Chapter 14: Unsweetened Emotions
The Knight with the Fated Thread
My name is Rowan and this is my little sister Mira.
That was the first thing the one who will be known as Lurking death in future said to the one who will be known as ETERNAL PERFECTION EMPEROR.
Aurelionthought.
SCORE. Hehe, GAME IS GAME.
"Nice, from this moment on, you are my responsibility so, say what do you want to eat?"
"I’ll buy anything."
Rowan moved his head sideways in distrust and ignored Aurelion’s statement.
But, Mira was different. She, who was hiding behind her elder brother all this time finally decided to come a little upfront.
Her eyes showed hesitation but the famished hunger made her bypass her barrier of fear and hesitation.
"Can I also ask for something to eat?"
She asked finally.
"YES, No need to hold back. Tell me what you desire right now." Replied Aurelion smilingly.
"Lyra, you like eating sweets, right?"
Lyra moved her eyes up.
"Yes, my Lord."
Aurelion put the money pouch in Lyra’s hands and said.
"I think a little girl like her would love eating sweets just like you."
Lyra thought - She looks the same age as you, my Lord. Why are acting like you’re older than them.
Well, let’s just say as immature as she was, she still learned not to express her real thoughts.
"As you wish, Your highness." Bowed Lyra.
"What’s your name, little angel?" She said reaching her hand out towards Mira.
"I, uhhh.... I em Miya." Mispronouncing words in a cute childish voice.
Lyra held the little girl’s hand, Rowan reacted subtly but tried to hide it. She pulled her by the arm and held the little girl in her arms.
"Off we go." Lyra cheered and went forward towards the food stalls.
Aurelion and Rowan followed them.
Then,
There was a store which was selling an indigenous fruit laised with some sauces like caramel. The shop had wooden exterior, a leaf basket placed upon the wooden planks were holding the sweetened fruit.
"I’m sure you’ll like this. When I was the same age as you, I loved eating this so much that I would sneak out of the house all by myself." She said.
Then turned towards the shopkeeper.
"How much?"
"One for 4 penns and two for 6." The shopkeeper replied.
"We will take four." Lyra said.
The shopkeeper sticks a wooden stick in all the four fruits to make it easier to carry it.
OHH, IT’S SIMILAR TO CANDY APPLE.
Aurelion thought.
Lyra gives the first one to Mira.
Mira hesitates and asks.
"Can I really take it?"
Lyra didn’t say anything, simply smiled and moved her hand forward to her.
Mira finally reaches out her hand which was shivering badly and holds the stick.
Lyra hands out the rest to everyone else and takes the last one for herself.
Mira held the stick awkwardly.
She had never eaten anything like this before. For her food was something which came in pieces you tore apart with your hands, or things you swallowed quickly before someone tries to snatch it. This was different. It was clean. Too clean.
She stared at it for a long moment.
"Eat it," Lyra said softly. "It’s yours."
Mira nodded, her fingers tightened instead of relaxing.
She leaned forward and took a small bite.
The fruit was soft and very juicy, the coating melted gently on her tongue. SWEET. That’s all she could think of.
She checked the stick and was doing a kind of scanning for that fruit.
She took another bite.
Bigger than the previous one.
Her breath was different now, uneven too.
She did not realize or couldn’t figure out why her chest felt tight all of a sudden. Or why her nose burned, why her vision became blurry.
So many whys.
"I didn’t steal it. I promise. I didn’t."
Tear, one drop.
Then another.
Slowly, her whole cheek was covered with it.
Lyra tried to console her but before she could connect.
Mira wipes her face.
"I can stop eating" she said. "You can give it to someone else. I already tasted it. That’s enough. "
"Mira, it’s not like that." Lyra tries to stop her.
Mira’s face went pale and she starts repeating almost as if she is chanting.
"I already tasted it. That’s enough. "
"I already tasted it. That’s enough. "
"I already tas—. "
"MIRA, NO ONE IS GOING TO TAKE IT FROM YOU. IT IS YOURS." Lyra screams at her.
Then suddenly fall down to her knees, and says "Don’t worry, no one will take it."
Lyra cries and hugs Mira tightly.
And cries harder.
"You are with us, now. Tell this big sis anything you want from now on." Says Lyra with teary eyes.
Mira drops the barrier.
Everything which was pent up in her, releases with a waterfall of emotions.
Mira hugs Lyra back.
"BIG SIS" She cries.
And cries.
[To be Continued]
Hey guys, here’s for reference —
Currency System of the Eternal Empire
Copper Coin: Penn
Used by commoners for daily needs (food, travel, small goods)
Silver Coin: Crown
Standard currency for merchants, soldiers, and skilled workers
(1 Crown = 100 Penn)
Gold Coin: Aurex
High-value currency used by nobles, guilds, and institutions
(1 Aurex = 100 Crowns)
Platinum Seal (rare): Imperial Mark
Used only for state-level transactions, academies, and large trade
(1 Mark = 100 Aurex)