I Want This
854 Words
The young prince had wandered around the shop for an hour. Even Leonard was getting tired of watching him stumbled around, looking for what was not there. He stood from his desk and walked to the prince.
“Your highness, do you need some help?”
In an instant, those intense emerald eyes bore down on him. He squinted his eyes but it just made him look more dangerous. Leonard had lived with werewolves for a very long time but not one of them had ever scared him as much as the wolf before him. He discreetly gulped, gathered his courage, and gave a business smile.
“You’re the shopkeeper?”
“Yes. you just need to tell me what you’re looking for in particular and I’ll help you find it”
“Hmm” the prince still looked confused and looked back to the shelf. He probably wanted to refuse but Leonard cut in quickly, unable to stand the awkwardness he had to face.
“The Princess has already told me about the issue. I have a spare at the back. Let me go get it”
“......okay”
Leonard all but ran to the back of the shop and took out the spare toy he bought. He knew that princess Yasmine wasn’t just going to use one so he bought a few just in case. Taking the toy back out, he suddenly had a good idea.
When he got there, the prince was already at his desk, fiddling with his card and staring around. The goods he got were often never packaged so he had to learn a little practical magic.
Humans are not supposed to use magic naturally but through a high-level contract with another race, they could use a bit of magic. For as long as he knew, Leonard could use magic. His father probably formed a contract for him but he never talked about it.
Tristan watched in amazement as Leonard did a neat little spell to wrap up the offending toy that still made his skin crawl and place it on the desk. He put forward his card reluctantly to pay but Leonard gently pushed it back.
“You don’t need to pay. Since this is for Yasmine, I’d give you for free” he said with his gentle smile. However, he quickly realized he said the princess’s name out loud and covered his mouth. Tristan frowned.
Just when he was thinking about how to persuade his friends and family to get him out of jail, planning a whole prison break, and apologizing to his father in his head for abandoning the house, Tristan spoke.
“You, do you like my sister?”
“Yes. She’s a good friend of mine”
Leonard didn’t notice but the smile that came across his face when he talked about Yasmine was full of tenderness. Tristan’s frown grew deeper.
“I’ll pay for it”
“You don’t have to. At least not for this item. If you want to pay for something, pick something else to buy. I bought this whole stock for her anyway”
“Fine. Then I’ll take your most expensive item”
“Hmm, how about I give you a gift? For being my first-time big customer, Prince Tristan?”
“What is it?”
“During my voyage to the north, I visited the Arctic Snow Wolf tribe. I managed to get a stress relief ball used by the Infamous Old Warrior. It was recommended everywhere. In case it gets busy, you can just use it. The temperature and the feel makes you feel like you’re melting”
The suspicious glance that Tristan gave him made him squirm but he swore he had good intentions. The ball was honestly a good purchase.
“Let me see”
A transparent ball filled with an unknown liquid and sparkling gems that floated in it was handed to the prince. He put pressure on it and was amazed at how it folded yet still yielded pressure. He kept fiddling with it and his eyes sparkled as he applied pressure.
“I want this” he said, still staring at the ball. Leonard watched this all in amazement. He could understand a little why they said he was harmless.
A platinum card was handed over to him. Taking the card, his hand brushed against Tristan’s fingertips and he could vaguely feel how soft they were. It contrasted the rough patches of skin that filled his hands.
He swiped the card and packaged the purchase, this time, intentionally brushing against the fingertips of the prince when he handed it over. The frown that overtook the prince’s features when he received both packages scared Leonard.
“Thanks”
“Please come again”
The door jingled on his way out. He discreetly brought his hand to his nose to get a closer whiff.
“Smells like peaches”
- Writer
