Chapter 193:
Chapter 193 A foolishly beating heart.
As soon as they left the library, Maiev and Flan got into a carriage side by side.
They didn’t know where their next destination was, but that was less of a problem than the awkward atmosphere between them.
The reason was…
─I can’t today. I have an important schedule.
It was because of what Flan had said to the dean’s secretary.
He could have just declined casually, but he didn’t expect him to say it so firmly.
─You promised to go with me.
And he was sure he hadn’t said that out loud. His face burned with embarrassment belatedly.
“….”
As a result, an awkward current flowed between the two who sat at opposite ends of the seat.
Of course, it was more accurate to say that Maiev was the only one who couldn’t overcome the awkwardness.
Flan was immersed in reading with a steady attitude even in the rattling carriage.
She tried to focus on the scenery outside the window, but she couldn’t concentrate, and he was annoyed.
In the end, it was Maiev who broke the silence first.
“You travel by carriage more often than I thought.”
“A carriage is a normal vehicle.”
“I know that. I’m not saying I don’t know that…”
She regretted starting the conversation as it only made things more awkward.
Maiev, who was crushed by the awkwardness, suddenly had a thought.
“Come to think of it, have you ridden a carriage often? You hate wasting time. If it was a nearby place, you could have used short-distance teleportation.”
“That’s true. But, the longer I ride the carriage, the more time I share with you.”
“Time… you share with me?” Maiev tilted her head with pure curiosity.
She had never thought of sharing time with others in her life.
She had always considered her life and others’ lives as completely separate worlds.
“I don’t understand what you mean. Time is not something you can give or take, and sharing it makes even less sense.”
Just as he was about to ask something more.
Screech─.
The carriage stopped with a sound of the wheel scraping the pavement.
“Let’s get off.”
[Sweet Melody]
That’s what was written on the sign that came into his view as soon as he got off.
She glanced around and saw that it was a tea shop that sold various kinds of teapots and cups.
‘He’s so unpredictable.’
She had felt the same way when they headed to the library, but this time too, she couldn’t guess Flan’s intention.
Maiev couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.
“Why are we visiting this place?”
“You said you don’t understand what it means to share time. Didn’t you just say that with your own mouth?”
“Yes.”
“Today, I’m going to give you a chance to think about that concept.”
“….”
The more he heard Flan’s words, the more Maiev felt like she was falling into a maze.
She also felt a bit rebellious.
She was sure that no matter what experience she had, she wouldn’t accept the idea of sharing time with others.
“Well, do whatever you want.”
“Then follow me.”
Flan opened the door of the tea shop first.
She couldn’t tell the name, but it was a very luxurious tea fragrance.
They mixed together and tickled Maiev’s nose.
The staff, who looked gentle, bowed their heads.
“Welcome.”
Greetings that harmonized like a musical ensemble followed.
The man who looked like the owner asked politely.
“May I ask the name of the reservation…?”
“It’s Flan.”
“Hahaha, I knew it. Who doesn’t know the hero of the magic department? I had to ask because of the procedure, so please forgive me. Welcome again.”
The owner continued to speak in a low voice.
“And thank you for visiting. What kind of tea flavor do you want? Something that enhances concentration? Something that relaxes you?”
“No.”
Flan lightly brushed off the owner’s approach.
“I’m here to see the cups, not the tea.”
“Oh, you mean the cups?”
“Yes. I can choose for myself, so I don’t need any assistance.”
“I understand. Please take your time and look around. I can’t charge you anything, since you’re none other than Flan. But instead, my daughter is studying at the magic department, and I wonder if you could meet her sometime… She’s Emily, who’s in the president’s position.”
“I think I’ve seen her. She wore a bracelet on her arm and always wrote something on her notebook.”
“That’s right! That’s her! She’s really kind─”
The owner’s bragging about his daughter went on and on.
Maiev glared at him and he finally stopped talking.
“Ahem, sorry for the digression. I hope you enjoy your visit.”
“Touch the shop for a moment.”
Snap─!
Flan flicked his finger.
Then, without any preparation, the shelves moved.
The items spread out in a clear staircase shape.
The interior changed so much that it was surprising.
He changed the structure of the shop as he pleased, but no one blamed him.
“…!”
No, they couldn’t blame him and they all admired him.
The shop was improved in every way compared to before.
Maiev also admired and touched a few cups.
They were splendid cups with jewels embedded here and there.
Flan asked.
“Do you like them?”
“Not really.”
Maiev shook her head in dismay.
She had never cared much for luxury, and besides, this teacup was impractical.
It seemed more like a decoration than something to drink from.
That’s when Flan picked up something else from the side.
A plain white teacup without any pattern.
It had nothing remarkable about it and was the most ordinary teacup in the world.
No, to be precise, it was too flawed to be even ordinary.
There were ugly lumps all over it.
The shop owner opened his mouth cautiously.
“Sir Flan, I’m sorry, but that’s not for sale.”
“Is it not for sale?”
“Yes. Actually… we tried to make a special teacup, but we failed. You see, the material is mertile.”
“I see. I recognized it right away.”
“We are very disappointed, too. It was a very expensive attempt…”
But Flan nodded his head.
“I like this one.”
“What about the other ones we prepared with great ambition… Yes?”
The shop owner’s eyes widened a beat late.
“I want this one. Two of them, please.”
“Are you sure you want this one…?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, okay. I got it.”
The shop owner nodded his head, unable to hide his confusion.
After the wrapping was done, the two left the shop.
The sun was finally setting in the world. A warm and perfect scenery, Maiev muttered as he climbed into the carriage next to Flan.
“I still haven’t solved any of my questions.”
He casually brushed his bangs and continued.
“I don’t understand why we visited this teashop, or what it means to share time. Is a precious relationship always full of things I can’t understand?”
“No, it’s not.”
“If it’s not…”
“I’ll explain it to you now.”
Flan took out the mertile teacup.
“The shop owner called this a failure, but it doesn’t look like that to me.”
“This one?”
“Yes. Mertile is an attractive material because it can hold the magic of the caster. For example…”
Flan closed his eyes for a moment and concentrated.
“…This is also possible.”
The messy mertile teacup became as neat as a glass artwork. And the next moment, one glowed blue and the other red.
It was the magic of Flan and Maiev.
The blue teacup was handed to Maiev. Flan asked softly.
“Do you remember, Maiev? You made tea at the same time every morning.”
“Because you always woke up at the same time.”
“You should do the same even after you return to the void.”
Flan’s gaze suddenly met Maiev’s.
“It doesn’t matter what kind of tea it is. The point is that you make and drink tea at the same time.”
“Why? I don’t understand anything…”
“It’s for us to share time.”
Flan cut off Maiev’s words.
“It doesn’t have to be every day. It could be once a week, once a month, or even… years later, if you suddenly drink tea at that time.”
The carriage was still running. Fast.
“I will also be drinking tea from this teacup, so we will surely share a short but same time.”
“A short but same time?”
“Yes. The fact that we do the same thing in the morning, no matter when you think of me. The fact that we think of each other.”
But at some point, the rattling noise stopped. The only thing in the world that seemed to have sound was Flan’s voice.
His red eyes swayed sincerely.
“…That’s the gift I can give to the one I cherish. It’s the time that only this kind of relationship can share.”
Suddenly, the carriage felt too spacious.
“Ah…”
On the other side of him, there was Flan.
As always, he treated her sincerely.
The scenery outside the window disappeared from her sight.
In her wide view, only Flan’s figure was visible.
His voice came in like a wave.
“Maiev. Now I have one question for you.”
His tone continued calmly.
“Don’t you have a real reason for coming to me?”
A precious relationship.
It was only a day’s experience, a mere illusion…
She didn’t feel like lying.
Her foolish heart.
It started to beat more foolishly.
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