A few hours earlier.
The passageway outside the shop had gone quiet—too quiet. The longer the silence stretched, the more it pressed on his chest like a weight he couldn't shake.
"…It's been more than half an hour," he muttered under his breath, stealing a glance toward the shut wooden door. Not even a flicker of movement inside.
Lily stood nearby, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. Her expression was soft, worried—too kind for this world. "Maybe something happened," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Should I go check?"
"No." His reply came quicker than he intended, too sharp. Lily blinked, startled.
He ran a hand through his hair and softened his tone. "We're leaving."
"What! But—"
"I said we're going." He reached out, grabbing her hand—not to hurt, but firm enough to end the discussion. She flinched but didn't pull away.
Kiel didn't look back. Whatever Rie was doing—it wasn't his problem. He told himself that over and over again, like a chant meant to bury something deeper.
But Lily's silence was deafening.
Her hand in his was warm and small, yet her steps were slow, dragging behind him. She didn't say anything as they left the alleyway, but he could feel the questions burning behind her downcast eyes.
The sky had already begun its descent into twilight by the time the castle gates came into view. The white hues of moon stretched across the horizon, painting the castle walls with a soft orange glow.
Kiel slowed his pace as they passed through the main courtyard.
The guards nodded in recognition, the usual bow of respect, but his mind was elsewhere—still tangled in the mess of emotions he'd tried to suppress.
Lily walked beside him, her head tilted downward. She hadn't spoken a word since they left the shop.
Time passed.
They were inside the castle now—but Lily didn't want to go in.
So he stayed with her.
He knew she was just waiting.
Waiting for Rie.
He didn't stop her.
They sat in the garden.
Kiel glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
The unease in her was plain to see—in the way her fingers curled into the folds of her dress, the way her lips stayed pressed together like she was holding back tears.
He hated that. Hated seeing her like that.
He opened his mouth to say something when—
A soft shift in the wind.
He felt it before he saw it. That strange, intangible pressure—like the air had just changed direction.
He turned his head toward the gate.
And there she was.
Strolling in casually through the main archway like she owns it.
Silver hair fluttering behind her in the evening breeze. Giving her an enchanting look
In her hand?
An ice cream cone.
She was eating.
"..."
The audacity.
Kiel's entire body stiffened. His mouth parted slightly in disbelief as he watched her casually lick the melting dessert, oblivious to the way Lily had nearly broken down from worry. Oblivious to how much worry she causes for lily.
Lily noticed his sudden tension and tugged gently on his sleeve. "Let it go," she said quietly, almost pleading.
He didn't answer right away.
His eyes stayed locked on Rie, who now looked at a guard as she walked by, entirely unfazed. The same girl who had earlier caused a scene by slapping a royal guard in public, all because of some passing anger.
The same girl who had spoken those reckless words without a single thought, as if nothing had consequences.
And now this.
Kiel knew exactly why she was doing it.
To get his attention.
She was always like this acting and trying to gain everyone attention.
She think the world revolved around her whims.
Kiel snorted, shaking his head in disbelief. .
Lily's hand slipped from his sleeve. "Dinner's starting."
He inhaled deeply through his nose, the scent of fresh stone and garden herbs barely enough to calm the heat rising in him. "Yeah," he said after a pause. "Let's go."
And with that, he turned away, pushing the thoughts of Rie back into the corner of his mind.
For now.