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Princess Céline walked down the hallway of the castle, making a few short bursts of running to keep up with her mother.
“You said we have visitors?” she asked.
“Yes,” answered her mother, Queen Ève of Firene. “You’ve already met one of them. His name is Diamant.”
“The new archeologist?” said Céline. She knew that Diamant had joined the archeology group in Firene recently, and all the other archeologists already liked him.
Her mother nodded. “Exactly. Today, he’s brought someone he’d like you to meet. Ah, here we are.”
The two of them arrived in the meeting room of Firene Castle, where a familiar man was already waiting for them. Céline had been told that Diamant was a young man, surprisingly skilled for such a young archeologist, but he seemed very grown-up to her. Who might he want her to meet?
“Good afternoon, Diamant,” said Queen Ève. “It is good to see you.”
“And the same to you, Your Majesty,” said Diamant. Then he looked over at Céline and smiled. “Good afternoon, Princess Céline. You remember me, don’t you?”
Céline nodded. “You’re Diamant. The new archeologist.”
“That’s right,” said Diamant. “I think your mother told you already that there’s someone I’d like you to meet.” He turned toward the back of the room and held out his hand. “Allow me to introduce my younger brother, Alcryst.”
A boy with long blue-black hair and dark red eyes stepped out from behind a pillar at the back of the room. He met Céline’s gaze for a moment, and Céline smiled at him. Then the boy looked nervous and ducked behind the pillar again.
“Alcryst,” said Diamant, walking over to the pillar. “Come out from behind there. Didn’t I tell you how friendly Princess Céline is?”
Diamant held out his hand, and the boy—Alcryst—took Diamant’s hand and crept out from behind the pillar, looking over at Céline again.
“It looks like he’s about your age,” said Queen Ève. Céline looked up at her mother and nodded, then back at Alcryst, whom Diamant was leading over to them.
Diamant gave Alcryst’s hand a little squeeze, then looked over at Céline. “Tell me, Princess,” he said. “Would you like Alcryst to be your friend?”
Céline nodded eagerly. She didn’t really have anyone her age to play with, except for her older brother, whose interests were all different than hers. And Alcryst seemed nice.
When Céline was done nodding, she smiled at Alcryst again. Alcryst’s eyes widened, and he looked at Céline shyly.
“Um,” said Alcryst. “Th…thank you, Princess Céline.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” said Céline, dropping a little curtsy like her mother had taught her once. “Let’s be friends!”
“Okay,” said Alcryst, not letting go of his brother’s hand.
“Well, that’s good!” said Diamant, smiling at his brother. “I’m glad you have a friend now, Alcryst.” He looked back at Céline and her mother. “We should leave you and Alcryst to get acquainted, but…er, first I should return that one book to the castle library.” He gave Céline’s mother a meaningful look, then looked back at Alcryst. “Come along, Alcryst. We’ll be right back.”
Céline didn’t take her eyes off Alcryst until Diamant had led him out of the room, Alcryst silently looking back at her the whole time. Then she turned back to her mother. “Why’d they leave?” she asked.
“We’ll let you and Alcryst get acquainted in a moment,” said her mother, kneeling down in front of her. “There’s something Diamant wanted me to tell you first. Without Alcryst overhearing it.”
Céline looked at her mother curiously. “What is it?”
“About Alcryst,” said the queen, her face growing serious. “That young boy has had a hard life. He never really understood how hard it was, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t leave a mark. Ever since Diamant found him and adopted him as a younger brother, Alcryst has started to change for the better. But parts of his heart are still frozen, like winter snow.”
“A hard life?” said Céline. How could Alcryst have had a hard life if he was the same age as her? “What made it hard?”
“It was…a very lonely life,” her mother said slowly. “He didn’t have any family until he met Diamant.” She placed a hand on Céline’s shoulder. “Anyhow. What Alcryst needs is kindness and warmth to thaw the frozen parts of his heart. Something like, perhaps…” She smiled and reached up to stroke Céline’s cheek. “A smile as warm as the sunshine in spring.” She tilted her head to one side. “Can you do that for him, my daughter?”
“Okay!” said Céline. She might not have understood everything her mother had just said, but she got the idea. Alcryst was kind of sad, and her mother and Diamant wanted her to make him happy. She could do that!
Her mother straightened up again, and a moment later, Diamant came back into the room, bringing Alcryst with him. Alcryst, still holding his brother’s hand, looked over at Céline.
“All right,” said Diamant, letting go of Alcryst’s hand. “Why don’t you two get to know each other?”
Céline walked up to Alcryst and took his hand. “Hello, Alcryst,” she said, smiling at him. “Why don’t I show you around the castle? If we’re going to be friends, we’ll probably play here a lot!”
Alcryst looked a little surprised. “Okay,” he said, holding tight to Céline’s hand. “I’ll follow you.”
Still smiling, Céline walked out of the room, and her new friend Alcryst walked beside her, holding her hand the whole time.
—----------------
After that, Alcryst’s brother brought him over to the castle every day so he could play with Princess Céline. The princess was so kind, more kind than Alcryst deserved, and for some reason she always smiled happily when she saw him.
Was there really anything about him worth smiling about?
Even a few weeks after he’d met Princess Céline, Alcryst still felt tense and nervous around Diamant, who was his big brother now, and Princess Céline, who was his friend now. He couldn’t get used to this new life he had in the Kingdom of Firene, with family and friends and flowers. This new life spending every day with the princess of Firene!
Diamant kept telling him that there was nothing to worry about, that it was okay, that Firene was a wonderful place and Princess Céline was such a good friend. Alcryst agreed about Firene and Princess Céline to a certain extent, but he wasn’t sure about the rest.
He always felt just a little better when he saw Princess Céline smile at him, though.
And then one day, not even a month after he’d met Princess Céline, it was December eighteenth, which Queen Ève had told him was the princess’s eighth birthday. There was going to be a special birthday celebration at the castle, and the cook was going to serve all of Princess Céline’s favorite sweets.
Alcryst didn’t know very much about birthdays, but Diamant had told him a few days before that it would be nice to give Princess Céline a birthday present. So they’d bought one at a shop together, and now, on the day itself, Diamant had said that Alcryst had probably learned his way around enough to walk to the castle on his own. Then he’d said, “Have a good time, little brother.”
And now here Alcryst was, walking up to the castle (it somehow looked even bigger when Diamant wasn’t next to him), hugging a wrapped box of tea leaves to his chest. He kept taking deep breaths like Diamant had taught him, but he must be doing it wrong, because it didn’t really help.
This was one of the tea blends that Princess Céline said she really liked, right? He hadn’t gotten mixed up and spent Diamant’s valuable money on tea that she wouldn’t like, had he? Had he?
Just as Alcryst’s thoughts were starting to spiral, the guards opened the castle doors, snapping him out of his thoughts. “You’re the princess’s friend, right?” one of them said. “She’s been waiting for you.”
“Oh,” said Alcryst, looking up at the guards. “Um. Thank you.”
Hugging Princess Céline’s birthday present even tighter, he walked into the castle. Only a moment later, Princess Céline ran up to him, her long blond hair flying out behind her in her speed. There was a big smile on her face.
“Alcryst!” she said, stopping in front of him and clasping her hands. “It’s so good to see you!”
“Hello, Princess Céline,” Alcryst said nervously. “Um…happy birthday.” He glanced down at the box in his arms. “I brought you something…”
“Oh, thank you!” said Princess Céline. “May I take it?”
Alcryst held out the box, and Princess Céline took it.
“Want to go to my room?” she asked. “I’ll open it there.” She giggled. “I’m not allowed in most of the rooms downstairs right now. My parents are busy setting things up for my birthday. So we should go to my room instead!”
“Okay,” said Alcryst. “I’ll follow you.”
Princess Céline took one of her hands away from her present so she could hold hands with Alcryst, and she led him upstairs to her bedroom. Once they were there, she unwrapped the present, setting the wrapping on her bed, and opened the box.
“Oh, I love this tea!” she said, her green eyes lighting up. “Thank you, Alcryst!”
“I’m so relieved you like it,” said Alcryst, his quickly beating heart starting to calm down.
Princess Céline walked over to her dresser and set the box of tea on it. “There,” she said, turning to face Alcryst again. “Now I’ll remember to have some tomorrow.” She tilted her head to the side. “By the way, when’s your birthday, Alcryst?”
Alcryst froze. What was Princess Céline going to think when he told her? Would she think it was weird? Would she pity him? He’d heard from the townspeople that her family had celebrated her birthday with presents and sweets every year, but he himself had never…
“I…I don’t know,” he said, looking down at the floor.
“You don’t know your birthday?” said Princess Céline. But she didn’t sound shocked or pitying. She just sounded curious.
“I don’t know where I came from,” said Alcryst, still looking at the floor. “I don’t know who my parents were. Up until Diamant found me on the streets and adopted me a couple of months ago, I was alone. I didn’t even have a name until Diamant named me. So…I don’t know when my birthday is.”
There was silence for a moment. Then Princess Céline said, “If you don’t know your birthday, why don’t we share mine?”
Alcryst looked up at her in surprise. “Huh?”
“Your birthday can be December eighteenth, just like mine!” said Princess Céline, walking up to him and catching up his hands. “It doesn’t matter if you can’t remember your old birthday.” She squeezed his hands and gave him a huge smile. “We’ll celebrate our birthdays together and make lots of happy memories!”
Alcryst’s breath caught as he met her eyes. The princess’s smile was so warm.
Her smile made him feel warm, too…
“Okay…” he said softly. “Thank you, Princess Céline.”
Then there came the sound of running feet, and Princess Céline’s older brother, Prince Alfred, poked his head into the room.
“Hey, Céline!” he said with a playful grin. “The birthday meal’s all ready! Mom sent me to fetch you. And Alcryst, too. Come on!”
“Okay!” Princess Céline called to her brother, then turned back to Alcryst. “Let’s go celebrate our birthday!”
Our birthday. Not my birthday. It was theirs now.
She was still giving him her warm smile.
“Okay,” said Alcryst. “I’ll follow you, Princess Céline.”
—----------------
Céline put her napkin on her lap and smiled over at Alcryst, who looked a little nervous as he sat in the chair next to her. When he saw the napkin on Céline’s lap, Alcryst hastily grabbed his own napkin and copied her.
Céline gave Alcryst a smile she hoped would reassure him—no one would comment if he was clumsy with his napkin, after all, especially on his birthday—then looked over at her parents and her brother, who were sitting across from her at the table.
“We’re starting with your favorite vegetable soup, of course,” said her mother, nodding at the bowl in front of Céline. “You can’t eat only sweets for lunch, after all.”
“Mother,” Céline said, but she wasn’t complaining. She breathed in the smell of her favorite soup and let out her breath in an “Mmmm.”
“Happy birthday, Céline!” said Alfred. “Soon as you’re done with your soup, the fruit pies are waiting for you!” He grinned. “I won’t even eat any of it until you’ve gotten your first slice. You know, for your birthday!”
Céline laughed. “You’d better not eat my fruit pie before I get a taste, big brother,” she said. “But anyway, it’s Alcryst’s birthday too. He’s eight years old today, just like me! So you should say happy birthday to Alcryst, too.”
“It’s Alcryst’s birthday too?” said Alfred. “Nice. Happy birthday, Alcryst! Sorry I didn’t say that sooner!”
“N-No, it’s okay,” said Alcryst, waving his hand. “You didn’t know. Um…thank you, Prince Alfred.”
Céline’s mother gave her a smile that showed she knew it wasn’t a coincidence that Alcryst had the same birthday as Céline. Then she nodded to Alcryst. “We’re very happy to celebrate our daughter’s birthday and her friend’s birthday. Let us eat!”
No one talked much for a little while after that, since Céline was busy enjoying her vegetable soup and, eventually, her fruit pie. She looked over at Alcryst a few times during the meal, and although he didn’t smile (she’d never seen him smile, come to think of it), he seemed happy as he ate.
When her father cut a slice of fruit pie and put it on Céline’s dessert plate, then served Alcryst a piece as well, Céline looked over at her friend.
“Our castle cook makes wonderful sweets,” she said. Alcryst stared at the fruit pie for a moment, then looked over at her. “I always love having these on my birthday. And by the way…” She folded her hands in her lap. “I want to thank you for coming.”
“You do?” said Alcryst.
“Of course I do!” said Céline. “Getting to spend my birthday—sorry, our birthday—with you, Alcryst…” She beamed at him. “It makes me so happy!”
Alcryst’s eyes went wide. “Y-You’re so kind, Princess Céline…” He looked down at his lap. “Thank you for being my friend.”
“And thank you for being my friend!” said Céline.
It looked like Alcryst was starting to open up. Now Céline was more excited than ever to make lots and lots of happy memories with him.
And she hoped that someday when she smiled, she’d get to see him smile back.
—----------------
Remembering just in time that Diamant had said he didn’t have to knock, Alcryst turned the doorknob with his free hand and opened the door. “I’m home,” he said.
Home. He had a home. It was still hard to believe.
“Alcryst!” said Diamant, smiling as he turned around in his chair. “Welcome home! What’s that you’ve got with you?”
Alcryst came the rest of the way into the house and held out the book he’d carried home. “It’s a book about archeology. Queen Ève told me to lend it to you.”
“Oh, right! That book I was hoping to study,” said Diamant, standing up and walking over to Alcryst to take the book. “Thank you, Alcryst. I’ll have to thank Queen Ève later.” He walked back to his desk to set the book on it, then turned around again. “So how was Princess Céline’s birthday party? Did you have a good time?”
Alcryst nodded. “Princess Céline said that she was happy I was there. And the food was really good. And…”
“And?” said Diamant, kneeling down in front of him.
“And…when I said I didn’t know when my birthday was…” said Alcryst, “Princess Céline didn’t pity me or think it was weird. She even gave me a birthday…it’s December eighteenth, just like hers.”
Diamant’s eyes widened.
“And…and then she smiled at me,” said Alcryst.
Diamant held out his arms and ever so gently pulled Alcryst into a hug.
“I’m so happy to hear that,” said Diamant. “Happy birthday, little brother.”
For the first time, Alcryst didn’t tense up when Diamant hugged him. Instead, he leaned into the hug and up against his brother’s shoulder.
“The smile Princess Céline gave me…” Alcryst closed his eyes. “...was so warm…”
When she smiled at me like that, I felt this warmth in my chest…
It was like there had been ice inside me, and her smile had melted it away.
—----------------
During the short Firene winter, Céline and Alcryst played together every day, though Céline couldn’t help feeling a little impatient for spring. In spring, the pretty springtime flowers would bloom again, and the birds would come back and start singing their songs.
Even by the time winter snow had started to melt, Céline still hadn’t seen Alcryst smile. He was getting more expressive and more sure of himself, but he hadn’t smiled yet. Céline hoped she’d see him smile soon, and she wondered what his smile would look like.
Then spring finally came to Firene, and when the birds started singing again, Céline suggested to Alcryst one morning that they play somewhere other than the castle. There was somewhere she wanted to show him.
Céline’s parents were okay with her going to the watchtower as long as she told them that she wanted to go there. Besides, she wasn’t going to the watchtower alone this time—she was going with Alcryst!
Her father gave them permission to go to the watchtower together, and Céline excitedly took Alcryst’s hand and led him out of the castle and toward one of her favorite places in the world.
“You can see so much of Firene from the top of the watchtower,” she said as they started climbing the stairs. “The flower fields look so pretty from up high! It takes a while to climb the stairs, but when I’m finally up there, I forget how long it took.” She turned to look at Alcryst, who was climbing the stairs just behind her. “There’s something I want to show you at the top. Not just the view.”
“Okay,” said Alcryst. “I’m sure it must be wonderful, Princess Céline.”
Céline smiled at him, then faced forward again and kept climbing the stairs.
When Céline finally reached the top of the watchtower, she reached out her hand to Alcryst and pulled him up onto the top after her. Both of them knelt down on the flat stone roof and caught their breath, worn out by all the stairs.
Once they’d caught their breath, Céline stood up again and reached out to Alcryst again, helping him to his feet. A warm spring breeze blew past them and ruffled their hair.
“We finally made it!” said Céline. “And now…”
At that very moment, she heard the sound of fluttering wings. A flock of little orange birds, the kind her mother liked to call “Yune,” flew over Céline and Alcryst’s heads, chirping joyfully as the spring sunshine shone on them. There were even more birds than usual—this was the biggest, most beautiful flock Céline had ever seen!
“Wow,” Alcryst gasped, shielding his eyes from the sun as he stared up at the birds. “They’re so beautiful…”
“Aren’t they?” said Céline. “The birds love flying over the watchtower at this time of day. They always look so beautiful.” She smiled at the birds, then at her friend. “I’ve wanted so much to show you, Alcryst!”
“You have?” said Alcryst, looking over at her. “Thank you, Princess Céline.”
And then he smiled.
It was a very small, shy smile, but it was also so sweet and warm. Alcryst’s eyes shone as he smiled at her.
Céline gasped. Alcryst was smiling! He was finally smiling! And he had the nicest smile Céline had ever seen.
“Yes!” Céline cheered, giving a happy little jump. “Alcryst is smiling! My friend is smiling!”
Alcryst looked a little embarrassed about that, but he was still smiling.
Céline took Alcryst’s hand and gave it a happy squeeze. “I finally got to see you smile! I’m so happy.”
“Princess Céline…” said Alcryst, still smiling. “I…um…” He looked up at the sky. “Can we go see the birds again sometime?”
“Of course!” said Céline. “I’d love to see them with you again, Alcryst!”
And I’d love to see your smile again, too.
—----------------
“It’s good to be home again, isn’t it?” said Diamant, looking around. “We found some great things on that dig, but I missed our little house.”
Alcryst nodded and started putting their clothes back in the dresser.
“How’s your hand doing?” Diamant asked.
“Oh…it’s fine,” said Alcryst. He looked down at his right hand, which was wrapped up in bandages. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Diamant sighed as he unpacked his archeology books. “That’s a relief,” he said. “Just…be careful, all right? It scared me when you suddenly burned your hand.”
Alcryst lowered his head. “I’m sorry.”
Diamant looked over at him. “There’s nothing to apologize for, Alcryst. Accidents happen.”
“But you used so much burn medicine on me,” said Alcryst. “I’m so sorry…”
“Don’t even try to talk to me about money,” said Diamant. Alcryst looked up again in surprise, and Diamant smiled at him. “All I’m doing is worrying about my little brother.”
“...I’m sorry,” Alcryst repeated.
Diamant looked sad to hear that, but he nodded.
Suddenly, someone knocked. Alcryst and Diamant turned to look at the door.
“Come in!” Diamant called.
The door flew open, and Princess Céline ran inside. “Good afternoon!” she said, a beaming smile on her face. “My mother said that you’d be back from your travels by now!”
“Well, she was right,” said Diamant, smiling back. “Here we are! It’s good to see you, Princess Céline. I know Alcryst missed you.”
“I missed him too,” said Princess Céline, looking over at Alcryst and giving him the sweet, warm smile he hadn’t seen for three weeks. “Welcome home, Alcryst!”
Welcome home. What a wonderful phrase that was. Alcryst smiled and set down the folded clothes he was holding. “Thank you, Princess Céline.”
Princess Céline ran up to Alcryst. Then she saw his hand, and her eyes went wide.
“What happened to your hand?” she asked. “It doesn’t hurt, does it? Have you seen a doctor?”
“Um…” said Alcryst, taking a startled step back.
Diamant straightened up. “I’ll make the two of you some tea,” he said. “Why don’t you take Princess Céline into the other room and tell her what happened, Alcryst?”
A few minutes later, the two friends were sitting on the edge of Alcryst’s bed, and Alcryst had explained how, a couple of days ago, he’d been careless and burned his hand. And how it didn’t hurt. And how he hadn’t seen a doctor, but it was a mild burn and Diamant had coated his hand with burn ointment.
“It’s okay,” said Alcryst. “It wasn’t anyone’s fault. I was just clumsy with something hot.”
“I’m glad you’re all right,” said Princess Céline, gently holding his bandaged hand in both of hers and looking down at it. “I hope your hand heals soon.”
“I’m sorry,” said Alcryst, looking down at his hand in hers.
“What are you apologizing for?” Princess Céline asked.
“You had such a worried look on your face,” said Alcryst.
“There’s nothing wrong with worrying,” said Princess Céline. “It’s just a thing we do.”
“I…I know,” said Alcryst, looking back up at her. “It’s just…”
“What is it?” Princess Céline asked.
“When Diamant was worrying about me earlier…” Alcryst swallowed. “...I apologized to him, and then he looked so sad.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to be a burden. I don’t want him to have to worry, not after he’s done so much for me! But whenever I apologize to him, he looks so…”
Alcryst trailed off and sighed.
Princess Céline looked thoughtful. “I think I might have an idea,” she said after a moment. “How about…” She smiled. “The next time he worries about you, instead of apologizing, try saying…” She leaned over and whispered in his ear.
A few minutes after that, Diamant arrived with a tray holding two cups of steaming tea. “The tea’s ready,” he said. “Alcryst’s told me that this is one of your favorites, Princess Céline.”
Princess Céline took a deep breath of the steam. “Yes!” she said. “I love this tea!”
Diamant set the tray down on Alcryst’s bedside table and handed the first cup to Princess Céline. “The cups are pretty hot,” he said to Alcryst. “Be careful with your hand, all right?”
“I will,” said Alcryst. “...Thank you, Diamant.”
Diamant stared at him wide-eyed for a moment, then smiled and pulled him into a hug. “You’re welcome, Alcryst.”
Alcryst turned his head in Diamant’s arms and looked over at Princess Céline, who took a sip of tea and smiled at him.
“Thank you, too,” Alcryst mouthed to his friend.
—----------------
The months turned into years, and Céline and Alcryst remained the closest of friends. Alcryst gradually became more open and expressive, smiling more and more often as he started to put his early childhood behind him. The day that Alcryst laughed for the first time was a day that Céline knew she would treasure forever.
Céline and Alcryst were always there for each other, through the happy days and the sad days and everything in between. They comforted each other after bad dreams and supported each other through their challenges and insecurities. When Alcryst became old enough to follow in his brother’s footsteps and start training to become an archeologist himself, Céline cheered him on every step of the way, often coming to visit him at the dig sites.
Still, even once they had known each other for over half their lives, Alcryst still used Céline’s royal title. Céline knew that politeness was an important part of who Alcryst was, and she appreciated that about him, but still, it was a little silly that he still called his friend “Princess Céline” instead of just “Céline.”
Eventually Céline asked him to call her by just her name. Alcryst was visibly startled by this request, but he promised to do his best to call her just Céline. He still used the “Princess” title relatively often, but this was always followed by a quick apology (no matter how many times Céline told him that it wasn’t something he needed to apologize for) followed by a “I mean, um…Céline.”
It was soon after Alcryst managed to consistently call her by just her name that Céline started to wonder why she felt so much better when her dear childhood friend treated her as an equal rather than as the princess of Firene. Well, they had been each other’s first, best, and only friends for close to ten years now, but still, it felt like there was more to it than that.
And there was the way she felt warm inside whenever he smiled at her. The way she wanted to hug him whenever he laughed joyfully at the sight of the birds flying over the watchtower. The way she’d started to come to the dig sites almost every workday just to see him.
Her heart beating fast as she sat in her room one evening and mulled over all of her fondest memories, Céline realized that she had started to see Alcryst as more than a friend. Far more.
Was there any chance he might feel the same way about her?
—----------------
Dear Diary, Céline and I celebrated our seventeenth birthday today, Alcryst wrote the evening of another December eighteenth. I can’t believe how long we’ve known each other by now. Sometimes I wish I could visit my seven-year-old self and reassure him that one day he’ll be happier than he could imagine. That he’ll share a birthday with his dearest friend, the princess.
We’ve come a long way from our eighth birthday, the day she gave me her birthday as a present and all I could give her in return was some tea. Today I gave her a new pair of butterfly hairclips that I found at a shop, and she gave me a brooch shaped like one of our favorite flowers. Her smile when she opened the box made me feel so warm, even more than her smile usually does.
But…when she hugged me before I went home, I realized that I’ve started to see her as more than a friend. And I know I shouldn’t feel this way! Céline deserves far better. She’s the princess of Firene, next in line for the throne after her brother, and I…I’m just a trainee archeologist. One day, Céline’s going to marry a wonderful person, and I’ll just scatter the flower petals at their feet and then have a good cry after the wedding.
You’re the only one who’s ever going to know how much I love her, dear diary. I’m sorry to unload this on you, but it’s not like I can tell Diamant about this. He’s the one who introduced me to Céline in the first place—and he wanted us to be friends, just friends! I’m certain he never intended for me to fall in love with her!
Alcryst dropped his chin into his free hand and sighed. What a thing for him to realize on his birthday. The birthday Céline had been so kind as to share with him ever since they were children.
We’ll celebrate our birthdays together and make lots of happy memories!
She was right. Many of Alcryst’s happiest memories were of their shared birthdays. He should’ve known he’d fall in love with her one day, after all she’d done for him. How kind she’d always been to him, even when he’d just been Diamant’s new little brother and his heart had still been frozen over from his past.
Maybe I’ve always loved her and I just didn’t know…
He looked down at his diary again, managed to wrap up the day’s entry, and signed his name at the bottom.
Then he touched the brooch that Céline had given him. He’d pinned it onto his favorite jacket, right over his heart.
He should go to bed now. Maybe, if he was lucky, he’d dream about Céline.
Alcryst let out another sigh and closed his journal.
—----------------
The next day, Céline and Alcryst met up at Firene Castle again. There wasn’t any archeology work to be done today, so they could spend the day together.
Alcryst looked so shy as he greeted Céline. Almost sad. It reminded her of their first meeting when they were children.
“Alcryst?” said Céline. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh…it’s nothing,” said Alcryst, touching the brooch that Céline had given him yesterday. “Is there anything particular you want to do today, Céline?”
“All I want is to spend the day with you,” said Céline. “You’ll have to get back to work at the dig sites tomorrow, after all. So I want to make the most of today.”
And you seem sad today for some reason. I want to figure out what’s on your mind and help you feel better.
“Then maybe…we could go outside?” Alcryst suggested. “The winter’s especially mild this year…there isn’t any snow yet.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” said Céline. “Now, we could take a walk in the gardens, but…” She smiled. “Why don’t we visit the watchtower?”
“All right,” said Alcryst. “I’ll follow your lead.”
Once they were outside the castle and heading toward the watchtower, Céline reached out and took Alcryst’s hand in hers. His eyes widened, even though they’d held hands plenty of times before.
It was true that now that Céline knew how she really felt about Alcryst, it felt strange to be holding his hand. After all, childhood friends held hands, but so did…lovers.
She felt her heart beating faster.
But then, why would holding hands have startled Alcryst? It wasn’t like he knew how she felt…
Don’t think about that now, she told herself. You’re worried about him, because he seems sad today. You want him close to you, so you’re holding his hand. And he’s holding your hand, too. He’s not pulling away…
Céline took a deep breath and kept walking toward the watchtower, Alcryst walking beside her.
“Are you all right, Céline?” Alcryst asked, squeezing her hand. “You seem nervous.”
“I’m fine,” said Céline. “Let’s see if there will be any birds atop the watchtower.”
Both of them were quiet the rest of the way, Céline reluctantly letting go of Alcryst’s hand so they could climb the stairs more easily. Once they were both at the top of the watchtower, they sat down side by side, and Céline looked over at Alcryst again.
“Now tell me, my friend,” she said. “My dearest friend.” She took a deep breath. “There’s something on your mind, isn’t there? Please, tell me what’s wrong.”
—----------------
Tell me what’s wrong.
What a thing for Céline to ask of him.
She was being as gentle and kind as always. For her, this must be just like comforting him after a nightmare, or asking him how he’d injured his hand, or simply giving him the warmth that had thawed his frozen heart when they were children.
But this wasn’t something that Céline could help with. She couldn’t soothe his longing.
Alcryst looked up at the sky. There weren’t any birds in sight, but he thought he could hear a faint note of birdsong.
“It…it was nice spending time with you on our birthday yesterday,” he said. It wasn’t what Céline was asking, but he just couldn’t tell her the truth.
Then he looked over at her and did a double take.
“You’re wearing the hairclips I gave you.”
“Of course I am,” said Céline. “They’re a gift from you, and they’re lovely.” She smiled. “And you’re wearing the brooch I gave you.”
“Because it’s beautiful,” said Alcryst. Just like you.
“I’m happy to hear it,” said Céline, but Alcryst saw that her smile looked sad. “I chose it especially for you.” Her face grew more serious. “But Alcryst…you’re avoiding my question.”
She placed her hand on his, and Alcryst’s heart gave a jump.
“You’re my childhood friend, and I’m worried about you,” she said. “And we’ve always been there for each other, haven’t we? Please, tell me what’s wrong.”
Alcryst nervously met her eyes. Her kind green eyes.
“It can be anything,” Céline continued. “I won’t judge you. You know that, don’t you?”
Alcryst nodded. “I know. It’s just, I…I…”
A chilly wind blew past them.
“It’s all right,” Céline said softly. “Please tell me, Alcryst.”
“I…” Alcryst’s heart beat fast. “I…”
And then the words spilled out.
“I love you, Céline!”
Céline gasped, her hands moving to her mouth.
“I love you,” Alcryst repeated, clenching his hands. “I know I shouldn’t…I know we’re childhood friends, and I know we’re from such different walks of life…but I fell in love with you anyway. I’m sorry…I should just leave. I’ll head straight back down the watchtower and…”
Céline’s hands suddenly gripped his shoulders, keeping him where he was.
“Please don’t leave,” she said. “Please stay here with me. It’s okay, Alcryst…” She smiled shyly. “...My love.”
Alcryst gasped. The world was spinning around him. “Céline…are you saying…”
“Yes,” said Céline. “I am. I love you too, Alcryst.”
Her smile was so gentle. And her gaze…oh, her gaze was so loving.
She let go of his shoulders and took his hands in hers.
“Céline…” Alcryst breathed. “I never would have imagined…”
“Neither did I, at first,” Céline admitted. “But now I feel like this was meant to happen. I think I’ve felt something for you ever since the day Diamant introduced me to his adoptive brother.”
“I think…I think I have too, actually,” Alcryst said shyly. “Thank you, Céline…for everything.”
His face felt hot as he looked at her sweet smile.
“Céline…” Alcryst swallowed, his heart beating fast. “Is it okay if I…?”
—----------------
Céline and Alcryst slowly drew closer to each other, their hearts beating fast from amazement and love. Alcryst shyly whispered a request in a voice almost too soft to be heard, and Céline leaned in close as she whispered her answer.
As their lips met for the first time, they heard the flutter of wings, and a flock of birds took flight, sweeping past the two of them over the tower. For the briefest moment, Céline and Alcryst felt as though they had grown wings themselves, as though they were in the sky with the birds.
When they pulled apart, their eyes shining, they smiled at each other. And each of them saw the warmest smile that they had ever known.