London (1)

Year 1863

Thea supported her chin, glanced at Kay, who had been silent from earlier. Silence was not Kay's character at all. Thea saw him like that if only there was something bothering him.

"Kay, are you sick?" Thea asked lightly.

"No," he replied simply.

"Anything on your mind?"

Kay didn't answer right away. His gaze shifted out of the window.

The morning was sunny.

A sunny morning on a hot summer Sunday.

Kay sighed.

"Shall we ride the horse?" asked him.

Thea immediately stood up, excited.

"Come on! What's the stakes this time?" Thea loved riding, and she never lost a race.

"Nothing. Just stay with me," said Kay.

Even though she was confused, Thea complied. She followed Kay towards the horse stable.

Kay took out his dark horse when he arrived.

That's strange, Thea thought.

Kay always greeted and chatted with June - his black horse. But this time, Kay just pulled it rein silently.

Thea led her own horse out of the stable, following Kay and June.

"You wanna go down to the town?" asked Thea, when she got on top of August, her favorite brown horse.

He sighed, again. "No. I just want to walk around the lake."

"Okay," Thea didn't know what else to say.

All the way to the lake, Kay didn't speak at all. Thea, who was riding behind, finally sighed as well.

Thea stared at Kay's back. The back that had protected her for years, slumped powerlessly.

Come to think of it, she'd never paid attention to him all this time. She and Kay often get together after Kate, Kay's sister, leave them. They both studying and practicing. The two of them knew each other too well. Thea knew Kay's silence this time is definitely a problem.

She spurred August to keep up with June.

"Kay ... say, is there something wrong?"

Thea saw him shook his head.

"Oh ... nothing," he replied in vague manner.

"Or, there's someting wrong with Kate?" Thea asked him again. She didn't know why Kate suddenly leave home seven years ago to the faraway place. When Thea came to this house, she was introduced to her to be her playmate. Despite being awkward and uncomfortable having never been that close in a friendship, they became close. In a sense, Kate always brought her here and there even though Thea didn't like it.

"No, She is fine."

Periodically, they sometimes exchanged letters. But these days, Kate rarely writes anymore and Thea didn't care, actually.

"Come on… don't lie to me! I know something's up."

Kay remained silent. Thea pulled her horse forward and blocked June. "Can't you tell me?" she insisted.

Kay stared at her for a moment, then got off the horse. He tied June to a tree, not far from the lake. Thea imitated him and followed Kay, who had already walked along the edge of the lake.

"Now tell me, what's bothering you?" Thea walked beside him. "You're like a steam boiler, from morning sighing all the time."

"Father…"

Thea flustered. Somehow, she never liked that person. Since she was adopted by Kay's father, Uncle Wilkess, there was something she didn't like every time she looked at his father. Even though her foster uncle was not as good as Kay, Thea still respected him, in another way.

"Uncle, why? What's wrong with him?"

Kay stopped. "Father told me to get married," he said in one breath.

"What?" Thea asked, surprised.

Kay nodded slowly. "I was told to choose the candidate later."

"Later? When will you be later? "

"The day after tomorrow."

"The day after tomorrow? That fast?" Thea still couldn't believe it. "Who? I mean, have you found someone suitable? To be your wife?"

Kay shook his head, again.

"Ooh ... so that was what was bothering you this early?" she grabbed Kay's wrist. "Sit down."

Kay stared at his hand and obeyed in silence.

"Tell me, is there someone you like? Maybe someone in town?"

"No one."

"Or at school?"

"None."

"Or maybe in the hospital?"

Kay stared at her. "Do you also intend to match me with someone?"

Thea grimaced. "It is not like that. I intend to lighten the burden on your mind. Who knows there is someone you like and I know her. "

"Even if I like her and you know her, I won't ask for your help." Kay flicked her forehead.

Thea frowned. "Is there really no one you like? Or… you really don't like girls?" she asked, suspicious.

Come to think of it, she never saw Kay close to any woman. Except for the two sisters of the Roggens family who clung like leeches wherever Kay was.

"Could it be ... you like the Roggens family siblings?" Thea looked at him in horror.

"Don't look at me like that. Better I like you than them!" Kay pushed Thea's cheek, making the scar in her nape visible.

Thea hurriedly turned away, covering it with her hand.

...

Kay was busy thinking about how to avoid afternoon tea the day after tomorrow, but the girl next to him was busy asking who he likes, and suddenly mentions the Roggens family name.

Kay shuddered. He did not want to imagine what if one of them became his wife.

"Don't look at me like that. Better I like you than them! " Kay intended to avert Thea's terrified gaze from him. Accidentally making Thea's burn scars lead to him. Kay's feelings got worse when she saw Thea rush to cover it.

"You don't have to, Te ..." Kay took her hand away. Kay knew that the girl didn't want other people to see her scar. "At least there's no need for that in front of me."

Thea smiled. "I don't know, I still don't like other people staring at it."

"Am I other people?" asked Kay, displeased.

"Of course not! You're my family. The most precious person to me," she said, earnestly.

Kay smiled. "That's why ... there's no need to be like that."

Both of them were busy with their respective thoughts until they didn't realize the sun was getting higher, making their body start to stifle.

"We'd better go back. I think Mr. Hawks will be looking for you soon." Kay stood up.

Thea grumbled. She forgot there was an appointment to learn etiquette today.

Study and study.

Uncle Wilkes always made her study.

"Is today's appointment irrevocable?"

"Can't do. Father wants you to be a great woman. I think that's a plus in the eyes of your future husband."

Thea glared. "The one who will be arranged is you. Don't try to drag me into it! "