, "He would pester me all my life if I had wasted one coin of his."
Hiroshi growled, "Don't say it like I'm a stingy person!"
"But you are brother Hiroshi." Kairo said.
Miku chuckled at them and finally said, "I was a noble but not anymore..."
"Which is why I was talking about it with Sir Joshi and the Duke, they seemed to be know about the bad reputation of your family but they hadn't been able to come up with the evidence so it went untouched especially against the new Lord."
Miku nodded.
He added while scratching the back of his neck, "I wasn't going to turn you in..."
She was surprised. "Why?"
"Because you have four mouths to feed. Don't you? It would be bad if I get you arrested and your siblings might curse me till I die and I would be forever bachelor which is worst!" Hiroshi threw her a leather pouch and said, "Anyways, here is your pouch. The one you won after winning the sake competition."
She was shocked as he was letting her go.
Kairo said, "If brother Hiroshi is okay with it, then it doesn't concern us anymore."
Miku smiled and Hana added, "But I really liked to be with sister Miku."
However, it wasn't possible...
Now they had to depart on their own separate ways. Hiroshi nodded at them as both of them went to search for another carriage.
Miku said, "Thank you."
Hiroshi asked, "Why?"
She shrugged, "For not putting me into the cell."
He gave a smile and said, not looking at her, "While we are at it... Why don't you come with us? To Shinkyo?"
Miku was surprised as she asked, "But I don't have much wealth to settle there also, my siblings..." She looked down and said with a shy chuckle, "The only thing I'm good at in stealing..."
He chuckled lightly and said, "Then you can steal how much you like there..."
She looked up and asked, "Why? People in Shinkyo are that generous?"
He shook his head and said with a straight voice, "No. You can steal whatever I have. The amount you stole was actually one third of my payment. I'm pretty much sure, if you can steal the whole amount from me, you might feed your siblings well."
Her heart thumped as Hiroshi looked away and scratched his chin. His ears were red as Miku laughed.
Was it his way of proposing to a woman? It was funny.
She asked, teasingly, "Do all the Kuro soldiers propose to a lady like this?"
He shrugged, "No. I'm special."
Miku nodded but it was certainly a very unique way to propose her like this. If she was a normal lady, she might have gotten angry at how clumsily he proposed to her but it managed to make her impressed instead.
She asked, "And where do we stay? I have four siblings."
"I have enough to allot me a bigger house." He said as he crossed his hands above his chest.
"And why do you want a thief like me?" She asked as her gazes turned down but inside she was really happy.
He said with a smirk, "Because you are a noble thief who stole my heart."
She broke into a laughter as he joined her.
She said, "That was cheezy!"
"But it worked... I hope?"
She nodded and said, "Yes, it did."
And that was how Hiroshi got a woman finally so he wouldn't have to die a bachelor anymore.