CHAPTER 82: SHOPPING

"Talia... the skewers today are amazing."

Medusa sat cross-legged in her private chamber, her fingers still sticky with the spiced glaze of the roasted meat.

Before her stood Talia, a young maid with soft brown hair pulled into a bun.

The maid should have been trembling.

She should have been silent, careful, afraid — like all the others who ever served the Tyrant Empress.

But Talia smiled.

It wasn’t the kind of smile people forced to appease her, nor the nervous curl of lips from someone who wanted to keep their head attached to their neck.

No — Talia’s smile was warm.

It was genuine.

Medusa blinked at her, unnerved.

’Why does she look at me like that? Doesn’t she know I could crush her with a thought? And yet...’

There was no faking in that smile.

It was pure.

"My lady, the people would be surprised if they saw their tyrant like this," Talia teased with a soft giggle.

Medusa pouted, shoving another bite of skewer into her mouth. "Mean woman."

Talia’s giggles deepened.

She was the only one who could speak so lightly in Medusa’s presence without losing her tongue.

That was how close Medusa had grown to the maid she’d once kidnapped.

Burping softly, Medusa reached for her cup, only for Talia to immediately step forward and offer it with both hands.

"My lady, take it slowly. The skewers aren’t running away."

Medusa accepted the water, taking a sip before murmuring, "I know."

She glanced at the bed, then added quietly, "Thank you, Talia. For everything."

There was a sharp intake of breath. Then a delighted snicker.

"My lady, did you just say thank you?"

Medusa’s cheeks heated.

"Forget it!" she barked, turning her head away.

But Talia’s soft laughter lingered, and deep in Medusa’s chest, a warmth she didn’t understand began to bloom.

This girl was annoying, but for some reason she never wanted her to go.

...

The memory faded as Medusa blinked back the last of her tears.

The world of Rochel’s lively streets came into focus again.

Beside her, Azel was still holding her hand, his thumb brushing the back of it gently.

"Are you feeling better now?" he asked, eyeing her cautiously. "Maybe the pepper was too much?"

Medusa huffed, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.

"Pepper isn’t strong enough to defeat me, Master!"

She threw a light punch at his stomach to prove her point.

Azel grunted, biting his lip.

’I swear I have high endurance and defense... so why do her ’soft’ punches feel like this?’

It wasn’t only her but it was the same with Edna, it was worth wondering why.

Medusa smirked, chest swelling with pride.

They wandered further into Rochel, the city alive with sound and color.

Medusa’s violet eyes darted everywhere, wide with fascination.

They were in the marketplace, she had seen markets before — burned them, emptied them, ruled them.

But never walked through one hand-in-hand with someone who mattered.

’It feels... different,’ she thought. ’Almost like I belong here. Like... I’m not a monster at all.’

Azel pulled out a folded parchment.

"Edna gave us a list. She said if you really wanted to go out with me, you should buy everything here. Apparently, she wants to cook."

Though Azel really doubted it, Edna and Cook? In the same sentence? It was just atrocious, she used to be an Empress that didn’t lift a hand in the kitchen, how did she plan to cook?

But then he decided to trust her.

Medusa straightened immediately, her expression sharp.

"Then we must succeed, Master. My Lady entrusted us with this mission."

Azel chuckled. "A mission, huh? Let’s see what we’re up against. After this we’ll explore the city a bit more."

He scanned the parchment. "Onions, garlic, bell peppers... ginger."

’These are normal ingredients,’ Azel thought, did she plan to cook an Aegis Empire dish? After all it was only in Aegis dishes that these kinds of ingredients were usable.

Medusa leaned close to peek at the list, her hair brushing against his arm.

Azel stiffened at the faint tickle, and she caught it, lips curling smugly.

"Yes. And don’t forget the ginger," she said seriously.

"You’re awfully into this," Azel teased.

"I am not excited," she shot back too quickly. Her cheeks warmed as she lowered her voice. "...It’s just — I’ve never done this before. Not like this. Not as... a person."

Azel’s gaze softened. "Then let’s make it a first worth remembering."

Medusa looked away, clutching his hand tighter.

The first stall sold vegetables in overflowing baskets.

Onions piled high like golden hills, garlic strung in braids, peppers bright as jewels.

Medusa crouched down, inspecting them as though they were treasures of war.

She picked up one onion, frowned, and tossed it aside.

"Too soft."

Another she sniffed and wrinkled her nose. "This one smells wrong."

The vendor laughed nervously. "My lady, perhaps I can—"

"No need," Medusa interrupted, plucking a perfect onion and thrusting it into Azel’s hands.

"This one’s alive."

Azel raised a brow. "Alive?"

She nodded sagely. "Yes. Vegetables must be alive to be worthy."

He smothered a laugh, adding it to their bag.

Soon she had gathered the freshest vegetables with uncanny precision.

When Azel tried to carry the bag, she swatted him away.

"Master carried me here. I can at least carry the vegetables."

"Fair enough," he said with a smile.

Next came the butcher’s row.

The air was thick with the smell of meat and blood.

Butchers shouted their wares, cleavers gleaming as they hacked through ribs and bone.

Azel handled the negotiations, haggling firmly while Medusa stood at his side like a silent sentinel.

Or not so silent.

She noticed a group of young men across the way staring at her.

They were staring lustfully, even more so than the people before.

’What’s it about men and eyeing women that they can’t get?’ She didn’t understand.

Her lips curved into a cold smile.

One violet strand of her hair split into a serpent-tendril, invisible to all but the gawkers.

It hissed low, its tongue flicking in warning.

The men blanched, paling as though they’d seen death itself, and bolted.

When Azel turned back with wrapped bundles of meat, Medusa was the picture of innocence, blinking up at him.

"What?" she asked sweetly.

"Nothing," Azel said slowly.

But he could sense a bit of mana from her hair.

’Did she do something?’

They moved on to spices and herbs, where Medusa declared herself the ultimate authority.

She sniffed each sprig of rosemary, inspected every bulb of ginger, and dismissed half the stock with a disdainful flick of her wrist.

When she finally approved an item, she handed it to Azel with a tiny, ceremonial nod.

Each time his fingers brushed hers, her heart hammered faster.

’Why does this feel... nice?’ she wondered. ’Even more than victory ever did...’

At last, they reached the final stall — tomatoes, ripe and red, glistening under the sun.

Medusa chose each one carefully, placing them in the basket like fragile treasures.

"That’s the last of the list," Azel said, tying the bundle to his storage ring.

He dusted off his hands.

"Not bad. We didn’t even get lost."

Medusa hugged her bag of vegetables to her chest, cheeks pink.

"...I liked it. This... shopping."

Azel turned to her, amused. "If you want we can do it more often."

She huffed, looking away. "I’d like that Master, maybe I can cook for you next time."

He chuckled and ruffled her violet hair gently.

Medusa froze, breath catching, her face burning.

"Good," he said softly. "Then we’ll do it again sometime."

[Author’s Note]

Phew I’m finally done, I woke up a bit later than expected but when I woke up, I saw Novelius had gifted a castle.

Thanks for the castle, and I’m glad you guys are enjoying the book, I’ll do a 5 Chapter mass release if we get to 100 GT by tomorrow.