After my grandfather died, the property I live in went onto my name. I had to sign various documents to make the transfer from my grandfather to me. It was quite a long process. Three weeks of searching for different papers, finding old and lost treasures and travelling to the Prime Court for official verbal approval.
However, I do not think I will be able to hold on to the grand mansion for long. A man called Zhao Bohai has had his devilish eye on the mansion for a very long time. Bohai had wanted to buy the domicile so he could make it into a hotel with overly expensive rooms, furniture and food.
I did not like the idea of him just taking people's money as if he was taking cheese from a mouse. I absolutely love the ancient house and for Bohai to take it away was a daunting idea I hoped would not come true. Yet, I believe that I may have contributed to Bohai getting nearer to receiving the mansion.
A couple of months ago, Zhao Bohai had marched into the mansion expectantly as I was helping the maids and butlers with the cleaning.
"Ah~. What a beautiful view it is for me to see on an early morning." Bohai proudly breathed in the fresh air.
"May I help you, sir?" I said, firmly, once I had turned around to face the man.
"I most certainly believe you can. All you need to help me with is obtaining this one-of-a-kind mansion."
"I beg your pardon?" I was taken aback by the sudden proposal.
"Do not worry. You do not have to muse over the paperwork. I will be able to sort something out. Besides, I am a-"
"I have to apologize but, I am afraid, this property is definitely not for sale."
"Is that so?" Bohai seemed to have been shocked for a slight moment at the response but then he relaxed and smiled at the words he had just conjured up inside his mind.
"That is a shame. I really hoped that once your grandfather had died you would no longer have the need to stay in here."
"How dare you?! You think that by barging in here you would be able to promptly take the mansion away with you as if it was water?" I growled.
Bohai had to ponder for a bit before answering.
"Exactly. You really are a clever one, aren't you? Now, if you do not mind, please give me the abode and you will not have to worry about paying for the bills. I will even give you a place in one of the rooms, for free."
"No. Thank you. Since it's a no deal, you can take your confidence and make your way out of here." My voice thundered down on the rough, black haired Bohai that wore a navy blue suit not fit for visiting the type of residence I had.
"Oh." Bohai started to smile, wickedly.
"I do not think so. However, I may have found an alternate solution to buying the mansion." Bohai smiled, almost lazily.
"And what, may I ask, might that be?"
"That gem."
At the words spoken, I glanced down at the necklace I was wearing. The silver chain, slumped over my neck, bore a small jewel with the colour of it being the same as my hair but a bit darker. The gem shone involuntarily as it viewed its surroundings openly.
"I know you don't want me to take the mansion away so instead I'll take the gem. Easy!" Bohai said as if the solution was the best idea he had come up with all year.
"No. I cannot hand you the gem nor give you this house. I am afraid you will have to leave and find another home to buy." I locked my eyes with Bohai's as I collected my words nervously but rather quickly.
"Hmm...I simply cannot do that. I promised myself that I would buy something today from here and I am not leaving until I do. So, you better choose whether it's going to be the house or the gem." Bohai proposed his deal, clearly.
Suddenly, I started to panic. My hands were shaking and the insides of my stomach moved around uneasily.
What was I supposed to do? I did not want to sell the mansion nor give the precious gem Yeva entrusted me with. However, if I did not give anything to this man then he might take it by force.
"Here is what I will do. I will take hold of the gem and you can keep the house but, you cannot sell it and I must be able to come and see the place whenever I please. How does that sound?"
"Uh..." My mind was a whirl. He was speaking too fast for me to yield everything in but after a few seconds, I had an answer ready.
"I...will give you the gem...but you must bring it with you every time you visit, otherwise you would not be permitted to entering the mansion." I breathed shakily.
"Of course," Bohai bellowed out of nowhere which made me jump back a little.
"I intended to from the start. Well, since we have come up to a little agreement, I will swiftly grasp the gem and walk off home, leaving you to..." Bohai looked at the brush I was holding.
"...clean in silent peace." Bohai extended an empty hand at me and beckoned me to willingly skip over and place the necklace in his bare hands.
Sighing with a deflated feeling, I placed the wooden broom, in my hands, next to a small table. Then, I walked sheepishly up to Zhao Bohai, taking the necklace off and holding the gem serenely in a small hand.
"That wasn't difficult, was it?" Bohai grinned with delight, whilst grabbing the Rutile Quartz jewel.
"Well, I suppose I am not needed here anymore. I shall visit the mansion every month, on this date." He looked around as if he was in nostalgia, then he turned and left without another word. Nevertheless, before he slipped out, Bohai placed his hand, not holding the gem, in his suit and dropped a handful of money on a compact table by the window.
After Bohai left I felt very empty and somewhat guilty for giving away a fortune I possessed for quite a while, almost seven years to be exact.
This is why I cannot go to Yeva freely, to purchase a couple of dresses, because Bohai has his hands on the gem. If I don't have the gem then Yeva would possibly not make me the clothes I require and then I would have to go back home with the same green dress I've worn for a month.
However, I hope I get the chance to obtain the gem from Zhao Bohai, even for a little while, when he arrives in a week's time.