Chapter 65
After finishing up what barely even counted as treatment, we sat together on the swing for the first time in a while and quietly chatted.
How the territory was doing now that the war was over, how he got injured, what had happened in the meantime.
They weren’t really secrets, but keeping our voices low made my whole body feel ticklish somehow. No—maybe it was my heart that felt ticklish.
“Kilia, what did you and Adel do?” Killian asked.
“Hm? Us? As soon as we got here, we sparred on the beach, ate tons of delicious food, went for walks, sparred again, and today we planted an orange tree. That’s it. Since you couldn’t come this time, it was short, so we didn’t do much. But you know, Adel’s super strong! Crazy strong! Who’s his master? Why won’t he tell us?”
“Ahem. Well… I don’t know either.”
So Killian didn’t know either.
I thought, Fine, I’ll definitely find out once we get to the capital, and tapped my feet lightly when Killian asked again:
“What about the time capsule, Tia?”
Ah! I hadn’t told him about that.
I widened my eyes and answered,
“How could I open it without you? We decided to let it sit one more year and open it next year instead. I did well, right? You’re grateful, right? See how much I care about you!”
Rest easy, my favorite.
I shrugged, and Killian smiled as he nodded, “Ah, I see.”
“Wanna see the orange tree we planted? Planting trees is really tough, you know? So much to do. My arms even hurt.”
“You’re not injured, right?”
I shook my head at his worried look and walked toward the tree, saying,
“Why didn’t you say anything? If you’d asked, I would’ve helped. Sorry for making you do it all alone.”
“What are you talking about, Tia? We planted it together… Besides, I wasn’t tired at all. I’m sturdy, and ahem, strong…”
Oh ho ho. So he knows how to brag too? How cute.
I gave him a thumbs-up as he balled his fists, stretched his shoulders, and showed off.
“Yeah, your body’s totally ripped—”
Oops, almost said it.
Protect my mouth at all costs!
“Ripped?”
“No, I mean you’re really sturdy. Look! This is the tree we planted. Pretty straight, right?”
Killian nodded, then slowly looked over the rows of trees—from the lush ones heavy with fruit to the tiny saplings we had just planted.
“They’ve already grown this much?”
“Exactly.”
It felt moving somehow.
The me who had once been desperate only to avoid a bad ending was now truly able to share heart and memories with Killian and Adel as friends.
After a long, star-soaked silence, Killian tilted his head and pointed at a signboard.
“But why…”
“Oh! This? This is—”
“Let me guess, Adel’s doing.”
“How’d you know—oh, come on! No, it’s just… I wanted to write your name too, but Adel said we shouldn’t write names of people who didn’t actually come. But now that you’re here, let’s write it! Killian, I’ll write it for you!”
I hurried toward the villa to grab a pen before my favorite could get upset, but Killian caught my wrist.
“Why, Killian? I’ll just go grab the pen real quick! I know where it is.”
But Killian shook his head.
What? He doesn’t want his name written?
“We should write your name too. Is this because of Adel? I can explain it to him.”
Killian chuckled softly.
“Did you forget, Tia?”
“Huh?”
“I can write it myself.”
He drew the sword at his waist. As he gripped the hilt tighter, the blade began to shrink.
Even though I’d seen it before, it was still amazing.
“It’s seriously incredible.”
“You gave it to me, remember?”
“Still.”
We both laughed. Then Killian carved his name into the sign.
“All done.”
“Huh? There? Isn’t that too small?”
He had written his name inside the heart Adel had drawn.
“I like it here. Feels perfect.”
Then he sheathed his sword.
Well, I suppose he’d want to be next to Adel. Hearts and all. Hehe.
Smiling, I nodded approvingly.
When the deep-blue dawn began to fade, Killian tried to send me back inside the villa.
“You’re… really going back?”
“Yeah, I still have a little work left.”
Killian muttered awkwardly, smiling faintly. I couldn’t help scolding him.
Why wear himself out like this? What’s so important about a summer break anyway?
“Geez, Killian, if you were that busy, you shouldn’t have come! The trip back and forth is exhausting.”
“Even so.”
I felt like it was all my fault. Because I’d shown my disappointment, my sweet, soft-hearted favorite must have worried and pushed himself to come all this way in the middle of the night.
“Sorry for pressuring you. You have your own circumstances, but I let my emotions get the better of me.”
“What are you talking about, Tia? You don’t need to apologize.”
“I just feel like I made you overwork yourself.”
I pouted, and Killian flicked my nose lightly.
“Don’t say that, Tia. I came because I wanted to. Because I missed you.”
“Eh? Oh! Really?”
I looked at him without thinking, and suddenly his face turned beet red.
“M-m-my point is, what I missed was! Here—DeArc! The orange trees and, um, the strawberries too. This place is full of our memories, that’s all.”
Killian let out a sharp exhale and cast his gaze toward the clouds.
“Well, yeah. Hehe.”
Embarrassed or not, he looked cute. Still, I understood what he meant, so he didn’t need to get so flustered.
After all, I’d once lived in a country where people understood each other without words.
Still, just in case, I reminded him again.
“But traveling back and forth from your territory is tough, right? You don’t ever have to force yourself again. If it makes you suffer, Killian, I’ll just feel awful. Okay? Promise me?”
And he hadn’t even gotten to meet Adel.
Killian nodded, then after thinking for a moment, spoke carefully.
“Honestly, it was tough. I rode for two straight days. I was worried I’d be late and miss you. I was even a little hungry, ahem.”
See? I knew it! I stomped my foot, arms crossed. Killian avoided my gaze awkwardly.
“I kept remembering how sad you looked, and… ahem.”
So it was because of me.
Guilt welled up. I’d just been whining because I felt like our time together was short, but to him, it must have felt like real pressure.
So I had to apologize again.
“Sorry, Killian. I truly, sincerely apologize.”
“Forget it. No need for that.”
“What? You won’t accept my apology?”
I whined, and Killian bit his lip to stifle a smile before clearing his throat.
“Instead, let me ask you for a favor next time, Tia.”
“Hm? A favor?”
“Yeah. A favor.”
“You mean, since I feel bad, I should grant you one wish later?”
Killian grinned wide.
“Exactly.”
“Fine. I will.”
“It’s a promise, Tia?”
“Yeah, Killian. Promise.”
I held out my pinky, and he hooked it with his own, adding his thumb too.
“Seal it.”
“Stamp!”
And that’s how we parted ways—Killian back to his territory, me back to my bed.
The next morning, when we left DeArc, Adel came out with messy hair and never even saw the sign.
Heh. Just wait till next year and be surprised.
Our short summer break had ended.
So too had the time with my favorite that felt just like a midsummer night’s dream….
We went back to living our daily lives as best we could.
Killian still went back and forth to fulfill his duties as young lord, Adel kept busy with knight training and debut preparations, and I had plenty on my own plate.
First off, my “Three-Year Vanishing Plan” was progressing little by little with Count Tolkien’s help, without drawing attention. DeArc rock salt was immensely popular, selling like wildfire. The profit I’d saved from the salt had nearly all gone into buying land and building structures, but…
I still had Achilles as my ace! Especially thanks to Duke Märchen, who had paid a huge sum this time, my balance was climbing again.
“Ah! Right…”
I’d forgotten during my trip to DeArc, but I also needed to quickly look into the duke’s commission.
No way could I let mud splash onto Killian.
Though I still felt travel-worn, I figured I should meet with Jeron.
“Liz! I’m stepping out for a bit.”
“You’re already up, Your Highness? Aren’t you tired?”
“I just need to stop by the guild. Something urgent came to mind.”
Liz looked at me with concern.
“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to summon Jeron here instead?”
“Jeron? That’s why I’m going to the guild—to call him.”
What was she talking about? Liz must be half-asleep.
I narrowed my eyes, and she chuckled, kneading my tense shoulders.
“You really are tired, my smart Highness.”
“What? Ouch, ouch! That hurts! What did I forget, Liz?”
“Today’s the Imperial Knights entrance exam. Of course Jeron is already at the palace.”
“Oh! That’s today? Already?”
“Yes. So please don’t overexert yourself. Rest, and I’ll bring him straight to you after the exam.”
“Okay. Thanks, Liz.”
She helped me back into bed.
“Sleep a little longer. You can work afterward. I’ll wake you when it’s time, so rest well, Your Highness.”
She even tucked me in and patted me like a child. I nodded, and quickly fell back asleep.
