Chapter 141: Brother and Sister Bonding [2]
The capital’s streets were alive.
It’s been around half an hour, since they made their way towards the cafe.
Alaric adjusted the weight of the paper-wrapped bundles under his arm, the leather bag slung over his other shoulder already filled to the brim.
His expression remained impassive, but the slight twitch in his jaw betrayed the truth.
"Brother," Elina’s honeyed voice pulled his gaze down, "do you think the blue ribbon will suit me better? Or the green one?" She held up two nearly identical strips of silk in front of another milliner’s mirror, tilting her head left, then right.
"They’re the same," Alaric said, deadpanned.
"They are not the same," she countered sweetly, turning the blue against her hair, then the green. "Look closely. The weave is different, the sheen catches the light differently. Now don’t be lazy, pay attention..." She trailed off, giving him an expectant look.
Alaric’s stare remained flat.
"Elina," he said at last, "if I say the blue, will we be leaving this shop?"
She beamed. "Maybe."
He exhaled slowly through his nose. "Blue."
"Wonderful!" She spun to the vendor, ribbons fluttering, and added three more colors to her purchase.
Moments later, Alaric was hefting another bundle.
"Weren’t we headed to the café?" Alaric finally asked, voice low but edged with impatience. His arms shifted, bundles rustling as he adjusted the leather strap digging into his shoulder.
Elina glanced back at him with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
"We are. Of course we are." She giggled, as though the café were just around the corner, when in truth she had already led him down three different streets.
"Elina." His voice carried a warning edge. "You’ve done all your shopping. Why exactly am I the one carrying everything?"
She turned to face him, eyes wide with exaggerated innocence. "What? Big brother... do you really want to burden your little, fragile sister with all these heavy things?" She batted her lashes, clasping her hands before her as though she might swoon at the thought of lifting even a ribbon. "Besides," she added sweetly, "isn’t it a brother’s job to take care of his family?"
Alaric stared at her, unblinking.
You’re enjoying this way too much, he thought, noting the barely suppressed amusement dancing in her golden eyes.
But he followed anyway, adjusting his grip on what felt like an unreasonable amount of weight for what should have been simple clothing purchases. Normally, the bags wouldn’t have bothered him.
Except these packages felt deliberately heavier than they should. When he’d caught a glimpse inside one of the larger bundles, he’d spotted what looked suspiciously like training weights, the kind body path users used to enhance their physical conditioning.
You little!
Meanwhile, Elina skipped ahead a step, humming a tune to herself, her smile angelic, untroubled. She turned slightly, letting the sunlight catch her hair as if she were nothing more than a sweet young lady out for a pleasant stroll with her dutiful brother.
"Oh, look at those shoes," she said, pausing in front of yet another display. "Aren’t they lovely?"
Alaric’s eyes twitched, but before he could say anything, she waved it off.
"Though I suppose I have enough footwear for now..."
And smiled up at him with the sweet expression of a little girl who wouldn’t dream of deliberately sabotaging her brother’s afternoon with strategically hidden weights and malicious shopping.
Alaric’s jaw twitched again. Two could play this game, but for now, he’d let her enjoy her small victory.
They continued down the cobblestone street, weaving past carts and vendors, when Elina suddenly slowed. Her golden eyes lit up, and she pivoted on her heel.
"Caleb? Livia?"
Her voice carried above the din, and she lifted a hand in greeting.
A few paces ahead, Caleb turned at the call. His gaze landed on her, then flicked briefly to Alaric, and he gave a curt nod.
Beside him, Livia’s expression softened, relief in her grey eyes as she spotted her friend.
"Elina," she said warmly.
"What a surprise," Elina said as she closed the distance, her smile bright. "I didn’t expect to run into you two here. Were you shopping?"
Livia nodded, shifting the strap of her handbag under her arm. "A little. I wanted some new brushes... and a few paints." She tilted the bag slightly, as though to show proof.
Then her gaze flicked back to Elina. "And you?"
Then her eyes moved past Elina, landing on the figure standing a few steps behind.
His arms and upper body were stacked with boxes and paper-wrapped bundles, the leather bag at his side bulging from the weight. He stood motionless, expression unreadable, though the faint pull at his jaw spoke volumes.
Elina gave a nervous little chuckle. "Ah... well, you know how it is."
She leaned closer conspiratorially, lowering her voice as though sharing a treasured secret. "My brother is very sweet. He insists on carrying everything for me."
Her grin widened. "Truly, I don’t know what I’d do without him. He’s very reliable, always looking out for me..."
Alaric let out a short scoff but said nothing.
Livia just nodded, though, kept stealing few glances at him.
Meanwhile, Caleb simply stood with arms crossed over his chest, watching the exchange in silence. His gaze flicked once from Elina’s smile to Alaric’s controlled exasperation, but he offered no comment.
Elina’s eyes then shifted to Alaric, taking in the stoic set of his jaw and the stack of bundles weighing him down. She sighed softly, then shook her head.
Fine, you’re excused for the day, Alaric.
Turning her attention back, she clasped Livia’s hand warmly. "Actually, we were just about to head for lunch. Why don’t you and Caleb join us?"
Livia’s lips curved in a faint smile. "We were heading that way ourselves."
"Perfect." Elina nodded decisively. "Then let’s go together."
She pivoted, then paused mid-step. "Ah, wait for me a moment."
Without further explanation, she hurried toward a transport post at the edge of the square, where carts and wagons lined up for deliveries and hired loads. At the counter, she exchanged a few words with the clerk, slipping a token of payment across the worn wood. Moments later, a sturdy wagon was wheeled forward.
Two workers moved efficiently, lifting the bundles from Alaric’s arms and the leather bag from his shoulder, stacking them into the wagon bed. Alaric exhaled through his nose, flexing his hands once they were finally free.
The wagon creaked as the driver flicked the reins, rolling away with its cargo, leaving the group lighter and far less conspicuous.
Elina returned at an easy trot, her smile bright as if the whole ordeal had been her plan from the start. Without hesitation, she slipped her arm through Livia’s.
"Now," she said cheerfully, "you boys can follow behind us. I know just the place."
Her golden eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she led the way, the two girls walking arm-in-arm while the brothers trailed a step behind.
Caleb began walking without a word.
Alaric lingered a moment, rolling his shoulders, then stretching his arms above his head until his joints gave a satisfying crack.
Freed of the bundles, his body felt light again.
With a small exhale, he fell into step behind the others.
His gaze drifted forward, where Elina walked arm-in-arm with Livia.
The afternoon sun caught on her deep black dress, which was cut simply but tailored perfectly to her frame.
The contrast only made her hair gleam brighter, her every movement was graceful and deliberate, as though she were born to catch the eye without needing to try.
Then his eyes flicked to Caleb walking just ahead of him, plain tunic, worn trousers, boots that had clearly seen better days.
No jewelry, no ornamentation, no care given to polish or fit. Just simple, utilitarian clothes.
Alaric’s smirk sharpened.
"Tell me, Caleb" he drawled, gaze sweeping Caleb up and down, "Are you headed to lunch... or to muck the stables?"
The words hung in the air just long enough to make both girls falter.
Elina stopped mid-step, her grip on Livia’s arm tightening as she turned her head sharply over her shoulder, eyes flashing with irritation.
Really, Alaric? Now?
Beside her, Livia froze, grey eyes widening, more out of worry than surprise. She searched Caleb’s face, as though gauging how sharp his temper might flare.
But Caleb didn’t stop. He didn’t even slow down. His only response was a brief sidelong glance, sharp blue eyes cutting toward Alaric for the barest second before flicking away.
"Mind your own business, Glimor," he said, voice calm, flat as stone.
Then he kept moving, steps measured, unbothered.
Alaric blinked. The corner of his mouth twitched upward, more intrigued than offended.
He opened his mouth, tone ready to drip with mockery.
"Don’t—"
But before he could say it. Elina’s voice cut through like a blade. She spun half around, eyes narrowing.
"Stop being rude to my friends, Alaric."
Alaric just gave a small, lazy shrug, as though to say as you wish, though the glint in his eyes promised he wasn’t done playing yet.