Episode 12

“Ainra?”

As’s voice broke through my thoughts.

When I snapped back to reality, I saw As’s worried face in my line of sight.

“Yeah, As.”

Even though I smiled softly as I replied, As still looked concerned as he asked again.

“Are you okay? You seemed out of it earlier.”

A small hand touched my forehead.

Though small, it was rough with patches of calluses here and there.

I gently pulled As’s hand down and answered, “I’m fine, As.”

“…Are you sure?”

His worried red eyes carefully scanned my face.

Straightening my posture, I flexed my arm in an exaggerated display of strength.

“See? I’m totally fine.”

“Okay then.”

It seemed As found my attempt to show off my minuscule muscles amusing because he let out a small laugh.

While I felt warm inside hearing his laugh, I couldn’t shake the image of Akes that had briefly overlapped with As.

Just as I was sinking deeper into thought—

“Ainra.”

A voice called my name from behind. I turned toward the sound.

It was someone I’d never seen before.

“Who are you?”

“Oh, I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Milon. You’ve heard of me from Mrs. Cecil, right?”

“Oh…”

I forced an awkward smile reflexively.

Although this was our first meeting, Milon’s copper-colored eyes gleamed as he approached, as if he was thrilled to see me.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ainra. You’re even more beautiful than the elders told me.”

“Ah, haha… sure…”

I wasn’t sure what to make of such a compliment from someone I’d just met.

Was he expecting me to compliment his looks in return?

‘Well, to be honest, by my standards, he’s not really my type…’

I’m sorry, but that was the truth.

After seeing faces like Harnen’s and the Four Spirit Kings’ every day for the past five years, a plain face like his wasn’t exactly going to catch my eye.

That said, I wasn’t about to lie and pretend otherwise, since that would feel like thorns on my tongue.

Despite my tepid response, Milon didn’t seem to mind as he continued speaking with a smile.

“Did you come to watch the festival?”

“Yeah, I’m here with As.”

I meant it as a subtle way to show I already had company and to encourage him to move on.

To drive the point home, I added, “Enjoy the festival,” and was just about to take As by the hand and leave when Milon stepped in front of me and bent down to make eye contact with As.

“So, you must be the child living with Ainra, huh?”

“…”

As’s face twisted into a scowl.

Whether or not Milon noticed As’s displeasure, he continued smiling as he pulled out his wallet.

Taking out a gold coin, he offered it to As.

“Here, this is some pocket money from me. Why don’t you go buy yourself something nice?”

It was as if he were trying to shoo away an obstacle.

As, however, tightened his grip on my hand, his lips curling in disdain.

“No thanks.”

“W-What?”

“I said no. I don’t need that kind of thing.”

Milon stiffened in shock, his face a mix of confusion and offense.

It seemed he was genuinely taken aback that a child would refuse a shiny gold coin.

Suppressing a sigh, I gently pulled As behind me and took a step forward.

“Milon, I asked As to come to this festival with me. He’s my companion, and we came here to enjoy it together. This situation feels rather awkward.”

Milon, flustered by the iciness in my voice, hurriedly stood up straight.

“Ainra, this is—”

“To be honest, it’s uncomfortable for my companion to receive pocket money from someone I’ve just met. It makes me feel like I owe you something, which isn’t a nice feeling.”

“Ainra—”

“And it seems like you’re trying to buy my time with money, which doesn’t sit well with me. You weren’t planning on just giving As pocket money and leaving, were you?”

“…!”

Milon flushed red with embarrassment, clearly hit where it hurt.

Looking him straight in the eye, I spoke calmly.

“No matter what the elders say, I’m not interested in dating or getting married to anyone right now. I think it’s only right to make that clear.”

“…”

“Anyway, enjoy the festival.”

With a slight nod, I turned away, hand in hand with As, and walked off.

After a few steps, As suddenly spoke up.

“…He’s so insignificant.”

“Huh? Who is?”

“That man earlier. Compared to you, he’s just so insignificant.”

As muttered under his breath.

I couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“Really?”

“Ainra… is too good even for someone truly great.”

Was it just my imagination, or did As’s words carry a trace of sadness?

Just as I was about to respond with a light-hearted comment, something small, like fireflies, gently floated up into the sky.

My gaze was naturally drawn upward to the glowing lights filling the sky.

‘…Are they releasing sky lanterns nearby?’

I tilted my head in curiosity when I heard a voice nearby.

“Everyone has a wish they’ve been holding in their hearts, right?”

As and I turned our heads simultaneously.

It seemed to be part of a festival event, as someone from a nearby booth was calling out to people passing by.

“Don’t keep your precious wish locked up! Share it with a paper bird! Who knows? Maybe your wish will come true if it flies all the way to the edge of the sky!”

The idea of writing a wish on a paper bird and sending it to the sky to make it come true was charming and whimsical.

I looked over at As, intending to suggest we check out the booth.

“As—”

“Ainra—”

We both spoke at the same time and immediately fell silent, glancing at each other.

I blinked a few times before cautiously asking, “As, do you want to write a wish on a paper bird?”

As nodded.

I chuckled softly.

Just thinking about what wish this little boy might make was so adorable that I couldn’t help but smile.

“Alright, let’s go over there.”

The booth was already quite crowded.

Holding As’s hand tightly so I wouldn’t lose him in the crowd, I approached one of the workers.

“Excuse me, we’d like to write a wish.”

“Hello! You can choose one piece of paper from white, sky blue, or yellow. The quill pens and ink are over there. Once you’ve written your wish, fold the paper in half and bring it back to me.”

The worker kindly explained everything in detail, then went off to assist other visitors after accepting a small fee (three copper coins).

I picked up a sky-blue piece of paper and turned to As.

“As, which color do you want?”

“…I’ll take sky blue, too.”

As glanced at the paper in my hand before reaching for a sky-blue one of his own.

I nodded and fetched a quill pen and ink from the table for As, knowing it was out of his reach.

“Thanks.”

As whispered softly before dipping the quill into the ink and starting to write his wish with practiced ease.

I couldn’t help but wonder what he was writing.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I tried to sneak a glance, but As, sensing my intentions, quickly turned his body to block my view.

‘Tsk.’

I clicked my tongue in disappointment but decided to back off.

It wouldn’t be polite to keep pestering him when he clearly didn’t want to show me.

Around us, the soft sound of quills scratching paper filled the air.

I stared at my blank paper for a moment, hesitating, before carefully starting to write my own wish.

[Please make sure Akes doesn’t hate me.]

‘If that’s impossible, then at least don’t let him hate me so much that he avoids me altogether.’

I murmured to myself as I placed the quill back into the inkpot and folded the paper in half.

“As, are you done?”

“Yes.”

Like me, As had folded his paper in half and nodded.

Together, we found the worker again, who greeted us with a bright smile.

“Have you finished writing your wishes?”

“Yes, here.”

I handed both my paper and As’s to the worker.

With swift, skillful hands, the worker folded the papers into bird shapes and attached each one to a small sky lantern.

“Here you go, take one each.”

The worker handed the paper birds back to us, their soft voice explaining the next step.

“Just lift the paper birds gently toward the sky as if you’re letting them fly.”

Following their instructions, we released the birds, which floated gently upward as the warmth inside the sky lanterns lifted them into the night sky.

“Thank you for sending your wishes into the sky. I hope they both come true!”

After exchanging polite farewells with the worker, As and I resumed walking.

As continued to gaze up at the countless paper birds drifting across the night sky.

His face seemed so serious that I couldn’t help but ask curiously, “As, what did you wish for?”

“I wished for…”

As instinctively started to answer but quickly stopped himself, biting his lip as he stared at me intently.