"Yes I know her... She is the love of my life..." Boyang replied.
That is all it took for Safa to faint, She crumbled to the floor, her cane hitting the marble with a Loud thud, "Safa!" Snapping quickly from their shocked state, both Fabian and Boyang rushed to Safa's side, with Fabian reaching her first.
...Few minutes later...
As Gertrude waited patiently to hear from the doctor she has sent for, "Did you see what you have done! How come you never said a thing about Safa before!" Fabian's angry expression Faced Boyang's equally irritated and worried one.
"I am as worried about Safa as you are if not more, but i have done nothing wrong here, it was not like either of us knew this was going to happen!
So. How about you sit down and explain to me how you two came about being friends first, Fabian."
But the albino man scoffed, "And why should I speak first, clearly you knew her before me?" Fabian asked.
"I am still assuming you are my friend, Fabian so I shall give you grace.
After all, just moments ago you smiled to me and welcomed me to your table, or has our friendship fall apart so quickly?" Boyang replied.
"No... It has... Not."
"Very well then, please sit and start explaining Why is Safa here..in your estate."
But Fabian was serious about not letting Boyang off the hook just yet, "Oh you want my full story? Well I will give it to you as soon as you fess up first!"
Seeing that Fabian's insistance won't fade that easily, Boyang eventually gave up and sighed, "You are as stubborn as I am, very well then my white haired friend... I am not joking when I say That Safa is the only woman I have ever truly loved, it is a rather strange coincidence I met her here today of all places. But she was and still is the woman I desire regardless of the circumstances.
as for the circumstances of me knowing her, it happened to be none other than the death of her father and brother.
I am a cousin of the late brother's wife, Yamei. and I too did not board the ship, so I understood how Safa felt and it sort of helped us find each other in a way, we happend to share a fondness for science and research as well which led to a friendship." he explained.
Now sitting in the drawing room, both men across from each other, Fabian and Boyang waited for the doctor just like Gertrude did.
"I see, so you two were close friends. However You said to me when we met that you swore off women, yet you claim to be still in love with Safa." Fabian questioned with a hint of jealousy, "You were drunk that night when we spoke Fabian... I said I swore off all women except one, I only want her but she would not allow herself to want me." Boyang replied.
"I suppose her wound was pretty fresh at the time." Fabian noted to which Boyang agreed to saying " I had a feeling that she liked me, Wolfgang did too...but It was mainly the survivor's guilt that held Safa back...she would not have allowed me to marry her or any man for that matter." Boyang calmly replied, hands over his cane as he leaned slightly forward.
"I assumed she never...Loved...Before. It is rather strange to hear she might have." Fabian spoke again blushing against his will, "The strange thing would be how invested you are in her, Are you not just friends?" Boyang asked curiously.
"No."
"No? Meaning?"
"I am courting Safa, in hopes of marriage actually. I too have similar deep feelings for Safa although they are quite recent compared to yours, but I also want her. Same as you..."
Boyang's face darkened slightly with shock at his friend now turned rival's words, but he kept his composure, "I see...Courtship and marriage how...Peculiar. I suppose she had time to grow and heal as a person after I left."
"On the contrary Bo... She too refused me few times, she only accepted because... Well I am ashamed to say it but I was relentless myself." Fabian replied.
"Well, Fabian! You must be interested even more now to know what her and I's shared history. I learned most noble men here tend to care a little too much about any potential stain on their future wives's record."
Fabian's expression twisted into pure rage instantly, "Her past does not concern me! if anyone should tell me about it, it is Safa herself!
if you truly care about her reputation, then do not attempt to taint it in front of me, I will defend her honor if I have to."
Boyang almost laughed at Fabian's outburst, "My dear good friend, you look far from 'Unconcerned'...why else would you look like you wish to strike me? Perhaps jealously? It is an ugly color on you.
But jokes aside, fear not for I never dare to say or do anything bad to hurt Safa, I too would defend her honor most vigorously, Which makes me feel like I did come back to England at the right time."
"Whatever do you mean Boyang?"
"I originally swung by to say hello to you dear friend... I have moved back to England as I have opened a prestigious little Shop that deals in herbal medicine and whatnot, I learned this craft mostly from Safa back in the days as I was her student, but then I left prematurely when her and I had a big argument..." Boyang admitted.
"You are back as in, permanently?" Fabian's eyes couldn't be any wider especially as Boyang nodded with a deep confident smile, "Why yes! I took the knowledge I acquired over time and worked with it, I made a name for myself back in my homeland these past few years, but England is where my heart truly belongs.
I had planned to get back here as soon as my shop is settled and then go meet Safa right after seeing you...mostly to inform her of my return, but most importantly to Apologize for My departure and to offer her a chance to work with me as I knew of her deep ambitions in selling her products.
I hope this bit of news is not too disheartening my dear friend." Boyang explained enthusiastically.
"Are you playing a cruel joke on me! I knew these past few weeks were too good to be real!" Fabian said cursing his luck.
Suddenly, "The Doctor is here! I'll go be with Safa." Gertrude announced as she popped her head into the drawing room.
In a funny twist, both fabian and Boyang spoke simultaneously, "Tell him to wash his hands before examining Safa!"
Shocked, both men looked at each other with confusion while a surprised Gertrude nodded and left mumbling to herself, "It appears Safa has a certain type of men she likes. Good thing young master didn't follow my advice to cut his hair." Gertrude mumbled.
...Meanwhile...
"Well, I have agreed with Lady Safa that once spring season is over, you and I will have our wedding at her manor." Mary said as she leaned on her front door, "She's very generous..." Joey replied worriedly.
"You seem out of it my love..."
"I'm worried about Jimmy I mean James...Has Been a while since I've seen him...And you said that he and Wolfgang took Clara and left somewhere... Ya'think something happened...?"
Mary nodded, "I don't do gossip much but...The way they all left so vaguely... I think I heard the servant mention Wolfgang seemed very worried and sad before he left, same for Clara, perhaps someone has died."
"Could it be his mother...He told me she lived away...and that she was sickly."
"If you're worried, pass by the Teaton estate, they know you, they might let you know what's happening." Mary suggested.
"Hopefully it's not a funeral...He's already lost a father." Joey replied.
"Whatever it is, it is. Life goes on no matter what Joey." Mary said before she sighed deeply.
...Back at the Struat Manor...
The doctor, a Middle aged kind looking gentleman said with a polite smile, "It would appear the cause of her fainting is simply stress coupled with the lack of nutrients, The lady should have a proper meal as soon as possible and could use some rest." he explained as he walked into the drawing room before he continued talking.
"Is there somewhere nearby the lady could spend the night? judging by what I know, lady vega is obviously not a resident of this manor, I remember she lives very far away, it's best if she doesn't travel back to her home for today, she's in no condition to be moved." he added.
"You know Lady Vega?" Fabian asked, but Boyang was quick to speak-up, "Doctor Smith is a friend of the Vega manor, I remember years ago, you visited few times while Safa was mentoring me, she would have a bit of a health set back every now and then." He said to which doctor Smith smiled and nodded to, "Indeed ! I was wondering why you look familiar young man, You look much stronger and healthier than all those years ago." the doctor said to Boyang who was well appreciative of the compliment.
Unamused by this show of nostalgia, Fabian tried to end the conversation "Oh well...thank you again for your quick assistance doctor Smith. Can we at least see The lady now?" Fabian asked politely.
"I prefer you let her rest a bit more, Mister Kainz. perhaps after she eats you can see her...by the way, are you perhaps the same mister Kainz, the white haired gentleman who nearly caused my younger brother William Smith a nervous breakdown few months ago?" the doctor asked very much amused.
Surprised, Fabian turned red as he recalled the poor lawyer he tormented on his first day here, "Forgive me, I did not noticed the resemblance, you do look a little too much like your brother." he noted.
Laughing,"Ha Yes! I'm Herman Smith, I hope my little brother himself wasn't an issue! William tends to be theatrical! He has a very emotional constitution! That's why he never married, no woman could have put up with a man so Lively!" he doctor replied jokingly.
Embarrassed, "Not at all, I am to blame for that day's debacle! Sir William was most accommodating...I should thank him for being patient with me, I am supposed to meet him soon anyhow...." Fabian said.
"You do that young man. It was nice meeting you, take care of yourself and your lady, she is quite a woman herself.
I knew her father first, lord Vega was such a decent man. He would pay the bills of my most impoverished patients every now and then, recently someone has resumed his tradition, I assume the lady Vega is the one behind this generosity." the doctor replied smiling before he left the place.
Boyang smiled watching the doctor leave,"How noble of her, She is following her father's example of kindness...glad to see that Safa found more of herself along the way." he said quietly.
"Boyang..." Fabian spoke-up.
"Yes?"
"I want to apologize... I know I became hostile to you as soon as you mentioned you and Safa were somewhat of an item in the past."
Surprised, "You know, you seem to have found a bit of yourself as well my White haired friend. I do not recall you this mature when we knew each other." Boyang said chuckling lightly, he was definitely pleased with the Apology but his words carried a slight jab to Fabian.
Rolling his eyes,"Ugh! Is this what I get for being mature enough to apologize?" Fabian asked.
Boyang finally laughed wholeheartedly, "Oh you fool!