Mysterious Husband

The time had changed. Nowadays marriage didn't happen for political alliance.

Family with only a female child didn't have to find a male heir. Many rules had abolished but still, women had very limited freedom and a thick chain of restrictions.

In a few places women had their rights to education, to work, to own property, even fair wages or equal pay however, most of the law was ignored or suppressed. They still hadn't had the reproductive rights, or to be free from sexual violence. They had to be kept quiet about the abusive relationship that hid under the tradition of marriage. For the sake of everyone's happiness and to keep the peace between two families, they had to seal their lips along with their hearts.

After marriage, they had only one work that was to look after the household, and one sole purpose to please their husband, even when the husbands had full rights to abuse them, physically and mentally.

Very few women retained the opportunity to do work after a marriage that if their husband allowed it. Women still had to submit themselves to their husbands after marriage, and to their fathers before marriage.

We still had a submissive role in society. Even if a woman works, they earn less than a man. The classification wasn't easy to abolish. But the physical restrictions and property restrictions did go from this period. We didn't have to cover our head to toe with clothes like before. Now we could have our own lands but my father wasn't that considerate enough to give me the privilege to be an owner of any land. He had still despised the new rules as he thought a woman should not get their small heads into those matters because those aren't something that a delicate hand should handle. Maybe he was right or, maybe he was wrong. But with the changes, we all had to move forward leaving the shunned out rules behind. However, as a river always goes to meet the sea, my father was always bound by those sickly rules that society had been following.

I had three older sisters and they were from my father's first wife-the wife of the household. I was the daughter of one of the mistresses of my father. My mom was probably the second wife and she died while giving birth to me. I didn't have any knowledge about my birth mother. Not even a picture of her. I was very small and the first wife took care of me-rather, she made a home for me in their maid's chamber.

As a mistress's daughter, I had no rights to inherit positions like my half-sisters. While my sisters had the freedom to marry higher-ups, this event was different for me. While they did home-schooling, I cooked breakfast for the entire family. My hands got cuts and scratches from the knives and bruised from lifting heavy utensils of the kitchen.

While they played in the field, I had to clean clothes. My skin got rashes from excessive contact with water.

While they went out to festivals, I had to clean the whole house. My clothes got dirty with all the dust and webs. It was a big house after all. With seven rooms, one big hall and a big kitchen, I had to work from morning to midnight just so the house could look like a general's house. My father was an well-known and respectful general and even when he retired, the new officers still came to him for advices and strategist. He had done reat job in his days, thus people knew him very well.

I still remembered, there was no one when I caught a fever. The wife of the household would come and say 'A female has to take all the sufferings and burden of a household. No matter whether you are sick or not.'

It was a hard fact that we never felt equal as a human being, as someone of intelligence and self-worth. It's so very hard for a woman to acquire that even in this age of so-called equality. In our fairytales and so many stories, as a girl, we are an annexe of a father, a "prince" or other male figures. We are the "variation" and not worthy in our own right of a title. We are a "gift to men" rather than vice versa. We are so often defined by what we give others rather than as worthy in our own right as individuals-often as good wives, mothers and daughters. Perhaps "lady" is a better word, yet that too comes with the burden of expectations rooted in an era of women as property. Women shouldn't have to battle to recover the kind of independence required for real psychological health and wisdom, to have society see us simply as human.

But, we had to.

And I did exactly what society taught me-what the first wife said. With the burning skin and trembling body, I went to clean, wash and make meals for the household-that house that never belonged to me and never will. My life had always been inside those four walls and i had expected no less than that.

Soon, we all had grown up and our time had come to an end in this household as every female needed to be married off. Otherwise, they would become a burden.

My elder sister married off to a higher diplomat. As my father was a well-known government official of Kosaki. Many well known superior categories of the country wanted to marry his daughters. So my sisters didn't have to wait too long for marriage to the privilege classes.

Soon the second and the third sister married off to higher officials and only my father, his first wife and I remained in the house.

I wasn't blessed with my father's favour, and he barely even taken a glance at me. I was an unnecessary responsibility for him so he had to find me a husband who will be inferior to his other son-in-laws, in position.

After rendering the marriages of my sister's, it was my turn. Before he could find one, he married another mistress who was much younger and prettier than his official wife.

My father might have wanted a male heir that both the first and second wife wasn't capable of giving him. Even if my older sister could inherit his everything, he was desperate to have a son to carry his legacy. I knew he wanted a son because that way he could remain in the official army unofficially. He loved his country and if he could, he would have joined them again. But as his time was running low, his greying body was giving out.

And one day, he had finally managed to find a man who appeared before him him. Not for marriage, however. It was rather an unintended incident that took place.

People need love to live a life. Not everyone can live without love.

But at this time I had to marry an unknown man without love. I had never asked for anything-not that I had any right.

I wanted a person who would love me and accept me for who I am not for just a mere token but my father had even snatched away that option.

It was a stormy night. The snow crystals fell from the grey-black sky and coated every house and everything in its thick blanket of whiteness. The trees danced with the howling wind as the sky darkened.

I sneezed and rubbed my hands to warm my cold palms. I wanted to wrap myself in a thick duvet but I had to look after my father as well.

Father coughed and I placed another warm cloth on him while the two wives sat both sides of him, praying. Worry and fear carved on their faces as his body shook when he coughed again. Big black bags appeared under father's eyes and his lips felt dry. The pain he felt certainly was great as his face twisted. He was suffering from an internal disease and day by day, he had been having trouble breathing. It had always happened whenever the temperature went down. But this time, it was intense.

He had many injuries from the last war of two great powerful countries and it had become a life-threatening call for him. The great warrior that my father was, becoming weak. Slowly his body could no longer tolerate the cold.

One of my father's superiors had informed us that they had called for a physician from out of the state. He would come and cure him. He wasn't famous but for a physician-it was rumoured-he was great. Apparently, Father's friend heard about the person from another one of his colleagues. That person cured his son's life from a dangerous illness. So maybe he could cure father too.

Father didn't reject the offer and asked them to call for him.

A few days later, father's superior informed, the man-the physician-doesn't travel. But my father said he would give him anything he wanted. Of course, after serving his nation, father had enough wealth to buy anyone. The last war might have cost him danger but he became a hero. Everybody respected him and would kiss the floor he walks on.

After a week of negotiations, at last, the curer agreed to father's proposal.

And today, on this stormy night, father's curer would come but he was late. Maybe he had changed his mind.

I went to the kitchen and cut the vegetables to make soup for my father. After that, I would have to make dinner as well.

I didn't get any sleep last night due to the storm and father.

After pouring the soup in a bowl I came back to his chamber. His trembling body rested under a pile of rags. He could barely move on his own as his third wife helped him to sit straight.

"I don't think he would come," father said as he coughed. Clearly, he was disappointed, his eyes becoming dull as he had started to lose hope.

"Don't worry, I am sure he caught up in the storm. After all, we had offered him anything he wanted," the first wife said as she took the bowl from me and started to feed him.

I set the small table near them as both of the wives took care of him as well as giving him hope.

As the first lady set aside the bowl on the table to wipe off the soup from father's face, the third lady took it immediately and started feeding.

The First Lady's face twisted in anger. "I was already helping him. You don't have to-"

She went quiet as soon as father glared at her. He wanted to have his dinner in peace, however, in between the crossfire of the ladies, the peace was short-lived.

The third lady was young and beautiful. She was way younger than the first lady and that was the reason, the first lady despised her. She missed the praises, the attention father used to give her. But she knew her limits and would never go against her husband. After all, my father's words were absolute.

Suddenly we heard the sound of opening our gate. Father's ears perked up and the hope once again nested in his eyes. With his unsteady feet, he went to the wooden veranda. Heavy footsteps sounded behind the door and father ordered one of his wives to open it.

The first lady went and opened the door as father's face lit up with a smile and he welcomed the guest. We all had guessed, it was the curer. Because in this bad weather no one would want to come for a visit.

"Go prepare a good dish," the third lady ordered and I nodded.

I heard father chatting with him and they headed for the front room of the house along with the young mistress and the first wife.

As I didn't had any better position in the house, my father's third wife made me do her share of works too. The first lady at least did her works herself and that was the reason I preferred her over the third lady.

But I was, after all, a burden and she didn't even care about the first wife of the house but as the first wife held the official position so she had to be careful with her tongue. However, it was an entirely different matter when it came to me.

I coughed slightly as I placed every meal on a tray and hoped the guest would like it otherwise, father would be very displeased. Although he never beat me but he would only avoid me more.

"It's getting hard to breathe. Now that the temperature has gone down, I don't think I will survive the winter," Father said and the ladies whimpered as if they would start crying any moment.

"Don't worry, Mr Inoue, I think this illness of yours is very minor. With some restrictions and proper care, you will be like just before," a thick voice said. His voice was deep and cold, and I halted just before the door. My confidence disappeared as I took a glance at the meals in my hands. He won't like any of this.

My heart thumped as I had no idea if he liked fish or not. I had prepared a very normal dinner, nothing much that would make it a feast.

"Bianka! Is that you?" The first lady shouted from inside the room as my hands shook.

"Y-yes. M-may I come...?" I stuttered as my mind went blank. What if the man would not eat because of the normalcy of it? It held my father's reputation as well.

"Hurry up now. Come in and serve the guest!" Her voice became sweet but it didn't betray the fact that she was angry.

Slowly, I entered, not looking up as I knew, if I saw their faces which had looks of disgust, I would freeze in the spot.

I set the table, carefully serving the dishes as the third wife said, "What is this?"

I froze.

"I-I thought the soup would be great as he-he came in a cold-"

"That doesn't mean you have to prepare these typical regular meals!"

I winced at her yelling as my tears welled up.

"You're acting surreal, Mrs Inoue. What she prepared, according to the cold, is great for health and it will keep our stomachs warm," the man said and I swallowed up my tears.

Strangely enough, his voice held authority as if his words were sufficient. No question should be placed before or after his words. And nobody did as after his statement everyone went silent.

"Why are you acting that way in front of our guest?" Father said to the lady with a calm voice, displeased written on his face.

The third lady lowered her head as the first lady served the two men. From her look, I could assume she enjoys whenever father scold the new wife or gave her a displeased look.

The men ate quietly and it took me great courage to take a glance at him. He had a kimono and his long raven hair cascaded down to his back. His shoulders were broad and strong as if he was a warrior. As he sat near father, I could only see him from his behind.

After they finished he said, "I'll have to examine you now."

While I cleaned the table he sat near the table and there was an urge to see his face. From his voice I could gather he was younger than father and not too old to call him a physician. Our local physicians were all old or same age as my father. He must be excellent at his work as my father's friends suggested his name.

There was something about his presence that my body fidgeted as I neared him to take his plates. I could hear his deep breaths and his masculine aroma filled my nostrils.

I gulped as I held my breath. Taking the plates, I dashed to the kitchen. My heart beat loudly inside my ribcage and I didn't know why. Maybe I hadn't had my supper at lunch.

That must be the reason. Believing it, I prepared meals for the wives and heard the man saying to both of the ladies to wait outside.

We were outside of the room, waiting. The ladies had finished their dinner and I waited for the first wife to permit me for a meal. My eyelids felt heavy as dizziness crawled over my body. I felt heavy. I wanted to fell on my mattress at least for a wink as from yesterday, I was unable to sleep and it was hard to move with a growling stomach.

"Ow!"

We heard father yelping from the room then he cried out. The ladies were restless as we could hear some noise as if his bones were cracking.

"Is-is he going to be okay?" The third lady whispered-asked.

The first lady shook her head as her hands knotted against her light pink kimono. They both were worried and I wondered what the man was doing. Was he wrestling with him?

Father howled loudly startling all of us as we all looked at each other and the third wife went near the door. She resisted the urge to open it and walked back and forth near the door.

"Arghh!"

It was overbearing to hear him in so much pain that my heart started to jump in various directions. The third lady's knuckles turned white as she held the sliding door with a tight grip and was about to open it, but the door was opened before she could and there stood our guest with a cold face.

That was the time when my eyes landed on the tall person in a very ordinary dark Kimono. It was plain and simple. He stood with his head high and his sharp eyes fell on me. Black. Dark. Mysterious. Those were the words that came in my mind as our eyes met for the first time.

His long black hair stayed on his shoulders like silk strands. Shiny and silky. His face was a work of art as if he was a prince of some dreamland that a girl could wish for. I had never seen a physician that young. He was clearly a lot younger than father. Maybe he was in his late twenties.

The traditional dress-unlike nowadays, everyone could wear modern clothing-yet he wore it with pride that the material felt expensive and sophisticated. I felt my long skirt and blouse had lost to it. The contemporary purpose it served was nothing but how he carried himself in traditional clothing. I used to wear kimono but after the third lady came, I started wearing modern outfits and it was also easy to move in those.

"I need hot water. Prepare it immediately," he said as I nodded frantically.

I dashed towards the kitchen and started preparing hot water in a large pot. Why did he need water? For freshening up? But he freshened up a while ago. What was he doing to father? Could he really cure him?

Various questions formed in my head as I poured the water into a barrel and suddenly, I felt dizzy. My feet felt weak.

I took deep breaths as I clasped my hands on my forehead. It started to throb again.

"Bianca! Are you slacking off again?" The third lady shouted behind me startling me in the process. Her face fumed with anger and disgust. I had always known she wanted me out of the vicinity but could not due to my father. My father might have turned a blind eye on me but as I was his daughter, he still had responsibility.

"I-I am coming with the barrel." My voice, as usual, was low and submissive, "It-it's just too h-heavy."

"Heavy?" She scoffed and added, "You are just as heavy for this household. Aren't we carrying you?"

My breath broke as I clenched my jaw. A few droplets of tears had already escaped from my eyes. I knew I was a burden for them but she never stopped to remind me that. No matter how much I did for the house, for them, they had always treated me as a garbage as if I wasn't a family. Just an outsider or a maid.

"Don't start crying now! The physician needs the water immediately." She turned around and left, leaving me with the large barrel.

Slowly, I dragged it as it was heavy for me to lift. My hands trembled as well as my legs and I felt hungry.

I was almost at the turning when I noticed the man stood in front of the door, guarding it as the ladies tried to enter. His eyes were closed as if he was concentrating on something but it served the purpose of ignoring them as well. The moment he heard me coming, he opened his eyes and tilted his head toward me as his gaze landed on the barrel.

He came immediately with two long strides and said, "You could have asked me if it was heavy."

"I-"

Before I could establish my point, he had already taken the barrel and reached the door. He carried it as if it weighted nothing.

The second he entered the room, he closed the door again.

There was no sound or notice after that but my father had started to chat normally with him and from his voice, we could sense, he felt better after whatever the young physician did.

After some time, both of the men came out and father had an ear to ear grin plastered on his wrinkled face. He felt more relaxed than usual. The tension around the ladies subsided as both of their faces lit up with happiness.

The man instructed father, "I'll give you a few medicines which you'll have to take it with warm water every night after the meal, starting from today."

Father nodded, a bit amused by him. "Yes, I will." The wide grin on father's face confirmed he was very pleased with him. "Why don't you stay the night?" He offered him.

He said, "I appreciate the gesture, however, I'll look for a room."

"No! No!" Father retorted, "Please, stay the night because the storm has grown intense. Besides, I would be delighted if you let me at least take care of you. It would be the least I can do."

The man was taller than all of us even my father was around his ears. He looked at my father for a moment and said, "The illness hasn't been cured yet. What I did was only for temporary relief."

He brought out a small wrapper and gave it to father, "Please take it before sleep."

Father nodded and turned to me, "Bianca, prepare a room for him. I don't want our guest to be offended by us."

His cold eyes made said there was no room for a mistake. I nodded and dragged myself to the empty rooms we had. Those were all extra chambers for my father's guests or relatives and I had to clean all of them every single day so I knew, there wasn't any dirt.

Father asked him as I took my leave, "You are really young for a physician. Where did you learn?"

"I prefer secrecy, Mr Inoue, I'm afraid, I can't answer you that," he answered bluntly and added, "I'll take my pay and prefer to leave early in the morning, Mr. Inoue."

My father nodded, "Yes, of course. We shall discuss this in my chamber."

I cleaned one of the room again so the man won't have a space for complaints but by now, my head throbbed with pain as my limbs felt weak. I took a glance at the room to be sure that it had no dirt. The futon I placed in the middle of the room was tidy, comfortable and warm. I hoped he would be pleased.

As I stood up my vision got blurred and my feet stumbled as I could feel the ground beneath me fading away. I tried to reach for something to hold but it was late.

Before I could fall I sensed a hard wall behind me.

"Are you alright?" The deep voice asked as my eyes shot open. He was behind me. I tilted up my chin and as my eyes met his raven ones. I was leaning against him and it was too close that heat shot up to my cheeks.

I tried to push myself away from him but my body felt very weak to move. "I...I am fine..."

"You have a fever." His hands felt cold against my forehead as his breath fanned on my face.

"It-it's alright. I-I'll just..." It was very hard to think of a statement as he was too intimidating for me.

His hand gripped on my wrist and he rubbed his finger on it. My heart thumped loudly with his touch as my mind went completely numb. If my father saw us together it would get the situation complicated and I didn't want that as I already had so much on my plate.

"Your pulse is a bit slow," he said. "Have you done your dinner?"

I shook my head.

"Hmm... I think you have low pressure. Do eat in time if you don't want to faint all the time."

"O-okay," I mumbled and with the help of the walls, I went to my room. My heart was running wild as the memories flashed before me again and again.

I waited for the first lady to call me for my meal but nobody called. My stomach ache increased as I slowly crumbled inside the blanket. My futon felt cold and sleep would not come with an empty stomach.

Time went by and the storm intensified as I could hear its angry slaps on our wooden house. It was already midnight, and I knew, it was no meal day for me.

Slowly my eyelids got heavier and I finally drove into slumber.