The morning sunbathed the capital in gold.
From the manor's second floor belonging to the Kyros family, Amos stared out the window with narrowed eyes because of the bright light.
“So many people”
Carriages clattered through the streets below, merchants calling out their wares at the top of their lungs. Nobles strolled by with escorts in tow, while adventurers pushed through the crowd, hauling weapons far too big to be practical. The capital had a completely different feel from the Kyros territory. Livelier, more chaotic.
“Young Master.”
“Yes, my dear cheeky maid?”
“Breakfast.”
Amos turned around dramatically.
“You know, I started to have noticed something.”
“Yes.”
“Why do you keep using breakfast as a way to change the subject when it comes to me?”
“So, you finally noticed.”
“Are you saying you been doing it intentionally?”
“Yes.”
Amos clicked his tongue before finally stepping away from the window. Behind him, Elena prepared tea with her usual effortless grace.
Meanwhile, a small, pale-haired girl sat quietly at the table, already eating. Ambrosia, unlike their first meeting, she no longer looked like she would faint from breathing in his direction. Progress. Tremendous progress even.
Though she still occasionally called him “Lord Brother.”
A tragedy.
Amos sat down across from her.
“Did you sleep well?”
Ambrosia blinked slightly before nodding.
“Yes… Brother Amos.”
Good enough.
Amos nodded with satisfaction.
“Excellent.”
Elena placed tea before him.
“You seem pleased.”
“I am pleased.”
“I thought you always wanted more.”
“Even I know when it is enough.”
Ambrosia quietly watched the two of them.
Still strange, very strange, yet the atmosphere around them felt natural.
Amos took a sip of tea elegantly.
“Ambrosia.”
“Yes?”
“You like sweets, correct?”
Ambrosia froze slightly.
“I do.”
Amos nodded seriously.
“As expected,”
“What do you mean ‘as expected’?”
“You look like someone who likes sweet things.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means Young Master is using his stalking ability on people again,” Elena answered helpfully.
“OI. I was simply making an observation.”
“You were stalking.”
“Same thing.”
“They are not.”
Amos ignored her.
Then he placed his teacup down.
“Very well.”
Both girls looked toward him.
Amos crossed his arms.
“Since we have sometimes before going back to our territory”
His green eyes gleamed slightly.
“We shall go shopping together as promised.”
Silence.
Ambrosia blinked once.
“Today?”
“Yes.”
“Young Master,” Elena said calmly, “you are the one most excited about buying things.”
“That is slander.”
Ambrosia stared quietly at Amos.
Then—
A very small smile appeared.
Amos immediately noticed.
His heart nearly stopped.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“She is very adorable isn't she”
“Yes.”
“Did you see it?”
“Yes.”
“She is adorabler than you”
“That is not a real word.”
“It is now.”
Ambrosia quickly hid her expression again after realizing Amos was staring.
“S-Sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing for smiling?”
“I don’t know.”
“You should stop that. It's very unhealthy.”
Amos leaned back confidently.
“Anyway, it is decided.”
“You already decided before asking,” Elena pointed out.
“Being a leader takes confidence.”
“Dictators say that too.”
“You should watch yourself before I punish you again.”
“Refused.”
Amos ignored the obvious attack against his dignity.
“Today’s objective is simple,” he declared.
“And that is to buy my dear sister every necessary stuff of a normal noble girl”
Ambrosia looked slightly alarmed.
“Elena. He is in his own world again, isn't he?”
“Yes.”
Breakfast continued afterward in a lighter atmosphere than before.
…
Later.
The three stepped into the bustling streets of the capital together. Amos led the way with a noble confidence far beyond his years, while Elena followed close beside him.
Ambrosia trailed a few steps behind at first—until Amos came to an abrupt halt, causing her to almost run into him.
“Brother Amos?”
He looked at her quietly for a moment.
Then held out his hand.
“The streets are crowded.”
Ambrosia froze.
For a brief second, she simply stared.
Amos looked away slightly.
“You might get lost.”
A weak excuse, and an obviously transparent one at that like a black sphere in a white room.
Even Elena looked at him silently.
Ambrosia hesitated before slowly placing her smaller hand into his.
“Okay,” she whispered softly.
Amos immediately straightened with satisfaction.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“My little sister hand is surprisingly small.”
“She is eight.”
“And adorable.”
“Scum.”
“For WHAT REASON THIS TIME?!”
And beneath the bright skies of the capital, the three figures slowly disappeared into the lively crowd together.
...
The three continued walking through the capital together.
The streets bustled with people from every corner of the empire. Merchants called out from vibrant stalls, the air rich with a blend of perfumes and the sweetness of baked treats, while carriages clattered by in a steady stream.
Ambrosia glanced around quietly, her eyes widening just a little.
As expected of the capital. It was effective.
Amos suddenly changed direction.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“We are entering that store.”
“Understood.”
Before Ambrosia could ask anything, Amos already dragged both girls into an enormous clothing boutique.
The moment they entered, several workers immediately bowed deeply after noticing the crest on Amos’s clothes.
“Welcome to—”
“Show me your best clothes for girls around her age,” Amos interrupted smoothly while pointing toward Ambrosia.
Ambrosia froze.
“W-What?”
“No need to thank me.”
“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“I already know what you were going to say.”
“Elena. He is in his own world again.”
“Yes.”
Then Amos began.
“No, this one.”
“Too plain.”
“That ribbon doesn't look good on her.”
“Why are all noble girl's clothes have way too many frills?”
“This one work fine.”
“No. Wait. Bring that blue one too.”
The workers moved around frantically while Amos look at his sister.
Meanwhile Ambrosia was forced into outfit after outfit.
From elegant and cute dresses to warm winter clothing, formal tea dresses, and even comfortable sleepwear, there’s something for every occasion.
At one point—
“Brother Amos...”
Ambrosia gave his sleeve a gentle tug, and Amos glanced down.
“Yes?”
“There are too many.”
Impossible.
Amos stared at the towering pile of clothes.
Then at Ambrosia.
Then back at the pile.
“I see that it is rather too less.”
“There are at least twenty sets.”
“And?”
“We only came for shopping.”
“Yes. That is what we are doing now.”
“That is exactly the problem.”
“Young Master is enjoying himself too much.”
“I’m just doing my duty as a big brother.”
“No, this is just way too much.”
“It's not.”
It only got worse afterward.
Blankets, hair accessories, shoes, jewelry, books, and snacks.
A suspiciously expensive plush rabbit bigger than Ambrosia herself.
Amos stared at the plush seriously.
“She looks like she would like this. She does look like it a little bit”
“She does,” Elena admitted.
Ambrosia immediately hugged the plush quietly after receiving it.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“My little sister is too adorable.”
“Yes.”
“I think my lifespan shortened.”
“That would make my life whole lot easier.”
“Cruel woman.”
While Ambrosia became distracted looking at books, Amos suddenly stopped in front of another stall.
A one-of-a-kind stall offering charming animal-themed accessories.
His green eyes narrowed.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“Stay here for a moment.”
“No.”
Still.
Amos moved anyway.
A few minutes later, he returned calmly with both hands behind his back.
Elena stared at him silently.
“What did you buy?”
“Nothing.”
Eventually, the shopping became more than they could carry—boxes, bags, wrapped packages, and books stacked so high they blocked Amos’s view.
Elena looked toward the rooftops calmly.
“You may come down now.”
Silence.
Several shadows slipped silently from above, and the hidden Kyros guards emerged at once.
Ambrosia jumped slightly in surprise.
Amos clicked his tongue.
“You people have been following us.”
“We were ordered to protect Young Master secretly,” one guard answered while lowering his head.
“And you failed to remain secret.”
“Apologies.”
The guards quickly took over carrying the absurd amount of luggage.
One of them stared silently at the mountain-sized plush rabbit.
“Young Master.”
“Yes?”
“Is this necessary?”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
No one dared argue further.
Because Amos looked completely serious about the rabbit.
As the sun slowly lowered over the capital, the three continued walking through the streets together.