Paid It Red

Chapter 6: Going Together

The morning was bright, with soft golden light spilling over the cobblestone streets and warming the earthy scent of leaves and flowers around Alice’s cottage. She slung a woven basket over her arm, preparing to head into town to gather supplies. Just as she was about to leave, Alaric appeared, his usual calm, slightly amused expression softening his otherwise intense gaze.

"Planning on going somewhere without me?" he asked, a hint of playfulness in his voice.

Alice blinked, taken aback for a moment. “Oh, I—just going to pick up a few things from town,” she mumbled, feeling the familiar warmth rise to her cheeks.

Alaric tilted his head, studying her. “Sounds like you could use an extra hand.”

“Really, I’m fine on my own,” she insisted, trying to avoid his gaze as her blush deepened.

“Now, now,” he smirked, moving beside her in one smooth step. “Don’t be modest. I’d hate for you to get ambushed by rogue carrots or anything too heavy to carry.”

Alice rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. “Fine, if you insist,” she muttered, barely able to keep her voice steady. They set off together, Alaric falling into step beside her.

As they walked through the forest path toward town, Alaric leaned in closer than necessary, occasionally brushing his shoulder against hers. Every now and then, he’d shoot her that playful look, his smirk growing wider each time she caught his gaze and looked away, her cheeks flushing.

“Are you always this red?” he asked, a teasing lilt in his voice.

“Are you always this infuriating?” she shot back, trying to mask her embarrassment with a glare.

He grinned. “Only when I’m around interesting company.”

Alice scoffed but found herself smiling despite herself. It was hard to stay irritated when he looked at her like that, as if she were the only person in the world who mattered. As they neared the village, the familiar houses and shops came into view, their stone walls and hanging flowers welcoming them.

People turned to stare as they passed, their gazes lingering on Alaric. He carried himself with an almost regal air, his tall frame and striking appearance impossible to ignore. Alice noticed the way women glanced at him, some whispering to each other and giggling, while the men gave him respectful nods or wary looks.

They hadn’t gone far when they heard a familiar voice call out. “Alice! Oh, Alice, dear!” Mrs. Faith, the local dressmaker, bustled over, her round cheeks flushed with excitement as her eyes darted from Alice to Alaric.

Alice managed a polite smile. “Good morning, Mrs. Faith.”

Mrs. Faith clasped her hands together, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Well, aren’t you going to introduce us to your handsome… friend?” She winked, clearly hoping for more information than just “friend.”

Alice’s cheeks went bright red, and she opened her mouth, floundering for words. “Oh, I—um, this is Alaric. He’s… just…”

“Just a little help,” Alaric interjected smoothly, his tone respectful but laced with amusement. “I was hoping she wouldn’t get into too much trouble alone.”

Mrs. Faith laughed, nudging Alice’s arm. “You’re too modest, dear. Quite the handsome one you’ve found.” She leaned closer, whispering loudly enough for both of them to hear, “You two make such a charming couple!”

Alice sputtered, her face turning crimson. She glanced at Alaric, who merely chuckled and gave Mrs. Faith a charming smile.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he said, bowing his head. “I happen to think we look rather well together too.”

Alice’s blush deepened, and she elbowed him gently in the ribs. “We’re not… it’s not… Thank you, Mrs. Faith. We’ll be going now.”

They made a quick escape, Alice’s heart pounding as she tried to ignore Alaric’s smirk. But it wasn’t long before they encountered Mr. Daz, the town’s butcher, who greeted Alice with his usual hearty grin.

“Ah, Miss Alice! And who’s this fine fellow with you today?” Mr. Daz looked Alaric up and down, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “Is he your… special someone?”

“Just someone helping me out,” Alice said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mr. Daz raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Well, special someone or not, he’s got the look of a strong protector. Good choice if you ask me.”

Alaric inclined his head, taking the compliment in stride. “I’ll take that as high praise, Mr. Daz,” he replied with a faint smile.

Mr. Daz’s grin widened. “Where’re you from, young man?”

Alaric’s eyes flickered briefly. “The North,” he said simply, his tone hinting at mystery.

“Ah, the North. Heard it’s a cold, rugged place,” Mr. Daz mused. He looked at Alice with a knowing grin. “He’ll keep you warm, I bet.”

Alice’s cheeks were on fire at this point, and she gave Alaric a sharp look as he handed her the meat. “Thank you, Mr. Daz. We’ll just be on our way.”

But the teasing didn’t end there. Every shopkeeper and passerby seemed to have their own remark about Alice’s “handsome new beau” or the mysterious “northern stranger,” each comment adding to Alice’s growing embarrassment. Even as they purchased vegetables and fruit, she couldn’t avoid the curious glances or sly winks, and Alaric seemed to revel in it, his smirk never far from his lips.

Finally, as they left the vegetable stall, one of the local young men, who had long admired Alice from afar, approached them, a reluctant smile on his face. “Alice,” he said, nodding politely, then glanced at Alaric with a slight frown. “So, the village’s flower beauty has been… taken?”

Alice could only blush harder, unsure of how to respond, but Alaric stepped forward, his eyes flashing with amusement. “She has the choice to be with whomever she likes,” he said, his voice low and confident, though a hint of possessiveness flickered in his gaze.

The young man nodded, clearly defeated, and walked away, leaving Alice feeling both flattered and thoroughly embarrassed. “I hope you enjoyed that,” she muttered as they continued their walk.

“Oh, immensely,” Alaric said with a chuckle. “You’re quite popular, it seems.”

They were almost out of the marketplace when they overheard a group of villagers speaking in hushed, frightened voices nearby.

“Did you hear about the blood moon?” one woman whispered, clutching her shawl.

“Those howls in the night… sent shivers down my spine,” another man added, his eyes wide with unease. “They say no one was hurt… but something feels off. Like it’s just the beginning.”

Alice felt a chill run down her spine as the villagers continued to gossip, some nodding in agreement, others muttering superstitions. She glanced at Alaric, who seemed unperturbed, though his eyes held a strange, guarded look.

“Let’s head back,” he said softly, his voice calm but firm, and she nodded, feeling a surge of relief at the thought of leaving the eerie conversation behind.

On the way home, they walked in companionable silence, Alice’s basket heavy with the day’s purchases. Her mind wandered back to the townsfolk’s murmurs about the blood moon and the howling night. But as she glanced at Alaric, his calm presence seemed to chase away her unease, grounding her.

At one point, Alaric offered to carry the basket. She hesitated but handed it over, thankful for the break from the weight. As their hands brushed, she felt a familiar warmth rise to her cheeks.

He noticed, his eyes twinkling. “If you keep blushing every time I touch your hand, I might get used to it.”

She looked away, huffing softly. “Maybe I’ll get used to it too.”

Alaric laughed, a rare, genuine sound that made her heart skip a beat.

...

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting warm, amber light through Alice’s kitchen window, she found herself surprisingly excited. Alaric had stayed to help unpack their groceries, but as she began prepping dinner, he’d settled at the table, watching her intently, clearly intrigued.

Snow, the little bunny, hopped around on the floor, occasionally darting up to sniff at Alaric’s boots or nudge his ankle. Alaric would glance down with a rare smile each time, his usual composed expression softened by Snow’s antics.

Alice took a deep breath, trying to ignore the way Alaric’s gaze seemed to linger on her every move. “You’ll see,” she said, smiling slightly as she washed and prepared the ingredients. “This is one of my favorite meals to make.”

She started with the pork, slicing it into thick, tender pieces, each cut precise. She marinated it in a mixture of soy sauce, rice wine, ginger, and a touch of sugar, her fingers moving with practiced grace. The aroma began to fill the kitchen, and Alaric raised an eyebrow.

“Smells promising,” he said, folding his arms over his chest as he leaned back, relaxed.

Alice blushed, glancing up just long enough to catch his steady gaze. “Just wait,” she replied, unable to hide a proud smile. She set the pork aside to marinate further, then moved on to the sweet and sour fish.

She selected a fresh, firm fish from her basket, filleting it with careful hands. Once cleaned, she dredged each piece in flour, giving the flesh a light coating, then set a pan of oil over the stove to heat. Snow sniffed the air curiously, tilting his head, and hopped over to Alaric, as if silently asking him what was going on.

Alaric leaned down, patting Snow gently. “Don’t look at me. I’m just as curious as you are,” he murmured, and Alice couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. Seeing him interact with Snow so naturally felt strangely comforting.

With the oil hot, Alice carefully placed the fish pieces into the pan. They sizzled, filling the kitchen with the rich aroma of cooking seafood. As they browned, she prepared the sauce – a blend of vinegar, sugar, tomato paste, and a touch of pineapple juice. The sweet-tart fragrance made her stomach rumble, and even Alaric shifted, his gaze sharpening as he watched her stir the sauce to a thick, glossy finish.

She glanced up, catching his eyes again, her cheeks warming. “I told you I could cook,” she said, feeling an unexpected surge of confidence under his admiring stare.

“Oh, I’m not doubting that,” he replied, his lips curving into a faint smile. “I might even be impressed.”

Her heart did a little flip, and she quickly turned her attention to the vegetable salad, willing her face not to turn bright red. She chopped crisp lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers, tossing them with a sprinkle of salt and a light dressing she whisked together with olive oil, lemon juice, and a hint of honey.

Finally, with everything prepared, she ladled steaming rice into a bowl, placing it alongside the braised pork, now rich and glossy after simmering to perfection, and the sweet and sour fish, its golden crust drenched in the thick, tangy sauce. The vegetable salad added a fresh, colorful contrast, completing the meal in a way that felt balanced and vibrant.

She set the dishes on the table, glancing shyly at Alaric as he looked at the spread with genuine surprise.

“Sit,” she said softly, pulling out a chair for him.

Alaric took his seat, his gaze flickering between her and the food. Snow hopped up onto a little stool beside the table, his nose twitching as he watched them eagerly, clearly hopeful for some sort of treat.

Alice served herself modest portions, stealing glances at Alaric as he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the braised pork. She held her breath, waiting for his reaction.

His eyes widened slightly as he chewed, a soft hum of appreciation escaping his lips. “This is…” he trailed off, glancing up to meet her gaze. “Remarkable. I didn’t expect anything this good.”

Alice felt her cheeks flush with pride, unable to hide her smile. “Well, thank you. I suppose you’ll have to trust me more often.”

Alaric chuckled, looking at her with a warmth in his eyes that took her by surprise. “Maybe I should,” he said, and she felt a flutter in her stomach at the way he said it, as if there were layers to his words.

He moved on to the sweet and sour fish, savoring each bite with the same quiet appreciation. Snow, impatiently wiggling his nose, reached out a tiny paw toward Alaric’s plate, clearly eager for a taste. Alaric raised an eyebrow and, with a playful smirk, set a tiny piece of lettuce in front of the bunny.

“There,” he murmured, watching as Snow sniffed it curiously before nibbling, his little paws holding it tightly. Alice couldn’t help laughing at the sight.

“Snow is used to only the finest greens, you know,” she teased, amused by how even Snow seemed to have taken a liking to Alaric.

As they ate, their conversation flowed easily. She found herself sharing small stories about her life, laughing at Alaric’s occasional dry, witty remarks, and noticing how every now and then his gaze softened when he looked at her. There was an unspoken ease between them, and as the evening light faded, the room felt filled with warmth and quiet joy.

Once they finished the meal, Alaric set down his chopsticks, meeting her gaze with an appreciative smile. “You’ve outdone yourself, Alice.”

Her heart skipped a beat at the way he said her name, his voice low and sincere. “I’m glad you enjoyed it,” she replied softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

He stood, helping her clear the dishes. As they worked side by side, he leaned down, his shoulder brushing hers, and murmured, “You know, you’re full of surprises.”

She laughed, looking up at him with a mixture of shyness and fondness. “So are you.”

Snow finished nibbling his lettuce and settled down, watching them contentedly as they shared a warm smile. For a moment, Alice felt as though the world outside her cottage had melted away, leaving just the two of them in this quiet, cozy space filled with lingering warmth and the scent of a meal shared in good company.