Rosemary blushed beside herself. If her grandfather didn't know her so well, she might have been able to play it off as being a product of the heat. Unfortunately, she was aware of her folly almost immediately.
Rosemary wasn't quite sure what to think. She had never said anything about Ryker, knowing that her mother would be up in arms about her falling for a sculptor. As her maternal grandfather, Bowan understood his own daughter quite well.
The current Mistress of the Joseph family had managed to marry up in life, catching the eye of a wealthy businessman after his wife passed. The product of their marriage was Rosemary, and ever since then, Mistress Joseph had been hellbent on assuring the family's trajectory remained upward.
Bowan found it too difficult to confront his daughter about such things. After all, it was his own failure as a father that bred her hatred of the poor and weak so thoroughly. By the time it had taken hold of her psyche, bordering a near obsession, it had long since been too late.
What was pressing, though, was that Bowan was implying the exact opposite about Ryker. But, why would Ryker spend his days on the dirtied, cobbled roads of Smoke Tower City, sculpting trinkets, if he had such status?
Also, wouldn't someone of status have at least a Spirit Beast infant by their side? Ryker didn't have even that.
Seeing his granddaughter's confusion, Bowan shook his head.
"Focus on nurturing the little pipsqueak. It shouldn't be long before it can step out of the Infant Stage and be mature enough to contract. Don't be rash when that day comes, be sure to come back here."
Rosemary had heard the same speech several times. Logic should have told her that a blacksmith like her grandfather shouldn't know the first thing about contracting Spirit Beasts, but her mind had long since been clouded with trust. She had been doing everything her grandfather told her to since she was a little girl, why would she change things now?
"Scurry on out of here, little girl. I can tell you're antsy to get to something."
"Ah! Yes!" Rosemary blushed again, turning to dart away.
"Also don't neglect to train your body like I told you. The Quota Check is coming up, if you want a chance to see the world, this will be it."
Even as her grandfather's voice became fainter, Rosemary, who had already heard these exact words before, somehow felt that there was a hidden meaning behind them this time. When she connected the dots, she couldn't help but blush again.
When she rushed out of the shop, though, she found what felt like a different world. Ryker standing over Sofia, the latter's face flushed and her breathing labored. They weren't even touching, and there shouldn't have been anything suggestive about their current position, but Rosemary felt her heart sink for some inexplicable reason as though it should be her and not Sofia standing beneath his shadow.
Ryker looked over and smiled when he noticed her, not even a tinge of awkwardness in his movements. Sofia, however, took a subconscious step back, guilt written all over her face.
"… Were you two fighting again?" Rosemary squeezed out a smile. "You shouldn't do that so much, you know. I'm sure you could grow to like each other."
"Fighting?" Ryker chuckled. "No, I was just telling Sofia about my fiancée. She was surprised that I had one because I frequent gentlemen's establishments, so I told her she could replace them if she hated me doing so, so much."
"You… You…" Sofia pointed a finger at Ryker's nose.
Didn't this man understand tact? That less was more? Or at least have some sympathy for a poor girl's heart?
Ryker seemed to have no concept of what he had done. Rosemary stood frozen, her lip trembling somewhat and her forced smile twisting into something that shouldn't have been on a young woman's face.
Feeling as though her nose was being assaulted by harsh spices and like her heart would beat out of her chest, Rosemary didn't consider her actions before she dashed away, her speed beyond what her small body should have been capable of.
"Rosey! Dammit! You—! I'll deal with you later!"
Sofia ran after Rosemary, leaving the harshest words she could for Ryker who simply let her speak her piece.
Ryker watched the two disappear into the crowd of people, ignoring the speculative and judging looks he was receiving.
"I guess that means no meal for today. Being too handsome is really a problem."
Ryker slicked his hair back, running his fingers through its smoothness. There was a faint touch of sweat, but it didn't mar the subtle and refreshing scent it gave off.
Ryker's expression lost its smile, a detached cold pervading it.
"Take a step inside, kid."
The voice cut through the bustle of the street without much difficulty. It made one feel as though it was right nearby from the very beginning. Ryker had always felt that the old man had never really left. So, he picked up his large wooden box and obliged.
"You couldn't have picked a more delicate approach?"
Ryker yawned. "It's too hot in here, old man. It can't be good for your health. Ever thought of retirement?"
"Don't get cheeky with me," the old man said with a snort.
Ryker swept a casual gaze around at the shop. It was clear that Bowan didn't work on as many projects as he likely used to, but he was still active. Ryker could also tell he liked to take his time. The current sword he was working on had to have been being worked on for at least two months.
"I'm not a good person, gramps."
Ryker spoke after a long moment of silence, picking up and then balancing the unfinished sword in his palm. Even in its current state, the sword was quite exquisite. It had a layering of steel and copper damascus, and a balance that felt heavenly. It was the kind of craftsmanship that made Ryker question why the old man was still working on it.
"Usually, people who say that are the exact opposite."
Ryker spun the sword in his hand, catching it on its incomplete hilt once again before pointing it toward Bowan.
"Maybe that's true, but there's an exception to every rule. If it benefited me, I wouldn't mind killing you right now."
Bowan's eyes narrowed. Though he didn't move, his body relaxed instead of tensed. It was the kind of movement one would only expect from a man with almost too much experience in such things. And yet, Ryker remained unmoved.
"If you meant that, wouldn't your best choice be to use my granddaughter to get closer to me? Then take what you need? Wouldn't that be easier than targeting someone clearly more powerful than you are?"
"Ah, you misunderstand," Ryker chuckled, "I'm not a good person. But, I also hate to lie. My mother taught me well, after all.
"You see, I tell my fiancée all the time that I only have one goal in life, and that's to stand on top of this world. What kind of ruler of all have you ever seen to have just one woman? But she never listens, always sticking by my side like a loyal wife.
"No, not 'like'. She really is."
The sword tip trembled before gliding in an elegant arc. It had yet to be sharpened, but it still left a satisfying sound in the air. One could almost see the heavy moisture that hung about separating and coming back together.