Rahina's POV
A few days after the banquet, I still hadn't seen Almi.
I wanted to ask if he got home safely… or if he got lost somewhere along the way. A quiet worry lingered in my chest. I hadn't seen him since that night. What if he was upset with me? Maybe he thought I abandoned him at the hideout. Or worse, maybe he felt awkward about what happened… embarrassed.
It honestly didn't matter to me. If anything, I figured he might just be dealing with something personal. The alcohol probably just brought it out.
"Rahina, dear. Would you mind accompanying me to the town market today?" a co-worker called out, her voice warm but firm. I didn't remember her name, but I recognized her face well enough. "I need to buy some ingredients. Would you be willing to help carry them?"
I turned to her with a small smile and gave a polite nod."Of course. Thank you for inviting me."
Finally… a chance to go out.
As we walked along the long road from the palace to the market, the sun hung lazily above us. The journey took nearly an hour at a steady pace, and the path was lined with patches of dry grass that swayed gently with the breeze. Every now and then, carts passed by, their wooden wheels creaking against the dirt road.
"Tell me, child," my companion spoke again, glancing at me from the corner of her eye, "have you remembered anything yet? Anything from before your accident?"
I lowered my gaze, lightly clutching the fabric of my dress."I'm afraid not… I'm sorry."
How could I possibly tell them the truth? That I wasn't the Rahina they once knew? They wouldn't believe me. Not in a place like this.
When we finally reached the market, it was already alive with noise. Vendors called out to customers, children ran between stalls, and the scent of spices and roasted food filled the air.
I followed closely behind her, carrying the bags she could no longer manage. My eyes wandered, taking in everything around me.
Then I saw it.
A candy stall.
Red… with white swirls wrapped around it. Thick. Glossy. Almost identical to something I'd seen before.
I blinked, slowing my steps.
No way…
"Can you wait me for a while?," I said quickly, setting down one of the baskets near my companion. "I just want to ask something."
Before she could respond, I was already making my way toward the stall. Children crowded around it, eagerly handing over coins and receiving the bright candies in return.
"Excuse me," I said, leaning slightly toward the vendor, who was busy wrapping a purchase. "May I ask where this came from? And how it's made?"
The old woman smiled, clearly proud."Ah, this? It was my grandson's idea. He's only five years old, but very clever. He discovered that sweets like these attract children easily. Look at them," she gestured toward the laughing kids, "their smiles say everything."
A five-year-old…?
"I see…" I murmured, studying the candy more closely. "May I buy one?"
After paying, I returned to my companion, holding the candy carefully in my hand.
"Sorry about that," I said. "I got curious about it."
She chuckled softly."No need to apologize. I've heard those are quite popular with children. Very sweet, they say."
When we got back, I unwrapped the candy and snapped it in half. The crisp sound echoed faintly as I handed one piece to her.
"You can have this."
She accepted it with a grateful smile, while I examined my own piece before taking a bite.
"Yeah," I whispered to myself, almost amused. "Just like a candy cane… a bit minty too."
I let out a quiet breath, staring at it for a moment longer.
Whoever made this… might be like me.
But I decided not to pry. Whoever they were, they seemed to be doing well. Maybe even helping their family thrive.
Good for them.
Almi's POV
For days, I avoided Rahina.
Every time I thought about facing her, a strange fear gripped me. What if she confronted me about what happened that night? What if she looked at me differently… or worse, stopped talking to me entirely?
So I kept my distance.
I adjusted my routine, choosing to eat only when I knew she would be there, silently sitting across from her without daring to speak. My words felt trapped in my throat, refusing to come out.
And yet…
There I was.
Following her.
I kept a careful distance, blending into the crowd as she moved through the marketplace. My curiosity outweighed my fear. I wanted to know what she did… how she acted… whether she was still the same.
Then, suddenly, I lost sight of her.
"Where did she go?"
Before I could react, I felt a hand land firmly on my shoulder.
"Who are you hiding from?"
That voice.
My heart leapt violently as I turned around.
"R-Rahina... I... no one! I'm not hiding from anyone," I stammered, forcing an awkward laugh. "Why would I be hiding? What could I have possibly done wrong?"
She raised a brow, clearly unconvinced.
"You've been avoiding me for days," she said, crossing her arms. "And now you're just here?"
I scratched the back of my neck, looking away."I… have been busy."
A lie.
She stared at me for a moment longer, then sighed softly. The tension in her shoulders eased.
"How have you been?" she asked instead, her tone unexpectedly gentle.
"I've been… well," I replied, straightening my posture, though my eyes still refused to meet hers.
"Really?" she tilted her head slightly. "You didn't get scolded for coming home late? No hangover or anything?"
"Late? Hangover?" I repeated, frowning.
She blinked, then waved a hand dismissively.
"Ah, right. Late means going home past the expected time. Hangover is what happens after drinking too much. Headaches, nausea, stuff like that."
"I see…" I nodded slowly. "Then no. None of that happened. Thank you for your concern, Rahina."
I waited.
Surely… she would mention it now.
What I did.
But she didn't.
Instead, she suddenly reached into her pocket.
"Oh, wait." She pulled something out and held it toward me. "Here."
I looked down.
A red object… slightly crushed, with faint white swirls.
"What is this?" I asked cautiously.
"It's candy. Eat it. Might help lift your mood. You've been looking pretty down lately."
"Candy…" I echoed, unfamiliar with the term. Then I gave a small, amused smile. "The only thing I understood from what you said is that I should eat it."
She laughed lightly.
"Yeah. Just eat it."
I broke off a small piece and placed it in my mouth.
For a moment, I said nothing.
"Hmmm... It's sweet," I murmured. Then my brows lifted slightly in surprise. "But also… cool on the tongue."
Rahina's lips curved into a soft smile. She watched me closely, almost expectantly.
"Told you it's good. Go on, finish it."
There was something in her expression… Warm. Gentle.
Like an older sibling watching over someone younger.
And for reasons I could not explain.
That alone made the sweetness linger a little longer.