It was a gorgeous morning. The sun was bright and warm, making everything look fresh and new. It felt like the kickoff to a great day.
In his comfy bedroom, Leo was still lounging in bed. He stretched and yawned.
"Today's the day," he said to himself with a cheeky grin. He wasn't nervous about his date with Rina; he was pumped to mess with her a bit. He could already picture her blushing as she called him a pervert.
Eventually, he got out of bed, did some light stretches, hopped in the shower, and got dressed. He went for a casual look: light gray pants and a crisp white shirt.
When he got to the front courtyard, Rina was already there, looking a bit nervous. She had on a cute white summer dress with a blue ribbon. Her pink hair was tied into twin tails, and her skin was glowing in the morning light.
Leo couldn't help but whistle when he saw her.
"Wow! Who's this stunning girl? You can't be my childhood friend Rina—she wouldn't dress up like this..."
He leaned in with a teasing grin. "...unless you're trying to impress me."
"Y-you!" Rina's face instantly turned pink.
"Don't say stuff like that! And I didn't get dressed up for you!"
"Oh really? So you dressed up for Artur, huh?"
"What? No! Never!" she stammered, her face getting even redder.
Leo laughed. "I knew it! You're as red as a tomato." He tapped his chin.
"I could totally sell you in the market. One red tomato for a coin!"
"Shut up!" she shouted, swinging her fists at him. He dodged easily.
Their playful bickering went on all the way to the car. Leo opened the door for her like a gentleman. "Your carriage, milady."
Rina lifted her chin. "Hmph. It's nice to see you can be polite sometimes."
Before long, they reached the bustling western part of Babylonia. The streets were filled with colorful stalls selling all kinds of food and trinkets. The air smelled amazing—like baked bread and roasted nuts.
Rina pressed her face to the car window, wide-eyed with excitement.
"You look like a little kid," Leo said. "If people see you sparkling like that, they'll think you're in love."
She turned to him, her face bright red.
"You're impossible!" she said, crossing her arms, but her pink ears gave away how she really felt.
When the car stopped, Leo offered his hand to help her out. "Should I carry you like a princess?" he teased.
"Don't you dare!" she shot back, but she still took his hand, her fingers a bit shaky. As he helped her out, Leo thought to himself, She's so easy to tease and super cute. I've got no plans of letting her go.
Their first stop was the pastry shop Leo had promised. The window was packed with amazing cakes, tarts, and cookies. The sweet smell hit them right away.
Rina's eyes were all over the place, and her mouth was practically watering.
"Careful," Leo whispered. "If you start drooling, they might charge you for cleanup."
"I'm not drooling!" she shot back, quickly wiping her mouth.
They got a bunch of pastries and sat at a tiny table where colorful light from a stained-glass window spilled over them.
Rina took a bite of a fruit tart and her face lit up. "This is so good!"
Leo grinned, sipping his tea. "Told you so! But I think you'd love anything smothered in sugar."
"Can't you just be nice for once?" she asked, giving him a glare.
"But teasing you is way too much fun," he said, reaching over to wipe a crumb off the corner of her mouth. "See? You can't even eat without being cute."
Rina froze, her face turning bright red. "W-wha—!"
Leo leaned back, looking victorious. "And I win again."
•••
Unnoticed by them, someone was lurking by the shop's entrance.
It was Artur.
He had been following them from the estate, his anger burning as he watched them laugh and enjoy each other's company. He saw Rina's shy smiles and Leo's playful grins, and each happy moment felt like a stab to his heart.
They're having fun without me, he thought bitterly. We should all be together like we used to.
For now, he could only watch, his obsession and hatred growing. He was more convinced than ever that Rina belonged to him and him alone. After a while, he slipped away, feeling the strange looks from passersby.
°°°
Shring~
The bell on the pastry shop door jingled as Leo and Rina stepped outside. The sweetness of their treats lingered as they stepped into the busy main street, filled with life under the bright midday sun. Colorful stalls lined the road, with merchants loudly promoting their goods: silk, spices, and little magical charms. Kids dashed through the crowd, laughing, while musicians played in the squares.
Rina's eyes sparkled as she soaked it all in, looking genuinely happy.
Leo noticed right away. "Be careful, Rina. If you keep staring like that, a merchant might trick you into buying something useless."
Rina pouted. "Are you calling me dumb?"
"Me? No way," Leo replied with a twinkle in his eye. "I just said you're innocent."
"That's not any better!" she exclaimed, stomping her foot. She turned away, trying to hide how red her cheeks had become.
Leo couldn't help but smile to himself. She was just so easy to tease.
They moved through the crowd until Rina stopped at a jewelry stall, her eyes glued to a delicate silver bracelet with tiny blue stones.
Leo watched her closely. "What's going on? You want me to get you a present?"
Rina jumped a little. "N-no! I was just admiring how well it's made!" she stammered, flustered.
Leo leaned in closer, whispering, "So you do want it."
Her face flushed. "Stop that!"
Leo turned to the merchant. "How much for the bracelet?"
"Twelve silver wolves," the guy said.
Leo pretended to be shocked. "That's outrageous! Would you take fifteen coins and a handsome smile instead?"
The merchant laughed. "A smile doesn't put food on the table, young man."
Rina giggled, then quickly clamped her hand over her mouth.
"See?" Leo pointed out. "You laughed. You definitely want it."
Before she could argue, Leo paid for the bracelet. He took her wrist and carefully put it on.
"Now everyone will know you're mine," he said with a smug grin.
Rina's face went bright red. "You can't say stuff like that!" she exclaimed but was clearly smiling.
Meanwhile, still hidden in the crowd, Artur watched them. He had kept an eye on them all morning, witnessing Leo gift Rina the bracelet and her happy, blushing face.
He never saw her look like that with him.
Artur clenched his fists tight, his nails digging into his palms. He wanted to pull her away from Leo, but he held back, standing in the shadows, his face pale with anger.
•••
Later, Leo and Rina stopped at a food stall for some meat skewers. Rina's stomach growled loudly.
Leo grinned. "Was that your stomach? So unladylike."
"Shut up! I'm starving!" she shot back, covering up her belly.
"Don't worry," he teased. "I'll take care of you. You're my girl, after all."
"Stop saying that!" she yelled, but her tone didn't seem serious.
They sat on a bench, munching on their skewers. The meat was amazing, and Rina's eyes sparkled with every bite.
"You look adorable when you eat," Leo said. "People might fall for you."
"You're the worst!" she replied, but the blush on her cheeks gave her away.
Nearby, musicians played, and people were dancing. Rina watched them with a dreamy look. "That looks like a blast," she said.
Leo held out his hand. "Then let's dance."
"Here? In public?" she asked, surprised.
"Unless you're too shy," he teased.
"I'm not!" she insisted, taking his hand.
He led her into the dance. At first, she felt a little awkward, but soon enough, she was laughing and twirling. For a little while, they were lost in their own happy world.
But Artur was still lurking in the shadows, his golden eyes filled with rage. He turned and walked away, he continued praying toward the mysterious 'God' to deliver divine judgment onto Leo for taking what should have been his.
•••
Author's note: Universal currencies convert as 1 Gold Dragon = 100 Silver Wolves = 1000 Copper Eagles.