To Be A Bougainvillea

Chapter 20

It took twenty-six years for Aurelia to realise that good things never lasted long for her. 

"Hana's engagement has been broken off." Her grandmother's words were succeeded by the faintest sigh of relief from Aurelia which quickly froze in the air when Dame Cassandra's hand flew across Hana's cheek. 

The impact of it not only silenced Hana, but the rest of the family and the maids that were serving them breakfast.  

"What the hell?" Aurelia's voice rose in horror as tears slowly slid down Hana's face, her left cheek reddening. One by one, the maids scurried off. 

Cassandra ignored her. "Do you want to know why the Count broke off the engagement?" She asked her daughter in fury. 

Aurelia suddenly froze, realisation hitting like her a ton of bricks. 

"Because someone wrote a letter to him, calling you an adulterer!" The word fell out of her mouth in disgust. Cassandra looked at Hana as if she wished she had never come out of her womb. 

"Is that true, Hana?" Charles demanded. 

"That's a rich question," Aurelia said, quietly, "coming from you, Father."

At that moment, Franz came into the dining room, carrying a silver platter of rye bread. Aurelia shifted awkwardly in her seat whilst Hana glanced at him in mild panic. He felt her watery eyes on him and when he saw both Hana's and Aurelia's warning gazes, he instantly got the memo and hurried off.  

"Those are obviously lies." Aurelia's grandmother spoke up, "Hana would never commit adultery. Aurelia, however.." Her voice trailed off as she shot her granddaughter a penetratingly distasteful look. 

"Well, I am my father's daughter." She snapped.

"That's enough out of you." Charles chided, "It irritates me how you don't feel grief for Hana's misfortune." 

She nonchalantly shrugged, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." 

"But why was Hana called an adulterer?" Cassandra lowered her voice, "And what if people hear about it?" 

"It's simple. It was sabotage." Aurelia stilled at her grandmother's words, praying that nobody saw the colour drain out of her face. "Clearly, someone else is after the Count's hand in marriage and ruining Hana's image would cave a path to his riches." 

"Whoever wrote that awful letter must be a heartless gold-digger." Aurelia said, keeping the scent away from herself. She took a glimpse at Hana and saw that her eyes were still brimming. She looked away, swallowing her guilt. 

"You don't have to worry, Hana." Aurelia's grandmother had a rather estranged soft spot for her stepsister, "It's been taken care of. We've passed it off as a negotiated rescission." 

"All's well that ends well." Aurelia faked a smile, uneasily. 

No one responded and a strained silence ensued for the rest of the meal. 

"How can I help you, m'lady?" Franz bowed his head when Aurelia walked into the kitchen. The maids had gone off and it was only him washing and drying the dishes. 

"I'm feeling peckish. Are there any tarts left?" She asked, hopping on the kitchen island.

"Yes, but," Franz glanced at her with mild confusion, "I thought you disliked tarts." 

Aurlia smiled, scrutinising the disheveled haired, dark eyed butler.  "You know, Franz, I always thought you had a thing for me." She admitted, casually. "Never in a million years would I've thought you actually had feelings for Hana." 

Franz's hands froze on a plate. "You hate tarts." He slowly said in a matter-of-fact tone, "and you're here to interrogate me."

"Interrogate is a strong word. I'd use the word 'investigate'." Aurelia mused, "I just want to know a couple of things."

Franz stacked the clean dishes into a pile, "Does it have to do with the letter you sent to Hana's ex-fiance?" 

This time, it was Aurelia who froze. "How do you know about that?" She demanded, her voice stricken.

The butler continued drying dishes as he said, "I just put two and two together." 

"That being?" 

"There's no one else who would write a letter full of repulsive lies to keep Hana to herself." He said, his tone even. 

"Was that wrong of me to do?" She argued, "Tell me, Franz, is it selfish that I want to keep the only person who loves me by my side?" 

He didn't reply for a long time, just kept wiping the same surface several times. Then - "Yes. It is." 

Aurelia was taken aback. "That letter wasn't just for myself - it also gave you and Hana a chance to have a life together!" She exclaimed. 

"But what if Hana was happier by the Count's side? What if she had a better life with him than you and I?" Franz's voice rose a little, "What if God destined the rest of her life with him? What if you took that away from her?" 

"All these what if's," Aurelia fired as she got off the island, "don't you want to be with her?"

"Of course I do. But do you think that's really possible?" His voice broke and he looked away, blinking rapidly. "She's the daughter of a dame and I'm a butler. So help me, m'lady, if I want her to leave so I can atone for the sins of my flesh!" 

"Sins of your flesh..." Aurelia's voice trailed off, eyes widening when she realised why Hana couldn't answer her mother's adultery question. "You love her, right?" She muttered. 

He nodded, "Which is why I'm ready to let her go." His voice became thick. "And if you love her too, then you should be ready as well." 

Aurelia's blood turned cold at the mere thought of losing Hana. "I'm not as selfless as you, Franz." She swallowed before turning away to let him quickly dry his eyes. 

"To love someone," He breathed out, shakily, "why do you need society's approval and permission?" 

"I don't know, Franz," Her throat clogged up as she glanced at the agony on his face, "I really don't know."  

At that moment, the kitchen door burst open and a maid curtsied before breathlessly saying, "Your grandmother has asked for your presence at the living room, m'lady."  

With a heavy heart, she left the kitchen and followed the maid to the living room where a herald stood in front of her grandmother's armchair, both her father and Cassandra at the sides. Aurelia's eyes nearly popped out of its sockets when she saw her grandmother smiling. 

"Ah, there she is!" Aurelia stood still at the door jamb when her grandmother beckoned her over. 

"What it is it?" She mumbled, feebly. 

"Now, this might be a lot to take in," Her grandmother began, "but you've been requested to perform at the Emperor's grandson's birthday gala!"   

She opened her mouth and then closed it again, dumbly. As her grandmother began giving her regards to her 'once-in-a-lifetime' offer, she realised two fundamental things. 

One; she had been asked to perform for the Takashima clan and two; Among her family, Hana was nowhere to be seen.