Baron was standing in his room contemplating on what to do next. He began courting Haru, he confessed his love, she told him she loved him back, now what? Baron knew what he should do next, but how would Haru react to his secret? Would she freak out and leave? Faint? Cry? End their relationship and want to stay friends? Not be friends at all? Baron couldn't fathom all the possibilities.
A knock at the door brought Baron out of his thoughts. "Come in!" Toto and Muta entered the room.
"I heard Chicky humming in her room. Did something happen?" Muta teased.
"Something like that I guess" Baron said a little distractedly.
"What happened?" Toto enquired. Baron smiled at the question.
"I told her I loved her and she told me she loved me back" Baron said simply.
"Are you serious?" Muta asked as he rushed over to stand in front of Baron. He grabbed Baron's hand and began shaking it violently. "Do you think Chicky can break the curse?"
"Absolutely! I never had a doubt in my mind" Toto answered. "Congratulations, Baron!" Muta and Baron glared at Toto.
"Toto, my friend, you were the only one who didn't want to give Haru a chance at breaking the curse" Baron reminded his friend. Toto waved his hand like it was nothing.
"The past is in the past" Toto said as a blush spread across his pale skin. It contrasted greatly with his dark hair.
"Baron?!" Haru's voice carried through the air.
"In here Haru!" A minute later, the door opened to reveal Haru in plain dress. It was a pale yellow color with a simple lace covered bodice.
"Good morning, Toto and Muta."
"Haru" the bodyguards greeted. She smiled.
"It's a good thing you're here. I was just about to ask Baron if he wanted to go for a stroll. If he wants to, then you'll probably want to come along. Am I right?" Haru said. Toto nodded and glanced at Baron. He stood up and bowed slightly to Haru.
"I'd be delighted to accompany you outside" Baron said. He walked over his wardrobe and opened it up. He pulled out his grey top hat and grabbed his white cane from off the hook on the side of the wardrobe. He strode over to Haru and held out his arm for her to take. Haru giggled and put her hand through his arm. "Where would you like to go?" Baron asked as they got outside.
"I'm not sure. I just wanted to get some fresh air" Haru said. Baron nodded. He didn't mind if they walked around the whole city for no reason, as long as he was with Haru. "Oh, I know! Why don't we go check out the stalls? I've only been there once after I bought the earrings. They might have some new items that I'd like to buy."
"Okay, I'll get you anything you want" Baron said. Haru stopped walking. She could hear Muta and Toto run into each other behind her. She looked up at Baron with an angry face. He looked down at her in bewilderment. "What's wrong?" Haru sighed at Baron's cluelessness.
"I don't want you to buy me anything. If I want something, I'll buy it with my own money. I've sold some more handkerchiefs and you already gave me a job working for the orphanage even though I told you making quilts was volunteer work" Haru said in annoyance. "It's not that I'm not grateful. I just don't want to depend on you and get spoiled" Haru finished with a smile. Baron laughed.
"Of course" he chuckled.
As the couple walked down street passing by the vendors, Haru happily examined the wares each stall was selling. They only made it to the fifth vendor before they were stopped. "Excuse me?" a voice said from behind Baron and Haru. They both turned around to look at a middle-aged woman. "Ah Baron Von Gikkingen, how are you?" the lady asked.
"Hello Mrs. Abbey, I'm doing well. How about yourself?" Baron said politely.
"I'm doing just fine but Baron," Mrs. Abbey began as she grabbed Baron's arm and pulled him away from Haru a step or two, "did you know you're walking with a girl that is only half dressed?" She was referring to the casual dress Haru wore, a dress that should only be worn indoors and at home.
"What?" Haru said. Her tone of voice showed that she was hurt by the woman's words. The woman looked at Haru.
"My dear, you're barely wearing anything on. It isn't proper. Besides, you shouldn't listen in on other people's conversations. It is very rude" the woman said in agitation.
"Quite right, young lady" another voice added. "You shouldn't be walking so close to a nobleman anyway." It was some other upper class woman walking towards them.
"I recognize you. You should go back home…if you have one. You shouldn't be wandering around these parts. You don't fit in" the stall owner said from behind Haru. Haru spun around. Almost out of nowhere, a whole group of people gathered around Haru, pushing Baron out of the way. They began ganging up on her and throwing rude comments at her. Haru tried to push past all the upper class folk, but they were blocking her path. Haru looked around in a panic. Her eyes began to water.
"B-B-Baron?" Haru said softly in a scared voice. Baron tried pushing through the crowd to get back to Haru's side.
"Haru?!" Baron called out over the crowd, but his call was drowned out by the noise of the gathering crowd. Haru put her hands to her ears and crouched down. She began to rock back and forth on her heels as she muttered incoherent words to block out the offending insults. Tears began to stream down her face.
"Toto! Muta!" Baron shouted angrily. Toto and Muta appeared at Baron's side. "Help me get through this crowd!" His bodyguards nodded and began shoving people aside, ignoring their glares. After a good five minutes, Baron reached Haru's side. He knelt down beside Haru and rested his hands on her shoulders. Haru flinched, but she still looked up to see who was touching her. Baron attempted to give her a reassuring smile. Haru's red rimmed eyes only stared back at his green ones. Baron grabbed Haru's hands and gently pulled her to her feet. He wrapped an arm around Haru as she cried into his chest. Baron growled.
"How dare you?" Baron hissed darkly but loudly enough for everyone to hear. The crowd went silent. The only sound heard was Haru's muffled crying. "How could you insult someone you don't even know? How dare you gang up on someone and tear them down in the middle of a street, let alone the girl I'm courting and plan on marrying" Baron growled. His cold gaze flickered to every face in sight. People gasped. "I expected more from you all, but I guess I expected too much. I hope the next time I see any of you that you have thought about what you have done. No, I hope that at least Haru, who has a big heart, will at least forgive you. Good day" Baron said stiffly. He leaned down to draw Haru closer. "I'm going to take you home" Baron whispered as he picked Haru up bridal style. People stared at the indecent action. Haru clung to Baron's suit jacket.
Toto and Muta pressed through the crowd to clear a path for Baron and Haru. Toto and Muta began complaining after they left the stalls about how people were so rude and that even commoners were kinder. Baron and Haru stayed silent except for the occasional sniffling. Upon reaching the mansion, Baron carried Haru up to his room. Haru pulled away from Baron to look around.
"Why…are we…in your…room? Haru asked between sniffles.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay. I told Toto and Muta that I wanted no one to bother us, so they'll assume we're in my room" Baron said gently as he laid Haru down on his bed.
"I-I-I'm fine. I was just a little frightened when all those people surrounded me. I wasn't upset that they were saying mean things about me. I'm use to that. I was just a little upset that all of those people, your social class, your people, didn't like me. I thought that after meeting Hiromi and some of the other nice noble folk that people were beginning to like me…for me." Haru paused as she chocked on a sob. Baron wiped Haru's tears away as she took a deep breath, preparing herself to continue.
"I thought that even if I was different and still acted like a commoner and not like a proper lady they would still accept me. But no matter how hard I try to fit in, I forget the little things like changing my clothes before going out or never acting so casually with someone of a higher status. I still have the mind of a peasant. No matter what happens, no matter how hard I try, I will always be a peasant" Haru spit out like the words were poison. Baron shook his head. He wrapped Haru in a comforting hug.
"No. No. No. No! I don't care what people think about you or me for being with you. I love you, Haru, just the way you are. I love the way you dress whether it is in a shirt, coat, and pair of riding pants or in lingerie because you think it's too hot in the mansion even though it is indecent. I love how you interact with the lower class and help them. I love how you want nothing more than what you need. I would love to be more like you. I would love to help and visit the lower class more. I would if I could be I don't have the time. Everything about you Haru is amazing. Don't change and don't feel like you need to change. It is honestly refreshing to be around someone who isn't stiff and proper. Please, don't be sad because you are not quite fitting in. You fit in my life and that's all I care about" Baron said swiftly as he held Haru's hands in his own. Haru began crying. Baron stiffened thinking he made matters worse. Haru laughed.
"Relax Baron, these are happy tears. You've made me feel so much better. Thank you" Haru said as she leaned up and kissed Baron. Baron smiled against Haru's lips. He could taste the saltiness of her tears. He began to deepen the kiss, but stopped like before, as he realized something. He took a deep breath.
"Haru, I think now is the best time to tell you something I've been keeping from you. You're going through emotions right now so while you're still going through them, since I don't know how you'll react to what I'm going to tell you, I might as well tell you now" Baron said. He stood up in nervousness and began to fiddle with his ring. Curse the nervous habit.
"Baron, what is it? It can't be that bad" Haru said encouragingly. Baron looked at her with doubt clouding his eyes.
"Haru, I'm…well my…it's only me right now but…umm, how do I put this?" Baron struggled to say as he ran a hand through his tawny hair. "My family is cursed!" Baron said in one breath. He squeezed his eyes tight so he wouldn't have to see Haru's reaction. But instead of the shock Baron was sure would hit Haru first, he heard laughter. Baron snapped his eyes open to shoot a ludicrous look at Haru. She was holding her hands to her stomach as she rolled on the bed. "Huh? W-W-What's so funny? Aren't you shocked? Frightened? Nauseous?" Haru stopped rolling on the bed to look at Baron.
"Why would I be any of those things?" Haru asked as she wiped away the tears that came out of her eyes from laughing so hard. Baron's mouth fell open. He waved a hand in the air dramatically.
"Hello? Curse?" Baron elaborated. Haru shrugged.
"I already knew you were cursed" Haru said. Baron's eyes widened this time.
"You knew?"
"Well not exactly but I had a theory. I've heard rumors about your family being strange. Everybody thought it was weird how you have bodyguards around you all the time and how you don't let anyone visit your house much. But what really helped prove my theory was right was when I told you I could talk to cats and then you didn't find it surprising or when I said Lune could do magic. I knew for sure after that that you had to know about magic yourself. I didn't really know you were cursed but I knew there was something magical about this place, especially when it comes to Humbert. He's like a ghost. Rarely around but some of your staff have said they've seen him and others have no clue who I'm talking about. It's not that hard to figure out there is something going on" Haru explained. "Is Humbert a magical cat like Lune?"
"Not exactly" Baron said awkwardly. "You see, it's just me that's cursed…along with Humbert as well I suppose."
"Well, what is your curse? I haven't seen anything too strange."
"My curse is…" Baron started.
A/N: Last chance to guess what Baron's curse is or maybe say something you think you know about the curse. Next chapter all will be revealed. Please tell me your opinions and thoughts.