"Mmh…"
Rishe's shoulders flinched when he touched her closed eyelid. His thumb brushed against her lashes, tracing the line they drew, like he was wiping away tears. Or maybe waking a small child who was deeply asleep. His finger touched her delicately, making its way to the corner of her eye.
"Rishe."
Even Arnold's voice was soft and soothing, and Rishe was finally able—albeit timidly—to open her eyes. When she did, she saw Arnold looking at her bright- red face like it was something precious, his eyes narrowed in fondness.
"I'm done."
His hands slowly withdrew, and for some reason Rishe was sad to let them go.
He gestured for her to look down and she did, blurting out, "Wow…"
Shining on her finger was a ring set with a blue sapphire. The band shone brilliantly, like it was spun out of golden thread, with two strands curving together like waves. It was a showy piece, but it had a refined beauty. To think of the sheer delicacy needed to craft such a design. The center stone was inlaid with small, starlike diamonds. They twinkled like protective lights, shining heroically and adorably.
It's beautiful and…kind of cute? Most of all…
Set in the center was a brilliant, eye-catching sapphire—a deep, endless blue, like a frozen lake in a cold northern country.
Holding her hand up, Rishe let the sunlight glance off it, murmuring, "It really is the same color as your eyes, Your Highness…"
A peculiar joy blossomed inside her. The old woman who ran the store had smiled and told her that jewelry was like a good luck charm. Rishe savored her happiness, finally understanding what she meant.
"I feel like I can do anything wearing this ring."
A moment later, she gasped. Arnold himself hated the color of his eyes. What would he think when he saw a ring she'd chosen to match them?
"What do you think, Your Highness? "
Rishe furrowed her brows, timidly laying her hands on her lap. If she raised them now, Arnold would be able to see the ring on it up close. She did so, and his eyes fell upon it.
"Well…" His voice was stripped of defenses. He took Rishe's hand again, entwining their fingers once more and brushing his thumb over the shape of the ring, as if to see how it felt. It tickled, sending a strange tingling through Rishe.
She hunched her shoulders, but she didn't pull her hand away.
Arnold looked down and smiled. "It feels better than I thought it would."
Rishe's breath caught.
I also…
She shut her lips tight to keep the surfacing thought from escaping her mouth.
I also feel happy for some reason when I see you smiling like that…
Rishe also felt a little like crying, she realized belatedly.
"What is it, Rishe?"
She couldn't bring herself to say exactly what she was feeling. She shook her head softly and, somewhat at a loss, said, "I find myself wanting to pester you for something else, Prince Arnold."
"Tell me."
His tone seemed to imply that anything she desired she would have, and Rishe found her heart throbbing again.
"Right now, I'll listen. Whatever it is."
Hearing his whisper with his eyes on her made her earlier agitation flare up.
Arnold usually did anything she asked of him, so long as it wasn't related to national politics. All in all, she was frightfully spoiled, but that ship had sailed.
Rishe spoke her wish, forcing the tremble out of her voice. "I'd like to go on a journey with you, Your Highness. I'd be a great tour guide, you know."
"A journey?"
"Yes. A journey to see all the beautiful things in the world." It didn't have to be right now, but Rishe wanted a promise for the future. "Not just fireflies and fireworks… I want to show you all kinds of things worth seeing."
Arnold's eyes narrowed, like he was squinting against the light. The color was even clearer in the sunlight pouring in through the office's windows. For the thousandth time, Rishe was captivated by those eyes.
"…There's one more of those now because of you."
"Huh?" Rishe wasn't expecting that. She blinked in surprise. "What's that?"
"Who knows. If you can't figure it out yourself, I'm not going to explain it."
"Th-that's not fair!"
Rishe wanted to demand an answer, but Arnold just pulled his fingers away and stood up.
She pouted in protest. "Do you think normal people can solve your riddles?"
"Rishe, normal people don't blow up strange chemicals in the skies above their in-laws' house."
"Ugh…" That was hardly relevant, but she still didn't want to hear it.
Reluctantly, she relented, and Arnold placed his hand on her head with a bemused smile.
"I don't think it's that difficult a puzzle."
He kept petting her, rendering Rishe speechless. Even when he was just touching her in jest, it was hard to keep her composure. She wished he would stop.
Rishe hung her head, wondering why she was getting so flustered. Her hands were in her lap, the ring on her finger shining like the ocean.
I hope one day he'll be able to understand just how beautiful I find this color.
For the time being, she'd wear the ring to the party tonight. It would shine radiantly as she saw off Kyle and Michel, lighting the flame for a wonderful future between their two countries.
To be continued…