Kissing The Wind

“You hate me for not telling the truth?”

I snorted. “Not at all. I was just upset but I don’t blame you either. I was just a peasant living in your house and you’re not obliged to reveal yourself wholly to me. My reaction was just…” I trailed off. “Some outburst. No hard feelings.”

He sighed after he heard my words. “Glad to know that. But don’t think of yourself as a peasant. You’re not a peasant.” A smile crept onto the side of his lips. “And we arrived. Welcome to a part of my life, Sydnee.”

And true to his words, the car halted to a stop.

The restaurant he was talking about was the grandest restaurant I’ve seen in my entire life. I gaped in shock. Golden lights shone in each lamppost and guards were standing and roaming around the whole building. I saw the great signage and the blue hues from inside shone before my eyes.

We walked towards the huge entrance of the building. The guards near the door snapped their heads in our direction. Seconds later, they stood erect and greeted Anthony who was walking beside me.

“Are they inside?” Anthony asked when we stopped in front of them.

One of the guards shook his head. “The Sire and Madam were not inside. Few of our guests were the lords and dukes from other cities.”

Anthony raised his brow. “Is there an official meeting inside?”

He shook his head again. “As what I’ve heard inside, a celebration was held inside.”

“Celebration?” Anthony clicked his tongue. “It’s not unusual,” he said and ushered me towards the small entrance beside the closed huge double doors.

The guards gave way for the two of us, and I did not notice that I was holding my breathe since we arrived. I gasped and looked at Anthony sideways. “Am I really welcome?” I asked.

I could not comprehend how well-guarded the place was. I thought that it was normal for this place to have it heavy guarded, but I realized that it’s because the officials were inside.

My stomach churned at the realization. The dukes and lords were not fond of associating with commoners like me so I never had a glimpse of one of them since my father was put to prison. The only duke I had met as what I’ve remembered was the duke of the next town, who was also Lisa’s father. I gulped hard as my hands went cold. I knew that my face had turned ashen.

Anthony chuckled at my pale face. “Have you seen a ghost, Sydnee?” he teased. Then he tucked my hand in his elbow. “Relax,” he cooed.

“I couldn’t,” I whispered and peeked inside the small entrance. But I was greeted by blue hues hanging in the walls. Ah, that’s where the blue lights were coming from.

He squeezed my hand. “The officials won’t hurt a little girl like you.”

“But they’re rich and powerful. They love to bully the weak and poor.”

“Not all of them,” Anthony whispered back at me. “Not all rich were like that.”

And we both took a step inside. Cold air swept by me and I shivered. Anthony was fast to wrap his arms around my shoulders and pulled me close to him.

He ushered me towards a dim lighted door and I gasped as I have a look ahead. The ceiling was high and it hosted a grand chandelier that was made of glass. The floor was wide with intricate designs that I often seen in medieval period movies that my classmates liked to watch. Tables and chairs were scattered in big groups. Some had people sitting at them while the other big tables had none. There was a grand staircase at the side and it led to a another place up there that was hidden from the sight of the customers sitting in the chairs around the big tables.

“So wide,” I muttered.

Anthony nodded. “That’s how big the ambition of my grandma was.” And he chuckled before he gestured me towards the grand staircase.

Some waiters walked passed by us and they greeted Anthony who always smile at them. Some girls even giggled before walking away. That made me huffed. Anthony grinned.

We climbed the stairs and I blinked when we reached the top. I thought the place below was grand enough to surprise me, but the place on top of the stair was magnificent. It was a less wider than the place below, but every corner spoke of elegance and wealth.

There were fresh flowers blooming in each plant box decorated accordingly to match the style of the place. The chandelier, smaller than what’s hanging below, was made of diamonds. An aroma of freshly picked flowers lingered around the place.

It was overwhelming that I had stopped in my tracks and closed my eyes for awhile. I felt Anthony stopped beside me. I had to breathe deeply for a few times before I opened my eyes again.

I was not dreaming. Indeed, I stood in a place shouting with wealth and I never imagined that I would enter in my entire life.

“Sydnee,” Anthony called.

I looked at him and the gleam of lights around us shone in his eyes. For a moment, I was afraid of the man who was standing in front of me. I took a step back.

He frowned at what I did and he stepped closer to me. But I stepped back, giving some distance between us.

My breathe became shallow and quick. I thought that I could accept the status of Anthony, but while walking on the grand path, I could not help but to shudder in fear. I never knew this kind of wealth. It was crazy. And the man standing in front of me owned this place.

I was not a fool who would plunge myself in this kind of wealth.

“Sydnee, what’s wrong?” he asked.

“T-This place…” I breathed. “It’s shining in wealth and I could not…”

My knees wobbled. I lost my balance but Anthony was already holding me in place so I would not slam my body on the cold floor.

He grunted and in one swift move, he carried me in his arms like a bride. “A-Anthony,” I called.

The creased in his forehead deepen and he looked down on me. Our eyes met. “Close your eyes,” he said.

And I did what he asked me to do. I even nuzzled at his chest, never even dare to open my eyes until I felt him lowering me on the floor and holding me in place.

When I opened my eyes, a sigh escape from my lips. The place was not shouting with wealth but I could still see a glimpse of elegance around the area.

“Where’s this place?” I asked while looking around.

“It was the crew’s quarter. Outside was the place where we could eat our dinner.”

I turned sideways to Anthony. He was staring at me. I gulped. “And why you bring me in this… place?”

“Sydnee,” he called. “Are you afraid of places like this?”