Festive

The noisy crickets and the darkness makes Caelum wonder why he chose to follow Thera. While walking, he only knows that it might be dangerous yet he still found himself inside an abandoned church. Watching the lady and the child talking.

"Shera! Shera! Did chu buy me something?", the excited child asked. The lady smiled.

Inside Thera's mind are what kind of food she will cook for them and what time could they finished, not noticing the stare of the prince behind her. Caelum, who's still confused on his reason, tried to look around rather than thinking as if he doesn't know the answer. He totally forgot his meeting with the noble lady because of what's happening in his night. It's a foreign feeling that's drowning him from his desires.

"Of course. How can I forget someone adorable like you?! Later, okay? When everyone is here. Anyway, what do you want to eat tonight?", Thera prepare the things she needs and try to start a fire for cooking.

The child smile and help her. "Mhmm! How about a soup? Can you do it?", the child asked with enthusiasm.

The lady stopped and think. "Of course... Not!", Thera said with laugh making the child confused. As a lady who grew up inside their field, plays a lot with knights and live like a life of a man, she never thought in her life to cook. Well, she tried but never learned.

"Then, what you're going to cook?", the child sit beside her after giving the wood she needs.

"I actually can cook potato and grilled fish. Or fruits?", Thera answered her. She remembered some of her memories in her past that made her smile.

On the other side of the room, Caelum was listening. He laughed unintentionally but unfortunately, Thera heard it. She glare at the prince.

"Oi! Cooking potato is difficult, you know!", Thera defended herself.

Caelum face her. "Oh yeah?", he said with insult. He doesn't expect a lady like Thera can't cook because in every kingdom and every maiden he met has talents in it.

"Well, of course, a noble man would never know.", the lady said then laugh a little. It's as if she's belittling him.

When the young heard it, she immediately remembered her past including how she witnessed her brother's suffering. "He'sh a noble?", the child whispered and tried to hide in Thera.

Caelum was surprised by Chira's reaction about him being a noble. He saw the fear and anger in that little child.

The lady saw his reaction and she doesn't want to upset both of the noble and the child. "Yes, but he's a good man.", Thera assured her but she hide her face more.

"All noblhes act like a good man but they will hurt us in the end."

Caelum was surprised, again. He doesn't know what to say nor to do. It's like even he doesn't know a thing, he's guilty. Never in his mind think that his title will be a fear for some. As someone who grew up respected and guarded, he doesn't know how to deal with this.

"You know, he hurt me!", Thera said with such childish tone. Caelum was confused.

"Hey! What are yo—", Caelum protest.

Thera laughed. "He defeated me in a game. We eat something he likes and it taste so good.", the lady told the child.

It lighten Chira's fear when she heard the cheerfulness in Thera's voice. "Ich hurt chu because it's good?", the child asked with innocence.

"Yes! But what I'm trying to say, he is not like the other nobles you all met. He was just a childish little brat— I mean lad. Tell me if he hurt you, okay? I'll cook him and feed to the nobles.", with full of confidence, the lady told the child and she received a relief smile with nod.

"What an ugly example.", Caelum said after she talked. The prince was also felt at ease when he saw how the child try to look at him with a smile.

Thera laughed. "I'm bad at those things, so...", she shrugged and focus on the heat.

They all look at the door when they saw a bunch of kids heading on their way to them.

"Brother!", Chira shouted then run towards them. Thera also stand and follow them.

Caelum decided to stand there. He doesn't know them and he's afraid that he might also encounter the same reaction like what Chira felt. When he saw how Thera patted their head one by one and that makes every kid smile, he was amaze how she act different from him and them.

"Oi! Noble man!", he frowned when Thera shout and call him. "Come here!", she signaled him like a punk.

The children murmured with a mix expression.

"You already sold us?", one kid rudely asked. Other lads behind him tried to stop him.

Thera calmly answered. "How did you know?", she doesn't show any emotions making the kid pale.

The prince sigh. "Don't believe her. She's crazy.", he said that makes them confused.

"Hahaha! You still don't believe me, neh? I told you, right? I don't need any money.", Thera said with such assurance. Her lousy attitude is back.

When Chira understand what's going on, she interfere and spread her arms to protect Thera and Caelum.

"Brother, they are not bad guysh!", the child shouted making her brother shocked.

WARMTH AND LIGHT WAS brought by the fire Thera started a while ago. Everyone is sitting around it, hoping that the cold their feeling melt.

"Aren't you hungry?", Thera asked while poking the fire. Everyone look at each other and wait for someone to talk.

"You can't cook.", the rude kid answered again. Caelum laughed, making others do it too.

Thera wasn't embarrassed at all because she hates that part of her too. "Well, can't argue with that."

The rude kid smiled because he thinks she's useless.

"I'll cook.", Caelum volunteered. At the very least, cooking is one of his hobbies. Even he grew up learning how to use every weapons and perfecting his fighting skills, learning something for the woman he loves the most makes him loves the thing she likes the most.

Everyone look at him with excitement and some we're suspicious.

"How can we trust you? What if you put something in there?", the other said but the fear on his face is showing.

'This kids...', the prince is speechless.

The lady who doesn't expect that this noble will do such thing was delighted. "Then, I'll eat it first.", Thera said with such bright face.

As the planned, Caelum cooked for them. It was something he learned from the kingdom. It's full of various vegetables. He made a soup that is very ordinary yet foreign for the children. It looks delicious enough to make their stomach growl.

"Try it.", Chira's brother gave Thera a bowl and a spoon. Without hesitation, she eat it. Everyone is staring like they are waiting for something to happened.

The lady, on the other hand, was too hypnotized by the delicious food she received. She forgot her role, to taste it and assured that the food is not as they expect. Minute passed and she was surprised when she put down the bowl.

"Oh! I forgot. It's fine... You'll regret if you don't eat it.", Thera asked for another bowl. "Oi! Noble. Give me another scoop.", she asked so casual.

The prince wants revenge. "That's enough! This is for them.", he started to pour on bowls and give it to every child.

Thera frowned and glare at him. "You're kidding, right?"

"No.", without emotion, Caelum answered her straight.

"No? Why?"

"There are ten kids who are hungry."

"It's actually eleven. You're not good at counting neh?"

"We're waiting for another?"

"No! I was the eleventh!"

"Really? Then stay at the eleventh. This is only for first to tenths."

Thera saw how happy the children accept her defeat.

"I will never forget this, young man."

"Good to know, Spartan."

"Tsh!"

After everyone ate, Thera decided to give them their clothes she bought. Not all of them accept it but in some ways, they did.

"Then, what's this for?", the rude kid asked while staring at what Thera gave him.

"Wow! You're so beautiful in it!", the lady praise Chira and the other young girl after she help them to changed. "Oh, I want you to watch the parade with me.", Thera said then look at the kid.

Chira's brother was surprised because of her reason. "And why would we go with you?"

"Well, it's a one in a lifetime event. This year's parade will be epic!", she said with amusement, trying to tempting the kid.

The prince also help the other kids, making them comfortable with him. In Caelum's mind, he is also looking forward at this parade but he needs to leave them when they arrive at the town.

"Oi! Where am I going to leave you?", Thera said when she stand beside Caelum, watching the kids preparing in leaving.

"To where carriage awaits."

The town is full of peope who are smiling and having fun. The children in front of Thera are also amazed by the happiness surrounding them. They are all holding each other making others look at them with such amusement. The lady beside Caelum, sure looks also having fun. When they see that people are gathering, they also stand in some position to watch the parade.

"It's starting.", Thera whispered as if she is waiting for this all her life.

Their spot is close to the path of the parade, making it more colorful and amazing to watch. Performers, animals and magicians are there. Making exhibitions, tricks and breathtaking moves. Everyone is focus and sure enjoying theirselves. The smiling people, their claps combine by the music, their little dances and children's shouting makes the whole parade memorable.

They are there for an hour and the long parade finished with a confetti by the performers bowing.

Thera, who was overwhelmed by the feelings circulating in her body was surprised by seeing Caelum still standing in her side. She doesn't even notice his presence and she smiled when she noticed the smile in his face.

"Didn't know there's the twelfth kid.", she said with the teasing tone.

Caelum look at her with a glare. "Well..."

The lady laughed. "I thought you're going somewhere? This is the town."

"You're leaving, noble man?", Chira asked then hold Thera's hand.

"I forgot.", the prince said with a smile.

It's true. He forgot because he was hypnotized by the parade... and the maiden's craziness.

"Why not come with us in the park?", Thera asked.

Caelum look at the kids, waiting for his response. Some are holding on Thera's dress like she's their mother.

"No. I... can't.", he said.

Without hesitation the lady shouted. "Okay! Let's go, young ones!", Thera said with such excitement. "Be careful, noble man!", the lady smiled at him before continuing their walk.

"Bye bye!", Chira shouted with waving hand. The other kids did it too making Caelum smiled.

As he stare at their back, he knows he will never forget this night. The lady he met with such beauty but unacceptable attitude, the children who have a little world with great fear, the brightest festival he never experienced before and, he will never forget that this is the first time he chose to rest than to fool around.