Year 1863
Thea supported her chin, glanced at Kay, who had been silent from earlier. Silence was not Kay's character at all. Thea saw him like that if only there was something bothering him.
"Kay, are you sick?" Thea asked lightly.
"No," he replied simply.
"Anything on your mind?"
Kay didn't answer right away. His gaze shifted out of the window.
The morning was sunny.
A sunny morning on a hot summer Sunday.
Kay sighed.
"Shall we ride the horse?" asked him.
Thea immediately stood up, excited.
"Come on! What's the stakes this time?" Thea loved riding, and she never lost a race.
"Nothing. Just stay with me," said Kay.
Even though she was confused, Thea complied. She followed Kay towards the horse stable.
Kay took out his dark horse when he arrived.
That's strange, Thea thought.
Kay always greeted and chatted with June - his black horse. But this time, Kay just pulled it rein silently.
Thea led her own horse out of the stable, following Kay and June.
"You wanna go down to the town?" asked Thea, when she got on top of August, her favorite brown horse.
He sighed, again. "No. I just want to walk around the lake."
"Okay," Thea didn't know what else to say.
All the way to the lake, Kay didn't speak at all. Thea, who was riding behind, finally sighed as well.
Thea stared at Kay's back. The back that had protected her for years, slumped powerlessly.
Come to think of it, she'd never paid attention to him all this time. She and Kay often get together after Kate, Kay's sister, leave them. They both studying and practicing. The two of them knew each other too well. Thea knew Kay's silence this time is definitely a problem.
She spurred August to keep up with June.
"Kay ... say, is there something wrong?"
Thea saw him shook his head.
"Oh ... nothing," he replied in vague manner.
"Or, there's someting wrong with Kate?" Thea asked him again. She didn't know why Kate suddenly leave home seven years ago to the faraway place. When Thea came to this house, she was introduced to her to be her playmate. Despite being awkward and uncomfortable having never been that close in a friendship, they became close. In a sense, Kate always brought her here and there even though Thea didn't like it.
"No, She is fine."
Periodically, they sometimes exchanged letters. But these days, Kate rarely writes anymore and Thea didn't care, actually.
"Come on… don't lie to me! I know something's up."
Kay remained silent. Thea pulled her horse forward and blocked June. "Can't you tell me?" she insisted.
Kay stared at her for a moment, then got off the horse. He tied June to a tree, not far from the lake. Thea imitated him and followed Kay, who had already walked along the edge of the lake.
"Now tell me, what's bothering you?" Thea walked beside him. "You're like a steam boiler, from morning sighing all the time."
"Father…"
Thea flustered. Somehow, she never liked that person. Since she was adopted by Kay's father, Uncle Wilkess, there was something she didn't like every time she looked at his father. Even though her foster uncle was not as good as Kay, Thea still respected him, in another way.
"Uncle, why? What's wrong with him?"
Kay stopped. "Father told me to get married," he said in one breath.
"What?" Thea asked, surprised.
Kay nodded slowly. "I was told to choose the candidate later."
"Later? When will you be later? "
"The day after tomorrow."
"The day after tomorrow? That fast?" Thea still couldn't believe it. "Who? I mean, have you found someone suitable? To be your wife?"
Kay shook his head, again.
"Ooh ... so that was what was bothering you this early?" she grabbed Kay's wrist. "Sit down."
Kay stared at his hand and obeyed in silence.
"Tell me, is there someone you like? Maybe someone in town?"
"No one."
"Or at school?"
"None."
"Or maybe in the hospital?"
Kay stared at her. "Do you also intend to match me with someone?"
Thea grimaced. "It is not like that. I intend to lighten the burden on your mind. Who knows there is someone you like and I know her. "
"Even if I like her and you know her, I won't ask for your help." Kay flicked her forehead.
Thea frowned. "Is there really no one you like? Or… you really don't like girls?" she asked, suspicious.
Come to think of it, she never saw Kay close to any woman. Except for the two sisters of the Roggens family who clung like leeches wherever Kay was.
"Could it be ... you like the Roggens family siblings?" Thea looked at him in horror.
"Don't look at me like that. Better I like you than them!" Kay pushed Thea's cheek, making the scar in her nape visible.
Thea hurriedly turned away, covering it with her hand.
...
Kay was busy thinking about how to avoid afternoon tea the day after tomorrow, but the girl next to him was busy asking who he likes, and suddenly mentions the Roggens family name.
Kay shuddered. He did not want to imagine what if one of them became his wife.
"Don't look at me like that. Better I like you than them! " Kay intended to avert Thea's terrified gaze from him. Accidentally making Thea's burn scars lead to him. Kay's feelings got worse when she saw Thea rush to cover it.
"You don't have to, Te ..." Kay took her hand away. Kay knew that the girl didn't want other people to see her scar. "At least there's no need for that in front of me."
Thea smiled. "I don't know, I still don't like other people staring at it."
"Am I other people?" asked Kay, displeased.
"Of course not! You're my family. The most precious person to me," she said, earnestly.
Kay smiled. "That's why ... there's no need to be like that."
Both of them were busy with their respective thoughts until they didn't realize the sun was getting higher, making their body start to stifle.
"We'd better go back. I think Mr. Hawks will be looking for you soon." Kay stood up.
Thea grumbled. She forgot there was an appointment to learn etiquette today.
Study and study.
Uncle Wilkes always made her study.
"Is today's appointment irrevocable?"
"Can't do. Father wants you to be a great woman. I think that's a plus in the eyes of your future husband."
Thea glared. "The one who will be arranged is you. Don't try to drag me into it! "
Year 1853Xander looked at the girl who walking away. As far as he could remember, the girl had just arrived in this orphanage this week. She was escorted by a man with a mustache who claimed to be a policeman.She was so quiet, well ... it was natural that she's so quiet. Everyone who was sent to the orphanage will naturally be quiet, no matter how cheerful that person was before.This place wasn't a very pleasant place to live, but at the very least, staying here was better than wandering on the streets.Xander picked up one by one the trash that was scattered near the furnace, and then threw them all into it. He watched as the garbage was being engulfed in flames.Parents.Xander himself never once knew his parents. Miss Yerez said, Xander was found by a drunk near the garbage dump.Yes, garbage disposal.Everything that is useless and unwanted thrown in the trash. Including him.Xander grimaced then sighed.
Year 1863 Thea took off her mask. Her breath was short. She looked at Kay who was smiling triumphantly. "Are you that happy to win over me?" Thea put down her foil, annoyed. When she finished learning in the etiquette class, Kay immediately took her to play fencing. "Yes, that is so." Kay did the same. "I thought you were still stressed about the matchmaking." This time they both took off their jackets at the same time. Thea took a drink then sat by the window first. The jacket shirt earlier made her sweat so much. Thea pushed open the window door slightly. The summer twilight winds squeezed in against her face. Another summer day is almost over again. "Earlier… I guess I thought too much about it. So I thought why should it be? If there's no one I like there then there won't be a problem. There will be no matchmaking." Kay smiled with satisfaction, as if that was the perfect solution. "Are you sure?" Thea doub
Year 1853Xander moved his fishing rod a little, checking to see if the bait had caught the interest of something, but it turned out that it didn't. It wasn't even approached by the fish.It has been more than 2 hours since he was here, but not once has the bait been eaten by the fish. Even he spent lunch here despite threats of being scolded by Miss Yerez for not eating together and if he get caught, of course he would starve until dinner time arrived.Xander put down the rod again, maybe he would get something if he waited a little bit.Pluk!A tremor in the pool caught Xander's attention. The boy narrowed his eyes, staring straight at the surface of the pond, it seemed like something was there.Pluk!Xander stared at it again, it seemed like it was the sound of a rock being thrown into the water. He looked for the origin of the stone throwing, maybe it was the prankster of one of the residents who tried to disturb him but
Year 1863Knock ... knock, knock ...Thea turned around. Without even opening the door, she knew who was standing behind it. The beat was Kay's signature beat. Thea ignored him. She did not move an inch from her place.Knock... knock, knock ...One… two… three… four… five… he counted to himself and a third beat was heard.Knock ... knock, knock ...This time Thea counted to ten and the door opened.***Kay couldn't sleep. He was restless from earlier. He finally got up from his bed and left the room.He hated fighting with Thea.He had to see her and solved this uncomfortable feeling.If the fight dragged on, Kay would not be able to concentrate in the hospital tomorrow as usual. He went to Thea's room and stood in front of her door for a long time.Kay didn't know what to say. He had no intention of apologizing. He
Year 1853Xander immediately pushed her out of the kitchen. He grabbed Thea's small hand and ran as far as possible before returning everything to its original place.They returned to the pond.Thea regretted eating well. Now, all of her guts seemed to be coming out after being dragged away by Xander. Her expression was getting worse.Xander, oblivious to that, picked up his fishing rod and turned around."You have to come back soon. Miss Yerez will inspect anyone who is not present at the dinner table." With that, Xander said goodbye.After Xander was out of sight, Thea ran towards the bushes. Everything she had swallowed earlier came out, she couldn't endure it anymore.'Puke...Puke...'Her body trembled after vomiting all of her guts. She washed her mouth and hands with the water from the pond and fell down on her knees.She stared at her reflection on the surface of the water. She had never felt this miserab
Year 1863The servant opened the door for Thea.She saw her uncle and Kay already sitting in the dining room first."Good morning, Uncle," she greeted him and took her place across from Kay. The Uncle, Blake, just nodded slightly. He did not even glance at her.Thea immediately took the spoon. She was used to Blake's attitude."Don't forget to go home early today. Do you understand, Kyle?"Thea stared at Kay. Blake never called his son 'Kay'. That's just what Thea way to called him."Yes, father. I think Thea also wants to come," he said.Thea glared. For almost two days, Kay didn't come home and met her, which made Thea think Kay would never bring that up again.Before Thea opened her mouth, Blake suddenly opened his mouth and agreed."Well, I don't think that's a bad idea. You too, Thea. Go out tonight with Kyle.""But, uncle ..."Blake looked at her. Thea didn't like being stared at by hi
Year 1853Thea chose to spend the rest of the afternoon sitting by the pond. Throughout collecting the second piece of trash, she avoided the other kids as much as possible, let alone the bunch of knee-length jeans boy and his genk.Thea had no intention of getting along well if they themselves didn't want to befriend with her.She sighed.Thea had nothing else to do, other than what Miss Yerez had told her. Her hands had been moving to throw small pebbles into the pond after her task completed. Without aware of the surrounding where she was not alone.Xander smiled. He found the girl on the same spot like yesterday. Fortunately he didn't go fishing so the pebbles she threw wouldn't make a trouble for him. Xander approched her.Thea stared at the far away scenery. Her parents used to take her on picnics in the summer. Typical hardworking father. During the workday, he would really concentrate and ignore Thea and her mother. Even so,
Year 1863She almost screamed.Thea gripped the perfume bottle tightly behind her. Her body stiffened.Did Kay knew what she's been doing? She never said about her dirty work at all.Never.Was she caught?Thea felt her knees weaken. Blake always said she shouldn't be caught by anyone and Thea agreed. Even though the world was collapsed, she didn't want to look any different in front of them. The one who should not know what her did is Kay, and it turned out that this man ..."Why is your face so pale?" Kay approached her."Ka, you said ... I ... am a murderer?" Thea's tongue suddenly froze when she stared at Kay, who nodding firmly."Of course. You kill me in every game we play. Horse racing. Archery. Shoot. Play chess. Fencing… Oh! I forgot. A few days ago I was—"Thea's body almost slumped to the floor if Kay didn't catch her. She, who suddenly short of breath for a moment, rushed to take