undyingfealty:
“My lady,” he uttered stoically despite his internal nonplussed response. Were it possible, his head would have dipped down beneath that of his shoulders in intense shame. He had failed the duty he was given–to watch over her, which he could now see meant to provide more companionship than anything within her father’s absence. Of course, she was never truly alone, but Zhang Liao knew all too well of the deafening silence isolation provided, and to imagine Taohua in any such situation was more than he could rightfully bare.
“–my lady, please.” The words came out in a low breath as he allowed his hand to give way to her weak tugging, however he did not rise to his feet as she desired. He had lifted his head at the sound of her voice, though he immediately regretted it at the sight of her watery eyes and urgent, stammering words.
“It is clear to me that I have failed my duty,” his shoulders sunk visibly in self-appointed defeat eyes snapping closed in guilt and disgrace as the crown of his head dipped once again. With a lift of his limbs, the general removed his helmet and rolled it from the palms of his hands unto the ground at his feet, and alas, offered final sigh alongside something akin to a subtly plea:
“–and if you will not forgive me, I will ask that you grant me time to fix what I have done.” Time to allow her to experience the world until she chose a path of her own to pursue. And until then, if she permitted it, he would remain by her side.
When Zhang Liao wouldn’t stand, it was Taohua that knelt until she could be on level with him. He was always bigger than her, so much so that it would have been imposing to anyone else looking in, but Taohua was never deterred. As the gravel from the ground dug into her knees and dirt stained her hanfu, tears rolled down Taohua’s cheeks as she collected Zhang Liao’s helmet and carefully set it in her lap. Of all the things Zhang Liao had done, failing Taohua was certainly last, and almost nonexistent.
As Zhang Liao asked for her forgiveness, Taohua let one of her hands run along the soft plume of his helmet and she shook her head. He hadn’t needed to apologize; his duty was to protect his lord--her teacher--from harm.
“My lord,” she began, and her grip on his helmet remained firm. “It’s okay. I was just...nevermind! It was silly and I just wanted people to visit me for a little while.” Taohua hung her head, and she kept her eyes fixed on Zhang Liao’s helmet. “It’s odd, suddenly not having people I care about here...but that just means I need to be a little stronger! I have to be...” Whenever that day came, Taohua would be able to return home to Chengdu. “I suppose...” Taohua lifted the helmet and she held it out so Zhang Liao could take it, “this just means you have to stay by my side for a little while longer, Lord Zhang. More than anything, I’m just happy you remembered to visit me!”
