Chapter Nine

Mariaisabella inspects her neck in the mirror. She twists her head to the side and slightly extends her neck. Then, with precision, she smears and rubs the healing ointment onto her bruises. The fading black and blue are still noticeable, but it is much hidden with the ointment.

Today is the day that Mariaisabella and Emerenzian will be spending time together under the oak tree. The last remnant of the cold season has completely gone and is now replaced with Spring. Mariaisabella sighs and gazes out the window. If the mother had not run away, her daughters would be attending the seasonal ball to find suitors.

But those thoughts aren't in the forefront of her mind. Rather, she is mainly thinking about her growing relationship with the man.

Mariaisabella puts on her straw sunhat as the final piece to her ensemble and goes downstairs. Emerenzian isn't meeting her in the home. Instead, he said to follow the directions on the piece of paper he wrote in.

The words are barely eligible and the map is hard to interpret. But the mother appreciates the gesture. The warm morning sunlight sweetly streams on the woman. Her golden, georgette gown gleams as she makes the journey to the fields.

It only takes mere minutes to arrive at the oak tree at the top of the hill. As she approaches the summit, the familiar silhouette stands with a smile on his face. In front of him is an outdoor blanket with a basket in the middle. The man is wearing his usual attire of crisp white shirt, overalls, and brown pants. This is fitted with a Coppola hat.

Mariaisabella can't help but smile. The handsome man is going above and beyond. No one in her life has given the woman the time of day, and her emotions for him are growing. She rushes up to the top and immediately wraps her in his arms.

"Emerenzian, you have no idea how happy you make me." The woman delightfully says. When they break apart, they linger for a few more seconds. The temptation to kiss Emerenzian is clear, but she decides against it.

"Come on, let us sit and get to know each other," Emerenzian, although stuck in a trance, nods at Mariaisabella's suggestion. They lie on the blanket and talk.

After a few moments of eating, pointing at the clouds, and enjoying each other's company, Mariaisabella begins to open herself up.

"You're a quick student. I even manage to read your instructions," Mariaisabella admires, pleased with his fast progress. She knows that he will be fluent in reading and writing soon.

Mariaisabella had the privilege to be taught Italian and French at a very young age. And even though he is older, his progress is fast.

Emerenzian smiled at her words."Thank you, but it was only because I have a fantastic and intelligent teacher who can help me,"

Mariaisabella's cheeks redden by his praise. She was never given a lot of compliments, so she feels good whenever he says something nice to her.

"No, I'm sure you would have been just as good with someone else," She replies with a huge grin on her face. She's never taught anyone in her life (Because she was born to be married off,) so the fact that he was doing so well meant that he also has something to do with it.

Emerenzian looks at her. He looks at her with a certain emotion in his eyes. Recently, she notices that he would just stare at her. It makes her feel giddy. Him staring made her feel seen by him.

Emerenzian was quite attractive. Emerenzian was 6'1", had dark midnight hair and his skin looks like it had been kissed by the sun. It is surprising that she didn't see any lady figure next to him, but he most likely has a partner.

"You are gorgeous, Emerenzian," Mariaisabella says in English with a cheeky smile on her face. He blinks at the mention of his name, but confusion lingers.

"Sorry, what did you say?"

Mariaisabella can't help but laugh at how confused he looks, which makes the farmer pout. Mariaisabella decides to let that go and ask him a personal question.

"Have you ever been in love, Emerenziano?" The woman asks. All of a sudden, the mood feels heavier as nature's silence surrounds them.

Sadness begins to swim in Emerenzian's eyes. Mariaisabella thinks of the worst. But she doesn't prepare herself for his answer.

"I was in love once. Her name was Elizabeth. She was from Britain. She came here on an adventure, but she stayed for me," Emerenzian then looks up in the sky as the cumulus clouds swim above.

"But I wasn't enough. She left me without a goodbye and run off with a new lover. I only found out when my mark of Spiritualibility burn with unimaginable pain," He finishes with a scoff. He rubs his neck and looks back at the woman.

She didn't know what to say.

However, the single tear that went down his face was enough. He shouldn't let himself cry for a woman that will not cherish him. She knows that he is in pain. But there are people who understand, including herself.

So she lays her head on her shoulder and finally breaks down her walls.

"I do not know love, Emerenzian. My family never thought that giving me affection was necessary. I was married off at thirteen to a terrible man.

The poor excuse of a man would beat me, spit on me, taunt me, and even belittle my children. I will only be useful when I was enceinte. There are still bruises from when he put his hands around my throat. And once I grew too old, he threw me away for a younger woman.

Twenty years, I endure. However, my daughters could not live like me, so we escaped. My husband will be looking for me and my daughters, but I do not regret a thing.

I am telling you this because I care for you. You deserve to know that. I'm free but I know that I will never find love. I'm fat, ugly, stupid, and weak. But you have a chance to find love,"

She gasps in shock as Emerenzian engulfs her in a huge hug. She doesn't even realize that she is crying until he wipes the tears off her face.

Emerenzian lifts her head. Mariaisabella flinches when he rubs his thumbs on the side of her neck. He notices this and becomes more careful. When the mother looks into his hazel eyes, she knows that she is in his trance.

"You are beautiful, strong, and intelligent, your blond hair and blue eyes are so hypnotic and I am so happy that I could hear your story," After he says that, his lips met her own. Everything around them stops, and all she wants is for this moment to last forever.

Later on that night, Mariaisabella's mark of durability returned.