Throughout the week, he didn’t think of anything but that kiss, and the way that Devin had held his hand. When the lesson’s day came over again, Salazar had his heart in his throat for the emotion. How Devin would have reacted to see him again? Maybe he regretted what happened? Or perhaps he had decided to not mention about it ever again, and just act like nothing ever happened. He knocked at the door of the big house, and when the landlady opened the door he entered feeling his legs weak. Devin was already there, and when he saw him he smiled sweetly. Salazar’s heart began to beat faster; not only Devin wasn’t angry, but he seemed just as happy and excited to see him as he was.
In the following weeks, they spent a lot of time together. They didn’t do anything special. They chatted, sitting hand in hand, or laid down, close together, enjoying the peace of the forest. It was only necessary to stay together for them to be happy. Rarely did they kiss, slightly, their lips barely touching.
Salazar was in high spirits as he walked down the trail, backing home that evening. He was so happy to had seen Devin again after a long week, to have been together even for an hour. When he arrived to his house, he noticed that there were the lights on in different rooms. He entered cautiously and heard the voice of his father coming from the living room. Salazar swallowed nervously. Did his father returned earlier than usual? Maybe he was angry with him for not being at home? Obviously he knew that his son went out to go sewing, but he didn’t like to see him out of the house. But his voice sounded calm, almost happy in fact. He was with some guests perhaps? But no one went to their house without notice.
His mother came out from the room and met him with a melancholy face. "Come in the living room, Salazar. Your father wants to see you," she said. Salazar felt the blood freezing in his veins. Did his father wanted to scold him? He would never have done it in front of the guests, which would have been too unbecoming. "I’m sorry that I’m late... I didn’t know that father would return early today" mumbled as an excuse. His mother shook her head gloomily and put her hand on his back, lightly pushing him to the hall.
His father really was with other people, and seemed to be talking lively about something. "He finally arrived" said to the guests with a slightly merrier tone than his usual firm and severe voice. When they all turned to Salazar, his father looked at him for a moment with his cold stare, but seemed to soften immediately. What was happening? His father put his hand on his back and pushed him in front of those people. “This is my son, Salazar Princeton Vipélierre.” They smiled radiantly at him, and not knowing what to think, Salazar half smiled back.
Then his father firmly took his shoulder. Despite the lean figure he always had a considerable strength. “Salazar, these are Mr. and Mrs. Duvet, and this…" he continued, pointing to a young, haughty looking Lilligant "is their charming daughter Clarissa.” His father turned in front of him and looked at him again, his face opened in a satisfied smile, but his gaze was like a knife that pierced him. “She's your fiancée. The engagement has already been established, and very soon we will organize your wedding.” Salazar dropped his bag on the floor; he couldn’t believe his ears. The girl, who studied him with a lofty look from the moment he entered the room, walked to him, but he was completely paralyzed by surprise. So his father pushed him towards her firmly, his voice coming out like a hiss. "Did you forget the good manners Salazar? Greet properly the young lady.” Salazar shivered at that voice, recovering from the shock and gave her a hand kiss, bowing slightly. "It is a pleasure for me to make your acquaintance, my lady" he began, but his voice went dry in his throat. She closed her fan and crossed her arms, still staring at him. “The pleasure is mine, sir.” she replied with not much more enthusiasm.
After the introductions, his father invited him to show the house to the girl, to make the two spend time together. Salazar spoke no more than the necessary, as his future bride for that mattered, who was looking around interested, seeming more concerned about his possessions than to him. Finally after dinner the Duvet’s departed, and Salazar could go to his room to sink into the bed.
He still couldn’t believe that they had arranged the engagement without even telling him. He already knew that his father wanted him to join him in marriage to a good match to have heirs as soon as possible, but his mother had always managed to postpone the event with the excuse that Salazar was still young and not ready... but now that he had turned twenty years old and had nothing else to hold onto anymore. He knew it was his duty to at least give this satisfaction to his father, but the idea of sharing the rest of his life with that girl that he had just met made him feel horrible.
The idea of an arranged marriage in general embittered him. He only wanted to marry someone who really loved him. He turned in the bed, thinking of Devin. How could he tell him about it? They were happy together. But they were two males. They were not meant to be together, wasn’t it? It was cruel. Tears began to slip on his cheeks, wetting the pillow.
In that moment he heard a knock, and quickly wiped the tears and sit up on the bed. It was his mother, who sat next to him. She looked sadly at him. "I'm sorry I didn’t tell you anything, but your father has arranged everything so quickly that I didn’t have the time.” She closed her eyes with a small sigh. “But at least she looks like a nice girl isn’t it?” Salazar shook his head. “I... don’t know really... We haven’t talked a lot... and I think …” The words got stuck in his throat. He couldn’t no longer contain himself. He knew that he could be honest, at least with his mother. “I don’t want to marry that girl. I don’t even know her! There isn’t really nothing you can do about it?” said, starting to cry, clinging to her as he used to do when he was little.
She gave him a sad look and caressed his hair, but shook gravely her head. “You know that there isn’t anything to do. The will of your father is adamant. You are his son, and you must obey him. I’m sure that with the time it won’t be so bad. You know that I wasn’t familiar with your father either when we got married. When you’ll get to know her better, you may find that you could be happier with her than you think. Beside, you will still have the possibility to continue follow your passions, that you so enjoy.” she pointed to the bag where Salazar kept all his sewing equipment.
Salazar looked at her for a moment, desperate, but then nodded slowly. It was like that, and there was nothing to do about it. He had to obey his father. He had disappointed him since he was born, but now he could finally make him happy, doing something good. He sniffled and wiped his tears. "You're right, it won’t be so bad. I'll do the right thing this time." his mother nodded “Very good Salazar. I am very proud of you.” Then she gave him a kiss on the forehead and left the room.
Salazar felt his hearth warming up. His mother was proud of him! And even his father would have finally been! But when he lay back in bed, he couldn’t help but think again to Devin. What would have told him when he would see him again? It would really end like this? Perhaps in the end it was better. Perhaps that relationship ought not to be from the beginning. He tried to think, to convince himself about it. So why he was feeling that heartache tormenting him? He wrapped himself in the blankets trying to get some sleep and stop thinking.
