Chapter 369: Ambermoon Festival 2
Venus lifted her head and found herself staring into Odin’s stoic eyes. As usual his expression was unreadable. Without a word, she walked past him, acting as though he didn’t exist in her world.
Odin’s lips curled into a faint smile as he watched her reaction, amused by her attempt to ignore him. He began to follow her, his footsteps calm and asured.
’Why is he following ?’ Venus thought, her mind racing. She quickly approached a stall where various won’s beauty accessories were displayed, hoping to lose him among the crowd.
She picked up a hair clip, her gaze discreetly shifting to see if Odin was still there. To her dismay, he was standing nearby, his eyes locked on her with an intensity that made her heart race.
"Do you want this one, Miss?" the lady shopkeeper asked in her kind voice.
"I’ll check a few more," Venus replied. She didn’t particularly care for the clip’s quality, but she was desperate to avoid Odin’s piercing gaze. She pretended to search for a better option, her fingers grazing over the assortnt of clips on display.
Without warning, Odin reached out and picked up a hair clip, one he selected at random. He stepped closer, placing it gently on Venus’s head. The won nearby began to whisper among themselves, their giggles filling the air, adding to Venus’s discomfort.
"I think this one will look better on you," Odin remarked, his tone confident and almost possessive as he adjusted the clip in her hair.
"This pearl one is quite expensive, Mister," the lady shopkeeper chid in, her voice oozing with politeness. "But for a young lady with a face as radiant as the moon, this clip will certainly enhance her beauty."
Odin barely acknowledged the flattery, his focus solely on Venus. "How much does it cost?" he asked, his hand already reaching for his pouch, ready to pay whatever it took.
Venus had had enough. "I don’t like it," she snapped, her voice sharp as she pushed the clip away, her patience with Odin’s intrusion wearing thin.
"Then, which one do you like?" Odin asked.
"This pearl one is truly the best," the lady shopkeeper interjected, sensing an opportunity. She had recognized Odin as an elite Vampire and knew she could get a handso price from him.
"No one," Venus replied curtly, her frustration boiling over. Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away in a haste. Her anger clouded her thoughts, and she didn’t realize where she was headed until her feet abruptly ca to a halt.
Venus looked around, her eyes widening as she took in the sight before her. In her haste to escape Odin, she had wandered into the weapon market—a place notorious for being frequented by n.
The stalls were lined with swords, daggers, and other lethal tools, their gleaming edges reflecting the muted light. The atmosphere was tense, a contrast to the vibrant energy of the main market. It was darker here, not because of the lighting, but because of the heavy, ominous aura that surrounded this place.
She felt the stares from the n around her only adding to her discomfort. Realizing her mistake, Venus took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. Steeling herself, she turned to leave, hoping to slip away quietly. But as she began to walk, a group of n with cutlasses in hand suddenly blocked her path.
"It seems you’ve lost your way, girl," said a tall man with a large belly, his voice thick with mockery as he twirled the ends of his bushy mustache.
"No," Venus replied, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. "I only need to go straight ahead in this direction, Uncle," she added, hoping to defuse the situation by feigning confidence.
The sound of swords being sharpened on stones echoed through the narrow alley, each scrape sending a chill down her spine. Her heart pounded even harder, but she forced herself to maintain her composure.
Bowing her head slightly in a gesture of respect, she excused herself and began to walk forward, praying that the n would let her pass without further trouble.
As Venus hurried through the narrow alley, the oppressive atmosphere pressed in on her from all sides. She could feel the n’s eyes boring into her back, but she resisted the urge to look back, focusing instead on reaching the safety of the main market.
Finally, she reached the end of the alley and dared to glance over her shoulder, her hand instinctively clutching her chest as she tried to reassure herself that no one was following her. Just as she began to relax, she collided with sothing—or rather, soone.
A scream escaped her lips as she stumbled back in fear, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest.
"Are you an idiot?" Venus yelled, her voice trembling as she tried to steady her breaths.
"Ah, now you’re talking," Odin remarked with a smirk. "So, I’m not invisible to you after all," he added, his tone laced with amusent.
Venus glared at him, her frustration mounting. "What do you want now?" she demanded, her hand dropping to her side in resignation.
"You act so cold, yet you’re just a little kitten on the inside," Odin teased, a playful glint in his eyes. Before Venus could react, he reached out, his hand brushing gently against her hair.
He placed the hair clip he had chosen earlier between her strands, securing it with a delicate touch. Venus stood frozen, bewildernt flashing across her face as she stared at him, unsure whether to push him away or demand an explanation.
"Stay still," Odin commanded, his voice firm as he locked eyes with Venus. Despite her instinct to pull away, sothing in his gaze made her pause, and she remained motionless.
As Odin finished adjusting the hairpin, he took a mont to regard her, his thoughts betraying a hint of admiration. ’I can’t deny she is beautiful,’ he mused inwardly.
"I don’t need any hairpin from you," Venus said defiantly, reaching up to remove it. But before she could, Odin swiftly caught her wrist in mid-air. His grip was firm, and with a hiss of irritation, he drew her closer.
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