Neon's Curse

2

“No”, “A respectable maiden is supposed to stay home and serve the family, not go frolicking in villages, calling it fun.”

“Father?” He sighed.

“Listen to your mother, Francesca”

“She's not my mother." I walked out of the house, the last image being Lady Benedict crossing her arms against her chest and my father rubbing his eyebrows.

When I left the ranch, I didn't have anywhere to go. Maidens were not allowed to be without destinations.

I went to the book store. I figured I could borrow a book and read till Neon’s assistant came to read us an excerpt. It was a miracle that I could read. My father was adamant about me being able to read much to the distaste of Lady Benedict.

“Good morning sir.” Mr Dranac was the owner of the bookstore. He allowed people to use the bookstore without paying. People respected him, but I was most grateful because I didn't have the money to pay.

“Good morning, dear”. “He is not coming until later.”

“I know”, "I was hoping I could read some other books, to pass time.”

“Sure, feel free”. “Would you like a cup of tea to go with it?” A smile unknowingly graced my face, my mood was lifted. Mr Dranac was especially kind to me. Maybe it was pity, maybe it was just his personality, but I was grateful. I was always at peace in his bookstore.

After hours of reading, I heard noise coming from the room Neon’s assistant always read to us in. He was here. He was with another edition of Neon’s book. I hurried to the room and sat down amidst giggling maidens. It was mostly maidens that patronized the bookstore. The men thought it feminine to read another man’s work if it was not war notes and letters from the king or general.

Neon’s assistant cleared his throat and began.

“A love I have always wanted. A love to give my love. Gratia and Stephen walked holding hands. Gratia was smiling, her cheeks getting redder by the minute.

Alas, I must see your parents. I want to do right by you.

My father would never agree to wed us.

Gratia cried, turning her face away from Stephen and running towards the middle of the field. Stephen chased after her and soon caught up.

Let's run away, we will have our children and live happily together.

I would love to. I would do anything for you, but I would not let your name be associated with dust.

He held both her hands and kissed her forehead. I will do right by you…”

Neon’s assistant closed the book and the noise caused everybody to come back to reality. It was like we were in a story, watching what was happening. Neon’s books did that to us.

Shuffling followed as Neon’s assistant stood up to go. Maidens crowded him, giving him notes to give Neon. I walked home thinking about the strong love and how I would love to be loved. I smiled to myself. As I neared home, I felt eyes watching me. I turned immediately but saw no one. I could feel the intense gaze heavy on my back. I hurriedly walked home.

At the front of our ranch, under the oak tree, was my father on his knees and Lady Beatrice crying at the corner. A group of men surrounded my father and was shouting at him while he rubbed his hands and begged. As I came closer, one of the men looked at me and smiled.

“Unless you give us your daughter in exchange." He pointed to me and all the eyes followed his finger. I was confused. What had my father gotten into? Why was he on his knees? My father stood up immediately and pulled me to his back.

“Give me two months, I would pay up the money,” laughter arose from the men, hitting each other and mocking my father’s words.

A man cleared his throat, the leader of the group I presumed.

“I'll give you a month,” he began. He looked at my father and pointed at me." In a month’s time, if you cannot pay your debt, I will marry your daughter and take your land.

After the men left, making sure to look at me one more time, I confronted my father.

“Father, what was that about?” My father did not reply, he just looked down. I dragged him back as he wanted to walk away. He looked downcast. My stepmother spoke in his stead.

“Leave the poor man alone. Your father owes a debt and if he cannot repay it, you'll have to marry one of those rascals.” She spat, her take on the rascals venomous. My hands slipped from where I was holding my father.

“Father, is that true?” I asked my father. Maybe there was a mistake.

“I'm sorry, child.” He put his hand on my cheek and looked me in my eye. “You'll not marry them, I promise you before the gods."

I nodded and he patted my cheek. He tried to give me a reassuring smile, but I saw through that. He was scared. He walked inside, and I just realized how old he was. The years of constantly hitting that iron had taken a toll on him. What could he have done to owe such a debt that he knelt for?

“Francesca!” My name echoed through the house.

“Yes, stepmother,” I answered. She always hated me calling her that, but I think she preferred it to Lady Benedict. I could still tell by the scrunch of her forehead that she was not pleased. She beckoned on me to get closer. She shoved a paper in my hand and warned me not to read it.

“Go, give it to Lady Samson, tell her I sent you,” she paused. “Make sure to come back before dinner. Your father requested a duck stew.

“Yes ma'am” She looked at me for a while and then turned her face, sighing. I took it as my cue to leave.

Lady Samson lived in one of the finest houses in Lalida. Being Lord Fleming's daughter had its advantages. Lady Benedict would have had the same life if she hadn't arrived with two children without a father. My father took a liking to her. Maybe because of her huge behind, he treated her well. One could mistake it for love. Maybe that was why she could often cut me some slack.

As I came into the main street, filled with sellers, I opened the letter, careful not to tear it. I looked around to make sure nobody close to me was there. The letter contained my stepmother, pleading with her sister to lend us some money so that we could pay off our debt. She put in the consequences, such as our house, but she didn’t mention me being married off. I did not know why she wished to hide it. I was happy nonetheless. I reached the house of Lady Samson and was ushered inside. I was given a chair to sit and wait while she prepared to meet me. A cup of tea was given to me and I busied myself looking at the artistry on her walls.

“Francesca… is it?”

“Yes ma'am,” Lady Samson was graceful, in a prideful way. She wore her hair down and was in silk clothing, the material felt even soft to the eye. I sat up straight, not wanting to be intimidated by her aura. She looked like Lady Benedict but with better features and temperament.

“I hear my sister gave you a note for me.”

“Yes ma'am”

“May I have it then?”

“Yes… of course,” I cleared my throat and immediately searched my pocket for the note. I held the note with both hands, my thumbs on top and bowed as I gave it to her. She took it from my hand and looked at the notes. I feared she would find out that I had opened it.

“Give her some biscuits as she goes,” Lady Samson waved to one of her maids, who immediately went to get them. I breathed out, my heart pounding normally once more, was not discovered.

As I was given the biscuits, I stood up to go.

“Francesca…” I paused in my step.

“Yes my lady,” I didn't look back for fear that she might read my expression.

“Send my greetings to my sister.”

“Surely my lady,” I bowed one more time and left.

The air out in the street calmed my rough beating heart.

Along the path to my house, there was a gathering of people. The border was breached by bandits. People blamed our king, people blamed king Eros. They cried that he should just overthrow straight away, rather than kill people along the borders. A woman spat on the ground and squeezed her face in disgust. She said that she would never surrender to King Eros. I scoffed. It was meaningless, she wouldn't have a choice.

“What did she say?” My stepmother asked. Immediately she saw me enter the ranch.

“She said I should extend her greetings.” My stepmother nodded and walked inside. The house was quiet as my stepbrothers were still on their trip. I wondered how they traveled without any issues. The insecurity along the border was alarming, but they traveled like they owned the four kingdoms. I reached under my bed and brought out the box I had a collection of artifacts in. Although my brothers did not like me, they gave me gifts for a reason I did not know. Maybe it was pity for me not to be able to follow them on their trips. Maybe I was thinking too much about it. Gihon always said it was his contribution to my growing up.