Not wanting to stare at his eyes any longer, I let go of the parasol and walks towards the boat riding point to indicate my agreement to hear out his proposal. A decision made mostly out of fear of erring as I cannot seem to consistently win in a bout of arguments.
I refuse to come out in defeat.
"I hope you are not simply bluffing to win a woman over because then you would be wasting both our time."
Before I knew it, a person in black follows alongside the ungentlemanly gentleman, his footsteps so silent I didn't even notice his arrival until I turn around. I wonder who he is and how this man was able to convince him to come. If he is some bystander or if he is an acquaintance. Numerous questions come to fill me, but I hold them down.
"You sure have some confidence in your charm. If people didn't know they'd think you're the most beautiful person in the world." Perhaps as retribution for my actions in messing up his tempo during the chess competition, he tease back. 'most beautiful raven.' The usage of the words turns me instantly depressed. 'Most beautiful.' more like most useful.
I merely went to the place where the boat was parked, intending to ride it when I was stopped by the oarsmen. The man behind me caught up and gave him a ticket containing the host's signature whilst also handing me my parasol back. Seeing it, his attitude change almost immediately, bowing to us as well as hastily hurrying us to sit on the boats.
As expected from a boat in a spot that is known for couples touring and romantic view, it is decorated with two seats that faced each other with a desk in the middle, on it is two tall glass containing a traditional drink that is popular in this empire. I taste it and is immediately reminded of eggnog- as if someone took the drink and decided to add a punch with alcohol.
"Why? You don't think I am beautiful?"
I sit down on the boat, on the left side whilst the guy on the right seat, unexpectedly the one who came with him went to stand at the back of the man's seat despite the spaciousness of the sitting area due to the unexpected size of the boat.
Even before the voyage could start, I am already in awe of the beautiful trees on the side of the river, purple jacaranda and red dogwood whose branches inch towards the center and above our heads. Every once in a while wind would come and blow petals in between us. I could see why this place is popular amongst couples. It is rather charming and certainly a romantic background.
"You are. Enough to take my breath away." I stop admiring the scenery and quickly looks at him, this time I am the one close to spilling my drink. He returns my stare and smirks for a second before continuing, "Out of fear."
To compose myself, I took another gulp of the warming drink, relishing the taste of vanilla and cream on my tongue. The man in front of me is weirdly staring at me instead of the view, his back leaning on the chair, with his elbows on the back of the chair and supporting his head. I wonder what is so interesting about me.
"You mean I look frightening?" I ask only to be greeted with silence. A deeper way of reading into his words comes to me but I shrug it away. Maybe, it is just his way of jesting. "What plan did you intend to propose?"
There is simply nothing in between us. Whatever business he proposes is rather puzzling. How does one extend an opportunity to someone they do not have any information on? I started to wonder if he is planning on tricking me into some scheme.
The man in front of me draws out a document from his hands and places it in front of me. I take it before it even reached the table, and quickly scan it. It is a land deed for a property in the capital, something that must've cost quite a sum.
"Work for me. I came to the competition on purpose to scout talents and take them under my wing. I assure you, there will be no regrets in serving me. This property is just the beginning."
'For me.' that word is all it took for me to realize the man in front of me was a man of power. This offer is indeed tempting for me in my current situation. If I could just change my identity and seek refuge under this man's power, I could face the consequences of being rejected by the emperor and not return home to be mocked.
However, it is too risky. For all, I know he could be a villainous organization or a noble orchestrating a rebellion against emperor Joaquin. Both of which I would loathe to be involved with. In other words, he is too suspicious for me to take it seriously with want.
I thought about it for a moment and asks him about the details, however, he refuses to answer my questions until I swore my allegiance to him. A condition that made me all the warier. There is definitely something going on.
"Then, I apologize for declining. I can't simply swear my allegiance without knowing to whom it will be sworn and for what purpose I will be working." Contrary to my expectations the man in front of me faces my reply really well without any fuming anger, though it could be explained by the rationality I saw in his chess moves.
However, when I tried handing him the property deed back, he refuses and make me hold it. A strong wind blew and I increased the strength behind my grip, keeping it close to my chest. Unconsciously, the hand holding my parasol slipped and caused it to fly away.
"If you can't believe me, have faith in the fate of your life. Birds of the same feather flock together, if you are a good seedling I can't be bad right?" This time it was his turn to raise a glass toward me to cheer, "Risk a catastrophe with me, and I will risk my life for you. Don't you think its a good deal?"