Kapitel 150: [33.1] It's Not a Date!
The day of the painting date finally arrived.
I hummed softly as I brushed my hair while Zephyr watched me with narrowed eyes, "You're seriously going on a date with someone?"
"I told you, it's not a date date. We are just painting together and comparing notes."
"I thought you weren't interested in men because you were a middle-aged woman and hooking up with adult men or people your age would be problematic."
"Firstly, I'm not hooking up with anyone. This is more for me to figure out this guy's intentions." I put the brush down and glared at him, "Secondly, I'm not middle-aged."
He snickered, "Whatever you say, granny."
I shoved his face away from mine with a huff and walked down the steps. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, my mother was in the kitchen cooking. She immediately ran to the stairs once she heard me come down, "Are you really going?"
"I am." I looked into the bowl she was cooking with and noticed there wasn't anything inside. I looked back at her, "What are you going to make?"
She smiled, "Oh, probably a cake that takes a very long time to bake."
"...Uhuh."
She looked me up and down, "So that outfit… Looks comfortable."
I chuckled, "I'm going out to paint, Mummy. If I wear super nice clothes, they would get ruined by the paint."
She continued to stare at me, "I see… Well, you certainly seem excited."
I grinned, "I'm excited to show this man what a true artist is like."
She watched me walk to the door with anxiety, "Are you sure you won't feel more comfortable having Zephyr go with you?"
I waved my hand, "Relax. We will be in a very public place. Trust me, I would never go anywhere private with a man I've just met. I will see you later when I get back."
I shut the door behind me.
My mother looked up at Zephyr who stood on the stairs. A mischievous smile crossed her face, "Are you ready?"
He pulled out two black cloaks, "I'm ready."
___…___
I whistled to myself as I skipped down the road. I carried a large bag, filled with painting necessities and a small canvas stored inside. For some reason, I felt like the day was going to be a good day.
I sighed as I looked up at the fluffy clouds, "Truly a beautiful day to paint."
As promised, I went to the shop where we had met only to see him already there and waiting. Moni looked over at me and gave me a nod.
I walked over to him and smiled, "You're here early."
He smiled back, "You're here early as well."
I smirked, "I wanted the excuse to leave immediately if you weren't here."
He laughed, "Then I was smart to arrive early. Should we head over?"
I nodded and started following him toward the park we agreed on. I noticed he was also carrying a basket, "What's in there?"
"I packed us some snacks. I didn't know what you like, so I got fruit, bread, cookies, cakes, and tarts."
I laughed, "Wow. You are trying really hard to impress me, aren't you?"
His lips curled into a smile, "Is it working?"
I hummed, "Maybe."
I walked ahead of him and cast a glance behind.
His burnt orange eyes looked down at me as if I was the only thing he could see.
There is something about how he carries himself that seems off to me. He's clearly confident and has the manners of someone who grew up in a good household.
I spoke up, "Are you a noble? Or an aristocrat?"
He shook his head with a smile, "I'm neither."
"But you act just like one."
"You are a very observant person." He leaned forward with an enigmatic smile, "I like that."
I felt my cheeks flush and looked away, "I'm around those kinds of people so I'm used to it."
"I am around them as well."
"You are?"
He nodded, "My family works for a Noble family that is very rich. Since my family prides itself on being the best butlers and maids in the Kingdom, etiquette was really driven into me as a child. It's a habit now."
"So your family works as servants, but you work at a flower shop?"
He shook his head, "Yes and no. I work at both places, but I mostly work at the Noble's house. My family is supportive, but not that supportive."
"Ah, that's a shame."
"And yours?"
"My what?"
"Is your family supportive?"
I laughed, "Oh, they are supportive, but also strict. My mother is always nagging me to study and my father is the Headmaster. Needless to say, I have to be on my best behavior and make sure not to fail any classes."
He looked surprised, "Your father is the Headmaster? Of Alora Academy?"
I nodded, "That's right… Is that a problem?"
Surely this man isn't afraid of the Headmaster…
His lips curled into a smile, "Not a problem. I'm just surprised to meet royalty."
I nearly choked on laughter, "Royalty?! We are hardly that."
He shook his head, "Nonsense. Your family is famous for their excellent magicians. Since you are in that family, I can imagine you are extremely talented as well."
I gave him a wink, "That's right. So you better watch yourself because I won't hesitate to kill you."
He leaned forward and whispered tantalizingly into my ear, "I look forward to it."
I quickly raised a hand to my ear and moved away from him in embarrassment. His burnt orange eyes shimmered with mischievousness as he stared at me. When I averted my eyes away from his, I noticed two nosy people who were "undercover".
I let out a sigh as I watched them.
Did they really think wearing two black cloaks would make them incognito?
No one else in their right mind would wear that here unless they want to look suspicious.
At least try harder than that if you want to spy.
I waved my wand to hide us both and smiled to myself.
Moni looked at me with confusion, "What did you just use magic for?"
I looked at him a bit embarrassed, "O-Oh… My mother and my best friend are following us. I just used some magic to confuse them."
"Ah, I see."
"I'm really sorry about them! Sometimes they can be so nosy and it gets a bit irritating."
His smile wrinkled his eyes as he let out a laugh, "You don't seem too upset."
How did he know?!
I flushed and looked at the ground, "Y-You're right, I'm not. I am actually pretty happy my family is so interested in my personal life that they would actually be curious to see who I am on a date with."
His charming smile revealed his pearly white teeth, "Oh? So this is a date?"
My cheeks heated up and I pushed back my hair to calm down my beating heart, "W-Who knows."
His footsteps stopped and he turned to look at me. He took my hand and leaned down to place a kiss on it.
He looked up at me with coy eyes that made my heart race, "It's such an honor to be on a date with a woman as beautiful as you."
My eyes widened in shock, "B-Beautiful?"
Oh gods!
This handsome man is calling ME beautiful?!
AAAHHH! My heart!
No! Reika remember!
He clearly has some ulterior motive!
I won't be swayed by his charming words!
I pulled my hand back, "S-Should we go paint? We might miss golden hour."
He laughed, "I think golden hour is still a long time away."
"It's better to be early than late."
His charming laugh warmed my ears. I had to turn away so I wouldn't get swept away.
This is a dangerous man.
I have to remember: Beauty isn't everything.
Beauty isn't everything.
Beauty isn't everything.
Crap. But he's so good-looking!
I forced myself to walk faster.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
Nekoru
Nekoru Author is currently recuperating from two Halloween parties in a row... Forgive author for being two days late!
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