Leon glanced at him. "You know jewellery?"
"I know quality craftsmanship," Xavier replied. "This one—" he pointed to a necklace "—is cut in what’s called the Glacier Edge style. It’s harder to do than a standard cut because it requires precision shaping on all sides to catch light evenly."
Leon nodded slowly. "Huh. Impressive."
Well, I used to be a girl, what’s their excuse?
Riven wanted to look at the pretty jewellery too, but those would not even give him an inch of space.
They both leaned over the case, deep in discussion, while Riven stood behind them, already regretting walking into the shop.
Five minutes in, Xavier was talking about the difference between cut and uncut diamond jewellery. Leon was asking questions like he was attending a masterclass, and Riven was ntally checking out.
"I’m dying," Riven muttered under his breath.
Neither of them looked up.
"Like, literally. Dead. My ghost is in the corner watching you two flirt over gemstones."
"We’re not flirting," Leon said absently, eyes still on a set of diamond cufflinks.
"Could’ve fooled ," Riven said, crossing his arms. "I’ve never seen you so interested in anyone’s words, Leon."
Xavier didn’t even blink. "That’s because you never talk about anything useful."
*Gasp* How dare he?
Riven gasped. "Old man, that’s cold."
Leon smirked faintly. "He’s not wrong."
Riven’s mouth twitched before he yanked on Leon’s neatly tied hair.
"OW!" Leon yelped, and this satisfied Riven.
"Well," he said with a long-suffering sigh, "perhaps a different shop. What does interest you two?"
Riven gave a dramatic groan, crossing his arms like a sulky cat denied its nap. "I’m hungry. But I’m in no mood to sit in a glass box where I have to use twelve forks and pretend I know which wine is ’brisk with citrus notes and a velvety finish.’" He put on a snooty accent for effect and mid sipping tea with his pinky out. "So, could you just get sothing for us? Sothing that doesn’t require a tuxedo or a degree in forkology."
Xavier gave him a flat look before turning to Leon, clearly valuing the opinion of soone who didn’t look ready to pick a fight with the salt shakers.
"Well, what about you, Leon?" Xavier asked politely. "I know you used to be—" royalty.
Riven cut him off with a lazy grin. "His Royal Brokeness will be fine with it, won’t he?" He gestured toward Leon with an exaggerated flourish.
Leon blinked. "Er, yes. That should be fine."
He wasn’t sure what was more offensive—the nickna or how quickly he’d accepted it.
"Perfect," Riven chirped, already veering off toward a massive tree growing right in the center of the walkway. "I claim this mighty oak in the na of commoners and chaos. Co, Leon, we feast beneath its shade!"
Leon followed, looking mildly amused.
The tree stood tall and regal, its thick canopy offering a rare bit of respite from the glaring sun. Beneath it, a fairly comfortable stone bench.
Xavier looked between the two of them like a disappointed parent, "You’re really going to eat here? In the middle of the street?"
"As much as I usually love the snootiness of this place, I’m just tired. And this stone bench is a fine place to snack." Riven countered. People sit and eat on benches, this place was just too elite for such things. Maybe if others did it, they would get odd glances, but who would dare glare at him? He had the power of a yandere male lead behind him.
Leon sat beside him with more dignity, though his amusent was clear.
Xavier sighed. "Fine." He tried, but the wolf boy was stubborn.
Riven watched Xavier’s tall figure disappear into the bustling crowd.
He stretched lazily under the large oak tree that shaded the center of the walkway, its green leaves were real and true, unlike everything else in this ridiculously posh district.
All around them were glass buildings that reflected the light in elegant curves, with marble walkways and subtle ambient music playing from sowhere. It was the kind of place where you felt like sneezing would be illegal unless done with grace.
Well, every place has a different vibe. He just had to go with it.
Riven adjusted the position of his tail, smoothing it down smugly. He could feel eyes on him. Naturally. Who wouldn’t look at him? Gorgeous hair, toned body, expressive ears perched atop his head like little furred crowns, and a tail so fluffy it deserved its own fan club.
He gave a quick smirk to the passersby. That was right, look all you want.
But sothing didn’t feel right.
He glanced around, following the stares—and froze.
They weren’t looking at him.
No, they were looking at Leon.
Leon.
The beautiful bastard with blue-gold gradient eyes and long golden hair tied up neatly.
Riven’s eye twitched. He slowly turned to the culprit in question, who was just sitting peacefully beside him, looking at the clouds like he hadn’t just committed the cri of being unfairly attractive in public.
"What?" Leon asked, sensing the weight of Riven’s furious gaze. His face was blank, calm, and confused. As if he hadn’t just stolen the attention of half the district.
"You," Riven said, leaning forward ominously, "are an attention thief."
Leon blinked. "Excuse ?"
Without warning, Riven grabbed Leon’s face with both hands and squished his cheeks together with all the regal indignation of a dethroned monarch.
"You adorable nace!" Riven growled, as Leon’s lips puffed out under the pressure, making him resemble a pouty fish. "What gives you the right to just sit there and—exist—all beautiful and unbothered while I get sidelined?!"
"Mhph mmgh!" Leon protested, cheeks still squished.
"Oh, don’t act innocent now. You know what you did." Riven said, now squishing Leon’s face slightly like a stress ball.
Leon gave him a dry look as best he could with his face being turned into a mochi. "You know you’re the only one who would treat , the King, this way," Leon said, voice muffled through squished cheeks.
"You’re not a king anymore," Riven shot back gleefully, pinching one cheek with great satisfaction.
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