Gold Coins and Grilled Skewers ( 16 )

"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, his smirk unwavering. "Sigh... I guess I'll find another buyer then," he said casually, turning away with a dramatic shrug.

"Wait! 5 silver!!" the dwarf called out, his voice tinged with desperation.

Javier glanced back over his shoulder, his expression unimpressed. "Hmm... I think I saw some merchants over there callin' me. They might pay better," he said, pointing toward a group of bustling traders nearby.

The dwarf's face turned red. "Alright, alright! 1 gold coin! All five ! Not a copper more!"

Javier's smirk widened as he turned back. He walked up to the dwarf and leaned in slightly, his tone dripping with mock authority. "Heheh... Next time, old man, don't play games with actual customers." He perfectly mimicked the dwarf's thick accent, earning a mixture of surprise and begrudging respect from the burly merchant.

The dwarf barked out a hearty laugh. "By the forge, ye've got nerve, lad! Fine, here's yer coin. And 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!" he called back, mimicking the slang again before disappearing into the bustling village.

"Now, where should I go next?" Javier muttered, glancing around the lively village market. His eyes sparkled as he spotted a lady with a kind smile arranging her wares. "Oh!!! Nice lady there... ehehehe."

Then something else caught his attention. "Oh, that one looks good!" His gaze landed on a stall selling grilled skewers. "Maybe I'll grab one of those later... Oh, look at the food!" The smells of roasted meat and fresh bread made his stomach rumble, but another glint nearby diverted his focus.

He stopped at a stall displaying jewelry. Among the trinkets, a simple but elegant silver necklace sparkled under the sunlight. "Oh, that's a nice necklace," Javier said, stepping closer. "Hello. How much is that?"

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, imagining how it would look on Liana. Maybe I should buy this for her. She'd look stunning with it... ehehehe.

"Alright, ma'am," he said confidently, "I'll buy this one!"

The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting him to have the coin. "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! Here's your change, young sir."

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.

At the village gate, a group of guards stood at attention as a woman approached them. She wore a maid's uniform bearing the emblem of a Viscount's house. Accompanying her were three stern-looking guards in matching uniforms.

"Have you seen a kid around 11 years old here?" she asked firmly, her tone leaving no room for debate.

The gate guard straightened immediately. "!!!! Yes!! We've seen him!! He's inside the village," he blurted out, recognizing the urgency in her voice.

She smiled, but there was a sharpness behind it. "Good. You three, ensure he doesn't pass through this gate unnoticed."

"Yes, ma'am!" the guards replied in unison, moving to block the exit.

Meanwhile, Javier was strolling through the bustling marketplace, 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. He recognized it instantly.

"Oh no... I've been found!" he whispered to himself, quickly scanning for an escape route.

The bustling market froze in its tracks as onlookers watched the dramatic chase unfold. Javier darted between stalls, laughter spilling from his lips, as Liana, determined and swift, pursued him like a hawk chasing its prey.

"Don't run!!" Liana's voice rang out, commanding attention.

"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 retorted. With a burst of speed, she leaped toward him, locking her legs around his waist.

The impact brought both of them to the ground gently, but Javier squirmed under her hold. A crowd started gathering, whispering and murmuring as they noticed her refined maid attire and the Viscount emblem.

"Ekkk!! Liana! Not so rough!" Javier exclaimed, still laughing but clearly caught.

"Where do you think you're going, young master?" she demanded, her stern tone failing to hide her exasperation.

"Eh... just some sightseeing? Ehehe," Javier replied sheepishly.

"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!"

Their banter drew gasps from the onlookers.

"Oh!? Lord Garius's son? The Viscount's son?" one villager whispered.

"I can't believe it," another murmured. "It's our first time seeing someone from the Viscount's family here."

"And he's so handsome!" a young woman exclaimed, her cheeks turning pink as she admired Javier.

Javier, always quick on his feet—flashed a dazzling smile at the crowd. "Why, thank you, kind villagers," he said, his charm effortlessly disarming the tension. "I only wanted to see this lovely village of ours."

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!"

With that, she stood, dusting herself off, and began dragging Javier by the arm, much to the amusement of the onlookers.

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. The villagers' curious gazes confirmed his statement—they were waiting, clearly intrigued by the presence of someone bearing the Viscount's emblem. She straightened her posture.

"Fine," she relented. Turning to face the crowd, she placed a hand over her chest and spoke in a refined, polite tone. "I am Liana, a maid in service of the esteemed House of Armand, led by Viscount Garius de Armand. I attend to the youngest son of the Viscount, Master Javier de Armand."

Her elegant introduction drew murmurs of awe and respect from the crowd. Javier couldn't help but clap his hands enthusiastically.

"Beautifully done, Liana! Truly, you're the picture of grace," he teased with a grin, his applause drawing even more attention.

As Liana turned to glare at him, slightly flustered, 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.

Javier was already weaving through the marketplace, his laughter echoing behind him as Liana sighed in defeat.

( End of Chapter )