Chapter 26 - Experience in Love
Lilly poured the tea into each of the cups before sitting down on the couch next to Mia. “I’m a bit surprised you didn’t bring Claude with you today.”
Adelia seemed slightly uncomfortable with the subject, biting her lip once the question was asked. “Yeah, I’ve… I think we need some time apart every once in a while. He’s been a lot calmer around my quirks since the last time we spoke. I really have to thank you for that, Lilly.”
Lilly smiled while brushing it aside. “Oh, it was no big deal. I just had a different perspective, so it was easy to tell there was a misunderstanding there.”
Mia had heard about most of what had been said during their last meeting, so she looked between the two of them with interest.
“It seems like such a silly thing now. I’ve always known he cares deeply for me, and I should have realized he had started caring less about his duties as the years passed. It almost feels… nice, to be around him now.”
Mia gasped slightly at that, but quickly tried to hide it with a cough. She made big eyes at Lilly as she took a sip of her tea, hinting at her interest in their relationship.
Lilly thought her reaction was adorable, but she restrained her smile. “That’s great to hear, Adelia! It makes sense, though, since the tension you’ve felt around him is gone. Does that have anything to do with the time apart?”
Adelia glanced nervously at Mia, but she seemed to decide it was fine to share these things openly with both of them. “Yeah… Mmmh, it feels kind of strange to be around him as well, now. He apologized so intensely after you spoke to him, and he cared so much… There might be some emotions there than I can’t… place correctly.”
Lilly couldn’t help but smile. “I should perhaps let you figure those emotions out yourself, but I have to ask again; have you ever been in love before?”
Adelia seemed to shy away at her words, but she still answered honestly. “I don't think you can call it love. Some handsome men at dances or balls have made me… interested. But nothing past that.”
Lilly nodded compassionately. “You’re a lot like I used to be, then. I had no experience before this lovely flower pulled me into her arms,” she said, gesturing to Mia. “You would know more about being in love over longer periods, Mia. Do you have any experiences to share?”
Mia grimaced, not seeming very eager to talk about it. But a long glance at Adelia seemed to convince her it would be unfair not to. “Well… Okay. In my case, it felt very obvious, so I don’t know how well it translates.”
She stared at Lilly while blushing, preferring to share her feelings directly. “I… couldn’t imagine a future I would be happy in without you by my side. I wanted to spend time with you every day, but I restrained myself because I never thought there was a chance for you to return my feelings. I tried to stop them, to silence them, but then a dream or a meeting with you would reignite it all over again.”
Mia’s eyes reflected dulled pain, like it was something she was so used to that it didn’t affect her anymore. But then she looked back at Lilly, returning from her reverie, and then nothing but warmth and love could be seen. “I don’t know how much longer I could have stayed like that, so I thank the gods that we are where we are today.”
Lilly felt tears starting to well in her eyes. She knew the love Mia felt for her because she had felt it herself. “I’m so frustrated you never even tried, Mia. All the pain you could have avoided…”
Mia nodded while shrugging her shoulders, only somewhat agreeing. “It seems obvious now, but I was so afraid of what could have happened. And it’s not like the chances were on my side.”
Lilly scoffed lightly. “Oh, sure, I would never have spoken to you again if I knew that you were in love with me. I hope that was your fear controlling your thoughts, because I could never imagine doing that. Even if I didn’t feel the same way.”
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Mia seemed to somewhat admit to that. “Well, I might not have been entirely rational about it. But it was also the fear of knowing. As long as I didn’t try, I could keep imagining the perfect future.”
“I get that, but I still think it’s best to try. If you had, and I refused, you might have gotten over it by now. Then you would be open to new opportunities.”
“Fine, I’ll keep it in mind for my next life,” Mia replied shortly, but still with a light smile. She took a bite of the cake, seemingly finished with the subject. “Ohh, this is just as good as Gramps used to make them! I’m impressed, Lilly!”
Lilly smiled smugly before glancing at Adelia, wondering what she would think about her cake. She seemed to have followed their conversation closely but was now lost in her own thoughts.
“Adelia? Did you get any tips from Mia’s experience?” Lilly asked lightly.
Adelia’s attention snapped to Lilly in surprise before she caught herself. “Oh, uhm, it was very… intimate, to hear your emotions so clearly spoken, Mia. I don’t recognize those emotions exactly, but I might be heading in that direction… I really appreciate you sharing it with me.”
Mia was already halfway through her cake but managed to mumble a reply. “No problem. Glad you got something out of it.”
Adelia nodded and took a deep breath before turning her attention to the cake. Lilly paid close attention to the spoon as it approached her mouth, feeling the tension in her body rising. But the spoon stopped. “Lilly, you’re very eager to hear my thoughts about your cake, huh?”
Lilly realized she had been caught staring a bit too closely, looking at Adelia smiling at her. “Oh, well, I imagine you’re used to only being served the best. You are probably the most qualified critic I’ve ever had tasting my baking, so… yeah, I’m a bit tense.”
“Well then, I won’t make you wait any longer.” The spoon entered her mouth, and her eyebrows lifted slightly. Then they lifted higher as she felt the taste spreading in her mouth before a smile started spreading on her face.
She swallowed it with a thoughtful look and started nodding. “It tastes just as good as it looks, worthy of being served in the royal castle. You’re an amazing baker, Lilly.”
Lilly had no real reason to think she was lying, but she still found it hard to believe she was being honest. “I’m very glad you think so!”
“I’m serious! I’ve never lied to you before, why would I start now?” Adelia replied, reading Lilly’s terrible poker face like an open book.
Lilly felt a bit sad about her ability to keep a straight face, but she felt happy about Adelia’s convincing words. “Okay, I trust you. I am amazing.”
Mia chuckled lightly at Lilly’s antics. “I’ll teach you how to act more convincingly later, Lilly.”
“Oh, you’re an expert, are you?” Lilly countered, not feeling convinced by Mia’s abilities.
“How many years did it take you to learn I was in love with you?” Mia replied, winning the argument with a knockout.
Lilly had a sour expression, unable to reply with anything clever. A change of subject suited her a lot better. “So, Adelia, if you happen to develop proper feelings for Claude, do you have a future together? Or are there any rules against it?”
“There is precedent for royals marrying lower ranks of nobility, but Claude doesn’t have any rank at all,” she replied, clearly having thought about it before.
“As queen, I could grant him a title and then marry him, but otherwise, it would be challenging. Not impossible, but challenging. I might lose my own position as a princess and my place in the line of succession.”
Lilly felt her heart ache for her, thinking of all the struggles that came with the position of princess. “Well, that’s the plan, isn’t it? Making you the queen. I’m sure it will work out, no matter what happens.”
“Your reassuring words fill me with confidence, Lilly. I hope you’re right… Is it fine if I walk around while I eat?” Adelia suddenly asked, looking at Lilly while restlessly moving around.
Lilly chuckled and nodded. “Of course! We don’t have as much space, but you can walk wherever you feel like.”
Adelia stood up while holding her plate and started walking from one side to the other in the living room. Mia looked at her with a slight smile, finding her behavior interesting.
The rest of the evening went by with talks of noble dresses, restaurants in the capital, Lilly and Mia’s first date, and many other less intense subjects than they had started with. Eventually, the day passed, and Adelia left, tired but grateful for the lovely evening.