Kathrine Ann walked alongside Lucifer, excitedly admiring each storefront and asking questions. However, something about the colorful bricks that made up the walls caught her attention. Each building sported a different color, and while all the bricks on a single building shared the same hue, they varied in tint, tone, and shade. Most of the bricks were matte and muted, but here and there, glittery bricks were sprinkled in, and a few were so shiny she could see her reflection.
"What's up with the bricks?" she asked, "I like all the colors and variety, but what causes some of them to be so shiny?"
"That depends on where the pigment used to color the bricks came from. Most pigments used to color and dye are organic," Lucifer began. "Tell me, Baby Girl, have you noticed something peculiar about most of the plants in Hell?"
She smiled, "Why yes, I have. They sparkle."
"Correct. Some of the pigments used to get the variety of colorings come from plants," Lucifer explained. "An element called resgum is found in the cell walls of all Hell's plants, making them shine and glitter. Grind them up into pigment, and you get shiny bricks. The more pigment there is, the more shiny it is."
"So that means this brick has more resgum than this one?" she asked, pointing to a pale green brick that glittered slightly with one hand and a darker green but brightly sparkling brick with the other. Lucifer nodded with a half smile, "Okay, so what about this one?" she asked, pointing to one of the many flat green bricks.
"There are a couple of possibilities. One is that the pigment isn't derived from a plant. There are many different sources of pigments, like animals, bugs, and minerals. However, I don't know of any other source green would come from, so my guess is that the resgum has been removed," Lucifer answered, jerking his head to tell her they needed to keep moving.
"It can be removed?" she asked, returning to her spot next to him and looping her arm through his before they continued walking.
"It can. Resgum is often removed from plants and repurposed as an organic glitter that adds shininess or sparkle to other objects. Clothes, paint, makeup, food and drink, the list goes on and on."
"What about the poisonous plants?"
"Poisonous plants are not used in pigment making or anything that can or will be ingested by a living creature."
"Except Keshiea," Kathrine Ann corrected, remembering what Azazel had told her. "The red petals held close to the center as they begin to bloom can be used to cure some illnesses."
Lucifer stared at her silently before a soft smile graced his lips. "Yes, that is true. Those petals have been, and still are, used in some remedies, though rarely. I didn't expect you to know that."
Kathrine Ann shrugged smugly, "What can I say? I'm a quick learner."
"Apparently, one with multiple teachers," Lucifer accused.
"Well, my dear, sweet fiancé didn't take much interest in teaching me about my new world, so I had to find people who would."
"Fortunately, your husband is a bit more invested," he teased as they approached a familiar store, "You wanted to get sweets?"
"Yes!" she smiled as Lucifer reached for the door of the shop they were at yesterday.
Kathrine Ann, though knowing this was the same place, couldn't help but question it. The small, quiet bakery they stopped at yesterday was packed with people today. Every table was full, and there was a short line at the counter, "Wow, I guess we missed the rush yesterday."
It didn't take more than a minute for their presence to be noticed, and the bustling shop went quiet momentarily before everyone showed their respects by bowing or curtsying and returning to their business.
"Princess Kathrine Ann, Prince Lucifer," hailed the same young girl who helped them the day before. "What an honor to see you again. What may I help you with this afternoon?"
Kathrine Ann and Lucifer walked over to the girl, who smiled brightly, "You all are quite busy today," she commented.
"All thanks to you two," she beamed. "As soon as word got around that you visited us, everyone wanted to come in and see what the royal couple was ordering. We have never sold so many of those cookies. We can barely keep up."
"That's great," Kathrine Ann grinned, "but it's hard to believe we did all this."
The girl chuckled, "I told you you're visiting here would be more than enough payment for two simple cookies. We do well enough, but I haven't seen this place so busy in," she paused, "well ever, really."
"Well, glad we could help," Kathrine Ann replied.
"What can I get for you today?"
"I want to pick up some sweets for a friend, but I'm unsure what she likes. So maybe a small variety box?"
"Of course. I'll put in our most popular items."
"That would be great, thank you."
The girl hurried off to grab a box. Returning quickly, Kathrine Ann watched as she moved from one display box to another, filling the box with different confections. Kathrine Ann turned to ask Lucifer something, but he was no longer next to her. Looking around the shop, she found him roaming the small space, observing its patrons and making them all a bit nervous. Shrugging off his behavior, she turned back to the cabinets of treats. Kathrine Ann again found herself captivated by all the different sweets filling them. One day, she would try them all,
"All done, Princess," the young girl informed.
"Wonderful!" Kathrine Ann smiled, reaching for the box that was not only full of sweets but also had a bow, making it look like a present.
"All done?" Lucifer, who was across the shop just a second ago, asked.
"Holy shit!" Kathrine Ann gasped. Even the girl helping her had jumped at her devil's sudden appearance.
"I don't think Grandpapa does that," Lucifer replied with a smirk before looking at the girl. "How much?"
"Oh, er, that won't be necessary, Prince—"
"I asked, how much?" Lucifer repeated, his tone leaving no room for any more argument, as he pulled out his wallet. "Oh, and add one of those cookies we had yesterday.
Lucifer and Kathrine Ann left the shop a moment later to find the sidewalks clear of reporters and cameras. It seemed word had spread quickly about the little incident earlier, but it didn't bother Kathrine Ann. She carefully held the box of confections with both hands as they walked toward the hospital. Lucifer's left arm wrapped around her waist, and in his right hand, his cookie. He took a bite and tilted his head to each side before shrugging.
"It's okay," he claimed. "Just a simple cookie—sweet, but not overly so. Nothing remarkable. I never understood why he likes these so much," Lucifer admitted as Kathrine Ann leaned over and took a small bite of the cookie.
"I like it," Kathrine Ann replied, chewing the treat. "It reminds me of a Snickerdoodle, just a little heavier," she explained. The flavor she couldn't place yesterday was cinnamon. "He said it was his favorite."
Lucifer nodded. "He's always loved sweets. If he had his way, all I would ever eat would be cakes, candy, and cookies. I suppose nothing says evil can't have a craving for confections. I just always found it a bit odd."
Kathrine Ann jabbed Lucifer in the ribs with her elbow. "He's not evil," she fussed, taking another bite of the cookie in his hand, "but I know what you mean. I also found it odd that the Demon Prince LouLou fancied cookies."
"Yet another reason he should be locked away," Lucifer pointed out, and she gave him a puzzled glance. "You think this physique is natural? Oh no, my dear wife, I have put a lot of work into staying strong and healthy. He'll make me fat with that sweet tooth of his."
Kathrine Ann scoffed as Lucifer stuffed the last piece of cookie into his mouth, but she couldn't help being amused at the thought of a chunky Lucifer. "I don't know, Luce, some women like the dad bod," she teased.
"I'm sorry, the what?" Lucifer questioned, this time looking at her with a confused gaze.
"Dad bod," she laughed. "It's when a man gets older, priorities change, and they stop caring about their appearance as much, so they put on a bit of extra weight."
"Absolutely not," he snapped. "I have to keep myself in peak condition. My life and Hell's future depend on that. Besides, I'm well past older, Baby Girl, and I dare you to find any excess fat on this body," Kathrine Ann leaned back a bit and glanced down at Lucifer's butt. "I said excess. Now, who's shameless, ogling me like that in public."
"Maybe, but you are a married man now, and when or if we decide to have kids, who knows," she shrugged.
"Sounds like you want to fatten me up, Baby Girl," Lucifer accused, his eyes narrowed into a suspicious glare. "Was William a large man?"
Kathrine Ann burst out laughing. "Not particularly. I'm just picking on you, Darling. Though the image of a chunky you will live rent-free in my mind from now on."
"Every time I leave this world, I am vulnerable to death, and I very much like living," he reminded. "As I said, despite lifestyle changes, I must keep myself strong and fit."
"You won't hear any complaints from me about that, not that it would matter. Plump or muscular won't change how I feel about you," Kathrine Ann assured.
"Well, isn't that sweet," he smirked, and Kathrine Ann saw the familiar mischief in his eyes. "Unfortunately, your devil isn't as sweet, so maybe cut back on the cookies."
"You asshole!" she gasped, throwing her shoulder into him, causing him to stumble, but Lucifer just laughed and braced for another feeble attack from his wife, but she just huffed and stomped ahead of him.
"Oh, I'm just kidding, Baby Girl," he called after her, jogging to catch up, and Kathrine Ann glared at him as he fell into step beside her. "You make it too easy, Baby Girl. Seriously, I don't care if you put on weight. It just means there will be more of you that I can touch and—"
"Lucifer!" Kathrine Ann fussed as her cheeks ignited, but he simply smirked and slipped his arm back around her waist.
"Though getting you into some training would be a good idea. The future queen should be able to at least attempt to defend herself," Lucifer replied.
"Sure, are you going to train me?" she asked as they turned off the sidewalk and approached the hospital.
"No, I have someone in mind that I think will be perfect for you," he replied. "Though we'll have to wait till she's fully recovered."