Fall 8
The breakfast table was silent as I happily ate my French toast. I noticed my father was barely touching his breakfast.
"Father?" I asked, "Are you alright?"
"Yes...and no, my dear Rosalind. I'm very upset at myself that I didn't notice the criminal act Oswald performed. As I've said before, your safety means so much to me…" Father's eyes began to form tears.
"And I don't understand, what on earth did Gwen's message mean?! I thought I knew…but…I don't!" Father said with a disheartened sigh.
"Mother's message?" Max asked as I looked towards my brother.
"Whenever something big is going to happen, mother appears in father's dreams." I explained.
"So, what was the message, father?" Max asked.
"There were two messages, the latest one I still don't understand, but the one before that she said our daughter's happiness is within reach. I thought she meant Oswald…but…" Father said as I looked over at Max who nodded.
"Father? I…believe I know…about mother's message of my happiness being within reach." I blushed as father looked over at me.
"You…you do?" He asked as I nodded.
"You said that dream happened on new years eve, right?" I asked as he nodded. "W-well if you think about it…Jack arrived in this town two days later." I blushed harder.
"Oh? I seeeee." Father said, placing his hand to his chin in a thinking manner. "So, you only have eyes for Jack?"
"Yes, I do. And…we're…" but before I could tell my father about our little cutie.
"Alright then! I'm going to put Jack through a trial!" Father exclaimed as my eyes widened.
"What? A trial?" I asked in shock. Father nodded his head once.
"If Jack returns your feelings, then this trial will prove it. I've always wanted to try royal curry. If he can get his hands on it for me…then I'll know he's the right man for you!"
"B-but, father!" I exclaimed.
"Ah, ah, Rosalind! I only want what's best for you. Now, finish your breakfast so you can inform Jack!"
"And, well…you get the picture." I sighed as Jack crossed his arms, pondering. It was silent for a moment, had Jack changed his mind about me? About us?
"J-Jack?" I asked in worry as he looked up at me with a smile.
"I'm not sure where I'd be able to find a royal curry. But if it means we'll be together, the three of us! Then I'll travel the ends of the universe to find a royal curry, just for us to be a family!" I blushed, I shouldn't have gotten so worried.
"I love you, Rosalind. And our little cutie too." Jack said, pulling me into an embrace as I smiled; embracing him back, feeling the thumping of his heart.
"We love you too, Jack." I said softly. The world felt still, my surroundings were non-existent. It was just Jack and me...and our little cutie too. He eventually broke our embrace as everything went back to normal.
"I better get to studying up on how and where to find royal curry." Jack said, giving me a kiss on my cheek. He started walking away from the farmhouse.
"Oh, Jack?" I began as he stopped in his tracks looking over at me.
"Yeah?" He asked.
"Be sure to bring the royal curry to me. We'll face my father together. Oh, and Before I forget, Max wanted me to tell you that he wants to talk to you. He said he'll be waiting for you in his room." I said as I saw Jack smile slightly.
"Ah, I know what he wants. I'll go talk to him now though, before my voyage."
"Also…be careful, Jack." I said, my tears trying so hard to escape from my ducts.
"I will be." He said, as his back turned towards me. My tears finally flowed down my cheeks in worry.
Julia and Dorothy were giggling and discussing a random topic that I wasn't paying attention to. My mind began to wander, seeing Jack's lifeless body or getting hurt in some way.
"Don't you agree, Rosalind?" Julia asked as I snapped out of my worried daydream, looking up at my two friends.
"Hm? Oh, yes. Yes, that's fine." I said as Julia's brows furrowed and Dorothy's lips frowned.
"I-is something wrong, Rosalind?" Dorothy asked as my tears started to flow down.
"I'm worried about Jack…and I'm worried about the baby too." I admitted.
"Rosalind? What's going on?" Julia asked in worry.
"Well…my father is putting Jack through a trial to achieve a dish called royal curry. I'm so worried about his travels. What if Jack gets hurt? Or worse, what if he dies? And I still haven't felt our child move…what if something has happened to our darling?" I broke down crying as Julia and Dorothy embraced me.
"Rosalind?" I looked over at Jack, my eyes widened.
"Jack? You haven't left yet?" I asked, wiping my eyes.
"And you got up here without Gordon noticing?" Julia asked in shock.
"To answer Julia's question first, Gordon isn't even in the church. And to answer Rosalind's question." Jack held up a fancy looking dish.
"I didn't have to leave." He said proudly as my eyes widened.
"H-how did you…?" I began, as Jack cut me off.
"Your brother was a huge help to me. However, I have a feeling your tears weren't just worrying over me." Jack said as I looked down.
"I still haven't felt the baby move. I…what if something has happened to it?"
"Rosalind…we'll go to Natalie immediately after talking with your father, but I'm positive it's okay. So, dry those tears." Jack said as I wiped my eyes.
"Alright, you've stayed long enough! You better get out of here before Gordon finds out you're up here, Jack! And you have a royal curry to deliver as well!" Julia exclaimed enthusiastically with a smirk as I giggled.
"You're right. Let's go…together, Jack."
"Mr. de Sainte-Coquille?" Jack asked, knocking on the bedroom door of my father, the door opened as my father peeked out.
"Ah, Jack! Please, come in! I assume Rosalind has told you about the trial?"
"She did, sir." Jack said as he and I entered my father's room.
"Any questions about the trial?" Father asked as Jack smiled.
"I have a comment more than a question." Jack said, holding up the royal curry as my father's eyes widened, "I hope you'll enjoy it!"
"Come father, while it's still hot." I said as father gave a nervous expression.
"Well, the truth is that earlier I got so hungry, I went a bit overboard and gobbled down enough pancakes for twelve people." Father admitted as my eyes widened…I felt defeated.
"But, but, but still! Now that you've put this royal curry in front of me, my stomach has just started rumbling! I wonder why that is?!" Father pondered for half a second before he started laughing.
"I guess it's impossible for me to ever feel too full for a dish that smells this wonderful!" He took a big whiff of the royal curry.
"Okay, I'll just have a bite." Father took out the travel fork from his pocket. "And here I go!"
Father took a bite. And then another. And another! He began humming happily while eating. Jack and I looked at him with wide eyes.
"He's totally going wild! And he said he was full." I said in shock.
"Has he done anything like this before?" Jack asked as I shook my head.
"I've never seen him like this." I admitted at Father sighed in relief, placing the dish to the side.
"Father? How was it?" I asked as father closed his eyes in a thinking manner before looking at both Jack and me.
"My daughter…" Father began sternly as I started shaking in nervousness. Was the royal curry not to my father's liking?
"I can't think of a single person more fit to be your husband than Jack here." Father said as my eyes widened in delight.
"This boy has met even my most unreasonable demands!" Father exclaimed, turning his attention towards Jack, "Jack! You have my most enthusiastic approval! You may court my daughter!"
"Th-thank you, sir!" Jack exclaimed happily as I embraced him.
"This is wonderful! It feels like a dream. Ah, but it's real! The three of us! Living happily ever after!" I exclaimed.
"The three of you?" Father asked in confusion as I blushed, I had to tell my father it was now or never.
"Ye-yes…Jack and I…are going to have a baby." I said as my father's face changed from confused, to shock, and then rage.
"What?" Father asked through gritted teeth, "So the rumor was true? In that case, you know what, Jack?" Father saying Jack's name with such disgust.
"You do not have my approval anymore! And you are no longer allowed to court my daughter! I can't believe I didn't see through the situation again!" Father exclaimed as I felt my heart shatter.
"Taking advantage of my daughter! And you, Rosalind! How dare you want this boy to court you!"
"B-but father! Jack didn't take advantage of me!" I exclaimed as father's face became red with anger.
"So, you decided to embarrass our family? You decided to go on the same path as the Beau…"
"You shouldn't be so angry at Rosalind nor Jack, father." Jack and I looked towards the source of the voice who interrupted my father. The voice of my brother.
"Max?" I asked as I saw my father's face become purple with rage.
"Maximilian Weber-Kross de Sainte-Coquille." Father scolded, "How can you be so calm? Our family's name could be tarnished!" Father exclaimed as I felt my face become hot in embarrassment and shame. What if father was right? What if I am an embarrassment to our family? Was my love and admiration for Jack nothing more than a fantasy?
"Not as tarnished as the Beauregards." Max retorted, "Have you ever noticed, father? Or were you so busy in your own world that you didn't see how much they love each other?" Max walked more into father's room
"Jack gave you that royal curry because he loves Rosalind! Rosalind would sneak out to see Jack because she loves him!" I noticed our father's eye twitching in fury. Too much information, Max. That wasn't helping our situation, at all.
"But the most important hint; is that they look at one another in the same way you and mother looked at each other!" Max snapped as father's eyes widened, eventually welling up with tears. I could sense something going on in father's mind.
"Gwendolyn…" Father whispered, wiping the stray tears from the corner of his eyes. He turned his attention towards Jack and me.
"Jack...I-I would like you to sit down." Father said more calmly as I saw Jack's face hold a nervous expression.
"Uh...Should I be nervous?" Jack asked.
"Ah, no...but since it is a relatively long story, I think you should sit down. I want to tell you the story of how I met and fell in love with my beautiful wife, Gwendolyn." Father said as Jack took a seat in the nearby chair, giving my father his full attention. I blushed in enthusiasm. I haven't heard this story in years! Not since mother's passing. Father avoided the story because it brought him such heartache and sorrow.
"I met Gwen at the capital when I was about sixteen. I was traveling there with my mother and father to make business ties with another company."
Around the end of Summer, 25 years ago
I sighed loudly from boredom in my hotel room, looking over at the clock. Mother and dad had been gone for almost two hours. And though my mother gave me my own room, my dad promised to check on me when they returned, as well as hang out together.
"This is taking way too long." I grumbled, looking over to see the servant that my mother had hired for me was preoccupied with something. The wheels in my slightly rebellious teenage head began to turn. I could sneak out and look around the city! I did have a great sense of direction, and I'd be back at the hotel before anyone would notice me being gone!
I smiled to myself. It was perfect. And better than being bored! I lifted myself from the chair I was sitting on, tiptoeing quietly to the door. I turned to glance at the servant to make sure he was still preoccupied before quickly leaving the hotel room.
My eyes widened in awe at the bustling city outside of the hotel. It was nothing like Trampoli nor Kardia!
"This is aaaaaamazing!" I exclaimed, rushing as fast as my chubby legs could carry me to the right of the hotel. There were shops and restaurants galore! And I couldn't wait to try some of the restaurants! The smells were amazing! I was definitely my late grandfather's grandson! I stopped in front of a food cart with delightful looking treats! My mouth began to water as I hurriedly made my way towards the cart; but not before someone bumped into me.
"Hey! Watch it!" I exclaimed, sighing. People were always in such a hurry. I reached for my pouch. My eyes widened as I noticed it was gone. I looked over towards the person who had bumped me, noticing my pouch in their hands.
"H-hey! Stooooop! Thief!" I exclaimed, the person looked behind, showing a flash of their green eyes from their hooded cloak. They noticed that I was referring to them as the thief began to run, and I began to chase them. The thief was super fast, and because of my stature, I wasn't exactly physically fit enough to catch up to them.
The thief turned a corner as did I before I stopped at a dead end. They were gone. I groaned, kicking up a cloud of dirt. My eyes then widened as I noticed I was in a very shady part of the city. I felt my heart race.
"Well, well, well." A grungy voice said as I looked behind me to a crooked man. "What have we here?" I started to back up before bumping into another man. He grabbed my shoulder, throwing me on the ground.
"Looks like we gots someone with money." The man that threw me said. My heart was racing faster.
"I-I don't have any money!" I exclaimed.
"Even if ya don't, someone would probably pay a pretty penny in ransom." A third man said, holding a bat. I felt my eyes welling with tears. This was the most scared I have ever been. Were these people going to kill me? Just for my family's money?
They approached me closer and closer. I closed his eyes, shivering, my heart racing and my tears flowing down my face faster. I heard a very loud thwack!
That didn't feel very painful, or maybe my death was so quick that I didn't get a chance to feel it?
"Don't you dare...touch my son." That quiet-like voice. Could it be? My eyes shot open to see a mysterious, quiet, and slightly scary looking man with long black hair and the same blue eyes as me, holding a shovel. One of the questionable men was laying on the ground, passed out, but alive. One of the servants looked from behind the quiet man at the passed out guy with wide eyes.
"D-dad!" I exclaimed, rushing towards the scary looking man.
"Oh shi-! This rich guy can fight!" The first shady guy said in fear.
"W-what do we do boss?" The third one asked.
"We run." The first guy said.
"Uh, but what 'bout…?"
"I said we run!" The two men left their positions and their friend, who was still passed out, in fear.
"Herman…" I looked over towards my father, "What on earth are you doing here?"
My eyes began to fill with tears as I embraced his father. I then began telling my father the story very quickly.
"I-was-bored-at-the-hotel-room-so-I-snuck-out-to-see-the-city…"
"Whoa, Herman…"
"And-then-I-was-going-to-buy-a-treat-from-one-of-the-food-carts-but-then-someone-bumped-me-and-I-noticed-they-stole-my-pouch…"
"Herman, breathe."
"So-I-started-chasing-them-and-ended-up-here." I took a deep breath, tears flowing out of my eyes as I began to hyperventilate.
"You're lucky you were just robbed, Master Herman." The servant said with a sigh as I shivered. I was very lucky indeed.
"I'll see if I can find the thief and bring them, along with Master Herman's pouch back."
"Thank you…Ashton. We'll decide on a punishment for the thief…when you bring them. As well as the attacker." The servant gave a bow as he ran off. My father and I just embraced for a long moment.
"Kross?" A woman's voice echoed as we looked up from their embrace.
"He's fine, Bianca!" Dad's voice called out from his usual quiet tone as a lavishly dressed woman surrounded by several guard-like servants appeared from behind a wall as she pushed past the servants. Her eyes filled with tears as she rushed over to embrace me.
"Herman." She said in such distress.
"M-Mother." I said, returning her embrace. She broke it, grabbing my face to look me in the eye.
"Herman Rudolph de Sainte-Coquille! What on earth are you doing here?" My mother asked in a scolding and concerned tone.
"He was robbed, Bianca." Dad began, "So, he followed the thief and ended up here."
"What were you thinking?! You could have been killed!" Mother scolded.
"B-but...they took the pouch you got me." I said as I noticed my mother's eyes became fuller with tears.
"That doesn't matter! I could have gotten you a new pouch! You're too important to me, to us!" My mother pulled me into another embrace. I felt awful for worrying my mother.
"Your mother is right…you know?" Dad said, as tears began to form in his eyes as well, joining us in the embrace. "What you did was stupid. Your life is more valuable to us than that pouch."
"And speaking of pouch." We looked up from our embrace at Ashton, holding my pouch in one hand, while his other hand had a hold of a short stature, hooded girl.
"This vagrant was showing off to her little friends at how she robbed Master Herman." Ashton gave the girl an ominous grin, "They're not much of friends since they ran off and left you, now are they?"
"Your kind wouldn't understand!" The girl exclaimed sharply.
"You will not speak, unless spoken to." Ashton snapped, turning his attention back towards us.
"Now, they will decide on your punishment." I furrowed my brows. What if this girl wasn't the thief? What if we punish the wrong person?
"Before we do…" I said, walking towards Ashton and the thief. "I want to see her face."
"Uh, any reason, Master?" Ashton asked as I nodded.
"I remember the thief's eyes. If she has the same eyes, then we can speak about her punishment." The hooded girl gave a small, nervous gasp. Ashton nodded as he pulled the hood of the girl's cloak back.
The girl was around my age, her bob cut hair was a medium shade cadet blue-gray and dirty. However it was very pretty as Ashton forced her head up. She looked at me with scared but gorgeous green eyes. The same eyes the thief had, but…I felt my own eyes widened as I felt some kind of a surge go through my body at her terrified gaze.
She was the most beautiful girl in all of the kingdoms. She was also very skinny, which showed that she wasn't eating much, and she was dirty in a way that told me she hadn't bathed for a while. I could also tell that she wasn't a horrible person, just scared and trying to survive.
I gave my head a confident nod.
"That was her." I said as the girl began to shake, tears streaking down her face. She was so terrified. I didn't want her to feel that way for too long.
"Excellent!" Ashton exclaimed, "Now, shall we decide on her and the attacker's punishment?"
"You can choose the attacker's punishment however you see please. But I've already decided on her punishment." I motioned towards the girl whose tears were flowing faster down her face.
"Great! What is her punishment, Master?" Ashton asked sadistically as I took a few steps closer to the girl. A serious expression plastered on my face.
"Since I was probably almost about to be killed, the least she can do…" My expression changed from serious to sincere. "Is to make it up to me by joining me as my date to Mr. Walton's dinner party this evening!"
The girl's eyes widened in shock as I smiled at her. I wanted to do something nice for her. I could see her pain, I could see her suffering. But most of all, I wanted to know more about her.
"Wonderful choi- eh, wait, what?" Ashton's face held shock and concern.
"What? Herman!" Mother said in a scolding manner as I looked over at her.
"Just one date, mother. Then we can forget this whole thing ever happened." I said
"Ah! B-but you don't even know her, Master!" Ashton exclaimed.
"You're right! I can not introduce a beautiful girl to Mr. Walton without knowing her name." I exclaimed as the girl blushed. I offered her my hand.
"My name is Herman de Sainte-Coquille. With whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?" The girl was hesitant for a moment before she took my hand offering. Her hands were soft, yet I could feel calluses on her fingers.
"I-I'm Gwendolyn." She answered as I kissed the back of her hand.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Gwendolyn." I turned my attention towards my family and servants.
"Can someone make reservations to the nicest spa in the city? Oh, and get a room for Gwendolyn at the hotel for tonight. Ah, and also I need someone to take Gwendolyn and me shopping to buy her a new dress for the dinner party!"
Present time
Father placed his hand where his heart was as tears flowed down his cheeks.
"That was the first day I met her…" He looked up towards Jack with a smile on his face. "Obviously, we went on more dates after that...and I was saddened when I had to leave the capital. Because that meant I had to leave her behind as well…"
"B-but wait…I thought…" Jack began, his eyes held confusion, "Gwendolyn wasn't your wife?"
Father gave Jack a sincere smile.
"When I left the city behind, I thought I had left her behind as well. On the day of my departure I asked her to meet me in front of the food cart where she robbed me before a certain time. I wanted to say goodbye to her. However, she never showed up. I remember being heartbroken…that is, until we arrived back home in Trampoli…"
Around the beginning of Fall, 25 years ago
I stared out at the vast open area outside of the mansion; towards the road that lead to the capital. Dad placed his hand on my shoulder, as I jumped slightly, looking over towards my father.
"It'll be okay." Dad said as I felt myself trying to fight my tears; I wasn't victorious as I felt the salty liquid leave my ducts.
"I-I shouldn't be crying…it's stupid for me to cry over that." I said with difficulty, wiping my face.
"It's not stupid. You…liked her a lot…" Dad said.
"I shouldn't have." I admitted while sobbing, dad pulled me into a hug.
"Life is mysterious…you meeting Gwendolyn could have been a sign preparing you to meet someone better." My dad always seemed to know what to say as I returned his embrace.
"It hurts." I said sadly as dad tightened his hug.
"I know…" Dad said with sympathy.
I didn't know how to feel at that moment. I was hurt, I was angry, I was worried…Why did Gwen not meet me? What if something happened to her? I didn't have time to really ponder as one of the servants dropped a trunk of clothes with a thud.
"Ow!" A young girl's voice boomed from the trunk as dad and I broke our embrace from surprise.
"W-was that…?" Dad asked as I felt my heart race in hope, rushing towards the trunk.
"Excuse me." I said with hope, pushing the servant out of the way, opening the trunk. The girl inside was rubbing her head as I gasped in delight.
"Gwen!" I exclaimed in excitement as Gwendolyn blushed.
"I was actually going to surprise you when you opened the trunk." She looked down at the feminine clothes she was sitting in and blushed.
"Though, I'm really glad that happened! I'm pretty sure these clothes belong to your mother. Imagine her shock when she opened the trunk to see me." She gave a small, nervous laugh as my eyes filled with tears of utmost delight.
"Herman?" Gwendolyn asked worriedly as I started to laugh, scooping her up from the trunk, spinning her around, which caused her to laugh as well. I looked into her eyes. The world stood still.
"Remember how you told me that you didn't have anyone?" I asked as Gwen looked into my eyes with a blush, nodding her head.
"Well, you have me now." I said happily as she giggled, pressing her forehead against mine.
"Wha-? Where did she come from?" I overheard my mother ask in disgust as I looked up, still embracing Gwen. I was afraid of what my mother was going to say to Gwen as she passed dad, heading towards Gwendolyn and me in anger.
"If she thinks she can just waltz in here after breaking my son's heart then…" Dad stopped her by placing his hand on mother's shoulder.
"I'll tell you what happened…later…for now…" Dad looked over at us with a smile as I smiled back.
"I think…my old house could use someone…"
Present time
"Gwen ended up staying in my father's old living quarters until our marriage. We moved to Alvarna not too long after Max was born." Father looked over towards Jack, who was still seated.
"I loved Gwen. Despite our different upbringings, we vowed that if we ever had children, we would raise them with one thing. Love." Father placed his hand over his heart.
"Whenever something big happens, Gwen appears in my dreams. My last dream with her didn't make sense to me. At least not until now." Father placed his hand on Jack's shoulder, a bright smile spread across his face.
"You have my blessings, Jack. Be good to Rosalind. Take care of her and my grandchild." He said as Jack and I smiled at each other. My eyes then widened as I felt something.
"Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed in surprise and delight. My father looked over at me with a smile.
"I know! I'm happy you found someone like I did with your mother, Rosalind."
"Oh, no…not that! Though, that is exciting too, but…" I placed my hands on my abdomen.
"It moved! I-I can now feel it moving now!"
"Y-you can?!" Jack asked happily as I nodded, tears of joy streaming down my face.
"I was so worried about you." I said to my unborn child as Jack picked me up, spinning me around, causing me to laugh in delight.
"So, Uncle Max. How does it feel?" Father asked as I noticed Max's face turn white.
"Ah, u-uncle…Max?" Max asked in slight disgust. "I'm not sure how I feel about that title."
