Not so Different

Chapter 9: The market

A few days later Baron stayed in Alora. Still grieving the death of his best friend, it was hard not to lash out. Back home, a few days ago, Magi got a proper burial. It was hard seeing her being dug up. Baron didn't cry at her burial. He stared at her body as he saw less and less of her.

"Curses." He thought to himself.

"Curses on whoever did this to Magi. Curses on your home and your family." Baron clenches his fists, his powers growing out of his control, the aura around him becoming menacing.

He slowly calms down. Once Magi was fully gone he turned and left without so much as a single word.

That was when he left for Alora. Then that whole fiasco happened. Then...the hug.

Baron wakes up at his guest room. It was...neat to say the least. It still smelled of humans. He was used to it by now. It didn't reek. Especially her.

Baron sits up, shirtless, his hair messy. He looks out his window. Alora wasn't so ugly, he supposed. The young Fae got ready for the day and went out. He ate breakfast and roamed the palace for a while.

"... I wonder where Serene is." He thought.

Just then, he saw Serene at the end of the hall. She was wearing a pretty, more comfortable, dress. Though her corset was still suffocating her under her clothes. She sighed slightly as she continued what she was doing. She was speaking to a maid. She looked ready to go out. Eventually the maid nods and leaves. Baron approaches her.

He scans her for a second as she looks up at him.

"Oh! Good morning!" She smiled so warmly.

"..mhm. morning" Baron mumbles, lazily.

He glanced at her waist for a quick second before looking back up at her face.

"...are you alright? You look..." He paused. He couldn't really find the appropriate words for that. Uncomfortable? No. Tight? Gosh, no.

Serene looks down at herself.

"Ah." She realizes what he was talking about.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just a little uncomfortable. My corset is...strained." she smiles and fixes one of her white gloves.

"Then loosen it." Baron scoffs a little.

"It would not be very ladylike." She chuckles just slightly.

"...who cares?? Shouldn't your comfort be your priority? Humans are so idiotic" Baron wishes he could say. Though he didn't for some reason. He just hummed and looked at the window outside.

After a few seconds of silence, Serene spoke again.

"Hey, I'm going to the market for a bit. Would you want to come with me?"

"..." Baron thought. He looked back outside and back at her. There's nothing better to do for him anyway.

"I suppose I would."

With that, they went out to the market near the castle. Of course a few glances and whispers would come around. It was the princess and the fae prince after all.

Baron follows Serene next to her, his hands in his pockets. Serene hums a tune and looks around at each stand, smelling the flowers and taste testing the fruit samples.

Serene points at a pretty light blue flower. "Baron, look at that one! It's so pretty!"

Baron could care less. He was looking at her. Though, the color did remind him of the dress she wore when they first met.

"...mm." He looks at the flower and looks around.

Serene pouts slightly at his uninterested face. She continues to walk down the market. Instead of following her he looked at the merchant. Since the merchant wasn't very used to seeing Faes he lets out a quiet yelp.

"U-uh. Can I h-help you?" He asks nervously.

Baron looks at the blue flower and down the marketplace where Serene was talking to a merchant excitedly. He looks back at the flower and points at it.

"One of those." He says with a straight face.

The merchant hastily grabs one and gives it to Baron as Baron pays him.

Baron takes it.

"...Quit shaking. You'll wrinkle it." He snaps and leaves.

The merchant watches him walk away towards the princess. Slowly, a smile starts to grow on the merchants face.

"Ah. So that's it, hm? The look of love. I remember when I was like that." He thought to himself.

Meanwhile Baron walks behind Serene. He probably looks like her bodyguard with his tall figure and serious face. The flower was still in his hand.

"Princess." He calls her.

Serene turns around. "Yes?"

He reaches the flower out and scratches his neck. He doesn't really say anything.

Serene smiles and takes it.

"Oh! You got it for me?" She paused and chuckles slightly. She seemed very happy.

Baron puts his hands back in his pockets.

"I figured you'd want it." He looks away.

"I do! I really like it. Thank you Baron." Serene looks up at him, smiling warmly.

"Don't mention it." Baron grumbles. Geez...his ears must be red by now.

"Hey... your ears are-" serene starts.

"Huh-? I think it's time we head back to the palace." Baron interrupts and covers his ears, walking back in the direction of the palace.

Serene continues to smile and follows behind him.

"What's gotten into him lately?"