"I'm not sentimental--I'm as romantic as you are. The idea, you know,
is that the sentimental person thinks things will last--the romantic
person has a desperate confidence that they won't".
~F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise
That morning was different than any other morning for Canary since she had been healing from her wounds. She sat outside the bright sun that she had only felt moments of on her short walk with her two uncles. She sat there with Lumus today and he talked to her about the things that happened while she was asleep. The things that no one else told her about.
Canary listened quietly although
She seemed the same old Canary Lumus sensed something different about her. The spark that used to be in her eyes was now dimmer than usual and when they weeent talking whether it was him or someone else she sat there quietly as if she wasn't truly there but afar off.
Even now he could tell Canary was listening but she seemed to be someone far away from him. "Canary". Lumus asked. "Are you still here with me"? Canary came back from wherever she was and smiled at Lumus. "Where were you"? He asked. But before she could answer they were interrupted.
"My lady". A servant said coming from behind them. "A visitor is here for you, Duke Abarca". "Agustin"? Canary said her and Lumus looking at each other shocked. Agustin had been gone for most of the time Canary was healing, sent with work from the king he was occupied with and couldn't leave or go check on Caney nor send her a letter. "Lead him here, I'll give you two space". Lumus said. Canary nodded a while later the servant and Agustin came back leavening Canary,Agustin, and the guards in the garden.
"Hello". Agustin said smiling. Although there was worry in his eyes when he saw the appearance of Canary. She had lost weight….a lot of weight and not the good kind. She looked as though the wind would blow her over and her cheeks were sunken in like a sick sunken in. But she still smiled this sweet smile that went all the way up to her eyes. Many people's smile didn't reach their eyes but Canary's did.
"Hello". Canary said softly. "I'm sorry this is my first time seeing you since you've woken". Agustin said, gesturing her to sit down. And she did right next to him. She was distance from Agustin and he could tell. Maybe she was upset from him just now seeing her. It worried him and so he finally said something hoping to ease the dry conversation. "Are you upset at me for not seeing you? The king hit me with a case I had to take care of I didnt know it would take so long-". Canary shook her head stopping Agustin from rambling.
"No not at all I just really want people to see me like this… in this appearance". Canary said not making eye contact with Agustin. "Oh". Agustin said, realizing. "Am I the only one to see you awaken". "Tearina came the first day I woke up but my screaming seemed to be too much so the doctor removed her since then she's only sent letters waiting for the day I invite her back when I'm ready". Caney answered.
"Ah maybe I should've sent a letter I'm sorry for my impulsiveness". Agustin said. "It's fine". Canary said. "Sooner or later someone was bound to see me". "Aren't you hot". Agustin said staring at the long sleeve dress Canary had on it even reached to her neck. "It's linen". Canary said, staring at her arms. "The burns reached to my neck". "No more short sleeve dresses". She chuckled.
"I shall design a necklace for you then to cover your neck then so you won't have to wear dresses like this". Agustin said with a huge grin. "Do you know the first thing about designing jewelry". Canary smirked. "I know a guy". Agustin said. "You do"? "I do"?
"Are you gonna sue my rubies for it". Agustin shook his head no. "One that had Heliodor to match your name". "Canary"? Canary asked. "Yes the yellow bird Heliodors are yellow they belong to the emerald family see how nice we go together seeing that the family treasure of the Abarca family is a emerald". Agustin said standing up and holding his head to help Canary inside.
"The longwoods like rubies". Caney chuckled. "Red and green go together". Agustin said. "You joke in a serious way but you seriously would still want to marry me with the scars on my body". Canary said getting serious.
"Yes".Agustin said. "I would marry you even if you were crippled". He answered. "Because of the ruby mine"? Canary asked. "I think it stopped being about the ruby mine when I saw you fall at the fire". Agustin said. "And the aftermath when I saw you on the bed not moving and the air smelled of medicine".
"Even now when I'm staring at you right at this moment". Canary looked down at herself confused on what Agustin was staring at. "Marry me Canary Whitewood". "Not just because of the rubies although I do not quite understand yet what it means to like or to love someone in the way that I'm supposed to love and like you that feeling I'm beginning to learn more and more being around you". "For after the events of the great fire I cannot imagine losing you without even having you, especially to another man".
There was a silence with the guards who were still there staring at each other in shock. Did Agustin and Canary not know that they were still here? Were they invisible to them? But they didn't dare make a sound to not interrupt the two for they too wanted to hear Canary's answer.
"Y-yes". She finally side like the wind was knocked out of her. Agsutin sighed. "I knew you were gonna say no I knew that speech wouldn't work". He held his hand over his eyes. "It's okay it's okay then if you shall marry the Wolf boy all I can do is just congratulate you from afar". Agustin said In distraught. "What"? Canary said confused on how Agustin through she said no.
"No it's fine I get I came at you with impure intentions on marrying you". Agustin said. "Sorry to intrude my lord and lady. I think she said yes to your proposal". One of the guards interrupted. The other guard nudged him in the side stopping him from speaking anymore. "Huh"? Agustin said, removing his hand from his eyes.
The guard who nudged the other cleared his voice. "She said yes my lord". He answered. "You said yes"? Agustin said in disbelief his mouth half open like someone who was dumb. "Yes I said yes". Canary said worried. "Ah she said yes". Agustin nodded. "OH YOU SAID YES"! Agustin yelled. Canary nodded chuckling at Agustin's happiness. "We shall tell your father". Agustin shouted excitedly.
"Like this". Canary said pointing at his attire. "Yes my attire I'll shall ask for his permission with something grand". Agustin said with a fire lit in his eyes. "Something grand"? Canary asked worried even more. "Yes something grand"! He said leading Canary out of the garden.