Hilde, Aeonia
It was Friday night. Macaron, Glacier, and I were staying at the penthouse suite in Azalea Inn.
I had no choice but to let Glacier tag along with since Macaron kept teasing him about how he always got to hang out with . So here we are, Macaron and Glacier were currently eating—again—while I sat on the balcony, staring at the streetlights wrapped in beautiful colors. The residents were busy decorating the streets, preparing for the festival that would take place the next day.
I wanted to let Macaron and Glacier play outside, but I knew that the people would only scream and freak out, especially if they saw Glacier. His presence often startled people, and I didn’t want to deal with the chaos that would ensue. Instead, I took a deep breath, letting the cool night air fill my lungs as I leaned against the balcony railing, lost in thought.
The vibrant lights twinkled like stars, casting a warm glow over the bustling streets below. I could hear laughter and music drifting up from the upcoming festivities.
"Master! Co join us!" Macaron called from inside, his mouth full of snacks. I could hear the crunching of chips and the chewing of at as he and Glacier enjoyed their feast.
I smiled softly but shook my head. "I’m good out here! You guys have fun!"
As I continued to watch the bustling street below, I took a sip of my refreshing waterlon juice, feeling the coolness soothe my senses. The colorful stalls being set up for the festival painted a lively picture of anticipation and joy. Yet, my gaze drifted away from the scene, drawn to sothing—or soone—that didn’t quite belong.
My eyes fixed on a man dressed entirely in black, standing out amidst the crowd. His presence felt off, sohow suspicious, but what caught my attention most was his face. There was a flicker of familiarity—sothing about his features tugged at my mory—but I couldn’t quite place where I’d seen him before.
Suddenly, he looked up and directly t my gaze. I froze, heart pounding. The inn was at least 150 ters above the street, high enough that it seed impossible for him to know I was staring. Yet, he stared right at as if he had confird sothing, a subtle smile playing on his lips that sent a shiver down my spine.
A rush of unease flooded —who was he? Why did he seem to recognize ? I instinctively wanted to run, to approach, to ask questions, but before I could move an inch, he was already gone. Just like that, he vanished into the crowd.
Who is he? Why did he look at that way? And what does his sudden disappearance an? My mind whirled with questions, unsure if I’d see him again or if this was just a fleeting shadow of my imagination.
"Master, we want to go to the beach!" Macaron whined, his voice piercing through my thoughts.
I snapped out of my reverie and looked at the two who were already snuggling beside . "You know that Glacier can’t freely roam around here..." I began, my voice laced with concern.
The both of them groaned, their faces falling in unison.
I continued, trying to reason with them. "And since the both of you can teleport, why not go to places where there are no people at all? I’m scared that people will recognize Glacier and try to capture him, so make sure to watch him closely, okay?" I said, looking at Macaron, my eyes serious.
Glacier, however, was not interested in my warnings. He roared in joy, a loud, triumphant sound that made the windows vibrate. I imdiately clamped his mouth shut, feeling the building tremble with the force of his excitent.
"Now, go and have fun, but be back before midnight," I added, watching as they prepared to leave.
In an instant, both of them vanished into thin air, leaving only the faint imprint of their presence behind. I exhaled slowly, my mind still preoccupied with the strange man from earlier. As much as I wanted to relax and enjoy the festival, that mysterious encounter lingered in my thoughts.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
2 PM, Saturday
I woke up late, the afternoon sunlight filtering softly through the window. After Macaron and Glacier returned from their trip at the beach on the other side of the world, I had no choice but to wash them up. They were covered in sand and saltwater, their laughter echoing in my ears as I tried to scrub away the remnants of their trip. After that, we played together nonstop until exhaustion finally caught up with us, and we all fell asleep in the floor.
Deciding to step out for a bit, I took a quick shower and opted not to disturb Macaron and Glacier. I gently closed the door behind , giving them rest while I headed out.
My destination was a nearby restaurant where I planned to enjoy a leisurely brunch. With plenty of ti before the rest of the club mbers gathered for the festival, I wanted to savor this quiet mont.
I settled into a corner, ordered a al as I waited for my food to be served while sipping my coffee and appreciating the peaceful atmosphere. I was lost in the warmth of the drink, the aroma soothing my nerves, when suddenly a familiar face appeared in my line of sight.
"Are you alone right now?" Christian asked casually.
Startled, I quickly spat out my drink, coughing violently as the shock took over.
"Wha-What are you d-doing here?" I managed to gasp, still coughing and trying to regain my composure.
"I own this restaurant!" Christian replied, his tone light and teasing. "Well, technically... it’s my father’s, but it’s still mine!" He leaned against the table, looking far too pleased with himself.
I wiped my mouth with a napkin, still recovering from the shock. "I didn’t know this restaurant was your family business," I said, trying to regain my composure. "What a coincidence."
"You’re here early," Christian noted, leaning back in his chair. "Our eting ti was supposed to be eight in the evening. Did you have sothing to do here?"
"I’m looking for a business to invest in," I replied, keeping my tone casual. It was true; Hilde was a famous tourist spot, and I wanted to invest to earn more money.
"Oh?" Christian raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "I didn’t know you were interested in things like investing."
I smiled at him, feeling a spark of confidence. "What do you say? You want to invest in your business?"
He chuckled, a glint of amusent in his eyes. "Are you serious? You want to invest in my father’s restaurant?"
"Why not?" I replied, leaning forward slightly. "It seems like a great opportunity, especially with the festival bringing in more tourists. I could help with marketing and expanding the nu."
Christian looked thoughtful for a mont, his expression shifting from playful to contemplative. "You really think you could help?"
I nodded confidently, feeling a surge of determination. "Absolutely. I have so ideas that could attract more custors, especially during peak seasons." I was also considering my company’s growth and the importance of investing wisely to maximize earnings.
He studied for a mont, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind. "Alright, let’s say I’m interested. What would you want in return for your investnt?"
I paused, considering my words carefully. "A share in the business, of course. You handle everything else and I’ll just have my share."
Christian grinned, clearly impressed. "You drive a hard bargain, don’t you? I like that. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We should discuss this more seriously later. For now, how about we enjoy brunch together?"
I smiled back, feeling a sense of camaraderie forming between us. "Sounds like a plan. Just don’t try to charm into a bad deal."
He laughed, the sound warm and inviting. "No promises. But I’ll make sure the pancakes are worth it."
After chatting as we ate brunch, Christian pulled out his phone and called his father.
"Dad, soone wants to et you," he said, a proud smile spreading across his face. "She’s one of my friends, and she wants to invest in our restaurant."
I watched as Christian’s expression shifted. Monts later, the restaurant’s owner, a distinguished man with a warm yet authoritative presence, approached our table.
Christian introduced us, "Dad, this is Remillia. She’s interested in partnering with us."
His father looked over thoughtfully, then extended a firm hand. "It’s a pleasure to et you, Remillia. I’m Christian’s dad, Robert George."
I shook his hand confidently. "Likewise, sir."
Christian’s dad examined for a while, his gaze assessing. "You seem a bit young. Are you sure you have experience in the business world?"
"I own a business, but there’s soone else handling it for , sir," I replied vaguely. I figured they didn’t need to know the specifics of my company just yet.
He nodded, a flicker of interest in his eyes. "Well, we’re always open to new ideas. Let’s discuss this more in detail, shall we?"
Christian grinned, clearly pleased. "I told you she was serious."
We made our way to his office, a cozy yet professional space adorned with photographs of the restaurant’s history and awards. Christian took a seat in the corner, looking a bit lost as his father and I began discussing the potential contract.
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