11: The Marigold Flower

I looked at my hand and I can literally see my muscles. I didn’t know it was this bad. I’m glad that Ervin came and the Prince already left. I’ve been holding myself back since he appeared earlier. I’m weak to pretty things, and seeing his face makes my heart race. For a moment, I forgot about the pain I was feeling. He was so concerned about me, like I was not a servant in his eyes. I wanted him to leave as soon as possible because I don’t want to grab that pretty thing in front of me because I know I won’t be able to let him go once I put my hands on him.

“Fabio? Are you still there?” Ervin called.

“Yes,” I responded. He said he’ll bring me a first aid kit. There’s no way he’ll get one, you need to ask the guards or the servants inside the palace.

“Good. Come inside Mary,” Ervin said as he opened the door and I saw a nurse?

“Hello,” she said while looking at me.

Why is there a nurse here? Isn’t she the nurse inside the Palace? How come Ervin got to make her come here?

“Ervin!” I exclaimed. I cannot believe he dragged the nurse just to treat my hand!

“Don’t talk and just let her treat your wounds,” Ervin said as he sat down.

“But I can’t! Why did you even bring a nurse? We’re just servants!” I exclaimed. I still can’t believe what’s happening. We’re not something important that a nurse will come here personally just to treat my wound.

“Just shut up,” he said as he smiled at me. Ervin himself is such a mystery for me. I know nothing about him and he keeps on doing things that surprise me. He even talked to the prince without a second thought.

“Oh my, what a terrible wound,” the nurse said.

“Yes. That’s why I called you,” Ervin said.

They seem to be close. I want to know how Ervin did it? A lowly servant like us is not even allowed to be inside that Palace and he even brought a nurse with him!

“How?” I asked Ervin.

“It’s a secret,” he said with a stupid look on his face.

I looked at the nurse who’s busy cleaning my wound. She grabs something in her bag.

“What is that?” I asked as I watched her put something on my wound.

“It’s called Marigold Ointment. It can heal your wound faster,” she replied.

“Marigold?” I asked. I know that flower but I didn’t know it can be used as a medicine.

“Looks like someone has more knowledge about flowers than you,” Ervin jokingly said.

The nurse laughed, and I cannot seem to understand how I’m supposed to act. We are servants and we don’t deserve to be treated like this.

“There. All good,” the nurse said. “A gardener needs his hand to plant beautiful flowers. Just take a rest and don’t overwork yourself.”

“Thank you,” I said as I stood up.

“Alright. Thank you, Mary,” Ervin said as he walked the nurse out of the hut.

There’s a lot of things that have happened today. My mind is preoccupied with the thought of my parents but now it was changed into the thought of the Prince and Ervin. But I’m thankful that my hand will be better, I'll get to plant more flowers.

~

“Ervin, what are you doing here? The guards told me that you were slacking off,” Tanaka said right after I stepped foot inside the Palace.

“Where’s the nurse?” I asked, ignoring the old man Tanaka.

“Why do you need a nurse? Are you not feeling well?” he asked.

“Just tell me where Mary is,” I said as I looked around. I cannot walk inside, I need to be careful or else the new servants would notice me.

“You can’t get in. There’s a lot of new servants who don't know you. Stay outside, I’ll call Mary for you,” he said as he walked away.

I took a deep breath before walking out of the Palace. If only I know how to treat wounds, I would definitely treat Fabio’s hand without anyone’s help.

“Mary’s here,” Tanaka said while walking with the nurse.

“Hi Mary,” I said as I smiled at her.

“Ervin! It’s been so long, I hope you are doing well,” she said as she hugged me.

“Yes, I am. But my friend isn’t. He accidentally hit his hand with a trowel,” I explained.

“That’s horrible. Come one i’ll treat his wounds,” Mary said as we started to walk.

“Ervin,” Tanaka called.

I looked back at him, “What is it?” I asked.

“Try to be a little bit more responsible and diligent, I cannot let those guards talk to me about this again,” he said.

“Why are you even trying?” I asked as I turned my back to him.

Forgiveness is all he asks, but that wasn’t easy to give as well. You work hard for it and sometimes anything you do is still isn’t enough. It wasn’t easy for everyone and he expected me to be fine with it in just a simple apology?