"For this week, the children partook in tournaments and trained with a peculiar group, sir," Sir Al reported to the Duke of Bearington. "That group consists of five to six members, and they appear harmless. Although…it's been observed one of them refers to the young lady as 'half-ear'—"
"Bury them," the Duke ordered, crushing the papers on the desk before him.
"Your Grace…that person was identified as His Highness Archduke Vangh Os's son, sir," Sir Al uttered, freezing the Duke.
…Shouldn't the Archduke's boy already be up north with his father to support the first prince at the frontlines?
…Why was it that trouble always trailed Airee?
The Duke huffed and rubbed his suddenly weary eyes.
"His identity remains undisclosed, however," Sir Al continued, referring to the Archduke's boy, "as does the children's identities seeing as they freely quarrel without fear of consequence."
…
"…Continue observing," the Duke ordered. "And ensure neither of them oversteps too far."
"Understood," Sir Al said before asking, "On that regard, shall we confirm our cooperation with the Cassandra knights to better safeguard the children as the madam of Cassandra suggested, sir?"
…
Prideful though he was, the Duke had to admit…
The more watch on Airee, the better. Thus…
"…Very well," he gruffly conceded.
║║║║║║║║║║
Shelly, Winston, and I were walking through the crowded markets in the capital during the weekend when I suddenly felt eyes on us.
Glancing around, I warily searched for whoever was watching—
I crashed into Winston and Shelly who had both stopped walking and grabbed their waists as they stumbled forward.
"I'm so sorry…!" I quickly apologized as I pulled them back, embarrassed that I almost knocked them over. "Are you two alright?!"
"Y…Yes…" Shelly answered, though she looked disheveled and disorientated.
"Are you sure? Winston? What about you?!" I asked, glancing between them worriedly.
"…Let…let go…" Winston mumbled, and I realized I was still holding them by their waists.
I released them and apologized as they wobbled to their feet, Winston's ears heating as he refused to look at me.
"You three alright?" The florist whose goods that had stopped Shelly and Winston asked. "Here, have some flowers for your trouble!"
"Thank you, kind sir!" Shelly smiled as the florist gave us each a bouquet of colorful roses, daisies, and daffodils.
Each was so beautifully arranged that I immediately reached for my pouch to pay. The florist declined my payment however, claiming the bouquets were complimentary due to the upcoming spring festival.
"Feel free to visit any time! And pay attention while you're walking!" the florist said, and we thanked him before carrying on.
"Do either of you know that person?" I asked, wondering why the florist had been so kind.
Shelly and Winston shook their heads, and before I could ponder further, a woman called out to us as we passed her vegetable stand.
"Hello!" she greeted warmly. "Care to browse our selection? They're fresh and rinsed and [free]—so please choose whatever!"
"Thank you, ma'am!" Shelly beamed as the woman handed me a large basket full of the vegetables and herbs Shelly had chosen.
"You're welcome! Stop by at any time!" the woman called after us as we carried on.
…Strange.
Kindness among strangers was uncanny in the capital, and nothing ever came free—especially now since a festival was fast approaching.
Shelly glanced at me and smiled nervously, but before I could question her, someone called out, "Greetings! You're just in time for these [free] fruits! Er—of course, they're free! Here—add these to your basket! Cheer up and have a good day!"
[…]
"Hello there! I was going to [dispose] these loaves of [freshly] baked bread, but why don't you three take them?! And if you have any problems at all, please visit us here!"
[…]
"Wait, children! These eggs will surely compliment your pretty baskets! Here you go! And remember, if anything's troubling you, we'll be here! Good day, now!"
[…]
"Wow! How very kind of them!" Shelly exclaimed as we returned to our house with our hands full of free, unsolicited goods.
[…]
"…Those were knights in disguise, weren't they?" I asked as we set everything on the kitchen table.
The bouquets Shelly held dropped to the floor as she visibly froze.
"…I…don't know…what you're…talking about…my lady…" Shelly stammered as Winston picked up the bouquets and handed them back to her.
I burst into warm laughter, her stiffness confirming my suspicions.
"Oh. Is that why we can roam the streets unattended? Because there's already knights watching us instead of you?" Winston asked, making me laugh even more.
Shelly flushed and hid her face behind the flowers. "No more, my lady…!" she uttered as I laughed even harder.
║║║║║║║║║║
While training with Cou and his group, Winston and I learned more about them.
The group varied in age and background, and each member was personally selected by Cou himself. And though the members poked fun at Cou whenever they could, all trusted and respected him as their leader.
As for Lily, the newest addition to our lot…
He didn't do much.
He just sat and observed while the rest of us sparred.
The others told me Lily was Cou's quiet friend who sometimes joined in their escapades. But other than that, they didn't know much else since Cou forbade any direct interaction with Lily.
[…]
Then one day, after sparring with Second, I noticed Lily sitting alone on one of the wooden benches strewn around us.
With Cou nowhere in sight, I took this chance and sped towards him.
"H…Here…" Lily stammered as I loomed closer, handing me one of the towels neatly stacked beside him.
"Thank you," I said, accepting it before sitting next to him.
…
"You and Cou…" I began lightly while wiping my face and neck with the towel, "…how long have you two known each other?"
Silence passed during which Lily contemplated on how to answer.
Then—
"We…grew up together," he finally said. "Cou cares a lot and…looks after me…even though it's not required. And…he's impulsive but…very kind…"
[…]
"…Does it bother you…?" Lily asked after I was silent for too long. I wasn't sure what he was referring to until he said, "The way I speak…?"
[??]
"Saying…the…[right]…words…takes a while…for me…" Lily stammered, his words tripping over the other as he rushed to explain. "For that…I apologize…"
"Ah—I'm not bothered—no, why are you sorry—?" I fumbled, flustered at this sudden swerve in conversation.
Lily hastily clenched his hands, and I froze when I glimpsed his face profile scrunching with shame.
[…]
"…I'm not bothered," I repeated, firmly this time. "How you speak has never bothered me. And it won't bother those who truly care for you as well. Every word you've chosen to say contains your utmost care and effort, after all—so that's rather admirable. So…don't apologize. This is something you shouldn't apologize for."
…
Lily's cheeks and nose flushed, and he was frozen for a long time before he stiffly turned away, trying to inconspicuously rub his eyes.
I offered him a fresh towel, and he declined it at first before accepting it and thanking me.
"You're welcome…" I replied, my voice trailing off when he removed his eyeglasses to pat his face with the towel.
His back was facing me, but the side of his face was still in view…
I reached out unbiddenly, and he froze when my fingers brushed against the corner of his unguarded eye.
Just a little more and—
"Hey!!" Cou barked from afar, brows narrowing as he stormed towards us. "What're you doing, half-ear?! What's wrong, Lily?!"
"I'm fine…! Something got in my eyes…that's all!" Lily quickly explained, swiftly slipping on his eyeglasses. "Air…was just helping…!"
Cou glared at me, and I shifted my towel over my head to avoid him.
Lily left after that, and when Cou returned from accompanying Lily back, he stormed over to where I was finishing up with Second.
"What the—?" Second uttered with confusion as Cou loomed over me confrontationally.
"Half-ear…!" Cou snarled as he grasped the lower half of my face with one hand, tilting it upwards towards him roughly. "I like you, so I'll warn you [once]. [Keep your hands to yourself. And [don't] mess with Lily.]"
Second frowned with worry as I silently stared up at Cou, and the rest of the members who were finishing up around us stared in our direction, Winston included.
"Answer!" Cou snapped, his grip on my face tightening. "Do you understand?!"
[…]
"I understand," I said, smiling apologetically. "I'm sorry for offending you and Lily. I'll be careful from now on."
Cou scrunched his brows, raising one of them as if confounded by my sudden courteousness.
Then—
"…Good," he huffed before roughly releasing me and stalking away.
"…Walk it off, Air," Second advised as my smile dropped, my expression darkening as I failed to suppress my irritation.
Cou's anger was justifiable, and I deserved it for taking advantage of Lily's vulnerable state.
However…
His domineering attitude was getting under my skin.
[…Bear with it], I thought through clenched jaws. [There's only a few days left…so bear with it.]
║║║║║║║║║║
"Thanks for these past two weeks," Winston and I thanked the group after our last training session.
"You both did well," Second said, smiling warmly. "Hopefully the next time we meet, you'll both have passed the Branch Trial."
"We'll see you then," Winston and I promised before clasping each of their hands in farewell.
I didn't shake Cou's hand, however, only giving him a brisk nod since the tension between us hadn't cleared.
I did the same for Lily, but he stepped towards me himself.
"The festival…" Lily said, referring to tomorrow's spring festival, "Will you attend, Air…?"
"Yes," I confirmed, refraining from flashing Cou the middle finger when he glowered from behind Lily.
"Then if we see each other…may we…walk together…at the festival?" Lily asked hesitantly.
"Sure," I answered politely, ignoring Cou's displeased scowl.
Lily pushed his eyeglasses up before shyly nodding.
Then we all bid each other farewell before Winston and I finally separated from the group.
"…The festival…" Winston spoke as we walked away. "We're going with Shelly, remember?"
"I remember."
"…Then…why did you accept Lily's invitation?" he asked, pursing his lips.
…
I still suspected Lily, but Lily's genuine sincerity towards Winston and me somewhat mellowed my caution. And despite Cou interfering whenever Lily tried interacting with us…
"…I think Lily wants to befriend us," I told Winston. "So, to get to know him better, I accepted. Ah—but you, Shelly, and I are still going together! And if we meet Lily and the others, we'll just join them! It'll still be fun!"
Winston hummed unenthusiastically, pursing his lips again as he stared forward.
I poked his face so he would look at me.
"What?" he uttered as I gazed at him without saying anything.
"Nothing," I grinned. "But did you know? This is the first our eyes have met in days."
A small puff of air left Winston at that realization, and he turned away, blushing as I began chuckling.
"Wait for me!" I laughed as he sped away.