Rina could sense the tension between them. "Brother, do you know her?"
Lucian nodded. "I used to work at her residence."
"Oh. She is a good woman but seems like she is upset with you," Rina said as both she and Lucian watched Erin disappear from their line of sight. "Have you offended her by any chance?"
"I don’t think so," Lucian replied, his eyes still fixed in the direction Erin had gone.
"Knowing you, I’m sure you must have," Rina comnted. "Only you wouldn’t realize it. You can be so ignorant most of the tis, except for our mother. She is the only woman you must have never offended in your life. Gwen is sure so lucky."
"You dare call mother by her na?" Lucian frowned.
"Calling soone casually just by their na, without any title or honorific can be out of love for them," Rina countered, as she frowned, "but yeah, you would never understand it."
Lucian’s sighed, his gaze turning colder, wishing she would stop talking. "Have you done shopping here?"
"Yes," Rina replied. "Now I need to buy shoes, so jewelry, and whatever else is left."
Lucian held the shopping bags and walked out with Rina to another shop. They bought clothes for Gwen and Paul as well.
"Gwen and Paul would be so happy," Rina said as she was content to buy nice clothes for their parents and then looked at Lucian, before he could scold her again, "I love them so I can say their nas."
When they reached the jewelry shop, Rina felt overwheld by the beautiful pieces on display. She mumbled, "I wish Lady Erin were here to help . I can’t seem to decide."
"Just buy whatever," Lucian said.
"It’s not that easy," Rina replied, feeling a bit annoyed at how her brother didn’t understand her difficulty. "What if ’whatever’ doesn’t look good after wearing it?" Her voice turned complaining. "But I can’t ask for your help because I know my brother knows nothing about won and what they truly like."
Lucian looked at the jewelry in front of Rina. He thought about what Erin always preferred while shopping and what she wore. He picked out similar pieces and said, "These will look good on you."
Rina observed those jewellery pieces. "They are really pretty," she admitted, then looked at her brother suspiciously. "How did you pick these so quickly? Just like your secret identity, do you have a woman in secret as well and yet to tell us about it? Do I already have a sister-in-law?"
He frowned and tapped her head gently. "You talk too much, don’t you?"
Rina rubbed her head, pouting a little. "That hurts. One day you’ll have a dumb sister if you keep hitting on the head. Then no man would like and I won’t ever get married."
Lucian didn’t comnt and paid for the jewellery. he also bought so decent and simple jewellery pieces for their mother.
Later, they went to a footwear shop, the sa one he had visited with Erin. Images of Erin sitting in the chair flashed in his mind. She was the most stubborn woman he had ever known. He also rembered when he had helped her try on footwear and how she had suddenly stood up.
He looked at his fingers, recalling the touch of her soft skin when his fingertips had accidentally brushed against her delicate-looking ankle. Before he could even understand, she had abruptly stood up to leave the shop.
"Brother, those shoes are so beautiful," Rina’s voice brought Lucian back to his senses. "I saw many won in the city wearing these kinds. Even Lady Erin was wearing the sa shoes."
"Which one do you want?" he asked.
She looked around the shop and decided. "I’ll get the ones Lady Erin was wearing," Rina where the shoes were displayed. "If Lady Erin chose these ones, I’m sure they’re the prettiest ones."
Lucian wasn’t sure if that was true. To him, it had seed like Erin bought those shoes in a hurry to leave the shop. But he didn’t say that to his sister. They were still nice and better than most of the footwear in the shop. They bought everything Rina liked, and Lucian continued to carry all her purchases.
"Brother, I want to eat that," she said, pointing to a stall selling sugar candies.
"Take the coin pouch from my pocket," he instructed, his hands were full carrying all the shopping.
Rina pulled out the pouch from the pocket in front of his chest and went to the stall. Afterward, they went to a restaurant for a al—the sa one where he had last dined with Erin. Coincidentally, they sat at the sa table.
Was it a goodbye al, just like that green jade pendant gift?
Lucian realized that all the mories he had of this marketplace, or this city, had Erin’s presence in every single one of them.
"Brother," Rina called, "where are you lost?"
Lucian looked at her calmly. "You can order anything you want."
"I’ve never eaten such food before. I don’t know what to order," she admitted.
Lucian turned to the server who was waiting for them to make an order. He ordered a variety of dishes, ensuring there were plenty of options for Rina to try.
Once the server left, Rina spoke, "Brother, you ordered so much. Are you sure those will taste good?"
He humd in agreent.
"But, what if they’re not good? You should have ordered only one or two. I don’t want our money to go to waste."
"Those are all dishes your Lady Erin likes, so I’m sure you’ll like them as well. Don’t worry," he replied calmly.
Rina was shocked, but then turned curious. "Brother, you know what she likes? Are you two close?"
"No." His voice firm and eyes devoid of any emotions.
"Then how do you know what she likes?" Rina asked. "Do you even know what I like, your own sister?"
Lucian was surprised at himself as well, but didn’t take his sister’s words too seriously. "You like whatever mother cooks."
Rina chuckled. "You truly don’t know what your sister likes, but you know what that beautiful woman likes. You are not that ignorant I suppose."
Lucian frowned at his sister’s persistence. "I was her bodyguard and used to be around her all the ti. That’s why I know."
Rina felt the pressure of his cold gaze and worried she might displease him. "Okay, I get it. You were simply doing your job as her bodyguard."
Their conversation paused as the server brought the food, filling the table with a variety of dishes. Rina hesitantly took a bite of one of the dishes and her eyes widened in delight.
"This is delicious!" she exclaid. "Lady Erin has good taste."
Lucian didn’t comnt and simply watched his sister enjoying the food.
"Can we get so for our parents and Ken and his wife?" Rina asked.
"We can." Lucian placed an order to pack so food to carry ho.
Once they were done, Lucian rented a carriage to return ho. Inside the carriage, Rina continued to observe the scenery outside.
She then looked at Lucian, who was sitting quietly opposite her with his eyes closed.
"Brother, today was really fun. I enjoyed it."
"Hmm."
"Thank you for taking shopping."
"Hmm."
"Will you bring again to buy more things?"
"Hmm."
"I will buy more dresses for Mother as well."
"Hmm."
"Oh, Lady Erin."
Lucian opened his eyes and looked out the window, searching for the one his sister ntioned but saw no one.
He sensed a gaze on him. Rina was looking at him with a teasing smile on her lips. He realized his sister had tricked him.
"You were simply humming to whatever I said as if you were tired to your bones, but the mont I ntioned Lady Erin, you suddenly ca alive," she laughed a little, her eyes glistening with mischief.
"No more shopping for you after this," Lucian’s tone was cold and firm. He closed his eyes again.
"B-Brother, I was just...I won’t do it again..." Rina stamred, realizing she had pushed too far.
Lucian didn’t reply to her despite her repeated begging.
She huffed angrily, focused her attention outside the window, and mumbled, "So an. One can’t even tease him. No wonder Lady Erin couldn’t stand him and left."
Lucian heard her but didn’t react.
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