Chapter 55

Fjord stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly held the letter containing the secret that his mother had given him. It had been two years since Lirika had seen him in such a state. Since the day he collapsed in front of her, Fjord had never shown a disheveled appearance. He was always neat and splendid.

“Fjord.”

She called out to him. His crimson eyes seemed to be glued to her.

“You have a cold.”

She approached him, step by step, and put an umbrella over him. She had to stretch on her tiptoes to do so.

Groaning, Fjord slid down and sat on the spot.

Sitting on the muddy ground!

Fjord!

This was unthinkable. Lirika was even more bewildered.

“Fjord, are you okay? What happened?”

He remained silent. The rain continued, showing no signs of stopping.

“Fjord, let's go inside. Okay? You'll really catch a cold. Let's wash up and change clothes, then talk.”

She grabbed his shoulder. Surprisingly, his shoulder was very hot.

“Fjord, you're burning up. You have a fever.”

Her voice trembled, and he responded.

“No, I'm fine with this.”

“That's not true!”

This was not normal. It was as if he was the Fjord she had seen in her dreams...

Was it a premonition?

Lirika looked at him. His eyes seemed to be able to accept anything, no matter how heavy, and treat anything, no matter how light, as precious.

A myriad of words and phrases surged up but failed to form, and Fjord could only say this.

“Then, please accept me as a member of the Wild Strawberry Alliance.”

“Of course. Welcome.”

Lirika smiled gently. It seemed as if she understood all the words he couldn't form.

Fjord reached out his arm. Though his arm was wet, she didn't hesitate and didn't need to stop him. Fjord hugged her. It was cold and refreshing.

He thought of the prison. And his mother.

Fjord smiled.

'I really need to show them what rebellion is.'

He looked forward to the face that would shatter with anticipation.

‘Lirika, Lirika, my little bird princess. If you become my ally...’

Certainly, I won't need anything else.

His arm tightened.

At that moment, Lirika shouted.

“Fjord!”

The shout snapped him back to reality. He looked up to see Lirika's determined face.

He finally realized the raindrops falling on her wet brown hair. Everything regained its color.

“Have you eaten?”

Fjord was caught off guard by Lirika's question.

“No...”

She nodded seriously.

“Then let's wash up and eat. When you're hungry, you tend to have bad thoughts.”

Lirika placed a pancake on his plate as soon as she finished cooking it. When his pace slowed, Lirika took out her own plate.

Fjord's cheeks turned red.

He realized he had been eating the pancakes without offering any to her.

How rude.

Lirika smiled and said,

“Can you put the kettle on the stove?”

“Yes.”

Given the chance to move, he quickly did so. He opened the slender tin kettle to check if it had water and placed it on the stove.

The rain outside was still loud. He tugged at his awkward sleeves. Lirika asked,

“Does the size not fit?”

“No, it's just that I've never worn anything that isn't custom-made. It feels strange.”

Fjord smiled, and Lirika nodded, saying, “Oh.”

She felt a sense of difference in these small details when she was with people of high status.

“It's good that the clothes Attil left fit you.”

“Yes. But what about Bryn and Laub?”

“Outside.”

She simply answered and placed a cake on her plate. When she stacked two cakes on each plate, Fjord had already finished brewing the tea.

Fjord sprinkled the wild strawberry syrup beautifully on the pancakes and asked,

“Why did you think of forming the Wild Strawberry Alliance?”

“Well, I thought everyone should pick wild strawberries even when I'm not around.”

Until now, she had picked them with people she knew, but she realized that shouldn't be the case.

She wanted everyone to enjoy the wild strawberries from the secret garden even after she left the palace.

After much deliberation, the Wild Strawberry Alliance was her solution.

Fjord's hand paused. He asked,

“Are you going to leave?”

Lirika turned her head and smiled.

“Well, I can't always be the one to pick them. There will be times when I'm not around.”

“That's true.”

Fjord nodded. They moved the plates to the table. Fjord then realized that he had never eaten while standing before.

There was more to this meal than just evaluating the taste and satisfying his hunger.

He chuckled, and Lirika looked at him curiously.

“Why are you laughing?”

“No, I just thought what you said earlier was true.”

“Huh? Oh, right? Right? When you're hungry, you only have bad thoughts.”

I know that well, Lirika said, clearing her throat and lifting her head.

Fjord nodded. He smiled and said,

“Lirika.”

“Yes.”

“Earlier, you said you would be on my side, right?”

“Yes.”

“I will always be on your side.”

Lirika, who had been staring at his beautiful crimson eyes, nodded.

“Then, I think it's okay to call the others in now.”

“Ah, yes.”

Lirika turned her head.

“Bryn, Laub. I'll cook the pancakes.”

The door opened, and Bryn entered, shaking her skirt lightly.

“I can cook them.”

“...”

Laub glanced at Bryn.

I want to eat the pancakes cooked by my lord. That's what her eyes said. Bryn narrowed her eyes and placed her hands on her hips.

“Aren't you a grown-up? Do you really want to?”

Seeing Laub's tight-lipped expression, Lirika burst out laughing.

“No, I really will cook them. Bryn has been making them for me all along. Both of you should taste them before leaving for Attil.”

Fjord sat at the table, watching Bryn nagging and Laub helping Lirika, who was talking cheerfully.

He asked,

“Are all of you part of the Wild Strawberry Alliance?”

Lirika smiled.

“All of us are members.”

* * *

Attil grumbled as he took a bite of the pancake.

“Fjord Barat as a member, Fjord Barat.”

“All members should recognize and respect each other.”

Attil sighed dramatically at Lirika's words. Lirika placed another pancake on his plate.

Steam and a sweet aroma rose from the freshly cooked pancakes. He said,

“Well, I can't refuse when my cute little sister asks so much.”

He was very satisfied with the time spent in the cottage, so Attil pretended to give in.

“So? Who are the other members?”

“I've sent letters to everyone, but so far, Attil, Fjord, Laub, Bryn, Bran, Ulang, Diara, and Tan have responded.”

Attil stopped his fork. He leaned back in his chair and said,

“No response from Sandar. Did you send one to Lat? And Pai?”

“Yes.”

“Pai hasn't been coming to the palace much lately.”

“Is something wrong?”

Lirika rested her chin and sighed. Attil snorted.

“Luckily, your head is in a candy land, really.”

“No teasing.”

Attil shrugged, saying, “It's a compliment.”

“But I'm worried.”

Usually, Attil would have mocked her, but instead, he picked up his glass. The combination of syrup-drenched pancakes and a clean iced tea was perfect.

Feeling full, his thoughts became softer.

“I'm curious, though. What is he doing?”

“Right?”

Lirika smiled.

Over the two years, Attil had become less sharp. In the past, he would have called Pai a traitor and forbidden her from mentioning him, but now it was different.

Bran, pleased with his master's change, smiled and asked,

“Why don't you invite Pai? It's been a while since you've heard from him.”

“No, it would be strange to invite him if he's busy. I should go see him.”

“Ah, then—”

“No, you can't.”

Attil made an X sign with his finger at Lirika, who suddenly looked up.

“Pai is my confidant. You stay back.”

“I understand.”

Lirika nodded, and Attil changed the topic.

“But about the alliance. Aren't you going to make something?”

“Huh? Oh, I am! We're making jam and syrup together. It's written in the invitation...”

“No, I mean something like a badge.”

“A badge?”

Lirika tilted her head at Attil's unexpected suggestion. Attil frowned.

“Members should have a symbol to carry around.”

“A symbol?”

“Yes, exactly. The drawing at the end of your letter isn't bad. We can make it into a badge. We don't really need a flag. How about matching buckets and aprons?”

Attil was subtly excited, making various suggestions. Lirika, who had never thought of such things, widened her eyes.

'Rich people think differently!'

Feeling the same sense of a rich young master from Fjord, Lirika nodded.

“Won't it cost too much to get new buckets and aprons for everyone?”

“How much would it cost? And you gain a sense of belonging, which is more important than the cost.”

“Hmm.”

Lirika pondered and then nodded. She looked around and whispered,

“Actually, I have some money.”

Ever since sugar production began in the north, money started flowing into Lirika's account. The amounts were so large that she couldn't even grasp them. She had entrusted it all to her mother, but she could use it for such things.

Attil chuckled.

“Aren't you the Sugar Princess?”

“Huh?”

“No, you're more famous as a magical girl these days.”

Feeling embarrassed, her face turned red. Attil teased her, saying,

“There's a very popular novel these days. Do you know what it's called?”

“A novel?”

“Yes, it's called 'The Song of Pearls.' It's about a brown-haired magical girl and her adventures with a knight who swore to her—”

“!!”

Lirika jumped up from her seat. Attil grinned.

“It's selling really well.”