“Let’s forget it. We don’t need to discuss it. Besides, there’s something more important,” young Usher said.
“What’s that?” asked young Vione.
“Actually, I’m still wondering. Why is it so difficult for you to contact me whenever you have a problem? Haven’t I told you for a long time, Vione? Contact me. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten.”
Young Vione remembered clearly. Young Usher had told her the same thing many times since they were children. But she had never done what Young Usher had asked. Every time something like this happened, she just stayed silent and let it pass as if it were nothing.
“Then why, Vione? Why don’t you do what I ask? Do you not take my words seriously? Do you think I’m just joking?” Young Usher asked.
Young Vione shook his head quickly. “I don’t mean that, Usher. I know you’re not joking, but…” She seemed to struggle to find the right words. “… this isn’t serious.”
Young Usher grimaced. “They took you to the woods and then mocked you. Isn’t that serious? Do you really think that-”
“They just did that, Usher. They didn’t do anything else, they just taunted me. I can handle it, and you don’t need to worry. Besides, shouldn’t you be studying in the Palace Library?” Young Vione found the right topic to change the subject. Fortunately, she had heard Ned’s whisper earlier. “So why are you here all of a sudden? Don’t tell me you skipped your study session, Usher.” Unfortunately, she really panicked at that possibility. “You didn’t skip your study session, did you?”
This time young Usher had trouble speaking. His mouth opened, but not a single word came out. He scratched his neck and said in a low voice, “I-I’m sure I’ve studied enough this month.”
Young Vione’s expression became even more panicked. “Oh, my goodness, Usher. Don’t you remember that next month is your first General Conference? You have to prepare.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Then why didn’t you study if you remember?” young Vione asked hysterically. She quickly grabbed the young Usher’s hand. “Come on! We have to get back to the Palace. You have to study, Usher.”
Young Usher was stunned for a moment. He looked at young Vione’s slender fingers clasping his hand. Then he smiled and didn’t resist when young Vione invited him to run away.
“Would you like to come with me to study in the Palace? To be honest, studying alone is boring.”
Young Vione replied indifferently. “I can’t. I have to work too.”
“Oh yeah?” asked the young usher curiously. So, he matched Vione’s steps beside him. “What kind of work?”
“Just a job to check the plants in the Palace. Luna’s birthday is coming up.”
The young Usher nodded. “You’re right. My mother’s birthday is coming up. Exactly, in ten months.”
Young Vione couldn’t help but giggle reflexively, while young Usher could only smile amusedly.
“Only the best for the charming Luna,” said the young Usher, turning to look at the young Vione’s cheerful face. “So, I hope you’ll do the job with all your heart.”
Young Vione nodded enthusiastically. “Of course I will.”
“One thing, Vione.” Young Usher stopped walking and quickly turned his wrist so that he was the one holding young Vione’s fingers. “I hope this is the last time you ignore my words.”
The smile on young Vione’s face was interrupted by the seriousness in young Usher’s tone. She blinked several times, somewhat confused. “Usher, what-”
“Please. I’m asking you for the last time, Vione,” young Usher interrupted, squeezing young Vione’s fingers. “Call me. Tell me. Please, call me immediately if anything happens to you.”
Young Vione fell silent. The air she breathed suddenly gathered in her chest, then thundered, like a storm wind ready to blow away everything around her. She tried to calm herself, but there was a part of her that doubted beyond reason.
It seemed impossible. Young Vione had repeatedly reminded herself that the young Usher was indeed kind. She shouldn’t suspect anything unreasonable.
Unfortunately, young Vione couldn’t restrain herself any longer. The suspicion broke her common sense and she dared to ask, “Why, Usher?”
Young Usher frowned. “What do you mean, Vione?”
“Why?” Young Vione repeated, glancing briefly at the young Usher’s grip on her fingers. Her heart beat irregularly in her chest. “Why are you so good to me? Why do you always take care of me?” She lifted her face to look at Usher. “Why, Usher?”
Young Usher’s tongue felt tied. Various emotions were clearly reflected in young Vione’s eyes. It left him speechless.
Young Vione closed his eyes dramatically. Young Usher’s silence made her curse herself. I told you, Vione. It’s absolutely impossible. You should be aware of yourself. You’re just a pitiful shewolf, while Usher is everyone’s idol.
So, the young Vione took a deep breath. She calmed herself from the sudden heartbreak. Then she smiled as she let go of young Usher’s grip on her fingers.
“I’m sure you need to study in the Palace library, Usher. See you later.”
Young Vione walked away, leaving young Usher alone. He stood silently with one hand raised. His first intention was to prevent young Vione from leaving, but a question immediately crossed his mind.
Why, Usher?
Young Usher’s hand fell limply to his side. He watched young Vione walk away with a blank and puzzled expression on his face. Eventually, he found himself wondering the same thing about himself.
Young Usher remained stunned for a long time. He stood still with his contemplation, which brought him back to past moments. He realized that at some point, worrying about young Vione had become a habit, like a natural instinct that he should do it.
Young Usher remembered clearly. This worry really made it impossible for him to think clearly. So, it was understandable that when a palace servant said something bad had happened to young Vione, he immediately rushed out.
It had happened several times. And now young Usher was lost in this one question. Why?
A long scream startled the young Usher. All his thoughts vanished from his mind as he realized whose voice it was, and his face went pale.
“Vione.”
*