Anasthasia left the Goldencore Auctions with Daniel. Strutting out and she felt the breeze brushed past her face as her cloak fluttered.
'Finally, with this, I can go and ask Jack to commence.' Her grin went ear to ear as she thought of a perfect gift for Lucy.
Meanwhile, he could only lean, eyebrows knitted, and watched her, not the slightest idea of why she was for the materials. He sighed and said, "I must say, these materials are quite valuable, and there are hefty of them. I'm glad I have my dimension pouch."
A loud gasp heard, she spun to the side and gaped at him. "Where did you get that pouch?"
"Charlotte gave me this as a gift. She said it'd featured frequently during 'Grand Auction Events' in this place." He pointed his thumb at the back with a light shrug.
"I see, then how does it work?"
"...Pardon?"
"I'm saying what's the hidden mechanism of dimensional pouch!" Anasthasia leaned closer; at the same time, he backed away, her gleaming eyes blinded him.
"I have no idea," he refuted right away. "You love something trivial."
Anasthasia clicked her tongue and went back to her stead. "What a disappointment."
Daniel hunched his shoulder once more and moved on. She glanced at his stature and scoffed when she remembered what happened earlier: how the staff was more than accommodating to Daniel. When he shifts to the other way, purposefully, the staff gazed at her with indifference.
"Petty people…" She then strolled, catching up to him. "You need to go back and train yourself in the institution."
"Not that it's important."
"You can come and leave as you please." She rolled her eyes. "Your nonchalance and abuse of power disgust me."
"I was born this way." Thereon, she could discern the angry tone, and before she could throw a line at him, Daniel dragged her by the corner of the road, pinning against the cold brick walls. He grabbed the underside of her chin with his eyes glinted.
"Your tongue seemed too sharp for its good."
"What the heck." She huffed out, glaring. "Not that you can do anything about it." His grip got tighter, which she let out a soft groan. With gritted teeth, she mumbled, "Let me go, this instance!"
"I did you a favor, and this is how you respond?" Daniel leaned closer, and his warm breath adrift to her right ear. He added in a husky voice, "I'm not that nice, Ana."
"Tell me something I don't know," her tone dripped with satire.
The atmosphere around them plummeted as their deep stare went on. No words uttered for a long time, but it didn't take long for them to hear how her stomach began to rumble. It broke the silence in their ears.
Daniel laughed, and Anasthasia bit her lip. Her pupils flared at his mocking grin.
"Allow me to treat you to lunch, Ana." He pulled away and turned around. She could hear his chuckles.
Anasthasia gnashed her teeth from the utter humiliation. Her hands balled into a fist as she ought to hit him. Just as she was about to raise her hand, he then looked back at her.
She was, momentarily, frozen.
"I know a cafe that's highly recommended, and I'll take you there."
Seeing his smug smirk and continued his stroll, she muffled from her hands and screamed out of frustration. She was out of breath and pondered with malice, 'Laugh now, mourn later, Daniel.'
With a venomous spat, Anasthasia moved outside and went back to the busy road. She distracted herself and sensed the streets brimmed with life as its own: the chatter of the vendors, the children's giggles, and the sizzles that popped in the air grabbed her attention.
'So greasy that I could smell the hot and savory aroma of the street food—Right! Street food!' This time, she bore a mischievous smile as she darted Daniel's back.
In an instant, she grabbed him by the arm, and he let go of his hands that jammed on his pockets. He had no idea where they would go, not until he saw the array of food stalls, which had his grey eyes rattle more than ever.
"This is not a good idea—"
"Trust me, you'll love it!" she asserted.
'It's been a while since I last tasted these, with Michael at that.' Her eyes drew a smile from the mere thought of it. 'Street foods, I guess some things never changed.'
Anasthasia looked at Daniel, and his mortified face said it all. "Come on; even your brother had no qualms about it."
"I am livid!" He seethed in anger.
She only gave a smug smirk, pointing at the skewered meat in a burbling thick dark sauce. The steam moved to and fro, eventually reached their nose. Daniel sniffed once more, allured, but his eyes could no longer acknowledge.
The mouth of his went agape, so she took her chances. "For a grown as a man like you, stop being a—" She grabbed the stick and jammed the piece of meat to his mouth.
For a while, his face turned pale as he thought of himself to retch everything out of his system. Though he was surprised to savor just a few munches, and his throat danced from the juicy and tender meat.
"How was it?"
Daniel blinked a few times.
"Do you love it?"
He nodded.
Anasthasia fixed his hood and reached for his head as he patted him. "Let's go! My treat!" waved her arm across the line of food stalls. The hissing of steam and popping of fries were ensemble to their ears, and all she saw was a food paradise.
Daniel, since then, has not even heard a complaint from him. He obediently, weird enough, to follow her whims and tasted like a leap of faith. He held unto his fears from the unknown but heaved a sigh of relief when it was nothing but good food in his platter.
Their venture came to an end, and hands rubbed their stomachs.
"I'm full."
"Indeed. It was a blast; I never expected that."
Anasthasia, right now, bore a lopsided grin. "Why is that?"
"Didn't know the commoners make me satisfied with such exquisite flavor as well. That broadens my horizon."
"I'm glad you like it and think that way."
Anasthasia strolled forth as she contemplated in her thoughts, 'I miss those days, I get to roam around so freely.'
"Shall we go to the Royal Palace?" Daniel bobbed his head to the side.
"Without delay." She held his hand and cast a spell.
'Zephyr's Kiss!'
Thereon, she spearheaded the way and greeted the winds abuzz. Every image flashed afore her faded in a second until she noticed the grand edifice that radiated with regality, which she assumed was their destination.
With a single clack, they stopped their tracks. She turned around and covered her mouth with a hand. "Oh my, what happened to you?"
Daniel's palms propped on his knees, panting hard. "I—" His cheeks bloated and covered with his hand. Beads of sweat formed on his head from the dilemma.
"My apologies."
"If it isn't Miss Ana!" Her ears perked up from a familiar deep voice. She turned around to look for the origin. "Didn't know you're with Daniel as well…"
"Blake!" Anasthasia hollered back, but she pressed her lips. "I also didn't know you're with Michael as well."
She sized Blake and Michael up as they stepped closer, their faux fur cape of blue and silver colors, respectively. The gold chains, fastened on both sides, chimed every stride they took.
"What's with the outfit?"
He glanced at how Daniel wobbled but still tried to get a hold of himself. "We went to a formal party earlier. We were about to enter the Royal Palace." Michael answered.
"I see, would it be alright if we could go altogether?"
"What could that—" He stopped his utterance with eyes bulged only to lean close. "—You'll be finally doing it?!"
"Indeed. Shall we?"
Michael revealed a wide grin, which he was like a kid introduced to sweets. He pumped out a fist as he cheered, "Yes! That's it."
Anasthasia looked with concern; that was the happiest reaction she knew up to date. His eyes smiled the way his mouth did. Her heart fluttered from his genuine happiness—so contagious enough to affect him.
His calm and stoic self, a daily basis, could never topple this rarity.
Michael, feeling good, led the way as they sauntered to the Royal Palace. Her eyes darted to the crystalline floor, reflecting off the visage of the bright sky: walking seamlessly on the heavens.
Forefront was the large stonework arch opened wide, enthralled by the guests.
'This palace is so huge. Everything is so chic and detailed.'
Guards on duty shifted to the side with a curtsy, and arms gestured to them. Even if she came here the first time around, it wasn't lackluster, to say the least.