Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 37 - The Card I Drew Was A Trap

Chapter 37: Chapter 37 - The Card I Drew Was A Trap

My hand ran angrily across the silk over my stomach. I wonder if my transmigration broke something in this body?

Humans may be a little insatiable, but wolves should be better with hunger than this. Werewolves, even still.

"I... think I’d prefer to eat, if that’s possible."

"Absolutely. I may join you, if that’s alright - nowhere more important to go dine this evening. Do you have something in mind?"

Choices. She gives the person who has been in the city less than a single day... freedom of choice.

> I’m starting to think she is testing just how ignorant I am. <

"What options are available?"

Anise began to tap her thumbs on the device’s screen while staring down at it.

"Crystalline has partnerships with several local establishments. For famished clients in my boutique, I usually recommend Tsukisushi’s."

"What type of food is that?"

A single eyebrow rose at my question. Even if she is not doing it on purpose, I seem to be running right into revealing myself.

Well, most humans might be more concerned with how much flesh I’ve already revealed. Rather than the scope of my worldly knowledge.

> But who we are inside is more important to protect, is it not? <

Again with the sneeze - are you allergic to my personality, Vrika?

"Japanese cuisine. Their sushi is exceptional... fresh fish and perfectly prepared rice. They’re busy enough that they take reservations, but they deliver here for our VIP clients."

"That sounds suitable."

I replied without having any idea what I was agreeing to. Fish and rice cannot be bad.

In the past, I have been served similar dishes on occasion... though we called them by plenty of different names depending on the method of preparation.

"Any preferences or dietary restrictions I should mention to them when ordering?"

"I should be okay with anything. As far as I know. I trust your judgment on the selection."

My confidence is worn with a heavy tug of uncertainty. I am only barely pregnant, according to the timing, but Helene does have memories of Omega’s mentioning humans avoiding some things.

> What do you think, will you keep me healthy for the child? <

Single quick bark for yes.

"I’ll order a variety. Usually, it will arrive in about twenty minutes. Would you like to continue looking at clothing options while we wait?"

"That would be fine."

Anise apparently completed the order with a few more taps. She made it look so simple that I also hope to-

Oh, ’crap’.

> Vrika... could I possibly be dumber than I think I am? Don’t answer that. <

I begin to bite my thumbnail, having only just now truly realized that the hunter’s phone was abandoned at that shop when I fled.

Too concerned at getting away, staying away, not thinking about ’her’ to even pay it any mind.

What did the shop owner do with it? Should I go back tomorrow and see if he kept it safe?

Or are there actually some rules in the city about abandoned property that might make it more trouble than it’s worth? No use worrying until I verify.

"Just to confirm, when it comes to paying for the food will you need-"

I absentmindedly reached for my backpack to retrieve the white bank card, only half noticing that the woman in the black dress was already waving her hand dismissively.

"No need to worry about that. I’ll just add your portion to your overall sale. Okay?"

When I nodded at her, she froze. I traced her line of sight to the object in my hand.

"...Is something wrong?"

With some hope I was wrong, I asked. But I suspected the answer was as simple as it seemed.

"Not at all. No."

She replied a little quick, before she shook her head and laughed. The woman’s next tone of voice was something even warmer than it had been this whole time.

"I just... recognize that particular card design from another client of mine."

Aha. I guess everyone has layers. But what was underneath hers?

The meaning of this softening upon seeing the Rimecoat Alpha’s possession.

Why she held no suspicion that I could be a pickpocket and instead seems to have accepted that this ’belongs’ with me.

Where we are going to sit to eat in this place with no clear table or chairs.

I patiently stared and waited for her to answer these... or questions I did not yet know to ask.

"It’s just that I’ve asked her about it before. Because I’ve only seen that exact style issued to a single card holder."

"I see. So it is a very recognizable item to those she has used it with."

When I make no attempt to deny who it belongs to, her smile grows more teeth. The friendly human kind, not the challenging bestial snarl.

"Ms. Voss has been a valued client for many years now. I’ve had the pleasure of tailoring several pieces for her personally."

"I didn’t realize you were a personal seamstress as well as a consultant."

"Only for very select clients. She seems to appreciate my attention to detail. Especially in turning what she wants to wear into a perfect fit."

The way she said it carried none of the insinuation it perhaps could have, yet I felt a heat rise to my cheeks regardless. As if the Alpha’s penchant for customized clothing somehow... extended to her interest in me.

"Well, I suppose I should trust your expertise even more."

"Truth be told, I came in today because of a message that her assistant had made a booking."

So that explained her presence in the shop with a lack of foot traffic. Waiting... to see Kyrie Voss.

> If that is your smug face, I would ask you to quit it before I... I fill the place with ground black pepper! <

I am not jealous of what is clearly a long and professional relationship between the equivalent of this world’s merchant barons and a... a mere...

"How long until the food arrives, did you say?"

"Almost certainly less than a half hour. Shall I show you what I’ve selected so far?"

She gestured to several items draped where she left them when showing concern during my system-induced distraction. As she spread them out on a nearby counter for me to glance at, my focus drifted.

My mind circled, spiraled, floated, and wondered - just how many more connections to the powerful, white haired woman would I uncover before this single day was through.

And why that thought didn’t irritate me nearly as much as it would have right after meeting her.