My New Love That Isn’t Fated - Episode 39

As they walked toward the Nighttime Rain Shelter Café, Owen offered to carry Lilia’s bag.
When he held out his hand and she hesitantly touched it, he gripped it firmly.
His black leather-gloved hand gently wrapped around hers, and Lilia smiled shyly.

“Welcome, Owen, Lilia. Hm? Something’s different about you today, Lilia. You look happy,” said Sienna with a warm grin.

“Thank you, Sienna,” Lilia replied.

“Sienna? That sounds so formal! Just call me Sienna—or Sienna-chan, if you like!”

“Sienna… That reminds me of my little sister,” Lilia said with a chuckle.

They entered the café and sat together near the piano.
Sienna brought over water with slices of lemon floating inside.

“You have a sister, Lilia?” she asked.

“Yes. She’s currently studying at the Royal Academy.”

“Wow, she must be really smart.”

“She works very hard. She’s a sweet girl. Both my younger brother and sister are. It’s been over six months since I last saw them.”

“I can tell you’re a kind older sister. Don’t you think so, Owen?”

“Yes. Lilia is very kind,” Owen said, his voice full of quiet certainty.

Sienna gently nudged Owen’s arm and said with a bright smile, “You’re lucky, Owen.”

“Why lucky?”

“Your date’s going well!”

“I should scold you for teasing an adult, but… I’m in such a good mood today that I don’t mind anything you say.”

“Wow, if you say it like that, I don’t even know how to respond!” Sienna laughed. “Anyway, I’m happy for both of you. Stay as long as you like—you can even stay till morning if you want!”

Lilia smiled and thanked her. She then looked through the menu with her finger, trying to decide what she wanted to eat or drink—feelings she hadn’t experienced in a while.

“Owen, may I go ahead and order?”

“Of course. I want to eat whatever you want to eat. Can I leave it up to you?”

“Yes. You like sweet drinks, don’t you?”

“I’m glad you remembered.”

Lilia placed a few orders with Sienna. While waiting for the food, she told Owen about the diary of Princess Ayril she had read earlier that day.

“I learned something new today. Apparently, the reason the witch Lindel was banished from the royal castle was because she protected Princess Ayril from being poisoned.”

“Then why was she called a witch and banished?” Owen asked.

“At the time, magic and anything supernatural were feared and avoided. Also… strangely, it seems that in ancient times, their technology was quite advanced. There was a type of energy they used called ‘Phasma.'”

“Phasma…?”

“It’s a kind of mineral—not the same as oil or coal. According to the diary, they used it to power all sorts of machines.”

As they talked, Sienna returned with their drinks and food, smiling as she said, “Sounds like you’re having quite the intellectual conversation.”

She placed their drinks and dishes on the table: a fluffy whipped honey latte, a “Goodnight Bear” cappuccino, bite-sized meat pies, smoked salmon and cream cheese crostini, veggie sticks, and a tart made with seasonal fruits.

“The fruit tart is on the house—from my dad,” she added. “He says the rain over Lilia has stopped now.”

“…Thank you. Please tell the master I’m grateful,” Lilia said sincerely.
From behind the counter, the café’s master raised a hand in acknowledgment.
Lilia took a sip of the honey latte, and as she lowered the cup, Owen gently reached over and wiped a bit of cream from her lips.

“You had cream on your lips. Cute.”

“…Owen, I’m really not used to things like that…”

“You don’t have to get used to it,” he said softly.

Then, he licked the cream from his finger. The simple gesture made her heart race.
Everything felt different now—closer, more intense. The taste of food, the air, the way the world looked—it all changed.
Just feeling loved made everything different.

“Watching you blush just from a little touch makes me happy.”

“You’re being a bit mean…”

“You’re adorable.”

“L-let’s continue the story, shall we…?”

“The poisoning story?”

“Yes… The Queen had only one daughter, Princess Ayril. She didn’t have a claim to the throne, but the king’s concubines still saw her as a threat and disliked her.
Though in her diary she sounds full of life, people in real life called her the Ice Princess and feared her.”

She didn’t smile or talk much—just stunningly beautiful. People avoided her and spoke behind her back.
And whenever something bad happened to someone who had wronged her, misfortune always followed.
Once, a half-sister who had mocked her got injured, and that girl’s mother came to hate Ayril even more.
Eventually, for some reason, they plotted to poison her.

There seemed to be some complicated love drama between Ayril and some noblemen, but the diary didn’t go into much detail.

In any case, Lindel wouldn’t let the poisoning happen. She was furious. And then—

“Lindel really did seem to have mysterious powers. She supposedly cursed those who tried to harm Princess Ayril—breaking their legs or scarring their faces.
It’s said she was the one causing misfortune to strike anyone who wished harm on the princess.
Even though Ayril wrote in her diary that Lindel hadn’t done such things, Lindel openly accepted the blame and left the castle.”

“They say magic once existed in this land… Old records mention it. If Lindel was a witch with real magic, maybe it’s not so hard to believe.”

The story from the past was tragic, but also fascinating and beautiful in its way.
Lilia felt happy that Owen listened so closely and nodded with such genuine interest.

Lindel had protected Princess Ayril like an older sister—or even a mother.

Lilia found herself quietly hoping that both of them had found happiness in the end.