To Get What You Want (3)

Did I tease her too much?

Theorad could hardly blame Ashley for being upset. She must have gone to the stables early that morning and made careful arrangements simply to please him. Having the person she'd done it for make fun of her would be enough to irritate a saint.

“Never mind who prepared it,” he said. “The important thing is that we can ride it to the lake.”

He smiled and approached the horse. Ashley followed a step behind, still looking rather aggrieved.

Theorad untied the tether and moved alongside the animal.

“Wait there for a moment. I'll get on first.”

Taking hold of the mane, he set his foot in the stirrup and mounted with practiced ease.

It was a large horse, the sort that might have made mounting awkward, but his movements were as neat as a riding instructor's.

Once seated, he held out his hand to Ashley.

“Come on. Take my hand.”

Ashley looked up and forgot what she was supposed to do.

Sunlight filtered through the branches overhead, falling across Theorad's face and shoulders. His sturdy build, neat clothes, sharp jaw and clear light-brown eyes made her heart beat faster.

He's looking only at me…

That simple thought filled her with an unfamiliar, almost reckless happiness.

“…Ashley?”

She flinched, but her mind took another moment to catch up.

“Y-yes?”

“You're awfully quiet. Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, no. I'm sorry. I was thinking about something else.”

“I see. Well, climb up. You were the one who wanted to visit the lake.”

“Yes!”

She answered almost like a soldier reporting for duty, seized his hand and put her foot into the stirrup.

She stumbled halfway up. Theorad caught and supported her back before she could fall.

Once she was seated behind him, Ashley timidly laid her hands at his waist.

He pulled her hands snugly around his waist.

“Th-that…”

The words dissolved into an embarrassed sound. Her face had gone bright red.

This closeness was precisely what she'd wanted when she arranged for one horse. Theorad, who couldn't see her expression, spoke as matter-of-factly as ever.

“Hold on to my waist properly. I have the reins, but you don't have anything else to steady yourself with. If you fall, you could be badly injured. Safety comes first.”

“Y-yes. Of course…”

Theorad wondered why her voice shook, but didn't question her further.

He adjusted the reins and urged the horse onward. It moved off at a comfortable pace, neither too fast nor too slow. He kept the speed gentle for the woman seated behind him.

Theorad…

Ashley was grateful for his thoughtfulness. It seemed to be a part of him so natural that he never noticed it himself.

He didn't seem to know how her gratitude had gradually become the love she felt today. That unawareness was one of the things she loved about him.

Smiling to herself, she looked over his shoulder at the passing scenery.

Beyond the drawbridge, the broad road was edged with yellow canola blossoms. The flowers made bright bands across the surrounding green fields.

As the rapeseed fields grew sparse, Theorad guided the horse off the main road onto a shortcut leading toward the lake.

White magnolias lined the narrower path, their open blossoms bright against the earth and sky. Their fragrance drifted on the wind.

Ashley knew this road, but she hadn't traveled it that year. The ground was too rough for a carriage, and she seldom had reason to use a shortcut accessible only on horseback.

Thank you, Theorad.

She understood why he had chosen this uneven path: he wanted to show her the magnolias, knowing how fond she was of flowers.

Moved by his attention, she held him a little more tightly.

Another ten minutes or so passed before the trees opened onto a broad, secluded clearing beside the lake.

“We're here.”

Theorad pulled gently on the reins, dismounted, and secured the horse to a nearby tree. Then he returned and helped Ashley down by the hand.

As her feet reached the ground, he smiled mischievously.

“Have you put on weight? You felt heavier than before.”

“…What?”

Ashley stared at him.

That can't be right!

She watched what she ate and kept up regular walks and stretches, wanting to look her best for him. Apart from her fuller breasts, she considered her figure well-proportioned and had never thought herself overweight.

Yet if Theorad had noticed a change…

Was it that chocolate I ate yesterday?

Recently, under so much strain, she'd sometimes allowed herself a small piece of homemade chocolate before bed. One piece couldn't possibly account for a change in weight, but his remark was enough to make her question herself.

I shouldn't have eaten it…

Reproaching herself, Ashley felt her eyes begin to sting.

“I'm joking.”

Theorad's warm smile suddenly seemed very irritating.

“I've never thought you were heavy, Ashley. Don't cry.”

He scratched his cheek uneasily beneath her stare.

“Sorry. Did I go too far?”

She said nothing.

“Ashley…?”

His concern was painfully evident. He was afraid that his teasing had truly hurt her.

Ashley watched him for a moment. Then, just as suddenly, she smiled.

“It's all right. I wasn't offended at all. More importantly, Sir Theorad, shall we go see the lake?”

“Ah. Of course.”

He had clearly done something wrong, but decided it was wiser not to argue with her about it.

They walked toward the water together.

The lake's surface shone between the trees. Locals called it Baegun Lake, for the morning mist that rose from the water like drifting clouds.

Despite its secluded appearance, it was a long-standing place of leisure for the people of the county.

Shops stood at intervals along the shore. Families sat on mats, eating refreshments and talking beneath the trees. A few passersby recognized Theorad and Ashley and greeted them; the couple smiled and nodded in return.

At the water's edge they stopped together.

“It's beautiful,” Ashley murmured.

“It is.”

Wisteria spread along the bank. Long clusters of pale-purple blossoms hung from the branches, lending the lakeside the appearance of a scene from a fairy tale.

It would be wonderful to read here with the breeze coming off the water, Theorad thought. I wonder what Ashley thinks.

I wish he'd hold my hand, Ashley thought. Should I ask him?

As though someone had given them a signal, they turned toward each other at the same moment.

Their eyes met. They both fell silent, suddenly more self-conscious than before, then cleared their throats and stood a little straighter.

The silence lingered.

Ashley reached into her purse and took out two small marbles.

Theorad looked at them curiously.

“What are those?”

“Truth marbles.”

“Truth marbles?”

“If you make a wish and throw one into the water, it leaves a red or blue glow on the surface. Red means you're lying, and blue means you're telling the truth.”

“They make things like that now?”

Ashley laughed with childlike delight.

“Aren't you curious? They're supposed to be popular magical tools. Try it with me, Sir Theorad.”

“I can't say I'm especially interested, but if you want to, I will.”

“Then take this one.”

Theorad accepted the marble. Apart from its smoothness, it felt like any ordinary glass bead.

“I'll go first.”

Ashley held her marble near her lips and whispered her wish.

“I wish Sir Theorad would always be well.”

She tossed it in a gentle arc. It struck the lake and sank, and after a short wait a faint blue glow appeared on the surface before fading.

“Oh.”

Theorad was more intrigued than he cared to admit. He lifted his own marble.

“I want Ashley to always be happy.”

He threw it into the water.

After it sank, a red glow rose and disappeared.

Huh?

Theorad went cold.

Ashley had said red meant falsehood. According to this ridiculous toy, his wish for her happiness was a lie.

M-me?

The result bewildered him. His wish had been entirely sincere. He hadn't told the smallest lie.

Yet the water had glowed red, and Ashley had seen it.

The marble must be broken!

The damned thing had accused him of lying. He wanted to rage at it, but the marble was already at the bottom of the lake.

He needed to explain somehow.

Trying to steady his breathing, Theorad turned toward Ashley.

She was staring down at the water as though the whole world had collapsed around her.

“Sir Theorad…”

She turned slowly, her face pale with shock.

“Do you… want me to be unhappy?”

There was not the slightest mercy in her gaze. At that instant, Theorad found Ashley more frightening than the elf.

He swallowed and put a hand to his chest.

“Absolutely not! I swear before the God of Light! With all my heart and on my family's honor, I wish for your happiness!”

“Then why… did the marble say you were lying?”

“Th-that…!”

He wanted to disappear into a hole in the ground. What could he say to disprove a lie detector that wasn't supposed to be wrong?

He stood trembling, unable to find an answer.

“Pfft.”

Was that a laugh?

Theorad stared in confusion as Ashley fought to contain herself.

Then she covered her mouth and burst into laughter.

When she finally caught her breath, she wiped her eyes and looked up at him.

“I'm sorry. It was a lie.”

“…What?”

“They're only toy marbles. They change color when they touch water. They can't tell whether anyone is lying.”

The tension left Theorad's body so abruptly that he nearly sagged where he stood.

“Then why would you…?”

“That was mean of you, wasn't it? Don't you remember?”

“Remember what?”

“You've teased me twice already today, Sir Theorad.”

“….”

Ashley leaned toward him with a mischievous smile. Her golden hair fell forward, framing the curve of her chest beneath it.

“So…”

She brought a hand to her mouth as though sharing a delightful secret.

“It's revenge.”

Looking at her playful expression, Theorad could only acknowledge that he'd brought it upon himself.