Chapter 52: Keep Your Fantasies in Check

“What’re you spacing out for?” Althea, unnoticed, formed a snowball and lobbed it at Tina’s face. “Take that!”
“Ow!” Tina, still sprawled in the snow, got a faceful, then seized the moment while Althea smirked to hurl a bigger one back.

“Sneak attack!”
Smack—

They stared at each other’s stunned faces for a second before bursting into laughter.
“Lilith, let’s see who lands more hits!”

Tina scrambled up, darting into the crowd, launching guerrilla-style snowballs from all angles.
But after running around, she didn’t land a single hit and exhausted herself first.

“Ugh, can’t… run anymore.”
After Althea’s relentless barrage, Tina surrendered, needing a break.

“Let’s sit on that bench.”
Althea pointed to a row of benches by the main road, where couples were cozied up, lost in their own world.

“Us? There’s no space, is there?” Forget space—cuddling in front of everyone would be embarrassing.
“Of course there’s space.”

Althea took Tina’s hand, brushed snow off the bench, and sat. “Please.”
“Where?” Tina looked around for an empty spot.

“Don’t play dumb. Come here.”
Althea yanked, throwing Tina off balance. She stumbled forward, landing in Althea’s lap.

Tina felt herself on warm, soft thighs, wrapped tightly in an embrace, the heat cutting through the chilly wind.
Althea sniffed her hair like a puppy, murmuring, “You smell nice.”

“Uh, you mean my hair?”
“Not the hair, but that’s not the point. I can’t let you sit on a cold bench.”

She’s oddly sweet. Tina couldn’t tell if Althea was being thoughtful or greedy.
After a while on the bench, a clear, holy song rang out nearby, pure and innocent.

People’s gazes turned to a parade float rolling by, its open second-story stage holding a row of young children and a leading priest singing an unfamiliar hymn.
As the float passed, locals joined in, some playing instruments to accompany.

Travelers who couldn’t sing or play shook their wine bottles, popping corks and spraying foam into the sky, amplifying the festive vibe.
Seeing this, Althea had an idea.

“Tyna, on Winter Solstice, people exchange gifts. We’ve got nothing right now, so… how about we split up to buy presents?”
“Great idea. I was thinking the same.” Even without Althea’s suggestion, Tina planned to get something secretly.

“See you back here then.”
They parted in opposite directions.

Althea visited a jewelry shop, her eyes landing on a hair clip—a common accessory but a symbolic gift.
Gifting it to someone dear was a subtle confession, symbolizing eternal unity and a hope for lasting harmony.

“This one.”
After trying it on, Althea chose a durable butterfly-shaped metal hairpin.

She’d always regretted not giving Tina a meaningful gift before she left.
But now, reunited, she had a chance to make up for it.

In two days, they could be together forever, unstoppable.
After paying, Althea didn’t head back but went to another shop.

For their pretend day as lovers, she wanted to share a formal dance with Tina tonight, and a phonograph stone for music would set the mood.
Valencia had plenty of shops selling audio-storing stones, but most songs were too upbeat, grating to her ears.

After searching, she found a gem in a quiet shop—a hauntingly beautiful tune perfect for dancing, its gentle melody laced with faint sorrow, captivating her from the prelude.
“All set. Back to the square to wait.” Althea was eager for their evening.

Meanwhile, Tina also went to a jewelry shop.
She wanted to buy Althea a new necklace, since the last one got ruined when she spilled poisoned tea on it.

Althea might not care about the cost, but Tina felt guilty and wanted to make up for it—or at least give a parting gift.
“Boss, this one.”

Tina picked a necklace similar to the original, bagged it, and left happily.
Like Althea, she didn’t return immediately, preparing something extra for their last night.

Unlike Althea’s phonograph stone, Tina bought festive ingredients to cook Althea a meal.
Winter Solstice in Valencia was akin to Christmas in the modern world, just with a different name.

A feast needed roast turkey, Christmas pudding, gingerbread men, and a bottle of bold red wine.
After buying, Tina’s hands were full—she couldn’t carry more.

She’d wanted a tree for the room, adorned with ornaments and gifts, surrounded by a fence with stockings underneath.
That’d make it festive.

“But this is enough. Time to meet Lilith.”
By the time Tina returned to the square, it was afternoon.

Althea sat in their spot, waiting silently.
“I thought you’d ditched me.” Althea teased, though she’d only just arrived.

“Hehe, sorry.” Tina sat beside her, eyeing Althea’s bags curiously. “Lilith, what’d you get? Two bags of gifts?”
“Like you—one’s a gift, the other’s my own whim.”

“Caught me, huh? The smell’s too strong to hide.”
Tina didn’t conceal it, showing off her ingredients. “Tonight, I’m cooking you a Winter Solstice feast!”

“Cooking for me? Don’t lovers do that? Or is it more a wife thing?”
“Think what you want.”

If it makes you happy, go ahead.
After tomorrow’s auction, they’d part ways.

“If you’re a wife, then… can we do that?” Althea pushed her luck.
“No way! Keep your fantasies in check!”