"The caged bird sings with a fearful trill,
of things unknown, but longed for still,
and his tune is heard on the distant hill,
for the caged bird sings of freedom".
~Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou's Autobiography, #1)
A grand gesture is what one would call when proposing to the one they love but what Agustin did was far beyond what one would call a grand gesture…maybe like a royal gesture? A out of experience gesture. It was what beyond one what call a grand gesture and for some… they didn't feel like a person like Canary Whitewood deserved a grand gesture as this especially with her scarred body that someone had leaked to the outside world.
Agustin had completed decorated the entire front yard of the life of estate with different sort of yellow flowers. He held a Canary bird in a cage that was singing from fear and in his hand the family heirloom ring for the Abarca duchess. However, did he get it from the Abarca estate no one knew, perhaps he brought it with him.
He stood there with this goofy smile on his face leaving Thomas and others uncomprehending Thaddeus seemed more uncomfortable than everyone else. "The boys a fool". Thaddeus whispered disgusted."You cannot let her marry Everleigh". Thaddeus said. "Aye he's a fool". Thomas said. "I must give him props for his grand gesture although". "Grand gesture this should be called a fool gesture where did he get all these flowers from"? Thaddeus said staring at all the flowers everywhere.
"Does Everleigh even like flowers"? Thaddeus said. "She does that's the problem". Lumus said. "Most of these are chrysanthemums". Lumus said staring at all of the yellow chrysanthemums most of them were chrysanthemums. Few roses and marigolds. "We will never agree-". Thaddeus said stepping forward. "I've already agreed". A faint voice said coming from behind them.
They turned around all of them and even though Agustin saw Canary walk up he was still shocked to hear her. "What"! Thomas said. "I've already agreed I've told him yes". Canary answered. "This fool of a girl"! Thaddeus yelled. "Come in". Lumus said, grabbing Agustin and bringing him inside. "Who told you to say yes to him"?! Thomas and Thaddeus said at the same time.
"Her uncle is still here"? Agustin whispered to Lumus. Lumus nodded, staring at the bickering along with Agustin. "You boy"! Thaddeus said turning to Agustin who pointed at himself. "Yes you"! Thomas said grabbing him. "How dare you ask my daughter first before asking me"?! Thomas shouted. "I apologize Marquis Whitewood but after the fire I couldn't let another day pass knowing someone else could ask for her hand". "You mean Stellan Wolf"? Eddison mumbled.
"Yes Eddy". Agustin said. "Fool of a boy and girl and you said yes to this boy Everleigh". Thomas said. "Yes". Canary said. Thomas sighed. "Duke Abarca I shall have a talk with you". Thomas said. "I as well". Thaddeus said, stepping in. "But you're her uncle"? Agustin said. "Will Lumus be coming as well"? Agustin said, staring at Lumus who shook his head no.
"I've had enough stressing as of lately". "Carry and Eddy shall we go for tea". Lumus said grabbing both of their hands. They nodded leaving Agustin alone with Thomas and Thaddeus. Leaving Canary,Eddison, and Lumus alone.
Canary did not like tea so really it was Eddison and Lumus having tea with Canary drinking orange juice. Eddison talked a lot which filled the room mostly about random things and again Lumus had noticed the quietness and far away Canary. She was far away in another place her eyes had this dull look to them and though she didn't seem to be listening to Eddison and his rambling she was indeed listening to them..
She just wasn't there. "Carry". Lumus said, stopping Eddison from talking. "Yes"? Canary said coming back from that place. "Still here with us"? Lumus asked. "Yes". Canary answered. "Where did you go"? Eddison asked seemingly understanding why was going on. "I was lost in my thoughts". Canary answered. "Where you back at the fire"? Eddison asked gently. "No". Canary shook her head.
"Why did you say yes to Agustin". Lumus asked. "I thought about it". Canary said, looking up at them both. "The days that I was able to move around I was finally able to see what damage the fire had done to my body though I was scared to look at myself in the mirror I did so", Canary said, her eyes floating back to that place she had gone before.
"I didn't see myself staring back at me". Canary stopped for a moment reliving that moment of her staring in the mirror. She jumped upon seeing her appearance. The burns on her neck and arms more important her skinny body. She turned in horror staring at all the scars that had yet to be rebandaged and when the female physician came in and saw Canary staring at herself in the mirror she rushed over to cover Canary grabbing her quickly from the mirror.
"It's not the fire I go to". Canary answered. "It's the mirror". Canary said. "It's the mirror it's why I said yes to Agustin". "For the truth I do not wish to die alone old I wish to have children of my own someday and no one else will marry me especially now-". "Canary that's not true-". Lumus began to say.
"It is". Canary said, eyes filled with tears. "It was true before and now even more true". Canary said. "So I shall settle with this". "You shall settle with such a marriage"! Eddison said angrily. "Do you know what Tearina sent me in a letter"? Canary said. "Stellan Wolf is out and about and overheard in the palace garden saying that not even ten ruby mines would make him marry me because of the scars". Canary chuckled.
"To pay you back-". Eddison started. "I never needed to be paid back ". Canary said. "I just wanted to save my sister and the life of another". "One day father and mother won't be here and you and uncle Lumus won't be able to take care of me. Soon I shall marry Agustin". Canary said.
"I shall move on from that place," she said, closing her eyes and laying back. "How do you know if father will say yes or not?". Eddison asked. "Since I have said yes father will also say yes". Canary answered. "You took your medicine already"? Lumus asked. "Yes I didn't know Agustin would show up and do this today. The only side effect from the medicine that affects me seems to be the sleepiness". Canary said opening her eyes.
"So take a nap then". Eddison said standing up and holding his hand out. "I shall be with you while you lay down hm"? Canary took his hand and they left Lumus alone pondering over the conversation they just had. Lumus knew he wouldn't be able to change Canary's mind. No dress could fix or make up for the damage the fire did to Canary's body.
Nor any necklace on placed on her neck would cover her scars. The scars would still be there. Canary would see them everytime she undressed and dressed. He knew that Canary would develop feelings for Agustin if they were not already there but would Agustin do the same he wondered.
Agustin was very different from Canary. Though he understood the feelings of liking someone as a friend or a family member as a loved one it was known that he was not too keen on the ideal of marrying someone now all of a sudden he wanted to marry someone.
Since the things he had seen growing up, people who were seemingly in love with each other betraying the other, it wasn't something he was interested in and now he had professed that he had these feelings for Canary and wanted to grow them and understand them more.
Lumus didn't know what to think. He just knew that Agustin had some type of feelings for Canary since he asked to marry her but expressing or understanding those feelings was another thing.
On the other hand Canary seemed to know all the things of love but the love she only knew of was of his parents and of fairy tail books she had never seen true love before. They both were in for a rude awakening. Lumus didn't know what the outcome of this marriage would bring and neither did Canary and Agustin who just threw themselves into the marriage.