"Who are you?!" Jorel's shout ripped through the kitchen, raw and immediate, startling the few servants present.
The boy, frozen in place, lost his grip. The snacks he'd been holding tumbled from nerveless fingers, scattering across the floor. Jorel, fully upright now, struggled to focus his gaze on the figure before him.
What's he doing here?
I expected to see him, of course.
But not this suddenly!
The boy thought, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
The boy wore a similar shirt to Jorel's, but it was all black, as was his hakama. His hair, long and wavy yet strikingly silky, was also black, and a tiny scar marked his upper lip. Jorel's eyes narrowed, locking onto the twin snakes insignia stitched prominently on the boy's right chest.
"...You're part of the Ujochi clan?" Jorel's voice dropped, tinged with disbelief.
"But I have never seen you before…"
And he can't be a servant… not in those clothes.
