"Oh!" Zarai exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she finally connected John's face to his name.
"Doctor Williamson, not gloomy enough to keep us from some delicious food, I hope." A mixture of subtle disappointment and relief washed over her as she observed the doctor taking his seat. Part of her was glad it wasn't some rich lord, while the other part wished it had been. Nevertheless, she was content with John's company. He was polite and had enough interesting things to say to fill their morning with doctorly information and pancakes. However, she hoped this doctor was not one to indulge in the gossip that often plagued Varian's social circles.
Zarai picked up the menu and began to browse it casually as if she hadn’t already memorized her order from years of yearning to dine at the Blossom. Two scrambled eggs with salt and pepper, a slice of ham cooked to perfection with a bit of hot sauce, coffee, and of course, a stack of mouth-wateringly buttery pancakes.
“Shall we order first, then get down to the details of this mixer?” Her stomach growled in agreement.
”Hunger needs a pat on the tummy, I agree.” John obliged. He took off his coat and neatly wrapped it around his chair before sitting down. For John, some cottage cheese and strawberry pancake was the new fancy meal, followed by a pristine, precisely baked molten chocolate cake, cooled off by good reliable green tea.
”Whenever you are ready.” He closed off the menu, waiting for Zarai then gestured for the waitress.
Once that was done, the details of this mixer…
”I have to say, I’ve been to two coupled events, and both have been randomized. If I bet a coin on it, I’d have two, which isn’t much, but something tells me the Sorians really like this.”Zarai motioned the waitress over, then turned back to John,
“You could buy some candy with that! Perhaps Sorians aren’t keen on mingling on their own, so they need the extra help?” Zarai shrugged.
“There aren’t many of these kinds of events back in Varian,” or she had never been invited to them, not that it would surprise her anyway. Not many invitations came in her name since the rumors began back home.
“So, Doctor, are you looking for a wife?” She grinned, leaning in closer and propping her chin on her hand.
“Do tell what you look for in a woman!” That was quite a pointed question.
”Well yes.” He raised an eyebrow. Technically it is true. Just not as actively as Zarai might have imagined.
”Eh, the typical stuff, like kindness and loyalty. I’m certain that you would expect that out of a man too.” He shrugged, looking out the windows thoughtfully.
”But there is something different I would love to see: chattiness.””This isn’t really wife or husband specific, but would you like someone who can just make you laugh and keep you engaged? And imagine you living with them for the next five decades or more. Wouldn’t that be lovely?”“Doctor Williamson!” Zarai gasped, looking around them as if he had said something scandalous.
“I didn’t know you were a romantic.” She teased with a grin. She tapped her finger on her chin trying to imagine just that. Lady Zarai and Doctor Williamson talking and laughing over some tea and scones. Lady Zarai and Doctor Williamson talking and laughing while he’s discovering some medical breakthroughs. Lady Zarai and Doctor Williamson talking and laughing over her mother’s nicely polished grave. Lady Zarai and Doctor Williamson talking and laughing.
“Yes, I do agree. It would be lovely.” “But– wouldn’t you grow tired of it?” Zarai asked, tilting her head to one side.
“At some point, most people grow tired of one another. Then what would you do then? I suppose you could take a break, have some time apart. Move out of your bedroom and across the estate to be closer to your office and ignore his existence for the next five years.” She shrugged and waved her hand, dismissing that thought before moving on.
“I am a bit surprised that you’ve not mentioned any other more… materialistic requirements.” John thought it was a little bleak of an outlook.
“I…don’t think that’s the case? What makes you think people grow tired of one another after a while?”John had worked with people from different walks of life, from the highest of nobles to the poorest who clawed at the dirt. The types who grew tired of their spouses, or even family members, are also the ones who got too obsessed with love and tied their entire identity to becoming someone’s lover. The more they do, the faster the process moves.
“I’m also not sure of any materialistic requirements I would want.” John laid his cheek on his hand looking up and back at Zarai. He sounded genuine, and he was. What could possibly be a good materialistic requirement? He’s a scientist and doctor, so he’s definitely not starving for money. He doesn’t ask for noble titles or anything. If anything, getting that Duke or Viscount title was more dirty and he tended to get screwed over by royal politics.
“Well…” Zarai paused, unsure if she should continue. Her mother and father came to mind. There had been dinners and parties where she’d seen them together, but it always felt forced. Ever since she could recall, they slept in separate wings of the estate.
“It’s what I’ve heard.” She settled with that, her shoulder rising and falling with effortless grace.
She studied him, eyes scanning the clothes he wore and the expression he presented. She was unsure if he was telling her the truth or not because that coat said otherwise, but perhaps that was just a fashion statement. One Zarai considered him brave and bold.
”You’re a doctor. Would you not like to have the latest medical instruments or the necessary funds for your research? What is it that you practice, anyway? What do you say… field of expertise?” ”I started out as an apprentice, then became a general physician, or family doctor as the layman says. Then as epidemics happen like having cornbread for meals, I went into epidemiology, later expanding to public health as it’s closely related. So you can say I fell into my career as a doctor.” John replied. There’s also magic studies, but no need to get ahead of himself.
”As for funds, I guess instruments are nice and all, but I don’t want to feel owed, or worse.” When the two party’s interests don’t line up, it’s fair to say that the partnership isn’t going to work out really well. Especially when one of the party’s interests (most often the scientist’s side) was to expose the wrongdoings of the other. Sure, the Varian monarchs and government sometimes weren’t good with their transparency either, but at least they had some rights to speak up, and they often left the scientists alone otherwise. Not a potentially unhinged noble who is drunk on delusions of power.
”Anyway, if by materials you mean power and wealth, I’m pretty sure I have enough. And more of that isn’t going to make me happier...” He cupped his hand together on the table, laying it on the table.
”I hope that satisfies your curiosity. How about you? What do you, what’s the word, do as heir of Puerto Vira? Now that I think about it, where is it exactly off the coast?” She found his lack of desire for material possessions and social status admirable. It was a refreshing change from the men she usually encountered, who seemed to be obsessed with acquiring wealth and power. Or was it his honesty to admit his lack of interest that she found so appealing?
Zarai looked at his hands, examining them for a bit while she tried to form an answer to his question.
What do I do? “I plan charity events and dinner parties and help Mother run the estate. Things every lady should know.” But that hadn’t answered his question. Any lady of her standing could arrange a seating chart and make meal plans.
”Hmm.” He didn’t want to say much further. He had a feeling it was kind of a non-job, but he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable about it.
“It’s in the most southern peninsula of Varian, built on the slopes of the hills there. It overlooks the sea and the sunsets are the loveliest.” If you stayed away from the docks and slums. The smell down there was horrid, the infrastructure there hadn’t been properly maintained and all the upper city waste accumulated in the slums and docks. During the summers, Zarai could smell the slums from their estate in the upper city.
”You mentioned epidemics. From your studies and experiences, what is the main cause of them?” He held himself back from blurting out the obvious response: sanitation. This was actually a really good opportunity to check if Zarai knows things and her values.
”That’s something I’d like to know from your perspective too, as an heir to Puerto Vira.” He stood his hand on his elbows, and rested his chin on it.
”Don’t worry, I will give my answer right after. I just want to gauge the public’s knowledge.” There are several good answers here, and several bad ones.
Zarai blinked, her brows furrowing slightly. She had intended to educate herself, but it seemed like he wanted to test her.
“Cleanliness,” she answered after a moment’s pause.
“At least, that’s the main cause, right? Both individual and environmental hygiene?” She tapped her index finger thoughtfully on her chin.
“I’ve also heard that some pests can carry diseases, and those in more unfortunate circumstances might be more prone to encountering them.” She waved her hand dismissively.
“Then there are those who say it’s the gods or evil spirits punishing the sinful, but that’s just nonsense. ” She rolled her eyes, clearly skeptical of such beliefs.
”Did I get it right?””Very much so.” He replied.
”That is the biological and economical side of it. There’s also the political view, in that the main cause of epidemics are inactions. People who thinks like that…the evil spirits one, I mean…You seem to be above that though.” He leaned forward a little, his smile inched closer to Zarai’s. His cheek sank into his hand.
”If only you were there in the north that day…” His life wouldn’t have been cut short…
“They are afraid to face the fact that their lack of action has resulted in such a loss of life that blaming it on mysticism is easier to face.” Zarai could see her mother and Sir Barrios talking just outside one of the windows.
“I do thank you for noticing, however.” She was about to ask about the long-term effects of such epidemics when his expression made her stop before she could fully form the sentence in her mind.
“You’ve seen– No. You’ve lived it before.”The good doctor gazed into Zarai’s eyes. It looked like an abyss was staring back at her. That was his answer.
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