"Ah, these fine things..." The dwarf inspected the wolf, running his hands over the fur, claws, and teeth.
"Heheh, sure these can be sold for much more after dismantlin'. For all this... 2 silver, eh?"
Javier raised an eyebrow. "Sigh... I guess I'll find another buyer then," He turned away with a dramatic shrug.
"Wait! 5 silver!" the dwarf called, a hint of desperation in his voice.
Javier glanced back over his shoulder, unimpressed. "Hmm… I think I saw some merchants over there calling for me. They might pay better." He pointed toward a group of bustling traders nearby.
The dwarf's face reddened. "Alright, alright! 1 gold coin! All five! Not a copper more!"
Javier's smirk widened. He walked back and leaned in slightly, his tone laced with mock authority. "Aye... Next time, old man, dinnae play yer wee games wi' actual customers." He perfectly mimicked the dwarf's thick accent.
The dwarf let out a hearty laugh. "By the forge, ye've got nerve, lad! Fine, here's yer coin. Next time, bring me more beasts like this. Ye've got the makin's of a proper hunter."
Javier pocketed the gold coin, waving lazily as he walked away. "Maybe. If ye're lucky, old man!"
Now, where should I go next?
He glanced around the lively village market. His eyes sparkled as he spotted a lady arranging her wares, leaning down and revealing a generous view of her cleavage as she adjusted a display.
Oh~ Nice view there... 9/10.
Then something else caught his attention.
Oh, that one looks good!
His gaze landed on a stall selling grilled skewers. The smells of roasted meat and fresh bread made his stomach rumble. He continue wandered a bit, enjoying the sights and sounds, before pausing when a flash of silver caught his eye from a nearby stall.
He stopped at a stall displaying jewelry. Among the trinkets, a simple but elegant silver necklace sparkled under the sunlight. It featured a delicate chain with a crescent moon pendant at its center.
Oh? That one looks good. I bet it would look beautiful on Liana.
He stepped closer to admire the necklace. "Hello. How much is this?"
The vendor, an older woman, glanced down at him and crossed her arms. "Huh? This one costs 10 silver. Not for some kid to buy."
"At least let me have a look," Javier said, flashing his most charming smile.
The woman hesitated but handed it to him. Javier held it up, admiring the beautiful crescent moon pendant.
Maybe I should buy this for her. I bet she'd look gorgeous with this~
Javier grinned. "I'll buy this one, Ma'am!"
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Do you even have that kind of money, boy?"
Javier reached into his pouch and pulled out a gold coin, casually flipping it in his hand. "I think this'll cover it, right?"
The woman's jaw dropped slightly before quickly composing herself. "Uh, yes, of course! Let me pack it up for you." She took the coin from Javier, counted out his change, and carefully wrapped the necklace in a small cloth pouch. "Here's your change and your necklace."
Javier took the necklace and the silver coins she handed back, giving her a wink. "Thanks, ma'am."
He walked away, whistling to himself.
Can't wait to see Liana's face when I give her this... ehehehe.
Meanwhile.
At the village gate, a group of guards stood at attention as a beautiful elf woman approached them. She wore a maid's uniform bearing the emblem of the Armand house, accompanied by three Armand Elite Guards in polished armor.
"Have you seen a boy around 11 years old here?" she asked, her voice calm but carrying an air of authority.
The gate guard straightened, his posture stiffening when he recognized the household emblem. A sign of nobility far above his station. "Yes!! We've seen him!! He's inside the village," he blurted out, slightly panicked.
The elf maid smiled sweetly. "Good." She turned to face the Armand Elite Guards. "You three, ensure he doesn't pass through this gate unnoticed."
"Yes, ma'am!" the guards replied in unison, moving to block the exit.
Javier was strolling through the bustling marketplace, thoroughly enjoying a juicy meat skewer. The lively atmosphere and the variety of sights kept him distracted.
"Ehehe... this is the life," he muttered, biting into his skewer and glancing at the stalls selling everything from trinkets to fresh produce.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed through the crowd.
"Young Master!!!!!!"
Javier froze mid-bite, the skewer still in his mouth. His eyes widened as he turned toward the voice.
Ah..crap...
From that voice... I'm sure it's Liana.
Crap! Where should I go? Where should I hide?
He quickly scanned for an escape route.
No time to think! It's time to run away from her!!!
He started darting through the market, evading his pursuer.
The bustling market froze in its tracks as onlookers watched the dramatic chase unfold. Javier darted between stalls, laughter spilling from his lips, while Liana chased him like a hawk pursuing its prey.
"You better stop right now, YOUNG MASTER!!" Liana's voice rang out, laced with a hint of real anger.
"Err... where should I go?" Javier muttered, glancing around before breaking into another sprint. "Catch me if you can, Liana!" he teased, laughing.
"Oh no~ you don't!" Liana smiled, a sweet but terrifying expression on her face. With a burst of speed, she leaped toward him, locking her legs around his waist in a well-practiced move.
They tumbled to the ground. Javier squirmed under her hold as murmurs spread through the gathering crowd.
"Eeeepppp!!! Liana! Let me go!"
"Where do you think you're going, young master?"
"Errrr... just some sightseeing? Ehehe.." Javier glanced over his shoulder while letting out a sheepish grin.
"Don't 'ehehe' me!" she scolded, gripping his arm. "You know you're supposed to have permission or at least an escort if you're going out!"
Gasps rippled through the onlookers.
"Oh!? That boy from the Armand Household? Our Lord's son?"
"It's our first time seeing someone from the family… Other than The Lord and The Lady."
Javier flashed a dazzling smile at the crowd. "Thank you, kind villagers," he said, his voice charming and warm. "I only wanted to see this lovely village of ours and meet its wonderful people."
Liana sighed, rolling her eyes. "Young master, we're going home, NOW."
"But Liana! The skewer lady over there had another batch ready!" he protested, pointing toward a nearby stall.
The crowd chuckled, charmed by their interaction, but Liana remained firm. "No more excuses. Let's go!"
She stood, dusting herself off, and began dragging Javier by the arm.
Crap. I didn't even enjoy my freedom yet.
Javier glanced at the gathered villagers with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Hey, Liana, isn't it rude not to introduce yourself? Especially when everyone's waiting so eagerly. Ehehehe."
Liana sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. She released Javier's arm and straightened her posture.
"Fine," she said, her voice resigned.
Facing the crowd, she placed a hand over her left chest and bowed gracefully.
"I am Liana, a maid in service of the esteemed House of Armand, led by Viscount Garius de Armand. I attend to this boy here, the youngest son of the Viscount, Master Javier de Armand."
Her elegant introduction drew murmurs of awe and respect from the crowd.
"Beautifully done, Liana! Truly, you're the picture of grace," he teased with a grin, his applause drawing even more attention.
While Liana was busy bowing slightly toward the crowd, Javier seized the opportunity. With a quick step back and a cheeky wave, he dashed off.
"See you around, Liana! Ehehehe!"
"Young Master! Get back here right now!" she called, but her words were drowned out by the laughter and cheers of the amused villagers.
(End of Chapter)