10: The Geranium Flower

Ah! I cannot work well, I’m so worried about Fabio. He’s too depressed to work as well, I’m worried he’ll get himself hurt. I should go to him and assist him. Even if I’m not much of a help I still want him to know that I’ll always be by his side.

“Ervin! You’re slacking off again!” the guard shouted.

I decided to ignore him and left my work unfinished. Fabio’s more important than that stupid work.

“Ervin! I told you to stop. I will report this to Tanaka,” the guard said while holding my arm.

“Go ahead,” I said in a serious tone. I removed his hand on my arm and I walked out with a frown on my face.

“What’s wrong with that servant?”

“You’re just wasting your time. He’s been like that since he started working here and none of the old guards or the higher ranking servants can stop him.”

“Huh? Why? Is he something special?”

“I also don’t know, but I have never seen him getting scolded by Tanaka or the old guards.”

I can hear them talking as I walk. They are threatening me that they’ll tell Tanaka? What a joke. I’m not even getting paid enough for this, I’ll just go to Fabio and talk to him until he feels better. I looked around at the garden, but I cannot seem to see Fabio. He’s supposed to be planting new flowers as of now. Where is he?

“What? How dare you talk to me like that! I’m a Prince!”

Wait, that voice sounds familiar? I walked towards the small hut where Fabio used to sleep or rest. I think I heard that voice coming from here?

“Yes. You are the prince and I’m a servant so you are not supposed to be talking to me or else they’ll throw me away.”

That was Fabio’s voice! I was planning to get inside but I decided to hide and listen to their conversation.

“They won't. I won’t let them.”

“Why are you even helping me?”

“What’s with you? The other day you were so nice and lively, now you’re being mean and cold.”

“Please, leave me alone.”

This conversation needs to end before someone noticed that the Prince was not inside the palace. Fabio’s going to get punished, just like what happened in our days.

“Fabio!” I called. “What happened to you?” I looked at Fabio’s hand with a towel full of blood.

“Ervin!” he exclaimed. “You surprised me, what are you doing here?”

“Ervin? Ah, you’re that servant that is close with Hanako,” the Prince said.

“Excuse me, Yamabe-sama. But this kind of place isn’t for you, when the guards happen to see us here we will get punished,” I explained. I don’t know what he needs with Fabio. Is he trying to get him fired and thrown out? If that’s the case, then I won’t let him. I’ll protect Fabio even if I have to settle things with the Prince.

“I was just helping him. I wanted to see the flowers but I saw him digging his own hands without knowing it,” the Prince explained.

“Thank you for helping my friend. But I would like you to go back inside before someone sees you,” I said again.

“Okay. I’ll visit again,” he said before walking away.

I took a deep breath before attending Fabio, “What happened to your hand?” I asked.

“Just like what the Prince said. I was digging the soil but I didn’t know it was my hand I was digging,” he replied.

“I knew you were going to be like this. That is why I left my work to accompany you,” I said as I sat down beside him. I looked at his hand and I removed the towel. “Oh my goodness!” I exclaimed.

“Don’t look at it,” Fabio said as he tried to pull his hand.

“No! This is serious! I’ll go get a first aid kit,” I said as I stood up.

“How are you going to get a first aid kit? We servants don't have one,” he said while looking at me.

I smiled at him, “I can always find a way,” I said before walking away.

 Fabio’s hand is totally a mess. I’m glad he didn’t break any bones. He needs to be with someone all the time or else he’ll die without even knowing it. I wonder if I was like that? When she died, I was also lost and confused but I eventually stood up and continued my life even if it doesn’t have any meaning. I hope he does the same, now that I’m here. I hope I’m enough for him to stay alive and fight