Reborn as the Princess' Knight (GL)

Chapter 68: Festival with Vivienne (XXII).

I dragged them both into a nearby bench where I looked like I was about to burst in tears myself. "Vivienne, what were you doing? Why did you have to go and get separated from me?!"

I hugged  the blonde little girl while she was still in Rose's arms so I ended up hugging her too. I was getting a little too emotional when she's getting lost. I could even smell Rose's scent as I hugged them both, it was oddly relaxing, my body started to loosen but apparently-

"Kein- sweetie- too tight-" (Rose)

I was hugging them too tightly.

"Sorry!"

I let them both go and saw Vivienne holding her little pouch guiltily. Maybe she wanted to buy something? Was it in the fruit stall?

"If you were planning to buy something... tell me so we can do it together." I tried not to sound mad or disappointed since I know she's already feeling bad about herself now.  "We have to thank Rose for getting there first huh?"

Rose was watching us both talk and I saw her eyes getting softer the more we did it.

Vivienne was still a little quiet when I reached my hand out to caress her blonde hair. She looked at me with small tears as she sniffed her snot again.

"Moma... I'm sorry." she apologizes and my heart couldn't bear to see her looking so sad.

"It's okay at least you're not hurt anywhere." I put my hand to her cheeks and sighed in relief. I really wouldn't know what I would do if she was.

I thought of calling the Knights for help out of desperation, I'm rather pleased that there was no need to do that in the end because of Rose.

"Rose, thank goodness you were there."

I tell her gratefully with a huge smile on my face because if she wasn't I wouldn't be able to find Vivienne so quickly.

"I'm quite shocked to find her there all alone crying..." She pats Vivienne's head as she looks at me affectionately holding my hand over the bench. "I was confused at first then thought something might've happened, I know you wouldn't leave our little girl alone." (Rose)

I felt hot, heavy and I could hear my heart beating so fast. I held my chest for a moment trying to calm down but when she said 'our little girl'... it made me... feel happy.

...

'Huh?! What do you mean you have a kid?! I can't believe I was dating someone with a  kid! I'm out!'

'I'm sorry but someone with a kid is already a deal breaker for me.'

'She's not even mine. Why should I care?'

...

Right... For a moment there...

I remembered many of my past lovers on earth telling me the exact same thing over and over again. The reason I couldn't stay committed to one person and I didn't really have much trust over people when it came to my kid.

We tried, of course, it's either I had bad luck with women or they just couldn't work with having children in the relationship.

'Moma… is it my fault? Is it my fault… that you can't find love?'

My... daughter on earth has asked me painfully so many times.

If it was her fault... to why she couldn't get another mother, the reason I wasn't happy- she blamed herself often but I made sure that she knew she was not the one at fault.

"I was buying some candy floss while I put her down for one second, when I was paying for it the next time I turned to her she was gone. It's my fault... I should be more attentive next time."

Rose nods and looks at Vivienne before me in understanding. "Children are a little- difficult that you really can't take your eyes off of them, not even for a second. You can learn for next time but these kinds of things just happen so don't be too hard on yourself."

"Vivienne is here with us safe and sound now."

Her words made me think a bit more and my mind relaxed in her reassuring words.

I suppose she was right- I know it's not my first time taking care of a kid but my Vivienne on earth was such a timid and obedient girl that I'm not used to a really energetic one.

Now that I think about it, back then in the orphanage Rose would always be surrounded by a lot of children like that, enthusiastic children who want to learn more about the world and so unafraid stepping into a  new territory.

How did she even have the strength to continue on for the next day?

"Hahaha... I can't believe you dealt with that back then in the orphanage there were so many you had to keep your eyes on. You're too kind to children." I rubbed the sides of my temples with a little tired laugh. I could feel my age catching up a bit.

However, I suppose that's one of the skills she picked up while taking care of those children in the orphanage.

"Though I like that about you, I guess..." I muttered a little shyly. I still had problems with conveying some of my true thoughts to the person I like but at least I'm getting better.

I couldn't help but rest my head over her shoulders. "I really missed you."

Rose was surprised by my words at first. I could feel her body shifting and then relaxing, she placed her head next to mine as Vivienne cuddled into the middle of our bodies. "I've never seen you this much clingy towards me, Kein. Remember when we were kids? I was the one who was always trying to get close to you..."

She giggles softly moving her head to my forehead and kisses it affectionately, my heart starts to beat faster. "Guess who's the one who's being clingy now? Not that I hate it though."

I hid my face around her neck because I was feeling double shy... I don't like this feeling. I don't like this... I super don't like this.

"I... don't hate it either but don't misunderstand me I... don't like it that much either." I whispered my breath tingling her neck. My body felt a little weird now... and it was like at the time in the winshern castle when we almost- did it.

"Kein... you're sort of tickling me now."

I wanted to hold her down and kiss her- do anything she would like me to do to her body. What Veronica said to me before to see someone you like doing expressions they could never show.

I want to do it.

However, I feel like I'm forgetting something important...

"Moma... Mommy flirting?"

!!!

So that's what I was forgetting-! I was too caught up in our romantic mood. I forgot about the little girl that was in the middle of all our flirting! I swear I forget all the things around me when Rose is around. "We're not- flirting, Vivienne."

"Yes your mother and I are just planning on how to make your festival experience better, darling." She boops Vivienne's nose as the little blonde girl hastily holds it giggling.

"Hehe! Mommy!" (Vivienne)

"It's actually been a while since I've attended."

Ugh I wish I was the one calling me darling too. Honestly, that's kind of hot.

I know she already calls me sweetie but I mean darling could also be an alternative option but I don't have the balls to tell her that. "Kein what do you think we should do? I haven't attended since two years ago... I'm not sure what events are currently happening now."

"I... probably missed out on a lot huh."

Did she miss out on a lot?

The past two years of the Lumineria festival... I remember during this time the newbie knights would have a small one week break before going home.

When I attended I was either alone watching things by myself or I helped father judge by his art booth competition that he still holds even to this day.

It was a little lonely because every festival we always attended it together.

For Rose... she must've missed all the friends she made.

Two years, they all thought she was missing after all. Leaving an abrupt letter that she'll be leaving and nothing else. Everyone, especially the children in the orphanage to which she has taught a long time, was devastated.

Madam Prisha, Grandma Chio, Veronica, Matthew, Big sister Gisela as well as Valentina and everyone in the orphanage. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who missed her dearly.

"Well then it's decided. Let's go visit everyone, I'm sure they've missed you too but some of the others are out today." I stood up from the bench and took Rose's hand pulling her up to stand from the bench.

"The others?" (Rose) tilts her head in questions and I nod. The music of the festival was enveloping us as I wrapped my fingers around her into a tight hold as Vivienne raised her arms in excitement.

"I'll take you to the orphanage some other time and the two love birds moved out to Sprivanto so we can't see them at the moment."

She giggled at the two love birds guessing perfectly who they were, "I'm really happy for those two. Does Sister Gisela still punch Valentina like always?"

I laughed remembering those two all those years ago, even if they got married some things just never change. "You don't even know half of it. Big sister Gisela has been going soft on her wife now though and they even have a kid just like us."

"Oh, did they also adopted or?"

"No, apparently it was some sacred ritual in Sprivanto that they needed to do. They didn't tell me the full details of it but I could ask another time on how that happened." They didn't want to tell me what happened during the ritual because they were really so flustered when I asked them.

I remember when they visited me when Gisela was only six months pregnant. I was so amazed when she asked for me to put my hand over my stomach to feel her baby's kicking.

I didn't know there was a ritual where you can make a baby with homosexual couples. "Sprivanto is really amazing..." She complimented the progressive kingdom and I agreed.

"Want to move there once everything is over?"

I suggested, I mean it's not that much of a bad idea.

I could picture the both of us staying in a small cottage house with a small farm or something like that, it would be nice. No one to bother us with arranged marriages and I could be living my life in peace just... teaching and selling art.

"Perhaps... but lets see what will happen for now though. I don't mind staying here with Vivienne, our friends and family are here so it would be a little hard to part with them." (Rose) tells me and she was right, Father would need me to be the heir for the Hills estate and every business that runs along with it.

It was a good idea though, but she's right. I like how home is right now.

"You're right... maybe in another time then." I told her smiling and we went on our way to meet Madam Prisha and Grandma Chio.

Maybe we'll get to renew our future card readings too?