We were climbing down to the stairs as we took the forest path. The priest seemed so happy when he found Arashi had come. I glanced at Arashi.
He must be very good at it his work and all I could see everyone's gentle and happy smile around him as if he was a sun and they were all taking his rays to the fullest.
I asked, "How did you learn it?"
"Learn what?"
"The medicines and all those treatments?"
He halted as I followed him. He slowly turned back and his eyes moved down at me, "Curiosity always kills a cat."
"Curiosity always had been killing cats but that doesn't mean the cats would have to stop jumping into the wells." I said but bit my tongue. When did I get my voice?
I gasped at myself. I knew he specifically said not to pry into his personal matters but he hadn't mentioned that to me, had he? He said that to my father. He was mysterious in his own way and it was magnetic. The more he didn't want to tell, the more I got curious and wanted to know everything about him.
"I apologize," I said lowering my head but it made Arashi chuckle a little.
"I didn't tell because I don't like people to spread gossip about it." He said, "You don't have to apologize."
I looked away still feeling shy about my behavior. I had never opened my mouth for anything but lately, I have been feeling more...courageous.
"I learnt it from Lord An Hao."
"An Hao?" I looked at him with a confused face and then I recalled my father's subordinates talking about the person. Lord An Hao was a himalayan priest and he was excellent at his treatment. Before the war there was a pandemic and he and his subjects made an excellent medicine that saved most of the affected people and it also stopped the pandemic to some extent.
"But he must be old by now..."
"He died when I was a trainee under him."
I looked at him with more puzzled eyes. "How—how did you go there? You went to the Himalayas?"
He sighed as he spread his hand at me and poked my forehead. "That's enough for today. You must be tired."
Well, I was but I was more interested to know about him. But as he interrupted, I knew he didn't want to tell me.
"I apologize for asking so many questions." I said with a guilt.
"You have a right to ask me questions. You are my wife."
My cheeks blushed but his voice became hard as he said, "But something should rather stay hidden."
I got my answer at least, so I just nodded. I knew there were some limits but I also knew that not any simple man can go train under Lord An Hao. An Hao was a martial artist and a master of swords. He not only excelled at those, he had also learnt herbal medicines and took it far to cure incurable diseases. He was a really famous person that everyone knew about him, from children to old.
My eyes moved toward Arashi as he was before me walking in pride-filled steps. His each step made me curious. His long nose, sharp eyes, silky hair and his broad shoulders, everything about him screamed something that I could not understand. I wanted to ask him more but I was afraid at the same time to find out.
We walked through the forest as my gaze fell on a place where different coloured leaves and flowers caught my eyes.
I hadn't noticed it when we came before. I went toward the flowers and Arashi followed me.
"Can I have the flowers?" I asked as they were so pretty and sunlight peeking at them through the leaves. It was a mesmerizing sight. The whole vicinity flourished with colors. All different colors that glowed and made the forest so magical as if forest fairies lived here.
He nodded in response.
I picked up many flowers and asked him, "Do you mind if I decorate the flowers in the house?"
I had to decorate my father's house as well. Everyday I changed the withered flowers and replaced them with fresh ones. So, I didn't mind doing the same thing here.
He said, "Yes, do as you like."
I smiled at him as he looked at me with his dark yet gentle eyes that gave warmth. "You don't have to ask me for everything unless it really needs my attention." He smiled as the wind slapped his long hair. "It is your house as well."
For a moment, the wind rushed through me as all the petals flew around us as if to witness my heartbeat that thumped loudly. The surroundings became blurry and my eyes couldn't stop watching his smile. It was the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. I had rarely seen him smiling and the ones I had witnessed were all formal ones.
But this time it made my heart run wild.
"Also," Arashi said, snapping me out of my trance, "I have some flower vases but hadn't used any of those so you can use it."
I nodded stiffly and tried to form my words but failed miserably. "I...use...will..."
He raised a brow.
"I—I mean, I will certainly use them." I nodded frantically as my heart pumped in my ears.
He nodded. "Then I'll have to bring those from the warehouse."
He turned back and said before leaving, "Let's head back otherwise I will be late to come here again."
I followed him to the house but the whole time my heart was beating loudly and a voice rang in my head. 'It is your house as well'.
As we reached, he brought me the vases and I started to fill those while placing the flowers.
Arashi went inside his office chamber where he kept his herbs and medicines. He needed to make the medicines.
I carefully placed the vases near every corner and the places where we won't collide against them. The decoration was finished and the house looked filled with colors. I smiled at my accomplishment.
The pot Mr Hiro had given us, I used it as well and with small poppy flowers, it looked amazing. The buyers were all blind. His every pot made the decoration whole.
Shortly after that, I went to the kitchen and made lunch while he was doing his work. I wanted to ask what he would like to eat but when I peeked at his room, I saw he was too focused on his work and I didn't want to distract him.
While making lunch, I found he had many ingredients but most of them were unused.
I was inquisitive about how he managed to earn that much because in his kitchen, there were all kinds of ingredients available. Cheap one as well as the expensive one. The expensive ingredients were not even affordable for my father's household. Father maybe had a good position but not that much effective to effort the things that used by the higher ups of our society.
I used some of those and kept the rest for any guests since everyone in the village loved Arashi and I assumed, now that Arashi had me, they would want to visit us.
I placed the food and noticed Arashi coming toward the kitchen at hurricane speed.
"I forgot about making lunch." He said but when his eyes landed on the pots and the platters, he added, "You made it?"
I nodded. "You should focus on your work from now on. I can handle the kitchen."
"Thank you." He said and helped me to move the plates to the small wooden table as we sat on the floor.
As we started to eat, I asked, "H—how did you manage to buy the expensive ingredients? I—I was just curious."
"Most of them are from my patients who were happy with my treatment. That way I don't have to buy any ingredients. But it seemed you didn't use those in our meal."
"Yes, I didn't know the amount or how to cook with those so I didn't want to waste it." I said defeated as most of them I had never seen in my life. I did want to make something special but my knowledge on simple meals came out.
"I'll teach you then." He chewed on his food and added, "You cook really well without adding the expensive ones. I bet you will cook just great with adding those."
His statement had me blushing really hard. I was happy with his compliment and shy because no one other than him complimented me before. I just nodded in response and ate in silence.
"So you get everything from your patients?" I tried to drive away my shyness by diverting the conversation.
"Yes, all of this. Many higher ups even gave me uncountable rewards. So I don't really have to work other than looking after them." Then his face held a scowl. "Although they try to recommend me to distant places." His voice almost hissed and I barely could stop myself from giggling. It was as if he was complaining and I couldn't help but find him adorable.
It wasn't long before I started to live with him but watching every kind of side of him made me feel a bit special.