The fateful meeting that I was seriously looking forward to... It won't happen anymore...?
"Nadia?" Nathan pipes in out of the blue.
I looked at all of them, feeling depressed. My brother noticed my downcast expression and frowned.
"What's wrong?" Nathan asked with his forehead creasing together.
'Everything. Everything is wrong...'
If I had not brought Kai and Lost back home, then Kai would have done his part and the event would happen. But if I had left them alone back then, I would have been the most heartless person on the planet..
At that time, I told myself that I won't regret bringing them with me, and I still am now. Kai gets to grow up with a roof over their heads, and both of them are healthy and well. Hence, even if I am partly saddened by this, if I'll be given a chance to do it over again,
I still won't change what I did.
"I still can't believe I messed it up... I can't believe this..." I grumbled under my breath and glanced at Estelle.
'Would the future change drastically? Just because I am no longer hated like before, and because Kai is with me?'
She was just a few steps away now. If I don't do something, Nathan and her, won't be able to meet. Then the plot would go astray even more!
"No. They should meet. They have to!" I asserted. I was burning with resolve, coming up with a decision.
If the robbing fiasco won't happen, then I will make sure that they would still have that encounter!
I turned to Kai who took a step back from seeing my serious expression. He looked quite fearful, to be honest.
"Kai, act like you are robbing me and run!" I told him enthusiastically and shoved my purse in his hands.
"Huh?!" Kai spluttered.
"Nadia--" Nathan
The three of them were looking at me now like I had gone senile.
"Wait, no. That would be silly..." I whispered-- Then..." biting my lower lip, I gazed at Estelle again.
She's fastly approaching...
'Fvck it!'
My feet hastened forward in an attempt to cross the street. I heard the three of them calling my name but I ignored it, not even slowing down a bit.
Just as I had intended to, my body collided with another. The impact then sent both of us falling to the ground in a thud, surprising the people around us.
"Ow!"
"Nadia!"
Good thing I didn't fall flat to my face or that would have been embarrassing. My head turned to the lady that was sprawled just like me. She was slightly grimacing, probably because of the impact from both of our shoulders bumping with each other, or from hitting the cold hard ground.
"Are you okay?!" Nathan exclaimed and grabbed me onto him, but gently.
How do you grab someone gently? Only Nathan, guys...
He tried to check me for bruises and saw that my palms were looking red, and had little scratches on them. I was not paying him attention though and was just staring at the yellow-haired lady.
'I am giving you this opportunity brother, please don't waste it!'
"You wounded yourself!"
"It doesn't hurt..." I told him and grabbed my hands off his.
Kai had taken the liberty to help Estelle stand while Nathan pulled me upward. Grabbing my overly fussy brother, I pushed both of us closer to Estelle.
"What are--"
I shushed him and turned to Estelle, painting an act.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run into you!"
I'm actually not, just slightly guilty...
Estelle, without looking at me as she was busy, answered.
"It is fine, I wasn't paying attention either so it's also my fault."
Her voice sounded soft and airy, very soothing to the ears. She was still patting her dress and cape, so I couldn't get to see her whole face clearly, but her side profile looks cute!
"Nadia, why the hell did you run like that? What if you got trampled on by people?" Nathan scolded me afterward, glaring so hard that I felt like a child being reprimanded by her parents.
'Oh dear, he is mad.'
I cleared my throat and glanced at my brother. He wasn't even throwing Estelle a glance and was just angrily standing there.
'This is bad, he is only paying attention to me and not to Estelle. I should do something...'
My hand clutched his sleeves, "Brother, why don't you check her for injuries?" and peeped at Estelle-- "It was my fault that she had fallen down, and it worries me that she might be in pain," I added. I made sure to look anxious so it would sound believable.
Nathan frowned, but I was already pushing him towards her.
'Just do it, brother!'
He saw how eager I was, thus he let out an exasperated sigh, and turned his attention to Estelle. Nathan looked down at the young woman who was still fixing her dress and cape. He was standing in front of her, and not saying anything at all.
I was trying to stop myself from squealing upon seeing the two of them together.
'Ahhh, they are so cute!'
This is my first ship, okay? Lukas might have been my number one ML, but my ultimate ship is them!
"Nadia? You're not hurt right?" Kai then asked me out of the blue.
"Sshh~ Just watch!" I hushed him down and focused on the scene in front of us.
Nathan cleared his throat. He appeared so awkward that it only made me fangirl even more.
'This is like soap opera unfolding in front of my eyes...'
"Are you okay, miss?"
'AAAAAHHH He asked her! He is asking heeeeer!'
Estelle, who had just finished fixing it, looked up at that moment and met Nathan's eyes.
If you are curious as to what I look like within this moment, it's probably like some creepy stalker. I was staring at them so hard, I felt like my eyeballs would pop out of their sockets. I was also clutching Kai's sleeves for dear life, just to control myself.
Though this is not how the scene should have played out, it's still better than nothing.
'Oh my, oh myyyy! They had eye contact!'
I feel like a proud parent...
I saw her blinking in surprise upon seeing my brother up-close, then suddenly moved to take a step backward.
"I--" Estelle voiced out then shut her mouth.
She must have recognized my brother, or else, why would she lower her eyes to avoid looking at him directly?
'Oooh~ She's shy...'
"Are you hurt somewhere?" Nathan inquired, but it lacked the emotion that it made me want to slap my forehead for how cold he sounded.
"N-no! I'm fine!" Estelle flushed and shook her head.
She also kept looking forward, especially at the narrow opening between us. It looks like she wants to leave.
'Nope! Not so fast!'
"Are you sure? Maybe we should ask a physician to check up on you?" I interjected.
I am going overboard with my suggestion, but I only want her to stay a little longer.
'Let me fangirl more, please.'
Her vivid green eyes went to me, "It's not really needed... I'm really fine..."
Poor Estelle just honestly wants to leave...
"I-I'm sorry, I have to go... please excuse me," she muttered and meekly scurried away like a frightened rabbit.
'Aww man, I want to talk to her more...'
Estelle glanced at Nathaniel once again, peeking over her shoulders, and got shocked when she saw us staring at her. She then finally went on her way hurriedly as if she's afraid that we would stop her.
I wonder if she recognized my brother?
"Nadia, don't do reckless things again. Do you understand?" Nathan then reprimanded me yet again, as soon as she was out of range, "Do you even know how scared we are?"
"Sorry," I muttered and looked at the three of them.
I felt guilty because they all seemed to be worried about me. There is a possibility that I could have been kicked by the crowd, or worse, stepped on. Hence, why they were so troubled about what just happened.
'But I have a reason for it...'
I heard Nathan sighed in exasperation, "Don't do it again. Okay?"
"Okay," I mumbled, feeling silly with myself.
After that lecture from him, the four of us returned to the side.
I looked in the direction where Estelle had disappeared and smiled. At least, even if the supposed event did not happen, Estelle and Nathan still got to meet.
My head swiveled to Nathan, "Say, brother. She's pretty, don't you think so?"
Nathan's eyes gazed at me," Is she?"
I blinked at him. What is with that unenthusiastic reply?
"Yeah. Right, Kai?" then looked at the said guy.
He, on the other hand, appeared to be confused.
"Eh? Well, I don't know about these things, but maybe?"
"How about you, Lost?"
The man just stared at me and did not reply.
"..."
Seriously...
"You saw her face, right?" I asked my brother once again.
Nathan seemed to be indifferent when he answered.
"I did."
"So? What do you think?"
Estelle, to me, is pretty. Sure, she doesn't have the drop-dead gorgeous type of beauty, but hers is refreshing. Small face, button nose, big doe eyes that sparkled like emeralds, and that stunning hair!
No wonder that she captured the attention of my elusive brother, the flower Crown Prince, the most powerful magician, and the Northern Duke.
It's obvious that I am a fan, isn't it?
"You're prettier," Nathan flat-out declared.
I gaped at him.
"I know. But that's not what I meant," I remarked, clicking my tongue.
Nathaniel's lips quirked to the side when he heard my answer as if he was fairly amused.
"You are shameless," he then commented, all the while he was lightly shaking his head.
A smirk showed on my face, "I am not. Just confident."
'#loveyourself. Right, guys?'
"That is true. Nadia is prettier, for me," Kai seconded.
"I also agree," Lost then joined, acceding to the two's statements.
I gazed at them, feeling defeated.
"You guys are hopeless..."