Chapter 37: Chapter 37
Everything has to be perfect today. I find myself in such a giddy mood I know that it is affecting everyone in my home. Today Io will be coming for dinner to meet my parents. I have had the servants pick flowers from my mother’s gardens and set them around the house to give it a sweet aroma. I also had the chef prepare some of the smoked meats with rice and vegetables. For dessert we will be having a variety of mochi sweets. As I look at the position of the sun outside the window my stomach churns with nervous energy that she will be arriving any moment.
I head to the dining room to check on the placements and ensure everything is ready. When I am satisfied with what is done I see my parents coming down the stairs in matching kimonos. They have decided to wear the kimonos that symbolized the water that my mother uses to heal. Both of them are draped with lines of gold to show our wealth. I chose to wear a simple dark blue kimono with the family crest in gold over my right pectoral muscle. Once they reach the bottom of the stairs a servant at the front door announces that she is here.
She wears the kimono that I gifted her that resembles the setting sun. She has perfected the parted buns that hold her kanzashi. She looks so beautiful coming toward me it is almost like she floats. I place a kiss on her cheek as she blushes.
“Hello Draco” she greets.
“Hello Io, and welcome to our home. This is my mother Kawa, and this is my father Santo-San,” I say introducing them as I gesture. She bows at them both to show respect. She grabs my hand tightly when they step forward and I can feel her nervousness. I rub circles on the back of her hand to try to soother her.
“Welcome my father says. I have heard much about you and look forward to getting to know you” my father greets. He gestures toward the dining room, and we all walk toward it. Inside I pull out Io’s chair as my father does so for my mother. With a snap of his fingers the servants rush in to start serving the meal.
“You have a lovely home” Io says.
“Thank you. One must take pride in where pride in where they live. For a home represents who a person is entirely” my father says. I resist rolling my eyes at the obvious statement to our wealth while Io nods at his statement. “Might I say, I have never seen you around our village.” My father says by way of conversation.
“Well, I have only ever visited this village for Hanami. It is where I met Draco for the first time” she responds.
“Ah, so you must be from a nearby village. Which of our neighbors do you come from?” my father asks.
“I am from the paddy village just over the hill. I stay with my father there.” She responds after she is done chewing.
“You are a paddy field worker!” My mother nearly bellows. I can see her face turning red. My father’s mouth gapes open. He rushes to clear his throat and control his expression. I do not meet his eyes as I play with the food on my plate. I knew once he knew her village he would have a strong opinion.
“Yes, my father and I both work the fields. It is really not all bad. Somedays the work is easy, and we don’t work until the sun goes down” Io goes to say sensing the tension in the air.
At her answer everyone suddenly gets really interested in the food on their plates. The room goes so silently the only sound you hear are the cutlery gathering the food from the plates. I grab Io’s hand under the table rubbing my fingers on hers to try and soothe her worries. My mother’s face is still red across the table. My father looks as if he has eaten something distasteful and I know it is not the food.
“Draco, why don’t you come and join me for a drink in my study. We can leave the woman to get more acquainted” he offers.
A part of me really does not want to leave Io with the way the evening has gone but I know my father’s tone offers no refusal. I kiss her cheek and stand to follow him to his study. When I glance back before leaving the room I see that Io has gone a bit pale. I send her a reassuring smile. My mother is usually the voice of reason in our life, and I know she will make her feel at home. On the way to the study, we nod as we pass a few servants. My father has remained quiet on this brief walk. Inside I stew knowing what is to come. In his office he walks to his crystal decanter set and pours two glasses of a reddish liquid. He hands one to me as he sips his own.
Smelling the drink, he has given me I get a strong aroma of grapes. I take a sip and clinch my jaw against the bitter flavor. From the smell I thought it would be sweet. I quickly swallow it and just hold the cup. I do not want more of the flavor.
“It is an acquired taste. I find that after years of tasting it I have come to enjoy the flavor. You do not have to finish it if you do not like it” he says. I sit the glass on the cart so he knows I will not be finishing it.
“Ba, before you dismiss Io because of her station, I need you to know she is not like other girls. It is not about the coin for her or my station. She loves me for who I am just as I love her” I say with a deep conviction.
“How can you be sure Draco. You do not know the lengths that people will go to just to be in our station. What has she done to prove to you that she is not after our riches”? He questions.
“She has never asked me for anything. Everyone else has always wanted a favor or for me to purchase them something. They have never cared about what I thought or what I wanted. She cares for me. She would not even allow me to spend my coin on the courting gifts I gave her. She values what I give her even if it is made from my own hand. I did not even spend a tenth of my allowance on the items I purchased for her.” I state.
“You are sure that she is who you want? This is the girl you love. The one you think deserves my father’s ring?” he ask finishing his drink.
“More than anything ba. She is who I chose. She is the only one worthy to wear the ring.” I inform him strongly.
“Well, I am glad that you have found her son. Now there is something that we need to discuss. Why don’t you have a seat now” he says gesturing to the other chair in his study. “I kept my word and I too the journey to talk to Xiyi. I regret to inform you that it did not go well.” He cautions.
“What do you mean it did not go well” I snap.
“Shee has stated that she does not want to marry you in five days’ time like we had arranged. However, her father is set on seeing her married to you. When I negotiated he proceeded to name an amount of coin I am unable to have ready by the day” he ventures. “When I told him what I was willing to give, he refused my offer. I truly am sorry Draco” he pleads.
I sit all the way back in the chair and slump. My eyes water at the thought of having to marry someone I do not love now that I have Io. What am I to say to her. I have already given her the ring. The marriage has been consummated. I cannot do this.
“This can’t happen ba. I have already given Io the ring. We have consummated the commitment of marriage. She will be my bride. If not then I have shamed her. If I go through and marry Shee she will never speak to me again. I will lose her” I say
He is quiet for a moment as he takes in what I say. When I told him we had consummated the marriage already he say higher in his seat. He almost looks as lost in this situation as I feel.
“You are young Draco. I can tell you from experience that it is easier to go through life when one is shamed versus many. If you end your relationship with this girl she may be shunned from your actions. You may convince her to become one of your concubines after you wed if you feel she can handle that role. However, if you do not marry Shee our entire family will be shunned. All of your brother, sisters, me, your mother, and you. You have to do what is right my boy. Tell her soon” he commands.
I nod to him unable to speak. I wipe my face and stand to leave. When I reach the door I turn to him and say, “I will do right by our name, but know that from the decision you made, I will never be happy.” With that statement I head toward the dining room to go and break Io’s heart. I truly hope that someday she can forgive me.