Chapter 89

Chapter 89


I motioned for him to be quiet, but I heard him laugh. He ran his hands over the window, the seat, and the roof of the car. He was absolutely thrilled, even though I knew he could easily buy dozens of cars like this.

“Humans!” Nigel rolled the window down and waved at the people we passed. “Oh. I miss the smell of humans.”

I gripped Brix’s hand tightly. Suddenly, my cousin popped into my head. He acted the same way when he first rode in this car.

How is he doing now?

“You smell so good!” Nigel said to a woman. She smiled, unaware that Nigel was talking about the scent of her fresh blood. “Damn! I want a fresh human.”

He spent the entire ride talking non-stop. Brix sighed every now and then. Good thing he was in a decent mood—otherwise, Nigel would've been thrown out long ago.

“But Astra’s blood tastes really—”

“OMG. I want fried chicken!” I quickly cut Nigel off.

Holy shit. Fried chicken? Seriously?

“Me too!” Nigel butted in again.

Brix chuckled. “Fried chicken?”

“Y-yes…” I swallowed.

“Okay. Whatever you like.” He squeezed my hand.

We fell into silence for a moment before the two guys in the backseat started bickering again.

“Stop hugging me!” Erikson snapped at Nigel.

“Come on, just a little hug! This is the last time we’ll be together. Won’t you miss me, Mr. Nadija?”

That… made me feel sad. Nigel was going back to the Hezueras Clan like the others. Lady Nathalia was flying out of the country later tonight. And Erikson was leaving as well. This was our last day together.

It’s sad, but that’s how life goes.

We all have our own stories to tell.

“Fine! But don’t hug me too tight.”

I leaned back into the seat and closed my eyes.

It had been two days since the war ended. The witches helped us rebuild everything that had been destroyed. The new order was implemented the moment one of The Cloaks gave their word.

Slowly... the world was changing for the better.

Just like everyone else, we were leaving today too.

That thought brought a smile to my face. We were finally going to see her.

Brix had been nagging me for days to go see Aya, but I refused. We needed time to recover after everything that happened. I wanted us to be rested before facing our daughter.

We reached our destination. Lady Nathalia was disguised with a red wide-brim hat and dark shades. I almost forgot we were with a famous model. She was already tall, but those heels made her look otherworldly.

Then I realized she wasn’t the only head-turner in our group. With the tall guys I was with, everyone turned to look. Plus… they were ridiculously attractive.

I suddenly felt small. They might think I was just their assistant. Not that they’d be wrong.

“Damn. Fresh blood everywhere.” Nigel sniffed around. “Do you smell that, Nadija?”

“Calm your ass, Mr. Hezuera,” Erikson said with a smile. He was pretending, but he clearly enjoyed the attention from a few admiring onlookers.

“Ah! I’m thirsty,” Nigel pouted.

Lady Nathalia suddenly stopped walking and turned to us. She lowered her shades slightly. “What are you boys doing? Are you staying with us the whole time?”

“Nope. I’m just here for Astra,” Brix answered.

“No.” Nathalia shifted her red purse to the other side before taking my hand. Her hands were so soft, like they’d never thrown a punch. “Leave Astra to me and meet us later.”

“Sure! Let’s go, idol!” Nigel slung his arm around Brix but immediately removed it.

I gasped when Brix grabbed my other arm. He tried to pull me toward him, but Lady Nath didn’t let go either.

“She’s coming with me, Nathalia.”

“Brixton...” Lady Nathalia’s glare was piercing.

I bit my lip in embarrassment. They were arguing right in the middle of the street. I got nervous—what if this turned serious? These two flirt in the weirdest ways.

“Later, Brix!” I pulled my hand back. “I’ll go with Lady Nathalia first.”

Brix stared at me. “Fine. How many fried chickens?”

“Never mind. I changed my mind.”

“I haven’t!” Nigel interrupted again. Erikson slung an arm around him and dragged him away. “Hey! Let go of me, Mr. Nadija!”

“Let’s go, Astra.” Nathalia started walking ahead.

Brix swallowed. I noticed how uncomfortable he got when people stared at him. It wasn’t just glances—they were full-on gawking.

“W-where should I go here?” he asked nervously.

Aw. The king looked so lost.

“Just hang out with Nigel first.” I slowly walked away. “See you later!”

“Lady Astra!” Nathalia called.

Brix frowned. “Damn…”

I caught up to Lady Nath. We entered a luxury clothing store. She handed me her purse. I really looked like her assistant now.

I glanced around. The shop screamed expensive. I checked a price tag earlier and nearly fainted, so I quickly put it back. Meanwhile, Lady Nath didn’t even look at prices.

It was like the whole store was just a part of her massive closet. With all the colors available, she was only drawn to red.

I gasped when she turned to me. “You’re just going to stand there, Astra?”

“I’ll just check another shop—”

“Oh, my feels! I don’t go to other shops. What more do you want? They have everything here.” She picked up a pair of red heels and walked over. “Look at this. Made from high-class materials. You can try it.”

“It’s pricey—”

“Tell that to Brix and he’ll buy the entire store for you. Take it!” She forced the heels into my hands. “Go on. Get anything you want.”

We went over to the clothes section next. “You tend to forget that one of the Cardinals is yours, Lady Astra. And not just any Cardinal, but the richest.”

My eyes widened. “B-Brix is richer than you?”

“Combine it with Oscar’s. That asshole is on another level.”

“H-how did that happen?”

“You’re seriously asking that?”

“No. Joke.”

Just like Lady Nath said, I grabbed a few things for myself. I didn’t even check the prices anymore. She didn’t come here just to shop—she practically bought the whole store.

“We have different colors for that—”

“Did I ask?”

The saleslady cleared her throat awkwardly and shook her head.

Lady Nath paid for everything. She bought so much the store manager personally approached us and offered a discount. She ignored him.

“You look familiar, Ma’am,” the manager said.

“You don’t. Excuse us.” And she walked away.

Finally, we left. Lady Nath had her purchases sent to her car, while I carried mine.

“Thanks.” She smiled as she took back her purse.

“I wonder where the others are,” I said.

“I know…” She started walking again.

I trailed behind her. I still couldn’t believe she was real. She looked like something out of a dream. Everything she touched seemed to turn elegant.

In a sea of people, she stood out.

Out of all the places we could have gone, I didn’t expect the Arcade. And of all the people I could have found playing there—I didn’t expect to see Brix.

Looked like he and Erikson were having a basketball competition.

“Go idol!” Nigel cheered from the back.

“I want to try too!” Lady Nathalia shouted.

I winced when she pushed a guy out of the way and took his spot. Nigel turned to me and laughed at their antics.

“I missed one. Damn it!” Brix cursed and slammed a ball in frustration.

Everyone in the arcade stared at them. Damn it. They were so chaotic.

“You’re with them, Miss?” a staff member asked me. “They’ve been popping the balls. Can you tell them that’s not allowed?”

I shook my head quickly. “No. I don’t know them. Sorry.”

“Fuck you, Mr. Nadija! One more game!” Brix yelled. He took off his gold watch and tossed it in the trash. “Come on. I’ll beat you this time.”

A group of guys watching quietly grabbed the watch and ran off.

“Fine. Just don’t pop the balls again?” Erikson said with a laugh.

“Oh, my feels! These balls smell terrible!” Lady Nath said, dropping hers. It rolled away, and she spotted a red stuffed toy on display.

“Ma’am, that’s a game prize—”

“I’ll pay!” she insisted.

“Call the guards, please?” I heard someone behind me say.

I bit my lip. Things were getting out of hand.

“Yes!” Brix raised his arms. He won.

Erikson scratched his head.

“Brixton!” Nathalia called. “I want that red stuffed toy.”

Brix looked at me and smiled before approaching. “Did you see me play?”

“Uhm…”

“Are these your purchases?” he asked, taking my paper bags and peeking inside. “I see. Done now? I want to leave this place.”

“Fine! Oh, my feels. You’re stressing me out. Let’s go!” Nathalia walked ahead. Thankfully, she didn’t insist on getting the stuffed toy.

Nigel and Erikson caught up with us.

“You were amazing, idol!”

“Brix, you need to pay,” Erikson said.

“You lost, Mr. Nadija. Pay for everything.” Brix grabbed my hand and pulled me out of there.

I sighed in relief. What a mess.