Page 40 of Right Next Door
“Has she done anything unusual since we got back from the gardens?”
Davard hummed thoughtfully as he considered the question. “I can’t think of anything. She went right to bed afterwards, and she was up early to get to her salon. She seemed quite focused and satisfied with her work. She never speaks to me of you though. Perhaps it is something she has not seen fit to tell me. Or anyone.”
“That does make things difficult. How am I supposed to fix the problem if she’s hidden it?”
“Maybe that’s part of the test?”
“What kind of test doesn’t give you the question?”
“A puzzle?”
Tsok sighed. “She certainly is that. But I think I have a lead. Listen to this: ‘Human females enjoy receiving flowers as part of the courting process. It is considered a minor addition, but an important one. They appreciate frequent, small gifts. However, in the event that her male stops providing her with these flowers, she might become unhappy and displeased. Notably, she will not mention this to him’.”
Davard harrumphed, annoyed. “Well, that is just silly. Why wouldn’t she tell him if that was the source of her displeasure?”
“Ah, see, but it goes on. ‘This is because human females do not actually want or require the flowers. What is truly desired is her male’s conscious, willing, and free decision to obtain this gift forher. She grades him based on effort, not on results. If a female requests or demands flowers, it becomes a chore the male must fulfill and therefore loses the inherent value she’s truly seeking’.”
‘“Hm,” Davard looked thoughtful. “So… she wants flowers?”
“I think that must be it,” Tsok nodded. “She is not asking for them because this is a traditional test of human females. She is checking to make sure Iwantto give her flowers.”
“But Char Tsok, you’ve given her an entire manor of flowers.”
Tsok made a triumphant sound. “Yes, but that was just once. She needs repeated gifts.Thatmust be why she has steadily grown more cross with me. She wants more flowers, and I have not given her more than the ones already there when she arrived.”
Davard brightened. “That does make sense!”
“Right?” Tsok laughed. “That is why she has been so reticent to tell me. It was something I needed to do on my own without her requiring it of me, thereby making it a chore.”
Davard beamed. “You are brilliant, honored char. I knew there must be a reason for this. A traditional, human courting behavior. How wonderful.”
“And a complex one at that,” Tsok blew out a breath. “Can you imagine if I didn't have access to this information? I would never have known! I wonder how the other alien males who mated human females figure all this out.”
“Human females are truly a mystery. They must have been lucky. Or maybe their females were simply willing to settle for less.”
Tsok puffed his chest up at those words. “My Misty would never. She is a female of class and quality. It is only natural she would have high demands of me.”
“This pleases you?” Davard asked, cocking his head curiously.
“Naturally.” Tsok stood to walk to the window. “It proves that my female is one of high standards who values herself as something precious. As she rightfully should. Her challenges are a test to prove that I am worthy of her, and even if they are puzzles, I should like to meet them.”
“That is why you are our honored char,” Davard said, approval lacing his tone.
Tsok couldn’t keep the smirk off his face as he gazed from his window.
From here, he had an excellent view of the side gardens of Fellbud Manor. In particular, the path that Misty took everyday to and from her salon.
That wasn’t an intentional choice either of them made. It just so happened that his office had always faced that garden, and the outbuilding she chose to renovate was within his view. He supposed a more fanciful species would have called it fate.
What wasn’t fate was the fact that she came into view not long after he got up.
He knew her schedule now. He knew what time she came to work. The times she typically left in the evening varied based on her client’s needs. However, what was pretty standard for her was that she took her break for second meal roughly the same time every day.
And that was what this was. It was just about time for her to leave the salon for second meal. He had missed her coming out this morning because he had been studying, trying to find what he had done and how to make it better. But he could appreciate her now, even as far away as she was, as she returned to her manor for food. Hair bounce, bounce, bouncing with each step.
What kind of flowers should he get her? It wouldn’t really be practical to get her another garden on the scale of the FellbudManor gardens, but that didn't appear to be necessary. The data even expressly stated that the gifts were meant to be small. However, he also didn't want to settle for a single flower or a simple bouquet. As the rules stated, it was about the effort put in, not the results he obtained.
Of course, hewantedgood results as well, but he was sure he could put in more effort than just-
