CHAPTER 82: HE SEES ME (II)

He gestured slightly upward. "The enchantments woven into the shelves. They resonate faintly when sunlight strikes them."

Evelisse strained to listen. At first, nothing—then, very faintly, like glass touched by a fingertip, a hum echoed in the beams.

Her lips parted. "You’re right. I never..."

"You’ll hear more, if you keep listening."

His voice was so calm, so certain, Evelisse felt a flutter of warmth, a strange comfort. She wanted to speak but instead busied herself straightening books that didn’t need straightening.

Then Caelith’s voice lowered. "Do you always feel strange here? Like... half of you belongs, but half is elsewhere?"

Her hands froze on the book spines. Slowly, she turned.

"You... know?"

He looked at her with steady eyes. "I see it. In your mana. In your eyes. You carry two patterns. Two stories layered together."

She whispered, almost breathless. "And you’re... not afraid of that?"

Caelith shook his head. "Why would I be? Languages overlap. That doesn’t make them wrong. Just rare."

Evelisse swallowed. Her voice was small, but her words carried weight.

"You’re the first person who ever looked at me like I wasn’t strange or broken by the coma I woke up from," Evelisse said.

Caelith’s answer came instantly, gently.

"That’s because you’re not. You’re just written in a language most people forgot how to read."

The words wrapped around her like a blanket, soft and steady, but they also made her chest tighten with an ache she couldn’t name.

Fluffy huffed. "Oh, great. Poetic rivals. My job security is doomed."

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

They left the library, passing through arched doors into the palace gardens. Florabelle’s air smelled of jasmine and wet stone. Evelisse exhaled, needing the coolness.

Her brothers, of course, were spying again. She glimpsed Jared’s golden hair ducking behind a hedge.

Jared muttered low to Lance, "They’re speaking quietly. It looks serious."

"Everything looks serious when you eavesdrop from bushes," Leo hissed.

Seraphina, elegantly crouched behind them despite her gown, fanned herself with regal dignity. "This is hedge inspection. Nothing more."

Meanwhile, Evelisse tugged at the hem of her soft pink dress and did her best to ignore the rustling bushes behind them. She could *feel* her family’s eyes boring into her back, no matter how dignified Mother claimed her crouching posture was.

Fluffy floated circles above her head, puffed up like a triumphant parade balloon.

"Princess," Fluffy whispered loudly enough that Evelisse feared even the hedge could hear, "I am this close to undeniable proof. Watch and learn."

Evelisse lowered her lashes, speaking softly so Caelith wouldn’t notice. "Fluffy, please. If my brothers catch us acting strange again, I will never hear the end of it."

Fluffy grinned, cheeks glowing. "Have faith in my genius!"

Caelith, of course, walked calmly at her side, hands clasped neatly behind his back. He gave no outward sign that he noticed anything odd at all, but Evelisse’s stomach knotted. ’Does he truly see Fluffy? Or is Fluffy imagining things?’

They continued along the garden path. The air was sweet with jasmine, the lanterns hanging from the trellises casting warm golden light.

Fluffy zoomed directly in front of Caelith’s face, suddenly stretching his tiny limbs and making ridiculous roaring noises.

"Beware! I am the Garden Beast of Eternal Night!" Fluffy bellowed, his squeaky voice vibrating in Evelisse’s head.

Caelith’s right brow twitched. His steps faltered by the smallest fraction before smoothing out again. His lips pressed in a faint line, as though suppressing... amusement? Annoyance? Evelisse couldn’t tell.

She bit her lip to hide a laugh.

Fluffy squeaked, spinning dramatically. "Did you see that? He reacted! Victory part one!"

Evelisse whispered firmly, ’Fluffy, if you continue like this, I will faint before he ever admits anything.’

Unbothered, Fluffy darted to a hedge, plucked a single rose petal, and flung it toward Caelith’s shoulder like a dueling glove. The petal landed neatly on the boy’s dark tunic.

Caelith brushed it off without a word. But Evelisse caught the flicker of his eyes toward the petal’s flight path—far too precise, far too knowing.

Fluffy gasped. "Reaction number two! Oh, he is cornered now!"

Evelisse forced her expression to remain serene, hands folded politely. Inside, her mind spun. ’So he really does see... but why won’t he say anything?’

They walked together toward the west terrace, Evelisse carefully balancing her small steps along the cobblestones. The water lilies shimmered faintly, reflecting the moon and the garden lanterns. Caelith knelt slightly, brushing the petals with his fingertips.

"Delicate," he murmured. "Yet resilient. Like someone I know."

Evelisse’s cheeks were a light tinge of pink, she cleared her throat but said nothing as she looked anywhere but his face.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

As they neared the inner courtyard arch, Evelisse felt her cheeks warm. She needed... a moment. A way to prove this without standing frozen between hedge-spying family and a smug magical fluffball.

"Prince Caelith," she said suddenly, clasping her hands. "Would you mind waiting here for just a moment? I... I should fetch something important."

Caelith inclined his head politely. "As you wish, Princess."

Her heart thumped strangely at his unbothered obedience. She turned on her heel, making for the palace kitchens with quick little steps.

Naturally, Fluffy zipped after her, but so did another presence—Caelith’s tall, stoic bodyguard. His silver armor shimmered even in the dim light.

"You should not walk alone, Princess Evelisse," the bodyguard intoned.

Evelisse puffed her cheeks. "Very well. But I am only retrieving a small surprise."

The man bowed slightly, shadowing her quietly.

Fluffy hummed mischievously at her ear. "Surprise, hm? You intend to cook for him? May I suggest a marshmallow roast with extra sugar flames?"

"Hush," Evelisse whispered. "It is a simple gesture, nothing more."

The kitchen was warm and alive with scents—roasting bread, honey, herbs hung to dry. Servants bustled, bowing as Evelisse entered.

"Princess, what brings you here at this hour?" one asked gently.

Evelisse lifted her chin. "Merely to prepare a token of thanks for our guest. Please, might you help me wrap some of the berry pastries?"

The cooks hurried to comply, delighted by her presence. She helped carefully, folding cloth around the warm pastries. The buttery scent made her mouth water.