Chapter 17
After waving a hearty goodbye to Emaline, Yuki and Theo slipped away into a familiar part of the woods—Bitterberry Lake—which would be more appropriately called a pond. As young boys they snuck away from the palace more times than they could count to splash in the water and adjacent creek and climb trees and eventually hone their fighting skills free from the eyes of Theo’s mother, and the countless governesses thereafter. It was a place filled with pleasant memories from boyhood into adolescence, but today the nostalgic feeling was suppressed, leaving a bitter, dry taste in their mouths.
“You?” Theo stared at Yuki in utter disbelief while Yuki only scratched his cheek with a pained smile.
“Don’t look at me like that my… dear friend,” Yuki said with a disposition reminiscent of a wounded bunny.
Psh.
Theo spent weeks reliving his humiliation at the Presentation of the Royal Family, and then every night wondering how he’d set things right with the Finchlys. His best efforts to discover the perpetrator had failed. The more he saw Turrin – or Emaline for that matter – the heavier the guilt felt upon his broad shoulders. He needed help finding out who used Miss Emaline’s magic to humiliate him, Theo Radcliff, a royal officer of the king! He was certain Yuki would come to his aid, only to be faced with betrayal.
“You, you…" Theo struggled to find the words to express his growing rage.
“Nitwit?” Yuki offered but Theo just glared at him in return. “Fair-faced-but-air-headed-fool?” The glaring intensified. Typically, Yuki was all smiles, but he looked crestfallen, worried, uncomfortable, all at once—while attempting a “reassuring” grin!
The gall!
“Truly, I’m sorry, Theo. I got the handkerchief as a token of—”
“Don’t you dare say affection. Don’t you dare Yuki Clarion. Or should I whip out your middle names too?”
“Regard!” Yuki rubbed his eyes, and moaned in frustration, letting all his princely dignity go by the wayside. “What are you, my mother? Look Theo, I saw it when I was out being “commoner Yuki” that day. I thought it would be nice. That’s it, that’s all. I had no idea it was enchanted with whatever nonsense.”
“So why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why didn’t I tell you?” Yuki asked, voice thin though tempered. “You never told me what happened that day,” he countered, his frustration growing apparent. “You’ve been shut off. How was I to know the handkerchief was the cause? And you changed the subject whenever I brought up the incident.”
Theo stopped, his temper cooled by the clarity of Yuki’s words. He avoided discussing it with Yuki and jumped to his own conclusions to protect his pride. But Yuki was a prince, fawned over by society, and yet his own name was met with such mixed approval. There was moments when Theo wanted to do anything but reveal yet more ways he couldn’t match up to him.
“I see,” Theo said quietly. Then in “Emmy-like” fashion he sat down at an obliging tree stump. It was growing quite dark, but even Theo could see the hurt in Yuki’s eyes. For a second, the image of Celia as a child popped into his head. The further Theo grew and the happier he got, the greater her cold demeanor grew. It was surely just childlike jealousy.
Am I acting now as Celia did then?
While Theo was lost in the blurred thoughts of childhood, Yuki walked in a little circle before kicking a rock or two to the side and sitting on his haunches. Comfortably settled, he closed his eyes and leaned his weight on his arms, extended behind him. Face to the sky, he felt the soft caress of the breeze and the warm sun baking his pale complexion. Theo snorted, remembering Emmy’s similar sense of ease with the outdoors.
At the sound Yuki opened one eye and squinted in Theo’s direction. Yuki patted the ground around him until he found the object of his search, a small rock with a flat bottom. With a flick of the wrist, he tossed it to Theo who caught it with ease.
“Well,” Theo drawled, “What are the chances I can still whoop your rear at skipping rocks?”
“Loser tells Miss Emaline. What do you say?” Yuki said, a grin creeping onto his face.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay, but help me up, first.” Yuki said, flapping his wrists in the air. He wouldn’t tell Theo, but the recent distance between them left him feeling quite fatigued.
* * *
“Yuki?” Emmy looked up at Yuki through her soft lashes, her brows scrunched together, making her appear like a lost bunny in a forest. Well, this seems familiar, Yuki thought, afterall he had told Theo the unsightly news but a day beforehand. As the loser in the aforementioned stone skipping match, Yuki received the short end of the stick. He knew it would be gut-wrenching and miserable, but shifting uncomfortably in her workshop, he realized that he’d rather endure a harsh winter in enemy-infested Suram than be the cause of the stricken expression he saw now. Theo too appeared shaken by Miss Emaline’s trembling voice.
When Yuki and Theo appeared somber-faced at her door she knew something was wrong. Even Yuki’s signature silver hair appeared dulled and disheveled, though he smiled softly as they entered. Theo, however, looked ill—but his expressions were always difficult for her to decipher.
When Emmy asked Yuki to help her on the day before, she sensed a shift in his tone. She thought, perhaps, her request was presumptuous. But to think she asked the architect of Theo’s misery for help was unparalleled in irony. In fact, Emmy’s mouth hung agape in her shock, unveiling a side to her neither of them had seen.
“I’m afraid so,” Yuki replied quietly, appearing more serious than she’d ever seen him before. “I’m terribly sorry.”
Celia, who naturally was already present, looked equally bewildered. Well, at least compared to her normal countenance.
A thrashing sound grew in Emmy’s head as she tuned out her surroundings. Yuki always acted generously toward her, devoid of any malicious intent. Had she failed in her evaluation of him? The appreciation he expressed, the gems he offered freely and the listening ear he had provided—were they all a facade? And what about Theo?
Only one word rose from the chaos in her mind.
Disappointment.
And it stung more than it should have. Yuki made no attempt to acquit himself, but was it out of humility or pride?
“Why would you set your friend up like that?” Celia asked on her friend’s behalf, demanding an answer. Somehow Celia’s question cracked the seemingly impenetrable ice.
“It’s a misunderstanding,” Theo barged in. “First off, we’ve already spoken to Turrin and apologized. Our behavior was unacceptable, but he forgave both Yuki and myself.” The trio all turned to Emmy, waiting for her response.
At Theo’s revelation, Emmy felt a tinge of the hurt she was holding slowly melt away. She took in one deep breath and exhaled slowly to reorient her thoughts. Meanwhile Yuki looked like a whimpering dog, desperate for a pat on the head. It would have been cute if she wasn’t so mad.
Ack!
Emmy jolted upright as if stabbed. Theo accused Turrin without knowing the full story. Then she herself accused Theo, without knowing him—at all. Sure, she resolved things with Theo, but only after letting her inflamed words fly. She peeked over at Yuki who looked like his soul was nearing departure to the heavenly realm.
Emaline Finchly, when will you learn to give people a chance? she berated herself.
So now, after all their interactions, it was her turn to listen. Emmy sat on her favorite chair and pulled a pillow to her chest, flanked by Celia who looked like a guard standing watch.
“Go on, I’m listening.” Emmy broke the silence and looked at Yuki then Theo in the eyes.
Yuki opened his mouth but Theo spoke first, “Miss Emaline, this dolt didn't know it was enchanted with your tomfoolery-business.”
“Well neither did you,” Celia interjected with a pointed barb, though her remark pointed out a fair case for Yuki’s innocence.
“He thought it was…” Theo crossed his arms and looked at Yuki, head cocked. “What did you call it Yuki?” Theo asked, baiting him.
Yuki sighed in defeat, “A token of regard.”
His clammy countenance was replaced with a ruddy blush, making him appear far younger than his 26 years. Instantly, he appeared like a little kid who’d just been scolded by his teacher.
“I’m terribly sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused.” Yuki reached for her hand, his puppy eyes pleading with her, “Truly I had no idea until I spoke to Theo last night. But if you wish to disassociate yourself with me, I’ll comply with your desires.”
Emmy bit the inside of her cheek to dispel the laugh rising up in her chest. It was all too absurd. And to think, Theo and I were nearing blows over such a thing. She wanted to be angry about the whole blasted business, but when she looked into his hopeful blue eyes she only saw good intent beaming back at her.
I’d hoped for some elaborate display of justice, but here stands the one who started it all and blazin’ biscuits his only crime is being absurdly adorable.
She turned her gaze to Theo whose peridot eyes hadn’t left her since they walked in. He too, though less expressive than his friend, cared about her. She couldn’t help but be amused at how the so-called Stoic Commander’s hard shell contained a warmhearted interior. And, of course, they both were too good looking for their own good. She sighed deeply, covering her smile with her palm.
What a pickle.
Celia placed her hand on Emmy’s shoulder in consolation and jabbed her finger at the boys. “You should be punished for poor conduct and poor judgment.”
Celia only had two vocal dynamics, matter-of-fact and angry, and today she employed the latter. Even Theo shivered a bit from her fear-instilling gaze of ice, but Yuki kept his gaze on Emmy—expecting reproach, though hoping for forgiveness.
“Oh, forget it!” Emmy shouted out as she pulled her hand away from Yuki’s grasp. “If this isn’t the most…nonsensical thing.” And with her last two words she bent over, wracked by giggles.
“Laughter?” Yuki blinked at her like he’d discovered a new species.
Yes, a fearsome bout of the giggles had overtaken Emmy, causing her to bend over, and grab her side. She tried to hold back but tears of relief slipped down her cheeks as her cackling continued. Everyone in the crowded workshop gazed at Emmy in astonishment. Then, slowly Theo followed suit. Yes, the Stoic Commander smiled with a beautiful abandon Emmy had only seen once before. And with each wave of laughter the anxiety they’d held so tightly evaporated.
Yuki looked on, listening to his friend’s jubilant laughing and admiring his sister’s satisfied smirk. But it was when he looked at Emmy that he felt a spark of warmth light in his heart, and he let down his guard for the first time in a long…weary…time.
The night blanket the town in darkness, but within the Golden Threads workshop, everything glowed warmly. Yuki smiled, Indeed, this must be an enchanted place.
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