Chapter 55: White Powder and Blooming Feelings

“Don’t be stubborn.”

Evan immediately added to his previous words.

“If my words sounded like I was berating you… fine, I apologize.”

“An apology?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

“…”

“So stop pouting.”

“Who’s pouting?”

‘Damn it. What am I supposed to do if he apologizes? I can’t even stay annoyed anymore.’

Did he feel my energy draining? After looking at my face, Evan began to walk slowly again.

“What did you see earlier?”

It felt as though he already knew the answer but was asking anyway.

The ivy on the alley walls was thinning out. I could feel the path widening. We were finally leaving District Four.

I opened my mouth while looking at the plants growing on the walls and ground, and the large trees towering in the distance.

‘Now that I can see them… I don’t even know why I couldn’t see the plants before. They’re so vivid.’

The hem of my cloak fluttered in the breeze.

“It was a white powder. A woman with a red rash paid a man and received something that looked like medicine.”

“I see. That’s been a headache lately.”

As I thought… it wasn’t a simple matter.

But was Evan the one investigating this?

Evan glanced at me, perhaps sensing my questioning gaze.

“Things have been unsettling because of that lately. It’s best not to go to that area if you can help it. Even on First Street, try to have someone with you. Why did you come out alone?”

“That’s because… I don’t have any friends?”

I had planned to come out alone anyway. But then again, I didn’t really have any friends to come with… did I?

Evan’s face filled with bewilderment.

His stare made me feel embarrassed. I’m definitely going to make friends!

“What about Cecilia?”

“Oh, she said she had plans with Harkins.”

“Harkins? I see. No wonder yesterday —”

“Yesterday?”

“He asked me to tell him about dessert shops that ‘girls’ like.”

“Aha.”

“Why are you nodding?”

“Well, I figured you would know a lot about that?”

Evan made a strange sound, something like a groan.

“Liana. Be careful.”

The central fountain of the capital soon came into view. The high-soaring plumes of water welcomed us.

“Lately, there have been successive reports of strange rashes appearing on people’s skin. That white powder you saw earlier seems to be related to it as well. It was lucky for you that there weren’t many people on the streets today, but it would have been trouble if it had gotten dark.”

Then did that mean it wasn’t just that woman, but that the people of that street were suffering from a similar skin disease? If it was an incident of that scale, I surely would have experienced it before my regression.

As I furrowed my brow, Evan pressed his thumb against the space between my eyebrows to smooth it out.

‘What are you doing!’

What if someone saw!

I widened my eyes and scrambled backward.

Did someone see? Did anyone see that?

I whipped my head around. The gazes of several women were fixed on us.

Right, of course. With a face like that, how could anyone not look? That damn man. He’s trying to get me cursed at…

“Liana. Are you listening?”

“Why are you touching someone else’s forehead?”

“The infirmary.”

“Why are you suddenly bringing up the infirmary?”

“The infirmary. Don’t you remember?”

“What… well.”

I decided to shut my mouth. Come to think of it, I was the one who first touched Evan’s face when he was constantly scowling.

Hahaha! Why did I do that back then? He’s so petty to remember all of that.

When I narrowed my eyes at him, Evan sighed again.

“Fine, let’s just act like it never happened.”

“Phew. Fine. My point is, don’t wander around alone.”

“I understand.”

After a moment’s hesitation, I answered obediently.

Come to think of it, wandering alone in places where incidents happened even in broad daylight was indeed dangerous.

“I only went to Terra to buy a flower pot.”

Though I ended up not getting there because I got lost.

The best quality pots I knew of were sold there. The soil was top-tier, too. I didn’t know what kind of fertilizer they used, but the plants that survived the longest in my hands were always the ones bought from Terra.

That’s why!

I just wanted to buy a pot to see if anything had changed. I knew it was silly to try and test for changes with something like that, though.

“That place does have good quality. However, it’s difficult to find because it straddles the border of District Three and District Four. If you’re not careful, you’ll slip into District Four, just like you did today.”

“I suppose so. I’ll have to find it next time.”

“You’re going to find it next time?”

“Yes. Why? Is something wrong?”

I didn’t find it today, so naturally, I’d try again later, wouldn’t I?

“…”

“Evan?”

“Let’s go today.”

“What? No, I should head back to the dormitory —”

“I’ll take you there.”

“Pardon? There’s no need for that!”

“Sigh. I’m on my way there anyway.”

“Liar!”

“What?”

Oops, my mistake. But words once spoken cannot be taken back.

“You have a date with Miss Magareta today. So why would you go to a plant shop? Where is Miss Magareta?”

Remembering her belatedly, I looked around hurriedly.

You, you bad man! Did you break your date with Magareta? And then just wander around the streets like this?

As I glared at him, Evan shook his head.

“Now that I look at you, the two of you are similar.”

“What happened to the date?”

Magareta was hot-tempered and impulsive… but after a few conversations, I found myself rooting for her.

No, if you don’t like it, you should refuse clearly!

Well, he probably can’t refuse because of his family’s position… but he should at least keep his appointments!

“Magareta calls you by your name. I suppose you’re quite close.”

“We’re roommates.”

We weren’t actually that close yet. Though I did feel like I wanted to become closer now.

“Hmm.”

“So, what happened?”

‘She went out all dressed up. He didn’t stand her up, did he?’

“Don’t look at me like that. We had lunch together.”

“Huh? Then did you part ways right after eating? Without even going to a dessert shop?”

“If you want to be technical, it was because of you.”

The corners of Evan’s mouth curled up playfully. His eyes sparkled with an innocent expression, like a child holding a favorite toy.

Wait, what? Suddenly?

“Why is it because of me?”

What was he talking about?

As I looked at him while blinking my eyes, he gave a meaningful smile as if telling me to listen.

“I happened to see you entering the alleyway, and then I ran into Vance Odeo on my way out from lunch.”

“Sir Vance Odeo?”

“He said he ran into you and that you were going to the Terra shop. As I mentioned before, that place is on the border of the districts, so I thought it would be trouble.”

Evan gave a pleasant smile.

“So, as I was moving to the next location, I went around looking for you. Is your curiosity satisfied now?”

“…Even so, you shouldn’t have ended your date with Magareta like that.”

Oh, no!

To think I was the problem…

“Don’t worry. Magareta was the one who told me to go find you. You’re both worried about each other… are you really just roommates?”

“…For now.”

“Women are difficult.”

“…”

I felt incredibly awkward, having this kind of conversation with Evan of all people.

“Let’s go.”

Evan walked ahead.

The Evan I knew was someone who was never personally kind. What was different?

Instead of following him, I watched his back. He turned around and tilted his head.

“Hurry up. If you’re that worried about Magareta, we can just buy a bouquet at the shop. She likes flowers.”

‘Wow, he says such obnoxious things so casually.’

I’m coming, I’m coming!

I trudged after him. Even so, my gait remained elegant by habit.

I was going to visit Terra eventually, even if it wasn’t today. My curiosity had already been piqued. So, it wasn’t a bad idea to go while I had a guide.

The afternoon sunlight sat slanted across the street, and I squinted at the brightness.

The bustling capital streets sparkled in the sunlight. I kept a close eye on the plants scattered around as I followed behind the hurrying Evan.

“Liana, don’t fall behind. Stay close.”

“I know!”

Goodness, His Highness was such a nag.

***

‘I’m completely exhausted…’

Evan dropped me off right in front of the dormitory. In the process, he handed me a bouquet of roses, asking me to give them to Magareta.

“Am I an errand girl…?”

Really. I was used to such errands, but…

Usually, I delivered them to Cecilia. To think that Evan’s first errand in this life would be for Magareta. Is this change good or bad?

No, it’s all the same since it’s still an errand!

“Phew.”

I trudged upstairs and knocked.

*Swing!*

“Whoa!”

“Liana?”

The one who burst out hurriedly was Magareta. She came running out as if she’d been waiting by the door.

What is it?!

We stared blankly at each other’s surprised faces.

Magareta tilted her head, then pointed at the bouquet.

“Are you okay? Earlier… No! It’s enough that you’re back safely. No, more importantly, what is that bouquet…?”

Magareta, who had been mixing informal and formal speech in her excitement, looked at the bouquet with suspicious eyes.

“Didn’t you say you were buying a flower pot?”

“Oh, they’re going to deliver the pot.”

“Then this is…?”

Magareta’s cheeks flushed red as if she was thinking of something. She looked… quite cute.

“This is for you, Magareta.”

“Did you buy it, Liana?”

“No! His Highness asked me to deliver it.”

“Evan? Evan did?”

Magareta, who had bowed her head as if to savor the scent of the flowers, snapped her head up. Her hair fluttered.

Her wide eyes were asking for the truth.

“Yes. We went to a plant shop.”

Was she upset that I went with Evan… no, fortunately, it didn’t seem like it.

An irrepressible smile spread across Magareta’s face. It was a shy, quiet smile that was impossible to imagine from the Magareta who always shouted in a loud voice.

‘So this is the face of a person in love!’

Then Cecilia… did she not love any of the three?

Her eyes were always moist, and she was always smiling brightly… but somehow, it felt a little different from the Magareta I was seeing now.

No, that’s not it. Let’s not make useless conjectures! I shook the thought away.

“Thank you. Did you tell him to do it, Liana?”

“No! His Highness chose and bought it himself. Who am I to tell him what to do? Not at all.”

When I spoke with certainty, Magareta smiled again.

“Thank you for delivering it.”

“…It’s nothing.”

‘Wait… why am I feeling touched?’

Had I ever been thanked so sincerely when delivering a gift?

If it was like this, I felt like I could deliver things ten more times.

…Good grief, I can’t believe I’m thinking like this! I, who loathed delivering things!

“Ah! Let’s head inside, Liana. What about dinner?”

“I ordered it, so it’ll probably be up in about 1 hour.”

“I see! Then I’ll eat with you. Is that okay?”

When I didn’t answer and just stared at her, she gave me a coy look.

“Let’s eat together, Magareta.”

“Hmph! Took you long enough to say it!”

Magareta gave me a playful glare.

‘Please bear with me for a bit, Magareta, since it’s still awkward!’

Oh, I should apologize. Her date with Evan was ruined because of me.

“Magareta. I’m sorry. Because of me, your da —”

“It’s fine. I’m the one who told him to go.”

“But…”

She wasn’t listening, was she…

She was humming to herself as she looked for a vase.

Well, I guess this is fine?

Her fluttering skirt seemed to represent her mood.

I grabbed some clothes and went into the dressing room. A girl with a weary face stood in the mirror. Her expression was neutral, but she looked as if she was strangely smiling. I saw a smile that didn’t suit this age, one that looked somewhat worn out.

“It probably only looks like that to my eyes.”

I fiddled with my face awkwardly before stopping. I could hear Magareta humming all the way here.

“I can’t believe her.”

I laughed a little and sat on a chair.

The flower I happened to see earlier kept lingering in my mind.

A flower that looked like a cluster of small insects from afar. That flower, which had been clinging to the wall, kept flickering in my head.

‘A coincidence? Was it really a coincidence?’

That flower…

It was the flower used as the cure for the plague that had thrown the capital into chaos toward the end of spring.