While we go around the store, I begin picking out things that interested me. 'Oh! A book on Astrology. Oh! A Poetic Verses Compilation. Ah! This is the newest edition to the Anthology collection in Uncle's Study!' While I piled book after book into Luca's hands, I fail to actually acknowledge the struggling voice of his, "Lucy.. are you really.. going to read all these?"
"Yeah! Uh-huh!"
When I couldn't place another one in his hands, I look back and interject a loud "OH!" I try to take a few books away from him to ease the burden, but he steps away. "Don't worry.. about it. Just get what you want."
"No.. but-"
From behind us, a pair of large hands comes down and takes the stack from Luca's hands, "If it is alright with you, Young Master, I can carry those."
Rubbing his arms, Luca nodded in relief. "Thank you, Tier."
I do my best to slow down and not add anything else to the load when I see it... the section for my favorite genre, romance novels. I look at it with an aching stare then turn to the boy and knight pair behind me. I begin to mutter to myself as I think. "Would it be wrong for me to buy them now? I mean.. I'm seven.. It would probably be odd.."
"Lucy, did you want to check out that section?"
Feeling like I was caught red-handed for a crime, I deny it. "No! Of course not!" Speedily, I begin to head back to the counter. "I think that is enough for a good while!" I can see the doubt in their eyes, but I feign ignorance. 'Gosh.. I think my face is turning red.'
I attempt to sort through the books remembering that we still had to pay, but I'm held back by the muscular knight through Luca's orders. Luca takes care of the transaction and we leave the store. After a few steps, the silver-haired boy says, "OH! I forgot that I needed to buy something. Wait here with Sir Tier, okay?" As he heads back inside, I stand at the storefront with the silent knight. Not really minding the lack of conversation, I observe the bustling crowd.
I didn't notice it before (I guess it was because I was a bit too excited), but there are a lot... and I mean A LOT of people staring at me. My face turns into a bit of a scowl as I question why it was so. "I wonder why..."
"It is because of your features."
I look up to the large man at my side. "My features?"
"Yes. It is because your hair and eyes are silver. Here in the North.. well anywhere, really, silver eyes and hair are a distinct feature to the Argyris family. It's common knowledge in the Kingdom of Carnath."
"Hmm.. I'm assuming that is why the shoppe keeper knew who I was before Luca even introduced me.."
"Yes. That is so."
"..I wonder if the reason we have such distinct features is because of a mutated gene... it was rare over there too.."
"..I'm not exactly sure what that means, but it is said that the reason your hair and eyes are proof that you inherited your- No.. never mind."
"?" I pick up a piece of my hair with a questioning stare.
The door behind us chimes and Luca walks out holding a tied up package. "Sorry about that... Shall we keep going?"
Since I went a tad bit overboard with my shopping, I apologetically suggest that we return home. But as Luca being the observant boy he is, rejects the idea. "It's not too heavy. Don't worry about it. It's your first time out, it'd be a shame to go home already."
Unable to hold hands, Luca tells me to become more aware of myself. 'I must really seem like a kid today.. I must have changed quite a bit after becoming Lucy.' We stroll the cobblestone street at an easy pace when I see something that really catches my eye. Looking to Luca with a begging expression, we head toward a place I loved going to as Everlyn.
While looking at the ruby-red candies in the window display, my mouth waters badly underneath the handkerchief.
"I thought you weren't fond of sweet things?"
"I'm not.. but this is.. different."
"Shall we go in?"
I shake my head. "There's also chocolate inside.. the smell is a bit... nauseating"
With knitted brows, Luca looks to Sir Tier who in return nods back to him. After setting down the packages next to me, he leaves me and Sir Tier and heads inside. The clerk greets him with great enthusiasm then he walks toward the window, pointing to the various candies in the display.
"My Lady, I think he is asking you to choose one.."
"Oh!" I point to the red candies in front of me and Luca nods in response.
After purchasing what seemed like a good amount, he returns back to us with a pleased grin. Handing me the bag, he says, "I hope you enjoy them."
"Was it.. expensive?"
With a weird smile, the boy exclaims, "Not at all!"
We didn't roam around much longer after that. Mysteriously, before I knew it, I was nicely tucked away in bed. When I open my eyes, it was already late afternoon.
*Knock knock* "Come in."
Luca opens the door gently, holding the package from this morning. "Did you sleep well?"
With my head still on the pillow, I groggily say, "Mhmm."
"I'm always so surprised in how you can fall asleep in the blink of an eye. It truly is a talent." He places the package next to me. "I saw you looking at one this morning. I don't know what you were so embarrassed about wanting to read one."
I jolt up feeling my cheeks heating up. "You bought one?!"
"Well, yeah. You looked like you really wanted to check it out. I don't see the big deal. It's normal for someone of your age to want to read it."
"I-it is?"
"Mhmm. I'm not sure if it will suit your taste, but I got one that I used to read a lot."
Hearing his words, my mind is blown. 'Luca reads romance novels? Did not expect that.' I open up the package with trembling hands, see the title, then break out into laughter. 'Ah. It's a fairy-tale.'
He happily grins to my reaction. "I know that you like feeding that clever mind of yours with knowledge. Don't think I don't know about how you take my study materials while I'm away at training."
'Oops.'
"And don't forget that you're still a kid. It might be because you've always been locked away that you've become so weird, but there's no reason to act too much like a grown-up, Lucy. You never got to do anything, so now that you're well, you can be a bit more greedy!"
Although his words are directed toward his sister, I am able to relate to them. "Thank you, Luca." After he leaves, I pick up the thin children's book that he chose for me. 'Phinius' Adventure to the Clouds.' I couldn't help but let out a childish giggle.
'Lucy sure is lucky to have had such a nice older brother.'