"And what's he then that says I play the villain?"
― William Shakespeare, Othello
~Two days before the death of Grace (Oblita)~
Time seemed to go slow in the minutes Canary was waiting for Agustin to show. Her father did not yet know what Canary was going to do in fact the only people who did know was Letitia and Shayan. Letitia had known for a while after that day she,Numa,and Shayan had a conversation.
"What is your next move"? Letitia asked her in the dark of the night for Canary had asked Letitia to stay with her. "I am going to investigate Shayan and Numa will help me and if the results aren't favorable I will break things off". Canary said. "And if they are favorable what will you do about the matters with the king". Letitia said. And Canary went quiet. "I think I will still break things off". Canary said. "Though I am still on the fence about it, I do like Agustin but I do not like him enough to destroy my family". "But it isn't just about liking your family isn't it"? Letitia said.
Canary shook her head no. "No Shayan has offered me a job in the palace. I wish to go back to Lyikar". Canary said. "I fear if I marry Agustin I will never see the shores of Lyikar again". "I shall support you in whatever decision you choose to make". Letitia said. "For in this short time of being with you I have come to see you as a daughter. If you need me I shall be there you'd need only call my name".
And so Canary sat in front of Agustin who was chatting away. She poured herself a cup of tea and patiently listened to Agustin. "And so that is the first operation we will do concerning the rubies". Agustin watched as Canary poured him a cup of tea and signaled for any sugar. He shook his head no and picked up the cup. "Chamomile tea"? Agustin asked, smelling it. Canary nodded. "I don't really enjoy Chamomile tea that much I think I'll pass". He said, setting it down on the cup plate.
"So anything else you would like to discuss"? Agustin said smiling. "Yes, it's about our engagement". Canary said, taking a sip of her tea. "Ah yes our engagement I think we should plan our wedding sometime in the next couple of weeks or perhaps next month". Agustin said. "What do you think?". "Next couple of weeks is absurd". Canary said. "Absrud"? Agustin was surprised at both her tone of voice and what she had just said to him. In the time Agustin knew Canary she never spoke to him like this. Something began to stir in him and he began to feel that something was off about this meeting. "Yes, absurd". Canary said. "I've been giving it much thought Agustin and besides the fact that you wish to rush our marriage I don't think I wish to go through with it at all".
"You wish to break off our engagement"? Agustin said calmly. "Yes". Canary answered. AGustin tilted his head to the side almost as he was trying to read Canary and he straightened his head back once he seemed to have gotten what he wanted. "Perhaps you should give it more thought". Agustin said standing. "I have". Canary said, also standing up. "And I have decided I do not wish to go through with the marriage".
"Hahhhh". Agustin sighed and placed his hand on his head. "Istella i have many things stressing me out and now you do this". Agustin said. "One less thing to stress you out". Canary smiled. "You…have changed, who was it? Was it that foreign crown prince that has made you like this"? Agustin said. "What"? Canary said frowned up.
"You've changed," Agustin said. "I haven't changed, you barely know me." Canary said. "Barely know you"? Agustin hissed. "If I didn't know you I wouldn't have asked you to marry me". "Other than the mine , why do you wish to marry me"? Canary asked. But she did not receive an answer. Agustin just simply stared at her and Canary could see all the through flashing around in his eyes.
He closed his eyes hard with a sigh and opened them back. "You agree that we could've had a partnership without marriage". Canary said. But Agustin remained quiet and just stared at Canary. "You won't say anything". "Fine". Agustin said. "You win, we won't marry". "But I highly doubt anyone will want to marry you other than me". Agustin said leaving Canary alone in the room.
Canary pressed her lips together tightly and balled her fist tightly. She looked like she could cry or maybe scream but she unballed her fist and let go of her pressed lips. It would be a lie to say the words didn't sting from Agustin and yet Canary soon realized she didn't have to let anything that Agustin said to her get to her.
She left the room with Letitia waiting by the door. Letitia didn't say anything, she just simply held out her hand and Canary took it.
~one day before the death of Grace (Oblita)~
Shayan read the letter that was in his hand from King Seneca scolding him on why he wasn't coming back home and why did he push back his return date. Shayan sighed and set the letter down and picked up the next one to read. "His majesty sent a letter"? Numa said, setting down a tray of assorted desserts. "Scolding me or rather us and telling us to come back". Shayan said. He opened up the letter and stared at the assorted desserts on the table and then glared at Numa. "You know I don't like sweets". Shayan said. "Maybe Grania sweets are different from Lyikar sweets". Numa said, smiling nervously.
Shayan shook his head no and pushed the tray away from him. "Wheres this letter from"? Numa said. "Canary". Shayan said, frowning while reading the letter. "She's broken off her engagement from duke Abarca". Shayan said. Numa nodded with a huge grin on his face. "This is good news right"? Numa said. Shayan held the letter to his face and went into deep thought. Then he suddenly got stood up and grabbed his coat. "Send a letter to Canary telling her I am coming over to visit". Shayan said.
"So suddenly you are at least supposed to give people a couple hour notice". Numa said, rushing behind him with a fountain pen and a paper. "I can't send it that fast"! Numa yelling after him. Shayan opened the door but what he saw or rather who he saw on the other side wasn't what he was expecting. "Hello". Shimon said smiling and behind him was Agustin who wasn't smiling or seemed to be pleased to be here and neither was Shayan pleased that he was here. "Hello". Shayan said.
"WHat brings you two here today"? Shayan asked. "We-". Shimon said, looking at Agustin. "Well I would like to have a conversation is now the best time"? Shimon said. "Going somewhere"? Agustin said, staring at the fountain pen and paper in Numa's hand. "We were". Shayan smiled but it seems we have other things to attend to". Shayan opened the door. "Come in". He said and Shimon and Agustin walked in.
They all sat down with Numa waving for a servant to serve them tea. "Numa sit down for this involves you too". Shayan said. Numa sat down next to Shayan nervously clearing his throat. "So what do you have to discuss"? Shayan said. "It's about the treaty or rather alliance me and Agustin were ordered to start with Lyikar". Shimon said. Shayan nodded. "We received a letter from your father stating the same thing". Shayan said. "But who to trust is serious about this whole treaty or relationships between kingdoms". Shayan said. "For one wants to start a relationship to start a war and the other-". Shayan said, staring at Agustin. "I have yet to find out".
"What are you trying to say"? Agustin said glaring at Shayan. "I'm saying-". Shayan said, pouring himself a cup of tea. "There are impure intentions here and I have yet to find out what they are". Shayan said. "Impure intentions?-". Agustin sighed. "So are you saying you don't want to form a relationship with us". Agustin said. "No thats not what im saying however what I am saying is that I'd rather you form a relationship with Lyikar through us than Canary". Shayan said setting his cup down. "Due those impure intentions Canary wouldn't be able to break off a relationship as quickly as we will considering the fact that you two and Canary wish to form a relationship by using her ruby mine and starting a business". Shayan said.
Numa and Shimon looked at each other nervously as tension seemed to rise between Agustin and Shayan. "I would never do anything to hurt Canary, your own paranoia has moved Canary to break off our engagement". Agustin said. "Hah paranoia? Break off your engagement? You've done this by your own actions". "You truly think I would advise Canary or better yet allow some pup like you to marry her or use her mine". "You would do all things to hurt and destroy her". "I would never"! Agustin shouted standing up.
"Are you sure about that"? Shayan said calmly looking up at the angered Agustin. "Thats not what I've heard from the rumors". Shayan said. "Rumors"? Shimon said, looking at Agustin. "I don't have a clue of what you're talking about". Agustin said, narrowing his eyes at Shayan. "Oh Abarca do not think I am ignorant I know what both goes on inside the walls of a palace and outside of them". Shayan said. "Do you now"? Agustin said. "I do an anonymous person by the name of sealed lips and rumor claiming that Canary's uncle is actually her father"? Shayan frowned.
"You wished to spread these rumors hoping it would ruin Canary's reputation to stick her close to you". Shayan said. "Agustin tell me it's not true". Shimon said. "Yes, Agustin tell him it's not true". Shayan sneered. But Agustin remained quiet and Shayan rolled his eyes in annoyance. "This settles the matter". Shayan said standing up. "You are to do the treaty with us and only us not involving Canary in the matter". Shayan said. "This-"! Agustin started again. "This is over". Shayan said, cutting him off. "Why start a scandal and not own up to it pup". Shayan said. "We take our leave, Numa draw up the letter". Numa nodded and both he and Shayan left, leaving Shimon and Agustin alone.