CHAPTER 3 - Stellato of Overflowing Dreams

[yumemory]

[Location: Central market, day]

Shino: Look at that huge horse statue. It feels like the symbol of a champion, right? Let’s get it and display it in the manor.

Faust: Let’s not.

Shino: Why? It looks good. You two, tell him.

Mitile: Huh? Well, yeah, it looks cool....

Akira: But don't you think it's a little too big to bring back...?

Shino: Exactly. It’s huge, so it’ll definitely instill fear in our enemies.

Faust: How did you even come to that conclusion...? Come on, let’s go. We didn’t come here to shop today.

It was the day after I visited Faust’s room.

To show his gratitude, Faust invited Mitile and I to a cup of tea in the Central capital.

Shino: Anyway, never thought I’d see the day Faust would wanna come out of his room. Will we see a blue moon tonight?

Faust: Quiet. Even I go out sometimes.

As Faust bickered with Shino, he then took notice of Mitile, who was walking nervously.

Faust: Mitile, I see you have a keen interest in rare teas.

Faust: The tea parlor we're heading to serves various kinds of teas that you won't find just anywhere, like the one I had yesterday. You may pick whatever you like.

Mitile: …Okay, thank you, Mr. Faust! 

Mitile's face beamed.

He must be happy that Faust chose to go somewhere with him in mind. The gesture showed that he clearly remembered Mitile’s interest in the tea he saw in his room last night.

Akira: (He’s very thoughtful and considerate… As expected of our earnest and gentle Faust.)

Shino: Only tea? What about the food?

Faust: Goodness, you really love to eat, don't you? ...Well, I suppose they serve some side dishes.

Shino: Do they have lemon pie?

Faust: I don’t remember, but we’ll see.

Shino: Hm, well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll brag to Heath later that I went out and had tea with you.

Mitile: Is Heathchliff not in the manor? 

Suddenly, Shino's mouth twitched like a child.

Shino: He went back to Blanchett for family business.

Shino: I wanted to go with him and told him he needed an escort, but he got angry and said he’d go on his own.

Akira: Did you have a fight?

Shino: We didn’t. It was just a... fierce argument.

Faust: So you did have a fight.

Shino: He's moody and too stubborn for his own good.... But I went a little too far. 

Like a balloon losing its air, Shino’s voice grew weaker. The tone of his voice told us that his rage had long dissipated, and now he’s only sulking.

Mitile: Then, how about we welcome Heathcliff with delicious treats when he comes back?

Mitile: I’m sure he’ll be happy to have some pastries. And maybe it will lighten him up!

Shino: Ooh, good idea!

Mitile: When Riquet and I get into arguments, I usually apologize to him by giving him sweet snacks.

Shino: Winning him over with sweets, huh. Not a bad strategy you got there. Riquet can’t say no to anything with sugar.

Mitile: I-I don’t mean it like that! I do it so that we can reconcile… Let’s do our best so you can make up with Heathcliff when he comes back.

Shino: ...Right. Let’s go buy those pastries.

Their personalities are completely different, yet they seem to match each other well. Perhaps it’s because they both have a precious friend they cherish.

Watching their innocent and pure interaction warmed my heart.

Faust: ........

And Faust probably felt the same as he looked at the two of them endearingly.

Akira: It’s good that we brought Shino with us.

Faust: You may be right.

Akira: That reminds me. Should we have invited Figaro too? Mitile seems like he wants the two of you to be friendly with each other.

Faust: ...I did extend my invitation. But he turned me down, and told me to enjoy the tea with Mitile and the rest of you.

Akira: Oh, I see. Perhaps he already has other plans today.

Faust: Who knows? Maybe he simply finds it distasteful to be seen together with a curse worker.

Akira: (He suddenly sounds colder....)

Akira: S-Sorry.

Faust: Ah, no, it’s… You don’t have to apologize. I shouldn’t have said it like that. I’m sorry.

Rustica: Come now, you two. Bring back the smile on your faces, hold each other’s hands, and reconcile.

Faust, Mitile, Shino: !?

Rustica’s sudden greeting caught everyone in surprise. When we looked back, he smiled elegantly and casually, like we simply passed each other in one of the manor’s corridors.

Rustica: I heard that you will be holding a tea party. Would you mind if I join you?

Akira: R-Rustica?

Shino: You’re not usually alone. Whatcha up to?

Rustica: I was looking for tea at my favorite store.

Rustica: Chloe has been glued to his desk since morning, saying he has quite the inspiration for wonderful outfits, so I thought I’d show my support with a cup of tea. 

Akira: I see.

Mitile: You're so kind, Mr. Rustica.

Rustica: Hehe, thank you. Today is a really beautiful day, wouldn’t you agree?

Rustica: I wouldn’t have expected to meet Master Sage and everyone here, just right after my fateful encounter.

Faust: ...Fateful encounter?

As soon as he mentioned those two words, we all immediately turned our eyes towards the birdcage in his hands, almost out of reflex.

Akira: ...And that is...?

Rustica: My beloved bride, yes.

Akira: (Not again!)

Shino: Lemme guess, wrong person?

Mitile: Um, Mr. Rustica, is that little bird really your bride?

Faust: I have a hunch that the answer is “no”.

Rustica: Oh, is that so? Now I’m starting to have doubts.

Rustica: Come, be free. « Amorest Viesse »

Rustica chanted his spell lightly, and the little bird transformed into a man in an instant.

Man: ...!

Mitile: Are you alright?

Man: Eek!

The old man’s hair was turning gray, and he wore a robe typically worn by wizards. He was in utter terror, most likely because he just got transformed into a bird.

Akira: Rustica, where did the man come from...?

Rustica: He is a wizard, and the owner of the magical tool stall that I visited earlier.

Rustica: I was browsing his products, and then he beckoned me to offer an item he said was particularly special.

Rustica: I found the item extremely beautiful as soon as I laid my eyes on it.

Man: “To have chosen such a wonderful item… You must be my bride,” he said before turning me into a bird!

Man: I-If you want it that much, I’ll give it to you for free, so please, spare my life!

The man, whose face had grown pale, shoved something he was holding at Rustica before running away as fast as he could.

Mitile: And he’s gone...

Rustica: How kind of that gentleman. He was not my bride, yet he still gave me a present.

Faust: Is it normal for you Western people to take that as a present? 

Shino: What’d he give you?

Rustica: This.

Rustica opened his palm, and there we found a small stone that took all our breaths away.

Shino and Mitile: ...!

 

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