The next day Emma had packed her belongings, and was about leave the grounds of the château. She had said her goodbyes to the staff, but not to Killian. She had tried to talk to him, but Robin said he was to busy. As she looked up to the windows that belonged to his office, and thought she saw a faint silhouette in one, but maybe she was just fooling herself. Then she hopped onto the cart and began to ride away from the château.
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As she rode through the village, Emma couldn't help but to notice how the people struggled. As she passed them they begged her for charity. She even noticed as the brute, Walsh, kicked a family out onto the streets.
"Emma! Emma!" A small voice called out to her.
When she saw who it was, Emma ordered the driver to stop. She quickly got out of the cart and ran to Lucy.
"They told me at the château that you were leaving, but I didn't believe it." Lucy said
"I'm sorry, Lucy." Emma said as she hugged the small girl.
Lucy pushed Emma away from her and said, "Well, good luck. You'll have everything, we'll be fine. Don't worry about us." Lucy told Emma and ran off.
As she watched Lucy walk away from her, Emma couldn't help but feel that there was something she could do.
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"Milord. Milord." Robin said as he tried to get Killian's attention away from his latest bottle of rum. "Milord, someone is here to see you."
"Tell them to go to hell." Killian said.
"Milord it's actually, Emma."
This immediately woke Killian from his stupor. Not believing he heard Robin correctly.
"What?" Killian said.
Then he saw Emma enter, wearing her long red coat. Killian couldn't understand why she would come back here, after he cancelled her father's debt. Robin immediately left the room to give them some privacy.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I couldn't leave." Emma answered.
"I can see that."
"I thought I might be still of some use here." Emma told him.
Killian laughed at her. "Useful. I can manage perfectly well without you, or anyone else."
"I know. I would like things to be different, and be given another chance."
"I gave you a chance. And you chose the thing closest to your heart." Killian said with a growl.
"Yes, to leave, but that was a small wish, and selfish."
"And..."
"If I had a wish, just one more. Would you be willing to grant it?" Emma asked.
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"You must be joking!" Alice exclaimed.
"Not at all." Emma said. "It's a booming business, and very profitable. And your uncle has given his consent."
"You can make me. Perfumes can't be mass produced.
"But the villagers, would have work." Emma said.
"Perfumes are unique creations, exclusive, and only for the elite." Said Alice.
"This valley would be rich again, and your name famous in all the realms."
"Are you trying to corrupt me. Flattery will get you nowhere."
"I wouldn't dream of it. But with your creations you can perfume half the realms, Alice."
"Do you have any idea, how many essences it takes just to make one perfume, worthy of that name?" Alice asked.
"You order them we'll find them." Emma said desperately trying to convince Alice.
"In all of the amounts I would need?" Alice asked.
"We can grow them in the greenhouse, we have the whole forest at our disposal."
"Listen to yourself, some of these are the rarest. They come from the other side of the world."
"My father can bring them in his ship. Just tell me what you need." Emma said as she grabbed some paper and a pen. "I'll find it."
"Alright, but if one amount is missing, I won't do it. Alice said. "Now right these down." Alice began telling Emma the ingredients they would need.
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As the days past Emma began collecting the essences that would be needed from the greenhouse, and even from the kitchen. She had even rounded up the village children to help her collect essences from the forest.
Although she did forget to explain to them that the flowers needed to be separated into piles. Instead of being dropped off in one pile at Alice's feet.
As the weeks went by, one of the old, large storage sheds were converted into a factory of sorts. Where the essences were separated and boiled to make the exquisite perfumes. And in a small corner of the building Emma set up a space where she taught the village children reading and writing as their parents worked. Many of the villagers were grateful to have work again, but some feared that Lord Killian would go back to his old ways. Only time would tell.
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After a short while the perfume assembly had begun to show a small profit. Of course not everyone was happy with this new venture.
In order to put up the money for the perfume laboratory, Killian took some of the money his brother had left for his wife's monthly allowance, and invested it in the laboratory. This did not suit well with Gothel, and only made her hatred of Emma grow more and more.
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One day Emma was in the greenhouse tending to the plants when Killian came in. She tried to ignore him but she could tell he had something to say.
"Emma, I know you may never forgive me for what I done, but I need you to know, you have made me want to be a better man. I used to hate this greenhouse because it held so many painful memories, but since I've met you I've felt hopeful." Killian said.
Emma couldn't believe what he was saying.
"If you even fell a little bit of the love I have for you, then remove my mask. Because with you I no longer feel the need to hide behind it." He said to her, and slowly Emma lifted her hands to his face, and pulled off the silver mask.
As soon as she pulled it off he began to kiss her passionately. "I love you, Emma, and I want the whole world to know how much I love you." He said to her.
أنت تقرأ
The Heart's Desire
قصص الهواةWhen Emma's father is unable to pay his debt back to the Lord Killian Jones, Emma offers to work in his château until her father can pay off his debt. Lord Killian Jones has been a cruel man, ever since he was scarred on part of his face years ago...
