Reginald didn’t answer her. He was staring at the candy fairy’s face, which was just a blank area with gentle rises and hollows.
“Maybe it’s a coincidence we ended up here. And maybe it was a happy accident that saved your life, Mr. Stowe.”
No one could say for certain that Reginald’s turn of good fortune had been invited by the sugar candy. But when sugar candy brought people good luck, it tended to do so in these sorts of unexpected ways.
That was why everyone wanted it. Everyone had times when they needed to count on unexpected coincidence and good luck.
If only he felt it at work.
“Sugar candy will invite good fortune to anyone. If you think that’s something of value, won’t you come take a seat at the bargaining table with the Silver Sugar Viscount?”
Reginald didn’t move, and he didn’t respond.
Maybe it’s impossible after all.
Even so, she was glad she had gotten to tell him about Amy.
Anne cleaned up the dishes and started to leave the room. When she opened the door, she heard Reginald’s voice behind her.
“Amy’s eyes were light blue. Like the spring sky.”
Somewhere under his low, charming, grown-up voice was a hint of boyish innocence.
When Anne turned around, Reginald was still staring at the sugar candy sculpture. His hands encircled it, stopping just short of touching it. His gray, wolfish gaze wavered.
“I’m glad you were able to remember,” she said.
“What happened to Amy?” Reginald asked blankly as he stared at the sculpture.
Anne shook her head.
“It sounds like she died and disappeared several years after she came here. But all the young patients Amy comforted absolutely adored her. Apparently, they built her a monument. Her body vanished, but in the corner of the garden, they piled up little rocks and made an offering of flowers. Some of those children have now grown into fine adults.”
After leaving the room, Anne leaned back against the door. She smiled and closed her eyes.
Amy. Mr. Stowe grew into a fine adult, too. He can be a little nasty, though.
It had probably been Amy who had called Reginald to this place. Anne couldn’t help but feel like the sparkling fairy light that had formed her body was even now drifting through the air inside this house and out in the garden.
Reginald had not given her an answer about whether he would come to the bargaining table. But she didn’t intend to give up. She would hang around him and keep asking, time and again. She wanted him to sit down with the Viscount at least once. Getting him there was a job Anne could do.
While all this was going on, Lafalle’s coffin had been sitting in the bed of the wagon parked in the barn. Not a single sound had come from it.
Once Challe finished hitching up the horse, he walked around the wagon bed, running his finger across the lid of the coffin.
“Lafalle.”
Even when he called his brother’s name, no answer came.
The light footfalls of little birds hopping across the eaves of the barn grated on his ears.
Reginald Stowe’s companions were coming to get him that day. He would go to Lewiston along with the leading figures in the Fairy Merchants Guild, and they would take this coffin with them and negotiate with the king.
Hugh had also decided to leave the doctor’s house and head to Lewiston with Reginald. Apparently, he meant to escort the fairy dealers safely to the royal capital, protecting their party along the way. Challe and Anne would be accompanying them. All of them would depart that day.
Things were chaotic inside the house, especially since Anne, Mithril, and Keith were in a hectic rush to pack their things and procure food for the journey.
Kat wasn’t very skilled at making detailed arrangements for things in his daily life, such as luggage and meals. Instead, he wandered around aimlessly with Benjamin dozing on his shoulder.
Hugh behaved like the Viscount he was and left all his own preparations up to Salim.
Challe didn’t want to handle any of the annoying details and didn’t feel like helping, but Anne had asked him to get the wagon ready, so he’d reluctantly come out to the barn.
Once they departed from Balkram, they could probably make it to Lewiston within five days. Once there, negotiations between the Fairy Merchants Guild and the king would begin.
In all likelihood, there would be compromises on both sides. Then this coffin would be turned over to the royal family, Lafalle’s wing would be cut off without delay, and he would dissolve into nothing.
If the result was the same, Challe would have preferred that Lafalle vanish at his hand rather than at the hands of the humans.
But that wish couldn’t come true. Lafalle was part of the terms of this transaction. And it was understandable that the humans hated him and wanted to kill him themselves.
Lafalle had murdered many humans in cold blood and ordered others to do the same. He had to pay for his crimes.
In the end, Erril never appeared. Maybe he hadn’t been able to find the place. Lafalle would pass into human hands and vanish without Erril ever knowing. That was a pity, but it was unavoidable.
Keith stepped into the barn. “Challe? Did you finish preparing the wagon? It’s about time for the people from the Fairy Merchants Guild to arrive.”
“It’s done. Take it out to the garden.”
“Thank you.”
Keith took hold of the horse’s bridle and started to lead it away. But then as if an idea had just struck him, he stopped and turned around.
“Oh right. Challe? I wanted to tell you something. There’s no need for you to treat Anne coldly.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden, boy?”
Challe frowned.
“It seems you got some idea in your head that it would be best if Anne and I became a couple. I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m not happy about your behavior. I’m on equal footing with you when it comes to loving Anne, and I want her to choose me of her own free will. I don’t want to imagine Anne ending up with me just because she can’t be with you. So please don’t be so cold toward her.”
Challe was shocked by his words.
What is this boy thinking?
Obviously, it would be better for Keith if he didn’t have any competition for the woman he loved. And yet here he was, intentionally telling Challe not to treat Anne coldly. It was like they were arranging some carefree gentleman’s duel, promising to fight fair and square before crossing swords.
However, Keith’s earnest expression was very serious. He probably wanted things to be fair precisely because he was so earnest. Challe snorted with laughter.
“I envy you, boy.”
To Challe, Keith’s sincerity seemed like the straightforward honesty of a child. It was cute, even.
Keith obviously didn’t like being laughed at, and he pouted.
“If you continue treating Anne so coldly,” he said, “I’m going to tell her about you. I’ll tell her you love her so badly, you can’t stand it.”
“Get lost. Don’t do things that aren’t called for and confuse her.”
Keith smiled at Challe’s irritation. “By telling me to get lost, you’ve just admitted it, Challe. You love Anne, don’t you?”
Challe was going to put on a sour face and deny it, but Keith continued as if to prevent him from doing so.
“The Silver Sugar Viscount told me it’s a good thing to be honest. Listen, would you make me a promise, Challe? Say you won’t be cold to Anne. Promise me you’ll be honest with your feelings around her.”
Challe had been born over a hundred years earlier. In contrast, Keith was a young man of only nineteen. But it seemed in the realm of love and romance, he was Challe’s equal. Challe may even have been at a disadvantage, given he had lived the majority of his hundred years indifferent to soft and warm emotions.