24 I want to become your sister

"My Lady! You have a keen eye for jewelry! This bangle is made from pure silver and is decorated with a single pearl from the northern sea! Because of the lower temperature of the Northern Sea, it might look comparably smaller than other pearls but it was processed over a hundred years to get this smooth and shiny look, it is much more worth than similar or bigger pearls around here! And the bangle might not be as sturdy as the golden bangle next to it but to be shaped into this light and elegant design we had put much more effort into it. With our limited resources, we could only produce three pieces like that!"

The jeweler introduced us to some extraordinary pieces, but the one that caught Nadia's eyes was a silver bangle adorned with a single pearl. In comparison to the other pieces, this one looked almost simple in my eyes but that's probably right up Nadia's alley. She was a lively princess who knew how to ride and protect herself. She wasn't one who was weighted down by pretty but useless accessories. This kind of jewelry was neither stuffy nor showy, instead it was light and pure. It was quite fitting for the two princesses.

Nadia nodded. "Give me two!"

"Excellent choice, little lady!"

She bought two. One for her and one for Leila to wear. There was no need for a physical gift but I guessed that she tried to reattach the bond between her and Leila with this.

"They're beautiful." I agreed with her choice. "Leila will like them very much!"

"I hope so! Since everyone is quite busy until the Marisol Festival, I will give it to her after the hustle is over."

While chatting, we ran into a well-known face as we left the jewelers shop.

"Rashan!" Nadia voiced in delight and ran towards her sweetheart who just left the blacksmiths shop.

"Nadia, are the two of you out alone?" Surprised to see us, he looked left and right to see whether or not we were accompanied by someone.

"We snuck out!" Nadia declared proudly.

"What have you snuck out for?" He asked.

"Ehhh..."

"I wanted to buy some souvenirs for my father." I helped her covering up our true intentions for this trip since Rashan was one of the recipients of Nadia's presents.

"Yes! Daria will leave after the Marisol Festival."

"I need to be back home before the academy begins." Which was also true. Just that I've gathered my souvenirs already.

Whether or not he knew we weren't telling the full truth, Rashan graciously let it being swept under the rug.

Just as the three of us were walking down the street, Nadia stopped in her tracks.

"What's the matter?" Rashan and I turned back questioningly.

"I think I've forgotten something at the store we just went to!"

"Then let's go back and get it," I suggested.

"No need! You guys wait here in the shade. I will go back and get it, it's faster by myself!"

Before we could say another word, Nadia had already turned and nimbly vanished into the crowd.

"She can be an airhead at times." Rashan sighed but it didn't sound the least bit condemning.

"It hasn't been long. I hope she gets it back." I didn't saw her take out anything. But I've been looking at the trinkets myself so I didn't pay much attention.

Rashan shrugged. "If she can lose it, it's not worth much. Let's go there and buy some processed Limoni Fruits while we wait. That stall's grandma is well known for her recipe."

-

"So sour!"

"Hahahaha!"

Rashan laughed out loud at my crumpled face. The so-called Limoni was a pickled fruit that was so sour your face would distort no matter what. The crux was that Rashan did not warn me of its extreme sourness, so I innocently put the whole fruit, as big as a wrinkled plum, into my mouth after he announced that it was used as a reliever from the heat by the common folk.

"How can a fruit be this sour...!" I lamented, feeling that my face was still twitching uncontrollably from the extreme sourness still lingering in my mouth.

"Pickled Limonis are commoner's food, it's normal that you have never seen them before in the palace. They are refreshing and help the folks here overcome the heat."

It was true that I forgot the heat for as long as the sourness lingered in my mouth. My body was too occupied dealing with the acidity to even notice the heat. There was also a hint of honey that soothed my shivering gum.

"I guess once you get used to it, it could be an addicting flavor...." I murmured. Pickled fruits and vegetables were a common thing in my previous life, it's just that I've never encountered something as sour as this thing. No one would bite into a lemon and think it would be a good idea to make it even sourer!

"True. After a while, you will forget the taste and think: it wasn't actually that bad. And then, you try another one just to remind yourself of the taste, despite knowing that you are going to regret it."

"Coronia is truly a mysterious country containing warriors of all kinds."

"Hehe, we are proud of our kingdom. Our traditions have been undefeated for hundreds of years." Rashan ignored my sulky comment on account of our newly formed friendship and kindly continued.

"You will get another chance to taste our specialties during the festival. It's a tradition to prepare all the relevant dishes as an offering to welcome the safe return of our Sea King. There are lots of delicacies only available at this time of the year. For example..."

Since this world was still far away from modern civilization and had no magic background to rely on, it could only depend on limited resources and their current knowledge of the law of nature and physics. Even trading was still hampered due to the ever-changing weather conditions between countries, and the time it took them to take fresh goods from A to B. That's why, to the people of Coronia, trading over the sea route was that important. Their boats were made to travel fast, not far, because they needed to bring in and out goods before they rot away. Pickled ingredients were popular because it had a much longer shelf life, some could even withstand whole seasons or years. That's why the dishes Rashan counted were mostly seasonal products.

I fretted a little bit over my incompetence. If only I had gone to college and studied electric engineering... I could make a fortune now with introducing the fridge... or air conditioning... but... how the heck do you even make electricity properly?! I kind of get the gist of it but I seriously don't know where to start or how to make the necessary products in the first place. As someone who only had to push the plug into the socket her whole life, I feel like I was spoiled rotten by those luxuries. I can only lament my lack of knowledge.

I dare say that I have become a decent author by now, but my miscellaneous knowledge is just miles away from becoming an expert at something existential. I must have been the worst transmigrator ever. My only saving grace was my insight of the future because I am the author... but why on earth was I put into Dahlia, whose POV hasn't been told once the whole story? I could write a biography on Ellie, but even to me, Dahlia's life was full of holes! How should I change the future when I only know of her ending and bits and pieces through the eyes of the protagonists and rumors?

"Are you still listening?" A voice interrupted my thoughts.

Snapping out of it, I looked into Rashan's probing eyes.

"You lost me when you started to count all the dishes at the festival... I started to imagine the food and began to think about what I should eat first and how to taste them all without getting full in the middle of my quest..."

My answer obviously surprised him, because he was staring at me like staring at a new kind of animal. There was curiosity but also skepticism in his golden eyes.

"Hahahahahahahaha....!" Holding his stomach, Rashan began to laugh unrestrained.

"I didn't know there were nobles as funny as you. You are very different from what I've heard." He confessed after seeing my blushing face.

"You have heard of me before?" This time, it was me who looked at him questioningly. What could he have heard about me? And what could be the source?

"Of course. They say you are the only daughter of the only duke of Florencia, a perfect cold beauty with an otherwordly countenance. Born and spoiled like a princess; raised to become the next queen of the kingdom. You know, things like that."

"That... that..." Apart from feeling sorry for myself, I didn't know how to refute. That was how I had described Dahlia in the first place, only that her jealousy had turned her into a wicked woman as well. So it was kind of true? Just that I was the person herself now, and I felt repulsive at my own words. "N... no one is perfect..."

"That's what bothered you the most?" Amusement swinging in his voice. "But I can see now that rumors are, the further they travel, blown up to entertain the listeners. When you sit still and look into the distance, you do look a little bit the part, but who knew you're actually like this?"

"I'm sorry for ruining your expectations..." I grumbled.

I could tell with a glance that Rashan seemed to have reached a new understanding of me. I don't know if I should feel good or bad about that since I believe he has started to think that I am silly.

"It's okay. I actually prefer it this way. As you can see, our folk is rather lively. We do not like stiff people." He laughed.

'Mother, Father, please forgive me for ruining our reputation...'

"Say, Daria, what do you think of Coronia?" Out of nowhere, Rashan asked me this question.

"It is a beautiful country!" I answered without having to think. Coronia has left a deep impression on me. It's vibrant colors and the people here are so lively and spiritual, I felt blessed to have stepped foot in this country that reminded me of so many fairy tales from the past.

"I think Coronia can be even greater than this. It is destined to be so much more." Rashan said and I nodded in agreement. I was kind of surprised that he held so much pride and love for his country. Which made me even more curious as to why he wasn't welcome at the palace.

Rashan, obviously only had the best intentions for this country. And he was such a good person.

"Daria! Rashan! I'm baaaack!" Nadia's voice reached us before her petite body came into our sight. Like a desert fairy, she ran towards us with a big grin, seemingly unaware of the heat.

"Have you retrieved the forgotten item?" I stood up and patted the dust from my robe.

"Yeah!" By the way, she beamed, it must have been something important to her.

"Here it is!" With a face full of smiles, the youngest princess showed me a silvery round object. It had one little shining pearl attached to it. My eyes opened wide in surprise.

"You forgot your bangle?!" Out of all the things, how could she have forgotten the gift she just bought? Was she really that much of an air-head as Rashan has told me?

"No," Nadia disagreed, "It's yours!"

"Mine?" I looked at her and the bangle with obvious incomprehension. I would have known if I possessed a bangle like that. And I was sure I have not bought anything in that store. Or am I the actual air-head?

"It's yours." She was determined. "It belongs to you from now on, if you are willing. I want to become your sister, Daria!" Without hesitation, she took my hand and put the silver bangle on me.

I looked down at the bangle on my wrist, that was still being held by her small hands, and then I looked back at her. Nadia was glowing from ear to ear but despite her bright smile, I could tell now that she was still out of breath. And on her forehead was a narrow film of sweat. She had run in this heat to get this one last bangle.

"For... me?" The heat was really unrelenting. I could even feel it penetrating my eyes. "How could I take something so precious? I haven't prepared anything for you in return..."

Rashan, who had been watching us silently, leaned in and whispered in my ear:

"Sometimes accepting a gift is of greater value than giving something in return."

I swallowed all my words back. Rashan was right. What kind of gift could ever repay Nadia for her kindness and trust in me? If I was to refuse this once-in-a-lifetime gift of hers because of my pettiness, then...

"Thank you so much, Nadia. I will treasure it." Making my mind, I smiled back at her while trying to keep the tears of joy at bay.

"Really? Don't forget what you just said, okay?" Nadia, overly happy, jumped into my arms for an embrace. "It must have been fate that there were exactly three of them. From now on, Leila and you are my only sisters, my precious family!"

I hugged her tighter in response.

-

"I will escort you two to the main road before we part."

After congratulating us, Rashan decided that it was about time to depart.

"What? Can't we go and play some more, since today is a joyous day? Hey! You've bought some Limonis! Give me one!"

"No can do, you guys have sneaked out of the palace. You should go back before someone, if not everyone, is alarmed. Especially if Daria is missing. The palace will be in high alert and send out guards to look for her since she is an important guest. Here, open your mouth."

Despite Rashan's rejection, Nadia did not complain because she was too busy to get fed by her beloved. I could only stare in disbelief as I thought that those two people really knew how to keep each other in check.

Damn, I felt so out of place...

At the main street leading back to the palace, Rashan saw us off.

"To have the good fortune of meeting you, Rashan, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope we get the chance to meet again one day." I bid him farewell, as this might be the last time that we met.

"Don't say that. You and Nadia are now sisters, that makes us good friends as well. Also, you have given me quite a few new insights, and I thank you for that, Daria. I also look forward to the next time we meet." He chuckled.

"See you tomorrow, Rashan. Don't make me wait, because I have something important to tell you!" While Nadia said goodbye, she gave Rashan a light peck on the cheek.

Rashan smiled and nodded. "I'm also eager for the festival to start since I, too, have something important to tell you."

Nadia and I have gone a few steps when Rashan called for us again. We both turned around to see him looking at us with a rather complicated gaze. Then he said to me:

"Don't run around the palace too much during the festival. And stay with Nadia or your family, don't wander around alone."

Was he concerned that I got lost during the festival? Inside the palace? Was it that much of a commotion?

"I will take your words into consideration, thank you." I smiled, which eased some of his worries.

"I hope you will be able to look back at our meeting and this country with fond memories."

And with those words, Rashan turned and left.