[TTH] 15 – Things are complicated, but the promised week will arrive soon. (1)

"Sister, look. I made jelly today. Mother taught me."

On the table set in the garden, Mira lined up plates of jelly that Abigail had made.

The pink jelly had my favourite strawberries, and the light green jelly had muscat. Both were delicious. Until now, I hadn't had much appetite, but Abby's jelly was cold and wobbly, and it slid down my throat pleasantly.

"You did a great job, Abby. It's delicious."

Abby looked up at me as I happily ate the jelly and broke into a full smile, looking very pleased.

"Oh, this is the fun tea party my brother has been attending almost daily at Richeli's place."

Sitting next to Zinon, who was sipping his tea with a sullen expression, Prince Axel, Zinon's younger brother, was looking at us with shining silver eyes full of curiosity.

"Richeli, are you okay? You look a bit pale."

"Thank you. I'm fine."

Of course, Richeli and Axel must know each other well, but as I vaguely smiled in response, Prince Axel stared at me in astonishment. Oh, even for this prince, my smile must be rare. His surprised reaction mirrored Zinon's initial reactions.

"Richeli, has your face softened a bit? You seem much cuter than before. Is it just my imagination?"

As he said this, Axel reached out his hand towards me. As his fingertips were about to touch my hair...

Snap!

Zinon, silently sipping his tea, brushed Axel's fingertips away with the back of his hand. The air became tense.

What's this strange feeling? It's like he's saying, "Don't touch my woman."

"Could it be that just now..."

Julian whispered something into Abigail's ear, to which she responded in a whisper.

"Of course it is. After all, his highness..."

Could it be... Zinon actually liked Richeli?

There was nothing written about this in Richeli's diary... Perhaps Richeli herself wasn't aware of Zinon's feelings?

"It's possible. It's common for the people involved not to realise. Maybe he's always loved Richeli since they were children, but when she's in front of him, he can't be honest and is stubborn, and they've been missing each other all this time..."

"What?!"

Caught off guard by the absurd voice, I found myself staring back into Zinon's wide-open, blue eyes. His clenched fist was trembling with anger.

"Sister, you were thinking out loud."

Julian's words made me realise that my thoughts had leaked out in my voice.

"Your Highness, have you always loved my sister since you were children?"

Abigail innocently asked Zinon.

"No way! How can you even come up with such a thought... You fool!"

"Ouch!"

Angry, Zinon flicked my forehead, causing me to stumble backward. A classic forehead flick.

"Ah, ah, brother. Violence is not good. Especially not towards your future wife."

Not happening, I thought to myself. More importantly, this is Prince Axel. If my memory serves me right, he's one of the targets in "Magic Eyes". With his silver-blond hair and eyes, elf-like delicate looks, and mischievous eyes, he's a character who sweetly toys with the heroine, a fan-favourite younger brother character.

In Axel's route, Richeli becomes jealous as Axel and Zinon vie for the heroine. Richeli tries to mix a love potion for Axel but fails, and Axel and the heroine end up in a sexy scene. As a result, Richeli ends up in the convent.

Remembering the content of the otome game made me feel gloomy. In front of me, Abigail and Julian stood up restlessly.

"Sister, watch. I'm going to show you something interesting."

"Huh?"

Abigail stood next to a large pot a little distance away, waved her hand over it, and muttered something. Then...

"Oh!"

A cute light green bud popped out of the soil. The stem grew rapidly from the bud, branched out, and grew taller and taller. Before I knew it, large pink roses were blooming one after another from the buds. It was very beautiful.

"Wow... amazing. Did you just make this rose bloom, Abby? With magic?"

Abby, pleased with my wide-eyed astonishment, smiled at me.

"Yes, I did. I've been practicing a little bit. This flower is for you, sis. Your birthday is the day after tomorrow, right?"

"You're giving it to me? Thank you, Abby. It's so beautiful. I'm happy."

"Abby's dream is to become a royal gardener, utilizing her earth element magic, right?"

At Julian's words, Abby chuckled shyly.

"That's right. If I become a royal gardener, I can fill the palace of His Highness and sis with beautiful flowers every day, right?"

Listening to Abby talk about her dream with a shy smile, I wondered if I could smile properly. When Abby becomes a royal gardener, I'm sure I won't be the one standing next to Zinon.

But, perhaps, no...

I understood that Abby and Julian prepared the flowers because they were worried about my recent lack of energy. After sleeping like a log all day yesterday after taking the medicinal bath in the morning, I still couldn't sleep all night and woke up in the morning still feeling unwell.

Still, tomorrow is finally the promised week later. I will meet with Richeli and the deity again.

The day after tomorrow is Richeli's birthday.

Will the real Richeli be here on her birthday, or...

I didn't realise that Zinon was watching me as I was lost in thought.

***

At night, as expected, I couldn't sleep and turned over in bed for the umpteenth time.

Wouldn't it be better to drink the medicinal bath before bed instead of in the morning?

Upon this thought, I suddenly wondered if Richeli, like me now, was homesick. Could she also want to return to her original world?

Like me, Richeli was excited about her new life as Rin above the clouds.

Richeli like I must have had a complete change in her environment and everything.

I hope so.

If both of us ask the deity, maybe something will work out.

Suddenly, a faint light shone in, and a figure illuminated by the pale moonlight appeared through the gap in the fluttering curtain.

Startled, I sat up in bed.

Before I knew it, Zinon was leaning against the window and looking at me.

"Z... Zinon? Why..."

Slowly rising from the window frame, Zinon slowly approached me, who was sitting up in bed in surprise.

When he came close, I could see Zinon's face clearly, even in the faint blue moonlight.

Was it my imagination that he looked a bit worried?

His deep blue eyes cast shadows in the darkness, making my heart beat faster.

"You can't sleep, can you?"

His hoarse, low voice fell.

His blue eyes sparkled.

"Let's go out. I'll help you lift your mood."

***

────── ꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ─────

Spoiler: he meant that literally HAHA.