The next day, after breakfast, sunlight pooled on the floor like warm milk.

“Servant, let’s go walk the streets today.” Xinuo’s voice rang like a small bell through porcelain air.

I’d just cleared the dishes, hands still damp, and stepped back into the room like a river returning to its bed.

“Yeah, yeah! Let’s go shopping together!” Hill chimed in, bright as a sparrow on a spring branch. But today, something about Hill snagged my eye like silk.

She normally wore black gothic-lolita, a moonlit crow’s wing. Today she stood in a sky-blue dress, like a clean lake under noon.

“Hill, how come you’re in a dress today?” Curiosity bubbled up first, then my words slipped out like fish from a net.

“Because it’s cool! Boss, do I look bad in it?” Her tone tilted with hope like a kite in a light wind, and a flicker of worry shadowed her eyes like thin clouds.

“No, no—super cute, really pretty.” Admiration warmed me like sunlight on stone. Sky-blue hugged her silver hair and milk-pale skin, a blue jay beside fresh snow.

“Heh-heh! Boss praised me—this little one’s so happy!” Hill’s smile opened like a flower after rain. Yes—Hill is very, very cute.

“All right, Servant, let’s head out.” Xinuo set her teacup down with a quiet ring, stood, and drifted toward me like smoke.

“Why does your cheek keep getting softer? So comfy.” Her fingers kneaded my face like dough in warm hands.

“Mm. Let’s go shopping.” Anticipation thumped in my chest like a deer’s heartbeat; I’d never gone shopping before.

“Then let’s go.”

“Okay.”

“Ooh—shopping time!” Hill bounced like a spring sparrow.

We left the room and walked toward the City Lord’s manor gate, footsteps tapping like rain on stone.

Halfway down the path, two small figures appeared like sprouts in fresh soil.

“Big brother, big sister, where are you going?” We ran into Lilis and Yalunte; they were watering flowers, droplets flashing like fish scales. Lilis dropped her watering can and dashed over like a kitten.

“Nothing big—just going out to stroll.” I ruffled Lilis’s smooth black hair, soft as silk on willow bark.

“Eh! You’re going shopping? Lilis wants to go too!” She turned and called, bright as a bell, “Papa, Lilis is going out shopping with big brother and the others today!”

“Ah? My lords, you’re heading out to shop?” Yalunte came over, steady as an old tree.

“That’s right.” I nodded, simple as a stone falling.

“Then allow me to call a few guards for you. Don’t worry—no one will disturb you.” His sincerity was clear as water.

“Uh, all right.” I wanted to say no, but the memory of Ral from yesterday pricked like a thorn, and I agreed.

“About Lilis—”

“Don’t worry, we’ll look after Lilis.” My voice was firm, like a stake driven into earth.

“Thank you, my lord! I’ll arrange guards at once. They won’t intrude; they’ll follow from the shadows.” His vow sat solid as a wall.

“Then sorry to trouble you, City Lord Yalunte.”

“No trouble at all! I’ll go arrange them now.” He waved and turned away, swift as a swallow.

“Okay, take care.”

“Let’s head out.”

“Okay.” We left the City Lord’s manor and stepped onto the main street like fish slipping into a wide river.

“Hectic as ever.” The crowd surged like a tide, and stalls dotted the street like lanterns.

“Hey, hey, Xinuo, where should we go?” I glanced at her, my question floating like a paper boat.

“Hmm… Lilis, know any fun spots?” Xinuo tossed the problem to Lilis with a smile, light as a leaf.

“Hehe! Of course. Lilis knows Rat City like the back of her hand. Let Lilis be your guide today!” She puffed up like a tiny general, eyes bright as stars.

“Then it’s in your hands, Lilis.”

“Mm-hmm! Follow Lilis—there’s a street with tons of tasty food!” She grabbed my hand and tugged toward East Street, quick as wind through bamboo.

“Hey, Boss, wait for this little one!” Hill chased us, skirt fluttering like a blue petal.

East Street lay ahead, busy as bees in clover.

“Ooh! Boss, I want that, I want that!” Hill pulled my hand and pointed at a stall like a sparrow pecking grain.

“What do you want?” I followed her finger. A stall selling candied apples gleamed like rubies on sticks.

“Uh… I don’t have money.” The memory of yesterday’s takoyaki made my cheeks heat like coals.

“No worries! This little one’s got some—here, Boss.” Hill pressed a few Purplegold Coins into my palm, heavy as sun-warmed metal.

“Uh.” The weight stirred yesterday’s scene again; the takoyaki seller’s face had stiffened like clay at the sight of Purplegold Coins.

I glanced at Lilis, sheepish as a wet pup. “Um… I don’t have small change. Lilis, do you… maybe…”

Shame crawled up like ivy—asking a little girl for money.

Xinuo shot me a look, smooth as jade and sharp as frost, and I felt tears knocking like rain against a closed window.

“Yep, I’ve got lots.” Lilis lifted the wallet hanging from her neck like a tiny pouch and handed it to me.

“Lilis, this is for you.” I took the wallet and offered her the Purplegold Coins. If I’m asking a child for money, at least I won’t take it for free.

“Lilis doesn’t want that!” She refused, turning her head with a snap like a swaying branch.

“Uh, why not?” Confusion floated up like mist. Did I mess up?

“Big brother, Lilis didn’t give you the wallet for Purplegold Coins!” Her pout was fierce as a kitten arching its back.

“Uh… Hill, take these back.” I looked at Lilis, then at the coins, and returned the Purplegold Coins to Hill. The decision settled like dust.

“That’s more like it! Today, Lilis is treating!” Her mood popped back bright as sunlight.

“Then thank you, Lilis! I’ll be right back.” I headed for the stall, steps quick as a fox.

“Four candied apples, please.” My voice tried to stay steady, like a reed in wind.

“Sure, young sir. Four candied apples—two silver coins.” The seller slipped them into a bag, smile kind as warm tea.

“Yes, yes.” I dug two silvers from the wallet and set them on the counter, the clink light as rain on a bell.

“Thanks for your patronage.” His farewell floated like steam.

“Whew, I finally got them.” Nervousness had been buzzing like bees; I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

“Boss is amazing!” Hill beamed, eyes sparkling like ripples.

“Here.” I handed one candied apple to Hill, then passed the second to Lilis, sticks shining like lacquered branches.

“Xinuo, here’s yours.” I offered the third to Xinuo, the glaze red as sunset.

“Mm… Servant, I don’t really like sweets.” Her glance slid off the candy like rain off oil-paper.

“But I went to all the trouble—try it for me, Xinuo.” I grabbed her hand and shook it gently like a child tugging a sleeve, my plea soft as cotton.

“…Stop shaking. I’ll eat.” She yielded at last, took the candy, and gave it a small lick like a cat tasting milk.

“Let’s wander somewhere else.” I bit into the last candied apple, crisp as frost over fruit, and spoke between bites.

“Mm-hmm, okay!”

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

“Let’s hit a women’s boutique. Today I want my Servant in all kinds of dresses.” Xinuo’s eyes gleamed like moonlight on a blade.

“I’m not wearing that!!” My protest burst out like a startled bird.

So we nibbled candied apples and wandered, drifting through stalls and laughter like clouds at dusk, and only when evening fell like purple silk did we head home, finally satisfied.