Memory in Fire

Memory: Theobold

The night sky was beautiful with stars. The full moon looks mesmerizing up there, illuminating the flower garden with a\-colorful luster that reflects the moonlight by the dew grains that begin to wet. A hand with pure white skin stretched out, stroking a beautiful pink rose petal with spines\-thorn adorning its stalk. His finger\-teeth gently traced every detail of the flower, until a rustling sound interrupted his attention.

Sreekk,,,,,,,, rerekk,,,,,,, uh,,,

There were footsteps that violently swiped the grass beneath him in a hurry\hasty. Knowing who was walking –or exactly half-run, not far from the place, the owner of the hand plucked the flower he bought earlier, and a slight grimace endured the pain as his finger scratched the thorns that adorned his stalk. He walked over to the little girl who was not far from his place.

“Princess, what are you doing here?” He smiled, standing politely beside his mistress who looked upset. One of her hands was behind her back, hiding a pink rose from her pet.

“A honoured Lady does not deserve to leave an ongoing party, especially if she is the host.” Further. The girl in front of him turned his head, and stuck her tongue out at him.

“I don't care!” The girl turned back, pretending\ to observe the tall grass in front of her which restricted the flower garden area.

“Lady Erika, you also can not stick out the tongue like that. That in no way reflects the attitude of a nobleman.” Further again. He paid no attention to the girl in front of him who was growing sullen at his words.

“I told you I don't care, Theo!” This time the girl, Erika, turned her body to face her brother's personal driver, Theobold. Erika's face looked red withstanding annoyance, but in Tehobold's eyes, Erika's face now looked adorable. How not? The girl before him was only 9 years old, and his height did not even reach his chest, which made the girl have to look up if she looked at him. The pink dress she wore made her look beautiful, with matching colored headdresses. Anyone who saw her would definitely be anxious, with her beautiful and cute face with her red cheeks blushing. She looks pretty and funny when she is upset.

“What happened, Princess?” Theobold asked politely while smiling gently at Erika.

Seeing her soothing eyes and gentle smile, Erika's annoyance slowly faded. His lips formed a thin smile, returning Theobold's smile to him.

“I'm just a little annoyed at Mom and Dad.” Said slowly.

“If I may ask, why do you feel upset with your parents?” Theobold asked carefully\-carefully, he was afraid of interfering too much in his employer's affairs.

“I heard them talking about my matchmaking.” Answer Erika. His sense of regret re-emerged when he remembered the incident earlier.

“Stupid?” Theobold asked in surprise. He did not expect Lord Alfred and Lady Wanda to talk about their daughter's betrothal. Because of the matchmaking of Erika's brother, Alexander, they never talked about it.

“Kakak not even have a fiancee yet. Why did mom and dad get me? It sucks! Anyway I don't want to get married before big brother!” Erika is back.

Inevitably Theobold felt funny seeing Erika's behavior. He chuckles slowly. He felt funny because Erika spoke as if she knew what marriage meant. Seeing Erika glaring at him for being laughed at, Theobold finally knelt down, making Erika no longer need to look up to see him.

“You can't behave like that, Princess! I am sure your parents love you very much. You are being betrothed does not mean you have to get married soon, does it! Lord Alfred and Lady Wanda also want you to have new friends. You are always at home and home schooled. M’Lord is also starting to get busy with his duties as heir, and I also Ray can not continue to accompany you because we have to help your brother's duties.” Theobold's light was long. M’Lord is his calling on Alexander. He and Valeray used to call him that. To Erika they called her Princess.

“New friends?” Erika seemed to think. He played the end of his hair that was deliberately cut off. “Maybe you're right. Father and Mother must also be worried because I suddenly\ suddenly ran out.” Erika answered with regret. His face was sad. Then suddenly his gaze was shifted on the face with blue eyes in front of him.“But, like you said earlier, are we really\-can't really continue together? Are you going to leave me someday? Brother and Ray too?” This time, Erika's face looked very sad.

“Of course we will always be with you, Princess! We won't be able to leave you alone. Likewise with M’Lord. Princess knows for herself, M’Lord even often skipped from her lessons to play with Princess all day.”

Erika laughed a little hearing that. He remembers Alexander often hiding in his room while Valeray confusedly searched for his master to and fro. Her sister would hide under the blanket with Erika sitting on it while giggling. And when Valeray asked him where Alexander was, with his sinless face he just shook his head, then laughed loudly as Valeray came back out with a confused and frustrated face. The two of them will play all day until dinner.

“Really? You promise?” Sue Erika then. His laughter had stopped, replaced with his sweet smile.

“Of course! I cross my heart!” Theobold made a cross mark on his chest. He then slipped the roses he had picked on Erika's headdress, making Erika look even more beautiful and adorable.

“Thank you, Theo!” Suddenly Erika jumped up and hugged Theo tightly. Theo reflexively held Erika's body which almost made her stray backwards. For a moment he hesitated to return his embrace. Theobold knew that he was just a driver who was nothing compared to this beautiful princess before him. So in the end Theobold just smiled, and enjoyed Erika's warm embrace.

Before long Erika took off her embrace, then ran a little\-run leaving Theobold who was still kneeling while smiling at her. Erika then walked backwards while waving her hand at Theobold.

“I'll apologize to mom and dad! I will also tell them that I will like my new friend!” Erika with joy.

“Walk correctly, Princess! You can fall!” With half a shout Theobold warned Erika.

Erika laughed again. So pretty! Theobold could ensure that Erika would grow up to be a beautiful and graceful woman, just like her mother. Perhaps even more than the beauty of her mother. Imagining that, Theobold felt a little sad. It seems that Erika did not want to grow up to be a girl, then married another man. He was used to his\-day days filled with the carefree laughter of the little girl. He felt unable to break up with Erika one day.

“Haaaa,, I must be crazy!” Theobold.

“You already are!” Suddenly his head hurt from being hit by something. He saw Valeray standing next to him, his back leaning against the black limousine door behind him. Valeray folded his hands on his chest in an indifferent manner.

“Damn you! My head could leak if it was hit like that!” Theobold hates Valeray who doesn't care about the swearing of the man next to him.

“Sedreaming what are you?” Ask Valeray. He looked ahead, staring at the side courtyard of the mansion that looked beautiful. The small\-light twinkling lights decorate the fountain pond filled with small ornamental\-fish.

“Not anything\-nothing!” Answer Theobold. He was still upset with Valeray.

“Is it about Princess?” Ask again. Theobold almost choked on hearing Valeray's guess on target.

“Everyone was worried about him too. I'm not surprised if you daydream and act crazy like that.” Valeray. His face turned sad. His usually sharp eyes became faint and dim.

Theobold did not reply to the gallant man beside him. Seeing Theobold speechless, Valeray sighed, then fell silent with him. The two of them finally dissolved with their respective minds.

“A satisfied daydreaming?” Suddenly Valeray and Theobold jumped in shock at the bass sound of a man behind them. For a moment they cleared their throat at the same time and smiled with a wrong attitude.

“Sorry, M’Lord! Are you ready to go?” Theobold bowed politely to Alexander, who was standing straight in a black tuxedo suit that looked right on his body.

“No need to be formal Theo! There's no one here.” Alexander said as he glanced at Valeray who had returned his expression as before.

“Sorry! It was a reflex from surprise.” Now Theobold looked grimacing, embarrassed to be found daydreaming.

“We're leaving now! They must have been waiting for me.” Alexander momentarily tidied the tie around his neck and then stepped over to the long, shiny black car in front of him.

Ungoverned, Valeray circled the car and opened the door for Alexander. After his master got into the car, he caught up and closed the door back from the inside.

Theobold immediately sat behind the steering wheel, and slowly carried the thing he had driven for 9 years out the magnificent mansion gate behind him.