POV. Kai
"Do you know what bothers me about urgent messages?" I said to my sister as we crossed the garden, dodging the hedges as if dancing with danger. That they never clarify whether it is a tragedy or a surprise.
"You resent anything that doesn't have cleavage or intrigue," she snorted, and threw a stone into the pond.
"Look at you, the comedian of the kingdom," I replied with a smile, pulling back my hair. If it weren't for me, you'd still believe that sorcerers wear pointy hats and fly on broomsticks.
"And Archie looks like he would!" He laughed. That man always smells of sulfur and has a face as if he was frightened by his own shadow.
But he has eyes that make up for it.
"What kind of sorcerer does a whole garden need to play at botany?" My sister asked, jumping on a stone bench as if it were her makeshift throne.
"A lucky one," I replied, fixing the collar of my cloak as we walked toward the cabin.
The messenger had woken us up before breakfast, announcing that Archie was requesting a private audience. The way he said it... as if Archie were a hermit. I thought it was lovely.
"Why are you smiling like that?" My sister asked, squinting.
"So how?" I answered, clearly so.
"As if you were hiding something.
"I don't hide anything.
She snorted, though with a smile, and just then we arrived at the greenhouse. When the door opened, the steam enveloped us with the smell of wet earth and chamomile. Archie was already waiting for us. Standing, with a singed apron, his hands stained with blue ink and dirt, and his glasses crooked on the bridge of his nose.
"Your Majesty..." and Your Highness," he saluted, bowing unrestrainedly that almost knocked over a flowerpot.
"Good morning, Archie," I said, giving him a smile that made him blink three times.
My sister bit her tongue to keep from laughing.
"The messenger said you had something important to show us. And I didn't bring wine, so I hope it's brief.
Archie swallowed.
"I--I'm growing a flower.
"What a coincidence! my sister praised. Our uncle also grew a very rare... and then smoke it.
"No—nothing like that," he clarified, not understanding the joke. It is a very rare flower. It is called Flor de Hémata. There is no real record of its complete flowering, but according to the texts, it purifies the blood. It could be... a cure for the plague.
"That name sounds exaggerated, if you ask me," I replied.
My sister stopped swinging her legs.
"A flower that cures the plague?" He used a tone so serious that it almost doesn't hit him.
"Yes. But it won't bloom anytime soon. It needs care... and time.
I looked at him. Sweat ran down his temple, and yet he spoke of his flower as if it were his only hope in the world. I approached until I was half a step away from him.
"And if it doesn't bloom?" I asked.
"He will do it with my care," he said, guiding us to a small bell jar. Inside, a flower was just blooming, with a reddish stem and a bright heart that beat like it had a life of its own.
"Beautiful," I murmured, but I didn't look at the flower.
She watched as Archie stared at her, as if his entire faith were pinned in that cocoon.
After the explanation, I congratulated him with a smile that lasted longer than necessary. He thanked me, awkwardly, as he wiped his hands on his apron, leaving even more dirt.
My sister raised an eyebrow. I smiled. As she left, she soon blurted out:
"What were those looks?" He blurted out before we even crossed the garden.
"Looks?" I replied, unperturbed.
"Yes, those. The ones of "make me a cure, but first cure me this one". I'm not stupid.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, turning my face so he wouldn't see my smile.
"Of course you know!" If your eyes had a tongue, you would have licked his collarbone by now.
"Look at what imagination. You'd be excellent at writing novels forbidden to the ladies of the court," I blurted out.
"You are not deceiving me. I saw you. I saw that sparkle in your eyes. And that flash, dear Kai, is not one of brotherly kindness.
I didn't answer. But I didn't deny it either. And that left her with a devilish smile that would haunt me all day.
POV. Archie
There has been no true silence since Kai spends his nights in my lab.
He arrives unannounced, with a glass of wine and ridiculous questions. He sits at my table, touches my jars, ruins my rankings, and then looks at me like I'm the messy one.
"Is this acid or perfume?" He asks, shaking a small bottle that could melt a rock.
"No, no, no!" That's corrosive! He shouted, snatching it from him with both trembling hands.
"You get redder than tarantula venom." Should I write it down?
"Are you always like that with everyone?" I snap, leaving the acid in place.
"So how?"
"So..." I get lost looking for the word.
"Delicious?" Probably. But not with everyone. Only with those I don't like.
I look at him.
My heart beats as if I want to run away.
"What do you do when you get bored of a new toy?" I ask him.
"Do you think I see you as a toy?"
"I think—" that you have fun teasing me.
He displays a bright smile.
"I like it when you get angry. It's the only time you don't stutter.
I hold my breath, ready to say something, but...
Kai disarms me. Every gesture, every smile... Every time he says something it's like my brain resets. Literally. I don't know if I should laugh or run out into the woods.
And yet, I am not leaving.