Redstone: Sanctuaries
Chapter 2: Mary

Maria knows that even if he doesn't show it at all, Jose must be tired. The man had just returned home from a long trip to Bjork. Maria really misses him. He longed for how their hands were clinging, he longed to feel that wavy black hair on his fingers, he longed for the taste of the skin they met. He hopes they will spend some time making out after a week apart.

But to Maria who greeted with a joyful smile, Jose only gave a brief hug and peeked at her forehead at a glance then hurriedly passed to the second-floor study room to call after Edwin, their butler, come whisper something.

Muffling disappointment, Maria still tried to understand. Maybe my timing is bad, maybe there's important business. Nothing to fuss about. He followed to the second floor while carrying his own herbal tea, hoping they could chat for a while before going to bed. Jose had finished calling, but was now reading the letters that had come since morning to him. The damn letter always comes piling up. Most only contain party invitations, dinner invitations, or pleasantries asking for money. Most are not very important, but Jose still reads everything with discipline.

While walking, Maria stole a glance towards her reflection on the glass of the cupboard, ensuring her unsightly appearance tonight. She was wearing a new nightgown. The material was soft and thin, making his slim body line clear. His gray brown hair curls up high, making his white neck look taller. He also smeared a little faint fragrance behind the ears and on the cleavage.

"Honey," she said sweetly while putting a teacup on the desk. Maria couldn't smell her own perfume because her nose was used to it, but she was sure it was still there. He hopes there is still. "Improve chamomile tea. Just rest up."

"Later on," said Jose without lifting his face from the letter in his hand. "I need to sort and reply to some letters before they pile up. Go to sleep first."

Sleep first?! How could? Maria wants to stifle the protests, pulling Jose in right now, telling the man that she misses him so much. But Maria held back, not wanting to make Jose's mood disturbed. They did not have time to experience a honeymoon, there was no such thing as a honeymoon because a week after they got married, the windmill project made by Jose was damaged by gangs of vandalis and the man became busy taking care of it.

Redstone had a power vacuum for too long, leaving small leaders born in the form of wild gangs. They raided, looted, created mini kingdoms in Redstone, seized merchandise and raided barns, drew wild levies and protection money from various taverns and ordinary houses, giving Jose the trouble of building Redstone.

It hasn't even been a year since Jose took over Redstone on the Queen's orders, but the policies and development he's made are numerous. Displacing houses without permission to wake up, relocating long-built dwellings, all he did without caring about the crowd crying at his feet or raging because he had no place to live anymore. Jose also raised taxes, built roads and windmills that were scorned by many for being useless. In disappointment and anger, the mills were vandalized and destroyed before they could function. Vandalism only stopped after the Jose people arrested several of the main perpetrators and broke their hands in public as a spectacle.

Few had seen Jose in person. The man went here and there too often while the people always avoided and only came out after his carriage passed just so as to spit on the tracks he left behind.

Maria knew most of the residents were guessing Jose was a pale-faced old man and dressed in perlente like an already-existing Redstone landlord.

Jose Argent is the undead of Bjork, perhaps because of rumors that most Redstone residents think Jose is old, even though Jose was only twenty-four August this year, a year older than Maria. The undead is often associated with the name Argent because of previous events in Bjork.

It felt like just yesterday all the trouble with the demons in Bjork was over, Maria thought. She was still silent at Jose's desk, looking at her husband's firm jawline, her slender, well-built posture, and her black eyes diligently reading letters. Maria understood that Jose really wanted to meet the expectations the Queen had given him.

Despite coming from a respectable old noble family, Jose himself was originally not noble and had no titles. Only the fourth child. But Jose does wonders in Bjork City, the magic that made the Queen make a big bet by awarding the marquis title to Jose, demanding him to fix Redstone.

Maria knew that betting was definitely not a light thing. Jose voluntarily plunges himself into the mud in the Kingdom of Albion Kingdom, becoming a dark noble who takes care of the dirty things behind the scenes.

That's why Maria was trying to understand Jose's abandonment just now. Even though he was half dead longing for his warmth in bed. Even though ... he bit his lips, telling his head to stop feeling sorry for himself.

"alright. I'll wait in your room, okay?" Maria hasn't given up, still hoping Jose understands her cue. If they can't make out tonight, at least he wants to be accompanied and hugged while sleeping.

At first Maria did not understand the meaning of the question. Then he could feel his gaze blurry and his tears melting hot.

Jose immediately got up from his desk and walked over, rubbing wet on Maria's cheeks. "You sick?" whispered worried. "There problem? Someone bothering you? Who?"

From this close distance, Mary could feel the warmth of Jose's body, the heat she wanted, the scent she longed for.

"No one is bothering me, it's okay" Maria muttered quickly. His heart was beating rapidly in anticipation. He wiped his tears with the back of his hand. "It's because .. a-I'm a little kangen."

A tad? Mary laughed at herself in her heart. What he felt was not a little. He missed Jose half-dead until it hurt. How can you feel physically hurt? How strange. But thinking about it even makes Maria upset now. He was upset because Jose didn't understand. He was upset that Jose didn't want to make time for him even though they ended up getting married and only met again after a week apart. He was upset because Jose was insensitive. And what annoyed Maria the most was herself because despite being angry at Jose, she still hoped that the man would persuade and calm her.

"You're crying because you miss me?" Jose confirmed.

Mary nodded twice in response.

"That's all?"

"ONLY?!"

Jose blinked in surprise, clearly not understanding what was wrong. "Well .. I mean, if the problem is just a miss, it's not a big thing, right?"

Not a big thing! Maria laughs. Her voice rattled sweetly. "Alright, my lord," he said, taking a step back and holding on defensively. His lips quivered when he forced himself to smile. "If my feelings are just 'just' to you and not a big deal, I understand. Very understanding."

"Mary, you know what I'm not saying."

The men of the Argent family were indeed insensitive, Mary had been warned in advance. He and Jose had been friends since childhood, so he also knew how the man worked. Later, after all his business is done, then Jose will meet him to enjoy time together. But Maria had hoped they would hang out for a while because it had not met for a week. He hopes that after they get married there will be more special treatment.

"Good night" concluded Maria with the rest of her pride. He turned around quickly and walked out of the study, further disappointed when Jose did not catch up.

***