I lay stretched out on the cold grass outside the temple, letting the chill sink into my back and arms and legs, hoping it would steady me. I felt too warm, almost unbearably, and every time my thoughts drifted back to the meal, to that anticipation curling somewhere deep inside me, the heat rose again as if it had been waiting for this excuse.

I breathed out slowly and stared up at the sky, trying to focus on the fading light above the temple. Huh, what was that? I heard the soft approach of footsteps in the grass before I saw him, the sound deliberate but unhurried, and then my fancy dinner shoes landed beside me with a quiet thud. I turned my head just enough to see them, and then him.

Erzion stood there for a moment before speaking. "I think you forgot these," he said.

I let my gaze rest on the shoes for a brief moment before looking away again, back towards the sky.

"I didn’t forget," I answered. "I just didn’t care."

He did not contradict me, instead he lowered himself to the ground beside me, the grass shifting softly as he settled in. He leaned back on his hands, stretching his legs out in front of him, his head was turned upwards to the same sky I had been watching. I glanced at him once more. His hair had fallen back into its usual chaotic state, his coat from earlier was gone, and his shirt hung open, unbuttoned. His scarf was missing too.

For a while neither of us said anything. After a moment Erzion spoke again with a trace of quiet amusement in his voice. "Are you trying to draw a logical conclusion from the meal earlier?"

I almost smiled, but I simply let out a soft breath instead, still looking upward. Sometimes, I felt like he was observing me in that curious, steady way of his.

"What if I am?" I asked, letting a hint of teasing slip into my voice. "As if you know me what I am-"

"First, you try to think of a way to connect all your speculations and test the variations in your head to see if they hold up," he interrupted. "Then, you discard everything that doesn’t seem realistic or isn’t supported by the data you have observed so far. Finally, you go to the library and try to find something familiar in one of the millions of books there, claiming you have read it somewhere before."

I pushed myself up from lying down, a little startled by his words. He was looking at the sky, so I couldn’t see his face clearly, but in the faint light of the nearby lamp, I caught the slightest upward curve of his lips.

"Don't think you know me, human! I am more complex than you ever-"

He waved his hand dismissively at me. "Yes, yes, I know."

I grabbed one of the heavy shoes and tapped his head with it. "Ouch!" he said.

"Stop it." I pushed myself up, glaring at him, not quite satisfied to walk away yet. "I want more of that thing I ate. From the other creatures you’ve got locked up too."

"Oh… so you were listening during dinner and- holy stars, okay, OW-!" I smacked him on the head again with the shoe I still kept holding in my hand.

"Don't act clueless," I snapped. "And you better have something ready for me tomorrow night too!"

There was a brief pause before I sensed his attention turn fully towards me, and when he spoke again his voice had lowered to nearly a whisper.

"Tomorrow, my entire day is booked with appointments, but let’s meet in the library the day after tomorrow. Skip the bridge. I could help you with… all that research."

"Our deal was the bridge for the food," I shot back. "So don't back down!"

He tilted his head slightly, like it didn’t matter either way. "The deal stays. It’s not about what we do… as long as I get to watch you."

"…Fine."

I am not that dull. After the incident, he sometimes makes strange bargains just to spend time with me when he is not busy with royal duties. When I confronted him once about it, he said that I did not have anything better to do. After Erzion conquered almost the entire continent, I really had nothing left to do. That one year of war was the most exciting part of my human journey. So now, yes, I sometimes allow myself to stay in the company of my holy power vessel.

"Oh- and as long as I keep you away from that warrior, everything should be fine," he turned towards the garden path that led back to his palace.

"What?!" I reached out fast for his hand, but but before I could catch him-

He was already gone. Stupid magic. Stupid teleportation.

***

I am sitting beneath the pale-blue canopy of the little gazebo, together with Miriam and the others, while the royal heads of each country and region are having a meeting with Erzion.

To my right is Miriam. Her dark red curls fall loosely, her posture is relaxed, her expression soft, almost serene. The lace cuffs of her dress brush the porcelain each time she lifts her cup. Her deep brown-sugar eyes drift across the garden, as if she is admiring something only she can see.

"How do you like the tea, Lolia?" she asks, turning her gaze back to the table.

On my left is Lolia. She is a bright presence, her high-pitched laugh chiming like a bell. She keeps stealing glances at Miriam, probably hoping for a chance to speak with her, and the moment Miriam finally turns her way, she lights up with unmistakable excitement.

"It is delightful, Your Highness! Each tea party carries its own charm, and the tea always tastes wonderfully different!"

Across from me sits Courtney, her back straight, her gloved hands resting lightly in her lap when she is not reaching for a pastry. She loves to observe everything in silence, yet there is always warmth in her smile when she hears Miriam speak.

Both Lola and Courtney were noble ladies from prestigious families. As I recall, they grew up alongside Miriam, and over the years their friendship deepened so much they became part of Miriam's inner circle. Looking at them now, it's easy to see why. There is a refinement and warmth about them that fits naturally at Miriam's side.

"How was yesterday's dinner?" Courtney asked. She glanced briefly at Alet, standing about six meters from our table alongside Miriam's guards, before returning her gaze back to Miriam.

"The little one," that's what Miriam insists on calling me in front of her ladies, "put on quite the show! You should've seen Tanya, that foolish woman. I swear she looked moments away from wetting herself in fear!"

"Oh come on, the little one isn't that frightening!" Lolia laughed. 

"No, no, she wasn't scared of her, of course! But the moment she noticed how my brother was staring at her… believe me, once Vilendra left, the room went as silent as -"

Miriam adores dropping her regal, cool demeanor the moment gossip enters the conversation, especially when she's among her closest friends. At the moment I felt like a simple decoration, I was there, but I was not. I was listening the conversation so I could reply if I had to, but at the same time I was drinking my tea and peacefully eating form my chocolate dessert.

"-as a graveyard," Miriam finished, looking at something somewhere across the garden.

Tanya appeared at the edge of the gazebo, she wore her usual smile with ugly bright color lipstick and at her side hovered her lady-in-waiting, no, not the ugly one, the other one that doesn't get enough sleep.

Tanya inclined her head slowly. "Your Highness," she said to Miriam, her voice was so overly honeyed I would die from embarrassment if I was her. "How charming this looks. I hadn't realized the garden was being used for… informal gatherings today."

Her gaze skimmed over the table, over Courtney, Lolia, and passed over me as though I were part of the furniture. Miriam turned at last, curls shifting over her shoulder, her smile blooming with serene precision. "Lady Tanya. Do forgive us. I didn't think the gazebo in my own palace required a reservation."

Lolia bit her lip barely holding her laugh.

Tanya's eyes narrowed a little before she smiled again. "Of course not. I only meant that one doesn't often see such relaxed company here." Her gaze lingered on Miriam's loose hair. "You're feeling unwell, perhaps? You look a little undone."

Miriam lifted a hand, idly twisting one dark curl around her finger. "Oh, this?" she said lightly. "My son prefers it this way. I find it wise to listen to those whose opinions matter."

That landed neatly.

The walking dead lady-in-waiting shifts, clearly sensing the blow, and steps in smoothly. "Her Ladyship merely worries that Your Highness might be tiring herself. Hosting tea, managing court matters, it must be so exhausting."

Alright, I have to admit that at least the tormented child still has a voice. Or maybe that's just how it looked… Neglected. But deep down, it still had its own character.

Miriam smiled at her. "How thoughtful."

Tanya's gaze drifted again, this time over the pastries, the porcelain, the empty space beside me. She spoke as if addressing only the table. "Well, I won't intrude. I just wanted to take my walk after the morning council." Of course you are not. There are no chairs left.

I’m honestly amazed by how much Erzion is willing to do to keep good relations with that kingdom.

Tanya turned back at me. "Miss Vila? Did you say something to me?"

I should stop thinking out loud… but... let's do this for the sake of the plot.

"No."

Tanya waved a hand, not noticing. "Oh, but you know, mornings are the strangest, aren't they?" She stepped aside from her companion and came closer to the table. "The light falls in all sorts of directions, and sometimes it makes the shadows look like they're dancing, and I keep thinking about all the things I haven't done yet, and the pastries- oh, they look so delicate, don't they?"

She grabbed one of the chocolate cookies from the center of the table, bit into it, let out a satisfied little sound, and went on talking. "And the air smells like a storm might be coming, or maybe it's just the flowers, but I feel like something's missing, don't you?"

Best way to deal with such ladies is to ignore them. Tanya paused mid-gesture, her gaze flicking briefly towards me, searching for the slightest acknowledgment. Finding none, she tilted her head as if puzzled, then continued in that same fluid, honeyed cadence.

"Of course, one might say that mornings like this are… fleeting, momentary. A collection of moments meant to pass unremarked, or perhaps, wasted if not appreciated fully." She waved a delicate hand over the table, brushing against a sugar bowl with exaggerated care. 

Miriam, reclining gracefully in her chair, let a faint smile curl at her lips. "Some people are quite skilled at filling the air with words," she said, eyes sparkling, "and yet, it seems the most precious ones remain unheard." She lifted her teacup delicately and sipped, as if punctuating her point.

Tanya, still lingering beside the table, reached for the kettle and a spare teacup. She tilted the kettle, as if to pour, but it was already empty, every drop accounted for in our cups.

"Ts," she muttered, a faint note of frustration in her voice. "Completely empty… what a waste of time."

"If you are looking for an example of waste of time, I would refer you to the monologue you were having right now." Miriam replied, her tone lightly amused.

I drained the last drop of my tea and pushed back from the chair with a sudden, decisive motion. "Alet!" I called, my voice carrying across the gazebo.

He appeared almost at once, moving with the quiet ease of someone who had expected me to call. I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm, steadying myself.

"Ladies, if you'll excuse me," I said politely, though my tone left no room for protest. Without waiting for a response, I began walking in the direction Tanya came from.

Once we were far enough from them, I spoke, my voice lowering as the chatter from the gazebo dissolved into birdsong and the soft crunch of gravel beneath our steps.

"How do you find the gardens of the main palace?" I asked Alet.

He glanced around as we walked, his expression thoughtful but relaxed. Sunlight filtered through the tall cypress trees, catching briefly in his loose hair as it swayed against his shoulders. "Green places, flowers. Just the usual well-kept gardens," he answered casually.

I huffed a quiet laugh. "That's a very diplomatic way of saying they don't impress you."

"They're pleasant," he amended. "Just… normal."

"It's different than the ones around the temple," I said, slowing my pace. The flowers were more saturated in color, and everything looked more alive, even the marble statues between the hedges. "I rarely come here, because it would mean I could bump into Miriam more often. But years ago, I used to play with Erzion here. We would hide behind those hedges..." I gestured vaguely to our left, where the greenery grew dense and wild. 

Alet's mouth curved into a small smile. "You don't sound like someone who enjoyed being easy to find."

"I was dreadful," I admitted. "Still am, I believe."

We walked in companionable silence for a moment. The path narrowed and I glanced up at him, noticing his long hair had slipped free of its usual thin hairtie, falling in dark waves around his shoulders and horns...

"You tie your hair when training, right?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied. "It helps me focus better." His hand rose unconsciously, as if remembering the familiar weight of the tie that wasn't there. It fell probably somewhere behind us.

"True, true," I nodded, studying him with mock seriousness. "You should tie it tighter, even if you are not at the sparring grounds."

He raised a brow. "Is this an order?"

"It's an advice," I corrected. "A very wise advice."

Before he could respond, I stopped walking. He halted a step ahead, turning back towards me in mild confusion. I didn't give him time to ask. Rising onto my toes, I reached for him, fingers brushing his chest first as I steadied myself. He stiffened slightly, then relaxed, clearly unsure what to do.

"I can't reach," I muttered, half to myself.

Alet obligingly leaned down just enough, his long hair falling forward like a curtain. I gathered a few stray strands and carefully tucked them back, guiding them around the curve of his horns, smoothing them into place as best I could. My fingers lingered longer than necessary, pushing rebellious locks behind where they wouldn't fall into his eyes.

"There," I said softly, dropping back onto my short heels. "Much better."

He blinked at me, momentarily speechless, then cleared his throat. "Do you do this with every young gentleman?"

"There are no gentlemen around me to do this with," I replied, resuming our walk. "And aren't we similar? You feel close to me, so it's better for you to get used to my presence." 

From the corner of my eye, I caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips as he fell back into step beside me. I felt a little satisfaction. Similar to what I felt when Erza was a kid and...

"Miss Vila, are you alright?" 

I vaguely heard Alet’s voice before I lost my balance and collapsed to the ground.