Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 60 - Why So Blue, Little Fox?

Chapter 60: Chapter 60 - Why So Blue, Little Fox?

Moments after the voice called out, a young man who looked to be around the same age as this body emerged while wiping his glasses on a microfiber cloth. I know the weave is different, but the fact that it is the same material as my undergarments is strange.

An untucked, button-down, yellow flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows covered his large chest and broad shoulders. Surprisingly well built, for someone that works in a place like this.

Dark hair was longer on one side than the other, and was pushed around the dark rimmed glasses as he reseated them.

"Welcome to Welken’s. I’m Marco. Parents are off today, so you’ve got the son instead. What can I help you with?"

The way he mentioned his parents confirmed this must be a family business. Not that I doubted Edgar.

His overall demeanor suggested someone only temporarily minding the shop rather than fully committed to the retail life. A quality I’ve seen before.

Which - probably along with his youth - explains his gym-made chest and forearms. Altogether as relatively impressive a specimen of male as any I’ve talked to so far.

For a human.

"I need to buy a charger for my phone."

I reached into my pocket and produced the device to show it if necessary. The man’s eyes widened as he recognized the model.

"That’s a Sentinel X7. Don’t see many of those walking in..."

He leaned close without reaching out. His tone was astonished, but it shifted quickly to cautiousness.

"Military-grade casing, satellite capability, encrypted communications... you a private contractor or something?"

The question caught me off guard. I hadn’t fully considered after it was returned that the phone might be recognizable as something unusual.

> A silly oversight of mine... <

After all, I only know enough here to know it’s a smartphone. However, it makes perfect sense that the hunters might use a very specialized device.

My gaze hardens and my chin lifts up.

"Something."

I said simply, which was true enough. Even if it meant much of nothing!

"Can you help me charge it or not?"

"Sure, sure."

The man held his hands up placatingly as he started to go around the counter to my side.

"Won’t ask any more questions like that, ma’am. The charging port is pretty standard thankfully, though the internal battery setup is proprietary. If that fries, you’ll have to send it in."

He walked over toward a set of bins and rummaged through them, before bringing out a thin cable that seemed covered in some kind of thickly woven sleeve. After looking at the ends to be sure, he let its length fall down while holding it up in the air - showing off that it is about as long as I am tall.

"This should do it. Six is safer than three. The wall adapter is going to be separate - do you want just a basic one or something with fast-charging capability?"

"I don’t know what the difference would be exactly, but fast sounds better."

I admitted some of my ignorance after finding no relevant information in Helene’s memories. This Marco smiled at me... a way I don’t like.

Not that of a man looking at a woman, which I could deal with. But that of a merchant looking at a mark.

> Something I do not have enough defense against... <

"Fast-charging gets you from zero to about seventy percent in half the time, but it’s a bit harder on the battery long term. For that model though, I doubt it matters. I read they build those things to survive EMPs and submersion in water."

"The faster one then. I need access sooner than later."

He selected a small white cube from another bin with prongs on one side and hopped over to the counter to put them both down.

"Is there anything else you need for it? That model is pretty self-sufficient when it comes to the usual accessories, like screen protectors and cases... but you’re welcome to look around."

Marco gestured to a nearby wall display, where various phone accessories hung on hooks arranged by category. Most of it didn’t make much sense to me on a glance... and I realized I was stroking one of my tails.

> A nervous habit I used to be better at avoiding... <

"I’m not really sure if I need anything else. If I’m being honest with you, the primary function I make use of lately is its camera."

"Oh, it does have excellent specs there. But, if you’re going to be using the camera function a lot... we’ve got some stuff that might interest you."

I was about to dismiss the suggestion, not even sure why I admitted my little use of the device so far. Speaking further just makes me potentially more suspicious.

And also... risks spending money. More than I need to. Yet, my tongue is as usual more eager than the rest of me to take a stance.

"Show me."

The man led me over to the display, pointing to several items hanging there in packages.

"Tripod mount, good for stable shots or time-lapses. Lens attachments - macro, wide-angle, fish-eye. Your device might have come with a kit for that already. And this is of course popular with some enthusiasts..."

He reached for what looked like an extendable metal rod that reminded me of Edgar’s cane. Except this had something strange at the end.

"Selfie stick. Extends about three feet, has a Bluetooth trigger here on the handle. Makes taking self-portraits way easier than holding your arm out."

I took it from him, a little too quickly, and tested its weight. Examining how it collapsed and extended as well as how the part on the end was intended to secure the phone.

The item was simple enough. But... it would certainly make taking pictures easier.

Especially if I wanted to capture more of my whole body without the stretching pose...

> This is a completely frivolous purchase. Please help me stay strong. Please? <

Vrika seemed surprisingly supportive for once. I blew out a breath and put it back where he found it.

"Hm. What about storage? If I remember, the X7 has 256 gigs of internal storage."

I turn and blink at him. Wondering if whatever that was he just said was meant to be special.

"And?"

"Oh, just saying that’s more than enough for most uses. Unless you’re recording hours of high-definition video end on end, you shouldn’t need an SD card."

As he turned back to the displays, my eyes caught a rack of decorative phone cases and decals. Most were garish patterns or human cartoon characters I didn’t recognize.

But a small pack in the corner caught my attention. I pointed at them, with a voice that sounded hoarse.

"What about those?"

Strained... from trying not to say anything at all!

"Ah? Basically fancy stickers that don’t leave residue when you peel them off."

He grabbed directly for the pack I’d indicated.

"This is one of the wildlife series. Has a fox, wolf, deer, and bear."

The blue fox on the front of the packaging stared back at me with stylized eyes. A caricature, but one that resonated with me.

"I’ll take that. And the selfie stick."

My sins multiplied suddenly, and Marco looked pleased but not surprised as he grabbed for the item I had put back. Confirming my suspicion about his merchant instincts.

Some of the newcomers to the trade always went on about how hereditary merchant dynasties were hogwash - and that it was more hard work and learning that got any of them there. Not something the royals liked hearing, obviously.

But I swear it truly is in the blood in some cases. Like any talent.

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