[Luca's POV]
I had woken up much earlier than usual this morning. Because I was taking Lucy out, I needed to finish my duties before we left, not that I minded. Anything would be worth it for my dear sister
After breakfast, I walked to the carriage, thinking nothing more than how great today was going to be. I've been dying to bring her to the market street. There was also the bookstore. I'm sure she'd... My thought trailed off when I looked back to see Lucy still behind me.
She was so... reverent in that moment. She was simply taking in her surroundings, reminding me of a delicate flower soaking in the sunlight, its most basic source nourishment.
It made me feel ashamed.
While she was stuck in the castle, I've taken for granted the simplest of things. I... had forgotten that today was much more than a simple outing.
A moment later, she broke free from her stillness, revitalized and rejuvenated. And with my own renewed determination, I swear, 'This will be the best day ever.'
The carriage slowly rolled down the hill and I contentedly watched my sister enjoying the view from the window. After a while, I remember to go over a few rules with her. Without any convincing necessary, she agreed to them one by one.
Thinking about today's expenses, I mentally calculate. 'Lucy isn't the type to be easily impressed... So I think 20 pieces of gold would be permissible should she see something thing she likes.'
We come to a halt in front of the short tunnel to the shopping district. I already see a crowd staring at our inconspicuous coach. Sir Tier and I descend first. When I go to take Lucy's hand, she unexpectedly doesn't see it. Hopping down the steps of the carriage, she almost leaps toward the gaping tunnel. Hurriedly, I go to grab her hand. "Did you forget the rules already?"
She immediately denied, but from the way she just acted, I'm sure she did.
I continued to hold her hand as we walked into the district. Her steps were adorably rushed as she flitted about. It was amusing how we all had to keep up.
Though many people were staring in disbelief at who they were seeing, she paid no attention to it, possibly just too distracted to notice. I don't think she realized how big of a deal it is that the mysterious daughter of Duke Argyris was. To finally make an appearance in the outside world, it was probably going to the gossip of the town for a while. When we were a short way down, a sugary scent wafts through in the air. I breathe the sweet aroma when Lucy lets go of my hand. 'Oh.' I take out a handkerchief and tell her to breathe from her mouth, then I take her unoccupied hand and we continue.
When we were younger, I would often visit Lucy while bringing along some sweets for us to share. But since she lost her memory, she would reflexively throw up from the smell of it. I don't understand why it happens, but it saddens me to know that her body rejects the food that we bonded over. Of course, as her older brother, I won't tell her that.
We arrive at the book store that I go to whenever I need some new materials for studying. The shopkeeper, Myka, who, as always, was carrying a hefty sum of books, spots us at the door. As she greets me, she sees Lucy. Somehow, the bi-spectacled girl becomes twisted at the tongue (in a funny way.)
Once we began looking around, Lucy was like a free-range chick. It wasn't long until she started to pile book after book in my arms, all of which were about topics that I had no idea she was interested in.
'Astrology? Poetic Verses? Does she really intend to read an Anthology?' From the way she kept stacking, my arms couldn't help but tire. I know it sounds a bit pathetic since I have been training in sword and magic almost every day, but really.. I'd say carrying a stack that is almost a head and a half above mine is already fairly impressive.
Lucy finally noticed and goes to take off some of the load, but I step back. In the end, Sir Tier, who has been standing near the entrance, sneaks up from behind and takes them to the counter. After that, Lucy's pace slows down, opting to just look around. That is until we reached the back. Rather abruptly, she stopped her tracks. Though I'm behind her, I clearly heard her mutter, "Would it be wrong for me to buy them now? I mean.. I'm seven.. It would probably be odd.."
I moved to see at what she was talking about and I saw the children's section in front of us. 'Ah.. I guess it would be quite funny if she said that she wanted to read those after choosing all these.' I was going to ask her if she wanted to check out the section, but she begins to turn... adorably shy. Really, I've never seen my sister so embarrassed before. I want to poke fun at her as she always does to me, but how could I? She's my adorable sister!
Telling Sir Tier to hold Lucy back, I go to pay. Luckily, our Ducal family is quite well off. Although my father is an annoying man, he's adequate in managing our finances. He is doesn't wastefully splurge it (Let's disregard my sister's birthday). I'd say his worst quality is that he doesn't exactly make time to enjoy any of the benefits of being a noble. That's probably why Lucy and I have a great sum put into our personal funds. When he showed me the other day, I could only drop my jaw at how may digits there were.
Remembering this, I quietly think to myself, 'I don't think she understands the concept of money yet.. I should probably teach that when we get home.'
Myka handed me the total with trembling hands. I look at the numbers and pull out one of the gold coins. Gratefully, she signed in relief when she saw that I have the money on me. 'It's much less than I thought it'd be.' She started to count my change, but then I leaned in to whisper, "Can you keep the change really quickly? I'm coming back as soon as we leave your store."
The girl looked to me with a question mark above her head, but I just picked up the tied stacks and motion them that we're leaving. Then as soon as we're out, I tell them I'm heading back in. Quickly, I rushed to the back where the children's books are and scanned over the section. While I went over the shelves of fairy tales, I felt slightly overwhelmed by the choices.
Probably wondering what I was doing, Myka peaked over.
"I didn't know My Lord still read these books." She teased.
With my hand to my chin, I ignored her remark. "I'm choosing something for Lucy.. it looked like she wanted to read one."
Standing beside me, Myka pointed. "How about this one? It's a princess story. Most little girls like it."
"No..."
"Then one about knights and-"
"No..."
"Then magi-"
"Father would kill me." I continue to scan the section when I come to a story I read a lot when I was younger. I pick it up and tell her, "I'll take this one."
~
We strolled around quite a bit after that, buying only candies and nothing else despite my urging. In my mind, I laugh to myself, 'Today, we spent a than a twentieth of the budget.' When we got to the carriage, it only took a moment for Lucy to pass out from exhaustion. I moved next to her so that she could lean on my shoulder. Going up the hill, the ride was a little longer but still short. Sir Tier helped carry her to her room and she slept until late afternoon. After I ate dinner alone, I headed to her room with the wrapped book in hand.
I handed her the package while explaining that it was normal to still want to read these types of things. Seeing she was embarrassed again, I thought she just couldn't be any cuter! Really, no one could ever be cuter than my sister!