Is Love Truly Can't Wait

“Is it wrong to yearn for you to be mine?" –Aaron.

…….

In the midst of the scorching sun, a woman stood still under the shade of the tree, her hair blowing in the breeze. 

The gardener nearby was attracted by her gracious smile as the wind blew past her face, and he blurted out his thoughts, “Wow, so beautiful...”

Zelle opened his eyes to meet the awestruck gardener, “Hmm? I've never met you before; are you one of the family's newest members?”

For a brief period, the gardener was surprised when their miss spoke to him, but he couldn't ignore her, so he scratched the back of his head and replied, “Y-yes, Miss, today is my first day.”

 “Oh, you know who I am,” Zelle said as she approached him wearing her sun hat. “May I know your name?” she asked the gardener, despite the wind attempting to blow her hat away. “Sir?”

“How impolite of me, miss,” the gardener said as he bowed and introduced himself. “My name is Cohen, and I'm from the neighboring town, Cohen Ansel. They told me that the environment, like the people, is fantastic here. When they started hiring people months ago, I took a gamble.”

 “Well, thank you for joining our family,” Zelle said, tapping his shoulder to prevent him from bending and injuring his back. “But please, treat me as your friend. Everyone here, including you, is a member of my family. So feel free to be comfortable.”

Seeing her gorgeous smile with worried eyes, Cohen didn’t declined. “Yes, Miss Zelle!” He nodded.“Thank you very much!”

Zelle's heart raced faster from appreciation as she saw Cohen's happy smile. Cohen didn't take up much of her time before returning to his work. And Zelle returned to the tree, where she waited patiently.

“What they said is really true! Miss Zelle is really a good person!” As he went to retrieve his pruning shears to start his day, Cohen skipped around his feet. However, he heard two maids talking as he passed by nearby them. “Oh my, sir Zach still hasn’t come to look for you yet? Are you okay?”

“I'm okay... I don't think he'll see any of us anymore... And we all know this will happen soon,” the other maid said hesitantly.

“Yeah... it's already been two months,” the other maid pities her and caresses her back. “I guess Sir Zach is serious about his engagement now."

“He is not engaged!” the other maid almost cried as she came to a standstill, “Well… not yet... again...” she couldn’t help anymore as she whispered, “…Don't say that.” Her tears finally dropped. 

“I'm sorry,” the other maid said as she embraced her. “Let's go hide before anyone notices; there are a lot of new employees starting today... and we don't want Miss Zelle to see us.” The other maid nodded with her tears falling nonstop from her cheeks.

When Cohen accidently heard the two leave, he grimaced and said, “I thought this place was a great place? Why do I have the feeling that something is wrong?”

He went to work with questions in his head and tried to be considerate of others.

However, the maids were correct... Zach became serious about pursuing Zelle.

It's been two months already.

Zelle hasn't given them her response in two months... the question of who she would marry.

After Zeppelin broke the news two months ago, Zelle chose---

—to deliver her answer on the day of her 18th birthday,. And then marry him on the same day.

It was agreed upon by Zeppelin.

Zach felt frightened by Aaron, who Zelle was always with now that they weren't engaged. From the library to meals and even teatime! With the reason Aaron hasn’t with her for a year. But that because of his own cowardness!

 

Worse, if Zelle found out about his affair, she would almost certainly reject him! As a result, he stopped meeting with other women except Zelle and concentrated on getting her to respond. To choose him.

But today, he was given a chance! She set aside part of her time for him! A picnic for just the two of them.

“Zelle!” Zach waved his hand at her, holding a picnic basket with of goodies and a gingham blanket made especially for today!

She smiled at him as he approached her and waited for him to reach her. “Did you wait so long?”

Zelle shakes her head, “No, just in time.”

“I went to the maids and asked for your favorite! I'm hoping you'll appreciate it!” Zach began to lay the gingham and put aside the basket the basket.

 “The maids…?” Zelle flinched as she watched him prepare a seat for them.

"Yes," Zach said as he motioned her to take a seat beside him and didn’t notice anything out of ordinary. “I’m not confident on my cooking skill but I know you will love these!”

As he embraced her, Zelle nodded, her face hidden behind his chest. She gently clutched his clothes as she remembered what she had heard two months earlier in the storage room. “Thank you for your thoughts,” she said as she turned her head away from him.

Zelle began to open the basket, and within she discovered her favorite chiffon cake and egg pie. “They really know me well!” she exclaims, her smiles widening as she forgets what she just remembered. “Later, I should express my gratitude to them.”

Zach's heart warms as he sees her beautiful smile. He fell in love with her because of her smile and told his father about it. He wanted to keep her smile to himself and wanted her for himself.

But never the force smile he wanted to see hence he was only good to her… and waited until their supposed marriage… to be a good husband to her.

'Just wait, Zach...' He stopped himslef as he realized he was about to do something Zelle would despise.

“Zelle, I can wait,” Zach said as he stroked her cheeks and wiped the crumbs from her lips. “I'm not sure what I'd do without you.” 

Zelle was taken aback by his confession... one he rarely makes... one he never made while they were still engaged...

Was it because he assumed he already had her and that it was no longer necessary?

If only…

Zelle clings to his arm and slowly lowers his hand. “Zach, where would I go? You're all my family I had.”

She smile yet again the sweetest of them all.

However, Zach wasn't the only one who saw it.

Aaron clinched his fist inside the mansion as he went past, seeing them together.

He didn't bother them, though. And keep walking erratically.

‘It's simply for the time being. Zelle is always mine.’

…….

9 MONTHS LATER

There's only a month until the long-awaited day arrives! Zelle remained steadfast in her decision... to choose her partner on her special day.

But even she couldn't pick who she wanted to be with...

“Miss, it's been eleven months... and you still haven't told me who you love,” Raine, Zelle's personal maid, pouted in front of the mirror as she brushed her Missus's hair.

“Raine, is love truly can't wait?” Zelle asked, her face gloomy as she looked in the mirror. 

“What do you mean, Miss?” Raine was perplexed.

“I'm not sure what love is, Raine. I'm not sure if any of these are true to me. I don't deserve the right to choose,” Zelle said, fidgeting.

 “Well Miss, I never fell in love before, so I don't know how to help... But why can't you just say no, Miss?” Raine frowned. “You're still young, so you have time to experience the world. And discover what love truly is.”

“No,” Zelle stated with a shake of her head. “My family is here, I'm going to stay. And it's not like I have anything against Aaron or Zach.”

"Do you like any of them, Miss? As if you really wanted to kiss that person and only him?” Raine asked as she braided Zelle's hair.

Without a response, Zelle’s cheeks suddenly turned red. 

“T-there is?!” Raine exclaimed, astonished.

“Miss!” she teased, laughing. “Perhaps that is love!”

“May I know who it is, miss?” Raine asked, excitedly putting down the comb. 

Zelle turned her face away, “I-I don’t know.” She stood up and grabbed her maid’s arm, “Let’s just go, Uncle must have been waiting for long.” Raine didn’t force her and only chuckles.

She led her out of the room, but as soon as she opened the door, Aaron appeared in front of them, surprising the two. “Aaron!” Zelle exclaimed.

"I was going to knock," Aaron apologized as he placed his hand in front of her. “Father told me to bring you to his office. Shall we?”

She couldn't possibly say no. Zelle looked at Raine and accepted his extended hand. Raine followed after the two and walked with her head bowed.

They didn't say anything while they walked... except that their hands were clasped together and they didn't want to let go. They were even in front of the office for a minute when they arrived.

Raine was perplexed since they stood for a minute without looking at each other or speaking. She didn't want to bother them; how could a maid do that? So, like them, she took a moment to stand behind them...

Until she saw their clasped hands.

Raine blushed and bit her lower lip to keep from squealing.

Aaron kissed the back of Zelle's hand, breaking the stillness. “Is it wrong to yearn for you to be mine?" he asked in a soft voice.

Zelle was speechless, her cheeks flushed, and she couldn't say anything. Aaron watched as their hands let go as he opened the door for her. Zelle finally stepped inside, followed by her maid.

Aaron walked out the door and shut it. Raine was also booted out shortly after and remained outside the door.

“I apologise for asking your maid to leave; these are merely sensitive materials I wanted to show you,” Zeppelin explained as he handed her the documents.

“Don't worry, Uncle,” Zelle nodded in agreement. “But Uncle, what are these?” She asked when she accepted the paperwork and opened them with a puzzled expression. 

 “Well, now that you're almost of legal age, your possessions will be rightly returned to you,” Zeppelin stated as he sat in his swivel chair. “All of the things your father left will be yours. And your father's lawyer will arrive shortly, most likely on your birthday or the next day after that.”

“For the time being, I recommend you have your own counsel, even only temporarily, so that nothing goes wrong when that time comes,” Zeppelin said, adding, “I can assist you find a lawyer if you wish. I'd be happy to assist you with any requests you may have.”

Zelle was surprised, she asked worriedly, “I thought they were all mine after Father died. If I didn't have the money, how did we keep the mansion going?”

“Your father didn't give you anything except an allowance enough for you to subsist,” Zeppelin said as he shook his hand. “Just enough to cover your basic needs, food and necessities. Though not enough for the bills, since there are a lot of us, so I added mine. Not until you're at least of legal age, only allowance you have. As they are also workers at my home, the workers' money comes from my wallet. I'm happy to lend a hand if you need it. I am, after all, your guardian."

Zelle was taken aback because she had assumed her father had left her all she needed. “But…”

 “I know how you feel, Zelle,” Zeppelin says as he walks up to her and strokes her back. “Your father is one of my best friends. Every day after hearing the news of his death, I hated myself. The very least I could do is keep our word and look after you. I wanted to give you everything you desired. Simply ask.”

“I-I know you wanted the best for me, Uncle,” Zelle sighed as she handed him the document back. “And I appreciate everything you've done for me. That is why I entrust everything to you.”

“I don't know about the law," she added, "But I'd like to sign whatever is required now, after a month. I-I wanted to keep enjoying things the way they were... for now… while I still can.”

“I understand, after all, everything will change a month from now, is that what you’re worried about?”

Zelle lowered her head and nodded.

“Don't worry, this family will always be yours and will always be there for you,” Zeppelin returned the documents to his desk. “As always, feel free to come over and request anything you wish.”

Zelle sweetly obeyed before leaving his office.

One month.

Everything will change one month from now.

They all know that…

Except…

It won’t even take a month before everything turned upside down!

12 DAYS LATER…

19 DAYS BEFORE THE AWAITED DAY…

A kitchen maid was alone in the middle of the night, surrounded by knives and food in the kitchen, when she was visited by a special guest.

“Oh! You’re here! That was unexpected.” The kitchen maid took fresh-from-the-oven cupcakes and invited the guest over. “I was experimenting with a new dish; it's cheese cupcakes... I wanted to share… Unfortunately, you're lactose intolerant.”

“It smells delicious,” The guest stated.

“Yeah! Thanks!” When the kitchen maid heard the guest's words, she set down the tray and was going to try one. Until she heard the guest’s remarks.

“It smells delicious…” The guest repeated with a smile, “…as well as your blood.”

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KircheLeaf

SEASON ONE

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~ END of CHAPTER THREE ~