Gift (2)
The brooch I'd given Edel was nowhere to be seen the next day, or the day after that, or even the one after. As I sprinkled water from the glass bottle, I sank into thought. 'Did she not like it?' Maybe it felt cumbersome, or it just wasn't her taste. But discarding it right away like that seemed strange too. She wasn't some willful child who'd stash away a gift the moment she got it. There had to be another reason—or maybe she truly despised it. "……."
There was definitely some explanation for why she wasn't wearing the brooch. Perhaps it was her favorite outfit, too precious to pin it on. Or maybe she'd taken it off briefly but forgotten how to reattach it. 'Should I just ask her directly today?' Sure, it might make me look a bit pathetic as the gift-giver, but that beat suffering in silence. Edel would no doubt give me a perfectly logical reason.
Lunchtime arrived, and I greeted Edel, who was sitting alone in the dining hall.
"Did you rest well this morning?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Want to take a walk together this afternoon?"
She nodded. Cautiously, I broached the subject with her.
"By the way, Edel, you're not wearing the brooch?"
She nodded once more.
"Why? Afraid it'll ruin your clothes? Or should I help you put it on again?"
She shook her head vigorously.
"I don't like it."
"Huh?"
"I don't wanna wear it."
Edel's words echoed in my head. She didn't like it? Really? I'd convinced myself it couldn't be that, but reality proved harsher than I'd imagined. To hear her say it outright... "I-I see. Got it."
I stared blankly at the table. Abela arrived late, and I finished the meal without even registering its taste.
'Should've picked something else? Or just gone safe with a book?'
Regret hit me late, and the day slipped away in an instant.
"I'll be off now, Master Theo... Master Theo?"
"Oh? Yeah, have a safe trip."
The next day came, but my unsettled mood lingered. I recalled my human days as a child, sobbing because I hated my Christmas present. My parents must have felt just like this back then. It was a stark moment, realizing what a massive brat I'd been.
'Maybe give her a new gift.' That's what it took to cheer me up too. Edel's mood didn't seem spoiled, but I wanted to see her light up. I resolved to buy her a book at least.
One afternoon, Abela visited Edel's room.
"Lady Edel, have some of this while you rest."
She set a bowl of freshly baked cookies on the desk.
"Wow!"
Edel jumped up from her chair and grabbed a cookie. She took a big bite, chewing blissfully with a happy expression.
"It's so yummy, sis."
"You can speak after you've swallowed, dear."
After gulping it down, Edel beamed innocently.
"Here, have some water too so your throat doesn't get dry."
"Okay."
Abela watched fondly as Edel sipped from the cup with both hands, then spotted the brooch on the desk.
"What a lovely brooch. I haven't seen it before—where did you get it?"
"The Demon King gave it to me."
"Oh my, how wonderful."
"Hehe."
As Abela admired it, she tilted her head, sensing something off.
"I've never seen you wearing it. Shall I help you put it on?"
"Don't wanna wear it!"
Startled by Edel's reply, she asked, "Is there a reason you don't want to?"
"I'll lose it."
Understanding dawned on Abela.
"You're hiding it away carefully so you won't lose it, aren't you?"
Edel nodded twice. Matching her eye level, Abela smiled warmly.
"I think wearing it would be even better."
"Why?"
"Master Theo would be happy to know you treasure the gift, but seeing you looking pretty with the brooch on would make him even happier."
"...Really?"
"Yes, really."
Edel clutched the brooch, lost in thought.
"Hmm..."
After staring at it for a long while, she finally spoke.
"...I'll wear it."
"Good. Hand it over, and I'll pin it for you."
Abela attached it to Edel's chest and said, "There. How are you so adorable?"
"Hehehe..."
"Now, shall we go show Master Theo?"
"To the Demon King?"
Abela nodded to Edel, who poked at the floor shyly with her toes.
"I told you earlier—he'll love seeing you like this."
"Okay..."
"You're the cutest right now, so be brave and show him!"
Edel nodded with a bashful smile and left the room.
A moment later, she arrived at Theo's door, hesitated, then pushed it open. Theo, just back from an outing, spotted her.
"Edel? What is it?"
She walked slowly toward him. Standing before Theo, she thrust out her chest with the brooch and smiled quietly.
Watching her, Theo noticed it and asked, "Huh? Didn't you say you didn't want to wear it?"
Rubbing her fingertips together, Edel replied, "Didn't wanna lose it..."
"......"
Theo burst into laughter.
"I see, that's what it was."
Composing himself, he stroked her head.
"Thank you for cherishing it."
Edel ducked her head, letting her hair sway under his hand, then mumbled softly, "...How's it look?"
His eyes widened in surprise before he smiled warmly.
"It's pretty even on second look. It suits you perfectly."
"Hehe..."
As he watched her blush, something occurred to him. He rummaged through his things and pulled out the book he'd originally planned as a new gift.
"I bought a book—want to read it?"
She took it, pondered briefly, then said, "Together."
"...Yeah, let's do that."
That day, they read together with lighter hearts than usual.
One day when the sun hung high overhead, we were having lunch as usual. Everything seemed normal.
"Edel, what's wrong? Something happen?"
Edel wasn't making much progress with her meal. She poked listlessly at the bread crumbs on her plate and shook her head weakly.
Abela approached, checking her condition.
"No fever, thankfully, but you're breaking a cold sweat. Are you feeling unwell?"
"A little..."
After wiping her sweat, Abela said, "...I'll bring something easier to eat. You should rest in your room."
"Okay..."
"Come on, up you go."
Abela led Edel out of the dining hall, leaving me alone.
"......"
I scooped a spoonful of soup, but it tasted like nothing. I set the spoon down.
'Not collapsing again, I hope.' It could just be indigestion from the symptoms, but with her history of mana depletion without warning, I couldn't relax. It might be some illness I didn't know about.
I rushed to the library, grabbed a dusty book on human ailments in this world, and returned to my room. I skimmed through it.
'No fever. Cold sweat.'
But those weren't unique symptoms—too many matching illnesses, big and small. Frustrated with no clear answer, I sighed. Then Edel came to my room. Her face was still pale.
"Weren't you resting?"
"......"
She looked up silently at my question, then spoke.
"Feels stuffy..."
"Stuffy? Where?"
"Everywhere."
The girl who could sit reading all day felt stuffy? Maybe just bored lying in bed? Whatever it was, she was off from her usual self.
Glancing at me as if gauging my reaction, she said, "...Let's walk."
Hunched over, suddenly wanting a walk?
"Rest a bit more, then we'll go."
"No. Now."
"......"
Edel fidgeted restlessly, digging in her heels. I debated dragging her back to bed for rest, but her pleading eyes won out. We headed to the garden together.
"Just a little, okay?"
She nodded. I took her still-damp, sweaty hand and walked.
How long had we gone? Her expression gradually eased—thank goodness. More time passed, and now she leisurely admired the flowerbeds.
Relieved, I said, "Feeling better now?"
"Hehe..."
"Walk a bit more, then head back?"
She nodded. I asked, "Once we're back, you'll rest properly? Or is there something you want to do?"
Peeking at me, she replied, "Read together..."
"Sure, together. But tell me right away if you feel bad again?"
"Yeah."
She smiled brightly, delighted. After another lap around the garden, as we turned to head back...
"Huh? Edel, you..."
Around the upward-gazing Edel, pitch-black mana began to ripple.