Chapter Text
it was in fact utterly boring. all these formal gatherings made by his step-mother were draining – at least, aimless – in truth. watching people he barely knew exchange pleasantries in his garden was unfamiliar sight to him. his thoughts were wandering elsewhere, but mostly to his childhood spent at this very garden with his grandparents. Ehren missed them lots.
" what do you think you're doing, young man? " a dissatisfied female voice rang beside him. his step-mother quickly tightened the tie he set loose just because . she looked at him from head to toes, her frown deepening. " Mary-anne of Cerceus family is waiting in old appleyard " the woman said, brushing off the dust from Ehren's shoulders.
" what she's waiting for there? " he asks, and immediately it gains him a stern look. Ehren felt that he was missing some clues here, but he couldn't care less both for this event, and for the girl. his step-mother shoved a small velvet box in his hands and through gritted teeth she said: " you are going to ask her to follow you, and then propose. that what the event is for ". Ehren wasn't much surprised, he however felt bitter since his opinion was not a question.
his steps were wandering, as if his legs lived separate life. he, however, agreed with them. very little part of him wanted to go to appleyard and talk to this girl he saw just few times. how old was she again? eventually he meets Mary-anne there and it felt like everyone knew what was going on.
" Mary-anne " he spoke not enthusiastically. right now he was more absorbed in memories of his grandparents and this appleyard. here even was standing a tree, not so tall, but one he planted with them. the girl seemed to be patient but even she had bits of self respect, so she hurried Ehren. " i want you to come with me " he says in same monotone voice, the phrase his step-mother told to use. Mary-anne practically jumped in her place and nodded, heading back to the main venue place. giving the said apple tree last look, Ehren noticed how the bushes behind it moved. he rubbed his eyes then narrowed them and yes! something was indeed behind the bushes. he only managed to catch a glimpse of white ears before he heard Mary-anne calling for him.
all talks and quarrels ended when they entered the garden to join the guests. again, Ehren was pissed because everyone knew , besides him. the velvet box in his pocket felt as heavy weight. must everything go this quick? but a look of his step-mother was hurrying him. Ehren never was a slow person or someone who required constant pushing, so it annoyed him. as he stood on one knee before the blonde girl, she looked surprised as if it really surprised her. vows, right. as Ehren spoke about asking the girl t become his fiancee, he noticed a movement behind the bushes in the farthest corner of garden. his speech stopped making his step-mother sigh annoyingly. Mary-anne pulled him dwn to earth again, but once he looked at her, he noticed a man. or a bunny? no, it indeed was a man who just fell out of the bushes and was checking his clock. but there were ears and a tiny tail.
" right there! " Ehren exclaimed, but as guests and annoyed soon-to-be-fiancee looked at the place he pointed at… they saw nothing. but the bunny-guy was there a moment ago! Ehren felt truly embarrassed. perhaps, he should quickly end his vows. but what if that bunny-guy disappears? if Ehren doesn't catch him now, he won't be able to do it later!
" Mary-anne, this is for you, I have to go " is all he says, shoving the velvet box unopened into her hands, before hurrying to the path the bunny-guy took. his step-mother was furious, but he simply couldn't bring himself to care.
Riteru's ears twitched as he checked the time. jesus, he was so so late. what's he gonna tell the king? though, White King was nice, he didn't want to know the possibility! so Riteru hurried, running through this tremendous garden back to the forest. only then he noticed a guy following him. wrong guy. that couldn't be the one. Riteru had no time for wrong guys, so he ignored the following " wait! " behind and run faster. Ehren never knew he could run this fast. but for a fact he now knows that 1) bunny-guy is indeed real; 2) his ears are real too. he loosen his tie and jacket when they enter the old forest. he needed a moment to catch his breath, and bunny-guy chose that exact moment to… disappear! Ehren couldn't believe his eyes. did this bunny-guy had superpowers? he quickly approached the tree after which the white bunny disappeared and saw himself staring at a hole in the ground. the tree was old and its roots were laying on surface. the hole beneath it laid covered around with old roots and leaves. Ehren leaned closer, his knees on the ground and hands grabbing the roots firmly.
" hello? " he said into the hole. it was dark, and the day was getting dark. he couldn't really see anything nor could he hear anything back. just when he leaned a little down again, one of the roots he held cracked, betrayingly breaking. Ehren fell into the dark-dark hole.