Liria sighed. It was going to be a long day.
As they finished their leisurely lunch, Enara clapped her hands with renewed excitent. "Now that we're refreshed, it's ti for round two!"
"Round two?" Liria asked, dread creeping into her voice. "We've already bought half the kingdom."
Enara waved dismissively, her midnight eyes sparkling. "There's still the other half. Co on, we haven't even looked at shoes yet!"
Liria groaned but followed the young princess out of the café. Queen Verida, as composed as ever, strode behind them, her golden eyes surveying the bustling street like a predator ready to pounce.
Ananara, perched indignantly on Liria's shoulder, muttered, "If I have to endure one more store, I swear I'll—"
"You'll what?" Liria whispered back. "Refuse to insult people for an hour? That'll show them."
"Don't test , mortal," Ananara hissed, though his tiny pineapple body lacked any true nace.
The next destination was a sprawling shoe emporium that took up an entire city block. Inside, the walls were lined with shelves that stretched to the ceiling, displaying every kind of footwear imaginable: boots inlaid with enchanted gems, sandals that sparkled like starlight, and heels so tall they looked like weapons.
Enara imdiately dove into the collection, grabbing shoes at random and trying them on. "What do you think of these?" she asked, strutting in a pair of thigh-high boots made of shimring black scales.
"They look...expensive," Liria replied diplomatically.
"Perfect, then," Enara said with a grin. Read the latest on empire
Queen Verida, anwhile, was examining a pair of combat boots with steel toes and fiery runes etched along the sides. "Practical and intimidating," she mused. "I'll take them."
Liria leaned against a display, her arms already aching from carrying multiple bags. [You know,] the system chid in, [your strength stat is impressive, but even it has limits. Are you sure you don't want to 'accidentally' drop everything and run?]
Tempting, Liria thought back, but I'd never hear the end of it.
[True. You'd also probably lose your job. Or your life. Hard to say which would co first.]
After what felt like hours, they finally left the shoe store, with Enara now the proud owner of over a dozen pairs of footwear. The carriage, already overflowing, groaned under the additional weight.
"Next stop: accessories!" Enara declared.
Liria felt a pang of despair. "Is there anything you don't need to buy?"
"Don't be silly," Enara replied, looping her arm through Liria's. "This is only the beginning."
The accessory shop was a glittering wonderland, filled with everything from ornate hairpins to enchanted belts that promised to enhance your agility. Enara tried on everything she could get her hands on, piling jeweled tiaras on her head and laughing as she modeled them in front of a mirror.
"Liria, co here," she said, holding up a delicate silver necklace with a glowing blue gem. "This would look perfect on you."
Liria hesitated. "I'm not sure—"
"Nonsense," Verida interrupted, stepping forward to inspect the necklace. "She's right. It suits you."
Before Liria could protest, the necklace was clasped around her neck. The gem pulsed softly, sending a warm sensation through her chest.
[Finally, so recognition for your protagonist vibes,] the system remarked. [Took them long enough.]
Not helping, Liria shot back.
Ananara sniffed. "It's hideous. She looks ridiculous."
"Shut it, fruit," Liria muttered, earning a glare from a nearby shopkeeper who clearly didn't appreciate insults being thrown around in their establishnt.
By the ti they left the accessory shop, the sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky, casting the streets in a golden glow.
"Is it over?" Liria asked hopefully as they approached the carriage.
"Not quite," Enara said cheerfully. "There's just one more stop."
Liria groaned. "Of course there is."
The final destination was a luxury sweets shop, its windows filled with displays of intricate desserts and candies that sparkled with enchantnts. Enara's eyes lit up as she stepped inside.
"This is the best part," she said, practically skipping to the counter. "Mother, you have to try the starfruit éclairs. They're divine."
Verida raised an eyebrow but allowed herself to be guided toward a tray of glittering pastries. Liria, anwhile, stood awkwardly by the door, trying not to drool at the overwhelming aroma of sugar and magic.
"Don't just stand there," Enara said, grabbing a box of chocolates and shoving it into Liria's hands. "You have to try sothing."
Liria hesitated but eventually picked up a small, shimring tart. The mont she bit into it, a burst of flavors exploded on her tongue sweet, tangy, and faintly spicy, like a fireworks show in her mouth.
[Careful,] the system warned. [If you get used to this kind of luxury, you'll never be able to go back to instant noodles.]
I miss instant noodles, Liria thought wistfully.
By the ti they finally returned to the palace, the carriage was bursting at the seams with their purchases. Enara flopped onto a couch in the grand sitting room, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.
"See?" she said, grinning at Liria. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
Liria dropped the last of the bags onto the floor, her arms feeling like jelly. "Oh, no, not bad at all. Just an eight-hour marathon of consurism."
"Stop complaining," Ananara snapped. "You weren't the one who had to endure being in a bag next to shoes that reeked of magic."
Verida chuckled, pouring herself a glass of wine. "Well, I'd call today a success. Don't you agree, Liria?"
Liria collapsed into a chair, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. "Sure," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let's do it again soti."
Enara laughed, clearly oblivious to Liria's suffering. "Oh, we will. Definitely."
Enara, lounging lazily on the couch as she flipped through one of her new purchases a shimring enchanted notebook suddenly glanced up at her mother. "Mother, when is Nyssara coming back?"
Verida, sipping her wine with practiced grace, raised an eyebrow. "She'll return when she's done with her mission, Enara. You know how thorough she is."
"That's not an answer," Enara pouted, tossing the notebook onto the pile of shopping bags. "She's been gone for over a week! And she took Daena with her."
Liria perked up at this, leaning forward slightly. "Yeah, about that… What exactly are they doing? It seed like a pretty big deal."
Verida studied Liria for a mont, her golden eyes sharp and calculating. "It is a big deal," she said slowly, "but it's nothing you need to concern yourselves with."
Enara sat up straighter, her midnight eyes narrowing. "That's what you always say when it's definitely sothing we'd want to know."
Verida smirked. "And that's exactly why I say it."
Liria crossed her arms, frowning. "Not even a hint?"
Verida leaned back in her chair, a wicked glint in her eyes. "Patience, girls. All will be revealed in due ti."
Enara groaned dramatically. "You're impossible!"
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