It's a Promise

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Latte ran like she was being chased by the devil himself.

Careening around a corner, she sped through the wrought iron gates of the royal flower garden. People yelped and complained as Latte barged through a crowd of loiterers, stepping on feet and elbowing ribs without remorse. She emerged from the throng of people more ruffled than when she had entered, but only hiked her skirt up and ran faster. 

Every second that passed, she grew more desperate. An invisible timer hung over her head, relentlessly counting down. 

Just as Latte felt she would collapse in exhaustion, she caught sight of a familiar woman with silky black hair.

"Ibelin!" Latte called out joyously, but the other girl didn't turn around. "Hey, Ibelin, wait!"

Latte would have chased after her if not for the river of people that suddenly burst into the area from an adjacent pathway. They were a force of nature, sweeping her up and carrying her with them down a different path. Latte was bumped and pushed this way and that, turned around and around until she was dizzy.

"Ah! Wait! Hold on, let me go!" 

Latte was finally spat out of the group and collapsed unceremoniously on the lawn. Huffing and puffing, Latte raised her head, pushing her frazzled curls up off her face. She found herself in a large grassy space fenced by tall hedges and magnolia trees.

"Ibelin, wait for me . . . " Latte called, reaching out her hand towards a mirage of black hair. When she blinked her eyes the beautiful figure disappeared. "Nooooo!" Latte beat the ground with her fist.

She had missed her! The event! How would she watch the event?!

Today was the first time that the royal flower garden had ever been opened for public use. For just this one day people were allowed to gather here to commemorate the anniversary of the King and Queen's wedding and celebrate their own love in a similar fashion. 

But more importantly, a long-awaited story event would be occurring today!

In this garden, the three fish would be influenced by the romantic atmosphere of a nearby wedding, leading each one to contemplate his future with Ibelin. Upon meeting her privately in an area covered in blooming roses, Prince Rondemio would declare his feelings for Ibelin and ask her to dance with him if she feels the same. However, he would be confronted by the other two fish, who each want to claim Ibelin as their own. 

Of course, it was hard to say exactly how the scene would play out now, with Arwin having gone rogue. But that made Latte all the more curious. 

Damn that Booke, suddenly scheduling a signing event on the morning of such an important day. And why, today of all days, did Bishot have to catch a cold and be too unwell to teleport? 

Latte almost wept in frustration as she accepted that she had missed her opportunity to follow Ibelin. She could still wander around the garden in hopes of tracking her down, but Latte knew she would probably get hopelessly lost in the infamously confusing arrangement of hedges, fountains, and flowerbeds. 

Looking around her, there were six different pathways leading out of this area. She wasn't even sure which one would lead her to the exit, let alone which one led to Ibelin and the fishes.

Sighing, Latte sat up, unsure what she should do. She noticed the group that had brought her here had now gathered around an elegant pavillion on the other side of the area. Curious, Latte joined them, standing on her tip-toes to see over the people in front of her, without success. 

Just as she was about to start hopping like a kid with a pogo stick, her feet gently lifted off the ground as her body rose into the air and stayed there.

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