Chapter 15

The first breath of Winter sweeps across the valley, bringing with it a chill that nips at Keira's cheeks as she steps outside. Snow blankets the landscape in a pristine white, transforming the familiar surroundings into a Winter wonderland. For Keira, this is an entirely new experience. Growing up within the castle walls, she had never felt the sting of cold air or the crunch of snow underfoot.

Mark ensures that Keira is well-prepared for the season. He presents her with a selection of heavy, dark-colored robes and sturdy boots designed to keep her warm against the biting cold. The robes are lined with thick soft fabrics, providing comfort and warmth, while the boots are rugged and durable, perfect for navigating the snowy terrain.

Keira marvels at her new winter wardrobe, running her fingers over the thick fabric and admiring the craftsmanship. She slips into the robes and boots, feeling a sense of transformation. The weight of the garments is unfamiliar, but the warmth they provide is a welcome comfort. She wraps herself in the layers, adjusting the hood over her head, while tucking her long hair in her robe.

Despite the cozy refuge of their home, Keira's curiosity and commitment to her new friends draw her out into the cold. Each week, she makes her way to the Blue Bar, eager to attend the meetings and spend time with the other women. The journey through the snow is a new adventure, the fresh air invigorating and the scenery breathtaking.

As Keira navigates the snowy path to the Blue Bar, she reflects on her new life. The Winter season brings challenges, but it also offers beauty and wonder. She feels a growing sense of resilience, adapting to the changes and embracing the opportunities that come her way.

Inside the Blue Bar, the warmth and camaraderie of the group provide a stark contrast to the cold outside. The women gather around a crackling fireplace, sharing stories and laughter. Keira finally feels a sense of belonging, her heart warmed by their friendship and support.

Winter in the valley is a season of firsts for Keira. From the gentle fall of snowflakes to the crisp, clear air, each day brings a new discovery. She learns to appreciate the subtle beauty of the season, finding joy in the simple pleasures of Winter. As she adjusts to the cold, Keira understands that her world has expanded far beyond the walls of the castle, opening up to a life filled with adventure and wonder.

Today's meeting is a lively one, as the women share the hobbies and talents that keep them busy and bring joy to their daily lives. Muffy, with her growing infant at home, had taken up tailoring to adapt to her changing body during and post-pregnancy. She proudly displays a few pieces she has altered, the stitches neat and precise.

"I never thought I'd enjoy sewing this much," Muffy admits, a smile lighting up her face. "But it's so satisfying to make something with my own hands, especially now that my body is constantly changing."

Nami, always the quiet one, has found solace in music. She talks about how she and Gustafa have started spending their evenings playing instruments and singing together. Her eyes sparkle with a newfound passion as she describes the bond this new hobby has created between them.

Flora has always dedicated her work in the mines, and doesn't feel the need for a separate hobby. "My job keeps me plenty busy," she laughs, "and I love every minute of it."

Lumina, recently married and glowing with happiness, shares her love for playing the piano. "Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I sit down at my piano and let the music flow. It's incredibly therapeutic," she says, her fingers mimicking the motion of playing keys.

Leia has thrown herself into cooking with great enthusiasm. She describes the joy she finds in preparing fish dishes for her family, her eyes lighting up as she talks about experimenting with different recipes and flavors. "Cooking has become my way of expressing love," she says, beaming with joy. After her experience with the cooking lessons, she has started to favor cooked fish over raw.

Then it's Celia's turn. She sheepishly holds up her latest knitting project, a tangled mess of yarn that bears little resemblance to the cozy scarves and sweaters she had envisioned. "Knitting is harder than it looks," she admits with a wry smile. "I've unraveled this thing more times than I can admit."

The women laugh and offer her encouragement. Keira watches with admiration as Celia explains the difficulties she's faced with certain patterns. Despite her struggles, Celia remains determined to master the craft.

"And now it's Keira's turn to tell us about her hobby," says Muffy, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

Keira, with a light blush spreading across her cheeks, looks around the table at her friends. "Well, I'm not sure if this counts as a hobby," she begins hesitantly, "but I really enjoy watching television while Mark works on the farm. He even brought me a DVD player so I can watch movies whenever I wish. He's so thoughtful."

The women exchange warm smiles, sensing the genuine affection in Keira's voice as she speaks about Mark.

Muffy leans in, her interest piqued. "That sounds lovely, Keira. What kind of shows do you like to watch?"

Keira's blush deepens as she thinks about her favorite programs.

"I don't exactly have a favorite show," Keira says, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "It's all so magical and fun to watch. Each program is a new adventure. But I do have a favorite movie if you'd like to hear about it."

Everyone nods eagerly, leaning in closer to hear about Keira's favorite movie.

"It's calledLegend of Princess Kaguya," she begins, her voice taking on a storytelling cadence. "It's a tale about the princess of the Harvest Lord."

The women circle around Keira, captivated by the promise of a good story.

"The movie goes like this: Once upon a time, the daughter of the Harvest Lord came to Earth from the moon. The kings of Earth found the moon princess named Kaguya to have unmatched beauty and skills with the shamisen. Every king wished for her to become their queen. But the princess couldn't decide on whom to take as her king, so they all competed for her hand. At first, the competition was civil, but the kings grew bitter and declared war on each other. Many people died during the conflict, and the princess could not bear to watch so many people dying over her. So she returned to the moon and sat next to the throne where the Harvest Lord watched. The kings regretted their sacrifices, so they pleaded with the Harvest Lord to send the princess back. But the Harvest Lord saw the greed of the people of Earth, so he never granted their wish, and Princess Kaguya remained beside her father till this very day."

Keira sheds a tear as she says, "It's such a tragic story. A princess couldn't have a husband because greed and hate filled the earth. But I hope that someday peace will come to the earth, and Princess Kaguya can finally find a husband to become her king."

Keira pauses, her eyes reflecting the depth of the tale. The room is silent, everyone hanging on her every word.

"What a beautiful and tragic story," Muffy says softly, breaking the silence. "It must have a special place in your heart."

Keira nods, her expression wistful. "It does. It reminds me of the stories I used to hear in the castle, and it makes me think about the choices we make and their consequences." After wiping her face, she continues, "even though I feel sad that Princess Kaguya could not find her husband, I am blessed that I found Mark."

Nami leans in, her usual stoic expression softened. "It's a powerful reminder of the impact of our actions. Thank you for sharing it with us, Keira."

The women applaud Keira after she shares her love for movies, their smiles warm and encouraging. Muffy claps her hands to gather everyone's attention. "Thank you all for sharing today. It's always wonderful to hear about everyone's hobbies and passions. Let's wrap up for now and meet again next week."

As the women gather their belongings and head towards the door, there are goodbyes and see-you-laters exchanged. Keira and Celia fall into step together, the crisp Winter air nipping at their cheeks as they walk back to their farms.

Celia is focused on her knitting, her brows furrowed in concentration. The needles click rhythmically as she tries to form a pattern, but her frustration soon becomes evident. "This is harder than I thought it would be," she mutters, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

Keira glances at her friend with a sympathetic smile. "You're doing great, Celia. Learning something new is always a challenge at first."

Celia lets out a sigh and holds up the half-formed scarf. "I just wanted to make something special for Toby and Marlin. But nothing seems to come out right, no matter how hard I try. This specific pattern just gives me such a hard time."

Keira can't help but think about her friend's frustration with knitting. With a sudden burst of inspiration, she decides to see if she can help.

"Celia, would you mind if I tried knitting the part you're struggling with?" she asks, a gentle smile on her face.

Celia, taken aback but curious, hands over the needles and yarn. "Sure, Keira. Let's see what you can do."

Keira takes the needles and yarn, her fingers deftly working through the intricate pattern. Celia watches in amazement as Keira's hands move with impressive speed and precision. It's clear that Keira has mastered the craft well ahead of time. The rhythmic click of the needles fills the air, and within a few minutes, Keira hands the knitting back to Celia.

"I've completed the harder part of the pattern for you," Keira says with a smile. "Now you can continue practicing with the easier sections."

Celia examines the knitwork, her eyes widening in astonishment. The stitches are perfect, each loop and twist meticulously crafted. There isn't a single mistake to be found. "Keira, this is incredible! How did you learn to knit so well?"

Keira blushes modestly. "My mother taught me while I was growing up in the castle," Keira says, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

"Really?" Celia responds, her eyes wide with surprise. "I had no idea queens could even do this!"

"You see, Celia, normally a queen would never engage in such activities. Her duty is to the kingdom, and she must prioritize the people over herself. But my mother was not a normal queen."

"Really?" Celia repeats, clearly intrigued.

Keira nods, a small smile playing on her lips. "Before my mother married my father, she was a commoner who worked in her family's fabric store. They were skilled artisans, crafting goods for traders from neighboring kingdoms. Because of that, my mother knew how to sew, knit, and craft many accessories sold to traders and warriors."

Keira's gaze shifts towards the sky, a wistful look in her eyes as if hoping her parents are watching her from the heavens. "My father could have married a noblewoman, a lady of the palace who was born and raised to be a queen. But when it came time for him to choose his queen, he had no interest in marrying someone of nobility. So he traveled the kingdom, searching for his perfect bride. That's when he met my mother and invited her family to the castle. Once he was crowned king, my mother became the queen of the Hanabishi kingdom."

Turning back to Celia, Keira's expression becomes serious. "Please do not tell Mark about this. I would feel ashamed as his wife if he knew I had these skills. In the castle, queens were forbidden to have hobbies, but my mother continued to practice her skills in secret. She taught me everything she knew so I would be able to entertain myself when it was my turn to rule as queen."

"Keira, don't be like that. Times are different now, and you can do whatever you want," Celia says gently, her eyes full of encouragement. "In fact, Mark would be happy to know you know how to do this stuff."

"You really think so?" Keira asks, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Celia nods emphatically. "Absolutely. I think you should make as many goods as you can. Who knows? These skills might benefit you both!"

Keira mulls over Celia's words, her mind racing with possibilities. She has kept the hobbies her mother taught her hidden for so long that she never considered their potential impact in her current life. The nervousness about revealing these skills to her husband still lingers, but Celia's words resonate with a newfound clarity. Mark has never given her grief about anything she has done in the past. He has always been supportive and understanding.

She hopes that this will be the same, that he will allow her to be more creative with her spare time. The idea of contributing to their household in a new way, of sharing a piece of her past and her mother's legacy, fills her excitement.

The next day, Mark wakes early and begins his routine around the farm, tending to the crops and animals with practiced ease. The crisp Winter air nips at his cheeks, but he works diligently, ensuring everything is in order. Once his chores are complete, he heads to the mailbox to check for new requests from the villagers.

As he goes through the requests, noting down the items needed, he makes his way to the storage shed to gather the goods for delivery. However, as he opens the door and steps inside, he immediately notices something amiss. The shelves that should be brimming with stored items are significantly emptier than he remembers. Many of the gemstones and freshly sheared wool are missing.

Mark scratches his head, perplexed. He mentally retraces his steps, trying to recall if he had moved the items to another location. Deciding to double-check, he heads back to the house to inspect the storage chests. Opening each one, he finds them all empty, confirming his suspicions that the items are indeed missing.

At first, Mark considers the possibility that Murray, the notorious scavenger of the valley, might have been involved. But then he recalls that Murray hasn't been around the farm for a while. Just in case, he decides to ask Keira if she has noticed anything unusual.

Mark knocks on the door to Keira's room. "Come in," she says. As he steps inside, his eyes widen in shock. The room is filled with an array of colorful yarns, threads and beads crafted from the gemstones Mark had collected, all meticulously organized. Various crafted goods are scattered around, showcasing Keira's handiwork. He immediately recognizes the wool and gemstones from his storage, transformed into beautiful pieces of art.

Keira notices his stunned expression and panic floods her face. She quickly sets down her knitting needles and rushes over, her words tumbling out in a frantic apology. "I'm so sorry, Mark! I didn't mean to use so much of your supplies. I was just trying to be helpful and—"

"Keira, calm down," he says softly. "I'm not upset."

Keira blinks, her panicked expression slowly shifting to one of confusion. "You're not?"

Mark shakes his head, a warm smile spreading across his face. "No, I'm not. I just didn't know where everything had gone. But now that I see what you've been doing, I'm amazed. These are incredible, Keira."

As Mark continues to sift through the collection of items Keira has crafted, his fingers brush against something that stands out. He picks up a finely woven rope made from wool yarn, its surface adorned with intricately threaded beads of fluorite. The beads catch the light, creating a captivating play of colors that dance in his eyes.

"What is this?" he asks, curiosity piqued.

Keira smiles, her eyes lighting up with fond memories. "It's a hair tie," she explains. "In my kingdom, these are given to warriors by their wives. It's a charm for luck in battle and a reminder of what they have waiting at home."

Intrigued, Mark looks at the delicate craftsmanship, appreciating the care and detail that went into creating it. "That's beautiful," he says softly. "How is it worn?"

Keira steps closer, her fingers gently taking the hair tie from his hands. "Let me show you," she says, her voice warm with excitement. Mark takes a seat on Keira's bed, wondering how he will look wearing the hair tie. She reaches up, gathering together his hair and carefully ties the rope in place.

As she steps back to admire her work, a giggle escapes her lips. "You look quite the warrior," she teases, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Mark's attempt at a ponytail is more of a tuft, the hair tie looking somewhat comical on him.

Mark removes the hair tie, then laces it down and picks up another item from Keira's collection. This one catches his attention immediately—a small, red packet-like charm adorned with agate beads that chime melodiously when they collide. He examines it closely, the intricate details and craftsmanship mesmerizing him.

"What is this?" he asks, his curiosity deepening.

Keira steps closer, her eyes softening as she looks at the charm. "That's a maternal charm," she explains. "It's a popular talisman for women who pray for the healthy birth of their children. Once the child is born, a piece of the placenta is placed into the packet, and the talisman is taken to a temple where mothers pray for the health and safety of their children."

Mark looks at the charm with newfound respect, understanding the depth of its significance. "That's incredible," he murmurs, turning the charm over in his hands. "I had no idea such traditions existed."

Keira nods, her expression thoughtful. "It's a beautiful custom," she says softly. "It represents a mother's hope for her child, a way to ensure their well-being and happiness."

Mark looks around the room, taking in the myriad of items Keira has crafted with such meticulous care. Each piece has a story of her heritage, a window into the rich culture of her people—a culture nearly lost to the ravages of war. The room feels alive with history, each item whispering tales of traditions and customs long forgotten by most.

He turns to Keira, a question forming in his mind. "What do you plan to do with all these?" he asks gently, gesturing to the array of handcrafted goods.

Keira looks around the room, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "I don't know," she admits softly. "I never really thought about it. I just… made them. They remind me of home, of my family and our traditions."

Mark nods, understanding the sentimental value these items hold. But an idea starts to form in his mind. "Well, what if we sell them?" he suggests. "You could keep the money from the sales. I can drop them in the shipping bin, and the shipper will handle the rest."

Keira looks at him, surprise and a hint of excitement flickering in her eyes. "Do you really think people would buy them?" she asks, her voice tinged with hope.

"Absolutely," Mark replies with confidence. "These items are beautiful and unique. They tell a story, your story. I'm sure people would love to have something so special."

Keira takes a moment to consider his words. The idea of sharing her culture with others, of letting pieces of her past find new homes, fills her with a sense of purpose. "Okay," she agrees, a smile spreading across her face. "Let's do it."

Together, they carefully gather the items, handling each piece with the reverence it deserves. Mark marvels at the craftsmanship, the intricate details that speak of a time and place far removed from their current life.

Once they've collected everything, they head out to the shipping bin. The crisp winter air nips at their cheeks, but the excitement of their new venture keeps them warm. They place the items in the bin, each piece a small part of Keira's history ready to be shared with the world.

As they stand by the bin, Mark wraps an arm around Keira, pulling her close. "You've done something incredible here," he says, pride evident in his voice. "I can't wait to see how people react to your work."

Keira leans into him, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions—pride, hope, and a renewed sense of connection to her roots. "Thank you, Mark," she whispers. "For believing in me, and for giving me this chance."