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Chapter 12
“Einra?”
As’s voice cut through my wandering thoughts.
When I blinked back to myself, I saw As looking at me with a worried expression.
“Yes, As.”
Even though I smiled lightly as I answered, As still asked with concern on his face.
“Are you alright? You seemed a bit spaced out just now.”
His small hand touched my forehead.
It was a small hand, but with rough calluses here and there.
I gently pulled As’s hand down and answered,
“I’m fine, As.”
“…Really?”
His reddish-brown eyes carefully scanned my face with worry.
Straightening my back again, I made a show of flexing my arm.
“See? Totally fine. Perfectly healthy.”
“Then that’s good.”
Maybe it was funny how I was exaggerating my tiny muscles as if they were massive—As chuckled out loud.
His laughter warmed me up inside, but I still couldn’t shake off the overlapping image of Arkes that I had just seen in him.
I was about to sink deeper into thought when—
“Einra.”
My name came from behind. I turned my head toward the voice.
It was someone I’d never seen before.
“Who are you?”
“Ah, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Millen. You must have heard of me from Aunt Cecil?”
“Oh…”
I gave an awkward reflexive smile.
It was definitely our first meeting today, yet Millen approached with gleaming brown eyes, looking genuinely delighted to meet me.
“Nice to meet you, Einra. You’re far more beautiful than what the elders told me.”
“Ah, haha… right…”
What was I supposed to say to that?
Did he want me to compliment his looks back?
But honestly, you’re completely out of my league…
Sorry, but that was the truth.
After seeing nothing but the novel’s protagonist, Harnen, and the four Spirit Kings for the past five years, there was no way an ordinary face could measure up.
And throwing out empty flattery would feel like thorns on my tongue, so I just didn’t.
But Millen seemed unbothered by my lukewarm reaction. He kept smiling and talking.
“Did you come to see the festival?”
“Yes, I came with As.”
That was my subtle way of saying I already have company, so please step aside.
Just to drive it home, I added, “Enjoy the festival,” and was about to walk off with As when—
Millen suddenly blocked our way and crouched down to look As in the eyes.
“So you’re the kid who lives with Einra?”
“….”
As’s face scrunched up.
But Millen, not noticing As’s displeasure, kept smiling as he pulled out his wallet.
He took out a gold coin and held it out to As.
“Here, pocket money from your big brother. Why don’t you go buy something tasty over there?”
As if he was trying to toss an obstacle far away.
As’s lips tightened coldly, and he gripped my hand even harder.
“I don’t want it.”
“Wh-what?”
“I said I don’t want it. I don’t need something like that.”
Millen froze, shocked.
It seemed unbelievable to him that a child would reject shiny gold.
Suppressing a sigh, I gently pulled As back behind me.
“Millen, I asked As to come to this festival with me. He’s my companion, and we’re here to enjoy it together. So honestly, this situation feels very uncomfortable.”
At my cool words, Millen jerked upright, flustered.
“Einra, I didn’t mean—”
“Frankly, it’s burdensome for my companion to accept pocket money from a complete stranger. It makes me feel indebted.”
“Einra—”
“And it feels like you’re trying to buy my time with money, which I don’t appreciate. You weren’t seriously planning to give As money and walk off, were you?”
“…!”
Millen’s face turned red with embarrassment at being called out.
I looked him squarely in the eye.
“Regardless of what the elders say, I have no desire right now to date anyone or get married. I think it’s only proper to be clear about that.”
“…”
“Well then, enjoy the festival.”
I gave him a polite nod and walked away with As.
After a few steps, As finally spoke.
“…Pathetic.”
“Hm? What is?”
“That guy earlier. Compared to you, Einra, he was so pathetic.”
As muttered quietly.
I chuckled.
“Really?”
“Einra… even someone truly amazing wouldn’t be good enough for you.”
For some reason, his words sounded tinged with loneliness. Was I imagining it?
I was about to tease him with a joking reply when—
Tiny lights, like fireflies, began to float up into the sky.
My gaze was drawn upward to the countless glowing specks.
…Are they launching sky lanterns nearby?
I tilted my head, wondering, when—
“Everyone has at least one wish they hold dear, right?”
As and I turned at the same time.
It was an event booth nearby, and one of the staff was promoting to passersby.
“Don’t keep your precious wishes only in your heart! Share them with a paper bird! Who knows? Maybe the bird will fly all the way to the sky and make it come true!”
A paper bird that carries your wish to the heavens to be fulfilled.
It was such a cute, charming idea.
I turned to As, ready to suggest we try it.
“As—”
“Einra—”
We spoke at the same time, then stopped at the same time.
I blinked a few times, then carefully asked,
“As, do you want to write a wish on a paper bird?”
As nodded.
I smiled.
Just the thought of what kind of wish this little kid might write was so adorable it made me laugh softly.
“Alright, then let’s go over there.”
The booth already had quite a crowd.
Holding As’s hand tightly so I wouldn’t lose him, I approached the staff.
“Excuse me, we’d like to write a wish.”
“Welcome! Please choose a sheet of paper—white, sky blue, or yellow. Quill pens and ink are over there. Once you’re done, fold the paper in half and bring it to me.”
After explaining kindly and collecting the small fee (three copper coins), the staff moved on to other customers.
From the three colors, I picked sky blue and looked at As.
“As, which color do you want?”
“…I’ll take sky blue too.”
He glanced at the sheet in my hand, then reached out for the same color.
I nodded, then fetched a quill and ink from the table—since As wouldn’t be tall enough to reach—and placed them by his side.
“Thanks.”
Whispering, As dipped the quill with practiced movements and began writing his wish.
What was he writing?
Curious, I tried to sneak a peek.
But As immediately noticed my sideways glance and turned his whole body to block me.
“Tch.”
Clicking my tongue lightly, I backed off.
If he didn’t want to show me, pressing further would just be rude.
All around, the scratch of quills against paper filled the air.
Staring at my blank sheet, I hesitated before finally writing down my own wish.
[Please let Arkes not hate me.]
If that’s impossible, then at least… please let him not hate me enough to avoid me forever.
Muttering inwardly, I put the quill back in the ink pot and folded my paper in half.
“As, are you done?”
“Yes.”
As folded his paper like mine and nodded.
Together, we went to the staff.
“All finished?” he asked with a bright smile.
“Yes, here.”
I handed him both mine and As’s papers.
With deft hands, he folded them into birds and attached small lanterns to each.
“Here, hold one each.”
As and I took our paper birds back.
“Now, just release them gently, as if letting a bird take flight.”
Following his words, we released our birds upward.
The lanterns, warmed enough inside, floated gracefully into the sky, carrying the birds higher and higher.
“Thank you for flying your wishes. May they all come true!”
After returning the staff’s bow, As and I resumed walking.
Even as he walked, As kept staring at the night sky, filled with hundreds of glowing paper birds.
His face looked strangely serious, so I asked quietly,
“As, what wish did you write?”
“I wished… uh…”
He almost blurted it out, then stopped and pressed his lips shut.
Then, slowly, he looked at me.
