Mercury looked at Zoicite incomprehensively, and then burst out laughing. Zoicite blinked, looking confused.
"Did I do something funny?"he asked.
He didn't know whether to be pleased with himself or not. At least he had managed to make her laugh. That was something. She bent over, laughing harder than she had probably laughed in her life, as far a he could tell.
"That was so funny!"she gasped.
"What was?"
"Where did you learn that?"
"Um, well, I know a little Mercurian."he told her.
She shook her head.
"I've never heard anything like that in my life."she giggled. "No, no, no, you had it all wrong. The words were the right one, I think, but…the way you pronounced it…it was so funny!"
"Oh!"said Zoicite.
He had struggled with the pronunciations more than anything. He could see the way they were pronounced, and he had tried to pronounce them properly, but he couldn't get ahold of them right.
"I'm sorry."she said. "I didn't mean to laugh at like that. I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have laughed. But I didn't know you were interested in learning Mercurian."
"Um, sure, I like different languages."he said. "And why not Mercurian?"
"I know it's a little difficult to pronounce, especially if you're not used to it. Perhaps I could find someone to teach you. A tutor, or something."she suggested.
Now why didn't I think of that? he thought to himself.
"That's a wonderful idea!"he said aloud, looking delighted. "You could teach me."
Her smile faded.
"Me? I'm not really a good teacher. I'm a good student. I like to learn, but I don't know if I could teach someone else."
"Didn't you teach the Queen?"he asked.
"Well…yes, but…she…"
"If you could teach her, I'm sure you could teach me. I don't mean to say she wasn't smart, but…I'm a good learner."
"Um…"she didn't know what to say.
"That's wonderful!"he said. "When should we start? Tomorrow? The sooner, the better!"
She remained silent.
"What have I gotten myself into?"she exclaimed later, as they sat around, having tea.
"The best thing you've done in your life is what!"Venus told her.
"He didn't even really let me answer. He just assumed! I…I should just go back and tell him that I can't, I don't have time, yes, and I will find someone else!"Mercury said firmly.
"But why?"asked Jupiter.
"It's…"
"Just do it!"said Mars.
"Besides, you are a good teacher."Serenity told her.
"True, if you managed to teach Serenity, you can teach anyone."Mars said.
"What's that supposed to mean?"asked Serenity.
"He won't find a better teacher on Mercury. Or anywhere else for that matter."Jupiter confirmed. "Besides, you speak with a perfect accent as well. There could be nothing worse than having someone try to teach you language when they speak with a bad accent. Then you can't even understand or learn properly."
"Any Mercurian can speak Mercurian!"said Mercury, distressed.
"But he obviously wants you to teach him!"Jupiter told her.
"But I can't teach him! Not him!"
"And why not?"asked Venus. "Besides, it'd be perfect to talk to him, and get to know him! After all, he is your fiancé! I think the real reason you don't want to teach him is…because you're really falling for him."
"Oh, don't be absurd!"Mercury cried, blushing. "Of course not! I simply thought that perhaps he could benefit more from being taught by someone else! Which he will most definitely will be! I am much too busy to be bothered with that!"
"Which just proves it! That's why you're avoiding him!"cried Jupiter.
Mercury stood up.
"I really don't know why everyone is acting so odious today! And I don't know what made you think such things! It was just a suggestion!"
"So will you teach him, or not?"asked Serenity. "Because if what they say is wrong, you can just prove them!"
"You're absolutely right!"said Mercury, and left the room.
Venus smiled.
"See! I knew I'd convinced her."