Chapter 526: Chapter 526

526 Complicated Relationships(Part One)

Tidas sighed inwardly as he watched his wife’s expression deflate at Peggy’s comment. She knew that they wanted to have children, but she still pressured Skye almost the entire trip to Sai. It wasn’t that they disagreed about the having kids part, but the timing..

Skye and Tidas wanted to be back in Alcon, and settled into their home before they started to attempt to have children. Peggy, on the other hand, wanted them to start attempting to conceive now. At first it was gentle prodding, but it had developed into full-blown hounding now.

As he listened to the familiar argument, Tidas hoped that they would stop before they actually started the screaming part..

“All Ima sayin’ is that people have been birthin’ bairns since before humans were humans. Why’s it matter where ya start out bein’ pregnant so long as ya end up in Alcon wit the bairn?”

Skye sighed heavily, trying to keep her temper in check in front of Rukia and Mei as she replied to Peggy; “I dinna wanna be in such a state when we’re here ta stop a plot! Both the bairn and myself would be in danger! And what about me bein’ the Catalyst? How’s that gonna effect me pregnancy? There’s too many unknowns fer me ta get wit child now.”

“Bullshit,” Peggy snipped; “If yer not meant ta get pregnant now, then ya won’t. But ya should start now while ya still got some breedin’ years left.”

Skye’s face twisted with indignation; “I’ve Just turned twenty-one! Breedin’ years?! What the hell, Peg! This isna like ya at all-why ya bein’ so ridiculously surly about this?”

‘And unreasonable..’ Tidas thought it, but he didn’t dare say it out loud.

Peggy huffed; “Well maybe if I had a bairn ta watch and care for, yer runnin’ off all the time wouldna send me into a surly fit! And Ima not the only one waitin’ on ya two ta have bairns! King Magnus and I aren’t gettin’ any younger, ya know!”

.....

Skye set Rukia down, stood up, and put her own balled-up fists on her hips; “Maggie wouldna want me riskin’ the child either, so ya can stop tryin’ ta include him in yer selfishness.”

“SELFISHNESS?! How dare you say that ta Me! After all I’ve done fer you over the years! Show me another servant that cares like I do! Do it! Good luck findin’ one!” Peggy screamed with obvious hurt in her expression.

Skye scoffed; “Dinna try that wit me, Peg! You’ve never treated me as a job, and I’ve never treated You like a servant! We’re family! But that doesna give ya a right ta dictate me life! So stop!”

“Okay, I think you two can finish this in private later,” Tidas commented as he walked towards them.

Skye and Peggy glanced around to see everyone staring. They had started shouting, which was extremely rude in Sai. Personal disputes were handled in private, not in the middle of a courtyard. As their cheeks turned rosy from embarrassment, Genie chuckled boisterously.

“You two really do not change, do you? Different topic, same argument..”

The two women settled their eyes on him as they both said; “What?” at the same time, which made Genie laugh even harder.

Mei, Tidas, and the others were all giggling at them as well, and all for the same reason. Skye and Peggy were akin to a mother and daughter, and they were having a staple argument that countless generations before them had. Tidas thought that it was kind of nice to have a normal problem for once, versus their usual issues like political intrigue.

Between their family tiffs, tea, and the actual introductions between Mei and the Alconian royal guards; the afternoon had run late. It was already after four o’clock by the time Mei led Skye and Tidas to their quarters. Peggy had already made sure that their things were waiting, and that the trunk they needed was in the forefront.

Sai’s fashion was more conservative, so Skye only had a couple of dresses that she could wear. As she dressed, she told Tidas that she wanted to go shopping as soon as she could. Peggy chimed in saying that she wanted to go along as well, which made Tidas sigh with relief.

They didn’t have time for the two of them to get into it again, not if they wanted to make it to dinner on time. Senator Bai Lei, Genie, Mei, and Rukia for a time would be eating with them, and Tidas didn’t want them waiting any longer than they had to. As he buttoned his shirt, he wondered where Mei’s husband was..

“Didn’t Mei marry a Senator? Why is he not attending dinner?” Tidas asked as he grabbed his dark-blue overcoat, and put it on.

Skye’s dress was a few shades lighter than Tidas’ jacket, so they matched like usual. As Peggy brought her shoes over, Skye donned a perplexed expression as she answered; “She did, but I dinna ken why he’s not here. Maybe he’ll show fer dinner? Men usually appear when food is promised.”

“You do, too,” Tidas replied in a partially-joking manner.

Skye flashed him a flat look as Peggy giggled. She had been invited to eat as well, but the old woman would rather learn the layout of Genie’s home while they are instead. Genie had already arranged for one of his servants to show her around after she ate, anticipating the old servant’s ‘sense of propriety’.

It bothered Skye that she still preferred to avoid dinner with them if it wasn’t in complete privacy, but Sai was a relatively new place for Peggy. She didn’t go to the Highlands, and had only left Alcon a handful of times in her life. Understanding her motives helped Skye to not take it so personally, but she still wished that Peggy would join in on situations like this.

Skye remembered Sai and a few of their traditions from her childhood visits well, but she also understood that things hardly ever stayed the same for long. It was one of the reasons that she wanted to go shopping so badly, aside from needing more conservative clothes. As she slipped her shoes on and stood up, a surge of anticipation made Skye excited for the coming days.

Usually she wouldn’t care what others thought, but Skye understood that she was there with Tidas as a diplomat. It wouldn’t look very good to intentionally wear something that would cause controversy. Since it gave her an excuse to shop and explore, Skye decided to get Mei to go along with her, and make it a girls’ day out.

Genie’s home was a bit bigger than Moonstone Castle, but had a straightforward layout. Not liking things to be over-complicated, Genie had his house built from scratch to his own specifications. Since his mother was just a recognized mistress of the Master of the Lei Family, Genie wasn’t permitted one of the family properties. Bai Lei tried to give him a parcel of land when their father passed and he became head of the family, but Genie had refused.

“My home is my home. Why would I move into an old, run-down house when I have one that I designed? Put it into a trust for Mei instead: it’s wasted on me.”

As he sat at the head of the table, Bai Lei smiled as he thought about how his brother doted on his daughter. She’d had a difficult life, and had to sacrifice her own happiness for their family. So whenever Mei asked for something, Bai Lei did his best to accommodate her.

When Genie had mentioned that Skye might want to take her shopping, Bai Lei didn’t even blink when he replied; “Mei may go, but I want Rukia to stay. She’s still too young to be exposed to the dangers of the world outside of these walls. Assign your best to watch after them.”

Genie grinned mischievously; “I’ve told you of Skye’s capabilities, but I agree. I’ll assign Hana and Ryu to guard them. Ryu from a distance, and Hana can accompany them since Skye knows her already.”

Bai Lei’s expression fell; “Hana? Are you sure that’s wise? You know how Mei’s husband will react.”

A no-nonsense look overtook Genie’s demeanor as he leaned back in his seat; “That fool is lucky that he is still breathing.. If he wasn’t a Senator that supports you, he would be already.”

Bai Lei sighed with irritation; “It’s his right to take lovers, Jin. Mei is a married woman and mother. Regardless of who she would choose, it’s improper-”

“You know how wrong that is,” Genie commented before sipping a glass of sake.

“Yes, but if not for it, I wouldn’t have such a talented brother,” Bai Lei replied as he motioned for a servant to fill his glass.

“And what of your mother? How did she feel knowing where our Father went, and who he was with?”

Bai Lei sighed; “My Mother understood her role as Head Wife, and never said anything to Father-”

“No, she just tried to have me and my Mother killed, then sent me off to become an assassin while my Mother laid dying.. I will never forgive her for allowing my Mother to suffer and die alone, and I don’t want Mei to ever experience hating someone so much.”

After a servant had filled his cup, Bai Lei let the warm, sweet sake coat his throat before speaking; “Well, both of our Mothers loved our Father. Mei doesn’t have that problem with her husband..”

“No, but he won’t let her be with the one she does love,” Genie replied with a surly tone.

“We’ve been through this, Jin. It’s improper and immoral,” Bai Lei said before taking another sip.

“It’s not if You allow it,” Genie replied with the same mischievous smile from before.

“The rest of the Senate will never follow anything I say again if I sanction her relationship, no matter who it would’ve been with.. We’ll discuss this later: our guests are here.”

Right as Bai Lei had finished speaking, the servants led Mei, Rukia, Skye, Tidas, and the rest of their group into the dining room. Skye was attached to Mei’s side, fussing over how cute Rukia looked in her soft-pink and red hanfu dress. Klaus, Kari, Ronnie, and Ralph followed behind, and stood at the back wall.

Genie stood up and told them that there was plenty of room for them all, and that they should sit and enjoy themselves as well. Ralph, Klaus, and Kari all hesitated, but Ronnie had instantly sat down, and held his glass out to be filled. As the three sat down next to their comrade, Ralph smacked the back of Ronnie’s head..

“Idiot! Get the prince and princess’ permission first next time..”

Ronnie shrugged; “Like Skye and Tidas are gonna say no. We’re all friends here..”

“Duty comes before all else,” Hana stated as she walked into the room.

As she walked passed Mei, Skye could’ve sworn that she sensed something; a tension. It was fleeting to the point of Skye wondering if she had actually seen anything, but something tugged at her in her head.. ‘Do they not get along or somethin’? I wonder what’s up wit those two..’