Bab 50: The Abandoned Palace Renovation (2)
"Hah, I'm tired," I said as I lay down on the grassy ground, under the olive tree.
"Do you want to drink water, Brielle," asked Papa.
I nodded.
It was already night when we finished renovating the Alyvia Palace. We just need to buy new furniture for the inside, bedsheets, and metal for the gate because it was already covered with rust. Aside from those, everything was good. The garden, the palace hall, kitchen, and the palace chambers were all set and cleaned. The Alyvia Palace was good as new though it couldn't compare to the Imperial Palace.
Papa lay down beside me and we watched the night sky. It has been such a long time since we did it. I called Augustus and said, "Augustus, lay down here with us. The night sky is beautiful."
"I've seen it every night so I'm tired watching it," Augustus answered.
"Don't mind him, Brielle. He's just playing cold," Papa mocked.
When Augustus was about to say something to Papa, a swarm of fireflies surrounded the olive tree, flickering their lights."Wow, look! Papa, Augustus, the fireflies are glowing!"
A firefly flew in my head and I caught it with my hands. I got up and leaned close to Augustus, who was watching the olive tree, and whispered, "Augustus, look! a firefly. It resembles the star in the night sky. It seems the star personally came down to meet you."
"Shame on the firefly. The sparkle in your smile was more comparable to the stars...perhaps it was brighter than anything," Augustus said, staring at me. "It's pretty."
"M-me?" I asked.
He then chuckled and closed his eyes, "No...the firefly."
"Hey, stop flirting with my daughter. I'm right here, you know?" Papa warned.
"It was not flirting," Augustus objected. Then he lay down beside me.
Papa suddenly grabbed me and wrapped me in his arms."It's better to be on guard than never."
"That's rude! I don't have anything in my mind," argued Augustus.
Ugh, it would not end. It was not like Max and Papa's arguments because both of them don't like to lose. Personality alike would only cause disaster.
"Good night to the both of you," I said, burying my face in Papa's arms.
"Sleep well," Papa murmured and kissed my forehead.
"Good night, Brielle," Augustus said.
"Sweet dreams, Gus."
***
As the sun rose from the east, we woke up and ate breakfast that was only left stock from the storage of Alyvia Palace. It was a little bit near to being bad but was still edible. After that, we washed up and got ready to go to the palace to get the rest of our belongings.
"What time are you going back?" Agustus asked.
"Are you not coming with us?"
"Well...I don't like to go outside and my clothes were not appropriate to go to the Imperial Palace," Augustus answered.
His clothes were torn and their color faded. You could tell from the first glance that it was old.
"Then, let's buy you some clothes before we go there," Papa suggested.
"Yeah, that's right," I agreed. "You have plenty of money now so you can buy all the things you want, Augustus."
"...All right," Gus shyly responded.
"We'll help you buy your clothes. So, the next time you go to a banquet. You'll shine the most," I said.
"Y-you saw me there?!"Augustus asked, surprised.
"Why would I forget? You had this angry face," I replied, copying his face that time.
"I can imagine him having that expression," Papa chuckled."Even if he didn't wear fancy clothes, he could steal the spotlight."
I laughed.
"Let's go, now," I initiated."Ah! That's right, Colt! Papa, let's ride on Colt. He will be sad if left alone here."
"Okay. I'll get him. Wait here," Papa said.
Papa went to the stable and got Colt.
"You can call me like last time," Augustus said.
Huh? What was he talking about? And he seemed to be shy all of the sudden.
"Like last time?" I asked, confused.
"Last night! You called me with that name," Augustus responded.
"...name...Gus?" I asked.
He nodded, embarrassed.
"Gus," I said.
"Gus," again, I said.
"Gus," once again, I said.
Gus' face was all flushed and he had this puzzled expression."W-why do you keep repeating my name?!"
I smiled.
"It was nice, right? To be called your name. So from now on, you must get used to it. Because, I'll call your name over and over again until you get sick of me," I chuckled."Then, the loneliness you've been living with will never return."
The sudden gust of the wind,
olive leaves were swept.
The butterflies flew higher,
some held tight to the flowers.
I glanced at Gus and saw him rubbing his eyes. "Gus, are you alright?"
"Y-yeah," Gus answered shortly."It was just because of the sudden gust."
I just stand next to Gus in silence.
And at that time, I wondered.
The gust of the wind no longer existed, but Gus continued to rub his eyes.
I waited. For the gust to calm down.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone