Elegant Fable
I’D LOVED HIM EVER SINCE I’d first laid eyes on him. I knew that I was put in this world to be with him.
Tall as a pillar of ice, eyes as sharp as stone. Even from a distance, he was beautiful. Not only I but every woman in the venue stared at him with lust. The very attention he commanded was exceptional. It was as if everyone standing near him was there to accent him, and make him and him alone shine.
I’d been put in this world to be with him. I knew the same was true of him.
He and I were born to live happily ever after together.
✦ ✦ ✦
My parents had died immediately after I began to move on my own. The burden of carrying on the family business fell solely on me. We carried the very grand title of “purveyors to the nobility,” but in reality, we were just the town florists. Aside from when we delivered flowers to grand party halls, our days were quite simple and uneventful. With the money and servants left to me, I wanted for nothing as a single woman. I could live out my life staring mindlessly at the flowers. My days were peaceful, but very boring.
It was a simple life.
Until I met my star-crossed lover.
I spotted him while delivering flowers. His light-gray hair and eyes were so wonderful—he was icier than any fairy-tale prince and, moreover, far more beautiful than any other man. It was love at first sight. It was then that I knew I was born to be with him. That every choice I’d made had brought me to that moment. I had taken over the floral business so that I could find him. I was single so that I could be with him. I was born female so that I could carry his child.
Ah, how blessed I was! The wheels of destiny had brought me to my star-crossed lover. I had never thanked God more than I did that day; heaven had truly blessed me.
“Be patient, my star-crossed lover.”
Wait for me until I can be by your side.
✦ ✦ ✦
His name was Auld. Even his name was beautiful; my star-crossed lover was truly perfect. He was to marry a duke’s daughter soon. To think that a house of such high breeding had spotted him made me proud somehow. What was more, he was to be that family’s successor and become the next duke.
I couldn’t find a single fault in him. My star-crossed lover was simply wonderful in every single way. Oh, I can’t wait for you to love me in return.
Ever since the day I’d found him, I’d used every means possible to get closer to him. Fate was on my side, but he wouldn’t consider a humble florist a suitable match. A wonderful man required a wonderful woman. To that end, I needed as much money as possible. And I needed higher social standing to approach him; I needed the right footing to take myself where he might be. He wasn’t yet aware of my existence, so since I’d noticed him first, I needed to give him an opportunity to spot me.
To think, the servants my parents left me would prove useful in such a way. Auld and I truly were blessed by the world. God himself was pulling the strings to bring us together.
“Whatcha looking at, Elfa?”
“Hee hee! It’s a secret.”
The wizened face staring at me belonged to a man working at the core of the government.
I couldn’t reach my star-crossed lover as a common florist, so I’d just have someone who could reach him assist me. For all its grandeur, the title “purveyor to the nobility” was no lie. In fact, many respectable figures called on our shop for flowers. We provided careful and loyal service, and the long-established trust in the shop raised my reputation.
All that remained was to slowly worm my way into patrons’ hearts. Smile when they talked to me and give the answers they wanted to hear—simple tasks, really. At times, I offered support. At times, I offered affection. And at times, I offered blunt opinions. With each customer, I changed not my behavior but my reactions. Once I gained their trust, I meekly confessed a tiny worry of mine.
A woman like me, still so young and so beautiful, was working hard at the family business her parents had left behind. That kind young woman, who always offered affection, support, and at times frankness, would confess a worry simply too big to keep to herself. I showed my patrons dark shadows in my heart that they could easily clear away for me. Since I’d always supported them, they returned the favor. After that, the men who fell under my spell just trusted me even more, deepening their relationships with me. And thus, the cycle repeated.
I didn’t exactly target men, but men were more susceptible to my looks than women. Some even courted me, but to them, I was a sort of sacred sanctuary. It wasn’t my body they wanted; rather, they wanted someone to talk to and arm candy. As long as they made no physical overtures, I felt no need to feed the fire either.
My path began with servants of nobility, but I felt confident that I was taking the shortest route possible to reach my intended. The dolls I played house with then were merely lesser copies of him.
I’ll come see you soon, my sweet.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Nice to meet you. I’m Elfa.”
He stood tall, slender, beautiful, and noble. He was gentle, soft, and peaceful. He wished for an accepting woman, like the holy mother, who would never, ever hurt him. Who would never get angry, whatever he said. Who would never resist, whatever he did. He desired someone who would affirm his words and agree with him. He didn’t wish to be denied or scolded; he wished to be treated gently and cared for.
The moment Auld first set eyes on me, he was like a timid little animal. He appeared weary with torment; his muscles were constantly tense. Behind his guarded facade, though, his desire for me to dote on him was visible.
I wanted to hold him in my arms. I wanted to dote on him as he hoped. But I couldn’t yet. If I gave him exactly what he wanted, just as he wanted it, he’d get his fill. All the men before him, I’d wanted to get their fill of me and depart—but this time, I couldn’t have him leave. I had to make him keep wanting me and feel loath to ever let me go.
I tore down his wary facade and touched his heart gently and sweetly. But something was missing. Just a bit more…only a bit more…until he burned helplessly with the fire of desire for me.
Here I am, my love. Come, reach out your hand.
There… Now, catch me.
There… Now I’ve caught you.
✦ ✦ ✦
I became his lover. That was only natural, since he had a wife. Ideally, I would’ve paid her my respects, but apparently wives don’t want to meet their husband’s mistresses. Auld didn’t wish for me to meet her either, so he set up a separate residence for us. He lived with me most of his time; his wife must’ve been lonely. Sometimes Auld’s father-in-law summoned him home, but he’d stay only one night, no longer. And he’d return to me in the middle of the night, smelling strongly of soap.
He always seemed unhappy after he saw his wife. Sometimes he held me tight and apologized over and over. He seemed bitter that he couldn’t make me his wife, but I didn’t mind at all. I love everything about you, my darling, so it’s only natural that I love your wife too. He seemed to dislike her, though, so I had to snuggle close and grieve with him.
A little while later, his wife got pregnant. The feeling of liberation I felt Auld exude surely wasn’t my imagination. His father-in-law had wanted an heir, and Auld had granted that wish. After that, he rarely returned to the duchy. He only visited for a few minutes each month to manage the house, then came back to live with me in his villa.
His wife must’ve been anxious during her pregnancy. She encouraged him to come home out of worry over their child’s upcoming birth, but he let a midwife handle it. I thought it was a shame he missed the birth of his child, but with a professional pitching in, there wasn’t anything to worry about. The baby was a girl who resembled him very much.
How nice… I want one too.