Chapter 14: Chapter 14
When we return home after our journey. The evening is quiet. There are just a few rays of sun left in the sky. I turn toward them knowing they will lead me to Io. I know I must see her to explain. After I have taken my first step my father once again ruins it all. “You will not be taking your leave this late in the day. We will be eating supper together and then heading off to bed. Into the home Draco.” He commands.
I place my head down in defeat and do what the general says. Apologizing to Io will have to wait until tomorrow. I head through the grounds and up to my room. I change into normal robes and go join my parents in the dining room. Since father is home, he will sit at one end with my mother. While I sit all the way at the other by myself. When he claps his hands for our food to be set in front of us, I stare at my plate as it is placed before me. Today is fish and rice. This is mostly what Io eats I think to myself. I hope she is enjoying her food. As I lift a bite to my mouth to taste I chew slowly. The food taste off as if it is days old. When I look at my parents, they are eating it simply fine. Perhaps it is me, I think. So, I continue to eat slowly. After a few more bites I am done. I am just not hungry.
“May I be excused” I ask.
“Just a moment, I have something to say” he replies. So, I sit there as he continues eating. I tap my fingers on the table waiting for him to finish. “The visit didn’t go as planned for the meeting of your new bride. I am sure once she realizes all you can offer her, she will come around to accepting the arrangement. Until then we will send your courting gifts as custom permits and you will still attend your studies” he informs me.
“Yes ba.” I answer. When he stands and motions for mother, I know he has nothing left to say. I wait until he leaves and then travel to my room. As I lay on my kang I close my eyes to get some sleep counting anxiously the minutes it will take until I can go and deliver my apology.
The next day does not bring me much hope at first. The weather is wet with rain. On days like this my tutor thinks it is best to learn from copying ancient text. In the teaching room I take a seat at my desk and begin to copy what has been placed before me. Once I am done, I will be asked to present what it is about and then I will be dismissed. I try to hurry along but at some points I get so bored my eyes droop. When finally, I complete it, I rush through my presentation and take my leave.
The weather is still wet, so I pull my hood over my face and walk to Io’s. The normally slow journey is made fast and before I know it, I am knocking on her door. My first knock goes unanswered, so I knock again. When I am about to knock for the third time the door swings open before my fist can connect. I smile as it swings open only to lose that smile when I realize that I look at Homura instead of Io.
“She doesn’t want to speak to you. She doesn’t want to see you.” He says to me. I take in his stance only to realize he looks angry. I try to peer around him, but he blocks my view with his body and places his hands on his hips. I get the message, but I am not ready to let this go. I take a step back and he relaxes a bit.
“I’m just here to apologize, sir” I say with my hands raised in apology. He just stares at my statement. He does not care. He just wants me to leave. “I will go. Would you just tell her that I am sorry? I will be back in two days’ time to try again” I inform him. I turn around to walk back to my village. My eyes meet the ground and my shoulders slump. I cannot believe she would not see me. She must really be hurt. I never meant to cause her pain. I will show her though. In two days’ time I will bring my first gift. She will see that I still want to court her.
I return home early and head straight to my room. As I sit on my kang and think about the events of the day I have so little hope. I wanted nothing more than to see her yesterday. I feel as if a weight sits on my chest and I look around my room and imagine the walls closing in.
There is no one here that I can speak to. No one here that can even help to guide me on how I would begin to make things up to Io. I have a feeling that making her forgive me is not going to be an easy task. However, I know that without her forgiveness I will forever be denied of her presence. I sigh as a knock comes to the door of my chamber.
“Enter” I call out.
My servant Puren comes to bring my food. I can smell the food on the tray and even though the aroma is appealing I halt him with a raise of my hand.
“I am not hungry” I inform him as I stare at my ceiling.
I can sense his stare as he stands beyond the entrance of my room. Normally I would be glad to speak with him but at the moment I don’t want to handle company.
“If I may speak, young Draco?” He ask in a questioning tone.
I wave him on with my hand wanting to get the conversation over with. The sinner he leaves, the sooner I can continue to think. I hear his footsteps come closer and turn my head to see that he stands just a few feet from me.
“It is unlike you to refuse such a fine meal. The chefs have prepared your favorite roast chicken” he says gesturing to the tray he holds. At my uninterested stare he swallows and then speaks once more “I do not wish to over step but if it is a girl problem you face, perhaps I might be of help” he offers.
At is offer I sit up to look at him. He is wearing his usual service garments and looks odd standing there as his eyes keep looking around the room.
“What advice could you offer me about a girl. I have never even see you speak to the ones who are employed here” I question him.
“On the contrary sir. I speak with all woman who work here, including my young bride”he states as a matter of fact.
“You’re married”? I ask in disbelief.
He quickly nods with a smile on his face. I take a closer look at him and see that he is happy about this fact. I was always under the impression that he was barely a few years older than me. He has been my servant nearly all my life and I remember him growing much as I did. I watch as he switches the hand that holds the tray. As his arm goes to his side he swirls his wrist as if it were causing him pain to hold the tray so long.
“Why don’t you sit the tray down before you tell me of your bride. I didn’t even know you had one let alone that she worked here”. I say.
I watch as he sits the tray on the side table in my room before returning to his previous spot a few feet away from me. “Yes, we’ll I am only a few years older than you. So, I understand your surprise. We used to talk a lot more before I took on so many duties to support my family” he says a bot sheepishly.
A flash of guilt runs through me at his words. He is right and I did used to consider him a friend. Lately with my studies increasing and my anger I have forgotten that.
“Well no matter to that. What I wanted to advise you on was about your courting of a young lady. I learned quite a bit when I was courting Xhin” he says with a chuckle.
“What do you mean? Courting is simple. We simply give them gifts and they will agree to marry us” I say thinking of the plan i was forming.
“Well I learned that if you put some thought behind your gifts instead of coin, you fair much better. You see young Draco, a man can run out of coin but he can never run out of ways to prove his love” he says quite seriously.
I ponder his statement and find it to be factual. I’m my lifetime I have seen many men who spent their coin on such lavish items only to lose it all. But what do I know of love? As I ponder the question I watch as Puren moves to grab the try once more. He gestures to it to see if I have changed my mind and I shake my head.
“I will leave you with this since you are refusing your nourishment. An act of love is an act that is done simple for the happiness of the one on the receiving end. Good night young sir” he says with a bow. He rushes from the room and my back falls back to lay down once more. As the evening wanes and my eyes start to drift the only though on my mind is, what could I give her to make her happy?
He takes it away and I retire for the evening.