Chapter 11: Swept away by the madness of love (2)
Naoki sat on a marble bench in the quiet garden behind the mansion, his face still warm from earlier.
The roses were in bloom, white and soft like fresh snow under the golden touch of sunset.
But his thoughts were nowhere near peaceful.
'I'm not Aether... But she loves me like I am.'
He groaned softly, dropping his face into his hands.
"Ughhh... why did I say all that? That was so embarrassing..."
Suddenly, the soft tap tap tap of tiny footsteps approached.
He peeked through his fingers.
Lyra stood in front of him with her hands on her hips and a wide, mischievous grin.
"Heeey, lover boy~"
Naoki's soul nearly left his body.
"W-what did you just call me?!"
Lyra giggled and started spinning around him like a tiny tornado.
"You were all 'I love you, even if I was buried, the blood would spill for you'..."
She placed a hand dramatically over her heart and swooned.
Then fake-fainted onto the grass.
Naoki buried his face again.
"Stop, please. I want to disappear."
Lyra smirked, then puffed her cheeks and swayed dramatically, mimicking a girl in love.
"I need you like the ocean needs salt~ I love you, Aether~"
Naoki turned even redder. "L-Lyra! Don't repeat that!"
Lyra leaned in with a sneaky smile
"Why not? It was so romantic! Even the flowers stopped blooming to listen!"
"I...wha...uh...I mean...!" Naoki flailed like someone drowning in air.
"Cierra was crying," Lyra said more softly now. "But now she's smiling again… because of you."
Naoki froze.
Lyra tilted her head, then poked his cheek.
"So red...Even tomatoes would be jealous."
Then she suddenly wrapped her tiny arms around his shoulders in a surprise side hug.
"You're always cool, Brother Aether. Even when you act silly."
She skipped away, humming like nothing happened.
Naoki sat frozen on the bench, blinking slowly.
"…How is this little girl so bold?" he muttered.
Then he looked up at the sky with a dazed sigh.
"Do children mature this early in this world?"
He had no idea…
The maid who looked after Lyra was a die-hard romantic to the core. Her room was a kingdom of love stories, overflowing with towering stacks of romance novels. From tear-soaked letters between star-crossed lovers to daring midnight escapes under glowing moons, she had read them all.
And every single night, without fail, she would read one to Lyra before bed.
Was it appropriate bedtime reading for a six-year-old? Probably not.
Bad parenting? Definitely.
But to Lyra's maid, love was education.
Little by little, the stories seeped into Lyra's heart.
She learned the art of dramatic pauses, the power of trembling confessions, and the glory of grand romantic gestures.
Now, at just six years old, she moved with the confidence of a self-declared love expert.
Naoki groaned and buried his face in his hands.
'Emmmh… this is seriously getting out of control.'
* * *
Cierra and her maid were staying.
In a guest house of the Noctvain family, Cierra and her maid were staying.
Cierra paced back and forth across the room, her footsteps soft but restless.
Her cheeks were bright red, like a ripe tomato . Her lips pressed in a restless pout as she mumbled to herself.
"I can't believe I ran away… I should've stayed. I should've hugged him...ugh, what is wrong with me?"
In the corner of the room, Lina stood calmly with a soft smile, hands folded neatly in front of her as she watched her lady fluster and fret.
"Take it easy, my lady, Feelings don't follow rules. You spoke from your heart, and that's more than enough." Lina said gently.
Cierra paused, her hands pressed to her flushed cheeks as she groaned.
"But it was such a perfect moment! And I ruined it… I should've held him and said it again. Slower. Softer. Maybe added a kiss to his cheek…"
Lina chuckled quietly. "You'll get another chance, my lady. And when you do, just be yourself. That's the version of you he's falling in love with."
"He loves the version when I be myself…" Cierra whispered, wide-eyed.
As the words sank in, her face turned even redder. And then, without warning, she threw herself onto the bed like a girl swept up in her first fairytale.
Kicking her legs softly against the sheets, she buried her face in a pillow and let out a muffled squeal.
"Aaaaahhh! This is too much!"
Lina smiled, amused but fond. "Careful, my lady, or you'll tear the bedsheets again."
Cierra peeked out from the pillow, her eyes gleaming.
"I'm not crazy, right? That moment was real… He looked at me like I was the only one in the world. Right, Lina?"
Lina nodded gently. "It was real. And so are your feelings."
Cierra rolled over and covered her burning face again, her voice barely a whisper now.
Then suddenly jolt!
she sat upright as if struck by lightning.
"Oh no!"
She reached for the small drawer beside the bed, yanked it open, and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper.
It was her secret note. Her plan. Her battle strategy for the day.
In soft, careful handwriting, it read:
Today's Plan:
* Aether has woken up. Make sure to say i missed you .
* I won't go home. I will stay by his side and nurse him.
* Maybe…Hug him tightly? (Only if moment feels right!)
* Don't faint. Stay calm. Be elegant.
She clutched the note to her chest, then let out a dramatic sigh and ripped it in half.
"How did everything escalate so fast? I was supposed to blush, not declare war on his heart!
Forget this! This was a beginner's guide...I need the advanced level now!"
She leapt from the bed, grabbed a fresh piece of paper, and began scribbling with intense focus.
Tomorrow's Plan:
* Prepare an apology gift for being too cute and running away.
* Hold his hand. This time for real.
* Ask if he wants to go on a walk under the moonlight.
* Definitely say I missed you. Look into his eyes. Smile softly.
* No regrets.
Lina, watching from the corner, just shook her head with a smile.
"She's hopeless," she muttered fondly. "Utterly hopeless."