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Chapter 20
“Ah, Killian. Did you finish shopping?”
“Yeah. I ended up buying a lot more than I thought.”
Killian smiled shyly and showed me the bag stuffed with things. I think this is the first time I’ve seen him like this. If he was going to smile like that, he should’ve done it sooner. If I could see that smile more often, I’d buy him everything from here to the capital.
I barely held back the cringe-worthy affection bubbling up in my throat.
“Good job, Killian. Show me what you got later, okay?”
“Of course, Tia. What about you? Are you done?”
“Just need to pick one more thing.”
“Really? What are you planning to buy?”
“A gift for Dad…”
Stupid! Idiot! Why would I bring up my dad in front of Killian again?! My mouth is a disaster zone—if I’m not blurting out embarrassing things, I’m putting my foot in it. What’s the point of carrying a head on my shoulders if I’m not using it? Ugh.
Worried I might’ve hurt him again, I glanced at him cautiously, but Killian just let out a soft laugh.
“It’s okay, Tia.”
“Huh? Still…”
“You said you’d always be with me, didn’t you? Right?”
“Well, yes, but still—it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”
“I’m really okay.”
I wished he truly was okay. But part of me also hoped he wasn’t. He’s only seven. Why should he be okay? What if saying ‘I’m okay’ has just become a habit? That thought made my heart ache.
“I was being thoughtless, though. I’m glad you’re okay, but if you ever feel like you’re not, promise me you’ll say something. Got it?”
“Okay, Tia. I will.”
“And it’s okay to get angry too.”
“I got it already.”
Killian said, his gaze warm and gentle. Just knowing that warmth in his blue eyes was meant for me sent ripples through my heart. He slowly lowered his eyes, then took a step closer.
“Want me to help?”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah. It’s for His Majesty, right?”
“Yeah… I have no idea what to get him. Ugh, maybe I should just pick some strawberries and give him those. He’d probably love them and say he’s full after one. Or maybe he’d cast a preservation spell and never eat them.”
“Haha, Tia, seriously.”
Killian chuckled. He finally looked like the seven-year-old he was. It always upset me when shadows crossed his face, even if he didn’t show it. Even though he smiled with me sometimes, he never did in front of others—always so stiff and serious. But now, hearing him laugh out loud, I felt like I could quit everything and become a comedian.
To be the one who makes my favorite person laugh—what could be better? After a good laugh, Killian led me to a corner of the general store.
“How about this? If you give this to His Majesty, he’d love it.”
It was a pocket watch with a small rocket on it. A green jewel was embedded in the platinum setting.
“Oh! I didn’t see this one.”
“It’d be even better if you put your picture inside.”
“That’s a great idea. Thanks, Killian. This is perfect.”
While we were talking sweetly, Adel walked over, burdened like a merchant with an enormous pile of shopping bags.
“Whoa. Adel, what did you buy so much for?”
“Haha… I just kept seeing things I wanted, and…”
Adel laughed sheepishly.
“That’s fine. Good job, Adel. Just wait here a minute—I’ll go pay quickly.”
I left Killian and Adel behind and went to the counter. As soon as I walked off, I could hear murmuring behind me. But since they hadn’t fought since my last warning, I wasn’t too worried.
“Hey. Hand over that bracelet.”
Adel shifted her load from one shoulder to the other and said it in a thuggish tone.
“What are you talking about? Why would I?”
Killian stepped back cautiously. But Adel closed in without giving him a chance to escape.
“I saw it earlier, you know?”
“Saw what?”
“The love stone! In your bracelet!”
Killian’s face flushed red. He instinctively checked to make sure Tia wasn’t listening.
“Hand it over. Now.”
“No. Why should I?”
“Don’t tell me… you put a love stone in Tia’s bracelet too?”
Killian hesitated. Truthfully, he had wanted to. He didn’t really understand what love meant, but he wanted to beat Adel, who’d strung her bracelet full of friendship stones.
He just wanted Celestia to treat him a little more special than Adel.
In the end, Killian only put the love stone in his own bracelet, and for Celestia’s bracelet, he used wish stones. Whether or not love stones actually worked, he couldn’t force love on her with a trinket. Besides, Celestia had already been incredibly kind to him.
“So what if I did?! What are you gonna do about it? Who are you to—?!”
“If you did, I’d break your bracelet to bits.”
“What?! Adelheid Lewendiff, you—!”
Not telling you.
Wounded in his pride, Killian chose not to explain. Instead, he provoked her.
“You sure used a lot of friendship stones, huh? I don’t rely on little rocks to hold onto Tia’s friendship.”
“What did you say?”
“I mean, I get it. You’re scared to lose her. But don’t you think you’re showing a serious lack of trust? What, don’t you believe in Tia’s feelings? She’d be really upset if she knew.”
“That’s not it! I just—! I—!”
Adel’s eyes welled with tears. The sight caught Killian off guard. Her purple eyes glittered with tears like crystals, falling one by one.
“H-Hey, Adel! Don’t cry. I—I’m sorry, okay?”
Killian apologized—because he had to. If Tia saw this, she’d not only be disappointed in him, she might never speak to him again. But Adel didn’t accept his apology. Instead, she glared at him and hissed venomously.
“Tia is precious to me. I can’t give her up to anyone. And that includes you, Killian Märchen.”
“What?”
“I’m going to stay by Tia’s side forever. You’re going to regret ever saying that to me. Just wait and see, Killian Märchen.”
“Hey!”
“Tia will never fall in love with you. I swear on all the riches of the Lewendiff family.”
Adel muttered the last words through clenched teeth before noticing Celestia returning. She immediately smiled sweetly. Killian bit his lip at the two-faced girl before him.
Adelheid Lewendiff… is terrifying.
That cold-blooded witch.
Killian swore instinctively to train harder in swordsmanship once they returned to the capital.
“Go to your rooms and pack up the letters and gifts, okay? Time capsule items are supposed to be secret. Oh! And don’t forget your bracelets. We’ll exchange them later.”
“Okay!”
“Got it!”
Back at the villa, we each went to our rooms to prepare a short letter and choose an item to put in the time capsule. Lise watched us all fondly, clearly finding the whole thing adorable.
“Where did you come up with such an idea, Your Highness?”
“Hm? What idea?”
“Burying items and opening them together later. You called it a time… capsule?”
“Oh, that. It’s something we used to do at school retreats. Around the campfire and all. Though honestly, I never got to open one myself. Hehe.”
“A school retreat? What’s that? And what’s a campfire? Your Highness… you haven’t really become someone else, have you?”
Oops. I messed up.
I was so focused on writing the letter, I slipped up.
“Oh, y’know. I read about it somewhere. Maybe in a book. Anyway, it sounds fun, right?”
Lise still looked doubtful. Time to change the subject. I had a sure-win topic: Sir Briburn.
“What about you, Lise? Any progress with Sir Briburn? You won’t get to see him this often once we’re back in the capital. All this time you spent glued to him better be worth it.”
“Well… maybe we got a little closer. But I still don’t know what he’s really thinking…”
“Then just go for it. Be bold. Or you’ll regret it.”
“What? Go for it?”
“Yeah! Be aggressive! Come on.”
“Goodness! That’s not very ladylike!”
Lise waved her hands, blushing. But I could see the scheming in her eyes and that sly little smile. Don’t think I don’t know what kinds of fantasies you’ve been having, you little rascal.
“Hesitate too long, and you’ll lose your chance.”
“Excuse me?! Your Highness, what are you saying? That’s inappropriate!”
“Think about it. Who’ll end up the loser—Sir Briburn? Or you?”
“What in the world are you talking about? People can’t become poop!”
Lise stammered nonsense, but I kept writing my letter. Once I finished, I put it in a pretty box and headed out to the playground, our meeting spot.
We decided to bury the time capsule under the swing set. In just ten days, we’d used those swings so much the leather straps were already shiny and smooth.
Oh! We should mark our height on the pole too. Use the tip of a sword sheath to make a notch. Then we can measure each year we come back. Just thinking about how much Killian and Adel would grow made me feel proud and excited already.
