Chapter 31: Chapter 31

The walk to my home was brief. I should have left sooner though. I will be late meeting my father and I know this will not make him happy. I was surprised when Io came out as I was digging this morning. I thought that I was. Doing the job quietly and she would just be surprised when she saw the sapling with my note attached. I was happy to see her. It felt as if all the weight I have carried on my shoulders away from her finally lifted at her excited embrace. To think that I almost ruined it by telling her how to keep herself safe still baffles me.

I rush up to my room and disrobe quickly. I put on a clean one and wash my hands in the water basin. Then I am out the door and briskly walking to my father’s office. When I arrive, his people are moving about as if they have begun long ago. I sigh as I walk into his office to see him at his seat going over parchments with one of his workers. He raises his eyebrows when he catches my gaze as if in question to where I have been. I wave and quickly remove my gaze from his hoping that when he is finish we will not talk about the subject.

As usual I go to gaze out the window at the people milling around below. It looks like today will be another boring day just like the first. At least it is only two more days I think to myself.

“Draco” my father calls. I turn my head toward him quickly. His town of voice sounds as if it was not the first time he called my name. “Leave us” he says to the man holding the parchments. The man looks between me and my father and almost sprints out the room. My father’s face is slightly reddened. I must have been lost in thought and ignored him. I blush at his stare. “What has gotten into you?” You almost bellows.

“I’m not sure what you mean ba. I’m fine” I answer.

“Look at me Draco” he says gesturing to himself. So, I do. I take in his dark hair that is always slick blacked. I see his robing which is colored brown today but is always rimmed in gold thread. I see is wooden geta that also have sparkles of gold in them. I look back to his face and see his dark eyebrows raised and his purses lips.

“You look normal. Am I missing something” I ask.

He shakes his head at me and goes to take a seat. “Yes I look normal. I would say put together. You however have smears of dirt of your face. Your hair is in complete disarray, and you even tracked dirt into my office. You also have bags under your eyes and every time I get your attention you are lost in thought. Again, I ask What is your problem?” He insists.

“Oh, I have no problem ba. I just woke up late is all. It has been a long week” I lie to him. He sighs and sits back.

“We have had the same week my boy. It has been long, but your mood has been this way for weeks. I know yesterday was a scare, but I am fine. We can talk about that at home. I want to know what is bothering you and I want the truth Draco” he demands.

I squirm in my seat suddenly uncomfortable. I did not realize how much being away from Io was effecting me. It is not something I want to tell him about though. He has not even discussed what goes on with Shee and her family. Perhaps I can suggest an exchange of information. I have to tell him something.

“Well, I want to tell you but I’m not sure how you will take it. So, before I do can I ask if there has been any progress with Shee the daughter of Xiyi and canceling the arrangement”? I ask

“That’s what this is? You are still worried about your pending nuptials? I promised I would take care of it Draco and I am. I have made offers and received responses. There has been no concrete decision as of yet. You are still set to marry in eight days’ time” he informs me.

I stand up to pace the room. The time has gotten away from me. I should have spoken up about how I felt about the arrangement. I just never imagined that it would go this far with Io. I never thought I could feel this much love for a person let alone want to spend my life with someone so quickly. I pause in my tracks.

“I love her” I mumble to myself. I pull my hair in frustration. What am I going to do.

“What” my father says rising from his chair. “I have just spent almost the better part of two weeks trying to null the arrangement. I cannot just go tell them now you want to marry. We are men of a high station. We are not indecisive Draco” he yells.

“No not her. I love someone else ba.” I sit down in the chair hard. I hang my head and feel dejected. “I guess it doesn’t hurt to tell you now. I have been courting someone else as my bride. I realize that she is the one I want to spend my life with.” I gasp. “Now with this I feel that I will be hurting her. I have led her on and she will be hurt. I don’t want to hurt her.” I whisper.

“When did you have time to meet someone else? I have seen no extra expenses made. Who is this girl?” He asks. He has walked to sit beside me in my seat near the window. I cannot look up at him. I do not want his anger right now.

“I met her at Hanami. The days you asked about when I was returning late. I was going to see her. There are no high expenses because I chose to use my allowances for what I gave her, or I made the items” I tell him.

“Draco” he says. “Eyes up” I look at his face. I swallow at his blank expression. “Why didn’t you say something sooner. I thought you were waiting until we finished the week to court. I don’t know if a decision can be made in time.” He explains.

“I know ba. I am not even sure what to tell her or what to do” I say.

My father gets up to return to his desk. He sits down and looks at the window. I know he is thinking. I have put us both in a bad predicament. I know I may have to honor the agreement we made to Xiyi. I will but I do not want to. I stare at my window but this time there is no longing in the look. I would rather be with Io now that I know we do not have much time left.

“Draco I have made a decision” I look at him and see a grace expression on his face. Inside my chest I feel my heart begin to break at my future with Io. “You will continue the two days you have left here. In the meantime, I will make a trip after to see what I can do to convince Xiyi.” He states. His serious expression is now gone, and he smiles at me. I cannot help but to smile back. “In the meantime. My trip would take at least three days. I would like to meet this girl who has your heart then” he finishes.

“Thank you ba. I am sure she would love that. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you are willing to help” I said.

“Draco, you are my er zi. There is nothing I would not do to see you happy in this life” he says heavily. I nod at him unsure of how to reply to that. “Now since I am helping you. Why don’t you tell me about this girl a bit so we can get back to work” he declares.

“Yes ba. Well, she is from the village. She is different than others. She likes to read and makes me laugh. She is sweet and innocent. She is also unbelievably beautiful. I have never met another like her” I say.

“She sounds like someone I want to meet. I do have to ask if you feel so strongly for the girl why does your spending not show it for your gifts” he questions.

I smile to myself before replying. “It is a request she made. I was to show her that I was after her heart by not using my coin but my heart. It has me working harder than I thought” I answer.

“She does not care of the amount of coin you carry. Does this girl know who you are?” He asks. From his tone I gather he is offended.

“Yes she knows I am you er zi. She does not care. I believe it is because she holds the opinion that coin does not make a man. It is something I treasure about her. I will never be used” I state

“Ah, I know what you mean” he agrees scratching his chin. “This conversation has made me want to meet her even more. However, we must get back to work. There are many items that require my attention if I am to leave for my trip in time.” He states picking up some of the parchments from his desk. “Why don’t you pull up that chair and help me make decisions. It will go faster” he states.

I pull up my chair and look at the first parchment. My arm touches his accidentally as I reach for writing utensil. “Sorry” I say. And he nods. When I look at him in my periphery I see the ghost of a smile on his lips. If I did not know better I would say my father enjoys me spending time with him. I have to think I like it two. I clear my throat and begin reading. Each time I finish a parchment I sit it in his pile of to sign or not to sign. We continue the rest of our day this way.

When it is time to end the day we both go our separate ways. There is a new feeling at the end is this workday. Somehow, I feel lighter now that he knows about Io. Even though I should have thought about the days, I cannot help but feel hope that the general himself has come to my aid.