Chapter 17: "Your smile"
"Are you okay?" I questioned.
"I-I'm fine," he stammered, avoiding my gaze.
Now I feel bad about what I did.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean any harm."
"It's okay. I was just taken aback," he paused, "I've never seen my Aunt react like that before, and you're the first person to ever stand up to her in such a manner. I didn't know how to react."
"I shouldn't have been stubborn. I know she's your Aunt, but I lost my cool once she mentioned about my past."
Partly because I found her arrogance distasteful.
"No, I should have intervened and stopped her from treating my guest that way. But I froze. I should be the one apologizing." He began to bow and even attempted to go down on all fours, but I quickly grasped his shoulders to prevent him from doing so.
"No, no, it's okay!" I reassured him, a bit taken aback by his reaction.
"But..." He seemed insistent.
This feels like Deja vu. I'll just ask another question or else we'll both be apologizing non-stop.
"I-I have a question, Xyriel!"
"Sure," he responded, tilting his head in curiosity.
"Do you have a positive relationship with your Aunt?"
Upon hearing my question, his gaze shifted elsewhere, his expression turning troubled.
"Yes... I think so." His tone sounded uncertain, but he wanted his words to be the truth.
"You're not entirely sure?" I furrowed my brows.
"Well my Aunt has been taking care of me since my parents died in a terrible accident. I owe them a ton."
It seems to me that Xyriel is just forcing himself to like them even though he clearly doesn't.
I suspected his Aunt might have used the typical trope of 'I've raised you since you were little, and you don't even appreciate it' to make him feel obligated.
And now Xyriel feels that he needs to give them everything to make up for it.
"And how did they take care of you?" I inquired.
Xyriel glanced around, deep in thought. "They hired maids and butlers for me, and they scolded me when necessary."
"Have they ever given you gifts on birthdays or other occasions?"
"They said I didn't need gifts since I already had a lot of accessories and possessions."
"But surely, you've hosted birthday celebrations and events?"
My question seemed to catch him off guard, leaving him staring blankly at the floor. I gently touched his cheeks to bring his attention back to the present, and he met my gaze.
"Are you alright?" I asked, genuine concern in my voice.
"I'm fine, no need to worry!" He mustered a cheerful smile and placed his hands over mine.
Despite his smile, his eyes held a hint of sadness.
Perhaps my question had touched on something sensitive.
"I'm sorry for asking those intrusive questions. You don't have to answer any of them if you're uncomfortable." I offered a reassuring smile.
His eyes widened. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't even hear the question earlier. My mind was elsewhere. What was the question again? I'm sorry."
I giggled, "It's alright, don't worry about it. It wasn't an important question anyway. Now, shall we continue our walk? I'd like to get a closer look at the pond you have!" I said enthusiastically.
"Certainly!" He smiled.
As we walked closer to the pond, I could clearly see the fish swimming in the clear water. Xyriel reached into his pockets and pulled out a bag of bread crumbs. He extended his arm, offering the bread crumbs to me.
He wanted me to feed the fish, and I excitedly took the bag, sprinkling the bread crumbs little by little. The fish eagerly gobbled them up in a matter of seconds.
Glancing at Xyriel, I saw him watching me with a warm smile. It made me blush.
Even though I was simply feeding the fish, why did I suddenly feel so embarrassed?
I touched my cheeks and took a deep breath to calm myself. Xyriel tilted his head, looking a bit confused at my reaction.
"Are you okay?" He questioned.
"I-I'm okay! It's just a little warm here," I stuttered while fanning myself with my hands and laughing awkwardly.
"Well, the sun is shining brightly today. Do you want us to go back inside?" He suggested, pointing at his mansion.
"No need, I quite like it here. Although it is a bit hot, the breeze is certainly refreshing."
He giggled. "It is, isn't it? The breeze has a calming effect. It takes you away from everything, connecting you with nature. It makes you appreciate being alive."
His words resonated with me, and I found myself gazing at him as he closed his eyes, absorbing the sensation of the breeze and sunlight.
He seemed so serene, and every little thing he did only added to his charm.
I noticed I was staring at him for quite some time now, so I averted my eyes to the sky instead. It was almost dawn and I don't want to end our conversation here.
"Xyriel?" I said, looking back at him.
"Hm?" He opened his eyes and met my gaze.
"Have you ever visited the nearby town?"
He paused for a moment. "No, I have always stayed at home. I only go out when there's an event or party that I have to attend. Why do you ask?"
"Do you want to go visit the town nearby with me?" I asked, closing the gap between us.
"Sure, I would love to! When do you want to go?" He responded with a sweet smile.
My eyes sparkled with excitement. "Tonight!" I exclaimed enthusiastically.
His eyes widened. "Tonight? But wouldn't it be better to visit the town in the afternoon?" He tilted his head in curiosity.
"It would feel incomplete to end our conversation here. Besides, the town looks enchanting at night, and the atmosphere changes drastically after sunset," I explained, my smile unwavering.
"And, to be honest, I don't want to part ways just yet. I'd like to spend more time with you." I looked away, trying to hide my flushed cheeks.
He chuckled in response. "I was thinking the same way. Since you're so eager, who am I to decline?" His face lit up with enthusiasm.
"Perfect! It's settled then!" I exclaimed, taking his hands in my excitement.
"But I need to make some preparations first! I'll head back for now and then come to pick you up later. Oh, and please dress modestly and wear a plain robe to avoid attracting any unwanted attention, alright?"
"Wait, you're making preparations right now?" He started to sweat nervously.
"Yes! It's almost dusk, and starting a bit early will allow us to make the most of our time!" I giggled.
"I'll be waiting at the rear of your mansion in an hour. Please make sure you're ready by then, alright?"
"O-okay!"
"Then it's a plan!" I gave him a tight hug, then quickly turned and dashed away, waving goodbye. He watched me go, laughter in his eyes.
Now I'm outside riding in my carriage, judging from the distance, it takes thirty five minutes to go from here to the palace, but only fifteen minutes by horse. Since I have an hour before I meet Xyriel, I have plenty of time to change into something comfortable.
Because of my excitement, the carriage ride feels so slow that I think it's gonna take an hour to go home. I honestly think that I could outrun this carriage just by walking.
Well, it would only exhaust me anyway, I'll just stick with sitting down here and waiting patiently like a lady should!
And I'm going to make sure that Xyriel will have a blast!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone