["I'll come earlier."]
A faint smile lingered on Lunivara's lips as she turned
"Catch it!!"
"?"
The shout rang out
"Milady!"
Clara pulled her back instantly.
"Step!"
Lunivara stumbled a step backward
Just as a figure rushed past
Black hair.
Red eyes.
Their eyes met
"…!"
["Him again"]
"Thief!"
"Stop him!"
The fruit seller's voice broke through the noise.
The boy ran.Fast and sharp.
Lunivara moved.
"Step!"
No hesitation.
["Left!"]
Her body reacted instantly.
Closer
Closer
"Thud!!"
She tackled him.
Both hit the ground hard
And the basket slipped from his grasp
"Thump!"
Fruits spilled across the street.
"Roll… roll… roll…"
"…Let go!"
["I know your surviving..but you can't just—"]
He struggled
Then
Their eyes met again.
Close.
Clear.
Red sharp, guarded.
["Huh?!"]
Lunivara stilled for a brief second.
Her grip loosened.
Coins pressed into his hand.
"…Run."
"…What?"
"Run."
Quiet yet firm.
A pause—Then
"…Tch."
He pulled away
And ran.Gone into the back alley.
"Clank clank!"
Footsteps approached.
"Milady!" Clara rushed to her. "Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine."
Lunivara stood calmly.
"…Where is he?" a guard asked.
"He ran."
Simple.
The fruit seller hurried over.
"My fruits!....Thank you!"
Lunivara gathered what remained from the ground.
And Clara helped.
After they gather all the fruits,they handed it to the fruit seller.
"Thank you..miss...."The fruit seller said.
Clara looked at her, still worried.
"Milady… please don't do something like that again…"
Lunivara blinked slightly.
"…Don't worry...I know what I'm doing."
The fruit seller smiled warmly.
"Please, take these!"
She handed Lunivara some fruits.
This time
She accepted them.
"…Thank you."
A small smile appeared.
As they walked away
Lunivara glanced back.
Just once.
Toward where he disappeared.
["Those eyes…We'll meet again."]