NOVEL WEB Chapter 126: Sweet Gifts?
Marionette unconsciously lowered her phone at Millis's words. Communication was indeed the best solution to what was going on. But...
"I had intended to talk with her this morning."
Millis raised an eyebrow. "And...?"
Marionette raised her free hand and slowly lowered it onto her chest. "... I had an odd sensation in my chest that prevented me from going through with it. It felt... unpleasant."
Millis hunched over slightly with a deadpan expression. Was this woman serious?
"Dude... you never felt anxious before?"
"Since I always knew what to do... I never truly get anxious."
"You knew you needed to talk with her and yet you didn't?" She then facepalmed. "Anyway... you're going to need to do it soon. Or the next time you see her."
"Next time... I see her...?" Marionette tilted her head at her before glancing back to the front of the class and found Lillian and Reph had disappeared alongside everyone else.
Millis's tone returned back to how it usually was. "Ya didn't notice everyone left?"
"No... where did Lillian go?"
"I think she went off with Reph to discuss—"
BAM!
Millis jumped, staring at Marionette, who had quite the... intimidating expression on her face. Her eyes were narrowed, and the lower half of her face was behind her hands.
"Do you think... there is a possibility that Lillian will be... "taken" from me?" Marionette asked with a sharp glint passing through her eyes.
"Well..."
Millis slowly turned her gaze towards the ground and found a small dent in the wooden flooring just beneath Marionette's heel. She put on a shaky smile before having a fun idea.
She then rested her elbow against the desk and rested her cheek in her hand, "Isn't she being stolen away right now? Ya should definitely go after her~..."
The room seemingly went darker despite the lights being on before returning back to normal seconds later.
Marionette got up from her seat and briefly nodded before patting down the creases in her skirt. "Is that so... well then I should be off."
She then turned to her and said in a strained voice:
"Your advice today was very useful. And... thanks for leading me here."
After saying that, she left the room, leaving Millis to stare at her departure with a wry smile. She then sighed and stared out the window, "Oh boy... I think my little plan of getting her jealous worked a bit too well..."
***
Lillian scratched her head as she walked beside Reph. She glanced at the tall, modern buildings around her and the countless cars passing by. The two of them had decided to venture outside the realm.
She sighed, "Buying 30 tents and they all have to be within 200 Semis. This might get... hard."
Reph walked down the pavement with his hands in his pockets. He didn't seem troubled by the thought of the budget. Well... that could be because—
"Tents are that expensive huh?" He stared at her with a tilt of his head.
"Eh? You don't know?"
"I never had to buy a tent before. So I'm naive about these types of things."
"How about the shows you watch? Don't they tell you anything about them?"
"You expect me to remember every little detail when I go through like 5 a day?"
Lillian gave a wry smile. "Alright... let's just find a store. Maybe they would have some cheap ones."
Eventually, they found one, and although a bit unethical of them, the owner gave them an extremely high discount just for the Prince's presence in the store.
'Well... I guess this is a sponsor in a way. Although unintentional.' she glanced at the Prince to see him handing over the money. 'But... we only got 15... Fortunately, they're all big enough to fit at least two people inside of them.'
At the thought of two people, the image of Marionette popped into her head. She gave a silly smile. 'I mean... we're no strangers to sleeping in the same bed~...'
But did she even want to sleep with her?
She rubbed the back of her head. 'Either way... I'm not in the wrong. But I really hope that didn't cause her to hate me or something...'
After Reph paid and stored the tents in whatever he used as a spacial storage, he walked over to Lillian to see her fishing out a lollipop from a plastic jar.
Once Lillian was done grabbing what seemed to be a strawberry-flavoured lollipop, Reph asked:
"... If you have a coffee-flavoured one, could I have it?"
Lillian smiled and looked into a jar before pulling it out, "Here. But in exchange, could we make a short stop at a place that sells chocolate?"
"Hm? You want some chocolate?"
"Hehe... well... I want to get it for someone." While Lillian believed she was in the right, she felt like getting a gift for Marionette would do well in fixing whatever happened.
Reph raised an eyebrow. He then slightly widened his eyes in realisation, "Ah... yeah. I see no problems with that. In fact, would you like me to pay for it?"
"Eh you don't have to—" Lillian paused for a second before saying. "Actually, sure." She helping the Prince through "bagging" the assassin. Why not let him help her through small ways?
After doing that, they went home.
***
Marionette sighed. She was currently sitting on a bench around the Bazaar. She had been looking everywhere for Lillian or Reph. Well... it's either that or she has been wandering around in circles.
She tracked the "traces" left behind by the two before finding it coming to a stop. She sighed again before checking the time on her phone. It was almost lunchtime.
Where could they have possibly gone?
Was what Millis said to be true?
Was Lillian actually being stolen away from her?
Her lips stretched into a thin and shaky line. That couldn't be... they have a much better bond with one another, considering what they do with each other. Well... according to the "book" they do.
She fidgeted with the helm of her skirt with a frustrated expression.
A month ago, the Roselle family had sent her a letter detailing their thoughts on whether or not to side with the Royal Family or the Political parties against them.
Ultimately, she was the last member to decide between the two sides. It was currently 50-50. She was thinking of siding with the Head, who chose the Royal Family, but right now...
She was believing to think that the Royal Family was quite the threat—specifically, the Second Prince. She narrowed her eyes down at her lap before raising it.
Her eyes then landed on a familiar store in the Bazaar.
[Candelicious]
"Ah... I should get her a gift..." If Lillian disliked her for what she did yesterday, she should definitely get her a gift to ease her.
After getting up from her seat, she strolled towards it and entered. The chimes of the bell hanging above the door softly rang out, announcing her entry.
It had a charming interior with several candy-inspired decorations. The temperature was also a bit cool, possibly from the air conditioners. Soon enough she was met with service.
A young man in a pink and white striped uniform came up to her.
"Welcome! Are you looking for something to soothe your sweet tooth?"
"... Not mine... could you help me look for something that would work well as a gift?"
"A gift? Absolutely! Everyone loves candy as a gift, am I right? What are you thinking of getting for this special person?"
"Special...? Well... they are special..." she held up her hand over her mouth and hid a small smile, "As for what I want to get them..." she then froze. What exactly should she get Lillian?
Now that she thought about it, she really didn't know much about her besides her background. All she knew was that Lillian loved money and splurging on expensive items.
She then remembered—
"Do you have anything... rabbit-shaped or inspired?"
"Rabbit...?" He tapped his chin before calling towards his colleague. "Hey, John! Do we have anything rabbit-themed?"
Marionette watched as he went off to his colleague and fell into deep thought. How had she been so complacent all this time...?
"Rusty... I'm getting rusty..." She murmured and saw the worker return with a small white cardboard box with illustrations of small rabbits playing in a green meadow on the sides.
He then opened the lid to it and revealed rabbit-shaped marshmallows with half of their body coated in chocolate and sprinkles. "These are our marshmallow rabbits. As fluffy as the cloud and as crisp as dried autumn leaves. Once biting into them, you'll be instantly met with milk-chocolate filling."
Marionette stared down at them silently, nodding in satisfaction, "How much."
"About 6 Semis."
"6... very well."
After leaving the store and storing it in her spacial earring, she made her way towards the female dormitory... albeit it took her a bit.