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93.75% Tempest & Temptation / Chapter 45: Sentimental Objects

Capítulo 45: Sentimental Objects

She met his eyes, grazing her fingers against the shallow scratches. "Who is Mizra?"

Calmly, he parted his lips. "My watch. I am quite happy you have found it after I found it missing this afternoon while I was re arraigning your wardrobes. I would love it if I could have it back, my lady." 

She met his cool stare with swollen satisfaction. "Do you miss her? Mizra? Did she give this to you?" 

He paced over to her, softly speaking, "Yes. Could you be so kind to return it, my lady?" He offered his hand. 

She bobbed her crossed legs, raising the watch horizontally out of reach. Her smile grew as she assumed control. "Tell me, do you love her?"

He stared, straight-faced. "May I have my watch back, Lady Erina?"

"Answer me and I'll hand it over. Do you love her?" 

He was quiet. 

"Well, I hope you don't, because I am going to have her found, and have her name and reputation burned into the ground. She'll wish she were dead and it would be because of you."

No warning or hesitation, she tossed the watch to her feet, and before he could react, she jammed her foot atop the metal backing, cracking the glass with the heel of her foot. "Go now. Find your sweetheart, and hold her close. You'll be the only thing she has left." 

Her words were sizzling with mean spirit, but he stared at her foot, unaffected.

"You may seek employment elsewhere, but good luck, because from here on out, your lucky clovers are dead. You will never work in the domestic occupation, and I will make sure of that," she spat. "Now run along, before I request someone to escort you out---."

"--Lady Erina." He cut her off. "Earlier, you never allowed me to give you the letter from your parents."

"Why are you still talking to me?" She investigated his cold, impassive face with a snarl. "I am done with you." 

He turned away, his distant gaze landing on a food service trolley cart. His gaze examined every detail of the modestly sized cart, from the trolley wheels to its two transparent glass doors and glistening mercury sliver flat top. Even from the slight distance, he could still see the mass of steaming untouched tea cups packed in rows inside and on the flat top of the cart. 

"Lady Erina." Sluggishly, he walked over to the service cart. The flat top shook, and the rows of fragrantly smelling tea cups jittered, circles forming on their amber colored surfaces. "My continued employment is not up to you." His fingers coiled around the handlebars of the cart, his reflection running along the reflective sliver material. "Now, do you care for some tea?" He rolled it over, stopping the cart in front of her. 

"Excuse me?" She pressed her back into the bone of her chair as if pushed back by surprise. "Are you to ignore everything I say?"

He pushed the cart slightly over to the side, allowing space to stand in front of her. "Tea?" He lifted a cup of tea, closing the distance. "Tea? Your request for tea was never fulfilled." 

"I don't care for tea!" She slammed her fist on the armrest of the chair. "I told you to leave! I want you to leave!" 

He cordially smiled. "No." 

Her eyes bulged. 

"You're getting quite heated. Please, drink some tea and settle your nerves." In a collected and calm manner, once again he offered tea.

"Is there water in your ears, lowborn? Do you not hear what I'm saying?" She was at the boundary of an ear-splitting banshee shriek.

"I heard you clear and fair, my lady. But I don't think you heard me. You can not fire me. So, cease your hissing and roaring, shut up, and have your tea."

The crease of her eye twitched, the tiny oval-shaped scar on the corner of her eye caking up between squinting eyes. "Hissing? Roaring? Shut up?" Her nose crinkled; her lips tugged so far upwards it could have torn her contorting skin. "You didn't just say that to me." Her eyes twitched again.

"Do you have water in your ears? I think I said what I said, my lady," he said, watching calmly as the horror visibly consumed every square inch of her narrowed eyes, creased nose, and twisted lips.

She was at the thin precipice of wanting to maul him. "You." She smacked the tea out of his hands. Her hand darted out, snatching a tuft of his shirt as she forced him close. "You," she seethed, inching him closer. "You will forever regret what you have done." They could have bumped noses, or her eyes could have burned through his skull.

Not deterred or frightened, he leaned in even closer, their lips almost meeting, and in one clear certain voice, he replied, "No. I will not." He pulled back, breaking from her grip.

Shock pierced her.

Her eyes grew to saucers.

Her mouth parted wide.

He had said no with bold certainty.

Confusion rammed her hard.

She couldn't think that he could possibly be serious.

Was the man insane?

Truly, truly, insane?

"You've just said no to me." She breathed slowly, gawking at him. "Are you mad?" 

Unfazed, he looked at her and then turned his sight to the tea cart. He lifted up another cup, offering it to her. "You should enjoy some tea. It's not good to be wasteful."

She snatched the tea cup from him, splashes landing on her lap. Without hesitation, she chucked the warm, steaming liquid into his face.

He remained still; the liquid raining down. His face was emotionless as hot tea trickled through his hair, crawled down his cheeks, and soaking through every fiber of the fabric of his uniform suit until it clung closely to his body. But even so, he remained still, frozen as heat pulsated on his skin.

"I think I get why you keep offering me tea. You are thirsty yourself," she tauntingly ridiculed. "Tell me, would you like some more tea? There's plenty more." She reached for the adjacent tea cart, her hand stretching out for another cup. The moment she did, however, he placed his gloved hand atop hers. 

"Lady Erina," he started, "I'd like to make my request now, you should stop while you're ahea---."

She reached for another cup and tossed it into his face. "Drink."

One seemed not be enough, so she went for another one. There was still heat and steam to it, but she didn't care. "Look at this wet dog." She peered at him watching as he stepped back, straightened his spine, and slicked back wet hair. "Why don't you bark for me? Or do a little trick, pet?" 

"My goodness," he said, sighing. "A trick? You want a trick?" He leaned back towards her and placed his hands on her chair's armrest, laughing as he inclining towards her. 

She narrowed her eyes. Laughter? Laughter? She found the sound of it maddening. "You laugh as if something is funny." 

He laughed again. "There is. You are. Do you pay attention to your surroundings or the people in it?"

Her face was cooking. She could not believe she heard such happy chuckles or the arrogance in his tone.

He went silent, water dripping from his head and onto her lap.

She scoffed in his silence. "You really don't seem to recognize your position in these lands. I will always be a Sutherton, and you? You will always be an unseen, unimportant man arranging wardrobes, keeping track of linens, and lusting after places and things you'll never have. Inside of these walls, you serve, and outside these walls, the world will remember that you serve."

Another chuckle came, and the corner of her eye twitched. "Why are you laughing?!" she shouted, more shocked than angry. 

"Haha." He laughed again, casually knuckling the corner of his raised lips. "Oh, goodness." He sighed and then smiled.


Capítulo 46: Bitter Sugar (1)

WHIP!

The crack of a whip roared out into the evening air.

"Ay, aye!" The sound of a whip thrashed again, and almost immediately; the pounding beat of the metal hooves slowed. "Aye, settle now!" The carriage wheel rumbled and jittered as the carriage driver steadied his reins. He rapidly clicked his tongue and hollered out sounds to his horses. 

WHIP!

The stagecoach lashed his whip again as the horses neighed and huffed. Quickly decelerating, the carriage rolled down a hill gliding down towards flatlands speckled with various brightly colored foliage and tall trees. Soaring into the scenery, the stagecoach tugged at his reins directing the horses to the entry of great towering white manor. 

As they neared a stone fountain roundabout, the chittering of hooves came to a thundering halt. Adjusting reins with one hand, the stagecoach crawled down from his seat, hurrying to open the carriage doors. 

At their arrival, a few servants and a slender broad shoulder woman awaited them at the very top of the main door stairs. Watching as the carriage doors opened, joy increased in her face, clutching her fur coat as she took to hurried sauntering feet. Anxious to keep her long velvet green gown from touching the ground, her servants held tight to the dress tail, moving as she moved. 

"Lord Sutherton! Lady Sutherton!" Her silken voice reached to their carriage. She moved gradually, reaching the carriage with a friendly smile that never reached her tapered eyes. "Oh, how wonderful it is to see you, Lord and Lady Sutherton!" 

Lord Sutherton eased out from the carriage, Lady Sutherton stepping down after him, the stagecoach leading her out by hand. 

"Lady Katrine." Lord Sutherton nodded his head towards her, greeting her a grimace. "Good to see you."

"Yes," Lady Sutherton added, with a smile of her own. "It has been quite so long. I'm happy to see you look so well, Lady Katrine. As always you are dressed very---." She didn't finish as examined Katrine's flashy bedazzled dress, flamboyantly long dress tail, and her bulky black fur coat that still owned bear paws and claws. "---Your way." She finished speaking with a strained smile. 

"Oh, how kind you always are, Lady Sutherton!" Katrine gushed, stepping close to give two light cordial pecks to Anya's cheeks. "You as well! You are looking absolutely, positively, swell yourself, Lady Anya." 

Lady Sutherton returned the formal kisses. "Ah, sweet of you to say." She imitated a laugh. "Thank you again for allowing us to stay for a few while we travel to the Tricitidal. I know it was under such short notice. We were expecting to stay elsewhere but since we left earlier than intended, our plans were shifted." 

"Oh no, no, no matrishoka, don't you concern about it." She adjusted the weight of her fur coat and dismissively waved. "It would be an honor to be of help to anyone under the Sutherton name. Please, don't be strangers come along and follow me." She turned, desperate servants rushing to keep her dress tail off the ground as she carelessly strolled away.

She led them into the house and through various spacious corridors. "How was your journey?" She peaked back at them. "I trust the roads were comfortable?"

"It was fine," Lady Sutherton replied, lacking warmth. "Thank you for asking."

"Yes, of course," Red gleamed on Katrine's lips. "Are you hungry? Anything you'd like to fill your belly?" 

They walked onwards through the halls and corridors of the startling white everything in the manor.

"No, I'm well. Daviyd?" Lady Sutherton glanced at her tight-lipped husband. 

He shook his head. "Perhaps in a little while."

"All right, then." She conceded, with a light scrunching of her red lips. "And, Lord Daviyd?" She looked back to him. "My husband has been looking forward to see you. Once you've rested a bit, he'd appreciate if you'd join him in his study. Or, if you're up to it, you can always visit him now if you'd like?" 

Lord Sutherton cleared his throat, stiffly replying, "I suppose that won't be a problem. I will see him before I rest." 

"Wonderful." She flashed a wide smile before turning to a maid who followed close to her side. "Hazel, help Lord Sutherton find his way to my husband's study." 

Lord Sutherton paced away, leaving Katrine and Lady Sutherton to themselves. 

Slowing her speed, Katrine faced Lady Sutherton, a small gathering of servants still endeavoring to protect the tail of her dress. "Now that the men are away handling business, do you care for little fun, Lady Anya?" She raised her shoulders and the bear's paw that was slung over her shoulder shifted. 

Lady Sutherton lightly exhaled, formulating a tense affable smile. "You know, I'd love to Lady Katrine, but I am a bit lethargic. I should rest. It's been a long ride, and we still have much more to travel. It's good for me to remain stable with rest." 

"No, I insist. Join me for just a cup and a chat." She placed a hand on Lady Sutherton's shoulder. 

"Lady Katrine," she said, looking to the sharp claws that stuck out from the bear paw. "I appreciate the sentiment. But I must turn your offer down." She eased off Katrine's grasp.

"But Lady Anya, don't you know I beg of you?" Her voice elevated as she plead with vigor. "If I could be so entitled to take a moment of your time, I'd love to catch up with you just for a bit." 

"Lady Katrine." An uncomfortable look pinched the corner of Lady Sutherton's lips. "I really am quite tired." 

"Oh, but your departure will approach too soon! Surely, there will not be time for chit chat then. Can you not spar me just a few minutes?" She urged with a pout. 

Sighing, Lady Sutherton avoided Katrine's compulsive stare. "Well?" She sighed again. "Alright if it is just for a bit." She conceded with a weary smile.


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