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WITH Ark’s help, she stumbled to the living room and lay down on the sofa.
“Are you all right like this? You’re covered in sweat… I’ll bring you some water,” Ark said, worried.
“Thank you, Ark…” she replied weakly.
Her head felt heavy with dizziness. She couldn’t think straight. She tried to collect her thoughts, but the twisted view of Charles’s room whirled around and around in her mind. She had to calm down. Firstly, she had to accept the fact that the pocket watch was a device used to turn back time. There was no other explanation.
She froze when she realized her apron pocket weighed more than usual. Slowly, she slid a hand over the front of it, and felt something round and hard beneath her fingertips. There was a chain-like clinking sound when she moved. Evidently, in her fright, she had tucked the pocket watch away in her apron.
Most likely, Charles had created the watch. But the ability to turn back time had never come up in her textbooks, nor had Charles ever mentioned it. She had never heard of a watch being used as a catalyst for magic, either. Despite the magnitude of his invention, Charles seemed to be keeping the watch secret.
Why? Perhaps he…
“Here’s your water. Drink up, all right?” Ark said gently, propping her back up with his hand. She drank in little sips. By the time the cup was empty, both the nausea and lightheadedness had improved a little.
“Now, what’s wrong? Did you just feel sick all of a sudden?”
“…Yes,” she responded vaguely.
“You were saying something pretty odd back there, though. That got something to do with it?” he prompted.
“Well…,” she hesitated. Ark looked deep into her eyes, waiting for an answer. She found herself unable to return his gaze, and quickly turned away.
“Is it something you can’t tell me?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure… I’m sorry.” She hung her head.
“You don’t need to apologize. I bet it’s something to do with Master Charlie, right?” he guessed. She nodded, and he sighed, giving her a sad smile.
“I should’ve known. He’s the one at fault, sneaking around, keeping everything to himself… I mean, I’m his familiar! Surely I could help him somehow,” Ark grumbled, pouting.
“Exactly,” Lille agreed. “I’m his apprentice, yet he never asks me for help, either.”
“That’s just what he’s like,” Ark said, sighing again. “He can’t ask for help, so he just ends up doing everything by himself.”
Charles’s life would be so much easier if he just shared his burdens with them—and Ark wouldn’t be making the heart-wrenchingly lonely expression Lille saw on his face. Why did Charles try to face everything alone?
“Anyway…rest up for a bit, all right? I’ll finish the cleaning, and I’m sure Leo will be happy to start dinner preparations after he finishes studying,” Ark said kindly.
“Thank you. Do you think Master Charlie will be home late tonight, too?” she asked, her tone melancholic.
“There’s a snowstorm brewing, so he might actually come home early,” he mused. Lille looked forlornly out the window at the pure-white landscape. Then, as if on cue, the front door opened.
“I’m back!” Charles called from the entranceway. “Eugh, I’m completely covered in snow.” With a shiver, he brushed away the dusting of snowflakes sitting on top of his head and shoulders.
“Oh, um… H—” She opened her mouth to greet him, but the words caught in her throat. Her frantically beating, anxious heart was preventing her from talking normally. Ark, on the other hand, was totally silent, keeping a sharp eye on Charles.
“I guess Leo’s in his room studying. But, where’s Lille…?” he asked, scanning the living room. When his eyes fell on her, he gasped and immediately ran over to where she lay on the sofa.
“Lille, what happened? Are you sick? I thought Ark was acting weird, but…” he blurted in panic.
“I think you gotta consider your own actions a bit more,” Ark said to Charles, his tone cold. “I’ll go keep an eye on the shop, so you two can have a nice, long talk.”
Charles fell speechless. He stood rooted to the spot, still wearing his snow-covered coat.
“Huh? Are you angry with me or something…?” he asked with a wince.
“Ask Lille,” Ark said. He shrugged derisively, avoiding contact with Charles as he passed by on his way to the covered pathway. He closed the door behind him with a slam.
“…Lille…” Charles kneeled down in front of her gingerly, his eyes murky with confusion. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?”
Ark had left them alone on purpose, and Charles’s face was just a few inches away from her own. It had been so long since they last properly spoke, and yet his kind voice was full of worry for her. Lille didn’t know what to do with herself. She felt like she might cry just from how gently he was treating her.
“I’m…fine, thank you,” she answered, her voice quivering.
“What happened? Your cheeks are awfully pale…” he fretted, reaching out to put the back of his hand to her forehead. She automatically shied away. “Lille…?” he asked brokenly, looking at her as though she’d physically hurt his outstretched hand.
“Oh, um…” she said, floundering. He’d misunderstood her reaction. He thought she didn’t want him to touch her, but she was jumpy due to their close proximity.
Abruptly, she attempted to stand up from the sofa. In her haste, the pocket watch fell from her apron. The high-pitched tinkle of metal against metal echoed through the living room.
“…Is that…?” Charles’s eyes shot wide open. As he scooped it up in his hands, he glanced between Lille and the watch with a look of utter disbelief. “Lille, did you…?”
After a moment’s hesitation, she slowly nodded. As she did, Charles’s expression changed. As though he were resolving himself to something, he closed his eyes, then gradually reopened them.
“So. You found out,” he said with a sad smile, holding back tears. His jade-green eyes looked more muted than ever. “Once you’re feeling better, come to my room. I’ll tell you everything.”