"You are my best friend as well as my lover, and I do not know which side of you I enjoy the most. I treasure each side, just as I have treasured our life together."
― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook
~four,three,two, days before the death of Grace(Oblita) ~
"I fear we must give up the plan of teaming up with the foreign prince". Decimis said. He was at his desk tapping his finger anxiously and angrily. "May I ask why"? Elric said. "He was already quite acquainted with Canary Whitewood and now he's seemed to come quite close to the Whitewood family as a whole". Decimis sighing. "With Agustin Abarca marrying Canary Whitewood and now them having a relationship with a foreign prince nothing seems to be going my way". Decimis said. "We may have to go with plan b". "Plan b"? Elric said, frightened. "Is there truly no other way"?
"The day that witch's son goes on the throne is the day I die". Decimis said. "Do you truly wish me to die"?
"My lord pardon me for saying this but we all must die some day whether it be natural causes,sickness, or even something more grievous we all die". Elric said. "Why not let the boy go on the throne". The air fell heavy in the room from Elric saying this with Decimis setting his eyes on Elric like he was a lion and Elric was some prey. "So this is what it has come to you want me and that boy just to let begones be begones"? "Are you afraid of the boy"! Decimis said, shouting and standing up from his chair. "When truly it is me the king you should be afraid of"!
Elric shook his head no. "No my king but I am afraid that if we continue down this path but you and the Crown prince will bring yourself into something that you truly cannot get out of, imagine the lives destroyed and have been destroyed from this silent war". Decimis chuckled and made his way towards Elric who, frightened, turned his eyes down. "You should have thought about that Wolf before you set the whole countryside on fire". Decimis said. He stood in front of Elric in a condescending way. He held his arms behind his back and towered over Elric who was sitting down. Elric felt as if a foot was pressing down on his neck and he held his head down to the ground not daring to look up.
"That was both of our doing". Elric said, showing some resistance. "Both of us Hah"! Decimis began to laugh hysterically to the point where he was out of breath. When he had finally composed himself his face was fierce and Elric could feel his anger on him. Like a heavy weight. "I am the king, one simple word and everything will fall on you Wolf". Decimis sneered. "What"? Elric said, trembling and finally bringing his eyes up to Decimis. "Did you truly think me and you are partners? You are a viscount and an unworthy one at that I promoted your house and gave you that title to bring down Duke Abarca". Decimis said, going back to his desk. "Your greed outweighed your judgement of this situation, yes". Decimis said he began to start his paperwork that was sitting on his desk and it was silent for a while. Elric was agonizing over what he had gotten into and what the downfall of his house would be like.
"I should have just stayed a baron". But this he said out loud and the sound of Decimis's fountain pen stopped moving. "Perhaps you should have Wolf greed can really make one not realize the situation they are getting themselves in or their family". "You may be dismissed". Decimis said. "You should stay home until the welcoming ball". Decimis said. "It may help calm your nerves". "Yes your majesty". Elric said and he quietly left the room.
"I find myself liking this boy". Thaddeus said, staring at Shayan and Canary talking and laughing. "Much better than the duke". "Why is it because he's a crown prince and Agustin Abarca is just a duke"? Letitia said watching them also. Thaddeus shook his head and chuckled. "No no it's just our daughter seems to shine when she's around him". Letitia, although she wouldn't say outloud couldn't agree more. With Agustin she sort of sparked here and there but with Shayan she sort of shined and he equally shined with her.
Canary seemed calm and though she was calm with Agustin with Shayan it was a different kind of calm. Shayan did most of them talking and when Canary finally spoke or replied to him she replied in a calm and gentle manner and Shayan simply listened and watched her talk like he was in admiration like he adored her. Like he was patiently waiting for her answer even with the speeding of talking it was like he was hurrying just so he could hear Canary talk just so he could get that calmness and peacefulness from Canary. With Agustin he simply had more input than Canary seemed to. The topics of their conversation would always be about their business venture and Canary who once seemed excited about all of this was now indifferent about it.
Agustin would go on and on and when he asked Canary a question she answered his questions simple and dry. It seemed these conversations with Agustin seemed to drain the light out of her rather than put it in. With Shayan she seemed happy and content, maybe because Shayan was her childhood friend. "No". Shayan said. "A wolf truly did bite me. I thought it would rip my arm off". Shayan said. He rolled up his sleeves showing an old scar from a wolf bite that went from his elbow to his arm. "A wolf bite you say". Canary giggled. "Yes, a wolf bite". Shayan said. "And where was the pack"? Canary said. "Wolves travel in packs".
Shayan looked away nervously at Numa. Who avoided his gaze. Canary hit Shayan playfully and they both started laughing. "No truly how did you get that scar"? Canary asked. "Training". Shayan chuckled. "Training"? Shayan nodded. "It happened right after I left you". Shayan said. There was a sadness between Canary and a momentary silence. "Was the training hard"? Canary asked. "Not as hard as leaving my home, and you, and the Whitewoods". Shayan said. "Gramps and The Whitewoods were my family, now both are dead and now I am a crown prince". "Time truly makes one change". "I am sorry I wasn't able to be there for the funeral". Canary smiled. "It's truly fine I'm sure you had your own situation going on".
"How did that lead on sealed lips go"? Shayan said suddenly in Plyeres. "Another dead end". Canary sighed. "I have also called Agustin to meet me today. If all leads on sealed lips are going to dead ends and my family is being threatened I intend to break our engagement off today". Shayan frowned at this revealing. For he was worried something might happen. "Would you like me to come with you"? Shayan said, concerned. But Canary shook her head. "No, I will be alright"."Well what time is he coming"? Shayan asked, still intending to stick around. "It is twelve o'clock, so an hour from now". Canary answered. Shayan sighed a sigh of relief and worry. Relief because Canary was getting away from Agustin and she could finally return to Lyikar. A sigh of worry because he didn't know how Agustin would react.