On my dream bucket list, I have crossed three items off: getting out of the mansion, having my mother's last name, and owning the Flower House. These things would not be possible without my fiancé's help. It's a bit cringe-worthy to call Mr. Kaiza by that name, but he is my fiancé.
After I got the Flower House, I thought I would be able to be in the place right after, but Mr. Kaiza has given the reasons not to.
Renovating some areas, removing some furniture and some useless stuff. Fixing gates and doors, demolishing some plants, and reviving the garden. In actual fact, I could be staying there during the renovation. Instead of being troublesome alone, full of the stranger workers, I might be in danger. Moreover, if anything could happen to me, I would stay in a Bamboo House with him instead and leave the professional to do it for me. But he confirmed that all the decorations and everything would be done as I requested. What to keep and what to toss.
Yes, that was all Mr. Kaiza has told me. He's too direct sometimes but it's true. I couldn't do anything to help the house, only watching and giving the invisible supports. And the important reason that he has told me was Mr. Saya, his grandfather might be sad if I leave him too soon. He's expecting me to go to the association with him from time to time. So, that was it. I still live in the Bamboo House with my fiancé.
And I noticed that he comes home earlier than normally, in time for dinner. And I found myself surprised that he started to be interested in my activities these days.
The Tea room
A shortening table about 3 feet long is in the middle of the room. My personal maid has arranged the tea set and the tea equipment, including all different kinds of new and old herbs and the usual types I used to make before.
I'm facing the open balcony to see the empty training yard. My personal maid is sitting on the corner of the table, giving me space from the table and also for me. There is one audience member in the room, whom I could call the guest, but he's more of a mannequin who gives me a compliment at the end of the show.
"..."
The silence of the awkwardness that Mr. Kaiza provides in this room doesn't bother me at all, but for my personal maid, perhaps.
I'm taking a few tea leaves and laying them on a cutting board. Using a knife, chop them gently and then mince them very small for mashing and crushing to be almost like dust but visible. And I probably do not have that much talent to turn them into a fine powder or neat, but they're proper enough to be melted in hot water for a nice tea for someone.
"Are you going to keep staring at me like that, Mr. Kaiza?"
I open the silence.
"I don't want to interrupt your focus."
"You've been here with me for 3 days already...but you don't talk with me at all...Are you just enjoying watching me? Or evaluating my skills?"
I ask and glance at him.
"I want to be with you."
Is he serious?
"Lady Zephyra!"
I almost spill the hot water, and my maid hurries to see.
"Are you alright?"
But Mr. Kaiza comes to me first.
"...I'm...I'm okay, Mr. Kaiza."
I answer him while he's holding my hand.
"I'll pour out the water a bit so you can still taste the rich flavor of the leaves."
I explain and try to pull my hand back from him.
While I'm trying to fix the drink, my maid hesitates to come in between me and Mr. Kaiza. But she manages herself to get to me on the other side and wipes up the wet area. I swirl the tea gently, and finally, the drink is done. I step back a little so I can face the man beside me.
"Here, Mr. Kaiza, if you don't mind. Will you try?"
I offer my new drink to him politely.
"..."
He raises his hand to hold the teacup. He admires my drink in his hands.
When is he going to drink
"It's better to drink before it gets cold."
I say to him.
"Ah..."
And he takes a couple of swallows.
"Ha.."
"How is it?"
I ask.
"..."
He doesn't answer and drinks it again.
"You don't have to be too courteous. You can tell me the truth."
"That's...amazing."
He answers me after he finishes his drink.
"Hm?"
"It's the truth. How come you can make the sweet taste from the bitter leaves?.."
"...love"
"!!"
His eyes are wide open, and he looks at my face with a startled look, but other people probably can't tell the difference.
"When you do something, you put your focus on it, taking your time and enjoying the little details of the process. Love will come out without even realizing it."
"..."
"And because I'm making it for you. I want to do great."
I continue and then smile for him.
I watch him raise his right hand and put it on his chest.
"...Thank you."
It takes a couple of seconds for him to say.
"Are you alright? Mr. Kaiza."
"Yes, I'm more than alright. I'm delighted."
"Ah..."
I make a sound and take his sweet expression all in.
"Mr. Kaiza...I'm afraid if you come here and watch me...you will get bored."
"No..."
"How about we find something to do together."
"...Yes"
"Is there anything you like to do with me?"
"Um…I think I'm not able to do that right now."
"It can be next time."
"No...I mean...we have to get married first."
He's staring at me while responding.
"!!!!"
The maid drops some equipment after hearing him say.
"I apologize, Lady Zephyra...Mr. Takaki.. I clean...up fast."
She quickly apologizes with her red face.
What is it?
"..."
"If it takes that long, how about something else?...anything you like?"
I ask.
"...Do you play go?"
"A little...then next time you're free, we play it together?"
"Yes...I would love that."
What a lovely day to go for a walk in town once in a while. I take myself to the local market because I can't find this type of food in the Bamboo house, and I am with my personal maid. She's timid and cute, always concerned and considerate about everything involving me. Actually, Mr. Kaiza suggested that I go outside the Bamboo house to take a break from the activities around the Takaki area, and it is best for me to see something cheerful in the city.
"Zephyra?"
"...?"
I turn my head to see.
"Serena."
I call her pretty names, like the owner. She still has long, wavy hair, and she is wearing a glamorous dress.
"I've never thought I'm going to see you here."
She says.
"..."
"Shopping by yourself?"
She asks.
"With my maid."
"I see. You look finely beautiful."
"You too, as always."
I speak the truth.
"Do you have time for a little chat?"
"..."
We are at the park. I told my personal maid to take a break by shopping for herself or eating some sweets while waiting for me.
Serena is sitting on the bench next to me. She bought me an ice cream cone, and she is having one, too.
"You're a totally different person."
She opens the conversation.
"How's that?"
"Feelings… he treats you well?"
"Why do you look surprised?"
"It's none of my business. If he treats you well, then good, but...from my perspective, he doesn't seem to be that kind of person."
"Are you going to say that he's faking? or do you just think that no one is going to genuinely be nice to me?"
"First one."
"And why do you care?"
"I don't know, Zephyra. Guilts? Your mother… She was nice to me. She treated me like I'm her daughter, like…genuinely from her heart...and I think telling you this might help you now or in the future, more or less or not at all."
What is she trying to do here?
But,
"Enlighten me then"
I tell her.
"..."
"You think Achlys is the maddest? No, your fiancé is."
"I've never seen him in that way about your brother."
"Yes, of course. He's only nice and kind to you. But he works or does his business, which is something else. You might not believe me, but he tried hard to help you, Zephyra."
"..."
"That's not the point. The point is Takaki is the cruelest of them all. Their work is different from ours. It's way harsher."
"Their business is theirs just like father's business is his. I never want or care to get in that world."
"Are you sure it's a good idea? You've seen what happened. You knew nothing and tried to act ignorantly, but everything ran back after you. Didn't you notice the way father behaved around him?... I think you can tell you're not stupid. You were just ignorant about it."
"Are you talking about yourself? I acknowledged it and tried to save my life from it, but...you knew it and acted like nothing happened."
"..Yes, but I am not you..."
Is she trying to say that she's Serena, the first beloved daughter, and I am Zephyra, the unwanted daughter?
"Don't you want to know a person who you live with? And maybe soon enough, you have to get into bed with him."
"!!"
"Zephyra...you acknowledged it and tried to save yourself from it, but it was harder and harder because you didn't know anything about Father. You cared and focused only on what you wanted. And if you just open your eyes and look around, all the information that could help you go further might not end with the same ending."
"Why are you telling me now, Serena?"
"The engagement, the agreements, the business, everything. I don't want you to spend the rest of your life with someone that you were trying to run away from. I'm trying to tell you the way out...Since I know that you are very stubborn in getting what you want, it is surprising and intimidating to me. You do whatever it takes to make your life happy.. or at least what I think."
Happy?
"..."
"You want to enjoy your life, right? I know you want to return to your hometown and live there. You still can. But the phrase you do you, me do me doesn't help you anymore… at least try to see deeper about your fiancé. I don't need to say much because I don't know much, but you, you live with him.."
"..."