“—arlan..!” I could vaguely hear the last of the man’s name as me and Oliver followed Harlan into the boutique.

        There inside I found the blonde in the arms of an older woman, someone who looks in their late forties, who hugged on to him for dear life. It was as if this woman hadn't seen the man in years and she was afraid he was going to slip through her fingers anymore moment. The man didn’t seem to mind—in fact he laughed before he began to kiss the woman on her cheeks multiple times before his lips met her’s.

        I try not to make a face at the public display of affection. After all, who were I to judge one’s relationship—even if it was someone who looks twice his age.

       ”This must be your brother’s wife then..?” I asked Oliver, who did not hold back the disgusted expressing on his face, turn to me.

”No—he’s like this with a lot of woman. Doubt he'll ever get married.”

Alrighty then.

        ”Harlan, sweetheart.” The woman, who barely looked fluster from the intense kiss, pulls slightly away from the blonde. “What ever made you visit today? Did you need a new suit for the festivities? I have a few designs that you’ll just love!”

        Harlan laughed guiding her hands into his before shaking his head. “Oh Madam Wesson, as much as I would love one of your gorgeous suits, it isn’t me who needs anything today.”

        He moves away from the older woman to reveal me and Oliver. I gave a small wave as Harlan continued; “Little Dodo here is in need of one of your finest Analistia festival dresses~!”

        The Madam, at this moment, realize there were people other than her and the blonde in the room. When her eyes settled on me, the smile she had plastered on her face pressed tightly together in a thin straight line.

”Is that so..?”

        ”Please don’t be mistaken Madam!” I spoke up after Harlan made it seemed like me that was interested in a dress for myself. “The dress isn’t for me, it’s actually for my sist—!“

        ”Young lady, you will lower your voice when speaking.” Madam Wesson’s voice no longer held any warmth as it did for Harlan. It was cold and sharp, leaving no room to utter another word.

        As a response, I covered your mouth with my hands. Blinking in shock at what she just told me. What an actual b—

        Just then, Oliver steps in front of me and Madam Wesson. I couldn’t tell from where I stood what expression the brunette wore, but from the way the older woman eyes widen slightly and she stood up straighter, I could tell it wasn’t a good one.

        ”As Emalee was saying,” Oliver tone was clear and sharp—honestly I was taken aback by it just as I was with Madam Wesson sudden voice change. “This dress isn’t for her. She has been looking day and night for a dress for her pregnant sister so if you have anything that could remotely help her that would be wonderful.“ 

        I didn’t notice at the time, because I was too busy clapping applause in my head at Oliver’s response to the Madam, but Harlan at this moment unfolded his arms as he watch his brother. He frowned at this.

        He had known his brother to be very… possessive over people like this before but this was definitely faster than usual. He only began to talk about you…what was it? 3 days ago? Now he was defending you just because the old hag was telling you to lower your voice?

Callahan was right…he’s getting a little too much like father.

        After a moment of silence from everyone in the room, the Madam sighed and turns to look at me; “Right then…how far along is she?”

The angry for the woman melted away as a bit of hope sparked inside of me. ”6 months.”

        With this, Madam Wesson sighs again making me a bit less hopeful; “So she definitely showing at this point…Let me see what I can do but with the right measurements I’ll be able to whip up something.”

        You could feel my face light up as I step out from Oliver back. “Thank you so—!” The Madam gave me a look, I cough and lower my voice. “I mean…thank you so much Madam Wesson. You have no idea how much this well mean to me and my sister.”

        I give her a proper bow to Madam Wesson as I did the other day to Callahan and Oliver. This stuns the woman for a moment before she coughs into her fist. “You don’t need to be so formal with me, child…especially with royalty—“

        Before she could finish her sentence Oliver laughs and speaks up; “Aha..! She does this a lot—she is just extremely grateful Madam Wesson!”

        I lift up my head and stare at the older woman, “Sorry if doing that is so weird…my dad drilled this kind of stuff into my sister and I’s head at a young age so people think we’re a bit old fashion…well more so me then her.” You laugh a bit but nonetheless smile at the Madam. “But I really do appreciate it.”

        Madam Wesson shook her head slightly before picking up a clip board and handing it to me. “Here. Fill this out and leave the clip board at the front counter. I’ll email you if I have anymore questions and payment with be 50% up front.” 

        I was more than willing to pay the money up front so I nod my head eagerly and began shuffling through my bag for your card. As the older woman steps behind the counter to collect payment—and just as I found the card I was going to use—I heard a short slap from the counter.

I look up to see a shimmering gold card.

        “What are you doing..?!” I said as the boy pushed his card towards Madam Wesson.  “Oliver no, this is going too far I wont let you pay—“

“It’s no trouble Emalee! I don’t mind—“

        I cut Oliver off mind sentence by pulling him closer to me as I hissed lowly; “Yeah, well, I do! I’m not poor, Oliver. You don’t have to keep paying for everything—especially a dress that is going to cost thousands of ulters at the very least!”

        The brunette stared at me for a moment wordlessly, like he was just in awe. This made me feel a bit awkward but I shook it off to still give him a glare.

        After a moment the boy smiled slightly, “Emalee, I’m not doing this because I think you’re poor—I just really like you and want to make your month better after what you’ve been through.”

        My whole face goes red for a moment and I temporarily let go of the boy. He takes this opportunity to turns to Madam Wesson and nod his head saying; “Go ahead and charge the full amount of the dress onto that card. And Emalee,”

        He turns back to me as I try to shake out of my flustered state. “You don’t really have to pay me back…let’s just go on another date soon!”

        Before I could process his previous words, Madam Wesson quickly charged with a quick eye roll muttering something along the lines as ‘tch, childeren’.

        Just then a couple walks in and waved at the older woman. She smiles and greets them as she walks from behind the counter passed the three of us. Madam Wesson then turns back a moment to look at me. “If you also have any references of dresses please send them my way so I have a basic idea as to what my clients wants.” With that she walked away to help her other customers.

I let out a defeated sigh, “I’m going to pay for something for you one of these days…” Oliver chuckled at this.

        Now looking down at the clip board, I rub mt hand across my forehead. I look up at Oliver who was staring at me the whole time, “I’m going to sit down and fill this out…It might be awhile I’m gonna to have to call Charis for a lot of this.”

        "It’s fine! Don’t worry about it!” He said this with his bright smile, which at this point I was kind of fond of. “I’ll sit with you—“

        ”Actually dear brother~” Harlan interrupts and slings an arm over his brother’s shoulder. “Outside I saw the cinnamon pretzel stand that you love so much. Why don’t you go and get us all something. I’ll just st—“

        ”Come with me? Great! I could use the help!” Oliver said and without another word grabbed his brother’s arm. At this point I was already sitting down texting your sister about certain details of her dress. “We’ll be right back Emalee!”

I just give a nod of my head and the smaller boy begins to drag the blonde out of the shop.

Once the two were outside, Oliver roughly threw Harlan’s arm away from him. “Touchy…” 

“I can’t believe you, Harlan..!”

        “Whaaat..? I’m just trying to get to know your little girlfriend a bit more~! That’s all~” The blonde laughed, he then pulls his younger brother closer. “Also I found it very interesting that she doesn’t react to my…how did you put it, ‘charm’? Very intriguing~”

        ”Don’t even think about it.” Oliver voice was low and his fists balled at his side. “You or our family don’t need to get involved with her. She just a regular person as far as I can see.”

Harlan tilted his head, “Is that why you’re so… fixated on her? Because she’s a regular person’?”

        ”No!” Oliver said this a little too quickly and he backtracked. “…No, that’s not why. She’s just…interesting. I want to just get to know her without flashing my title around like some people I know.”

        ”Who me..?!” Gasped the blonde dramatically before he began chuckling and leaned against one of the shop’s brick wall. “Honey, we were born with status and money. If you aren’t flouting it then you’re doing it wrong.

        Oliver huffed at the blonde’s words and began to walk away from him. Harlan pushed himself off the wall to catch up before questioning; “What don’t you have a good comeback or something? Aren’t you going to say anything..?” 

“Why? For you to just not get it and continue to blast me? No thanks, I rather eat those cinnamon pretzels.” 

        The two were now approaching the cart of cinnamon sugar covered pretzels that Harlan mentioned earlier. As the brunette finished ordering what he wanted he pulled out the gold card from before and handing it over to the man at the stand. Harlan noticed this and scoffed.

“You know for someone who thinks he better than the rest of us, you sure like spending daddy’s money~”

        Oliver look down at the card that was handed back to him and frowned. “How else would I pay for anything? We can’t exactly get jobs with our reputation.”

        Harlan giggled lightly at his younger brother, “Oh sweet and naïve Oli—like I said before, if you use your status as royalty, so many opportunities would open up!” 

        As Oliver grabbed his freshly made pretzels, Harlan wrapped his arm around the boy’s neck once more. “How do you think I’ve been flying under the radar from father and the others? By using my own money from different sponsors..! Everyone in the country wants to know my opinion on everything—that includes the latest and greatest!”

Oliver pauses for a moment, “Wait…what do you mean by you’ve been ‘under the radar’?”

        Harlan flicks at the brunette’s forehead—making him immediately flinch. “Think brother! How is it they always seem to know exactly where you are even when you don’t want to be found? The card tells them whenever you make a transaction and where it is! I found this out years ago when I snuck off to Europe with this tall, dark, and sexy—“

Oliver froze and the last bit of the pretzels in his hand drop to the floor. Oh god that means—! 

Before Oliver could think more his legs began to rush back to the dress shop—which wasn’t too far down…

…but he was too late.

        The boy runs into the shop finding me being suspended off the ground by only my collar. The one who has a hold of it is taller than Harlan with ashy blonde hair, his face twisted into a furious frown as his bright pink eyes glared down at me. His fist had a tight hold of my shirt to the point where I could hear steams ripping.

        I had no idea how exactly this happened but I trembled a bit, not taking note of the boy who froze in the door frame. The pink eye man in front of me finally spoke after a bit;

"Who the hell said you could buy anything under my brother’s name?!"