Sinthia and The Demon Duke of DeSidea: 18

Sinthia had bought more buns for herself and had been enjoying the carefree stroll around town. She also tried some other snacks, like roasted and spiced meats. In the streets stood performers dressed in lavender. There was music, dance and joy. She watched children play and jump and dash all over. People were so full of life and happiness, and it was contagious. Sinthia was skipping and humming, enjoying the sun on her skin. Some part of her really wanted to do that thing Disney princesses would do. Breaking into song and beautiful dance. She had never previously understood why they would always do something as illogical as that back in her previous life, but with how the jovial mood was swelling and rising in her chest, now she did. Oh! She thought. I’ll write about this to Kairn. He probably needs a little joy in his life too. She giggled at the thought and carried on.

As she walked to the town square, she happen to do a tiny, modest twirl just because she felt like she had to. It was a bit embarrassing, but she did. And as she spun round, she caught a glimpse of big, burly man grabbing the collar of a familiar-looking cloaked man. Oh. Sinthia felt her joy drop to the ground. The burly man was shaking him angrily, demanding something she couldn’t hear over the noise of the crowd. The man in the cloak had his hands up, seemingly trying to de-escalate the situation. It wasn’t working.

Sinthia thought very hard and long about what she should do. Should she help him? Or turn a blind eye? Was she benevolent enough to help? She really did agonize over it for a long time, before thinking about his refined nature. There was a chance that he was an aristocrat, bonus if he had some connections. As it stood now, she had nearly no aristocratic allies. Maybe if she struck up a friendship with him, she would be able to make some valuable partnerships that would help for her future goals. So that decided it. Sinthia sighed, making her way to the commotion.

“Ya had a full meal at my stall and now ya tellin’ me you ain’t got the money to pay??! Do ya wanna get ya teeth knocked out, pretty boy?!!” The bald, muscular man yelled, shaking Vick roughly. Things had rapidly taken a turn for the worst. “N-no, now let’s calm down first, good sir. Like I said, I had money! But it would seem that someone lifted it off me. I was ROBBED! I would not eat a whole meal if I knew I’d lost my coins!”

”I don’t care ‘bout that!! Ya have to pay!”

”HOW!! I’VE BEEN ROBBED HOW CAN I PAY YOU WITH MONEY I DON’T HAVE!” Vick cried, exasperated from this absolutely foolish exchange that had repeated nearly three times. He was not getting through to the man at all!

“How much?”

A familiar, light voice asked from behind him. Vick turned as much as he could, what with how being grabbed by the collar inhibited his range. It was her. The girl he met at the buns stall!

“Huh?” The big man tilted his head in confusion.

”How much does he owe you?” She asked, crossing her arms as she waited for an answer.

”Four bronze coins.”

”Oh wow, really?”

”Aye.”

She frowned, unfolding her arms and reaching into her dress sleeve. She pulled out a silver coin, looked at it sadly, then handed it to the man. His eyes shone as he chucked Vick out of the way and carefully received the silver coin. “This’ll do!”

”You bet it will. I’ll pay for his meal but YOU are going to make me as much food as the rest of that coin is worth.”

The man’s face lit up. “Of course!! I’ll whip it up for ya right away.” He said, turning back to his stall with a new vigor

”Make it to go will you?” Sinthia shouted after him. “Sure thing!”

Victor stood before her, quite embarrassed at the fact that she had seen him in such a terrible situation. For the first time in his life, he didn’t want to look someone in the eye because of the shame. “Robbed, eh?” he heard her ask. For a bit, he thought that she was mocking him, but when he looked at her, he saw no judgement. In response, he gave an apologetic smile. “I...didn’t even notice. I underestimated the amount of distractions I’d encounter. So now all my money’s gone. Ha...” Vick couldn’t even find the energy to laugh.

“Well, it happens sometimes. The way you’re walking around like you own the place, covered in a dark cloak and hood in broad daylight will make you a stupidly easy target. You’re basically screaming, “Hey look at me I’m loaded as all heck but I’m sneaking around trying to channel my inner peasant!””

”Stupidly— I thought I was blending in quite well!” He felt his face flush a little from being so suddenly insulted. Was that really how he had seemed? He

”Well, you thought wrong.” Sinthia mocked. “At least get rid of the hood.”

Vick’s hands flew up, holding it in place as if she had tried to rip it off. “I...absolutely cannot do that.” She looked at him like throughtfully for a while, then sighed. “Alright then. Come with me then.”

They walked into another street that was much less crowded. The buildings looked much more expensive, and the walkway was made of beautiful pale stone. It must be the place where nobles could gather and enjoy the city. Why was she able to come here so easily? From the short time they had been together, he was constantly shocked at how crass and impulsive she could be. That was most definitely not behavior he had ever seen in a noble of any nation. The way she walked and talked was signature unrefined commoner behavior. Vick wondered, glancing at her back. But he would not ask her about it. He had a feeling that if he asked, then she too would ask difficult questions that he would much rather not answer.

“Stay here for a bit. I’ll be right back.” She left him at a little stone bench by a light post, then strode into a building. Vick did as he was told, patiently sitting and looking around. He watched some people walking, then observed two birds tweeting blissfully to each other, and a butterfly fluttering about. Until he realized how easily he had been ordered.

He jumped up in surprise when he thought of how that girl had easily led him about and talked with him. It had never happened before! Sinking back on the bench, Vick slumped over and buried his face into his hands, too embarrassed and shocked to even think of showing his face. He was one who simply could not be ordered around. No one had the authority to do so. But he had easily let a commoner girl lead him around like he was on a leash. Well, to be fair, she did help him out of a bad situation. He sighed, reconciling a tiny bit of his injured pride. But it wasn’t a whole lot.

”Here.” Vick heard, then felt something fall on his head. From the rim of his hood, he spotted a violet piece of cloth. He reached up and pulled it down into his hands so he could look at it better. It was a shawl. It was made of a breathable cotton material and was opaque enough to hide his hair. He spun around on bench to look at her.

She looked at him with big, dark-green eyes. They held no judgement or motive in them. She was simply helping him because she wanted to. “Why... are you helping me?”

She gave a casual shrug. “Cos why not, I guess. Hurry and put on the shawl. We need to go back and get the food from the stall, remember? Here. Let me help.” 

They had used his cloak as a sort of curtain to shield from prying eyes. For a moment, Vick wondered how it was she was able to accept so quickly that he must not remove his hood. Then he wondered how she knew that it was his hair that he must not show. Although she acted unrefined, she was far more perceptive than he had expected. Perceptive and quiet about it. Underneath the cloak-turned-curtain, he had tied the shawl as simply as he could. For some reason, he felt very strange. He was not in charge of this situation, and it felt a bit awkward. But not as unpleasant as he had thought it would be.

“I’m done,” he said, and Sinthia pulled the cloak away. The second she saw him. She burst out laughing. “WHAT IS IT!!” Vick cried, embarrassed yet again. Why did she always seem to embarrass him?? “You look like an old woman!! I can’t!” She hollered, nearly doubling over. He had simply draped the cloth over his head and tied a simple knot under his chin. He really did look like a grandma. “Ugh..” he moaned, hiding his face from her relentless laughter.

After she had gotten herself together, Sinthia had helped him tie the shawl better. He had also refused to look at her. Sulking. Vick was sulking like big child. She let him sulk for now, because she had burst out laughing at him in public and that must have delivered a devastating blow to his pride. But that was truly hilarious. It seemed nobles didn’t know how to merge in with the poor folk. Well... most. They made their way back to the stall, and Sinthia collected her food. It was in two heavy baskets. “A silver coin can really buy a lot, huh.” Sinthia laughed, turning round to face the still-sulking Vick. “Carry one, please.” Vick turned to her, his face looking quite adorable. She was sure he wasn’t aware of how much he looked like a pouting child. Sinthia thought about poking more fun at him, but decided not to. She didn’t want to injure his pride to the point of him refusing her requests later. He took the basket silently then looked away again, determined to be visibly annoyed.

”That’s your dinner by the way.”

His face whipped back to her, eyes wide. “Wha...” His plan of displaying his dissatisfaction in her mockery had quickly been tossed out the window.

”You’re broke, with literally only the clothes on your back.”

”Well, I am but still—“

”SO! We can just say that I did you a favor. Sounds good?”

Vick was silent for a while, then his eyes dropped to the basket. It was enough food to last him some time. This was an extremely generous favor. He felt a little guilty for thinking that she was nothing but a crass, shameless commoner for a while. Even though she had helped him out twice—no, thrice now— he had thought a bit badly of her. “I’m sorry.”

”About what? Did you do something wrong?”

”For troubling you so much.”

”Shouldn’t you be thanking me?”

”Thanking...?”

”For my assistance. Instead of apologizing. I hate apologies. I’ve heard way too many.” She gave a strange smile. One that wasn’t particularity directed at him. “Surprise me with some gratitude instead, yeah?”

Oh... that made Vick feel a bit strange. Like as if his breath was shortened. His heart felt a bit peculiar. Just a bit. “O-okay then, Thia. Thank you...”

”Thank you for...?”

”For the food.”

”And?”

”The shawl.”

”And?”

”...saving me that one time.” Vick grudgingly admitted. It made her laugh. Not a mocking laugh. A strangely very nice one. It was one Vick thought he liked.

”You’re welcome. But you owe me one.”

”Three.”

”Three?”

Vick gave a bright, genuine smile. “I owe you three.”

Vick is new but I really wanted to draw him embarrassed lol