"Alright, alright, get up. Good thing you were smart for once and didn't kneel right there. Otherwise, we'd be getting strange looks, you know."
Fíliya pulled Frieren up from the ground, her expression a mix of exasperation and complaint.
"Strange looks? Fíliya, are you the type of person who cares about that sort of thing?"
Frieren looked puzzled.
"Of course I don't care. I'm worried you care."
"I don't care either, though?"
Frieren continued, her confusion deepening.
I'm an elf who's lived for over a thousand years. What kind of looks haven't I seen? she thought.
"Never mind, I shouldn't be talking to you about this... Let's get back to shopping. The most important thing right now is Fern's gift."
Miss Fíliya made up her mind; she absolutely could not get entangled with this idiot elf on this topic any longer.
"Oh... right."
Frieren nodded, finally dropping the previous subject.
The two resumed walking side-by-side, heading back to the area where the small vendors had gathered.
"A gift for Fern... Ugh, I don't know what that child would like. If only she were as easy to please as I am."
Fíliya nodded in complete agreement with Frieren's sentiment.
She had never met someone so easy to please.
Just give her any cheap grimoire, and the girl would be happy all day.
Of course, it had to be magic Frieren didn't know yet. For magic she had already read about or learned, Frieren wasn't nearly as interested.
"Fern is a young girl in her prime. She would surely like jewelry, right..."
Frieren continued to murmur, then pulled Fíliya along to stand in front of a jewelry stall.
"Huh? This is..."
After a quick glance at the stall, Frieren immediately picked up one of the rings and showed it to Fíliya.
"This is the pattern. This is the one Himmel gave me back then."
Frieren continued.
Miss Fíliya, who had been about to complain, froze on the spot when she saw the ring.
Because she remembered the pattern on this ring very clearly as well.
The ring she had given Sense seemed to have this exact pattern.
"Oh! You two beautiful young... ladies, you have excellent taste! That's the most popular style among young people right now."
The middle-aged man at the stall immediately began speaking to Fíliya and Frieren in a very enthusiastic tone.
It was clear the man had originally wanted to say "young ladies," but after seeing Frieren's long ears, he instantly lost his confidence.
After all, who knew how old an elf was, so it was safer to use the term "ladies."
"Is that so."
Frieren and Fíliya said in unison, both with thoughtful expressions.
But the stall owner clearly mistook their expressions for hesitation about buying the ring, so he continued to introduce his product.
"Hehe, I see you seem very interested in the pattern on this ring. It's an engraving of a flower called the 'Mirror Lotus.' Its language is 'Eternal Love,' making it the most suitable gift for a sweetheart."
...After hearing this, Fíliya gasped, and an image flashed through her mind.
The day she bid farewell to Sense and headed for the Northern Plateau...
No wonder Sense had that expression at the time... Hmm... But on second thought, it wasn't really a problem.
Even if she had known the meaning, she would have still given her that ring...
After all, her relationship with Sense was just that strange.
Like friends, like sisters, like mother and daughter, and like lovers.
At this thought, a slight curve appeared at the corners of Fíliya's mouth.
"I'll take it. How much?"
Fíliya bought the ring very decisively.
After all... she couldn't show favoritism. She remembered what she had said: the next time they met, she had to bring Solitär a gift. This was the perfect opportunity.
Fíliya's emotions quickly returned to calm from her initial shock.
But the one beside her was not so composed. Frieren was still standing there, stunned, like a wooden post.
"Hmph... May I ask what Lady Frieren is thinking right now?"
Fíliya asked in a sarcastic tone, even leaning in to whisper by Frieren's ear.
"...I'm not thinking about anything!"
Frieren replied reflexively.
Still say you're not thinking about anything, then why are you so worked up?
Fíliya curled her lip in disdain, wearing an expression that said she saw through it all but wouldn't expose it.
"It's still impossible... Himmel definitely didn't know the meaning of this flower, so he couldn't have meant that."
"Um... excuse me, owner."
Frieren began to look at the stall owner with a straight face and a serious expression.
"Do you have any... accessories suitable as a gift for a disciple, or for a child?"
Just as Frieren was asking the stall owner, Fíliya placed a hand on her shoulder and patted it.
"?"
Frieren turned to look at Fíliya, who waved the stall owner off and dragged Frieren away.
"What are you doing... I haven't bought a gift for Fern yet..."
Frieren said, a little unhappy, but she didn't struggle.
"You idiot, use that exquisite little brain of yours, will you? Do you need Lady Fíliya to give you a lesson in emotional intelligence?"
Fíliya let go of Frieren and began to look down on her from a superior position.
"Huh? What did I say wrong? And what do you mean, 'lady'? Where are you so 'great'?"
Frieren also crossed her arms in front of her chest and straightened her back with a defiant look.
"Hmph... You really don't get it, do you, Frieren? You don't think today's main character is you, or me, do you? Have you forgotten why that young couple had such a big fight?"
Fíliya's tone became playful as she continued.
"On a day like today, giving jewelry is something we should leave to Stark. We can't steal the young man's thunder... As for what we can give, I actually have a bold idea."
___
🔥 New stories are available now! 🔥
✅ Access up to 40 advanced chapters of ALL stories!
✅ Receive exclusive content and updates!
Help us hit our community goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters of ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan