"We accept the love we think we deserve."
― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Agustin could not stop staring at Canary as she went on and on about Lyikar. About the ocean and the sands that laid at its shores. The clothing and food and how she could not get used to Grania food when she first moved back. "There are more stars in Lyikar than there are in Grania also". Canary said. "At night the windows or they are sort of like doors you can look straight out of them and see the stars.
"What about business in Lyikar"? Agustin asked. "Ahh yes". Canary said. "You are looking to start a trade there"? Canary said excitedly. Agustin nodded amazed by her excitement about business. Not many women wanted to talk about business. But here Canary was excited and talking about business with him. "My uncle Lumus spends most of his time in Lyikar". Canary said. "He only comes back to Grania when the social season begins. I can ask him to talk to you about Lyikar". Canary smiled. "Really"? "I appreciate that to think I didn't want to have a conversation with you". Agustin chuckled.
Canary nodded. "I understand". Canary said. "You mentioned you will be going to Lyikar after the social season we will probably be seeing each other in Lyikar then you and your uncle's company will be great". Agustin smiled somewhat comforted that he wouldn't be traveling alone. "Yes however I wont be coming back to Grania". "You won't"? Canary nodded. "Yes I will be staying in Lyikar". "Huh so this is the reason why Eddison was sad".
"Eddison was sad"? Canary asked, shocked. "Yes It seems your brother really cherishes you". Canary did a sad chuckle. "Well it's good to see two people will miss me when I leave". They began to talk about other things other than Lyikar. Why Agustin had mostly only wore green and black clothing How his favorite color was also green and black and green were his house colors.
Agustin had never talked about himself this much when conversing with a woman. Canary would ask questions about Agustin and patiently listening before asking another or putting her input in also. They had switched to talking in Lyikarian to which some of the servants stopped to watch them and wonder what they were talking about.
"Rubies"? Canary asked. "Yes I thought doing something with rubies would be more profitable in Lyikar". Canary nodded. "Lyikar's most profitable jewel is rubies It's rare in Grania only a few nobles have ruby jewelry one of those being the king himself". Agustin nodded and sighed. "I guess fabric would be the way to go then"? "No you can start business with one of the nobles over in Lyikar with rubies, the only problem is transporting the jewels to Grania". "You would have to find a merchant who is willing to transport the jewels and find a craftsperson to make the jewelry that would sell them more rubies". Agustin nodded and stared at Canary who was writing down things for Agustin to look over.
For a moment he wondered what it would be like to marry Canary. But then he remembered that Canary had said in their conversation how much she wished to go back to Lyikar and he knew then that he couldn't hold Canary back from Lyikar. But maybe he could persuade her, he wondered. Make her rethink going back to Lyikar. She would be a great assistance in the king's request for him and Shimon to open a trade or business with Lyikar.
Not to mention if they were to have children they would maybe inherit Canary's beautiful eyes. Everytime Canary moved her eyes a certain way the sun would shine on them. Lighting them up like some kind of fire in her eye. Golden they shined in the sun and she would put them back down and they would still be this beautiful shade of light brown.
She would often smirk when thinking of something else and tell Agustin in excitement. "We always have emeralds but Grania also has emeralds. Personally I think Lyikar's emeralds are more beautiful". "Yeah beautiful". Agustin said. "Huh"? Canary said. "What's beautiful"? She asked. "Your eyes". Agustin said. "Huh"? Canary said, startled at Agustin's boldness. "My eyes"?
"Oh thank you". "Do people often talk to you about the Whitewood traits"? Agustin asked, staring at her black hair. "When I first moved to Grania, yes But I don't go out much even during the social season so I don't hear much about it". Agustin nodded. "You don;t go out during the social season"? He was confused as to why she would confine herself at home. "Yes I mostly spend my time with my uncle or when he goes out to a gathering or ball I stay at home alone".
"Why"? Agustin said, almost annoyed. "All my married friends only talk to those who are married. I simply stand alone at the events so I don't bother to go". "I wouldn't call those friends Canary". "No true friend, stops talking to you just because you're married. I mean look at me and sonny he's married with a child on the way and your brother".
Canary nodded. "Truthfully I wasn't that hurt when they stopped talking to me". "You weren't"? Canary shook her head. "No truthfully the people I really call friends are in Lyikar we send each letters". "Lonely but not alone would describe you I guess". Agustin said, rubbing his head. He didn't think Canary had any friends truly. He thought a quiet girl like her would surely get used. Or is probably being used right now. He would know he was trying to use her for her knowledge of Lyikar and business.
It was silent between the two with Canary looking back down at her book she was reading before Agustin previously came. Agustin guessed she didn't have anything else to say to him. But he still wanted to sit there and bask in all the calmness and peace that was Canary. He kept peeking at Agustin but she wasn't fazed at all by his presence. Just calmly reading her book alone in this garden surrounded by servants.
Agustin wondered if Canary spent all her time mostly with servants. From what he could tell her sister in law Realina was busy getting ready for the baby especially since she was at her last stages. Her sister and mother stayed together mostly and it didn't seem like she was close with them. Her father and brother well it was obvious. In families like this the men worked hardly at home and the women tended to the house.
But sometimes Agustin wondered was this really okay? Were all the noble families like this? This is why he couldn't believe in true love. To say you love someone but are so busy you cannot see them is absurd. If you truly love someone you would make time for them. Which made it hard for Agustin to believe his parents were in love because his father was a duke. Dukes are busy not only with the duty of being duke but business matters.
Agustin pitied Canary. Whether she had known it or not she was already shaped into a wife who stayed at home taking care of the house and waiting for her husband to come back home. He decided he would leave Canary alone…at least for the time being. He knew that he would eventually need Canary again for her knowledge on how businesses are ran in Lyikar and what he could use to help start a trade with Grania.
"What book are you reading is it based on business"? "No". Canary frowned and looked at Agustin confused. "Its a fantasy book". "A-a fantasy book"? Canary nodded. "I didn't pick you to-". "To read fantasy books"? Canary chuckled. "I am a girl". "Yeah but you're so-". "So what"? Agustin couldn't find the words to say what he wanted to say. "Good at business". Canary said, finishing the sentence for him. "Yes exactly that". "My grandparents taught me how to do business especially in Lyikar". Canary said, closing her book. "They also taught me that even business men and women have to have a break sometimes too". "My break is reading romance,fantasy,and sometimes mystery books". "Tell me lord Abarca what do you do for fun"? "I ride my horse ,sometimes I just simply sit in my study to drink and think but mostly ride my horse I also love to hunt but it's not hunting season yet". "A horse"? "Yes, it's a merens horse. I named him Caelum". "A black horse named Caelum, how cute". "Cute huh, would you be interested in meeting him sometime". Agustin said excitedly.
The one thing about Agustin is that he adored animals, especially his horse Caelum. If he could take Caelum when he went on his business travels he would. However he couldn't. Caelum was his first best friend and this was the first person other than Shimon and Eddison who had shown interest in Caelum. Especially a girl showing interest in his horse and anything other than herself. The more and more Canary talked the more Agustin wanted to stay and talk to her more. Maybe she wasn't as antisocial as he thought. He started to realize that Canary was simply a listener more than she was a talker.
"I would-". "Canary"! A voice yelled from above. Canary and Agustin looked everywhere from where the voice came from and when they had found where it came from it was Thomas her father standing on the balcony with his arms crossed glaring back and forth between Canary and Agustin. "Everleigh"! He yelled again. "What do you think you're doing"?! He shouted so loudly that all of the servants stopped their work to look and stare.
"I'm talking to lord Abarca". Canary said innocently. "He came upon me in the garden and wanted to talk. I didnt approach him". "Can you not talk to me"? Agustin said in Lyikarian. "No my father doesn't want me and my sister not to bother you and the crown prince only Eddy should". She replied back in Lyikarian. "Huh"? Agustin said with a grimace on his face. "You two speaking in lyikarian". Thomas said, storming down the steps of the balcony. "What are you saying to her". Thomas said almost in a full sprint towards them.
"Nothing she's telling me about Lyikar Lord Whitewood". "Lyikar huh". Thomas said, raising an eyebrow at Canary who looked away. "Lord Abarca I appreciate you showing interest but the next time you want to talk to Everleigh-". "This Everleigh, who is Everleigh? Surely he is not talking about your younger sister I have not met or talked to the child"? "I am Everleigh". "You are Everleigh but your name is Canary"? "Everleigh is my middle name my father gave to me he intended it to be my first name". "So why not name you Everleigh instead of Canary".
Thomas's angry started to boil up in him watching the two go back and forth in Lyikarian. It made him even more annoyed that he couldn't understand them and that Agustin seemed to be so close to Canary for her to talk in Lyikarian when she hasn't spoken about Lyikar or spoken in Lyikarian for a long time. Even with her uncle Lumus she didn't speak Lyikarian. So who was Agustin Abarca to get his baby girl to go back to speaking in Lyikarian? What was so great about him? Even when him and Eddison had gotten gifts all the way from Lyikarian she didn't this happy as this when speaking in Lyikarian.
And why did he seem like such a great match for Canary. They looked great together if Thomas wasn't trying to hold Canary close to him until she went off to Lyikar he would propose a marriage between the two. He huffed and started tapping his foot on the ground just staring at the two talking. It took them a minute to realize that Thomas was still standing there staring at the two.
"Father"! Canary said. "I'm sorry it isn't what it seems like". She said standing up. "Canary lets go". Thomas said, grabbing Canary's arm. "Father, are you angry you never call me Canary-". "Oh goodbye Lord Abarca I shall see you at dinner". "Call me Agustin"! "No"! Thomas yelled at the two of them. "It is improper you must not call him that".
"But father-". "NO BUTS". "Lets go". Agustin watched them walk off with Thomas still fussing at Canary about him talking to him. Agustin couldn't believe Thomas was fussing at Canary her age. She was a grown woman Canary could talk to whomever she wanted. He sighed and looked around making the servants who were watching look away. "I guess I should be leaving too". Agustin said getting up. "Plently of more time to walk to her later".