Chapter 44

Chapter 44

 

Siegfried soon disappeared from the crowd. The curtain opened for the second part soon after, but Siegfried had yet to show up. You said you wanted to watch the puppet show! This cheater! I grumbled to myself. Did he meet with some trouble? Siegfried didn’t return until the puppet show was almost over. I began to worry that he might have lost his way at this point. The crown began to disperse. I stood up and fix my skirt. I think it would be better if I go and find Siegfried myself. Did Eisa send another assassin? 

 

Heok, I suddenly felt impatient when I think that way. I felt the dagger on my thigh. Fortunately, I brought it.

 

It wouldn’t be easy to kidnap Siegfried in broad daylight, but… but just in case. I decided to go in the direction Siegfried disappeared. I found a store selling clothes and jewelry after a little bit of walking. Is there a restroom around here? Why did he go this way? 

 

When I was about to grab a passerby and ask with Siegfried’s description, jingle-jangle, the store nearby opened. The first thing that caught my eye were the unmatched light pink shopping bags in the large, scarred hands. It is uncommon to have such a handsome hand that I thought I’ve seen it somewhere. My gaze naturally turned upward.

 

“Ariel?”

 

“… Your Highness?”

 

I thought you were kidnapped, so what are you doing here? I blinked my eyes blankly.

 

“Is the play over already?”

 

Siegfried clicked his tongue and checked the store clock through the window. He murmured, “I didn’t know so much time had passed.”

 

“Why are you coming out from there when you said you had some business to attend to?”

 

I asked him because I couldn’t understand Siegfried’s appearance here.

 

So I felt uneasy to myself for no reason. Looking back, I’ve always felt a subtle disharmony whenever something happened to Siegfried. But I didn’t feel that way this time. I should have trusted my instincts first. I wouldn’t have to prepare my dagger if I had done so.

 

Seeing Siegfried as if he had finished some shopping, I felt relieved so I relaxed my tense shoulders.

 

“Because this was what the business I had to attend. How did you know I was here?”

 

“I have no idea. I was just worried that something had happened to you.”

 

“Worry? Ne?”

 

Siegfried closed his eyes and smiled. Why do you like me that much? I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

 

Siegfried approached me.

 

“Are you worried about me if I disappear again?”

 

“Don’t try to do strange things in vain.”

 

“Tch.”

 

I soon discovered Siegfried’s innermost thoughts. He clicked his tongue in regret. My eyes soon turned to the shopping bags in Siegfried’s hands. What great things did you buy that you have to leave me alone? 

 

“It’s yours.” He opened his mouth when he felt my gaze. His voice sounded proud. “I couldn’t buy the sea because they won’t let me.”

 

The first thing that came to my mind was fish. Don’t tell me you bought all kinds of fish? But the store where he came out was a jewelry store. It was no wonder I could tell what Siegfried bought just by listening to his explanation. But I was a little concerned about the number of the shopping bags. How many are those? 

 

“… You didn’t buy everything, right?”

 

“Why do you think I didn’t?” Siegfried tilted his head curiously.

 

I raised my hands in his nonchalance.

 

“You don’t even have to do this. I know enough of your feelings.”

 

“You’ll know better if you see what was inside. Why don’t you go back to the inn and open it?”

 

“I will hold it for you. Please give it to me.”

 

“It’s alright.”

 

Siegfried refused my outstretched hand.

 

Just how long had he been shopping; it was already time for dinner even when the sun had yet to set. We walked toward the inn. We arrived quickly as the village itself wasn’t that large. In the end, today’s tour ended with a little tour to the sea, a puppet show, and Siegfried’s shopping.

 

I sat on the sofa near the porch led by Siegfried. It was now quite natural to hold hands with him.

 

“Open it.” Siegfried handed me the shopping bags.

 

A small box with a pink ribbon came out with a rustle. When I untied the ribbon and opened the lid of the box, a ring with a white pearl was on top of the black cushion.

 

“Wow, it’s pretty.”

 

In fact, I’ve never received a jewelry gift from a man other than my family. There’s no way I feel bad.

 

As I carefully held the ring and put it on my finger, Siegfried held out the next shopping bag to me as if he had been waiting.

 

“Open this too.”

 

The next box was a pearl ring the same color as the ring. Siegfried took out another shopping bag before I could even touch the earrings. The third box was a necklace that seemed to be on the same seat as the previous ones.

 

Siegfried was taking out all the things from all the shopping bags. The fourth box was a black pearl ring. This was where my anxiety started to rise. There were still countless shopping bags beside Siegfried. It was of course rings, earrings and necklaces. But the color changed on the fourth one. Don’t tell me…. 

 

“Are they all pearls? In different colors? No, right?”

 

“No. There are corals too.” Siegfried lifted another shopping bag bigger than the others as he said so.

 

What was in it was a coral embellishment the size of my forearm. I understand the pearl, but why are you giving it to me? 

 

“You can go back and decorate your room with that. I should at least give you that since I couldn’t buy the sea.”

 

“… Why are you making someone else’s room into the sea?”

 

“There is no ocean with just one coral. Unfortunately.”

 

I don’t know what was unfortunate with that.

 

The box containing the black pearl was snapped shut. Even Little Mermaid wouldn’t carry so many pearls around.

 

Siegfried didn’t deny it when I asked him if he bought it in different colors. Pearls are usually white, black and pink, but why are there so many boxes? Three of the first boxes were white, so the other boxes must be black and pink pearls. So what about the rest? I casted a distant gaze on the rest of the boxes that were piled up.

 

“I didn’t even know there was such a thing as blue pearls. There were also green pearls. There were even silver and gold ones.”

 

“It would be better to just buy the jewelry store at this point.”

 

“…!”

 

Siegfried’s eyes widened. He looked at me as if he didn’t even think of it. I told him something I shouldn’t have. What’s the point of buying a jewelry store in a village that I would only visit once a year, or not even? 

 

“So, you like it?”

 

I think he would run and buy the jewelry store if I nodded right away.

 

I took some time to ponder over it. I would never hate that. On the contrary, I was even in a good mood to the point where my heart was even pounding. A pearl set parade even before the lingering feelings after receiving the grape farm had yet to disappear? What kind of woman wouldn’t fall for it?

 

But this opponent was five years younger than me, and I have to say goodbye soon. I have to exercise tremendous self-control. Of course, that didn’t mean I returned the gifts I received. The day may come when Siegfried may bring the female lead and try to throw me away, so these pearls and the farm could be a consolation in advance.

 

“… Yes, I like it. I’ll thankfully accept it.”

 

My answer was very obvious to the end, but Siegfried was acting nervously as he repeatedly folding and unfolding his hand on his thigh. Was there a woman who didn’t like these gifts? 

 

I stretched my lips into a smile. Only then did Siegfried smile and was relieved. His purple eyes glistened brightly.

 

“So Ariel likes jewelry.”

 

“I like it.” I answered lightly.

 

Well, it’s not like I don’t like it. They were all shiny and pretty.

 

He opened his lips slightly and clenched his forearm with his fist. It was when I tried to ask him a question, wondering what that innocent look was.

 

“I like it too.”

 

“… ”

 

I blinked in confusion at his unannounced confession. Siegfried tried to speak again, as if he thought I didn’t understand. I quickly interrupted him.

 

“You mean you like jewelry? I also know that.”

 

“What are you talking about? Of course…”

 

“I like jewelry, too. I really like it.”

 

“… Oh, yeah.”

 

Siegfried became a little bit calm when he noticed my purpose. Soon after, Siegfried bent his upper body and looked at me.

 

“That’s enough for now.”

 

(T/N: Tell me, where can I find a man who is willing to wait for me? Not younger to me though… but still, my significant other, just where in the world are you? crying bunny)