Joyous Weather | Act I: There is No End

"What took you so long, dear? I've been waiting ever since noon's time."

"My mistake. Felt a little under the weather for much of the morning. That's all."

"Oh you were? Well, are you feeling quite alright, now?"

"Well other than you waking me up ever so abruptly, yes I do."

She sarcastically laughs at the small joke I made. Honestly, I only said that as to only get a reaction out of her. Tease her a little, if you would. Although not too much.

"Anyhow, would you walk around here for a little? The day's running us over and the weather seems rather nice today." I suggested, grinning.

"That would be rather lovely." She responded, smiling as well.

As we strolled around the seemingly long and wide biome, I couldn't seem to stop looking at Kiri for a single moment, even though I was trying to enjoy the scenery.

I guess I was technically still enjoying the scenery.

Kiri was rather a lovely lady in appearance. She seemed to be in a similar age as I, and had similar properties in terms of appearance. Her hair was bright brown, although there were some streaks of dark brown. Her skin tone was only as fair as the moon, if the moon was only slightly dimmer in terms of color. She wasn't pale white, but she had such a soft skin tone. And her face. Oh, her face was just so... soft and beautiful. She barely wore any makeup. Any that I could tell. But still, her face was just so... It was a sight to behold.

Her dress wasn't much but it was way better than anything anyone else can come up with. From what I could tell, it was a 'casual' dress for her. I couldn't even begin to imagine what would be her 'fancy' dress.

Her stature was similar to my own, only shorter by about a barleycorn. Unlike some other women, she didn't seem to mind that fact.

Sometimes, I wonder how do I even compare to her.

And while I could try to see how by just looking at a mirror, my home had none so...

That wasn't an option.

Besides, not like I could ever. With these clothes? Not a chance.

"Deus?" Kiri had said, popping up through my ears like a little surprise.

"Yes, Kiri?" I replied.

"What is it like in your home?" She asked me.

Strange question.

"What do you mean? Like how does it look?" I asked back.

"I suppose so, although I meant it a little bit more like on it's atmosphere. How does it feel to be there?" She further elaborated.

"Oh, I see. Well, it's nothing much of the sorts. It's just... home. Mum would be in the kitchen... Yeah in the kitchen, cleaning up our wares and tidying up the place. She goes out most of the time to work at some other house, trying to gardner up some coins to buy food for us." I replied, trying not to say too much.

But from the looks of it, I failed either way.

"How is your mother, then?" She further queried.

"She's alright. Not the best, it seems, due to my father always working and barely coming home, but well, she manages." I reciprocated.

"What does your father work in, if he can't be around so much?"

"What job do you think he's working in?"

"A butcher?"

"Oh, you silly gal!" I playfully responded, chuckling a little before resuming with:

"No, no... He doesn't cut off meat for a living. Why, if he did, I wouldn't be eating that soily broth us families eat everyday!"

Kiri giggled a bit, but then came up with a confused face and then replied:

"Wait... Do you only eat broth?"

"Yeah."

"Every day?"

"Of course. Didn't you know that?" I said, lowering in volume as I was starting to pick a little bit on Kiri's oblivious mind.

"No... No, I did not."

"Oh..."

"Well, my father works much like every other man does: As a worker, taking care of some land owned by a noble."

"Oh... Well, which noble?"

Oh no. Should I tell her it's her father?

I can't really.

Because if I do, then that would make her feel sorry for us...

And as much as that might help us, it can also damage us.

What if she tells her father this?

She might not, considering that her father may not approve of this... thing we have, but still.

I can't risk anything.

So, I pretended to try and remember who it was, then sighed and said, "I can't remember."

"You don't know who your father works for?" She further inquired.

"No... He doesn't really talk much about his work whenever he comes home, the last time that I could recall."

"I see."

"I guess you can say we're even in terms of how dumb we are." I joked a little.

"Yes, you can definitely say that." She replied, giggling a little.

We continued to trot across the park for a little, which at this point, we already have circled it three times.

I was also developing quite the headache and so, I needed to lie down for a moment.

"Let's lay down a bit now. I'm getting a little tired of just walking around the same circle." I suggested.

"You're already tired?" She asked, a little confused.

"Yeah. Haven't been feeling that great since morn'." I replied.

"What seems to be the matter, then?"

"Don't know. But I'm feeling better now than before."

"Maybe you caught something from somewhere? Do you need some care? We could go back to my home to treat any-" Kiri asked, now with a worrisome tone, before I interrupted her, saying:

"No no. I'm fine. We can continue on with this. I'm already feeling better, now that I'm with you."

"Oh.. Okay then, sweetheart. If that's what you want." She said, with a queasy smile.

We stopped by some trees and lied our backs behind one. I closed my eyes for a second and breathed in the air all around me. It was filling, compared to the air outside of this place.

The skies were still blue as ever, and the clouds only spoke to me of soft and bright recollections of things.

For once, the weather was sort of... joyish. All so joyous was the weather to me.

Anyways, I needed to relax my head a little. Could barely speak straight with this burning headache in the way.

Lucky that I managed to conversate with Kiri just fine.

"Say, Deus?" Kiri asked me.

"Yes, dear?" I replied.

"Did you like the painting I gave you two moons ago?"

"But of course!" I exclaimed with sudden dignity.

I then continued with "Haven't I shown that with all of that bawling that I did?"

"Yes... Yes, but I just--" She chuckled and said before I interrupted her and replied:

"Don't doubt anything my dear. I loved the painting very much."

"You really do?" She asked.

"I do. It's all so beautiful and fragile, yet cold and mysterious. I love the color pallette that was used and above all...

I love that it came out from you." I said, with a soft voice.

"Aw, thanks sweetheart." She said as she started to smile.

"No, thank you."

We both grinned there a little. She giggled out of pure joy and I just chuckled from the sheer sweetness that was forming around us.

Today may not have started out so great, but anytime that I get to be with her...

It makes the pain and sorrow that I suffer through all worthwhile.

"So, how's the family?" I asked Kiri.

Can't let Kiri do all the questions, now, should I?

"Oh, they're okay. Father always attending to his duties, overlooking his workers and tending to his duties as a noble, of course. Mother always taking care of the others, and roaming around the town in her little carriage and such." She responded nonchalantly.

"How many sisters do you have again? I'm always forgetting just how big your family is." I continued to ask her.

"Gosh. Sometimes, I forget myself. But I have three. Bethilda, Mary, and young Emily." She replied."

"Wow. Can't believe the Liushads have that many ladies in the family." I remarked at the fact.

"Oh well, it isn't all women. We have rather a older brother named Anthonius. But he isn't around much. He's usually abroad, dueling whoever he comes across and acting as our representative."

"Wow. Wish I could do that." I said with a little hint of awe. Couldn't believe just how big and accomplished was the family.

"In some ways, I wish I could too."

"You do?"

"But of course. I always wanted to do so much more than just act pretty. But my parents don't really approve of it. In some cases, I also sort of doubt whether I really could do it."

"Well, that's the toughest part living as royalty, ain't it?" I said.

"Yes, it is. We always are given expectations and well... are expected to follow them through. Never allowed to do anything else." She said, with a heavy sigh.

"Wish it didn't have to be that way." I stated.

"Unfortunately, it is."

As we continued to rest upon the tree, I could hear footsteps coming closer to us. Behind.

Frantic.

Then, out of these footsteps, a familiar voice declared:

"Miss Liushad? Miss Liushad?"

We both stood up quickly, with me almost tripping on the way up.

I wasn't much too happy that I had to get back up again. Already felt a little sore.

"What's the matter, nurse?" Kiri said, already knowing who it was.

"Your father... Your father wants you home pronto." She said, seemingly exhausted from all the running. I chuckled silently. Sort of strange being able to relate to someone's own suffering.

"Didn't you tell him I was busy? That I was visiting my sisters?" She asked her, confused and a little frantic.

"I did and all I can say is that you better appreciate that he didn't go over there himself and find about your little ruse." The nurse replied.

"But--"

"No buts, missus! You know your father doesn't like having to wait. Neither you responding to him like this." The nurse stated, now motioning Kiri to go home.

"But what does he even want now?" Kiri responded, sticking back with me.

"Again, I can only say this: He has something critical to tell you. Now hurry! We must go now!" The nurse exclaimed.

Kiri sighed.

"Dear, I'm sorry that this date must cut short but I must go." Kiri said, turning back to me.

"I understand, my love. Take care of yourself and I'll see you soon, alright?" I replied, putting my hand gently on her cheek.

She nodded.

She then slowly rotated back towards the nurse, who took her by the hand, and they proceeded to sprint across the blades of grass and back into the ugly streets.

What could it be that was so important for her to leave?

"Didn't we tell you not to keep your hopes up with her?" The dark had said, only appearing for a minute.

I didn't react to anything my thoughts had told me. All I did was lay back down on the tree and proceeded to put my head upon the bark of the tree.

Things are getting complicated, isn't it?

And despite any of my hopes, which still stood strong, I could only daydream on what may happen next.

The sun was starting to loom over the horizon.

I know my time here is short, but for just one minute...

I wanted to relax.

The day was done, now, but all I wanted was a time for myself. To only blankly settle my mind down for a while.

To ignore the heat of it all and just...

Just settle for a moment.

The only thing I could think of there... was the painting.

In all of it's beauty and conformity, it hanged itself in the hallway of my memories.

Next to all the memories of her. My beloved.

And as the image settled into my mind, I could only smile at the sheer thought of her.

...

..

.