Summary: Tyki is assigned to make a girl like him to make the grandfather agree that they become engaged. He does it to make connections in the political world. The rest he claims was for entertainment. The girl is mute though. Will it be easy?
Emilie Theonie Lindell
- only granddaughter of Earl Lindell. She can no longer speak due to the trauma she experience from her deceased father. There's a weird mark on at the nape of her neck. She is not yet engaged at the age of sixteen with her grandfather being strick about possible suitors. He must treat her kindly and love her.
1
Settled at the table, the earl began announcing the assignments for each member of the family.
"Tyki-pon, there's this girl you need to woe. She won't be much of a bother. She's mute and obedient. The hard part would be the grandfather. You need to convince him well."
"Yes, earl."
"Uncle Tyki's going to get married! I'll have an aunt and maybe cousins."
"Engaged first before married and a father, Road."
"Can I come?"
"No."
"Please."
"Maybe when he accomplishes his assignment."
"Yeah, woe the girl first then the grandfather."
"Lady Emilie, dinner is ready. Your grandfather is calling for you."
The girl nodded as a reply then walked towards the dining room.
Arriving there, she smiled at her grandfather, took a bow then her seat at the other end.
"Emi, there's another gentleman who wants to be acquainted with you. He's the younger brother of Sheryl Kamelot. He'll be joining us tomorrow for dinner to be better acquainted."
The girl nodded but her face showing indifference remained. The real expression of sadness was hidden. She didn't really like those people.
After dinner, she headed back to her room and changed clothes. She didn't wear her night gown though. She wore common clothes like she usually does every night to take a stroll outside. She passed outside discretely with no one taking notice of her. She looks different and like everyone else.
She always does this. She likes seeing the night sky and feel the night breeze.
Every passing people are busy with their work. A loud noise still looms in the busy street. She kept on walking until she reached the serene place she often goes to. She sits on the ground by the bark of a tree then looks up into the starry sky.
Going back, she suddenly stumbles on the ground. Something was on her way or rather someone.
She moves away and looks at the person. He was years older than her with black hair and unusual thick glasses.
She checks for his pulse and sees that he is breathing.
There doesn't seem to be any wounds. He just seems to be sleeping. She was about to leave when a hand suddenly pulled her down.
"Are you from here?"
She nodded.
"Can you show me a good place to stay at?"
She nodded in fear he might do something.
"Don't be afraid. I mean no harm."
The girl showed an embarrassed look defining the position they were in. She was on top of him while his hand holds her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't get up to try and catch up with you for fear you would have been gone by then."
He let's go of her hand and sits up meeting her eye to eye.
He gives a smile then stands up and helps her up by offering a hand.
"I really mean no harm. I'm a tired traveler lost in this area."
She accepts his hand and shows an expression of agreement on her face then leads him into the town. She has her head down beneathe the cloak while her shaking hand leads him into the streets until they reached an inn.
"Thank you, miss. Might I know your name and hear your voice?"
She merely shows a sad smile and gestured that she has no voice to speak. After that she pointed towards her watch to signify that it's already late and that she must go home. Without waiting to hear him reply, she left.
She rushed going back to the estate. It was that late. They might notice that she was gone.
2
"Good morning, milady. Your grandfather has just left for a meeting. He'll be going back before dinner with the guest."
She nodded as a reply sleepily. Arriving late didn't really get her much sleep.
"Breakfast is ready after changing clothes. I found an old necklace on your table. Is it yours, milady? I've never seen it before."
She nodded in reply at the same manner remaining calm. It was a necklace she surprisingly found in her pocket that night. The man might have placed it there. It is old with age but very pretty. She decided wearing it that day.
"Are you sure milady? It is pretty but very unlike you. You rarely wear necklaces."
She smiled to signify that she will stand firm with her decision.
Afternoon came. She took a stroll in the gardens like usual and admired the blooming flowers. She sat on the bench with a parasol. Footsteps were nearing. She turned around meeting amber eyes that seemed familiar yet it's the first time she's seen such eyes. The pair belonged to a well dressed gentleman that has an unusual dark skin color.
"Good afternoon, milady. Have I interrupted you? I was admiring such a beautiful garden you have here. I'm am Lord Tyki Mikk. You are Lady Emi, are you not?"
She nodded shyly like she often does to the gentlemen while ignoring the fact that he just used her nickname to address her. He offered his hand which she took. Even if she dislikes them, a lady must not act rash or disrespectful towards a gentleman.
"It is a pleasure meeting you. I wish to be better acquainted with you if time permits it."
She smiles in reply. He's just like the others thinking how naïve she is and gets baffled to know that they are rejected. They are all arrogant, overconfident unlike her grandfather who maybe prideful but humble at the same time.
"Emi, I guess you've met, Lord Mikk. I was looking for you to introduce him to you but it seems you are here instead of your room."
She curtsied politely towards her grandfather in recognition of his presence.
"Why don't we all have an afternoon tea and be better acquainted."
"It would be a pleasure."
"So you have skills any man should have. What is your reason for coming here?"
"To be better acquainted with your granddaughter."
"Why?"
"I took an interest in her."
"Like all the others are with her wealth."
"I have no need of that."
"Someone to take advantage of?"
"Why would I do that?"
"That's all they ever do. It helps anyway for them, a quiet and obedient wife."
"You take no praise over your own granddaughter."
"I wish only to protect her."
"Is she not lonely being by herself when you are gone. Loneliness is a bad disease."
"Are you saying you my granddaughter is ill?"
"I mean no offense, my lord. I mean only to say that I wish to be better acquainted with her as a friend to before settling on with an engagement. I've met many girls as pretty as she is but never a friend in them. If I wish to settle down, I wish to be friends with whom it shall be with."
"It's good that you didn't say what they said. 'I fell in love with her at first sight,' they say but all those are lies. No one can fall in love at first sight. It happens between two people not one."
"You loved your wife dearly?"
"And so did my son to his wife which is why her death made him act that way as if he were possessed."
"A very loving grandfather you are, Earl Lindell. Lady Emi is very blessed."
"I'll let you be better acquainted with my granddaughter but hurt her once and you're banned from this household."
"Thank you, Earl Lindell."
3
"Good evening, my lady. Are you doing well? It is nice seeing that you've worn my mother's necklace."
The girl showed a look of surprise before agreeing to herself that it is indeed him.
"You are wondering then if it was merely coincidence I was there? Or why was I even there?"
The girl gave a look for him to explain.
"I was actually getting to know the place you live in and by chance saw you when you stumbled upon me. I was looking at the skies and fell asleep. If it weren't for you, I might have gotten sick with the cold. I was dressed that way to avoid attention just as you did. I didn't know that it was you until I saw the mark on your neck."
'What do you want?' Her mouth tried to say. The look on her face made him understand.
"Can you show me around? You know the place well better than they think you do."
She gave a look of disagreement.
"You are at the same place and time?"
She looked away.
"I'll wait for you."
That man is so hard to understand and very irritating. I don't know why grandfather hasn't asked him to stop coming just like he did with the others. I clearly dislike him.
And that confidence that I'd be there? Why should I if I know he's coming? It is cold tonight. I won't go. He isn't someone I should trust. He's like all the other men.
"That's what she said, Uncle Tyki," said Wisely.
"Is that so? I'll still wait and come tomorrow."
"Suit yourself. I'm going to sleep."
He isn't going to stay when he realizes that I'm not going right? It's really cold. Anyone might get sick staying out there.
If he does, why should I care? He's a stranger and a man like any other.
Why am I feeling guilty? It's not like he'll asleep there waiting. He'll leave...
I'm not going. I'm not.
Yet why am I here although a few hours late. He won't be here anymore. He has probably left.
He's here though.
With each word that came from his mouth, there was confidence and calm in his standing.
"You took your time. It's quite late," he said playfully while smiling.
'Why are you still here?' she asked mouthing the words. Her look was enough to make him understand.
"Waiting for you."
'Why?' she slightly tilted her head indicating confusion.
"Cause you are coming."
'It's late,' she said pointing to her watch.
"And cold. Show me around some other day. You really shouldn't stay out late."
He stood up and held her in an embrace.
"You're cold. You should have brought a coat instead of this thin cloak you often use."
'You didn't,' she said inside her head while thinking of a way to make him let go since pushing doesn't work.
"I'm used to it and even if you may be, it isn't good," replied Tyki as if hearing her thoughts.
"Let's go," he said letting go of the embrace and holding her by the hand. She unwillingly took it since her hand was cold.
They reached the estate within a few minutes. A wild rose suddenly appeared from his hand. It has no thorns and showed a bright color of scarlet. He placed it on her hair before saying goodnight.
"Good morning, my lady. The flowers are blooming. You have one by your table. May I ask who is it from?"
The girl gave a gesture saying she picked it up herself.
"This is the second unusual thing in your room. I wonder what will be next tomorrow.
The girl just gave a warning look and got out of bed to prepare.
"And my lady, the gentleman from yesterday is here. Was he the one who gave it to you?"
The girl kept the warning look on her face.
"Yes, yes. I'll keep quiet like I did yesterday."
"Good morning, Lady Emi."
She bowed back as a greeting but let no smile form on her lips.
"Your grandfather has just left. If it won't be a bother, I'll be accompanying you to breakfast and I might as well tell you that your grandfather invited me as a guest in your home for a week."
The girl showed a look of surprise and irritation. She'll have to put up with him for a week.
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(^.^) Kylie: I hope you like it. Please do tell me your opinions by giving a review. Thanks for reading. I'm not planning on making this long so it won't be dragging. It's actually finished and on the editing side.