Chapter 4: Learning to Enjoy Life's Little Details
A/N: Because I, too, am learning to enjoy them.
I am accustomed to buy groceries on Sundays. I have always been doing so. And it came to be a Sunday, on the month of June of a remote age, that I had given the day off to my serfs who did the job. I thought on going myself, for it is good to cast a glimpse at one's own streets.
As I got into an overcoat and a hat, I heard my chief maid approaching. Hungary it was. I am sure that I... I smiled at that.
"Mr. Edelstein? Would like me to call a landau? Or better, allow me to perform whatever task you have in mind. I AM strong, mind thou," she said.
"Oh.- Eh... Hungary. I was just going to the marketplace here, in Vienna. Do not worry, I think that a stroll is healthy. Or so says England. I recognize your strength, for sure, but I..."
"To the marketplace? Oh, the heavy bags! The heat! Mr. Austria should not suffer that!"
She was being ironic, I knew.
"Nein, nein. I am going myself. But, if you are really wishing to go out... Come with me, if you will. I shall be honored to have your company. Ita-chan is staying here, with Sebastien, the cook. Pray, come along," I stated. I really wished to have her by my side. Oh, and to gaze at the streets... Oh, dear, I wanted to have her and that is it. I admit it. It was that her presence gave me a pleasure that...
That I had never felt before.
Imagine what it looked like later on. We walked along the rocky road, herself carrying a basket and turning her head around. The birds were very, very chatty that summer morning. Sunshine was beginning to pour its rays into her angelical face.
"I am getting you a hat to block off those rays," I said.
"Oh, do not worry. A little sun is not killing me, is it? I really enjoy to feel sunshine, too."
"En-Enjoy it?"
"Yes. Enjoy it. Have you ever felt that smell of sunshine, that cozy warmth in the body?"
"Honestly... I prefer to avoid getting sunburned."
She giggled a little.
"If you would allow me to tell you what I think... I think you should take a walk more often."
"A walk?"
"Yes, a walk. Not a normal, generic walk, but one in which you actually appreciate the landscape. A walk where you take in fresh air." She paused. "Both of us have suffered a good while. Don't you think it is good to relax once in a while?"
Frankly, I had nothing to say. Just then, the marketplace came insight. It was atop a hill, and as Hungary gazed into it, I could read in her smirk that she had something in mind.
"A race to the top. Winner gets... whatever he or she wants?"
After saying that, I imagined myself winning. I really wanted a kiss from her.
A kiss?
Kiss?
Yes, I wanted that. But I was afraid. Better to ask for... cake? Indeed, cake was a great choice. She prepared great cakes when she served as my maid.
But whilst I was pondering, the little rascal ran off, almost reaching our goal.
"H-Hey! Get back here!"
"Get yourself up here!" she taunted, and ran off once again. I could do nothing but try to catch up.
Once I reached the top, I learned that she had been there for over ten minutes, waiting for me.
"And being the winner," she announced, "I have a free ticket to ask (and here, she spoke very slowly) anything. From. You."
I nervously nodded.
"And what I want-"
Just then, a white thing splattered my hat. It was a white, gooey liquid. Yes it was... a bird's waste.
Hungary was trying to contain herself. Letting go of a little chortle, she stated: "I want that you do not get mad at that!"
And so did I. My poor hat was washed once, twice as soon as we got home.
By nighttime, at dinner, I called her into the dining hall.
"Take the day off tomorrow. We are going out to have a walk. Oh, and take a hat. We don't want a white thing on your long hair," I said.
"I knew you liked walking around! And about the hat... Bah, it is nothing to fuss about! We leave at...?"
"Nine o'clock seems reasonable."
And from then on, we visited a different trail every Sunday. Oh, and it is worth mentioning that only once again did a bird drop anything on me.
