Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Chapter 43- Date
Austin promised a date to his fiancée so it was her right to demand a date.

Since it was only afternoon and from tomorrow, they had to continue their training and classes, Valerie and Austin decided to visit the market today and just walk around a bit.

Austin had planned something else…to bring her to a special place and spend some quality time with his beloved. However, his lover was worried about him traveling far away, so they decided to just visit the market near the Academy.

“Aren’t you disappointed though? Every girl has so many dreams and plans for their first date, yet you are going on a bland shopping trip with me.” Austin asked as they boarded the carriage and rode towards their destination.

Valerie smiled softly as she told him, “When it comes to dating, it’s just about spending time with the person you like. And currently, I am doing the same.”

Austin heaved a sigh, “Upgrade your demands, Val, or I might become nonchalant in our relationship.”

The other one chuckled, her voice sounding like a melodious rhythm, before she said, “I will try to do that, my Lord.”

….

Soon their carriage came to a halt at the entrance of the market.

Austin hopped off and offered his hand to the lady.

“Thank you,” She voiced before Austin asked,

“Is there any specific place you want to visit?”

Valerie looked contemplative, “I don’t know much about the stores present here. Let’s look around first?” She suggested.

“Let’s go then,” He offered his hand, for her to hold.

Valerie’s cheeks turned a little hot; this was not the first time for them to hold hands, yet every time she felt shy being so intimately close to her Lord.

“L-Let’s go.”

….

The market near the Academy was quite big, however, not very crowded. During the tournament or enrollment seasons, this market remains quite busy.

And since a tournament is about to start in two months, new stores are being established around the market.

The first place he brought the girl was an accessory shop, situated not so far away from the entrance.

Since they were wearing the uniform of the academy, the shopkeeper was extra polite, “What would the lovely couple like to see?”

Valerie and Austin ignored the shopkeeper and continued to look at the things on display.

The brunette was stumped at her place after being ignored by the two teenagers.

Austin picked a bracelet, thin metal bracelet that would look good both on males and females.

“That’s a very wonderful artifact for a couple, ” The lady began, “There is a feature of that artifact that allows you to track the other pair if commanded.”

Austin was surprised, “How does that work?”

The shopkeeper finally felt a little useful as she relayed, “Just feed a droplet of your blood to the bracelet you would be giving your partner. And when you want to track them, just whisper ‘Find me’ into the artifact, and you will be guided to them.”

Valerie frowned, “Isn’t this an A-rank tracking device? Do you have a permit to sell it so openly?”

The seller was flustered upon hearing that, as she hurriedly added, “I-It can only detect its other half within five hundred meters of range, so it’s not an A-grade.”

Valerie’s eyes were still cold, “Still this is a tool that can be used by the military. Have you gained the consent to sell it to the general masses?”

The brunette was now sweating profusely; not good; this little girl was too well-informed!

Much to her relief, Austin jumped in, “Aren’t we lucky to have found something so highly useful without needing to request the military? I mean with this, we can track each other’s location in case of an emergency.”

The frost around the lavender-tressed receded as she softly muttered, “If you say so…”

Austin paid for the artifact, even though the shopkeeper was reluctant—given she feared Valerie informing the authorities about the shop—before they left the shop.

After walking a few steps, Valerie couldn’t help but ask, “Do you think I am a troublesome woman?”

Austin was surprised, “Why would you say something like that?”

“I mean…I always remain so upright that many people say that it’s a bother to hang around me.”

Austin scoffed, “Then they are blind or just foolish. Your company is the best. If I have to choose two people to spend my entire life with, I will choose you twice.”

“⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠-⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄” Valerie lowered her face, as she felt shy like never before.

Her Lord is so good to her.

The next place they visited was a dessert shop from where Austin picked two drinks,

“Are you sure you don’t want any sugar?” The shopkeeper asked, with a surprised expression.

This was a dessert shop, a place for sweet lovers, yet the boy was asking not to add any sugar to the hot chocolate.

“Yes, please,” Austin responded positively before he paid for the drinks and brought them back to Valerie, who was sitting on the bench near the fountain.

“Here you go.” Handing her the hot chocolate, he also sat down and began sipping on his smoothie.

Yup, tastes great.

Valerie hesitantly sipped the drink and was pleasantly surprised to find only bitterness awaiting her.

She turned toward her beloved before asking, “You knew?”

While side-glancing at the girl, Austin asked, “Did you think, you are the only one observing the one you love?”

Valerie smiled, as she leaned her on his shoulder before whispering, “It makes me happy…thank you.”

The duo then sat there and chatted about leisurely things. No stress of the tournament, no regret of the past, and no fear of the future.

They just enjoyed the moment and each other’s presence. And that was all they could have ever asked for.

….

“Val, let’s have some tea.” It was getting dark and Valerie thought they would be returning to the academy now when suddenly her beloved suggested.

Valerie raised her brows before she asked, “Should we get back and have tea in the cafeteria?”

Austin smiled at her, “I think we will get something more than a beverage there.”

Valerie was surprised to hear that, but since her Lord insisted, she didn’t say anything against that and obediently followed him.

*Tring*

It was a small eatery with not many people sitting around.

However, those who were seated, couldn’t resist the urge to look at the two individuals who just walked in.

“Are they…royalties”

“They have to be…”

“They look so good together.”

“A warm boy and a cold girl, haa. What a dreamy couple.”

Ignoring their comments, Valerie and Austin made their way to the counter and sat down side by side.

There was a white-haired man wiping the glass on the other side, who asked, “What would you like to have, sir?”

“A cup of herbal tea with no milk and two cubes of sugar.” Hearing his words, the bartender looked up from the glass and glanced at Austin for a moment.

He rested the glass on the counter, before saying, “Wait a moment, sir.”

Austin grinned; it worked.

He took out a small parchment which he was carrying and dropped it in the glass.

Valerie raised her brows seeing her Lord suddenly resting the paper there, but she didn’t ask him right away.

The man soon came with a hot cup of tea resting on the tray.

He rested the tray on the counter before taking the glass with him.

Austin asked, “You want to ask me something?”

Valerie didn’t wait to ask, “What was written in that parchment?”

Austin sipped the tea, a sigh of admiration seeping through his lips, as he responded, “Just an inquiry. I heard this place is quite useful to those who seek information.”

Valerie asked, “And what did you ask for?”

Austin was about to respond when suddenly the same glass appeared on the counter.

Austin retrieved the parchment, before urging, “Let’s go. We will talk in the carriage.” After paying for the tea, Austin led Valerie out of the place and wordlessly, they headed towards the carriage.

Austin finally unfolded the parchment, and read the content.

Valerie also read the letters,

[Three men have infiltrated the Academy. Possibly, demonic humans.]

“…!!!” Valerie’s eyes widened as she asked, “Is this informant reliable?”

“Sebastian trusts him, so yeah.”

Valerie suggested, “Then should we inform the Headmaster?”

Austin shook his head, “They are capable enough to infiltrate the academy, so surely they must have an escape plan as well. We cannot move recklessly or they might prepone their plan.”

Valerie was restless, “Then…what should we do?”

Austin heaved a sigh, “Give me some time to think. For now, don’t let your guard down around anyone. And whenever we meet, we need to confirm a code to know that it’s us.”

Valerie raised her brows, “What kind of code.”

“Mine will be ‘At your service, my lady’ and yours will be ‘Kneel before the one you love.'”

Valerie blushed, “O-Okay…”

——–**——-

A/N:- Thanks for reading.