"That woman is… so beautiful."
Following Shichen's gaze, Rem noticed the woman too and couldn't help murmuring in awe.
"Oh—her," Beatrice gave the woman a single glance and lost interest.
Est didn't even look—she was busy with her grapes.
"Shichen, do you know her?" Emilia studied the woman and asked. For some reason, she felt a flicker of hostility toward the stranger—not because Shichen was looking, but… something else.
"Mm… I guess you could say I 'know' her, but she shouldn't know me," Shichen answered honestly.
"Is that so? Then she—ah, she's looking this way."
Their aura-hiding magic didn't work on the woman; she had already noticed them and was heading over. Up close, the jewelry at her throat, ears, and fingers gleamed—any layman could tell it was all top-tier pieces. Yet none of the glitter hid her striking beauty: a pair of bright, challenge-tinged phoenix eyes with red irises, pale-pink lips, and skin as white as fresh snow.
"You. You were just now looking at me, weren't you?" she said as soon as she stopped before Shichen—forthright, voice brash.
"How could you tell?" Shichen smiled, unfazed by her tone.
"Hmph. The world revolves around me. You looking at me is normal. And I noticed your eyes… They weren't the eyes of someone who knows me, but they were the eyes of someone who recognizes me… and most of all, they were surprised. Is there something on me that surprised you?"
She had studied his gaze for a second and read everything she wanted.
"Don't mind it. Let's call it a chance encounter," Shichen said with a small smile.
"A chance encounter? I won't pretend I didn't hear that. Are you trying to fob me off?" Her brows creased, annoyed.
"There's no point prying into my thoughts. I glanced over by accident, that's all. We don't know each other. Let's leave it at that."
Though surprised to sense a Divine Fragment on her, Shichen had no intention of getting tangled up with her now. Beautiful as she was—and right in his wheelhouse—she was a shade too proud for his taste. Still, he couldn't blame her. With the Sun's Blessing, all her daytime actions were buoyed and bent toward her favor. There was reason for that pride.
She was the Sun Princess, Priscilla Barielle—like Emilia, a royal candidate.
"Wait!"
Shichen started to lead his group away, but Priscilla called after him.
"…What is it now?"
Priscilla drew a fan from her bodice and pointed it at him, smiling. "I do not think meeting you was accidental. In daylight, everything I do is meaningful. And you were just staring at me."
"…What are you trying to say?"
"Tell me your name. You are worthy of my remembering it."
For all her arrogance, she had the capital for it. Of course she could see Shichen wasn't ordinary—and she was curious. Why had he looked surprised at her? Not at her beauty, but as if something on her had startled him. She was certain they'd never met, and he didn't look like someone who knew her. That piqued her. And if the sun had brought them together, it could hardly be trivial.
"If you want someone else's name, shouldn't you give yours first?" Shichen parried.
"True enough. Remember this, then: I am Priscilla Barielle. You may call me Priscilla."
"Priscilla?!" Emilia blurted, startled.
"Mm?" Only then did Priscilla deign to notice her. "A hooded robe that blocks recognition? So afraid to show your face?"
"You—"
Emilia bristled, ready to argue, but Shichen lifted a hand to stay her.
"Priscilla, right? I'll remember. I'm Shichen. I'm sure we'll meet again."
"Shichen? What an odd name. Odd is good. I will remember it." She pressed the closed fan to her pale chin and nodded, satisfied.
"Then until fate brings us together again."
"Hold."
"…Now what?" Shichen looked at her, helpless.
"What's that?" Priscilla pointed at the grapes in Est's hand, curious.
"Grapes. Why?"
"Grapes? Aren't grapes supposed to be translucent?"
"Translucent? You mean… peeled grapes?"
"Peeled?"
"Like this, right?"
Shichen took a grape from Est, peeled it, and held it up.
"Oh—yes, like that." Priscilla nodded.
"…" Shichen's mouth twitched. What sort of life did you live that you've never seen grapes with skins?
"Feed me," Priscilla said suddenly.
"…Pardon?" Shichen wondered if he'd misheard.
"I said, feed me. If I don't taste it, how do I know it's a grape?" She tilted her chin, lips parted expectantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"What nonsense is that? Let a stranger feed you?"
"Everything I do has meaning. Hurry," she urged.
"In your dreams."
He turned her down flat—and pressed the peeled grape to Emilia's lips instead.
"Ah—"
"Eh? W-wait—ah…"
Emilia startled, flustered—she hadn't expected it. But her mouth opened on instinct. Shichen set the grape to her lips, felt the soft warmth, and withdrew his hand. Blushing, Emilia took it in with a tiny bite. Her heart hammered. For some reason, the grape tasted better than usual.
"Shichen, Rem wants you to feed her too!" Rem piped up, pleading.
"Okay." He peeled another and held it to Rem's mouth.
Rem was a great deal less shy. She opened wide and took it—and with it, the tips of Shichen's fingers—into her mouth. He felt the silken brush of her tongue.
"You…" He pulled his hand back, shaking his head, half helpless, half amused.
"Hee-hee~" Rem chewed and smiled, triumphant. "Now your hand's clean."
"Smart, aren't you… Beatrice, want one?"
"Hmph, Beatrice does not want Rem's spit," Beatrice sniffed.
"I have another hand."
"In that case… acceptable," the little great spirit said primly.
"Heh."
He fed Beatrice as well; and of course Est—fair's fair. Priscilla, meanwhile, was left standing there. She clenched her teeth as she watched the cozy little scene.
"Priscilla, then—until next time."
After feeding Est, Shichen led his group away without a backward glance. With a proud woman like that, ignoring her was often the best approach. She had a Divine Fragment; their paths would cross again, certainly. But if he wanted to be remembered properly at their first meeting, nothing worked like denial.
Priscilla stood where she was, watching them go, fuming. No one had ever treated her like that. She would remember him.
…
"Shichen… that Priscilla just now…"
They hadn't gone far when Emilia spoke up.
"What about her?"
"She's a royal candidate like me," Emilia said solemnly.
"Oh?" Shichen feigned surprise. "Then how didn't you recognize her?"
"The candidates haven't all assembled yet, so no one knows the full list—but I've heard of Priscilla."
"Ah. No wonder she didn't know you."
"Mm… Shichen, you and her…?" Emilia trailed off.
"Relax. I really don't know her. You saw it—she had no idea who I was," Shichen said, ruffling her hair.
"I thought you… liked her…"
"Thought what? Love at first sight? Are you jealous?"
"Absolutely not!" Emilia flushed and shook her head.
"Heh. Relax—aside from you, there isn't anyone in this world who could make me fall in love at first sight."
"I…" The pink in Emilia's cheeks crept up to her ears. She really shouldn't have asked. How did he say these things so easily?