There he spotted two women, their gazes fixed on the enticing offerings of the shop. The same waitress who had attended to him now made her way towards the duo. After a brief exchange, the waitress gestured towards a table adjacent to Desmond's, guiding the women towards their seats.
"Not to stir up any misunderstandings, perhaps I should avert my eyes," Desmond mused, casting a swift glance in another direction, momentarily diverting his attention from the two women.
While his gaze wandered around the establishment, Desmond's ears suddenly caught the sound of the women calling out to him, their voices cutting through the ambient chatter.
"Oh my, what an adorable pair of youngsters! Pray, may we inquire about your names?" he heard the older woman's voice, laced with playful banter. She stood at a height of around 5'4", boasting an alluring figure with ample bosom and slender curves. Cascading down her back, her lustrous hair displayed a captivating blend of red and golden-blond hues. Her countenance, blessed with striking blue eyes, rivalled the renowned beauty of Leona herself. The woman was attired in noble garments, adorned with an array of dazzling jewels that adorned her person.
The other girl, who appeared to be a year or so older than Desmond, possessed a visage of remarkable beauty, comparable to Alice's own allure. Yet, due to her tender age, her radiance had not fully blossomed. Like her mother, she bore fiery red tresses, but her eyes shimmered with a vibrant shade of red, and her hair was fashioned into a stylish bob, a reflection of her spirited personality. Standing at a shorter stature than Desmond, she measured around 3'3".
Desmond couldn't help but acknowledge that the beauties in this world were truly distinct from those he had known in his previous realm. In fact, he had encountered numerous individuals with strikingly attractive features as he roamed the streets.
Turning his gaze towards the woman, Desmond responded with utmost politeness, "Good morning, Mrs. My name is Desmond, and this is Alice."
Alice, who had been perusing the menu while idly twirling a lock of her hair, suddenly heard her name being mentioned. She shifted her attention to the older woman, extending a courteous introduction, "Hello, I am Alice."
"Well, well, how polite you both are! No need to be overly formal with your aunt here; I have children your age as well," Clementine chimed, gently placing her hand on Diana's shoulder and guiding her forward to face Desmond and Alice.
Diana glanced at the two newcomers for a brief moment before emitting a disdainful snort. "Hmpf."
"Diana!" Clementine snapped at her daughter, her voice tinged with a mix of anger and exasperation.
"Diana," the young girl curtly introduced herself, her expression sullen. Then, her gaze shifted towards Desmond's physique, and she pointedly remarked, "Are you strong? If not, don't bother talking to me."
Desmond's thoughts immediately raced with frustration, "What the hell?! She's the one who approached us first!" His perception of Diana had taken a sharp turn.
"Apologies, my daughter is usually not like this," Clementine interjected, her face flushing with embarrassment as she apologized to Desmond and Alice.
Feeling protective of her younger brother, Alice rose from her seat and retorted, "Hmpf, my little brother is a hundred times stronger than you," she said, gesturing towards Desmond.
"Wh-" Diana attempted to speak, but Clementine promptly cut her off, admonishing, "Diana!"
Desmond cast a glance at Alice, silently urging her to remain calm and composed.
As the tension began to ease, two waitresses approached their respective tables, bearing trays laden with their ordered meals.
"Here is your order. Thank you for your patience," the waitresses said in unison, placing the plates before each of them.
Alice reached into her pocket, retrieving two gold coins. One side bore the likeness of the queen, while the other side displayed an intricately illustrated pear tree.
Historically, both sides of the coin held significant meaning for humanity. The queen's symbol served as a reminder of the betrayal by the king's wife, Sieg—a lesson that not all queens or women could be trusted. The tree symbol, on the other hand, stood as a testament to the fact that the elves remained the only unconquered civilization.
Clementine also retrieved a coin of the same design, offering it to the waitress with gratitude.
"Thank you, and enjoy your meal," the waitress replied with a smile, accepting the payment.
"We can continue our conversation later. Let's enjoy our breakfast first," Clementine suggested with a warm smile, directing her attention to Desmond.
Desmond's mature demeanor often led people to speak politely to him, despite his young age. He gestured for Clementine to start eating first. While Clementine and Diana indulged in their meal, Desmond turned to Alice and spoke in a measured tone, "Please refrain from causing trouble next time, or we might have to put an end to this."
Alice could only nod, her gaze fixed on Diana with an intense glare. Diana, realizing this, returned Alice's stare with equal intensity.
Desmond and Clementine simply shook their heads before resuming their meal.
...
After they had finished eating, Clementine inquired once again, "So, where are you heading after this?"
Upon hearing the question, Desmond's eyebrows raised, and his expression furrowed as he looked at Clementine, who wore a smile. "We're planning to visit the magic shop to purchase a new magic crystal."
"Oh my, what a coincidence. We're heading there too," Clementine remarked, her smile hidden behind a delicate fan.
Diana, who had been observing Alice earlier, shifted her gaze to Desmond upon learning about their shared destination. Soon, her attention returned to Alice.
Unaware of their plans, Alice turned to Desmond and grasped a corner of his clothes. Desmond shook his head gently and whispered, "Don't worry, there are some ingredients I want to buy. After that, we can visit your favorite toy shop."
Alice nodded, tightly holding Desmond's hand. Her eyes revealed a profound affection, displaying a love that defied conventional expectations.
Even though Clementine and Diana understood that Desmond and Alice were siblings, the peculiar dynamics between them still felt unusual...
...
As Alice and Desmond exited the shop, the guards Desmond had stationed outside greeted them promptly.
"Oh my, it seems you are a young master," Clementine remarked, unfazed by the guards' presence. The establishment they had dined in was so exclusive that it was beyond the reach of ordinary people. She laughed lightly, her fan covering her mouth.
"Hehe, our father and mother hold high-ranking positions in the military," Alice chimed in, boasting about their parents as they basked in praise.
"Tch, relying on your parents doesn't guarantee that you'll become a princess," Diana retorted, a pitiful gaze and mocking tone accompanying her words.
This time, Desmond didn't intervene, as he was growing annoyed by Diana's constant troublemaking.
Observing Desmond's expression, Clementine interjected, "Enough bickering, Diana! Let's move along."
Upon hearing Clementine's words, Alice and Diana pouted and averted their gazes. Strangely, after a few minutes, Alice, who had previously been clinging to Desmond's arm, started walking side by side with Diana.
They engaged in lively conversation as if nothing had happened before. Laughter filled the air, and they even playfully nudged each other's noses.
Desmond had already come to find women's behavior perplexing, but in the face of this display, he was left speechless and decided to simply ignore it.