26 26. Tea With Vincent.

"Vincent." I nod in acknowledgment, putting on a small smile.

He looks as though he is on an errand, covered up with a casual-looking cloak.

"Lord Vincent." Maria calls out, gasping slightly, "It's been a while. How is Vance keeping up?"

I catch the vendor sneaking in observing looks towards us. Knowing that rumor is around, that seems quite reasonable.

"Vance is...holding up as usual."

"That's a pity. I didn't know he'd be a person like that." Maria tuts under her breath and shakes her head.

"He's always been a rogue." Vincent laughs light-heartedly, crossing his arms behind his back.

I open my mouth to say something when something hits my nose.

"Oh, dear." Maria mutters to herself.

"It's raining." Vincent observes in a monotone voice, extending his palm up into the air. Big fat drops onto the robust market, creating an even more chaotic cry of surprise among everybody. I squint because the rain is hitting on my eyes, restricting my eyesight.

Shit.

Shelter. I look around quickly, shielding a hand over my forehead. Shelter.

People are now scrambling about in every direction. Most of them have forced their way into the tiny cramped spaces of the vegetable stalls. I look back at my right.

"Mari-" Huh?

Maria is nowhere to be seen. I can swear that she was right here, just now.

"What are you doing?" Vincent suddenly questions, his hand hovering over my arm.

When I look up at him, he immediately retracts his arm, and above him is a large black umbrella shielding him and me from the pelting rain.

"So umbrellas do exist." I muse, moving closer to Vincent.

He gives me a simpering look and turns his nose upwards in a contemptuous look.

"Come with me. I know a place." He says, jerking his head towards the right and Immediately bursts out laughing nervously.

"not too sure if I should follow you."

An exasperated eye roll from him.

"You won't be alone with me and rest assured, I wouldn't do anything to you."

I raise my eyebrows doubtfully at him, glancing behind him. There is a tall woman, with a similar ponytail who stares straight ahead, covered up in a cloak like Vincent and a smaller umbrella in hand.

'Come. You don't have to worry. I only want to talk." he then looks at me up and down, "Besides, I can't get it up for any omegas."

I squint my eyes at him, but I take slow careful steps behind him. He turns around and nods at the woman. They both start walking straight ahead of the road which gradually slopes downward.

I look back once again, looking around for MAria's familiar figure in a blue frock. I sigh, seeing no results and I turn forward.

"That doesn't prove anything actually." I comment loudly, watching Vincent's blond hair sway as he takes long. measured strides. He glances at me quickly from the corner of his eyes.

"We shall have tea and you can go on your way."

"Should have said it from the beginning." I mutter, distractedly looking around.

The road is stone-paved, with small irregularities here and there as the stones create bumps with their shape. The rain has cleared the crowd infesting the street with only a few well-dressed folks holding umbrellas, walking up and down. Come to think of it, I don't think Maria had an umbrella with her. She must have panicked and just ran blindly, seeing that she can easily rile up.

I follow Vincent as he heads straight ahead, and slowly the market is left behind us. We have entered a more peaceful walk down the road. I look around, making sure that there is a decent amount of people lingering around. And hopefully, I'd catch Maria somewhere around here.

The road curves around and it opens up an array of vintage-looking stores, some with dresses drawn on their display doors as advertisements and large teacups for tea shops. Vincent slows his steps near one of the stores and he pushes the door open with one hand as I duck under his umbrella and away from the droplets that fall when the umbrella knocks against the wall. The bell rings loudly as it opens and Vincent gestures his head for me to enter.

I take a ginger step in, and my nose is immediately filled with the musty smells of factory fabrics and at the counter, two familiar figures are hunched over. One of them looks over at the door.

"Welcome."

"Briley!" I exclaim in delight. and at the person beside him, "and Maria! I thought I lost you." I heave in complete relief upon seeing her.

I open my arms, spanning them open for a hug and Maria runs in, embracing me with relief. Briley gives me a squinty smile as he slowly totters out from behind the counter. He gives my shoulders a light pat.

"Ohh my, I thought I lost you! My heart was in my throat, thinking what I would say to the Lord." Maria half-cries, thumping my back as she does so. Vincent surreptitiously clears his throat with a disdainful look on his face. What is his problem? A troublesome bunch, these twins.

"Take a seat, you lot." Briley invites with a tremor in his voice, pointing to the corner of his store. I frown at his suggestion, looking over in the direction. Lo and behold!

There are two sets of a modest table and chair set at the corner of his store, looking quite cute.

"I shall ask Cynthia to prepare some tea. Butter biscuits alright with you all?"

"Butter biscuit will be heaven, Briley. I haven't had Cynthia's tea in a long while." Vincent replies immediately, standing near one of the tables. I quickly follow the suit.

"You never visit, Lord Vincent." Briley replies and without waiting to see if Vincent replies, he disappears into a small door that is behind the counter.

"I've been meaning to have a proper conversation with you." Vincent says, his eyes falling back on me. I notice that he holds a good few inches over me but he seems less formidable than Elian.

"Sure. Go ahead." I reply shortly, looking around the store.

Maria has taken a seat at the other set of tables along with the taciturn lady who came with Vincent. We meet eyes but I quickly look away.

"Sir Adian." Vincent curtly calls, breaking my reverie.

"Yes?"

"Please take a seat."

I paste a pleasant smile on my face as I seat myself across from him, my back turned towards the other set of tables. There is a large glass-paned window on my left, giving me a good hit of the rainy breeze.

"This is nice." I comment smoothly, "I have been meaning to talk to you as well."

I look around, there is no menu or any sort of list. That is expected since this is not exactly a tea shop or a cafe.

"I sincerely apologize for my brother's actions a few days ago." Vincent starts, a somber look spanning over his features, "It was...completely unprecedented and vile."

"Oh, no." I waved my hand in denial, "It's okay. I don't why you have to apologize for his sake."

"This is my guilt. You should take it. I know not what to do with it." Vincent allows only a sliver of emotion to appear on his face, despite the somber appearance.

With Elian, you feel hopeless with him because you could see that he really doesn't possess any sentimental streak throughout him. Especially when he talks, it feels as though talking to a solid wall that only listens. But I could see that Vincent is clearly trying to suppress himself and his emotions as though it was taboo to feel and emote*

"It was my fault that I chose to hold that needless birthday celebration despite that nobody does so. But I tell you, I accept all repercussions of my brother's misdeeds."

"Thank you for your concern. But it's quite alright." I reassure, raising a hand up.

A pulsing silence drifts between both of us. Vincent still wears a nonplussed serious look on his face, looking down to his hands on his lap. I clear my throat, feeling myself put off by the uncomfortable silence that hangs around in the damp air. The white noise of rain behind persists and I speak up,

"So you can't get it up for omegas, huh? Just like Elian?"

He passes me a wide-eyed glance and then chokes on his own saliva. It sends him into a coughing fit, and he bends his long back over the small table, his body shaking with his coughs.

"I'm sorry." I whisper, passing him a folded handkerchief out of pocket. He snatches it out of hand as he sits up straight again. I could see that he was completely irritated by my remark but he silently wipes his mouth.

"Whatever...cough…" His voice is all scratched up when he speaks, but he follows up nonetheless, "What you mean...Elian is not like me. He gets along with omegas fine."