Chapter Eleven: The Dim Glow
The gleaming light from the morning sun gifted the frigid air with a warming glow. Employees for Margaret Farm started their work before dawn, clearing snow from the stone paths which were paved all throughout the massive property. Nadi was exploring the property with a few other workers, discussing the plan of action for springtime's landscaping designs.
Elise made her way to the frozen fountain in front of her mansion, showing off her new winter fashion with a frilly blue dress and a thick dark brown coat. Heading to town, she passed Nadi, who gave his employer his immediate attention.
"Good morning, Lady Elise," he greeted sternly.
"Morning," she replied without even a glance in his direction. She was too busy overlooking the snow covering her property, hiding it's glorious beauty from her eyes.
"Heading to town, miss?"
"Why, yes, I'm off to visit Lillie. Oh, please be sure to consider the new flower beds for spring time, Nadi."
"Of course. Before you leave, can I ask you for something?"
"What is it? Do you need more supplies?" Elise seemed irritated for his question stalled her strip to town.
"Could you pass my regards on to Akiko?"
"Akiko?" Her eyes narrowed, scowling at the mention of her very name. Don't tell me she's got another man at her heels!
"Yes, she should be still be at the clinic, and I'm afraid I won't have time to visit her before she leaves for home."
"Oh, why, yes of course." Elise was unaware of the previous night's event, although she pretended to be in the know.
"Thank you, Lady Elise." With that, Nadi returned to his conversation with the other employees, allowing Elise to resume her stroll into Oak Tree Town.
Making her way down the magnificent stone steps which led directly into Oak Tree Town, Elise felt robbed of her good start for the day. Her imagination racing from her fabricated theories of Nadi's favor, her frustration rose. Could Nadi be falling for Akiko? After she already had Kamil and Raeger? Who's next?!
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she caught a glimpse of Raeger's restaurant, which was oddly closed for the day. Turning her nose up in the air, she continued to make her way to the Inn. She had no ill feelings toward Raeger, but it reminded her once again of Akiko, deepening her fowl mood.
"Lillie!" Elise shouted as she threw the entrance doors wide open. The inn was almost empty for many of the tourists had left very early that morning. Lillie came down the stairs, carrying a couple of freshly cleaned pillows.
"Elise!" Lillie called back with concern. "Is everything alright?"
"No, everything is not alright!"
"Calm down, you're making a scene." Lillie guided her away from the front doors. "Okay, now what's going on?" Elise quickly explained her frustration, completely forgetting to ask why Akiko was in the clinic to begin with.
"Elise, you and your erratic imagination," Lillie laughed, "Akiko's in the clinic because she-"
"Akiko's in the clinic?"
The girls turned to face the interrupting voice at the bottom of the stairs. It was Kamil, his expression filled with worry from overhearing their conversation. Elise's fowl attitude quickly melted away from the sight of her knight in shining armor, regardless of his expression.
"Oh, yes!" Elise exclaimed dramatically, portraying her fictitious concern to Kamil. "The poor dear! I was just informed of her condition. Oh, the night took unexpected turns, left and right! Poor Angela, tending to her bloody wounds!"
"WHAT?!" Kamil felt a dagger pierce his chest, his worry for Akiko increasing. Lillie sighed, a little annoyed with Elise's over exaggeration.
"She just has a sprained ankle and a few scratches," Lillie corrected calmly, easing Kamil's anxiety, "Angela insisted she stay the night because it was too late for her to be taken home. She'll probably be leaving early this afternoon, when it's a little warmer outside."
"Oh, thank heaven," Kamil sighed heavily with relief, "but what happened?"
"Yes, what happened?" Elise butted in, also curious about the predicament, placing her clenched fists on her hip as she looked to Lillie, her expression demanding an immediate response.
"That convict we've been all been looking out for," Lillie's tone was nervous as she felt backed into a corner by Elise, "he was seen at the trade depot early yesterday and he followed Akiko to her farm and attacked her." Elise's expression softened, the unexpected feeling of sympathy taking over her. She would never wish for someone to experience something that horrible, including Akiko.
"Oh, I had no idea," Elise spoke softly, lowering her eyes towards the floor, feeling ashamed for her sudden fib of Akiko's condition.
"Well, I need to get back to work," Lillie excused herself from the group, heading back upstairs to change out pillows. "Elise, I'll try to hurry." The two had plans to visit Iris for brunch. Even though Elise heard, her eyes stayed affixed to the floor, stuck in thought.
"Elise?" Kamil broke the silence. She looked up at Kamil, her eyes glistening from hearing him call her name.
"Yes, Kamil?" she asked sweetly, quickly forgetting about the bad thoughts, wanting to be as charming as possible for him.
"Why did you lie to me about Akiko the day I returned from my trip?" Kamil's tone and expression became serious. Elise was caught off guard, never expecting to be confronted about that day. She was aware about what had happened the following day, hearing it all from Iris. A bead of sweat streamed down the side of her face as she struggled to come up with a valid and believable excuse. She didn't want her disdain for Akiko to be revealed to him.
"I- well, I was-" Elise stumbled over her words, "I was jealous..."
"Jealous?" Kamil was shocked. Jealous of what?
"Yes, jealous. Jealous of watching a handsome young man like yourself follow her like a lost puppy."
"Elise, I... I don't know what to say? You really think I'm handsome?" Kamil's cheeks turned pink.
"Why, yes, I do. I've always thought you were remarkably handsome." She tried turning on her charm.
"I'm flattered, Elise, really I am, but, I still don't think you had to say what you did that day."
"I know, and I wish every day since then that those words never slipped from my mouth, but I just- I didn't want to be the one who broke your heart."
"At least Lillie was honest with me. She told me everything the next morning."
"OH, she did?" A flare of anger rose in Elise's stomach. Having no clue that Lillie was the one who told him, she felt betrayed.
"Even if you had the best of intentions, you should really think about what you say to other people. Unbefitting behavior like that doesn't suit a lovely flower such as yourself." Leaving the conversation with the last word, Kamil made his way back to his room upstairs. Elise's face turn beat red, swallowing the comment he made, calling her a 'lovely flower.'
At the clinic...
Akiko sat in the small bed, reading the newspaper to pass the time. Her thick hair was down and brushed, having no motivation to do anything with it like she normally did. Her tattered dress was folded and placed at the end of the bed. Licorice had brought her a change of clothes early that morning. Now wearing a long sleeved dark green dress with an olive colored ribbon wrapped around her waist, she planned on throwing the red dress she had worn for fall attire away.
The headline of the newspaper was, of course, about the convict being caught in Oak Tree Town the night before, Akiko being briefly mentioned in the article. Her hands shook as she saw the photo of the man, flashes of the terrifying event running through her mind. Crunching the paper in her hands, she shook her head, trying to forget the crazy lustful look he had when he had her arm in his grasp. Licorice returned to the room with a glass of ice water. She had arrived early that morning; visitors weren't permitted to stay overnight with patients. She noticed Akiko's distress and grabbed the newspaper from her hands.
"Let's get our mind on other things," Licorice suggested, placing the glass of water on the small nightstand next to the bed, throwing the newspaper away. "How's your ankle feeling?"
"It's fine," Akiko replied, taking a sip of water. Angela's medicine worked wonders for pain, but Akiko didn't like being bedridden, not being able to walk on her own.
"That's good to hear." Kamil entered the room, catching the girls' attention. Holding a small bouquet of flowers, he approached Akiko's bedside with a confident smile. Licorice started to feel a little uneasy knowing Raeger was going to show up any minute to take Akiko home. She didn't want to know what would happen if Kamil stayed long enough to run into him.
"What are you doing here, Kamil?" Akiko questioned, shocked that he was there. It was obvious she wasn't pleased to see him.
"I heard what happened," he admitted, setting the bouquet atop the folded red dress, "so I came to visit."
"Thank you, that's very thoughtful, but you didn't need to bring flowers."
"Why?"
"Because we don't want you to get the wrong idea," Licorice commented sternly.
"There's no romantic intention," Kamil retorted, "is it not customary to bring flowers to a friend while they're in the hospital, wishing for a speedy recovery?"
"Yeah, but knowing you-"
"Will you two just stop!" Akiko exclaimed, frustrated from the tension in the room. "Kamil, I meant that you didn't need to trouble yourself by bringing me anything. Licorice, I wish you wouldn't just jump to conclusions like that." A little put off, Licorice scowled at the comment, but ignored it to avoid tension. Kamil felt pleased from the small victory.
"If there's anything you need, please don't hesitate," Kamil stated, returning to his confident tone. Akiko sat silently, she already had Licorice, Fritz, and Raeger, she didn't desire any more help. She simply nodded at his kind gesture before turning her stare to her ankle, avoiding any further eye contact with either of them.
Before getting more awkward, Kamil decided to leave. As he left the guild, he passed Raeger who was just entering. Catching his confused glance, he picked up his pace, returning home to the inn.
"I'm sorry," Licorice apologized quietly, "I didn't mean to get so worked up about that."
"It's fine," Akiko responded, glancing at the bouquet at the foot of her bed, "I wasn't lying when I told him not to trouble himself, but I couldn't help but feel the same way you did."
"Then why did you-"
"I just wanted him to leave."
"Oh, I see." Licorice understood why she did what she did. She was simply trying to avoid an uncomfortable situation if Raeger were to show up with Kamil at her bedside.
Raeger entered the room, his cheeks red from the frigid winter air. A smile was unavoidable when Akiko caught sight of him. Her smile was returned as he greeted her with a gentle kiss on her cheek, his icy nose pressing against her skin. Acknowledging his take over, Licorice gave Akiko a quick hug before leaving, reminding her that Fritz had taken the liberty of attending to her animals early that morning. She felt a warm sensation fill her heart, knowing that she had such reliable and caring friends in her time of need.
Noticing the bouquet in the corner of his eye, Raeger's curiosity bit him. He had passed Kamil on his way in and noticed his disappointed expression.
"Did Kamil drop by?" he asked, hiding his annoyance. He didn't want to upset her at a time like this with something so trivial.
"Yes, but he didn't stay long," Akiko responded, "he just wanted to wish me a quick recovery."
"That was nice of him." His annoyed tone slipped through as he took a seat at the edge of her bed, making the side sink in.
"Does that upset you?" she had caught the change in his tone, already seeing that it bothered him. In a way, she was testing him, to see how honest he could be with her. As much as she desired to have a relationship with him, she needed to be sure the trust between was strong.
"It does," he responded earnestly as he reached for her jacket which hung over the back of the nearest chair. "It hasn't been that long since you've told him how you really felt, and I don't think you understand how much he really liked you."
"I'm pretty sure my message to him was crystal clear that day."
"Kamil was persistent and determined, I don't think he'll give up that easily. I just got you, I don't want... I just don't want to..."
Akiko gently grabbed his hand as he fought to find his words. Raeger stared at her hand before turning to face her. A lump formed in his throat as he faced her sweet smiling face, her amethyst eyes shining bright as she gazed at him.
"I'm not going anywhere," she spoke softly, squeezing his hand, "I'm finally right where I want to be." She carefully leaned in, using her grip on his hand to pull her closer to him. Stunned by her approach, he prepared to feel her lips touch his, closing his eyes and parting his lips. To his surprise, she planted her kiss on his cheek. Giggling as she pulled away, his face turned red.
"And you call me the tease," he commented softly, a sheepish smile appearing on his face. With that, he stood up and helped her prepare to leave for home. Using the wooden crutch provided by Angela in one hand, she gripped tightly onto Raeger with the other. The pain in her ankle had decreased, but the crutch made it awkward for her to walk. Departing from the clinic, she left behind the tattered dress and small bouquet sitting at the end of the bed.
Just outside of the guild, Fritz was waiting with Akiko's brown horse. Thrilled by the surprise, Akiko greeted her horse with face nuzzles.
"Why did you bring him down here?" Raeger asked, stroking the horse's neck.
"Ya know how long it's gonna take ya to get Kiki up the trail?" Fritz responded, proud that he thought ahead of either of them.
"Thanks," Raeger smiled. The guys helped Akiko atop the horse with both of her legs on one side before Raeger climbed on in front of her. Nervous, she wrapped her arms around his waist tightly; she wasn't confident in his horse riding skills. She coached him until he seemed to grasp the concept, then it seemed to come naturally to him. Once she felt comfortable with letting him guide the horse without her help, she leaned against his back, locking her hands together to secure her grip.
It didn't take them long to reach her farm. He helped her off the horse before taking him inside the barn. She stood just outside her front door alone as she waited for him. Taking a slow overlook of her property, she couldn't help but feel nervous from the seemingly peaceful silence. Glancing at the wooden arch near the entrance, she could almost see a dark figure standing under it. Merely her own imagination, she tried to reassure herself, remembering that he was behind prison bars once again.
"What's wrong?" Raeger asked with concern, seeing her worried expression as he approached her door. She lowered her head, hiding the tears that were starting to form around the edges of her eyes. The moment he opened the door, she hobbled inside without answering him. Her house was just as neat as it was any other day.
Licorice probably stopped by with Fritz, she thought. I'll have thank them both later.
"Can I ask you a favor?" Akiko asked quietly, taking in the idea of an empty house negatively.
"Anything," he replied, smiling softly, sensing she was uncomfortable.
"Could you stay with me for a while?" she turned around to see him, failing to hide the forming tears.
"I'd love to." Wiping the tears gently from her eyes with the back of his fingers, he wrapped his arms around her. Returning his embrace, she nuzzled her face in his neck, relieved to hear his answer. He didn't need an explanation as to why she desired company, he could feel her arms shaking as they held him.
Kamil slumped up the wooden stairs to the permanent tenants' floor. The words of Licorice and Akiko still echoing through his thoughts. He realized that even though his intentions seemed friendly, they did come off as they used to when he was constantly trying to get a date with her.
I try so hard to move on, but I didn't think it'd be so difficult, he thought. Denial had been lingering in his heart since the day he came back from his trip. Akiko had explained to him that her feelings for him were merely friendly and not romantic. Since then, he's been trying to convince himself that he no longer had feelings for her anymore, but it's been proven to be in vain.
He was unlocking his door when he noticed Nadi coming up the stairs. As usual, he looks exhausted and frustrated; working for Elise was never easy.
"Back so early?" Kamil asked in a friendly tone. Nadi usually kept to himself, especially when he was home, so no one at the inn ever really got the chance to talk to him.
"There's not much I do for Lady Elise in the winter time," Nadi responded in a cold tone. "How's Akiko?"
"Akiko?" Kamil's chest tightened, as if Nadi knew what he was thinking. "She's doing great, probably just getting home by now."
"Something troubling you?"
"No, not at all."
"If there's something weighing on your mind, it's best to deal with it quickly."
"What if you don't know how?"
"One can only do one's best." Nadi opened his door and entered his room as if he was avoiding a deep conversation. Kamil just stood there, taking in the advice he was just given.
I did do my best, he thought, and she still chose him over me. Maybe that's it. I tried my best and it just didn't work out. Entering his room, he sat on his bed, staring at the random flowers which decorated his room. He felt a small weight being relieved from his mind, accepting that not everything was meant to be the way he wanted. Smiling as the relaxed a bit more, he decided that finding a new love interest would be best for everyone involved.
But who?
Raeger threw a few pieces of firewood into the fireplace to get some heat going. Akiko sat at the large oak dining table, sipping at some milk tea which he had brewed up for both of them. Doing so, he found a few pieces of her famous strawberry chocolate cake in the refrigerator, hoping to have a slice later on.
Getting the fire going, he took a seat at the table, his tea still hot. She noticed that he didn't have the restaurant open today and questioned him why. He responded by telling her that his concern for her would make it too overwhelming to work. Apologizing for her inconvenience to him, she felt more like a burden.
"It was my choice," he reassured, "you're never a burden." Mustering a small smile, her stomach rumbled loudly. It had been hours since she had eaten last. Without saying a word, Raeger got up from the table and started looking around her kitchen, pulling out a few pots and a couple bowls.
"Raeger, you really don't have to," Akiko pleaded. He simply turned around and winked at her, self-consciously hoping that she didn't mind if he used her kitchen. After he found the few ingredients he needed, he got right to work, mincing herbs and dicing vegetables. The pot boiling with water, he mixed it all together and then got to work on the meat. Using her uncomfortable crutch, she came up next to him and stirred the pot mixture. Glancing at her next to him, he simply smiled at her resistance. With her injured leg and unstable emotional state, he felt as though she should just rest, but he also knew she didn't like feeling completely catered to; it made her feel useless and helpless, two things she hated.
Every few stirs, the aroma of the mixture filled her nostrils, sending warm waves down her body. It always amazed her when he used so few ingredients and was able to make a dish so delicious. Urging her to be cautious, he plopped the sliced meat into the mixture. Allowing her to continue with her slow stirring, he washed what few dishes he used, watching her carefully.
She didn't seem like her usual self, but that was to be expected. The glow in her eyes was now dull and her forced smiles had a sadness to them. He knew she was trying hard to suppress what happened the day before, but it wasn't healthy to hold it in. He wasn't going to force her to talk about it, but he didn't want her to hide from it forever.
"That should be good," he said softly, reaching over her to turn off the burner. Grabbing the two bowls he had gotten out earlier, he filled each both evenly before adding some finely shredded cheese. Akiko sat back down in her seat at the table as he placed her meal in front of her, steaming hot. Letting it cool for a few minutes, she gulped a spoonful of the stew, feeling the heat work its way down to her stomach. The sweet smile returning to her face as she swallowed another heaping spoonful.
"I know it's not much, but I hope it's good," Raeger stated modestly, returning her smile as he watched the glow in her eyes slowly get brighter with every mouthful.
"It's delicious!" she exclaimed.
Raeger was able to get a slice of his favorite cake once dinner was finished. His first bite reminded him of her lips the first night he kissed her, sending a shiver down his spine. Akiko helped him clean up before they took a seat on the wooden floor in front of the hearth. The television was another option, but she was afraid she would see breaking news stories about the convict.
Taking a place next to her, he threw another piece of wood into the flame to keep it going. He turned to look at her and their eyes met. The orange light from the fire was being reflected off her eyes, making them an obsidian color.
"Do you want a blanket?" she whispered, gazing into his eyes. He nodded, but helped himself up before she could get it herself. Grabbing the large quilt from her bed, he returned to his place next to her, throwing it over her shoulders, snuggling under it next to her. Suddenly, he perked up, widening his eyes.
"Oh! That's right," he proclaimed, catching her attention.
"What is it?" she asked, a little concerned.
"You owe me from earlier."
"Owe you what?"
"Well, you got my hopes up. I thought I was going to get a kiss."
"Oh, that. You tease me all the time, I thought you should get a taste of your own medicine."
"So, then do I get a kiss?"
"You don't need to ask. You can kiss me anytime you want."
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he slowly pulled her towards him, placing his free hand in her hair on the back of her head. Her warm hand rested on his chest, grabbing his forearm with the other. Their eyes closed as they both parted their lips. Her pulse began racing once she felt his soft lips come into contact with hers, squeezing his shirt from excitement. He had pulled her so close to him, he could feel her beating heart against his, causing his cheeks to glow red.
When they finally pulled away, they continued their gaze into each others eyes, seeing the fire rage inside. The words 'I love you' almost escaped his lips, but he didn't want to say that now. He didn't think she was ready for that yet, not being sure if he was ready yet, either. The heat of the moment just made it tempting.
Akiko rested her head on his shoulder as she averted her gaze to the dancing flames in front of them. It didn't take long for her to drift off to sleep, with a belly full of warm stew and the warmth of the fire pulling her into dreamland. As carefully as he could, Raeger wrapped the quilt around her and carried her to bed. He wrote a note reading 'call me if you need anything,' signing his name at the bottom, and placed it next her lamp on her nightstand. He didn't have anything he needed to spend the night and he also didn't want to assume it was welcomed at this time.
Quietly closing the door behind him, he made sure it was locked before making his way home. The sun had just finished setting behind the mountain, leaving him some light to make it home. The farther he got from the farm, the more worried he became. It made him happy to see the glow in her eyes again, but it was only temporary. Hopefully, it would return on its own and remain there.
Licorice returned home at a late hour. She was at the guild, discussing with Veronica about her housing options, being fed up with living at the inn. Arriving at her door, she noticed a parcel wrapped in brown paper and tied off with twine. Confused, she picked it up and headed inside. She tore off the paper to find a book about botany, specifically about adaptation. Not having this type of book in her collection, she got excited. Opening the front cover, a folded piece of drifted to the floor. Bending down to pick it up, she read:
I found this book in my collection and thought you would find more use for it.
Please enjoy.
With the folded note as a flower, flattened by the book. A small purple daisy. Her heart skipped a beat as she pondered who could of left her this gift.
There was no name.
