aureliamarianella

[aureliamarianella]

The Story of Flower Garden

"Sorry I didn't say anything until the end."

Word Count: 1477 pairing type? oc x oc, lady x servant

author's note: this is another story from The Story of Series, or, that's what I call it.

The girl nodded to her mother, and the servant beside her followed suit. For the past few weeks, the Meirice family was at war with their thought-to-be an ally family, Allith. Allith had slain Meirice’s heir, hiding the crime beneath the guise of an accident. The Meirice family was in great grief after losing a child, a brother, an heir. 

The servant glanced at the girl, who wore a noble dress and a firm expression. This situation is serious, with the death of the heir, it is the girl who will replace the position of heir of the family. Looking back, the servant remembered the times when she still had her beautiful smile. He hadn't seen that smile often recently. 

The servant remembered a time when Kaomi still smiled—back when they were younger, and the house still knew peace. “It’s tea time!” Kaomi exclaimed cheerfully to Youchi. Youchi smiled, “Of course, my lady. Do you wish to have a little themed tea party?” Youchi offered. Kaomi nodded in excitement. 

Kaomi had invited some of her lady friends to come to the tea party. The tea party was held in the estate’s garden, near the forest. Youchi along with a few others served each of them tea and typical snacks that are present at a tea party. The little ladies chattered about this and that, from the new spring dresses, to the talk about the duke’s heir getting married. Youchi admired Kaomi’s ability to flatter her friends, making them feel at ease with just a glance. He, of course, also knows how to socialise properly, it’s just that there is a certain way Kaomi seems to charm people with just a smile and eye contact.  He just knew he had also been charmed by her when they first met.

“That servant of yours is good-looking, do you know that, Lady Kaomi?” one of Kaomi’s friend spoke while eyeing Youchi. Youchi’s body stiffened, aware he was seen. “Oh, Youchi? Yes, I am aware. Why? Are you curious?” 

Kaomi’s friend giggled, “Just a little, I have a fiance, you know that.” Kaomi and the rest laugh at what she said. 

That smile was part of Youchi’s core memory, in another time, a few years after that tea party. They weren’t little kids anymore, Kaomi is a year away from her official debut party. She had grown into a beautiful young lady. That time, the Meirice family throw a birthday party of Kaomi’s older brother. It was a glamorous party, worthy for an heir. The commoners of the Meirice’s area were also invited. Because it was an heir’s birthday party, of course there are going to be other nobles. 

Many heirs of future noble families offered themselves to dance with Kaomi. The countess, Kaomi’s mother, chuckled at the sight. She whispered some things about Kaomi being very popular around the young lords. The count, Kaomi’s father, laughed with his wife, saying it will be difficult to choose Kaomi’s future fiance.

That was the first time Youchi realised his feelings toward Kaomi weren’t a mere admiration. He didn’t know how, why, nor when he had developed the feelings, but he knew he wasn’t even worth being in the consideration list for Kaomi. He was merely a general servant of the heir and Kaomi’s area, who just so happened to be saved by the current Count of Meirice. And Kaomi is a lady with a bright future. Youchi felt a sharp pain in his chest whenever that thought came across his mind.

He slipped away from the ballroom, and went to the estate’s flower garden. Flowers, of various kinds and scents. There was a big forest as far as his eyes could see. This garden was generational, it existed at least before the previous count was even born. This was also the place where Youchi met Kaomi for the first time. Unexpectedly, Kaomi was staring at Youchi after her last dance. saying she was bored, and she thought Youchi might come here.

“Youchi.” Despite the gentleness in her voice, Youchi couldn’t help flinching when she suddenly called him. “Were you daydreaming, again?” Kaomi asked him, she didn’t raise her voice, but her expression was sour.

“I apologize, my lady.” Youchi answered. He didn’t want to add another burden to Kaomi's already stressed state. He was there to serve her and help her with her studies to become an heir.

She hasn’t eaten anything since morning, she said eating now will distract her. The sun has set, Youchi’s shift was almost over. He cleaned her study space and served her tea once more. After that, he excused himself and left the room.

He changed his clothes, and a few hours later, went to the flower garden. Maybe the forest looks a bit haunted. But even at night, with the moonlight and the stars above, it was still a breathtaking scenery. He inhaled the fresh air. The house wasn't as fresh as it used to be, but this flower garden somehow still maintained its freshness.

As he was relaxing and releasing all stress, he caught a figure near the forest. Is it a ghost? A spirit? Whatever it is, Youchi’s mind starts spiraling with wild thoughts of the worst. But, he’d never expected it to be the real worst thing. 

Then came a scream—faint, yet sharp enough to pierce through the quiet. A girl’s voice. And dread flooded him, because it was too familiar.

He approached the voice, the horror flashed as it became clear whose voice it was. 

Kaomi.

“My la- Kaomi? No, no, no, no… Please, hang in there, I’ll search for help. Please, just endure it, don’t leave me.” Youchi pleaded, tears started forming in his eyes. Youchi ran as fast as he could, Kaomi in his arms, blood becoming more and more visible on her dress. She was stabbed, it wasn’t where her vitals were, but she’s clearly losing blood.

“Youchi.” Kaomi called him softly. “It’s alright, you don’t need to search for help. Can you please put me down?” Youchi shook his head firmly, “No, I won’t put you down. Just hang on,” Kaomi sighed, she knew Youchi meant well, he always does. It’s just that… The nearest help is at least a 20 minutes ride with a carriage. How can he reach there with just his feet, carrying her on top of that?

“Youchi, use your head!” Kaomi exclaimed, Youchi finally stopped running, Kaomi rarely raises her voice. “We won’t make it to the nearest help. It’s fine, you can put me down.” Youchi obeyed this time, Kaomi now laid surrounded by colorful flowers, now with red taint from her blood, Youchi held her hand firmly, “This is the flower garden where we used to play when we were kids, do you remember it?” Kaomi asked, Youchi’s tears now streaming down as he nodded to Kaomi’s question. 

Kaomi chuckled weakly, it seems like her blood loss started to affect her, “Silly Youchi… You don’t need to cry.” her thumbs wiped the tears in Youchi’s cheek, “I don’t want my last memory to be seeing you with such a sad expression,” Kaomi smiled. Seeing Kaomi’s smile, Youchi tried his best to also smile. 

“Let me continue my speech. Youchi, I’m sorry I’ve been harsh towards you recently. Please, live your life to the fullest in my stead. Find a kind and beautiful woman to be your wife. I have lived such a delightful life, I was born in a loving family, and I have a friend like you who cares for me dearly. I am truly grateful for everything and everyone. Thank you for staying with me until my last heartbeat. And… This may be a terribly late confession, but I've loved you for years now, Youchi.” Kaomi’s smile remained, even after she closed her eyes for eternity.

“You’re everything to me, Kaomi…” Youchi whispered. The rain seemed to be grieving for Kaomi too. The scent of bloodied flowers was washed away, the rain replaced it with an earthy scent. Youchi’s tears blended in with the rainwater. Youchi’s hand never left Kaomi’s, he started to feel the temperature dropping in Kaomi’s hand. Youchi never expected things would turn out this way. 

A hand was placed on Youchi’s shoulder. Standing behind him was a boy who looked a few years older than Youchi. He looks ghostly—he is the rain spirit of the Meirice County. Youchi didn’t even look away from Kaomi’s body. “She said to live your life to the fullest, didn’t she?” the rain spirit asked Youchi, Youchi gave a weak nod. “She had a beautiful name, didn't she? Her name, meaning beautiful face,” Youchi gave another nod, “Her smile.” Youchi mumbled. The spirit said nothing more. He simply stood beside the boy and watched, until the others came—finding grief, and Kaomi’s lifeless body cradled in her dearest friend’s arms.

[aureliamarianella]

The Story of Rain

"I should've stayed quiet, I regretted that moment." "I'm glad you said that, now I'm with you until your last breath."

Word Count: 1949 pairing type? oc x oc, spirit x human

author's note: aaa, I finally post this after letting it sit in the draft for like, months.

The sky was cloudy, it was pouring. Of course, this is the schedule for pouring rain, it was written on today’s agenda. Opening his umbrella, a man was about to go through the rain he made fall from the clouds. 

“Rein! Can we share an umbrella? I think there’s someone who thought my umbrella was theirs.” Rein turned around to see who was calling him. It was a woman with a cute trendy fit, too bad her clothes were damp. She was practically panting, perhaps from running to chase him in the rain. 

Rein moves a little to the side, giving her a space to also save herself from the rain. This woman, Teresa, is his acquaintance in college, they’re in the same major. Teresa who saw this gesture grinned at him, she thanked him, then they walked together. For a brief moment, only the sound of rain droplets can be heard. Actually, this silence is pretty comforting for Rein. Reminds him back when he was still able to play with his first love.

It was unfortunate for Rein, after that silence, Teresa opened her mouth. “Have you… ever had such a relaxed expression like this before? I’ve never seen it before. Usually, whenever I see you, you always wear this expression as if you are pressured by something. But your face isn’t like that now. Do you like rain, by any chance?” 

Rein was startled by Teresa’s observation comment about him. He himself wasn't even aware of the expression he made. Did he really wear a stressed face all this time? 

“Yeah, something like that. Rain always calms me.” Rein replied, Teresa chuckled at him. “Your name also symbolizes one, I wonder if your parents also like rain.” Teresa inhaled, seeming to relax.

“Walking under the rain often triggers a feeling of nostalgia, don’t you think?” Teresa continued. It was as if Teresa’s words stabbed something inside Rein.

“Yes… you are right. Rain often makes someone get nostalgic. Whether it was about their homeland, experience, or even someone.” Rein murmured but emphasized the word ‘someone’. Rein suddenly remembers his younger days, when he was just a child, going to the teenage years. Back when he was yet to have the ability to make the weather rain.

. 

Drizzles of later rain. It was just rain, not pouring, but not just tiny droplets. The ground starts to become muddy from the rain. Earthy scent of it spreading, the scent uniquely rain’s. There was a little girl��who looked ghostly. She was following a little boy who looked younger than her.

“Hey, Rein. Are you sure you know the way? We’ve been walking for quite a while on this mountain.” the little girl spoked to the little boy. “Yes, I’m sure. There was a super huge lake near here! And, I’m sure it’ll look very cool because it’s raining.” Rein reassured the little girl.

“I don’t know Rein, my gut is telling me that the lake isn’t in the area where it’s rained by me. Maybe it was my big brother in charge of raining and filling the lake." The little girl’s worry was shown by the way her hand formed a fist and was placed near her chest.

When they arrived at the said lake, what the little girl worried about was true. The lake was in an area where she couldn't walk around, there’s no rain. It was a rare sight, the borderline between rainy and sunny.

“Why are you just standing there? Come here!” Rein exclaimed, waving his hand. The little girl stared at him in disbelief.

“Rein… you do realise there’s no rain there? I can’t go there.” the girl said sadly. Rein—who just realised that fact, approached the little girl. “I’m sorry!”

“I didn’t know you couldn't. Then, uhm, we can still enjoy the sight of the lake from here? Can you see it? It’s still there, right?” Rein tried to comfort the little girl. The little girl giggled at his attempt. 

“I can still see the lake, don’t worry. Seeing it with you is fun even if we can’t play there.” 

“Yeah, it’s true, is it not?!” Rein flashed a fiery smile. Both of them sit in the muddy ground from rain.

“Yep. I like that optimism of yours. Keep being optimistic for me, will you?” the girl grinned and pat Rein’s hair. Rein leaned his head to the girl’s shoulder. Enjoying this moment more than they would admit.

Time went by, Rein had grown and become a handsome young man. Now, he was about to enter high school. There are many girls, even the upperclassmen who developed a crush on him.

Even with that many admirers, Rein will not accept any of them. Because there’s someone who already has his heart.

After school, after co curricular activities, rain poured slowly. Rein opened his umbrella, then started walking under the rain. 

“Rein!” It was then a melodious voice that could calm any soul called his name.  She was grinning, the usual face she wore whenever she met him.

“Ethera!“ Rein replied to Ethera.

Ethera chuckled, unlike in the past, now Rein is taller than Ethera. Ethera appears to be slightly older—she was a rain spirit after all, she technically has lived longer than Rein. She still wears the same plain light white dress unique to spirits. Unlike humans’ clothes which can get soggy under the rain, Ethera’s dress is able to stay dry. Her long hair that also doesn’t get damp was gracefully unraveled, Ethera was gorgeous.

Rein’s blue eyes met with Ethera’s golden, “Rein, what’s wrong? Is there something on my face?” Ethera asked, tilting her head slightly.

Rein snapped and realised he was staring. He immediately turned his face to the side, feeling warmth creeping from his neck. He admired Ethera’s beauty for a bit too long time. He inhaled to calm his mind. 

“No! Your face is pretty–I mean, it was fine, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with your face. Yeah, that’s it.” Rein replied to Ethera nervously.

Ethera sighed at Rein’s attitude, “You’re weird, Rein. I genuinely thought there’s something…” 

“Now, while it's still raining. Let’s play around the lake you showed me last time! News news, I took over that area now!” Ethera exclaimed happily. “You took over that area? How?” Rein asked out of curiosity.

“Ah, that… It was because my big brother evaporated. He disappears from the spirit world.” Ethera answered, she didn’t look happy nor sad with that.

“Disappears? From the spirit world? How come?” Rein questioned again.

“Because he broke the rule of Rain Spirits—well, it was more like the number one rule of every nature spirit. He… anyway, let’s forget about that and go to the lake~!” Ethera pulled Rein’s hand as she started speeding to the lake.

When they arrived at the lake, like usual, the rainwater that touched the grass and ground released the unique scent of rain. The wide lake that Rein showed Ethera back when they were kids didn’t change a bit. Instead, the lake had become even more enthralling than what he remembered.

The water on the surface looks sparkling with so many tiny waves caused by the rain drops. The forest that surrounds the lake isn’t too visible due to the foggy effect the rain had. Rein liked the lake even more.

On the edge of the lake, Rein and Ethera played with the water as if they were kids again—to Rein, at least. It has been a very long time.

When the rain had become just drizzles, Ethera says her goodbye before disappearing alongside the rain’s haze. Just like usual, Rein’s clothes will be dry by the time Ethera goes back to her realm. Rein went back home and rested after a long day..

This year’s valentine, rain poured. Rein was overjoyed by this, because the person that has his heart—Ethera, will meet him. And this time, he had gathered enough courage to confess his feelings towards her.

After school, Rein held the chocolate he bought tightly. “Rein~!” the voice he wanted to hear the most, he turned around and found Ethera standing with her signature grin.

Remembered his intention, Rein felt his face burning, he swore the blush is going to be visible this time. Ethera, who didn’t get any answer except a stare from Rein, became confused. “Rein, are you okay? Did you catch a fever or something?” she asked, worried.

Rein shook his head, “No, I’m not sick or anything.”

“Then, what’s up?”

“That… uhm…” Rein, seemingly shy, made Ethera wait for his response in patience.

Rein handed over the chocolate he bought to Ethera. 

“I love you, Ethera.” Rein confessed. Ethera didn't seem to flinch even a little. She took the chocolate he gave, then laughed softly. “It’s happening in the end, anyway. I love you too, Rein.”

Rein’s blue eyes started to shine when his feelings returned. “Hey, Rein. Do you remember my brother?” Ethera asked, earning a nod from Rein. “Do you want to know the reason he disappears?” she asked again, another nod.

“The rule that he broke at that time was falling in love with a mortal. The reason behind why rain spirits’ areas seem to change so often was because they broke that rule.” Ethera explained while looking at the cloudy sky, rain drops didn’t pass through her body now, her hair became wet, and tears blended with the water.

Rein’s sparkling eyes widen, if Ethera just broke the rule because he confessed. That means, this will be the last time he will ever see her. Rein threw his umbrella, then hugged Ethera tightly. “I’m sorry, Ethera. This is all my fault. Because of me, you’re going to face the consequences. Please, don’t leave my side.” Rein pleaded, he was always openly vulnerable to her, but there’s so many emotions in his words alone.

“Well, if you’re that desperate for me to not leave your side. There’s actually another way for me to stay with you.” Ethera whispered, hugging him back.

Ethera’s body started to become transparent as tiny particles of light spread across her body. But, instead of disappearing like the expected outcome, those particles of light entered Rein’s body, until Ethera wasn’t visible anymore.

Rein realised Ethera wasn’t in his arms, however, he also realised his new responsibility. Ethera’s energy flowed in his body. Rein, the first mortal known in the spirit realm history to be a Rain Pourer.

But, at what cost? If he had known it'd end up like this, he shouldn’t have even thought of confessing! He should’ve buried that feeling deep and never dug it, so Ethera could be with him forever. Rein doesn’t want this power, all he wanted was Ethera.

His eyes were red, but it looked like rainwater, not tears. Rain became heavier. Rein wanted to hate rain, but he couldn't, if he hated the rain, then he hated Ethera. He can’t hate Ethera if she was his world.

Rein hated that rain must become part of his identity. He’s unable to accept what had happened.

.

It was a very long time ago. Rein moved to the city after he graduated from high school. He has accepted whatever happened in the past to just be it. He changed how he viewed the world after that event. He loves the rain but also hates it, anything more than that, he has grown colder to his surroundings.

.

“Rein? You’re crying. Did I ask something I shouldn't have asked?” said Teresa concerned.

“Ah, no no. It’s fine, I just remembered some memories.” Rein explained.

“Did anything bad happen to you while it was raining?“ Teresa asked again.

Rein nodded, “You can say it like that.“

[aureliamarianella]

MASTERLIST

Here is the masterlist of everything I've write and draw :)

Original Stories

The Story of Rain

The Story of Flower Garden

[aureliamarianella]

WELCOME

Hellow, welcome to my account! You can call me Maria! I mainly draw and write for this platform. Probably gonna write more than drawing, though. I write original stories and fanfictions.

MASTERLIST