Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 96 - Elders Matchmaking Goods

Chapter 96: Chapter 96 - Elders Matchmaking Goods

Glancing back to the bag I pointed at, the old woman let out a breath that might have been a short laugh or a cut off sigh.

"This old thing? Been here... forever."

She lifted it down and placed it on the counter before her wrinkled hand pat across it. Along with her tone of voice a bit ago, it would seem as if the item had some personal meaning to her.

"The leather was good quality, it just needs some conditioning again soon. Ten dollars and it’s yours."

When she pushed it softly towards me to examine, I touched the worn surface carefully to respect whatever she was feeling. All of it had been put together with reinforced stitching that doesn’t look as old as the rest of the cared for piece.

Clearly used, but solid brass buckles with a dark patina held the straps and overall it looked like it would be perfect for carrying smaller things to and fro. Especially items that did not need to be transported in a freight container that I have to... ’summon’ in private.

> Plus at that price, it sounds like she is trying to get rid of it for some- wait, am I being tricked? Stolen, broken, cursed? If so, old merchants in this world are just as scary as in mine... <

"...I’ll take it as well."

Worst case, I can hopefully simply get rid of it! When she rang up my purchases, the total came to less than thirty dollars - and it brought a sense of accomplishment to my soul that I didn’t know I needed.

These weren’t absolute necessities for survival, not food or shelter, and they are still luxuries being paid for by that CEO’s card... but they were also small choices that made me feel like I’m not just getting by. Like I have some sort of room to be just a little greedier.

I could get by without them, but I wanted useful things that felt more like they were mine than even the clothes I picked out at the spa did. When it’s time to start paying down my debt to Kyrie, I’ll consider this small amount as what I pay off first.

"You must be new to the neighborhood. I know most of my regulars and pretty as you are, you would have been talked about."

The older woman commented as she wrapped the mug in a paper bag, being careful with its fox tail handle. I wasn’t really sure what to say at first, mostly because she made sure to toss more compliments my way.

> I’ll stay strong, I swear. I won’t buy anything else! She won’t find me such an easy mark. <

"Just moved to the city, actually."

"Oh, well, welcome to the northeast district. We’re a friendly bunch around here. Ah, most of us... but I won’t gossip about the other small businesses!"

She handed me the bagged mug carefully with a smile. I started to place it right in my tote, but then remembered the sheathed knife that might clatter against it... so stuffed the throw inside first with the shoes on either side.

"Smart girl. That’ll help protect it from bumps. I’m glad so many things will find their home with someone as caring as you."

"...Thank you."

"Come back anytime. I get new items in... almost daily so you never know what you’ll find here."

Hearing what she said, I nodded then began to dig through my tote once more. A glossy red toy car was tapped onto the shopkeeper’s counter before I slung the leather bag I’d purchased on the other shoulder.

"If this is a bother I apologize, but please give this to any of your ’regulars’ that may have a child that could enjoy this. It would have more use that way than staying with me."

My words brought a smirk to her elderly face... the same kind that always made me feel a little uncomfortable. Before I know it, I’m brushing fingers through one of my twin-tails, thinking of older fox shifter relatives I barely knew attempting to treat me like close family.

"You’re a sweetheart, aren’t you. I’ll get it to someone who will want it more, don’t worry. That’s my whole business here!"

"A-alright. I should get going then. Thank you for inviting me in."

With quick steps, I hurriedly found myself back onto the sidewalk before I could be invited to stay for hot tea. And hear all the political and social reasons to consider their fifth cousin’s daughter’s grandchild as a suitor.

I’m sure that the exact conversation would have been different, but I trust my instincts. My ears would have been talked off... and my wolf’s regeneration doesn’t help with mental fatigue at all, unfortunately.

Pulling out one of the sapphire ties, I appreciated it out in the natural exterior lighting and it made my mood lift back up. Perhaps when I returned to my room to rest for a bit, I would try them with my hairstyle.

> A Princess should have jewels, after all. Even if they’re just plastic ones. Real things are of course better, but my grandmother’s diary wrote that a true royal could make even mud look like the next big fashion. <

Vrika’s tail wagged in my mindscape and I realized that the wolf had approved of my frivolous purchase in this single instance. It took me a few moments to realize why that would be the case, of all items.

"Just because she said she liked my hair like this, so now anything that makes her notice it more is fine with you, is it?"

My phone buzzed in my pocket - followed by a delayed notification sound that made my heart jump, because I hadn’t heard it before. Wondering what sort of way Kyrie had responded to my photo to make this noise, I pulled the device out.

Yet, when I looked at the screen I found it wasn’t from that Alpha at all. Instead, it was a notification I hadn’t seen before... an alert from the hunter’s app, with its little crosshair symbol in the top bar..

[New Private Message from: BoundaryKeeper]

I ignored the passing roil of disappointment as I pulled the panel down and read only that. After checking the memorized password in my head against the photo I took of the journal, I moved to open the app instead of thinking about it.

After all, this was far more important to my actual plans than any response from Kyrie Voss could be. Definitely.