Katherine found herself staring at the man before her. His hair and eyes were a deep chocolate brown, reminiscent of the people she had known in her past life. There was something familiar about him, though she couldn't quite place why. His gaze was warm yet unreadable, framed by long lashes that only added to his striking features. He appeared to be in his twenties, tall and exuding an aura that was difficult to ignore.
"My Lady?" The man's voice carried a hint of concern.
"Huh?" Katherine blinked, snapping out of her trance. Had she been staring? She had definitely been staring.
Realizing she was dangerously close to making things awkward, she quickly composed herself and accepted his outstretched hand. Standing up, she dusted off her clothes before meeting his gaze again. "I'm fine. Thank you."
"I sincerely apologize, dear Lady. I wasn't paying attention. I was carrying too much and didn't see where I was going," he said, his expression earnest.
"It's alright, no harm done." Katherine shifted her focus to the scattered boxes on the ground. He was carrying all this? No wonder he ran into me.
"Are these yours?"
"Ah." The man glanced down before nodding. "Yes."
He crouched to pick them up, and without hesitation, Katherine joined him.
"Thank you, Lady, but you don't have to trouble yourself. You'll get dirty," he said politely, as though she were made of porcelain.
"Don't worry about that." She smiled, brushing off his concern. What, do I look like I'll crumble if I touch a wooden box?
He hesitated for a moment before relenting. "You can place those on my load."
"Where are you taking these?" she asked instead, ignoring his suggestion and holding onto a few boxes.
"Just around the corner. There's a toy shop. These are parts for it."
"A toy shop?" Katherine's curiosity piqued. "Alright, I'll help you carry them."
"N-no, Lady, I couldn't possibly—"
"I also want to see the toy shop." She flashed another smile. "And my name is Katherine."
In the end, the man sighed, then returned her smile. "Thank you, Lady Katherine. I'm Menalipo."
With a slight bow, he adjusted his load and gestured for them to walk.
As they strolled down the street, Katherine found herself observing him. He has that well-mannered noble thing down to an art. His tone was always polite, his expressions calm and measured. Even after bumping into someone, he's handling it like it's a formal event.
"Which family do you belong to, Lady Katherine?" Menalipo asked as they moved toward the shop.
Oh no. Noble stuff. "Hah…" Katherine hesitated, scrambling for the right answer. What was Aunt Yevon's last name again? "I'm the niece of Marchioness Yevon."
"Oh! The marchioness!"
"You know my aunt?"
"Of course. The marchioness is well known throughout the kingdom, largely due to her husband's contributions."
Husband? Katherine nearly blurted out her confusion but held her tongue. Wait, Aunt Yevon has a husband? Why do I know nothing about this?
"Ah… I'm actually not too familiar with my aunt's achievements," she admitted. Not just unfamiliar—she had no idea at all. Mental note: ask Aunt Yevon about her apparently famous husband.
"How about you? May I know which family you belong to?"
"I am the nephew of Duke Briseo," he answered with a polite smile, "but I work at the palace office to assist with his responsibilities."
"Ah…" So, high society… "But if you're the duke's nephew, shouldn't you just send someone else to do things like this?"
Menalipo chuckled. "I'm his nephew, not his son. Besides, today's my day off. I just wanted to get some fresh air."
"And play porter?"
He laughed again. "Yes, to play porter."
Katherine found herself smiling. Why is he so likable? There was something endearing about his easygoing nature, how he never seemed to take offense. He was the kind of noble who didn't mind getting his hands dirty, and that intrigued her.
Before long, they arrived in front of a quaint shop with a sign that read "Elseid."
"Elseid…"
"Go on in, Lady Katherine," Menalipo invited.
"Just Katherine is fine, Menalipo," she corrected before stepping inside.
Menalipo shook his head with a polite but firm smile. "I'm afraid I cannot, Lady Katherine. You are a lady of a noble household, and it would be improper for me to address you so informally." He paused before adding with a touch of amusement, "Perhaps in the future, if circumstances allow."
So polite it hurts. Katherine sighed inwardly but chose not to argue. Instead, she simply smiled. "If you insist."
The moment she entered, she felt an odd sense of familiarity. The shop was nothing like the traditional stores in Albania. The organization, the layout… this feels like a modern store. The toys were neatly displayed in cabinets, each labeled with prices—organized, clean, structured. It's like a toy store from home.
"What do you think?" Menalipo asked, clearly pleased by her reaction.
"I like it here," she admitted, smiling. It reminds me of my old world.
"Where's the owner?"
"Not here today, but the attendant is." Menalipo gestured toward the counter, where she noticed the man sitting at the counter.
Unlike the lively shop, he looked like he belonged in a different setting entirely—maybe a dark, candlelit library or a villain's lair. Long black hair veiled part of his face, and his posture was relaxed, yet somehow unreadable. He exuded that mysterious, brooding presence found in anime protagonists who had probably suffered through at least one tragic backstory.
Menalipo cleared his throat. "Zamir."
The man lifted his head slightly, sharp black eyes peering through his curtain of hair.
Katherine froze.
Oh no. He's kinda... cute.
Wait, no—focus! That's not the point.
She studied him for a moment, then blurted out, "You look like an emo."
Zamir's expression didn't change. He just blinked once, slowly, before responding in a voice that was smooth yet utterly unimpressed. "What."
Menalipo coughed awkwardly. "Zamir, this is Lady Katherine."
"...Hm." Zamir barely nodded, gaze flicking to her before returning to whatever he was reading.
Katherine sighed. Great. He's one of those guys.
"He's not much of a talker, Lady Katherine. Sorry," Menalipo said awkwardly.
"It's fine," she said, forcing a smile. Did I just insult him on our first meeting? Fantastic.
As they continued browsing, Menalipo mentioned his cousin.
"Next time, I'll introduce you two," Menalipo said warmly.
"Really? What's his name?"
"Florante. My cousin's name is Florante."
The toy slipped from Katherine's fingers, crashing onto the wooden floor. The sharp thud echoed through the shop.
A chill ran down her spine.
Florante…? It can't be.