"Are you sure That we are awake? It seems to me That yet we sleep, we dream"
― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
Contrary to what Agustin thought he would not get a chance to see Canary again. Only at dinner would he be able to see Canary. She was more quiet than usual. Like as if someone had done or said something to her. In return Amara was more talkative than usual and her mother (who Agustin thought was a huge goofball and not in the good way) stared at her like she was some cute puppy.
It was annoying that Agustin had to hear Amara talk and talk and no one seemed to want her to shut up. He wish he could tell her to shut up but no matter how unhinged Agustin was he would never disrespect someone in their own house….at least if they weren't in the wrong and Amara wasn't in the wrong for just talking no matter how annoying she was.
"I'm sorry my lady, could we have a bit of silence". Shimon said with this bright smile that held authority behind it. "i-I-". "Yes your highness". Amara said, stunned. The only people at a loss for words were Amara and Alexia. The rest seemed relieved that Shimon had said something. There was finally peace at the table and now Agustin could get a good read of what was going on with Canary.
She ate quietly and somewhat slowly. She looked almost sad in a sense. Eddison had seemed to notice this too. "Canary would you mind coming to my study later"? Eddison said, suddenly breaking the silence that Shimon had made from Amara's word puking. "Oh". Canary said jumping as if something had frightened her. "Yes brother". She said and went back to being quiet. Alexia had made a face that she through no one would notice but in fact it was noticed. By Agustin of course who had been wondering who had made Canary sad it had to have been someone at this table.
But the very unlikely person who was always too busy and noticed things sometimes late was Thomas who just happened to stop thinking about his businesses to notice something was going on with Canary and Alexia. If the crown prince and duke weren't here right now Thomas would have confronted the both of them. But since they were here he decided he would say something later in private.
"May I join you two in the study"? Agustin asked. "What"? Edison said in disbelief. "Me and Shimon I mean". Agustin said grabbing Shimon. "Uhhh-"? Eddison said, looking at his father for permission. Thomas gave a slight nod for approval. "Yessss-". Eddison confused and unsure if his father was really okay with this. "Then Mara shall go too". Alexia silently taking a bite of her food.
Agustin let out a silent groan that wasn't that silent. But only Shimon heard it. "Realina won't be joining". Eddison said, holding up his hand to stop Canary from asking Realina to come along too. She slumped back in her chair and let out a silent sigh.
"Again". Canary sighed within herself. She would be around people that talked so much that she wasn't able to have an opening to speak herself. Especially with Amara coming. She knew she would be quiet for most of the time which made her not even want to go. She knew how this would go.
The last thing Canary wanted to do was be around people but still be alone. Alexia had already made her feel terrible enough today with trying to ruin her plans to go back and stay in Lyikar. Why did Alexia want her to stay in Grania anyways? She just wanted to make Canary feel miserable. More miserable than she already felt staying in this dark and gloomy castle only being able to escape a few months out of the year.
Now she came to Canary right before dinner saying she had a potential marriage partner for her. Which Canary knew any marriage partner her mother would suppose for her would be a bad one. She felt her mother hated her so much she would probably get her to marry some old baron. Shipped off to some barren and cold land. Amara's enthusiastic ways didn't make it any better meeting Canary at her bedroom door pulling her away to their brother's study.
The place she would rather be alone with Eddison than have all these people here. Talking among themselves and Canary herself as quiet as she seemingly already was over the years of verbal abuse from her mother would be quiet even more. "I wonder if they're already there". Amara said practically skipping.
Before they could even open the door Agustin himself opened the door smiling from ear to ear. Of course Amara would think it was her he was smiling for and Canary would think it also. "Hello". Agustin said holding the door open for them. "Thank you". They said at the same time.
"Whens the last time i've been in here". Amara said immediately going over to the glasses and wine. "Everleigh". Eddison said waving her over. She walked over to him with Agustin following behind her like a chick to its mother. Shimon couldn't help but laugh watching him and got up and came over himself.
"I have a gift-". Eddison said holding up a box. "More like a farewell gift seeing these will be your last days at Whitehill". "Really"? Canary said, smiling brightly. Which made Eddison happy seeing it had been a while since he saw Canary smile that brightly. Though she had smiled it wasn't the same as her younger self. She opened the box to a liquor that was imported from Lyikar and a handkerchief that had Lyikarian embroidery on it. Though it wasn't authentic Lyikarian embroidery, Canary still held it to her chest with a huge smile on her face.
"Lyikarian embroidery". She said running her fingers over the stitching. "I know its not authentic but it's the thought that counts. I know you miss Lyikarian embroidery". "And the liquor"? Canary said lifting and staring at the glass jar. "Ah I thought we would try it word is the liquor is a new trend in Lyikar. If I knew you were moving back to Lyikar I wouldn't have gotten it. You're bound to drink it in Lyikar anyways".
"No, let's try it together. I want you to taste it too". Eddison nodded as a child whose parents had told them yes you can get a treat. He hurried up and got glasses for the five of them. Pouring an appropriate amount in each glass. They each swirled their glass around and took a sip of the liquor. It was silent for a moment with Amara ending that silence by gagging. "Ugh". She said, "How can you guys drink this"? "It tastes like candy"? Canary said.
"The honey vanilla candy in Lyikar". "I think i've tried that from little time I spent there". Agustin smiled. "I like it". Shimon said taking another sip. "Its too sweet for me but I think if you add another liquor to it that sweetness will go away". They all nodded in agreement. "Yeah a lot of people don't like sweet wine or liquor". Canary added.
"It would be good if they came out with another version of this where it isn't too sweet". She said. They all agreed again with Amara nodding, not even understanding what they were talking about. She herself did not drink at all and was only here trying things because Agustin was. It was silent with all of them thinking about the liquor taking occasional sips of the liquor.
"Thats it"! Canary said standing up. "Whats wrong"?! The rest of them said together worried something had happened. "Your business and trade". She said pointing at Shimon and Agustin. "Rubies and liquor"! She said squealing. Shimon and Agustin looked at each other in shock and then got up shouting and hugging Canary. "Who would of thought of that"! "Amazing"! They said hugging her tightly. "You just have to find someone with a ruby mine". Canary said. "You have a ruby mine"? Eddison said. Canary pointed at herself. "I have a ruby mine"? Eddison nodded. "The mine that grandfather gave you". "I do have a ruby mine". She said looking at Agustin and Shimon.
"You do". Eddison said grinning huge and rubbing his hands together. "I do". Canary said, smiling the same grin as him. "Whats the grin for"? Shimon said confused. "You need a ruby trade-". Canary said smiling. "In order for a ruby trade you need someone in Lyikar that is willing to use their ruby mine". "Who has a ruby mine". "You". Agustin said smiling at her. "I do". "Liquor will be easy to produce from Lyikar". "There you have it". "You're ruby mine and Trade".
"I don't understand". Amara said feeling left out. "I can't understand what you guys are talking about". Eddison smiled a gentle smile. "The gist of what we're saying is more money for house Whitewood". Amara smiled and nodded stupidly. All Agustin could do was shake his head. It was obvious her mother had only talked to her she deemed necessary as a wife of a noble.
Not understanding any business or anything that it took for a noble family to continue on. How could the siblings be so different? Why were Eddison and Canary raised so different from Amara? It was obvious Amara was spoiled. She would be used by someone for her ignorance. He would be sure of it. Her mother would have a noble marry her and as stupid as her mother is she too would be fooled by some noble. Mainly a noble who was in debt most likely a gambling debt and the whitewood family would be disgraced and have to pray off the debts and more debts because no true addict will stop gambling.
He looked at Canary and Eddison who were cheering and discussing things over with Shimon and sighed with pity. Somehow he would have to help this family so good people like Eddy,Carrie,and Thomas wouldn't be dragged in the mud with Alexia's and Amara's foolishness. Who will marry Amara? Is the question.
"You will be heading down to the capital with us". Canary asked looking over notes with Agustin. Agustin nodded. "Will you be going to the ball"? Agustin asked. This surprised Canary who seemed to jump a little bit. "It's my sister's debutante so I shall be going". "And the other events"? Agustin said, staring at her.
"Would you like me to go"? She asked. Agustin nodded. "Yes I would like that". "Why"? She asked genuinely confused. "Because you are my friend What friend doesn't want to hang out with their friends"? "Friend? Are we friends by account of you being friends with my brother"? She said. Agustin chuckled. "If that was the case your sister would be my friend also". "Oh". Canary said cheerfully.
"Does that make you happy that we are friends". Canary nodded. "You seem like you are a great friend to have". "I am". Agustin sighed like he was too much even for himself. "Call me Agustin from now on not my lord or duke just Agustin". "Then you shall call me Canary then". Canary grinned.
"I think I like Carrie better". Agustin said mischievously. "Carrie? Are we at nicknames already"? "Your father and brother call you Everleigh I shall give you a nickname also". "Maybe Ly since you like Lyikar so much". "Carrie is fine". Canary said, raising an eyebrow. "Realina already calls me Carrie anyways". "Well I don't want a nickname someone else has". "Are we that close for you to have your own private nickname for me"? Agustin nodded. "I am Agustin Abarca, I am not just anyone".
"I just met you four days ago". Canary laughed. "Yes enough for our friendship to grow this much". "Hmmm". "Itsella"? Agustin said in Lyikarian. "Istella"? Canary said. "Sing in Lyikarian"? Agustin nodded. "You like to sing what better nickname than that". "Hmmm". Canary said. "Then you shall be Aterian". Canary said. "Aterian? Black wolf? Why black wolf"? Agustin asked. "You remind me of a black wolf". Canary smiled. Agustin smiled also pleased with the nickname that Canary had given him. They continued to talk in Lyikarian, getting side eyes from Amara who was seemingly jealous of what was going on.
"Why are they talking in a different langauge"? Amara said to Eddison. Eddison looked at Canary and Agustin talking and laughing in Lyikarian and shrugged his shoulders. "Let them be". Eddison said. "Let them be"?! Amara said in disbelief. "You know I have my eyes on Lord Abarca and so does mother for me". "Just because you and mother have your eyes on Agustin does not mean that he's yours". "Agustin doesn't like you like that". Shimon interrupted.
"Shimon"! Eddison said. "He doesn't you should tell her the truth". Shimon said going back to looking at all the alcohol Eddison had. "Impressive collection". Tears started welling up in Amara's eyes leaving both Eddison and Shimon taken a back. "Ah"! "I hate you brother"! Amara said running out of the study. "Now I shall hear my mothers words". Eddison said, shoving Shimon. "Thanks alot". "Your welcome". Shimon chuckled.