CHAPTER 50: DATE [I]

Edna couldn’t believe what was happening.

She looked down at her hand — her dainty, well-kept fingers interlocked with his.

Azel.

She was walking through the lower districts of the capital — dressed in a plain brown dress with ivory lacing, her long hair loose and flowing, untouched by the usual castle creams or perfumes.

To anyone watching, she was just another pretty commoner out on a stroll with her lover.

Her lover.

Gods, that thought alone made her want to bury her face in her hands and scream.

She wasn’t supposed to feel like this. She wasn’t some fluttery girl caught up in silly fantasies.

Yet she entertained them anyway, on a daily basis...

And now here she was.

Not in a silk gown.

Not on a royal carriage.

But on foot.

On the street.

Holding hands.

With him.

She’d been trying to process how it had all happened.

One moment, Azel had asked the Emperor for permission — just like that.

Even though usually people had to write to the office and request for a hearing, he had returned in under twenty minutes, flashing a casual smile like it was nothing at all.

And next thing she knew, the maids were swarming her like a flock of crows, dressing her in "commoner" wear.

At first, she had protested — what if people recognized her?

But when she looked into the mirror and saw herself... she had paused.

She looked happy.

Free... from everything...

Now, as they walked side-by-side down the cobblestone street, her palm warm against his, her thoughts began to unravel in embarrassing directions.

Was he taking her out here because he wanted privacy?

Was this really a stroll?

Or was it... a date?

’No. No, stop it.’

She shouldn’t jump to conclusions —Azel was far too polite to make moves like that.

But why ask for no guards? Why leave Lillia behind? Why walk through the street like a couple?

Her cheeks flushed.

What if he had... other plans?

Her heart raced at the thought.

She glanced sideways at him — his silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, his eyes steady and calm as they scanned the shops and food stalls ahead.

There was a grace to him, a quiet confidence.

Not the kind that came from privilege, but the kind earned through hardship.

And gods, was he beautiful even though he was wearing the same commoner clothes as her, he easily outshined her.

She remembered their first meeting well — he had been handsome back then, sure.

But now that she got a good look.

His features had sharpened since then. His jawline more defined, his eyes more intense.

And that hair — longer now was the kind of thing she secretly wanted to run her fingers through when no one was watching.

He was beautiful.

She tugged at her sleeve to hide the redness rising up her arm.

"Calm down, Edna," she whispered under her breath.

Suddenly, Azel came to a halt.

She nearly walked past him, lost in her thoughts.

Her heart skipped as she realized they’d stopped in front of a small, wooden food stall on the side of the road.

There were people gathered around it, the scent of spices and roasted meat thick in the air.

The vendor — a burly man with a thick beard and scarred arms flipped skewers over an open flame.

"We’re here," Azel said casually, his voice carrying a playful note.

Edna blinked.

This wasn’t a secluded alley. Or a romantic garden.

Or a quiet inn.

This was...

A food stall?

Her face scrunched in confusion, her romantic imaginations crashing like waves against a cliff.

But then — oh.

The smell hit her.

Rich, sizzling, savory.

A blend of fire-grilled meat, charred apple, and something unfamiliar — peppery and slightly sweet.

She watched Azel exchange a few coins and accept two skewers.

The wood was hot to the touch, the meat glistening with juice and seasoning.

He handed one to her with a smirk.

She hesitated, lips parting in curiosity.

Then she took a bite.

And the world... changed.

The moment her teeth sank into the first piece, it exploded with flavor.

Juicy...

Tender...

Spicy.

She tasted a lot of things in that single bite, the sauce, the brew... it was fucking amazing.

The meat — what was it? It was like poultry, but richer, more succulent.

It melted in her mouth.

"Mmm..." she let out before she could stop herself.

Azel chuckled. "So? How is it?"

Edna didn’t answer.

Instead, she leaned forward, wiped the little smear of sauce from the corner of his lip with her thumb... and then boldly licked it.

He froze.

She pretended not to notice the slight tremble in his shoulders.

The way he stared at her with wide eyes.

"It’s decent," she said with a straight face, even though her heart was racing.

"I’ll take fifty more," she told the vendor, straightening up like a noblewoman at court. "What kind of meat is this?"

The vendor grinned, clearly impressed. "It’s chicken. But not your ordinary bird. My wife breeds ’em herself — special Aegis stock. Tougher birds, more meat, richer flavor. Got a whole coop down by the marsh."

"Chicken?" she repeated, eyes wide.

She had eaten chicken before.

Dozens of times.

But never like this.

It had never had this delicious.

She looked down at the empty skewer, then back up at Azel.

"You brought me here just for this?" she asked, voice slightly breathless.

Azel shrugged, the corner of his lips twitching upward. "Figured you’d enjoy it."

"I did," she admitted, and then added softly, "I still am."

Were the chefs wrong?

Did they not know how to spice?

Or was this just the wonders of street food..

For a moment, they just stood there, the noise of the street fading around them.

People passed.

Children laughed.

Vendors called out their goods.

The city moved on.

But Edna was still.

Her heart throbbed more painfully now... right now she was no longer an empress, at least for today.

She was a woman.

Sharing food with a man who made her feel alive.

And gods... did she want more.

She looked at the vendor. "Well? Are you getting the rest or not?"

"Right away, ma’am!" he said, scrambling to work.

Azel handed him another pouch of coins without hesitation, and soon a small paper bag was filled with sizzling skewers.

As they walked again, Edna munching on her second stick with satisfied hums, she finally asked the question brewing in her mind.

"Why did you do this?" she said, softly. "Why go through the trouble?"

Azel didn’t answer right away.

His gaze flicked up to the castle in the distance, then down to her hand still wrapped in his.

"I just thought... you deserved to breathe," he said finally. "To laugh. To eat food that makes you happy. Without anyone watching."

"It must be really hard being in a place that you’re tired of, I don’t really know much places since this is my second time in the capital but I promise to make this date one of the best you’ve ever had."

Her face turned red as a tomato and she looked away.

"This is my first date, you idiot." She muttered but Azel caught it.

"....Oh."