Green embers

chapters 24 - 27

Chapter 24

''I stood awkwardly in the living room where he had left me as he entered his room. There was a lot of moving around and when he came out he was holding something. He extended his hand, presenting it to me; his face seemed a bit shy and it made me realize that even though he got me into his house, he didn’t plan it just as much as I didn’t plan to follow him that night.

''Um...'' he hesitated. I looked at what he was holding. It seemed like a white shirt.

''You can wear this for sleeping.'' he offered.

I looked at him and saw a bit of impatience as his hand was still lifted up so I quickly took the folded shirt.

''Thank you.'' I said.

He turned around and I got the feeling that I owed to follow him and so I did. The hallway beyond the living room had two doors opposite each other. The one on the left was closed and the other on the right was open. He entered the room with the open door. I stood at the doorway as he fixed the bed at the far end of the room. I looked around and noticed that the room was very plain; a bed with white sheets, a faded wooden bedside table with a rusty lamp that lit the room, a large sized box near the door that was half empty and filled with not too many clothes, including the army uniform. There was also a small window at the foot of the bed and adjacent to it was a small fireplace. That was it. There were no picture frames hanging on the white walls not even on the bed side table. There wasn’t a chair, a writing table, a carpet, not even a closet. A very simple room!

''You can sleep here,'' he finally said, pulling me out of my gaze. He stood at the foot of the bed, his hands behind his back. I approached and slowly sat on the bed as I put the folded shirt on my lap. He seemed to be waiting.

''It feels all right.'' I said as I patted the bed. The mattress felt really soft under my touch. His lips twitched to a slight smile when he said, ''Good.''

He then turned his back and when he had reached the door he turned around and said, ''I won't be here tomorrow morning so I'll leave a note to Sir Erwind telling him that you’re here. He’s not here tonight but when he comes back, I’m sure he’ll take good care of you. Is that all right?''

''Sure, that's fine.'' I said, suddenly disappointed that I wouldn't see him the next day.

''Good night then.''

''Was I right?'' I asked abruptly. ''About you I mean?''

I could only see the side of his face, as he stood halfway out the room with one hand on the door knob.

I couldn't read his face at all.

''You're not completely right.'' he said as he sighed.

''I've just seen it a lot, you know,'' I said quickly. You see, Prince Haru; I didn't want him to leave without understanding my point. I didn't want him to think I was a hypocrite. In fact, I wanted him to prove me wrong.

''The boys that work for my uncle's shop, some of them are younger than you,'' I said to him. ''Others just your age and I've seen most of them get drawn to the army and never come back.'' my voice shook a bit. ''Whatever your reasons are, the army ought to be the last thing on your mind.''

''This is really none of your concern, Miss Lenoire.'' he said, his voice exasperated. He was such a poker face, I wondered if I got him all wrong. ''My life is not your concern to worry about and is not supposed to keep you in the streets late at night.''

''I'm sorry, I truly didn’t mean to follow you tonight, I hardly believe it myself but would you nonetheless think about what I’ve said...please?'' I insisted.