"Princess, sir Ijekiel is here," The maid announced, interrupting their date.

Athanasia blinked with a hum. Lucas rolled his eyes as he took a bite of the cake that the princess made for him. "Why's he always interrupts in a good time like this? Is he have magic to interrupt or something?"

Athanasia gave the older a smack with her spoon, he immediately apologizes after with a bow. "Can you tell him to come and join us?"

"Uh... He said that he wants to talk with you..." The maid eyed Lucas before continuing. "Alone..."

Lucas dropped his fork, earning a flinch from the maid. He frowned, scoffing. "Wow, he didn't even greet me as if I'm just a hallucination. I shouldn't have healed him before."

"What, are you jealous?" Athanasia teased as she stood up.

"I'm not!!" Lucas exclaimed, his eyes widened. "And where are you going?!"

"I'll be back, I'm sure that it's not important," Athanasia said with a chuckle. She gave the older a soft pinch on the cheek. "So don't be a baby and eat your favorite cake happily okay?"

"I'm not being a baby," Lucas grumbled, moving his face away from Athanasia's hand. "Go, don't make him wait longer."

Athanasia scoffed. "I don't know what to do with you... I'll go now, bye!"

She gave Lucas a peck on the cheek to at least put him in a good mood before going back inside to meet Ijekiel who is waiting for her.

As soon as she arrived, Ijekiel noticed her and immediately stood up to take a bow as a greeting. "Good day, Princess. I apologize for the sudden visit, I just wanted to say something to you."

"No it's okay," Athanasia said with a chuckle. "And please, sit down."

The two sat down across from each other, Ijekiel straightened himself as soon as the maid walked out of the room after putting down the tea that the princess ordered before coming in. He cleared his throat, blinking as he tried to make eye contact. "Remember when I said that I love to travel around the world to learn a lot from the other countries?"

Athanasia nodded as she took a sip of her Lippe tea, the aroma made her smile warmly. "Yeah, we were so young back then. I can still remember the excitement on your face as you said that and the comment that Lucas gave you after."

Ijekiel laughed. "Indeed. He was so harsh, though he's still harsh to me."

"That's how he teases, don't mind that black puppy."

"You're harsh too, princess."

"Am I?"

The two laughed after a moment of silence. It's been a long while since they've talked like this. The last time was 2 years ago when Ijekiel came back from graduating school in Arlanta. But he was busy helping with his father's work, he didn't have the time to fully hang out with his childhood friends, which saddened him and Athanasia.

What about Lucas?

...

"So," Athanasia finally stopped laughing, putting down her cup. "Why are you suddenly mentioning that? Are you really gonna travel?"

Ijekiel clasped his hands as he bit his bottom lip. He lets out a deep sigh and nodded. "Yeah, I talked about it with dad, and he kinda agrees with it... It's been my dream to travel to see new places, meet new people and learn some learnings that I haven't learned..."

"Wow," Athanasia breathed, not knowing what to say next which made Ijekiel chuckle.

"The world is very big, and I wanted to discover more things not just in books but in person," Ijekiel continued. "I just wanted you to know. You're the second person that I really want to talk this about."

"What about Lucas?" Athanasia chortled.

"What about him?" Ijekiel said in a teasing way. Athanasia laughed at the reply. "Well, he'll probably find about this through you so why bother telling him, he wouldn't even listen to whatever I say."

"Don't be like that. Jeez, you two are almost 20 yet you guys are still bickering like a married couple." Athanasia teased, looking away as she took a sip of her tea.

Ijekiel jumped at what the princess said, his face immediately looked in disgust. "Married couple??? What are you babbling about??? Such nonsense."

Athanasia laughed. "Am I wrong?"

Ijekiel rolled his eyes. "You're so cruel, princess," he said sarcastically making Athanasia laugh more. He also couldn't help but laugh with her.

After minutes of laughing, the two took a sip of their tea to calm themselves down but the smile on their faces was still there.

Athanasia let out a sigh, leaning back. "I'm gonna miss this. It's a shame that you have to go..."

"I will write you letters every week and send you some pictures too, princess," Ijekiel said, smiling sadly. "Even though it's not in person, I also want to show the whole world to you."

Athanasia looked up, her eyes slightly widened. She felt her cheek heat up, showing a pink shade. "I-Ijekiel..."

"I know it's a lame way to confess..." Ijekiel chuckled, scratching his nape. "But I wanted to confess to you personally before I go... Even though that you knew about my feelings about you."

Athanasia pursed her lips as she looked down at her hands that were resting on her lap. Ijekiel just smiled.

"And I know about between you and Lucas. I would be lying if I said that I'm okay with it, but you two are my good friends." Ijekiel chuckled. "I hope that you two will be happy. I would be happier even though that my feeling wasn't reciprocated."

Ijekiel paused and stood up, walking towards in front of Athanasia and kneeling as he took her hand. "It was a pleasure to love a lovely princess like you, princess."

"Ijekiel... I'm sorry..." Athanasia muttered sadly, to which the older replied with a smile.

Ijekiel was the only one whose feelings about her are still the same despite the loop in the past. He loved her over and over again and what's a greater love than Ijekiel's?

Athanasia wiped off the tears that were about to fall, she smiled. "And it was a pleasure to be loved by a loving man like you, Ijekiel."

Ijekiel smiled back and slowly kissed the back of her hand. He then stood up and straightened himself, sniffling as he fought back the tears. "Just tell me if Lucas did something idiotic again, I'll ditch all my travel plans and go back here in Obelia to teach him a lesson."

Athanasia laughed again. "You would do that?"

"Of course! That's what friends are for, right?" Ijekiel said confidently.

Athanasia stared at Ijekiel with soft eyes and smiled. "Then, I'll be expecting that."

---

"So when are you gonna start?" Athanasia asked, walking out of the room with Ijekiel.

Ijekiel lets out a hum. "Next week? I would like to look around Obelia first with father before starting my journey."

"Things between your father finally got sorted out, huh?" Athanasia smiled at the thought, earning a nod from the older. "I'm happy for you."

"Thanks..."

"You better come and visit us, alright?"

"Of course."

"That's a promise."

"Promise!"

".... Lucas' gonna miss you when he hears this."

"Really, princess? It's not funny."

"Pfft-"

---

🤧

anywaysss

3 more chapters to goooooo