I woke up the following day feeling new, Akira as always was already up with the silver server with everything needed for my morning hygiene, I thanked her for doing her job so greatly done, and noticed she had a bright big smile on her face, she seemed really happy and that made me real happy we well.
None of the former storm clouds that made her sad were there any longer apparently. She was radiant like a newborn sun, and with the plan we agreed yesterday to have Dusk stay at Dawn s side I went for breakfast
Akira was ready to dig her milk in as soon as I let her. Dawn and Dusk were going to have some cookies and milk as well. If someone that didn t know the Montecchio family saw this scene; they would think this was a family, not a master / slave relationship.
After that was over, I went to wear my black funeral tuxedo and made Akira wear a nice, but discrete, black dress. Even on an occasion like this she was gorgeous! She looked like a little princess from far away; and the more time passed, the more I wanted Akira on my life.
The sun was up already, shining happily above all of us, good and evil. He did not seem to worry about funerals and sadness, he just shines everyday and that is how we are supposed to. Took Dusk with me to put our plan into action, and then hoped everything happened as planned.
Now that I think about it, I sure wished that things hadn t gone as well as they did, it would have prevented everything bad that happened afterwards. But then again, I am just getting ahead of myself; here is how things turned out:
Upon arrival, both Dusk and I agreed she would greet me AS if she was in the house the whole time, and doing it as well as possible to justify my arguments later when talking to Margareth asking to keep Dusk for the debt.
The funeral was simple considering the Capuleto are closest to the king family. Not much of great event, just closer family friends, the King himself and the family. One thing did strike as odd though; as the coffins were sealed with no way to look at the corpses.
This only happens in two occasions: When there is a rare and very contagious disease that took the person life; so that is done in order to prevent the illness to spread; or when there is an accident and the body is so mutilated that there is no way to even look at it without getting shocked.
I know that the son of the head of the Capuleto family died abruptly, probably meaning it was an accident that might have really damaged his body, so that would be no surprise for him being put on a sealed coffin; but his father died from a heart attack! Why there would be need of his body being hidden?
Once those thoughts crossed my mind, I spotted Margareth and walked to her, followed closely by Dusk. Margareth smiled faintly at me and we hugged; she was like an aunt for me, she was really nice to me when I went over to visit Leandro to play after school, and now destiny had made us meet again under such bad circumstances.
-Morning Margareth I used to call her by her first name due to our intimacy sorry to be visiting in such a bad moment, but I am here for anything you might need.
-Oh thanks Rick she also used the nickname Leandro gave me I am glad you came as I needed a friend right now.
-Sure! I replied and began putting my plan into motion I would like to talk something with you, think you got some time tomorrow?
-Tomorrow I will be moving to west Veronica, I don t want to stay here after I spent so much time on this same house with my husband wouldn t it be better if we talked today after this? If you are not busy that is Rick.
-Sure it wouldn t bother me. I was just thinking you might didn t want to talk today. But fine with me, shall I go to your meeting room at 5 pm?
-Sure that is great with me Rick, I shall be waiting!
Then all that was left for me to do was wait the arrival of 5 pm, Dusk didn t leave my side for a moment, and that really got noticed by Margareth (It is common on events like these that the noble house assign one slave to stay with each of the visitors, so Margareth though Dusk, even being new to this whole stuff, was doing her job instinctively)
After the burial itself people started to pay the last respects to the family grave and were leaving. Twenty minutes later, I was the only guest still there; when asked if I wanted something by the house maid slaves, I told I was appointed for a talk with Margareth. I was taken to the meeting room and five minutes later she showed up wearing a black dress.
She was a mature woman already, on her near sixties brown hair with dark eyes, she was rather small, but that was normal for women from her generation. She greeted me with a smile and then sat across the table and said:
-Ok Rick, I am all ears now, how can I help you?
Thinking carefully on what to say I began, while stepping with utmost care.
-Margareth, I wasn t planning on having this conversation so soon so please forgive me is I am sounding insensible, but seeing you are moving to west Veronica, I would like to settle some subjects before it happens.
-Alright - she replied as she sighted slightly I had a feeling this talk would take place. It has to do with the business my late husband had with you right?
-Yes I replied while nodding.
-Well, I cannot say how much we owe you, but you must be aware that this sudden tragedy has made us very low on funds; I am sure that since our family has always had great relations I believe we can figure something
I stopped her right at that word; the opening I wanted just had presented itself to me and I wasn t going to lose it.
-That is exactly what I had in mind Margareth I said, carefully measuring my own words we always had great business and relations in the past of our family history! That is why I am going to offer you a deal.
From the looks of it, I had her complete attention focused on me, I noticed she had a big expectation on what I was about to say, because she could sense I was being friendly and trying to also help her at the same time.
-Go ahead she replied I am all ears.
-Simply putting Margareth, since this is a time for pain for you, I will consider your debt cleared if you do me one small favor.
She had a weird look on her face but I kept going without giving her time to think.
-I want one of your slaves that caught my attention today. She was really nice and her work was one as a pro and since I lost one of my best maids, I was thinking she might be perfect for her place.
-But Rick she began talking while frowning a bit isn t a single slave a little too little for all the credit you have with us?
-Consider it a proof of the friendship of our families Margareth. I wanted to help you and I also liked that slave a lot.
-Oh! She said smirking lightly I understand now Rick, so if you insist I won t be against it, who is this slave you want?
-Her name is Dusk; she is the inumimi you have seen with me the whole day today.
-Well, I am ok with it Rick, if you want, just sign these papers and we are deal. Brings Dusk here she ordered one of the maids that were in there with us while I signed the papers.
Moments later Dusk was entering the room and told that her ownership was mine now, and with the papers on my hand I could take her with me. A little after that, Dusk and I left the Capuleto household and headed home.
Even though Dusk is always quiet and reserved, she was smiling; she was really trying hard not to let those emotions overflow. Her plans backfired when, noticing she was on the verge of tears, stood in front of her, looked her deep in the eyes and said:
-I am glad for both you and Dawn, welcome aboard, let s be a big happy family shall we?
Just after I said that I hugged her, and all her pent up feelings erupted, and all tears that she kept inside came outside on my chest, drenching it. Her biggest fears didn t come true, her beloved big sis was safe, and hell even her was safe too! She began believing she could trust people, Richard Montecchio at the very least.
We finally made it home, where both Akira and Dawn were overjoyed with the news, Dusk and Dawn hugged each other and cried in joy, even little Akira was crying so happy she was. We had won a hard battle, but this time they were the victors.
I headed to my bedroom, saying everyone had a free evening from work that day, I already had called a food catering service and we were having a party tonight to commemorate Dusk joining us.
I stood there laid down on my bed for about 10 minutes when someone knocked at my door I said it was ok to come in and then I noticed Dawn entering, wearing a strange outfit. It wasn t her uniform; it was more like a robe. A bit surprised with her visit I asked:
-Oh, hi there Dawn I said while standing up how can I help you?
-Rick - she said with tears on her eyes, but happiness tears I am really grateful for what you have done to 2 poor souls like me and my little sister.
-Don t mention it, I just wanted to help!
-Then she began saying I I re-really want to thank you fo-for your help!!!
Having said that she let the robe, which was actually a towel, fall to the ground revealing her naked body under it.