Budding Love in the Sky

Kristel cursed herself for not figuring it out sooner. In retrospect, it was so painfully obvious. All the times she observed Xiv, his attention had always been a little more dynamic whenever Frill was involved. Even Frein figured it out. It wasn’t actually that surprising, but the fact that he kept it hidden while rooting for the guy was amazing. Katherine was already a given of course, since she had Heart’s Will, but she also supported the guy.

Why was I the only one who figured it out late?

Kristel had an inkling at best. Her own struggles blinded her from the things developing around her. It made her wonder what else she missed.

The walk from the room back to the main bridge was a daze while Kristel went through all this in her head. She was so immersed that it even evoked Evanclad to respond to her.

“Kristel, I think you’re thinking too much about it. It might not even be your business at all. It’s budding love between two people. If you care about them, support them. If not, let them be.”

Kristel found herself inside a council room just behind the main bridge. At first, she wondered how she got there, but finding Frill and Xiv on either side of her, and Frein and Katherine sitting together on the other side of the table, made her remember that they were invited to join the launch procedures.

The council room was like any typical meeting room there was. At the center was a triangular table with an open space in the middle. Three chairs were placed on each side, each with a hovering screen panel that was currently offline. Paintings of the previous Admirals adorned the top side of the walls; the lower half was made out of transparent glass, allowing view to the main bridge. Admiral Garm sat on his chair in the middle, barking orders.

Kristel’s observation wasn’t particularly lengthy, but the dragging silence made it all awkward. She looked at Frill.

The Aria in Red had ultimately answered ‘I’ll think about it’ before Maffelyne invited them to the bridge. The phrase disheartened Xiv, but according to Frein: “A non-no answer is a yes answer.”

Indeed, that seemed to be the case. Frill had her head down, but she was stealing glances at Xiv when she thought no one was looking. She’d blush and snap away whenever someone caught her in the act. Her shoulders were pressed too high to be even considered simply as tensed. And she’d occasionally shake her head unprompted, though she tried to be subtle about it.

Kristel sighed and turned her attention to Frein and Katherine. The two were surprisingly looking expectantly at her for some reason. They both smiled mischievously, obviously scheming their next ploy to get the two together. And somehow, she would be involved in this one this time?

She vaguely remembered how Frein pulled her to the side earlier. It was so subtle, just like that time when he first arrived. Pulling her to the side with such subtlety. There wasn’t even a hint of authority behind the act. How could he keep doing that?

The Princess was most wary of Katherine. The fact that she was smiling while Frill was struggling with how to act around all of them right now was a clear indication that things were looking positive. It didn’t need a genius to know that the Lady of the Void would use her Blessing for something as ridiculous as this. She had admitted to using it on Frein; there was no reason to believe she wouldn’t use it on Frill, especially if the Visitor dragged her into it.

At last, she looked at the brave man who had a foot into his grave. The way Xiv looked, Kristel might as well prepare some candles and review the Ritual of Peace.

He looked pale. Both hands covered his eyes, massaging his forehead and dark red hair. He looked better with disheveled hair compared to a neatly combed one. He was also constantly mumbling.

The curiosity motivated Kristel. She hadn’t had much practice with it yet, but she already felt an improved version of Siffera back in her Dream. She tried again, focusing only on her hearing.

There was effort, but it felt easy overall. Frein did say the senses were the easiest to improve. They’ve been with her since birth and are essentially ingrained in her very nature. Using Siffera to enhance it was a logical next step over anything else that she owned. She could clearly hear Xiv’s mumblings now.

“What have I done? She hates me now. I’m going to die. What do I do? I can’t believe I did that,” were some of the few lines Kristel caught until her Meiyal Art slipped. She needed more practice, but it hardly mattered right now.

A plan formed in her head. She sighed and leaned towards Xiv.

“Hey,” the Princess whispered. Xiv turned to him, dragging his face off with the pressure from his hands. It pulled the skin off his eyelids, making him look weird and stretched. Kristel held back with all her might from having a laughing fit.

“Are you okay?” she asked, deciding to start with something simple.

Xiv slowly, lethargically, annoyingly weaved his head from left to right and back again.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Kristel hissed and pulled his arm closest to her. His head promptly jerked down, and he bounced aggressively back up. His face, one of death.

“Will you stop it!” she whispered the shout, trying to avoid Frill’s attention. “I want to know if you were serious back there. Tell me you’re not wasting her time.”

“I’ve been sincere the very first moment you saw me, Princess.” Xiv pressed his eyes again. “I think that’s part of the problem.”

He turned away from her in the same zombie-like way again. His voice was hushed, even softer than his mumbles. It forced Kristel to use her Siffera again.

“I’ve been in love with Frill from the very first moment I saw her,” he began reminiscing. It was completely unprompted, but Kristel saw it as a moment to focus on. Something to take the strain out of Drawing such a meticulous Siffera.

“I knew she went on the wall to kill all of us back then. She was glaring with meiyal, practically swimming in it. She was beautiful. A devastation come to life. The ending of all things personified to perfection. She entered the scene with purpose. I didn’t mind dying from her Meiyal Art. I don’t mind until now. I didn’t care at all that my entire company, my brothers and sisters, died by her hands.

“I know. There’s something wrong with me. We, Vyndivalians, train our mental faculties to battle the Nightmare Lands. We can assess what’s going on in our heads while we succumb to them. It doesn’t make sense to fall in love with the murderer of the people you spend months training with. But I never expected them to return in the first place. We got the short stick, you see.”

Xiv sighed. And then, he smiled.

“But I fell in love with Frill. Regardless of what she did, I know this is the calling I must pursue.”

“Are you sure that’s not just because you have Liona’s core?” Kristel asked.

Xiv shook his head, energetic this time around.

“I told you, I was already in love with Frill from the beginning.”

Kristel studied the man. For what it was worth, she discovered something new about Vyndivalians. And that he was plainly serious about his confession. Xiv originally came to Irista Nation with the agenda to bridge the relationship between the two nations. Mend whatever bad blood existed and create a friendship, despite the will of his King. He didn’t come here to betray his kingdom. He also didn’t come here to fall in love.

But he does like Frill. Love might be pushing it, despite his choice of words. Only time can prove that. And he could only get that time with her support. The fact that if he did end up with Frill would be pushing his agenda even further seemed orchestrated at first. But such a good-willed person like Xiv appeared too simple to be able to concoct such a complex plan.

And the fact that Katherine, a person Blessed with Heart’s Will which allowed her to read inner thoughts, was supporting this person was all the assurance she needed.

Kristel smiled and decided to push her plan to fruition.

“Xiv,” she whispered. “Are you willing to be my bodyguard?”

The question made the Vyndivalian freeze. “Why offer that now?”

“You’re too in love to run that over your head? Nothing but Frill in that nogging of yours?”

Xiv, like the honest-to-goodness that he was, simply nodded.

She couldn’t stifle a giggle.

“Look here, lover-boy. If you become part of my retinue, you’ll get all the chances you need to pursue your relationship with Frill. You’ll only be my bodyguard in name, but it will be good for your publicity. If you want to convince Irista Nation to be friends with Vyndival Kingdom, it’s not only me you have to please. My authority doesn’t sway the entire Nation, especially since I’m losing the Monarch’s challenge.

“Sure, you have to make appearances, but use that to your advantage. But I know your main focus now is that oath of yours. And as part of my retinue, you can spend all the time you want with Frill. As long as she’s fine with it.”

Kristel enjoyed the slow realization that rippled on Xiv’s face. He gradually gained color and the gears in his head started to move.

“You’re a genius,” he admitted.

“Pretty sure it’s Frill,” she replied.

“No, you’re a genius. She’s the best,” Xiv corrected. Kristel laughed at that. “I’ll take this offer, Princess Kristel, but I want Frill to agree to it too.”

The two turned to Frill. Her face was pale, and both of her arms covered her face. Her legs curled up the chair and was doing her best to hide her head from all the embarrassment.

“I heard all of it,” she said in a muffled voice.

“I taught her how to use Siffera on her ears,” Katherine admitted, smiling deviously. She turned to Xiv. “You’re right, she’s the best. Learned it in just a few hours. Mastering it would be different, but she doesn’t need to do that for how close you two are and how loud you were with your whispers.”

Frill suddenly snapped, opening her curled form with a determined look. She turned to face the Vyndivalian. Red and determination on her face.

“One date,” she said, holding up a finger. “Tonight. No exceptions, no excuses. You make all the plans. Bring me wherever you want, but nothing sketchy, or I’ll burn you to ashes.”

Xiv stood. “But I have no idea about this place.”

“I said no excuses!” Frill was red. Kristel had the mind to wonder if that was good for her health. She wanted to ask her to calm down, but Xiv was quicker to respond.

“Where’s Frein?” he asked.

“He left to ask Pa how the grand carrier works. Why?” Katherine asked in return. Her tone was deathly serious. It didn’t occur to Kristel when the Visitor left. How? When? Why in this very moment? Did he already know how it was going to go down?

“I need help,” Xiv asked.

“It’s called a wingman.”

“I need a wingman.”

Katherine stood and led Xiv outside. “You have two. Let’s go.”

The two left the council room, hurrying over to Frein who was beside Admiral Garm. Even as she strained her Siffera to enhance her hearing, she couldn’t hear past the glass barrier and the distance. She saw the Visitor laugh and swing an arm around the lover-boy…and then, they left him there. Xiv looked defeated but didn’t pursue the two. Katherine was leading Frein out of the main bridge, to the front of the spire, where it would only be the two of them.

Presumably, Admiral Garm stopped him from pursuing the two. They were about to launch Atlas Sid after all.

Frill deflating on her chair caught the Princess’s attention. She found it extremely amusing that this prim and proper maid, who was doubling as a famous celebrity idol, loved by millions for her amazing songs and musical ability, was reduced to a melted mess, squirming and giggling and stressing out all at the same time.

“What have I done?” said the Aria, desperately turning to the Princess. “I’m not prepared at all.”

Kristel laughed. She laughed as heartily as she could. It had been so long since she enjoyed this much. The bitter taste of Liona’s loss still lingered within the happiness, but it was overwritten by the fact that knowing the little sister, she would also be overjoyed the same way as she was now.

The Princess stood with renewed energy and smiled. “I’ll help you!” she proclaimed. “Xiv can’t take his eyes off you now, but we’ll make him wish he can stare at you forever the next time he sees you.”

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