Twelfth Night: A Amourshipping and Rocketshipping Story

Chapter 10

Serena was frustrated during the walk back to Satoshi's estate. She grumbled, asking herself how she could have failed to make Sonia give up on her feelings for her. Sonia told Serena to come back, claiming that she would have an open mind about falling for Satoshi when both women knew that she wouldn't didn't help. Serena began to wonder if she should reveal to the countess that she wasn't a man, but she decided against it, thinking it would only make things worse. Still, at the rate Sonia was being persistent, Serena didn't rule out the possibility that she might pursue her despite her true gender.

When Serena returned to the estate, Satoshi was out on business again. Brock and the other pages asked Serena what happened, and Serena reported that Sonia still rejected Satoshi's love and told her to come again, saying she might fall for him. Serena wished she could make up a lie and tell them that Sonia not falling for Satoshi was her final word like she originally planned, but she went against the idea, considering the possibility that if she did not return to Sonia's estate, Sonia might do something to reveal that Serena lied. Brock and the other pages smiled as they became hopeful for their dear master, which worried Serena even more.

Later that night, as the pages were getting ready for bed, Brock told Serena that Satoshi summoned her. Serena sighed, unsurprised that Satoshi would want to see her upon Brock relaying her report to him again. She went to the main hall to find Satoshi sitting on the couch staring at the fire in the fireplace, deep in thought. There was an awkward silence until Serena cleared her throat, and the duke looked at her to give her a small smile.

"Timothy. Glad Brock summoned you before you were heading to bed," Satoshi said. "I confess I'm perplexed upon Brock telling me how your visit with Sonia went. She told you she still can't love me but wanted you to come back and see if I may yet win her love. Did I get that right?"

"Yes, my lord," Serena said.

"Hmmm. Curious," Satoshi said. First, she says she can't love me and allows you to come back to tell her how I take the news, and now she says she can't love me, but you're welcome to try again. What goes on in that woman's mind?"

"Believe me, sir, I wish I knew," Serena said. "Lady Sonia was incapable of making a decision and sticking to it when I came to see her. There was a point when I was about to leave with her answer until she suddenly changed her mind. If I may say so, my lord, I wish she would commit to an answer, whether yes or no, to make it easier for everyone."

"I don't blame you, Timothy," Satoshi said. "Still, you have gained another audience with Lady Sonia, and she said she might return my feelings, so my foot is still in the door. Let's have you come to her with a gift on my behalf this time. Maybe one of my mother's rings or necklaces."

Serena squirmed, imagining how Sonia would react to her giving her an accessory the day after Serena gave back the ring Sonia secretly gave to her.

"If I may be so bold, my lord, I don't think offering jewelry is the best idea," Serena said. "Lady Sonia might think it shallow that you're trying to win her heart with pretty jewelry."

Satoshi smiled and said, "I like how considerate you are, Timothy, and you might be right about that. Regardless, we should keep my pursuits to woo Sonia fresh, and a gift might show that I have more than words to express my heartfelt love. Besides, it's not like I began attempting to woo her with a large chest of expensive jewelry. Just one ring should make my latest attempt simple yet sincere."

Serena's unease grew as Satoshi justified his idea. She couldn't deny that it was good that Satoshi was considerate about the flaws of his idea and agreed it was right to keep a gift for wooing someone simple. If Satoshi were pursuing Serena, knowing she was a woman, she would be thrilled that the man she loved offered her a ring. Still, it pained Serena to see Satoshi brainstorming new ideas to woo another woman, and she feared how Sonia would react to Serena presenting a gift to her on Satoshi's behalf. With her luck, Serena didn't put it past Sonia to treat a gift from Satoshi as though it were actually a gift from Serena.