For weeks the two didn't interact, as Zacharias was true to his word, and Karena had been so hurt that she couldn't even dare to glance at the man without tearing up with sorrow. She tried to hold it in of course, but Espella and Patty knew better, as the both of them had acquired a keen eye for noticing when Karena had bottled up something within.
"Okay I've had enough of tiptoeing through the tulips." Patty announced with her hands on her hips and a stern motherly gaze aimed at Karena.
Patty Eclaire is a short stout woman with dark colored eyes and red hair, which oddly enough related to her job, as it was styled to look like breads. She wore a simple dark pale green dress with puffed elbow sleeves under a white apron. She had simple brown shoes on her feet, a white handkerchief on her head, and she was never seen without her dusty purple pink oven mitts on.
"You glooming around the place isn't good for business, and it isn't good for you either." She continued before her gaze softened a little. "So please tell us what's got you so down."
Karena was a little tight lipped for a while, refusing to dump her burdens on her friends, until she was reassured. That's when she had told them everything; her initial fear of the Inquisitor, then her confusion following the Fire Festival, her regrettable annoyance at his innocent attempts to befriend her, and finally the harsh words she had used to push him away…forever. The tears finally flowed, and at last Karena felt a little better once she had shared everything.
That is, except for the feelings she had locked up in her heart.
"Don't you feel better now, darling?" Patty asked once she had finished and calmed down with a cup of tea.
"Yes, actually." Karena replied, showing a sense of relief.
"That'll teach you to share instead of bottling it all up!" she scolded gently, taking Karena by surprise. "Now I hope you know what you need to do next."
"I must apologize." Karena stated with determination before quickly losing heart. "But I do not know where to find him besides in the courthouse, where I would dare not set foot. After all, he has been avoiding me as much as I have him."
"Then it would be best to wait it out, until the man is ready to reciprocate and agree to patch your relationship back together." Patty concluded with her helpful advice.
Karena agreed solemnly, hoping that she could patch things up with the Inquisitor soon and put an end to how terrible she was feeling.
Surprisingly, Zacharias felt the same, as he couldn't bear to stay away from her any longer. In fact, whether Karena knew it or not, she had stolen his heart, even if she had broken it with her harsh words. Surely she didn't mean to, as he finally realized that he had caused her to feel that way with his constant presence around her. And even if it was her that pushed him away, it was his fault first and foremost. So after waiting one more week, he decided to be the first to apologize.
Armed with a small bouquet of purple hyacinths* he headed off to the bakery, not wanting to impose if he had chosen to approach her at her home. Luckily for him he had remembered what times Karena had frequented the bakery, as it was her morning drop off and he had wanted to drop by for some sustenance anyway. And he was right, for her horse cart was parked right near the bakery, meaning that Karena was indeed there. He took a deep breath, and started his slow walk to the door.
"Oh Karena, what luck!" Espella announced from her place at the counter, as she had been watching the bakery for Patty. "Look who is coming right to the front door!"
Her friend, who was sorting through the fruits for the various pastries to be made, looked to where Espella was pointing and froze. Right through the open door she could see Zacharias making a beeline right for them.
Karena then became flustered, as she scanned the area for a hiding spot. Finally her gaze stopped on the staircase leading to the second floor, as it was the only place hidden from view, because it faced the back of the building.
"Karena where are you going?!" Espella asked as she had noticed her heading to the stairs. "I thought you were going to apologize."
"I was, but then I realized that I'm not ready to face him!" Karena replied. "I'm sorry, but can you handle this for me?" She then retreated to her hiding place, waiting and listening for what was going to happen up front.
"Karena!" Espella pleaded before her attention was called to Zacharias, who had just stepped in.
He took a look around, and then turned his confused gaze to Espella while asking, "Where is Miss Edwards?"
"She…had to step out for a moment." Espella answered hesitantly. "I don't know when she will be back though…"
"Ah well, when she returns, will you give these to her, as a token of my apology?" he asked while handing the flowers to her. He then started eyeing the various breads and baked goods that were on display before he went on to ask, "Would you happen to know what her favorite bread is?"
"Oh, that would be Patty's famous walnut bread." Espella replied.
"Then I shall buy a slice for her." Zacharias announced as he paid for the treat. "May I ask you to relay a message to Miss Edwards for me?" – Espella nodded in response – "Please tell her that I wish to mend our relationship soon, as I never meant to impose on her so in the first place."
He then left, and as soon as he was out of sight, Karena emerged from her hiding place.
"Karena you could have been friends again if only you hadn't hid yourself." Espella told her. "Did you not say that you felt terrible and wanted to make up?"
"Yes, but now I don't know!" Karena replied with worry. "I'm so confused. My heart says to apologize and make up, but then my head says no, as I dislike what he does during those trials! What do you think I should do?"
"Follow your heart." Espella said to her. "Look past his persona in court. It is him, but it's only a part of the whole. He left you a bouquet after all, and he bought you a slice of your favorite bread. That shows he cares, so give him another chance at least."
Karena was moved by her friend's words, as she agreed. She was about to tell her friend that she was going to go find him and make up, when Zacharias suddenly walked back in.
"I was so concerned with Miss Edwards that I've forgotten to get something for myself." He said while scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
He then noticed Karena with her back turned towards him, but went about his business as he picked his snack and paid for it. He was then about to walk out the front door, when Karena suddenly spoke up, stopping him in his tracks.
"You are just going to leave without saying anything then?" she asked loudly.
He turned around, and was surprised to see her mad expression and tear filled eyes. His heart leapt a little in his chest and red tinged his cheeks as he then answered with, "I only thought you wanted to be left alone, as your back was turned."
"N-No!" Karena retorted. "I was just…a little nervous!" – she paused, looking down and away while blushing – "I was…waiting for you to say something…"
Silence fell between the two of them as Zacharias took a few steps towards her until he stood about a foot in front of her. She looked up at him, and that's when he spoke.
"Miss Edwards…No, Karena. I was a fool for only thinking of myself, as I unknowingly imposed on you, not thinking of how you felt about it." Zacharias explained to her calmly. "I will understand…if you still do not wish to see me after this, but before I do so, I want to apologize for my ungentleman-like behavior." – he paused and took her hands in his gauntleted ones – "I am truly sorry Karena. Would you find it in your heart to forgive me?"
She blushed in response to his holding her hands but nonetheless began to reply in the same calm fashion.
"Before I do so, Sir Barnham, I…need to tell you that I am sorry for how I have hurt you with my harsh words." Karena told him after she removed her hands from his. "I truly did not mean them, for I was confused in my thoughts for you. But now that my head is clear, I want to give…us…a second chance." – she paused and held out her right hand for him to shake – "So will you agree to be my friend – for real this time?"
Zacharias took one look at her outstretched hand before a smile lit up his face and he closed the space between them in a tight but gentle hug. Upon their connection, Karena tensed up a little and uttered, "O-Okay. Overstepping boundaries here…" He then pulled away, apologizing, and then decided to take his leave, but not before promising to see Karena the next day.
Once he had gone, Karena rested her head on the counter and asked out of the blue, "Oh, what have I done Espella?"
"On the contrary Karena," her friend answered with a smile. "I believe this is the start of a wonderful relationship between the two of you!"
*Purple Hyacinths mean "I'm sorry" in the language of flowers.
Hey just wanted to apologize for all the possibly confusing timeskips. I'll try to keep it up and make it easy for you to understand just how much time has passed, whether in the story or as a little description here in the afternotes. Anyway, just wanted to get that out there, and as a little teaser, I'm just gonna say the next chapter will be all about a certain little white puppy…