The gentle hum of the music, the coolness of the gray light that hovered above my right ankle, the sweet and solemn tones of goodnights, still lingered on my thoughts—not until a series of loud knocks on the balcony window interrupted my supposed-to-be peaceful morning.
I sighed in frustration, and then stood up with a slam on the study table. My feet stomped heavily as I went to the visitor who cared less of not going inside properly by using the goddamn door.
Opening the huge glass windows revealed a dark-blue haired boy who had annoyance all over his face—his black robe a shade brighter under the morning light.
"Do you really have to bang the windows so loudly?" I asked, crossing my arms. "Also, have you perhaps heard of something called… well, I don't know—a door?"
Lavi's brows met. His golden-flecked hazel eyes narrowed at me. "I've been knocking 'not loudly' for five minutes straight, while you're so lost in your daydreams and were all smiles like a lunatic."
I flinched. "I wasn't smiling."
Lavi shrugged, and then scratched his head as he continued, "Anyway, going inside through the door is such a hassle, since I have to ask for permission or else they'll dub me as notorious or something—at least your maids would. I wouldn't want to go through all that now, I'm in a hurry."
"Then why are you here?"
"I wanted to tell you in advance that I won't be around for a few days."
"Does that mean…?"
"No, I'll- we'll make it back in time for your birthday."
By "we", is he talking about him and the two princes? "Don't tell me that the three of you are going back to the North again?"
His eyes shifted slightly. "We're going someplace else."
I tilted my head on one side. "Where is it? Can I come?"
"Just... somewhere," Lavi exhaled deeply. "And you can't come, absolutely not."
"What? I thought we were done with this whole 'why-didn't-you-tell-me' thing?"
"Look, I just thought that you should know that your friends are out doing something, but I'll tell you everything once we return, alright?"
Hearing that, something tugged inside my guts. "Fine, I won't press this anymore. But in exchange, you have to answer my question."
Lavi lifted one brow. "Sure, what is it?"
The one thing I have been eager to know and have always been at the back of my mind whenever I see you. "That day, when you brought me back home… you told me that we had only just met and that in no way do we have any kind of relationship. It was a lie, wasn't it?"
Lavi's eyes widened, he opened his mouth and then closed them again, unsure of what to answer. He was clearly taken aback.
"Don't worry, I won't get mad. Just tell me the truth." True enough, I was tired of getting angry and irritated at him.
He bit his lips before parting them to speak. "Yes. The both of us go a long way back."
I only smiled. "Okay."
Lavi's face struck with shock. "That's it? You're not going to ask me why I lied?"
"Uh-huh. You can tell me your reason whenever you're ready."
The wizard's eyebrows shot up. "Well someone's in a good mood."
"Damn right, I am." I winked.
Lavi laughed. "Don't do that, you look even uglier."
"What? This?" I winked both eyes repeatedly which made him crack up even more. Lavi's hands went to his stomach and the other to his mouth, his shoulders trembling with laughter. Am I really that bad at winking?
"A-alright…" Lavi said in between laughs. "I have to go. Those two are going to get mad at me for making them wait."
"Go," I shooed him away. "I have to get ready as well. My private tutor will be arriving soon."
Lavi nodded, his lips curled into a serene smile. He ruffled my hair before he summoned a glow beneath his feet.
I don't know where they'll be off to but, "Be careful."
***
Days had passed by so swiftly and through all of them, I had been devoted to countless studying and one-on-one lessons—the usual days. It was, until my father called me to his working quarters.
I knocked on the office door.
A muffled voice rang out from inside. "Come in."
As I stepped inside, the Duke was still looking down on his paper works like usual.
"Calla, my daughter, is that you?"
"It's me, father. Have you had something to tell me?"
"Yes, my dear. Come closer." He dropped his busy hand and finally lifted his head towards me, arms rested on the table.
I did as he told me to and the moment that I stopped close in front of him, the Duke opened his mouth to speak,
"Tonight, we shall go to the temple."
"Can I ask what for?"
"Tomorrow is your birthday, is it not?"
I nodded.
"We'll go there to ask for a blessing from the high priests."
Is such a thing really necessary? And I do recall that he'd called the Temple as delusional at one time so I expected that he didn't have the belief for these things.
Still, I replied. "Very well, I'll ask Anette to help me get ready."
But my thoughts must have been evident on my face, as the Duke said, "I know what you're thinking. Personally, for me, we need not have to do this." Then his mouth tugged into a scheming smile. "Think of it as just for show. We have not requested for a birthday blessing in a long time, and this will surely come as news to the other noble families. In a way, doing this will announce that we are finally rebuilding the East, and that our family has risen along with it. Surely we can reap benefits out of this."
So that's what it is, it seems like I have yet to fully grasp the world of politics. Although I do understand this: It is that every slightest detail of your words and actions matter, that all of it means something—anything.
I closed my eyes and nodded. "I understand, father."
"Good, now off you go."
I curtsied before turning away, determined to hit the books as I willed myself to work harder for the restoration of the homeland that is mine.