Volume 1. Chapter 19: Insomnia

Ken stood on the balcony, leaning against the railing, gazing at the stars. Their cold light shimmered and flickered, as if inviting him into uncharted realms. The night was quiet, only a gentle breeze brushing against his face, carrying with it the scents of the nighttime forest and fresh greenery.He sighed and thoughtfully ran a hand through his hair. After everything that had happened today, falling asleep wasn’t easy - so much had occurred, so many surprising discoveries, emotions he hadn’t even known existed. Suddenly, he heard light footsteps behind him, and turning around, he saw Lily stepping onto the balcony from her room, unaware of his gaze. She froze, her eyes filled with curiosity and wonder as they locked onto his face. In the moonlight, her gaze seemed even deeper, almost entranced.For a moment, she even stopped breathing, as if afraid to scare away this midnight vision. Her face was filled with softness and a certain unspoken longing. She stared at him, unable to look away.“Am I really that good-looking, or did you just lose the ability to speak?” Ken broke her trance, winking with a playful grin.Lily quickly shook her head as if waking up, her cheeks flushing crimson.“N-no,” she stammered, stumbling over her words. “I just… didn’t expect to see you here.”He smirked slightly, raising an eyebrow.“Of course. You just can’t sleep after meeting someone as handsome as me,” he said, not bothering to hide his amusement.Lily blushed even brighter than the sunset and looked away, fidgeting with the hem of her nightgown.“You… you’re such an idiot, Ken!” she burst out, still not looking at him. “Why are you acting like this?”Ken laughed, clearly enjoying her flustered reaction, and as he turned his gaze back to the stars, he added:“But seriously… I think I have insomnia too. Thought I’d get some fresh air, maybe it’ll help. By the way, do you guys have any kind of magic to help you fall asleep?”Lily paused for a moment, a flicker of memory lighting up her eyes.“Well… actually, we don’t have sleep magic, but there is a special tea. It helps you relax,” she said softly. “If you want, we can try it.”“Tea?” Ken’s interest was piqued. “Sounds perfect! Let’s go,” he said, gesturing for her to lead the way.Still slightly flustered, Lily nodded and led him to the kitchen. The nighttime silence filled the house, and every step they took echoed down the hallway. In the kitchen, Lily took out a small pouch of fragrant herbs and brewed the tea, filling the air with a light, sweet aroma. They sat at the table, each with a cup in hand, and as Ken took his first sip, he felt warmth spread through his body, bringing a sense of comfort and calm.“This tea’s really good,” he noted, taking another sip. “I think I might actually be able to sleep now.”Lily lowered her eyes, trying to hide her smile, but Ken noticed it anyway and added with a satisfied smirk:“Although, Lily, honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if I still couldn’t sleep after this tea. After a day like today with you, peace and quiet are the last things I can expect.”Lily flushed again and nearly choked on her tea.“You… why would you say something like that?” she muttered, flustered, her heart pounding from his words.“Why not?” Ken leaned in slightly, grinning. “I like seeing you get flustered. You look so cute.”Lily lowered her gaze, nervously biting her lip, and murmured:“You… you’re impossible!” she said, but her voice was soft, and she couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at her lips.When they finished their tea, Lily stood up, and as she looked at Ken, she couldn’t help but give him a gentle smile.“Good night, Ken,” she whispered.As Lily returned to her room and lay down in bed, her thoughts still swirled around Ken. She remembered how he looked at her, how he teased her, and how her heart would race every time he did.“What an idiot…” she thought, her face flushing again. She couldn’t stop a small smile before she finally drifted off to sleep.Meanwhile, Ken, lying in his room, also found himself thinking about her flustered face.“She looks so adorable when she’s embarrassed,” he thought with a smile, a warm feeling washing over him that finally lulled him into a deep sleep.