The next morning, I woke with an adrenaline-fueled excitement that overshadowed the disappointment of the potion wearing off. The festival was finally here! I had wanted nothing more than to enjoy it by Lysander's side, but when he declined, stating his hands would be "full for the day," I felt a little tug of disappointment. I didn't want to experience the festival alone, so I quickly decided I needed to find Glenn, who I hoped would be my partner for the evening.
With determination, I made my way to the plantation, navigating through the throng of workers and knights. My heart raced as I searched for Glenn among the familiar faces. Finally, I spotted him near the edge of the orchard, deep in conversation with another knight.
"Glenn!" I called out, waving excitedly as I approached him.
He turned at the sound of my voice, and his face lit up with a bright smile. "Nerina! You're up early today. What's the occasion?"
I stopped in front of him, trying to contain my bubbling enthusiasm. "There's a festival in town tonight. I was wondering if… you'd like to be my partner? But it's okay if you have someone else! I know that a lot of women already asked you—"
To my surprise, Glenn's eyes widened slightly, and his smile grew even wider. "You want me to be your partner? Of course! I was just about to invite you, but you asked me first."
Joy surged through me, but a small seed of doubt crept in. "Am I the only one who asked you to be my partner?" I asked, testing the waters.
His cheeks turned a shade of pink, and he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, there were a lot of them, but I rejected them."
I couldn't help but feel a little incredulous. With his looks and charm, I could only imagine the line of women eager to partner with him. "But why?" I asked, curious.
"I wanted you to be my partner," he said simply, a sincerity in his tone. "You're fun to be with, not like the others. All they do is smile and be shy around me. I mean, what's the point of inviting me if you're not going to engage?"
His words made my heart flutter, warmth spreading through me. "Really? You think I'm fun to be with?"
He nodded earnestly, still a bit shy. "Absolutely. You're different, Nerina. You're not afraid to speak your mind. With you, I can just be myself. I never have to wonder what you're thinking, and that's refreshing."
Smiling, I could feel the happiness radiate from me. "I'm glad you feel that way. I guess we just… click, don't we?"
"Yeah, we do," he agreed, his blue eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "That's why I didn't even consider anyone else. I knew I'd have the most fun with you."
Hearing him say that lifted my spirits and filled my heart with light. "Well, I'm looking forward to it even more now."
Glenn grinned, visibly more relaxed. "I'll wait for you at the palace gate."
"Okay! I'll see you later, Glenn." I waved as I walked away, excitement bubbling within me.
Later, as evening approached, I slipped into a simple yet elegant dress I had reserved for the occasion. The fabric was soft and flowed easily around me, making me feel graceful. Lys, ever observant, helped me style my hair into two neat braids tied with the black ribbon Glenn had given me. A small emerald gem sparkled against my hair, lending a touch of sophistication to my look.
Lys stepped back to admire his handiwork, a proud smile lighting up his face. "Here, take this. Remember, it's only temporary, so be sure to drink it before you head out. It should last for the whole night." He held out the small vial of potion that had worked so well last time.
I took the vial from him, my fingers tingling with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "I really appreciate this, Lys. I don't know what I would do without you."
Before I could step out, Lys hurriedly approached me, pressing a small pouch into my palm with gentle insistence.
"Since you're going out for the first time, here's your salary from last year. You never even asked for it," he said with a warm smile.
I blinked in surprise at the weight of the pouch. "My salary? No, I can't accept this. I'm already grateful just for having a home here," I protested.
He shook his head, a soft look in his eyes. "It's yours, Nerina. You've been working hard, and you deserve it. Besides, it's about time you treated yourself. You've been stuck here at the plantation for three years already—go live a little."
A lump formed in my throat as I gazed at Lys, overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you so much, Lys."
"Just promise me you'll have a good time tonight," he said, his eyes sparkling with genuine care.
"I promise," I replied, feeling a surge of warmth.
As I made my way toward the door, I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at all the possibilities this night held.