NOVPUBSporting a casual vest, Lanci sat with Hibury Antalia on a bench at Heartbeat Plaza, enjoying the leisure of the afternoon around three or four o’clock.
All that echoed in their ears were the laughter and playful cries of children chasing each other in the plaza and the tinkling of hand-shaken bells.
After strolling around the nearby commercial street in the afternoon, they found an ideally located rest stop with a broad view of the Main City of Nanwantina.
The plaza, situated on high ground, was like a mountaintop from where one could see the bustling flow of people in the distant city-states, the grand architecture that surrounded them, adorned with statues made with traditional craftsmanship.
In the afternoon sky speckled with sparse clouds, a flock of birds could be seen flying in the distance.
Encircling the Heartbeat Plaza were bustling shopping streets, exotic restaurants, and cafés, the hub of the residents’ daily lives and commercial activities. Yet, they felt as if they had barely skimmed the surface despite a long stroll.
Stepping away from the commercial street, the first gust of wind brushed past, making Hibury Antalia squint in unconscious delight. 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
People’s chatter, the musicians’ performances, someone’s laughter, and singing all reached this high spot.
That afternoon, the three of them leisurely walked, occasionally stepping into nice shops to buy local Nanwantina beverages and desserts.
Later, on the way home, wandering back near Heartbeat Plaza, Talia suddenly halted because of something.
What appeared before them was a small shop.
Kids cheered after class, running on the cobblestone road towards this shop, handing over their coins without any reluctance or regret.
Talia, unable to smell anything from afar, presumed from the children’s expressions that it must have been popular snacks.
Hence, Hibury Antalia kept glancing at Lanci. Lanci nodded, said a brief goodbye to the two, and went on his own.
If Talia or Hibury Antalia were to line up among the children, it might’ve been somewhat embarrassing. However, Lanci didn’t mind. He even struck up a gentle conversation with the children, inquiring about their studies.
At that moment, Hibury Antalia unexpectedly thought Lanci would perhaps make a great father since he knew how to relate with children.
Soon, Lanci returned with three boxes of snacks.
Together, the three of them moved to a wooden bench on the edge of the plaza’s road.
Hibury Antalia’s train of thought came back to the present, her eyes falling on the dessert in her hand.
The chilly cheesecake, resembling both yogurt and ice cream, was set in a firm biscuit box. From the side, one could see fresh strawberry flesh.
Before Hibury Antalia could completely open the box, Talia sat next to her had already scooped up a spoonful and put it into her mouth.
Her face didn’t change, but her eyes lit up.
"..."
When Talia looked up, she found that Lanci and Hibury Antalia were staring at her cheek, seemingly waiting for her review.
"Mmm, it’s delicious," Talia earnestly commented.
She was eating the chocolate flavor.
Hibury Antalia broke into a satisfied smile. Seeing that Talia found it delicious made her feel as if she too had tasted a delicacy.
However.
Hibury Antalia noticed that Lanci too was looking at Talia and smiling. He seemed as if he too had tasted the delicacy.
Hibury Antalia: "..."
Forget it.
No stopping it.
Next time, she’ll just have to save him again.
The three of them sat side by side, tasting the sweetness and smoothness of the dessert on the tip of their tongues while observing the view of the Main City of Nanwantina.
Warm sunlight filtered through the leaves, while occasionally, the clatter of hooves could be heard in the neatly laid out wide roads in the distance.
"..."
"I really wish we could always be together."
A squinting Hibury Antalia looked at the scenery, chewed on the sourly sweet strawberry with the crispy seeds, and murmured her heartfelt thoughts.
She always felt at peace in the fantasy of a Fallen Wonderland.
The only minor difference was that those accompanying her were not her parents, but people of other special relations.
It would be good if such a situation could be maintained.
Truthfully, she wouldn’t want any misunderstanding or any accident causing the three to not be able to face each other.
Subsequently, Hibury Antalia felt a gaze.
Both Lanci and Talia were looking at her.
There was no surprise in their eyes.
Lanci was smiling as always, and Talia, consistent with her habit, was not smiling, yet they both made Hibury Antalia feel at ease.
"Thank you for always being by my side."
After a moment of hesitation, Hibury Antalia sincerely expressed her gratitude.
"Don’t worry, Hibury Antalia."
Setting down her empty paper box, Talia looked at her.
Although Lanci didn’t say anything, he glanced at Hyperion who had just finished eating a piece of cake from the corner.
"..."
Talia followed Lanci’s gaze, shifting her eyes to his face.
The two stared at each other briefly, as the wind blew between them with a whispering sound, causing the air to gradually cool down.
Looking back and forth between the two of them, Hyperion seemed unsure of how to speak up for Lanci.
This time, Lanci didn’t seem especially flustered.
"Uh, I haven’t touched my box yet, and I’m kind of full. Would either of you like to try some of the matcha-flavored cake?"
He picked up his box—which, in fact, he hadn’t even opened yet—offered it to his left, and asked somewhat pleadingly.
He had bought three boxes earlier with different flavors.
"Tata, how about this? I’ll try a small piece of the matcha flavor and give you a small piece of the strawberry flavor."
Upon receiving the paper box from Lanci, Hyperion turned to Talia to ask.
"Hmm."
Talia hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Then she watched Hyperion cut a small piece of matcha flavored cake using a clean spoon and put it in her own box. Then she gave a large piece of strawberry back to Talia, handing her a box filled with one and a half portions of cake.
"..."
Gazing at the new combination of red and green cheesecake, Talia felt as if she had eaten two and a half cakes out of the three.
It seemed like they were always finding ways to share things with her and getting her to unknowingly accept them.
She looked at the cake for a long time.
"Thank you."
Tata said to the two next to her.
Before she had a chance to pick up her spoon, she saw both of them looking at her in surprise.
"What’s wrong?"
Talia asked in confusion.
"Tata, you know what, your tone just now was super gentle."
Hyperion said excitedly.
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Indeed."
Lanci also chimed in, seconding Hyperion.
Talia basked in silence for a while, feeling a bit uncomfortable under their gaze.
"I’m acting."
She scooped up a spoonful of cake, putting her attention on the cake in front of her, and murmured softly.
"Oh! Tata, you’re blushing! Your lie is too obvious!"
Hyperion cheered and hugged Talia, nestling against her side and laughing.
"Actually, I don’t think Tata is necessarily blushing."
Lanci analyzed seriously from the side.
Hyperion turned her head back, looking at Lanci in confusion.
"When Tata eats, she focuses entirely on that and doesn’t think about anything else."
Lanci remarked.
"You."
Talia’s spoon paused in her hand, as if trying to control the impulse rising in her heart.
Looking at Lanci’s innocently confused expression, she felt that hitting him now would be unjustifiable.
In the end, she put the cake box on her lap, scooped up a spoonful and held Lanci’s chin. She gently opened his mouth and stuffed the spoonful into his surprised, round mouth.
"Mmm!"
Lanci was too shocked to say anything. He hadn’t expected Talia to act this way.
There was a barely noticeable smile at the corner of Talia’s mouth. She held her gaze on Lanci, almost as a warning: dare to irritate me again.
Hyperion sat between the two on the bench, shaking her head in amusement.
They got along very well during the times Lanci made sense.
These small quarrels didn’t really cause any problems.
It was fine as long as he no longer insisted on executing those whimsical ideas to test life’s limits.
