Chapter 20
Sophie walked around the hat shop as she wondered where Baron could have possibly of went to. And as she approached the front doors to the shop she let out, "Maybe Baron is outside."
When she had placed her hand on the doorknob though and opened the door she could not believe what was in front of her. Instead of seeing the other buildings that where normally right next to the shop the long haired brunette found herself staring at a seemingly never ending field of flowers as she asked herself out loud, "W-What is this?"
The brown eyed young woman then walked a little bit away from the hat shop and after doing so she quickly turned around in surprise when she saw that the hat shop had now disappeared as she gasped and responded with, "Oh no, the hat shop is gone now too."
The young woman froze in her place though when she heard footsteps which meant that someone was approaching her. When she looked from the corner of her eye she saw that it was Baron as she smiled with relief as she replied, 'Oh there you are, Baron. I'm not for certain what is going on, but at least I was able to find you...or in this case you were able to find me."
The orange and cream furred half cat nodded as he took her hand and said, "There is something that I would like to show you, Sophie." He then started to walk away at a somewhat fast pace as the young woman kept up with as he added, "But there is not much time left so we must hurry."
While the two were running at a slow pace Sophie asked, "Baron, where are you taking me?"
When the half cat stopped walking after they had reached the top of a hill though he moved to the side as he answered, "This is what I wanted to show you, Sophie."
The long haired brunette's eyes widen as she saw what looked to be now a never ending rainbow of flowers as she looked at him and stated, "It's so beautiful, Baron. It's like I'm in a fairytale."
"Well, if that's the case then let me help you make a happy ending to this story." The half cat replied, as he backed away a little bit away. The young woman was quite surprised to see the green eyed half cat get down onto one knee as he pulled out a small box from his right pants pocket. He then opened the box to reveal a ring as he went on with, "Sophie, will you marry me?"
The brown eyed young woman's face beamed with joy as she nodded her head and responded back with, "Yes."
And before the young woman could say anything more she saw that the ring was already on her finger as Baron stood back up onto his feet and looked as though he was ready to kiss her. However, Sophie's eyes soon widen once again when she heard a soft voice as it asked, "Baron, is that you?"
Hearing this caused Sophie to turn around and let out a gasp as she saw that she was now looking at a half cat who was wearing a sun hat, dress and over coat. Which just happened to be the same exact colors that Baron had described to her even the half cat's fur and eyes were the same as the young woman asked, 'A-Are you, Louise?"
The blue eyed half cat nodded as she answered, "Yes, I am. And I am also grateful for how you have taken care of Baron for me. Now he and I can be together again."
The long haired brunette soon became a bit irritated by that comment as she kindly shot back, "I'm sorry Louise, but Baron just proposed to me. So I'm afraid that the two of you can't be together."
"Hmm, what are you talking about dear, I don't see any ring on your finger." The white furred half cat replied, as she titled her head in confusion.
The brown eyed young woman thought for sure that Louise was just trying to trick her. But when she looked down at her left ring finger she gasped while she let out, "What? B-But how can this be?" When she saw that the blue eyed half cat was now closer towards Baron, who had unknowingly moved a bit away from the two, Sophie quickly ran in front of him as she harshly continued with, "Baron is mine now. So just leave us alone!"
Before she knew it though she saw the orange and cream half cat start to walk towards Louise as the young woman asked while trying to hold back the tears, "Baron, w-what are you doing?"
She watched as the green eyed half cat linked his arm with the white furred female half cat's as he turned his head and answered, "I am deeply sorry, Sophie. But like I told you there was still a piece of me that has been waiting for Louise's return."
Sophie then watched the two as they seemed to be getting further and further away as she tried to extend a hand towards them she shouted, "But Baron, you can't leave me!" Tears then started fall from her face as she ended wtih, "I love you!"
ooooooo
Sophie shot right up out of her bed as she shouted, "Baron, no!" She then looked around and saw that she was now in her room as she put a hand to her chest and added, "Oh, I guess it was just a dream." After she had gotten up though she walked towards her closet and pulled out a purple dress as she went on with, "And yet the way Baron looked at me with his eyes...he seemed to be in pain. I wonder if he was trying to tell me something perhaps?" She then walked towards her small mirror and put her hair up as she ended with, "Well, I guess I should just wait and see what today will bring me is all."
And once she was done changing her clothes she walked towards her bedroom door. She then opened it and soon after closed it as she headed downstairs to see if Baron had gotten up early yet again.
ooooooo
Sophie walked down the stairs and into the shop only to see it empty. But when she looked down at the front counter she saw a folded up piece of paper and as she opened it she quietly read it out loud as it said.
Dear Sophie,
If you are reading this note then you must have figured out that I am not here at the hat shop. But please do not be alarmed since I just had to go to town so that I could get something for you. i should be back a little bit after you have gotten up. If not then please wait for me.
Warm Regards,
Baron Humbert von Gikkingen
After reading the letter the long haired brunette put it away in a drawn as she let out, "I see so he had to go get something in town?" She then put a hand under her chin as she went on with, "Hmm, I wonder what it could be?"
But before she could ponder on the subject any further she was brought back into reality when she heard the front door to the shop being unlocked. She watched as the door opened to reveal Baron wearing the grey suit along with his original attire that she had first met him in as he walked into the shop and said, "Ah Sophie, I see that you are awake finally."
"Yes, I am." The young woman replied, as she approached the half cat. When she was in front of him after he had shut the door though she added, "Baron, why did you go into town? Did you find a way to get back to your home?"
"Unfortunately no I was not able to find a way to return to the Bureau." The green eyed half cat replied, as he took her hand and led her towards the back area of the shop. Once there he turned so that he was facing her again as he ended with, "Sophie, there is something I want to ask you. Is that alright?"
"Of course, Baron." The brown eyed young woman responded back with, as she watched him get down onto one knee.
When she saw him pull out a small black box though the young woman's eyes widen as he said, "Alright then I should tell you how I truly feel about you." He then opened the small box to reveal a ring as he continued with, "Sophie my darling, I would like to ask for your hand in marriage." The long haired brunette watched as his expression turned soft as he ended with, "Whenever I am near you I feel as though I truly belong in this world with you. So will you accept this ring in regards to that."
Tears started to flow from Sophie's eyes as she nodded and replied, "Yes, yes I accept your proposal, Baron."
After she had said this the half cat stood up and slipped the ring onto her finger. And as he pulled her into a hug he whispered, "Sophie, I lo-"
He stopped himself however, which caused the long haired brunette to look up at him in confusion. But when she saw him holding onto his chest in a very painful manner she gasped and let out, "Baron, w-what's wrong?"
The young woman did not get a response from the half cat though. She did however, hear a light chuckle that was coming from a darkened area of the hat shop.