Product of Love

The Surprise

Adrianna inhaled deeply as she stopped for a breath in front of her front door. She’d made it in time for dinner, she’d had to run but at least she was there in time. Opening the door, she went to the dining room after a quick wash up.  Her parents were already seated by the time she got there.

“Sorry for being late.” Adrianna quickly took a seat as the fragerant food was brought out. Her mouth watered at the sight of it even as her gut told her something was off. “What is the occasion?” She looked questioningly at her mother. The older mage’s amber eyes drooped in a sad fashion.

“Toshi came by.”

Adrianna’s hands clenched around the silverware as she served herself some lamb. “Oh?” She willed the tremble in her voice to be nonexistant as she glanced at her parents.

Her mother continued. “Yes, he said that he wishes to have a ball here in two days time where he will announce your engagement.” She turned her amber eyes to her daughter. “Are you sure this is the path you want to take, mija?”

Adrianna clasped her hands in her lap to keep them from trembling. “I still haven’t decided my path, mother. I believe Toshi misunderstood my meaning when I talked with him this afternoon.” Adrianna’s father looked as if he was about to  speak when a beep sounded from all their identification necklaces. Adrianna wondered who would be sending an announcement to all of them at such at late hour.

“I’ll grab it.” Adrianna’s father placed his identification necklace in a hidden slot in the table. The holographic image of the head of the council of mages appeared on their table. Adrianna worried her bottom lip as she waited for Toshi’s father to begin.

The holographic image smiled brightly at them as he began. “Citizens of Delgart, I am proud to announce the engagement of my son, Toshi Dai, to the lovely daughter of the Teruos, Adrianna Teruo. The Teruo household has been gracious enough to have a ball in honour of this engagement in two days time. All will be invited to the ball; rich and poor and mages or others. With that I bid you all a good night.” The holographic image smiled once more and disappeared into thin air.

Adrianna looked at her parents in a shellshocked state. Her mother spoke first.

“I guess the decision has been made for you, mija. I wish you the best happiness as you settle into your new home.” Without a glance in her daughter’s direction, she rose and walked towards her office, silence reigning in her wake.

Adrianna turned towards her father. His amber eyes glistened as he gave her a firm nod as if to say, “Be strong.” He then rose and followed in his wife’s footsteps, leaving Adrianna in silence. She sat there, processing the last five minutes that had shattered any hope of a marriage filled with love and happiness. Her eyes began to fill with tears and for once, Adrianna let them flow freely.

She left the house, no longer feeling hungry, no longer feeling anything. She passed through the gate barely hearing the guard’s congratulations on her upcoming engagement. Adrianna ran down the hill, past the market where she’d met Dereck to the place where she’d spent most of her life training for her dream job. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed on the steps of the mage academy.

“Why?” She whispered to herself. “Why must it be me?” Her childhood flashed through her mind, the conversations with her parents about music being only ever a hobby, the extra lessons in politics, even her friendship with Mei. “Grooming,” She realized out loud. “I was always ever only being groomed for this position.”

“What position?” A voice whom she’d come to love queried above her.

She looked into Dereck’s green eyes as the tears rolled down her face. “To be his wife.”