“What’s today’s opera about, Master Clark?” Nonna asked.
“It’s about a man who falls for a woman who rejected him and follows her to a far-off kingdom,” Clark said.
“Hmph. Is there going to be a happy ending? Because I hate sad endings,” Nonna grumbled.
“I’m not sure, actually. My mother just said it was a good show,” Clark replied, shrugging.
“Hmm.”
Clark’s mother Eva had said, “If there’s one opera a couple should go see together, it’s this one. It’s a story about true love, and I just know it will make you two will feel very happy at the end.” But of course, Nonna was twelve, so he couldn’t tell her that and just gave a vague answer instead.
Nonna gazed out the carriage window as she sat across from him.
She was slightly tanned, with a healthy complexion. Her glossy blond hair hung over her right shoulder in a loose braid. She wore a simple dark-pink dress and no jewelry.
Clark thought of the day they had reunited after being apart for five years.
As Nonna looked up at him with sparkling eyes, he’d thought she seemed like an entirely different person from the little girl who had played tag and climbed trees with him. She’d grown taller, and her face was losing its childishness. It was like she was changing into a beautiful, brilliant butterfly.
I wonder if Nonna remembers how I asked her to marry me.
Back then, Clark had been frail and lacked confidence, but Nonna never made fun of him once for it.
She adored him and would always call him “Master Clark” out of respect.
He had a wonderful time playing and learning together with her, to the point where he even began looking forward to foreign language class, which had been his least favorite subject until then.
Victoria had taught Nonna all sorts of activities that boys might find interesting. And whether she didn’t think it was something to hide or she simply didn’t feel the need to, Nonna told Clark about everything she’d learned.
It was so cute seeing such a little girl earnestly practicing roundhouse kicks and climbing over fences. She was so endearing, in fact, that Clark couldn’t ever imagine letting her go and had nervously asked, “Will you marry me when we grow up?”
And without hesitation, Nonna had cheerfully replied, “Sure!”
But one day, Victoria disappeared with Nonna. Clark’s uncle Jeffrey had supposedly been close with Victoria, but not even he knew where they were. From that day on, food seemed to lose its flavor, and Clark was drained of the will to do much of anything.
After several months of this malaise, Clark’s uncle Edward came over to visit him. “Clark, Eva is beside herself with worry about you. She says you’re depressed.”
“Not really. I’m fine.”
“If this is about Nonna, she’s coming back. She’ll return in about five years.”
“What?!” Clark immediately bolted upright in bed, and Edward chuckled.
“That’s right. The agreement is that they’ll come back after five years abroad, but you mustn’t tell anyone else. Got it? By that time, Nonna will probably be fluent in Shenese, but what about you? How do you want to be when she returns?”
“How do I want to be?”
“That’s right. The passage of time is the same for everyone. Whether you choose to let it slip by or eagerly devote yourself to something, you both have the same five years.”
From that day on, I hurled myself into my studies. When Nonna returned, I wanted to be able to look at her with a smile and say, “Well? What do you think? I’ve gotten a bit better, don’t you agree?”
But Nonna had come home as someone who was between a child and a young lady. Her polite greeting to him was no doubt the product of her education on etiquette and manners, but to Clark, it made her feel distant.
When he heard Nonna was going to tea parties, Clark started going with her. And he didn’t hesitate one bit to ward off any young men who dared approach her.
At first, he thought perhaps Nonna had forgotten the promise they’d made five years ago, but it turned out that she remembered after all. However, she did tell him she wanted to pretend they hadn’t made the promise to each other.
That’s fine. We can just start over from scratch. Clark hadn’t given up. In fact, he was even looking forward to beginning anew with Nonna.
“Look! I can see the theater, Master Clark!”
“You’re right. Nonna. Make sure to let me help you out of the carriage when we get there. Don’t just jump out.”
“Sheesh, I know that! Mom told me that a million times already.”
True to her word, Nonna acted the part of a perfect young lady once the driver opened the carriage door.
She wore a vague yet elegant smile on her face as she placed her tiny, delicate hand in Clark’s and carefully disembarked from the carriage. The other young couples and older patrons around them were captivated by Nonna and murmured “ooh”s and “aah”s.
Clark smiled the entire time, delivering icy glares to any young man who happened to look in Nonna’s direction.
“Our seats are on the second floor. This way, Nonna.”
“What a wonderful theater this is, Master Clark. I’ve never been to the opera before, and I’m so excited, my heart is pounding!”
“I’m really looking forward to it, too. Come on.”
Clark stood on Nonna’s right side and gently placed his hand on her left shoulder, touching her slightly to guide her in the right direction.
Nonna was completely unaware of her beauty. He was certain, in three years’ time, it would blossom to the point where it captivated everyone. Yet Nonna didn’t have the slightest idea she would soon be getting stares from any man who came across her.
I’ve got my work cut out for me. I need to get stronger in case someone from another kingdom targets Miss Victoria and Nonna again. One day, I’m going to be the minister of foreign affairs like Father— No, I’ll be the prime minister. I’m going to make my way up in the world. I’ll protect Miss Victoria and Nonna on my own terms.
He hadn’t told his parents or Nonna about his ambitions. He’d come to this decision in private.
The orchestra finished tuning, and the stringed instruments began to play.
“I’m so excited, Master Clark!”
“Me too, Nonna.”
The curtain rose on the opera. Nonna was on the edge of her seat the entire time, completely absorbed in the show. Just gazing at her profile while she watched the opera was fun for Clark. There was nothing he treasured more than the childhood days he’d spent with this beautiful girl.
The entire theater erupted with applause once the production was over. Nonna turned to Clark excitedly. “That was so good! I’ve never seen anyone who can sing like that before!”
“Y-yeah. Same here.”
The opera was about a man who followed the woman he loved to another country and competed with his rival for her affection. He saved her from danger, and then they got back together. Honestly, Clark had enjoyed watching Nonna more than the opera itself.
They waited until the crowd died down a bit, then climbed down the stairs side by side.
“Did you like the story?” he asked.
“Hmm, yes.”
“Okay, now give me an honest answer.”
“My etiquette teacher says it’s not ladylike to express your true opinions about a play or opera you were invited to.”
“It’s okay. You can be honest with me.”
“Fine, but are you sure you won’t get mad?”
“Of course I won’t.”
“All right. Well, that girl was infuriatingly useless, don’t you think? She froze just because the bad guy grabbed her by the wrist, yet she treated her own boyfriend like dirt! Is she headstrong or weak? Make up your mind!”
That is true, Clark thought with a sheepish laugh.
“This story would be totally different if you were the lead character, Nonna.”
“Hmm, if it were me…”
“Yes? What would you do?”
“…I would never be that cruel to someone who said they loved me. I was thinking that the entire time. I wouldn’t act nearly so arrogant to someone who cared for me like that. In fact, I’d feel grateful they loved me. But the second the male lead told the female lead he loved her, she started acting all high-and-mighty.”
“It’s true. The person who says they love the other first is in a weaker position.”
Clark really felt that way. He was well aware his generosity toward Nonna stemmed from his romantic feelings for her.