Huh? Why would Henrik have a shawl?
She gazed at him in surprise. This was a woman’s shawl, surely? But Henrik just smiled dryly.
“It’s my Winter Solstice gift to you.”
The last thing she’d been expecting was a gift from Henrik. This area’s customs were so different from those of Isea, even though it belonged to the same country.
“But I didn’t get you anything!”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s our tradition to give gifts. And by the way, Mom says it’s rude to not accept a gift.”
“It does matter! Please, let me return the favor later, at least!”
“Well…if you insist.”
Henrik shrugged, and they started walking again. He was walking with short strides, and Mia realized he was keeping pace with her and her shorter legs.
“The town looks so pretty! Just like in the fairy tale.”
“Yeah.”
Henrik had grown quiet. He was usually quiet, but this was a different kind of quiet to his usual quiet.
Ack, talk about awkward!
Mia thought desperately of a topic of conversation. Then it came to her.
“So Mary’s your mom, huh?”
“Didn’t I mention that?”
Henrik grinned with amusement. Clearly, he’d neglected to mention it on purpose. Just to enjoy her reaction.
Mia grimaced.
“No, you did not mention it! I was completely caught off guard!”
“We don’t look much alike, huh?”
“…Nope.”
Mia was about to say “you look just like your father,” but bit her tongue to stop herself. It was too late, though. Henrik had read her expression, and his own face froze.
“Can we…talk about it?”
Sometimes it was better to get these things out in the open.
“He seems like a decent father… What’s the problem between you two?”
Henrik sighed and paused for a moment before speaking.
“The thing about my father. He’s always given different prescriptions to rich folk. The common people come in and ask for certain medicines, but he won’t prescribe to them. When I asked him why, he just said ‘those medicines aren’t right for people like them.’ I used to respect my father, but those feelings turned to hate.”
Mia recalled the medicine that Felix had administered to her. It wasn’t widely available. It was expensive medicine that only the aristocracy could get prescribed.
Even the poor would try to buy health if they could. But Henrik’s father wouldn’t sell to them. It seemed some lives were worth more than others.
Once you left the Academy, the disparity between the classes was everywhere. It was choking, oppressive.
Mia felt a heavy weight begin to settle over her heart. But Henrik wasn’t done.
“If I’d never met you, I think I’d have probably followed in Father’s footsteps without questioning anything. I’d have just gone along with the different meds, even though it rubbed me the wrong way. But now, when I look at the faces of the suffering…I just refuse to become the kind of doctor who looks the other way when people need his help.”
Henrik came to a stop. Mia stopped beside him, looking up at his face.
“After a year spent researching with you, I looked at myself and didn’t like what I saw. You opened my eyes, Mia. And for that, I thank you.”
Mia felt a swell of emotion bubbling up within her.
“I’m grateful to you too, Henrik. Without you, I’m sure my dream would have already fallen apart. Thank you.”
“Let’s…let’s keep doing our best, together.”
Henrik offered her his hand, and she took it as if to shake it. Chuckling a little, Henrik let go of her hand and grasped it again, holding it in a different way.
“Huh?”
Then Henrik started walking again, holding Mia’s hand in his.
Wait…what?
Mia was taken aback, but Henrik was leading her along insistently.
What am I supposed to do with my hand?!
As Mia stumbled along uncomfortably beside him, Henrik shrugged.
“The plaza will be crowded. And you’re such a daydreamer, you’re bound to get lost.”
The plaza was visible up ahead, crammed with people like Henrik said. She could see a group of them beyond the big gates made of fir tree wood.
“Oh, right. I get it.”
That made sense. Kind of. And Henrik’s expression was so casual, Mia felt silly for overthinking it.
Unable to protest about it anymore, Mia let Henrik hold her hand as they walked forward to join the crowd.