Siigghhhhh...
Sigghhhhhh....
Yaawwwnnnnnnnn….
"OYE, DON'T COPY ME!"
"I DIDN'T COPY YOU, BUT YOU COPIED ME!"
Yaawwwnnnn uwwwaaahhhhh
"HEY GLOOMY, STOP YAWNING!"
Three men sat slumped on a wooden bench beside the meeting courtyard in the Queen Palace. Their eyes tracked the people dancing across the open space as rhythmic music filled the air around them. The melodies mixed with laughter and the shuffling of feet against stone created a backdrop of celebration that felt distant to their tired minds.
"Brothers, you should stop sighing. Your tiredness is getting on me, and now I'm feeling tired too." Gloomy spoke while blinking heavily, his eyelids drooping as he tried his best to stay awake. Each blink lasted longer than the one before.
"Hear that, Oliver? Your negativity is making Gloomy gloomier." Zack spoke while leaning back against the wooden frame. He wanted to stretch his whole body, to work out the stiffness settling into his muscles, but with the fear of opening his stitches made him stop, he could only stretch his legs out in front of him. His body ached for release, but caution held him back.
"What can I do? I worked so much today that my brain isn't braining anymore." Oliver sat relaxed with his legs crossed, his back perfectly straight, his eyes closed, his hands folded across his chest. In the dimming evening light, his posture made him look magnificent. Many women dancing in the courtyard kept glancing his way, stealing quick peeks at his handsome profile.
TWITCH TWITCH
"Brother Oliver, can't you stay normal? I think you need to become more like me!" Gloomy, feeling defeated, rose up on the bench and tried to reach across Zack. His hands swatted at the air as Zack stopped him in the middle. Oliver opened his eyes and smirked at him before flipping his hair with one smooth motion, making every strand fall perfectly into place.
"Tsk tsk, such low esteem. Rather than making me like yourself, you should embrace yourself." Oliver paused, his smirk growing wider. "Look at Zack!!! Despite becoming so famous, he's still looking like an old man who can't leave his warm cozy blanket for too long." Oliver hummed handsomely and looked at the ladies nearby, winking at them with full force of his charm. Some women stumbled while dancing, their feet missing steps as they caught his gaze.
"Brother Oliver, don't say anything about warm cozy blankets! They're heaven!" Gloomy stopped his struggle and raised Zack's left arm, tucking himself inside. Zack smiled and just put his hand on Gloomy's shoulder, wrapping him in his blanket with gentle acceptance.
"I don't really care what I wear. Those fancy clothes barely give me any chance to move my hands." Zack spoke while trying to move his right shoulder. He felt the crackling of joints inside, the stiffness reminding him of his recent fight.
"That's the sole reason for it…..Those fancy clothes has to be wore on fancy occasion, why do you want to move at these kinds of occasions? Besides, you get used to it…. I can even fight a whole army in my elegant outfit." Oliver smiled while brushing some dust from his pants. Then he looked toward an area where many of their female friends and family members were dancing happily. He smiled and spoke while casually observing them. "Despite you not loving it, you sure gave your girlfriends beautiful clothes... So, are you official?"
Oliver focused his gaze on Zack, who was also looking toward Subordinate Woman and Rugged Woman. They were dancing, jumping, and moving with their friends and family at a location slightly separate from the main crowd. Their laughter carried across the courtyard, making even the wind flow with happiness.
Siighhh…
"I don't know.... They're good girls, but I don't want to think much before talking to Nat." Thinking about her made Zack smile, but a little sadness came with that smile. His expression held both warmth and worry at the same time.
"You want to ask Nat, but we both know what her answer would be. Despite knowing this, you still brought them along with you...… Why are you giving them hope?" Oliver's voice took on a more serious tone. "You can just let them be….. I know they helped us tremendously, but you helping them more is making your situation worse."
Oliver's words hit his heart perfectly; he knew him being so attentive to them is asking for more trouble... Zack had no answer to his question. He could only clench his fist tightly and watch both ladies. Their happiness shone in their eyes. Their feet tapped against the ground with joy. Their hands moved in the air with freedom. Their beautiful smiles made the surrounding area bright with light, as if they carried their own source of warmth.
"I… I was just… I don't know. I just couldn't leave them alone." Zack spoke meekly, his eyes never leaving their figures as they spun and laughed while dancing with rhythm to the music.
"You're too worried about them. Just accept that you like them." Oliver smiled as he patted Zack's shoulder with understanding.
......
After a long silence, Zack sighed again and spoke with reluctant honesty. "I don't hate them, that's for sure." He shook his head, not wanting to think more deeply about it.
"Doesn't that mean you like them, Brother Zack?" Gloomy asked in confusion, his sleepy eyes now curious.
"Hahahaha, of course he does! He's gotten all smitten with those ladies." Oliver laughed hard, then suddenly his expression turned serious. "Zack, I think you should stop running away from your feelings. I've seen you and Nat for so many years, and you acting like this has affected your relationship.... She's like that because you never said anything." Oliver sighed while thinking about the past, then continued speaking. "Truthfully, I was quite surprised when Nat and you got together.... For so many years, you maintained the distance, so why now?"
Zack heard this and looked up to the sky, which was getting slowly darker as time passed by. The first stars were beginning to appear, faint pinpricks of light against the deepening blue. "I thought if I don't hold her now, then I'll never see her again....sigghhh.... So many things have been happening in the past few days, and with her royal ceremony coming, I was just… scared, I guess." His voice grew quieter with each word.
For a moment, no one spoke. The music and laughter continued around them, but their small corner of the bench felt isolated from the celebration.
"But you're together now, so you should get out of your habit of holding back. Otherwise, Nat will slip out of your hand." Oliver paused, choosing his words carefully. "That friend of hers, that so-called little man... he's good. I saw him today and he was… let's just say way too proactive in trying to please Nat…. Are you fine with Nat choosing another man besides you?"
Oliver asked cautiously, trying not to hurt him, but needing to push this conversation forward.
Zack frowned hard, thinking about him. His jaw clenched. "If Nat decides to, then…"
"I'M ASKING ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS, NOT HERS!" Oliver interrupted, his tone growing harsh.
"THEN WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? IGNORE NAT'S FEELINGS?" Zack got irritated with his loud voice and spoke with equal loudness.
"NO, I'M NOT SAYING THAT, BUT AT LEAST SPEAK UP ABOUT YOUR OWN FEELINGS!"
"AND WHAT GOOD WOULD THAT BE? IT WILL ONLY INCREASE HER PROBLEMS." Zack's frustration spilled over into his words. "Do you even know how many times I wanted her to stop doing many things? If I would have done that, then she wouldn't be in this position… where she has quite a good support despite everything happening in this city."
"GOOD SUPPORT? THERE'S NO GOOD SUPPORT FOR HER!" Oliver's voice grew heated. "The day the top Crown knew about her problem of not being able to control the Heart Machine, she was just fighting a losing battle. If not for you coming up with the new system for this city, I'm sure almost eighty percent of people would have just pull back their support…. I'm not belittling Nat…... I'm just stating facts." He leaned forward, his eyes intense. "If you had spoken up in the past, maybe it would have created many problems in your relationship and her life, but at least she wouldn't have taken you for granted and just done whatever she wants. You weren't there today at the meeting, but if you had seen her with that guy…"
"TSK, SHUT UP! DON'T LECTURE ME ABOUT HER." Zack's voice went cold. "I know her with all my heart!!!! She won't do anything without thinking about me. You should worry about yourself. See there? Gracie is all alone, just smiling half-heartedly as others enjoy the time of their lives…. Aren't you also taking her for granted????... YOU BOLDLY ANNOUNCED YOUR RELATIONSHIP, BUT DID YOU CARE ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES? YOU ALWAYS RUN AHEAD WITHOUT THINKING, AND WHAT DID YOU ENCOUNTER? JUST FAILURE AFTER FAILURE."
Both men talked in frustration, going back and forth. Their voices grew sharper with each exchange. Gloomy in the middle of their heated conversation snuck out from between them, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. He slipped away quietly and found a safer spot to watch the battle of words.
Oliver frowned and looked toward Gracie, who was standing slightly away from the other ladies. She was clapping happily but not dancing with them, even despite Sio calling her several times she just stood there, she just shook her head and smiled sweetly. Oliver could see the sadness hidden in her eyes, the way her smile didn't quite reach them. The brightness around her seemed dimmer somehow.
He stood up and spoke before walking away, his voice low but firm. "At least I'm walking ahead with her beside me…. I may fail again and again, but I know someday I'll win….. I'm true to my feelings. I love Emmy, and I love Gracie, and I will do anything to be with them…. I want to live a happy life with them, form a family with them, and make sure they keep smiling. I will make mistakes, but I have the courage to face those mistakes and step forward!!!!!" He paused, letting his words sink in. "But what about you? Can you face your feelings and step forward? Or do you want to run as you always do?"
Oliver started walking in large strides, each step purposeful. As he moved, he calmed himself down, letting the anger drain away. His expression shifted, smoothing into his usual handsome smile. He approached Gracie, who was still clapping happily, Oliver eyes looked at her pristine and proper maid uniform and frowned a little.
Oliver came close to her and held her clapping hand gently, making Gracie jolt in surprise with his sudden move.
"What???? What!!!!! Young Masterrrrrr!!!! What are you doingggg?!" Gracie, embarrassed, tried to pull away as everyone around them started giggling. Her face flushed red with shyness.
"Gorgeous young lady, care for a dance with this handsome man?" Oliver pulled her hand upward and kissed it sweetly, his lips pressing against her knuckles with reverence.
"KKYAA!!! So cool!!!" Sio jumped happily, seeing this display of romance. Other women squealed and giggled.
"Huh? Young Master… I… I… I don't think so." Gracie spoke meekly while getting more redder by each passing second.
"Hmmmmm… Why?... don't you want to dance with me and the others?" Oliver spoke with a sad voice, his expression showing dejection that tugged at her heart.
"No, no! No, Young Master, it's not like that! It's just I… I feel embarrassed." Gracie looked sideways and down, trying to hide her face. Her feet fidgeted constantly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Her eyes checked out her maid outfit, then sneaked a glance at the others who wore beautiful, colorful clothes. She felt plain in comparison, she wanted to join them and dance with them but in deep corners of her heart, despite her imagining herself standing beside young master several time in all these years….. she still couldn't move forward and cross this imaginary bridge blocked by a huge wall…. She knows all to well what was her role.... but young master accepted her, their love is finally got recognition but…. but it's not that easy.
Oliver, noticing this, sighed and released her hand. He grabbed her face with both hands, cupping it gently and lifting it up toward him. His thumbs rested against her cheeks as he spoke slowly "Gracie, I'm sorry…. Emmy told me about my bad habit of doing things without thinking, and even after all that I still made a mistake… If not for Zack reminding me again, I would have not realized my mistake…. Gracie I'm sorry for not noticing it sooner." His voice grew softer, more intimate. "Gracie, I may not be the best man, but I will strive to become a man who won't disappoint you." He paused, letting his next words carry their full weight. "GRACIE, I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I LOVE YOU WITH THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!... I KNOW I LOOKED AT YOU AS A BEST FRIEND UNTIL NOW, BUT I WANT YOU TO BE WITH ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE... I WANT TO LOVE YOU JUST THE WAY, YOU'VE LOVED ME ALL THESE YEARS." His eyes held hers, unwavering. "GRACIE, DO YOU WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH ME?"
Oliver, while speaking, lowered one hand and placed it on her waist. He pulled her closer with gentle insistence. Their bodies pressed together, their faces close enough that she could feel his breath. Gracie's mind was blown away with the sudden confession. The whole world vanished from her view. Only Oliver's eyes remained, shining brightly like beacons in the fading light. She didn't know what to say. The wall that was looking unbreakable suddenly had many cracks in them, she knew young master started to see her as a lover but she stopped him before because she was very surprised back at her room…but now after hearing it from his own mouth made her eyes get wet.
She felt her dream, which she had always looked at from far away, finally come close to her. She could touch it now. She had been in a trance about what had happened today, uncertain and confused, but hearing his confession made her mind clear. Everything crystallized in this moment. Gracie kept looking at his eyes. Even though the light was fading in the surrounding area, in her vision, it was so bright that it felt blinding. The world had narrowed to just this, just him.
Oliver, noticing Gracie not saying anything, grazed her cheeks with his thumb. He touched her lips with his strong finger, tracing the soft curve. He asked again, his voice dropping to something almost reverent. "GRACIE, I LOVE YOU... DO YOU WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH ME?"
Hearing this question again, Gracie, in her full trance with teary eyes, just nodded. She couldn't form words. Her fingers gripped Oliver's outfit at his shoulders tightly, holding on as if he might disappear. Her face looked up at her young master, and slowly she saw his face getting closer and closer. Her breathing started getting faster and faster, coming in short gasps. Her throat felt dry. She closed her eyes and only heard the wind rustling for a moment, then…
UMMMMM
A soft pair of lips touched hers, and she jolted in pleasure. Her whole body screamed in joy. Her blood boiled in happiness. Her feet rose up on their toes instinctively. Her back arched inward against Oliver's body as his hand on her back tightened, pulling her impossibly closer.
UMMM MMMFFHHH SLLPPPP MMUMMMM SLLPPPPP
Oliver's tongue started exploring her mouth, tasting her sweetness. She moaned harder, unable to contain the sounds. Oliver's right hand moved downward with a clear goal in mind.
RUFFLE RUFFLE
He first removed her skirt and her short apron above it while untying it from her waist. It fell to the ground in a soft heap leaving a simple soft cloth blue full pant on her lower body. Still kissing her deeply, Oliver's right hand touched the intimate side portion of her hip, feeling the softness beneath his palm.
"AAAHHH UMMM MMMFFFF OOOOOO…"
Oliver's hands moved between their bodies. His fingers worked quickly and skillfully.
TAP TAP TAP
He unbuttoned her half vest cloth, each button releasing with a soft sound. He undid everything, making her vest open up completely. Now only her white full shirt remained as Oliver finally stopped kissing her.
Gracie opened her eyes, still feeling his taste lingering on her lips. She subconsciously licked them, wanting to savour every bit of him. Her chest was moving swiftly, rising and falling with her rapid breathing.
"Young Master, you...I .. I.. I LOVE YOU YOUNG MASTER... okay, I'm ready to be your… YOUR LIFE PARTNER!" Gracie squirmed happily as she put her head on his chest, hiding herself from view. Her shyness overtook her boldness. Oliver hugged her and nodded, not saying anything for a while. He just held her, letting the moment settle into both their hearts.
"Gracie, stretch your hands sideways." Oliver suddenly spoke.
Gracie did as he asked without thinking about anything.
RUFFLE
But suddenly she felt her body getting lighter. She looked down and saw what Oliver was doing now.
"What????!" She hid herself in Oliver's shadow as she saw everyone looking at them while giggling. "Young Master, what are you doing?! Why are you stripping me?!" Gracie spoke quickly as she felt Oliver's fingers reaching her sleeves.
Oliver's fingers opened the wrist buttons there and gently folded the fabric to reach her elbows. He did the same to her other hand, his movements careful making sure her skin are not mistakenly graze by his nails. Oliver smiled, then held her face again and said with absolute conviction, "YOU'RE MY WOMAN NOW. NO NEED TO HESITATE. NO NEED TO SERVE OTHERS AS A MAID. NO NEED TO THINK TWICE BEFORE DOING ANYTHING. YOU'RE MY WOMAN, AND YOU WILL LIVE YOUR LIFE JUST THE WAY YOU WANT! DO YOU UNDERSTAND, GRACIE?"
Oliver's words stirred her heart again. She could only nod, unable to speak past the emotion clogging her throat.
"HMM, GOOD. YOU'RE NO LONGER MAID GRACIE BUT JUST GRACIE MAHER!!!!! A LIFE PARTNER FOR THIS HANDSOME MAN!"
CLICK RUFFLE TAP!
Oliver, in one swift motion, removed the bow tie from the top button of her shirt, then opened her top few buttons revealing a bit of smooth white skin beneth. Now Gracie was completely looking just like a normal girl wearing full blue pants and a normal white shirt. The uniform that had defined her for so long lay in pieces.
Gracie stood there, feeling the weight of her identity getting stripped away by a man who just stood in front of her in triumph. He flicked his hair and winked at her with that signature charm. Gracie just couldn't contain her love and joy anymore. The emotions burst free like a dam breaking.
She jumped and hugged Oliver tightly, throwing her whole weight into it.
"YOUNG MASTER, YOU'RE SOOOOOOOO HANDSOME!!!! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOUUUU!!!"
"Hehehehh!" She smiled and laughed with pure, unfiltered happiness.
Oliver held her waist and gave her a spin, lifting her off the ground. Gracie's legs tucked up beneath her. Her face beamed with laughter. Her bright yellow hair, straight yet slightly curved at the ends, moved happily in the air like ribbons in the wind.
The friends and family around them clapped, showing their appreciation for the beautiful display. Some women wiped tears from their eyes. Others smiled knowingly. The celebration had found its heart.
HUFF HUFF
After so much spinning and laughing, Oliver put her down slowly. Gracie lifted up on her toes while still on the ground, she raised her head and then kissed Oliver's cheek. She smiled sweetly, her whole face glowing. "Young Master, thank you! You're the best! I love you!"
Gracie, while laughing, ran away with light steps. She bowed toward Queen Mother and Mother Isafold, getting their blessing again. Their approving smiles warmed her further. She moved like a normal girl now, dancing with the other girls happily. She glanced at Oliver many times, smiling and waving at him with uninhibited joy. Each wave was a promise; each smile a thank you.
Oliver sighed with deep satisfaction. He grabbed her removed maid clothes and gently folded each piece with care. He tucked them inside his blazer, securing them perfectly against his chest, right over his heart. He just stood there on the side, watching his Gracie, who had now completely become part of the family. Not as a servant, but as his equal. His woman… His future.
He turned sideways and looked toward Zack, who was also looking at him from the bench. Their eyes met across the courtyard. Zack raised a middle finger at him while smirking, his expression caught somewhere between annoyance and approval.
Oliver just flicked his hair with exaggerated flair and raised his thumbs up. He laughed, the sound carrying across the space between them.
Both men shook their heads at each other and looked away, but small smiles lingered on their faces. The argument was forgotten. The point was made. They had both spoken their truths tonight.
The music continued playing. The dancing went on. The celebration filled the courtyard with life and warmth. Two men sat and stood in their separate spaces, watching the women they cared about laugh and move with freedom. The evening deepened into night, but the lights from the courtyard kept the darkness at bay.
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END OF CHAPTER
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Author Blabbering
New month has started while scheduling this chapter. I hope everyone gets close to their goals....Whether it is getting good marks in exam, or get a raise in job, or saying I love you to your crush... I hope everything works out for you in this month.
Take care...Eat well...Stay safe.....
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