The Gray Tower (Being Rewritten as The Erstwhile Druid)

Chapter 27: Struggle

Kaguya grinned and tapped her feet. About time. All these whippersnappers these days take way too long. In my youth, I'd have been to first base in the first few days — ahem.

She crouched beside the entrance, legs quivering with anticipation. She peeked to her right, eyes sneaking around the corner.

The two lovebirds shared a warm embrace, lips locked. That's what I'm talking about.

The knight saw their silhouettes, fireflies zooming in circles around the pair, light shining onto their brilliance. She was too far to make out their words, but she could imagine what they were saying:

I love you, Luke.

I love you more, Noelle.

Please be with me forever, even when everything falls around us.

Yes, my love, to the ends of the world. I will pry open the gates of death for you.

Oh Luke, how romantic.

Oh Noelle, how beautiful...

[Insert multiple kiss sounds]

Kaguya gripped her head, hurling it against the wall. And again. And again. Your imagination is going wild, Kaguya. Rein it in. Stop projecting. Yes, you did want to get married before you turned thirty, but not everything works out in life. Maybe when you're around forty...

"Miss Kaguya, what are you doing by the entrance?" Madeleine said. Curious, she drifted towards Kaguya, a half-eaten donut in her hand. "Eavesdropping is bad you know."

"Shhhhhh."

"I wanna see too." The fairy craned her head around the corner. A tiny gasp escaped her lips. "Is this what people call true love?"

"Not yet, my dear Madeleine, not yet." Kaguya pulled a creeping Madeleine away. "They're just getting started. Don't blow our cover."

"Do you do things like that too, Miss Kaguya?"

Kaguya coughed, shooting the fairy a dirty glance. "Not at the moment..."

"Thought so, you looked a bit too old for that sort of stuff." Madeleine smiled, a ball of innocence.

Kaguya grunted. "You really have a way with words, you know that?"

Madeleine nodded, head slowly creeping toward the entrance again. "Shhhhhhh."

"Don't shhhhh me, Maddie." Kaguya chopped Madeleine on the head.

"Grow up, Miss Kaguya. Things are getting good." Madeleine covered her mouth, squealing. "That was the fourth kiss."

Damn kids, Kaguya thought. This is why I hate kids.

"Now that's enough." Kaguya made to cover Madeleine's eyes.

Shaking her head, Madeleine brushed away the intruding hand. "I guess this means the prince and princess have found each other at last."

"Took them long enough, huh?"

"Uh-huh."

The knight held up a fist, and the fairy returned the gesture.

"Fist bump," Kaguya whispered.

"Bump." Madeleine punched Kaguya's fist lightly. "I always wanted to do that."

A footstep behind them interrupted.

"Have you two had your fill?" Jill conked both of them on the head. "It's time to go."

***

Noelle touched her lips. I can't believe I just did that. Her face warmed. Why did I do that?