69: Another Sleepless Night

Another Sleepless Night

Not aware she was spotted by an Rafal, Oriana waited by the courtyard near the servant quarters. Luke should soon be finishing his work for the day. She had her arms crossed in front of her chest and was kicking tiny rocks on the ground to pass time. 

'The butler said they're supposed to finish an hour ago. Even if he loves to work, he should not work too much. He should have heard by now that I visited. Can't he finish work early even just today? I cannot wait to tell him good news. I have no one else to share my happiness with.'

After some more waiting, Ken came from the direction of the building they were working on, his body covered in sweat and dust. 

"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Orian."

"It's alright, Ken." She peeked at the other workers walking behind him. "Luke, he…?"

"He is just finishing something. He will be out soon."

"Oh," she said, but her eyes were still seeking her friend. The hired workers were being boisterous, some gathering in groups to chat, others heading straight to the servant quarters to rest. It appeared construction work for the day was completed. 

'Is he avoiding me on purpose? I really need to ask how I offended him.'

"Are you sure you want to wait here? You can wait inside the common hall—"

"No, no, it's fine. I do not want to impose. I will be leaving as soon as I see Luke." 

"If you say so. I have to go. I need to bring back some tools from the shed," Ken said, patting the sack of artisan tools in his hand.

Oriana nodded and watched Luke's cousin leave for a different building that looked like a workshop. She resumed her previous action of kicking rocks.

'Seems like he will take more time,' she thought with pursed lips. Her mind wandered about what she would do after she gets to meet that apothecary. While immersed in her thoughts, she continued to pace around with her head lowered, not realizing one of the rocks she kicked hit another person.

"I'm sorry—"

Startled, Oriana backed away but lost her footing from the scattered rocks, causing her to fall forward. 

"Watch out," she heard the familiar voice coming from a tall man who was standing in front of her. Her reflexes fortunately stopped her from colliding with him. 

Her gaze slowly moved from the strong chest covered in a simple dirty white shirt, going up towards a sweat-covered neck until it reached the familiar nonchalant face of a young man with dark brown eyes and shoulder-length messy hair.

"Luke!" she smiled at him brightly. It was as if she forgot all her earlier complaints. "Look at you. Did you roll around in the dirt?"

"Hmm."

"Have you finished your work?"

"Hmm."

"Why don't you go inside to wash first—"

The young man shook his head. "Tell me why you are here."

"Oh." Oriana gave an awkward laugh, hearing the impatience in his voice. "I came here to tell you that I finally found that herb shop and got to know the whereabouts of Master Cenric. I went straight here as soon as I got the news because I..I could not wait to tell you."

As she said it, her eyes turned moist. Luke felt angry at himself for keeping her waiting because he was being petty. He should have seen her as soon as she came. He forgot how important it was for Orian to find that apothecary.

He let go of his cold attitude and said, "It's good that you found him."

His words caused a stunningly bright smile to appear on her face. 

"It's really good." She held his hand in happiness. "Now I can save my Grandpa, Luke. I…I can treat him and he won't forget me…he won't…forget me…" Tears rolled down her eyes as she looked at him with that same bright smile on her trembling lips. "I can finally…"

Luke hesitated first but then wiped her tears, as if she was a little girl. Though his expression remained impassive, his voice held warmth. "You worked hard. Success was given."

Oriana didn't mind if he didn't smile as she knew how Luke was. Even if he cared, he won't show it on his face. She simply nodded and heard him continue, "I have finished my work."

"I know. You should head inside and rest. You deserve it. I only came to share good news," she informed him, patting his arm. "I will go now."

"You can stay," he said. 

"Huh?"

"I mean, you can eat with me and go after that," he corrected himself, taking control over that hidden temptation of making her stay for the night. 

Her hazel eyes sparkled. Suddenly, she felt like she finally had someone her own in this strange place, and the little loneliness she'd long kept hidden in her heart dissipated. She agreed immediately. "Hmm, let's do that. Is the food in the common hall good?"

"We can eat outside," he offered.

"Oh, yes, of course. On the way here, there was a small diner from where I smelled mouth-watering roasted meat. We can go there if you want."

Luke called for Ken as well, inviting him to eat. However, the furniture maker declined.

"You two boys enjoy yourselves. I will eat at home, or else Ena will scold me for wasting the food she cooked for us."

Luke and Oriana went to the small diner which was crowded as the sun was going to set. Almost all the tables were taken by the time they arrived.

"Thank the spirits there is still a table," Oriana said. The two sat in the outdoor patio. Their spot was perfect for two people, the small circular table placed out in the extended shade lit with a single ornate lamp in the middle.

"What do you want to eat?" Luke asked. 

"Umm…"

Luke called for the server and asked for the dishes they offered. Like what Oriana guessed, the small diner specialized in roasted meat. She got herself their trademark roast beef with mushrooms. Luke ordered the same for himself. 

As they waited for food to be ready, Oriana started to narrate her experience to her friend.

"Do you know I almost thought I wouldn't be able to find that shop, but thankfully, someone came to my rescue. A man came to me and told me he saw  me inquiring around. He basically grew up in the market and knows the place like the back of his hand."

"A random man came to you and you just—"

"Shush, first listen to me. I am not a child to trust a stranger just like that," she interrupted him. She then proceeded to tell him about their agreement. 

"…and though I found the herbal shop with that man's help, I only paid him one silver as the master's apprentice was not there. Tomorrow, when I meet the apprentice, Mister Waye, I will ask him to tell me where Master Cenric is."

Luke offered a light nod to show he was listening to her. 

When they finished their meal, Luke paid for it. 

Oriana took out her coin pouch. "This is for my food."

"Keep it."

"I am already freeloading at your cousin's house…."

"The Ahrens paid their workers an advance on their first day. I have enough for both of us to eat for an entire month." He pushed away the coins Oriana placed on the table.  "Keep them for your return journey home."

Oriana pursed her lips. He was right. She was not working so she could not carelessly spend her coins. What if there are abrupt expenses in the coming days?

"Fine. Once we are back at the village, I will make sure to return what I owe you."

In response, Luke simply stood up from the chair. "I will take you back home,"

"I can go alone."

"It's dark and you are new to this city," he interrupted her and led her way. 

Though she wanted to argue, Oriana followed behind him, smiling like a little girl.  1

'With him around, I feel like I can be a careless little girl. He really takes care of me like I'm his younger sibling. It feels so good when you can leave everything to someone you trust. 

'Luke is really a good man, though he is unsociable and stingy with words.'

She caught up with his long strides. After walking in silence for a while, she asked, "Luke, are you by chance angry with me? Have I offended you?"

"No."

"Then why do I feel like you try to avoid me? In the morning, you left without waking me up."

"I did not want to interrupt your sleep," he replied, only to have silence between them once again. 

"If you say so." She let out a sigh, patting her chest to show relief. "I am glad that you are not angry at me."

"I am not." Luke added in his mind, 'I am just angry at myself.'

They quickly reached Ken's house in the outer city. 

"We are here! Finally, my legs can rest," Oriana said as she lazily shook her tired legs. 

"Go inside."

"You are not coming? You can sleep here for the night."

"I will go back to the Ahrens."

"Alright! Good night, Luke! Don't overwork yourself tomorrow!" 

She waved her hand at Luke who turned around to leave, his hand almost raising to wave back at her, but he preferred to keep them tucked in the pockets of his pants. That beautiful smile on her face was going to haunt him again. 

'Another sleepless night,' the young man could not help but think as he shook his head.

That night, Oriana went to sleep at peace, unaware of what awaited her the next day. 

  ---

pqdm.com