My Dearest Lady Cotton

Bitter Beseeching

  Now, which one was better? The Cherry Peaches? Or the usual Peaches?

  Louis rubbed his chin in deep thought, eyeing the two fruits and scrunching his face in concentration. He has to choose the best. His Honeydew loves peaches, and this was the perfect season to have them ripe. It would be a crime to pick the worst ones.

  Just as he began to pick a fruit, a peeved voice cracked through his pondering head. "Hey Mister, you've been standing there for eight minutes already. Move along! You're holding up the line!"

  Flicking his troubled gaze to the angry glare of the fruit merchant, the silver haired Knight quickly waved his hands about in plea. "W-wait I'm not done--"

  "Well ya sure are in my store!" They spat, crossing their arms. "Now get going!"

  Respiring sadly, the tall man gathered the rest of his groceries and trudged away, allowing the other customers to peer at the goods.

   Why? Just why? Each time he took control of the groceries, he continuously made the same mistakes! Why in the Stars am I like this? He inwardly grumbles, glancing back to the peaches with longing. Just what was so difficult about choosing the right, perfect, edible pieces of Mother Nature? Was that why Cotton looked so hesitant when he took the responsibility? Did... Did she not have enough faith in him?

  He stills, ignoring the strange glance of passerby's. Louis stares down to his boots with alarm, his dark blue eyes widening with apprehension. No. That can't be. It obviously wasn't! Curse himself for ever thinking that! He knew how much Cotton trusted him. No matter what he did-- no matter how many stupid things he's done-- He already grasped the fact that his dear wife would never look down on him in disgrace. So why was he suddenly so horrified over his extensive ways of shopping?

  Enough. He tells himself, stop being dramatic. Lets go home, she's waiting.

  Shaking his head, the Knight traveled away from the bundle of fruit stalls and headed on home. It wouldn't do good to have his love wait on him. No matter how patient she was, there would always be a certain amount she could only hold on to.

  Tucking the list of items into his large basket, he continued up the cobblestone path fervently. Nearing a crooked corner upon a slanted path, he quickly payed no mind to a cloaked figure standing near the mossy walls. Already half way up the wide street, the sound of someone clearing their throat brought his feet to a halt, inducing him to turn his head towards a person he'd rather not see.

  Oh no. It was the darn vixen. Elegant and Sly as usual.

  Nerves hackling with unease, his grip on the basket tightened. Airing out his immediate annoyance, his usual kind face contorted into an unpleasant glare, showing the pretty woman how unwelcoming her presence was to him.

  The orange haired maiden greeted the Knight, a furtive smile shown on her beautiful plump lips. "Why, if it isn't Sir Louis~. How have you been?"

  Louis swallowed an irked response as she frolicked upon him. He didn't answer. He had no reason to. Why would he want to speak to someone who consistently boiled his blood? Why should he stop for someone who, again and again, tried in all their might to ruin Cotton's life?

  Ivory's voluptuous golden orbs gleamed at the silver Knight's silent response. Smiling under her green cloak, she slid beside him with a lingering hum, observing the peeved man. "I heard that you've finally been given a break. Is that true?"

  Inhaling a calming breath, he ignored her questions and maintained his steady pace up the old path.

  "She's wonderful. I'm... Happy for you."