Both of them shared a laugh as they looked on at Sierra and Alistair. The couple amongst the strawberry bushes seed more relaxed than they had been before. For a mont in ti, they forgot about the worries that had been plaguing their mind.
For just that mont, they enjoyed each other’s company in the fields, picking ripe strawberries straight from the bushes. They had so much fun, that they didn’t keep track of ti. When their baskets were full, they headed back to the entrance.
Vy and Dygo had also done so picking of their own. For a quick snack before heading back, Vy ordered them a variety of strawberry-thed desserts to try. They had everything such as tea, cakes, shaved milk ice, and even mochis.
The fresh strawberries were sweet, plump, and juicy.
"These are amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted any that were this sweet," Sierra remarked as she took another bite of the strawberry shortcake.
The sweet fruit paired well with the soft fluffy cream that was found in between layers of airy vanilla sponge cake. She couldn’t stop eating it.
"Neither have I, if only we could grow these in Drakin," Alistair mused. He favored the strawberry mochi.
The otherwise mild-tasting rice cake complinted the sweet fruit. They had placed an entire strawberry into the sticky rice cake, allowing both flavors to ld well. Vy went back into the shop where they had purchased the snacks and returned with three paper packets. Each packet had a strawberry inked on them.
"Here, you can try planting them in the castle," Vy suggested as she handed it to Sierra and Alistair.
"We can?" Sierra gasped in shock as she took a closer look at the packets.
Vy nodded, "Yes you can. I’ve got so growing in my garden too."
"The conditions of the land will affect the fruit it bears. It can’t beat the ones they have here, but it can be pretty close," Dygo added.
Vy and Dygo had a large garden in one of their shared hos. They had collected the seeds of various fruits that they’ve enjoyed over ti and grew them in their own backyard.
"Perhaps we should send you so of ours from ti to ti. There are lots of interesting fruits out there that can’t be found in your kingdom," Vy suggested.
Once they were well-rested, the four of them departed from the strawberry farm and made their way back to Yama Yoma. Having spent the entire day on their feet, they decided to head to the outdoor hot spring to relax.
As the day ca to a close, Sierra was quick to notice Alistair seed to speak less and less. At first, she assud it was because he was tired.
"Would you like to retire early for the night, Your- Sorry, my dear?" she stumbled at the end, almost using his formal title as she asked.
They were about to head out for dinner at the dining hall. At first, Alistair did not reply. He seed to be so deep in his thoughts, that he did not hear Sierra’s question. It wasn’t until he realized she’d been staring at him for so ti did he look up at her.
"What’s wrong?" he asked.
"Alistair, is everything alright?" Sierra asked as she cupped his face, her voice was now filled with concern, "You seem... distracted."
Perhaps he was worried about his Kingdom, she thought to herself.
She bit her lip, feeling guilty about taking him away from his royal duties. Since the concubine choosing concluded, Alistair has had more work to do. Especially when there were so many visiting delegates in the Capital.
"I’m sorry, I just..." Alistair bit his lip, he didn’t want to dampen the mood, but he didn’t have any other choice.
Sierra placed her hand on his, "Just tell . Anything."
"I won’t be able to stay for long, my sweetling. I need to go back to Vargos Castle soon," he sighed.
He almost couldn’t bring himself to et her eyes as he spoke. The disappointnt in her eyes made him weak. But what she said next surprised him. Sierra clutched his hand tightly.
"Then I shall return with you tomorrow. Tonight if need be. We can leave now too, let’s just change out and-"
"No."
"No?"
Alistair pulled her into an embrace, allowing Sierra to rest her head on his chest. She could hear his rhythmic heartbeat. It brought her a little comfort.
"I’ll go tomorrow morning. But you’ll stay," he whispered to her softly as he planted a kiss on the top of her head.
He had planned for her to stay in Yama Yoma for a week or more, hoping the ti here would help her relax and unwind. He didn’t want her to return to Vargos Castle so soon. But that was not the only reason.
He didn’t want her to chance upon the surprise he had in stored for her.
"What about the ceremony?" Sierra asked as she bit her lip.
Alistair caressed her cheek. Since her position as ’paramount’ was new, there were no traditional ceremonies she had to partake in. There was only a naming ceremony. But there was one more thing he wanted to do.
"There’s only the naming ceremony. That would be taken care of by the ceremonial masters. You need not fret over that. But there is one thing you’ll need to co up with. You can think about it and we’ll have it executed during the ceremony."
"And what’s that?"
"You’ll need to co up with a new tradition for our union," he whispered with a smile.
"A new tradition to mark our union?"
Alistair nodded.
Sierra had never heard of anything like it before, nor did she know many union traditions of her own.
"Hmm, alright, I’ll give it so thought," she replied with a smile. Perhaps she would ask
Being a little playful, she gave him a quick kiss on the nose. Then, she locked arms with him.
"Shall we head to dinner then?"
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