“I wasn’t vying for your position, Dim. I was just trying to grant the girl’s wish. She wanted to stay with us. She had lost her memories, and had no iota of who she is, except for her name. She was only forward with us because we had saved her. That was why we had appealed to the queen to let Maya stay with us, till she recovers fully; till her mind is totally restored. I have no interest in currying favors with the queen, nor do I have interest in politics. If I did, you wouldn’t be in this position of yours, you know right? You aren’t the chosen one. Don’t forget that. Now, leave my house this instant, if you have nothing useful to say anymore, than cruel words and insults.” Peter commanded, his voice louder than ever as he pointed his finger toward the picket fence that surrounded his property.
Dim huffed in anger, his chest rising and falling. I feared that he would raise his fist at Peter, but seeing a faint smile on Laura’s face and the relaxed look on Diana who had left her dinner and had come to stand beside me a few minutes ago, I was sure that nothing of that sort would happen. But just like Diana had mentioned earlier, the banters would never stop.
“Yes, I know I am not the chosen one. But I am operating the office now. Don’t you see, brother? You are very useless to the community, but I’m glad that you had given up your inheritance just to follow a woman’s skirt. Father never regrets his decision till date. He thinks of making me the crown lord soon, and no, you aren’t invited to the ceremony. Thanks brother for letting me have this.” Dim said scornfully, not moving one inch from his position, acting like he had not just been told to leave.
Why were this man and his wife troublemakers? It was quite late at night. Didn’t he have some business to attend to, or even a meal to devour by this time? Shouldn’t he be at home having dinner with his family, or was his wife not a virtuous one? I wouldn’t be surprised if that was so. Lourdes didn’t seem dutiful.
So, what was this about the chosen one? If I could process correctly what Dim was saying, Peter was chosen. I didn’t know for what, but it was for something important. Fortunately or unfortunately-I was not sure-he had declined the offer, and had married Laura. Could Laura be against him participating in leadership, politics or the office that had been handed over to him from whoever?
What was the crown lord or rather who was the crown lord? What was its essence since there was a Queen? Why was Dim gloating over it? Why was Laura against it?
Wheeew. I sighed inwardly. This community wasn’t exactly as peace ridden as I had thought. Seems every crowd of people had a smut or two in them, as expected. Nowhere could be paradise or heaven.
Staring at Peter who was looking at his brother, more out of pity than anything else, I thought that he was done talking and would walk away from Dim, but no, Peter still had some fight in him. I saw that it pleased Laura. She was happy that her husband was standing up for himself. But who wouldn’t be?
“Tell father that I don’t care about the crown. I only care about my family, and since he isn’t interested in that, then I am not interested in him. And for you…” Peter scoffs, then laughs drily. “Know that your position is temporary. If I decide to change my mind ….”
The smile on Laura’s lip disappeared for the thought of Peter going back on whatever promise I was sure he had made to her. It made me so curious that I almost sagged against her shoulders, and asked her for the full story.
“…just know that the position will automatically return back to me, or my son.” Peter concluded, and without waiting for a stunned, angry and rageful Dim to retort, he turned aside and walked toward us, pausing when he saw us at the doorpost.
A smile slithered across his lips as he watched us. I was not sure what he was thinking, but he didn’t seem pissed that we were eavesdropping-insead he was the opposite; pleased.
“That there, Dim, is family. Something I’m sure that you don’t enjoy, but I hope you will.” Peter mentioned, without turning back to face his brother, whom my eyes perched on and almost fell off.
The cruel man was staring at me, with a blank expression. He took a step further, and I took a step backward, as though he wasn’t a few feet away from me, as though Peter wasn’t standing between him and me.
I didn’t know why, but he scared me. He looked at me for a while longer, before he turned on his heels and walked away from us, heading toward the picket fence.
Finally. I mused as I breathed out, stepping away from the door, as Peter got to us.
“I am sorry that I disrupted our dinner over some unsatisfied brat who thinks that he is entitled to the whole world. If I had known he was the one knocking, I wouldn’t have bothered.” Peter started, bending low to pick a pouting Diana in his arms.
The girl yelped and flung her arms around her father’s neck, pleased to be at the center of the attention now.
“Should we continue dinner, or should we…” Peter didn’t complete his statement.
He looked at Laura, waiting for her confirmation, and again I wondered, what could be the history behind these two? What had Peter been chosen for, that had later fallen into the laps of his brother? What was the family feud about? Shouldn’t siblings be close? I was sure none of them had been adopted, they looked so much alike.
What was the father’s deal? What was Laura’s deal? Why doesn’t she want Peter taking the position?
From the relations tonight, I was seventy percent sure that the reason for Peter leaving his family could be attributed to Laura.
Had she been worth it?
She must be, if he went through with it. I concluded, heading toward the dining.
Laura had opted that we finish dinner first before discussion.