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And it isn’t just because of the things that Valkus has bought me or what he has done for me.
I am happy because someone is taking care of me for the first time since my parents died when I was a child.
“Who knew that not having to worry and scrounge for food and shelter would be a stress reliever?” I mutter to myself as I slip my feet into a pair of soft, velvety pumps. Then I leave Valkus’s quarters and go downstairs to meet him.
Valkus is waiting for me at the bottom of the staircase, and I take his hand when I reach him.
I do not miss the two zagfers that stand to attention nearby. They’re both carrying large baskets, and they follow us out when Valkus starts to lead me out of one of the side doors.
“Where are we going?” I ask him curiously.
“You’ll see.” Valkus smiles at me mischievously.
I enjoyed our time out at the restaurant and theater the other day, and I assumed we would be going out into town again.
But instead of leading me to a carriage, Valkus leads me out into the grounds of the Elenil estate.
I hear my breath hitch in my throat when he leads me into the forest surrounding the large mansion.
“It is so beautiful.” I haven’t been outside on the grounds of his family’s home yet, and I am sure that it must be stunning in the daytime, because right now after sunset, as the city’s lights are flickering on, it takes my breath away.
The air is warm and sweet, and the scents of nimond beans and bright, tart rirzed herbs hang in the air.
We continue walking until we reach a small grove, where the zagfers spread out blankets and unpack the baskets while Valkus shows me a little ornamental tower where he used to paint.
“This place is lovely. It must have been amazing to grow up here,” I cannot help but gush.
Valkus smiles slightly distractedly as we sit down on the blankets. He hands me some delicious finger foods, and we talk about his childhood.
“Yes, it was lovely. But once I started painting and my parents noticed my talent, I spent more and more time indoors. They wanted me to be more disciplined because I used to spend my days just walking around the grounds. They didn’t understand that it helped me find more inspiration.”
“I’m sorry that you had to spend so much time indoors.”
He feeds me some cake and cheese, and I groan at the decadence of the food.
“I got used to it after a while. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world, because I have always loved painting. I think painting indoors made me a little crazy, though, and eventually my mother learned that she had to open the windows while I was painting. Especially after I started mysteriously passing out at the dinner table.”
I burst into a fit of giggles, and I find myself shifting closer to Valkus. Any hesitation that I may have had before has disappeared in the last week.
Now all I want is for Valkus to touch me. All I want is to learn more about him. All I want is to spend a very, very long time with him.
“What was your childhood like?” he asks me, and I pause before answering. He feeds me another piece of cake.
“Um.” I swallow with some difficulty. “My parents died when I was very young. I grew up running around the lowtowns with the neighbors’ children. It was nice until I had to start working.”
Valkus is silent for a while and then he places his arm around my shoulders.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” he whispers.
I laugh, and this must surprise him because he pulls away.
“You don’t have to apologize. That is just how life works. And it all worked out in the end, didn’t it?”
“Yes, life brought you to me,” Valkus says with a delighted smile on his face.
This time, I feed him some roasted dripir meat on a cracker, and he eats it, his eyes still on me.
“So what do you want to do tomorrow?” Valkus asks me, and we start talking about the things we enjoy.
