#ardrea

[happy-geology]

白山公園（国指定名勝）　新潟市

Ardea alba alba (Linnaeus, 1758) fishing in the pond of the Hakusan-Ko’en Park, one of the earliest city parks in Japan built in 1873.

[asummerrae]

"I love ye."

“… ye shouldnae,” he whispered, turning away and clutching the bucket to his chest. His shoulders and arms were tense.

“Why not?” Ardra pushed, still flushing furiously from her confession. This had not been the reaction she was expecting… She should be in his arms right now, running her gloved hands over his face and lacing them into his hair as she pulled him into a kiss. Not. Awkwardly avoiding each other’s gazes.

Seneca sucked in a deep breath and then forced himself to meet her gaze. His brown eyes seemed dead and cold, his hands trembling around the wooden bucket in his grip. He gave her the smallest, saddest, most self-depreciating smile she had ever seen before he whispered, “I’m the bastard son of a bastard Roman. ‘ve no connections, no place ‘ere… I am less than ye. I will always be less than ye.”

“I donnae care abou’ that—”

“No, but ye’r people will.”

“Hang th’ people—”

“To th’ others, I am dirt,” he quickly snapped, cutting her off instantly.  He set the bucket down and continued, motioning, eyes watering with thick tears. “The only reason I am ‘ere right now is because ye’r father was kind enough to find me this position. Without tha’, I’d be elsewhere. Princess Ardra, I cannae accept ye’r affections—because it would be a waste for ye t’ give them t’ me. No matter how ye see me, to everyone else, I will always be th’ scum of the earth and forever below ye.” He bowed stiffly at the waist and then reached over for Errol’s reins, offering them towards her. “… enjoy ye’r ride, ye’r highness.”