Shopping spree.

The journey to the city filled Alexander and Marcus with dread.

Eventually, Marcus started messing with Alexander to kill boredom.

It began with gentle shin kicks when Olivia wasn't looking—but escalated quickly.

"Stop," Alexander hissed, waving a fist.

Marcus flinched, bumping Olivia.

She turned, concerned. "Everything alright?"

Marcus smiled. "Yes, ma'am—just excited to shop."

Olivia smiled back. "Oh, interested in dresses for yourself?" She giggled.

"Ha!" Alexander pointed, laughing.

Marcus panicked, as if a secret had slipped. "U-uh, why would I need that?" he asked nervously.

Olivia's eyes widened, glancing at Alexander mid-chuckle.

"Sorry—slip of the tongue," she said with a forced smile.

Louise, gazing out the window, turned curiously.

"Slip of the tongue?" she asked. "Is Marcus not a girl?"

Alexander laughed harder.

Louise's confusion grew, her expression perplexed.

This is priceless—take that, you overgrown tree!

"I-I'm a boy!" Marcus defended, glancing nervously at Alexander wiping joyful tears.

"Alex, I'm a boy! Honest!"

Alexander knew—ever since that embarrassing first meeting three years ago.

He might've been slow then, but he wasn't an idiot.

"Oh, I know," he said triumphantly. "But this is perfect revenge."

Marcus sighed in relief, scanning the carriage.

He clasped his hands, lips pressed, watching Alexander quietly.

Alexander relaxed, satisfied. "Heh, Marcus a girl… that's funny," he muttered, smiling.

The rest of the ride was uneventful—Marcus silent, though he glanced at Alexander periodically.

The carriage slowed near the clothing store: a grand stone building with large glass windows etched in carved patterns.

Olivia's lips curved in a smile. "This'll be fun," she said excitedly as they halted.

Elise hopped down, opening the door and helping everyone out one by one.

Olivia exited last, with noble grace.

"Alright, children—stay close, no wandering," she said, guiding them inside. The open doors revealed shoppers and racks of clothing.

The floor patterned green and white; high walls and patterned wallpaper; the white stone ceiling is scattered with skylights.

This place is like a Victorian shopping mall.

Guards flanked the entrance, armed with revolvers and short swords.

Noticing Alexander staring, one nodded.

"Good day, sir," he smiled.

Alexander nodded back, turning to the store. Further in, racks overflowed; walls shelved shoes and accessories, and ladders were nearby.

Employees in fancy suits or dresses bustled about.

"Anything in mind?" Olivia asked Louise. "Blouses, dresses, shoes?"

Louise scanned curiously. "Hmm, undergarments first," she nodded. "Then we'll build from there."

Alexander giggled. "Panties," he whispered.

Smack—on the back of his head.

"H-hey!" He spun to Elise, eyes narrowed.

"Behave, my lord," she said sternly.

"Ha!" Marcus pointed.

Elise smacked him too.

"I didn't do anything!" he yelped, grabbing his head.

"Hush," Elise finger-to-lips.

Alexander snickered—prompting Elise to raise her hand again.

"Okay, okay!" He shielded his head.

Olivia smiled at him. "Behave, darling—who knows, you might charm a young girl."

She winked.

Alexander smirked, grabbing his collar.

"Please—there's only one woman for me: Camilla."

"As if," Louise scoffed. "She's engaged to House Dubois's heir—and he's quadruple the man you'll ever be." Snarky, superior tone.

Alexander rolled his eyes. "Tch, too bad—she's a good woman." He sighed, grinning.

"What would you know about good women?"

Marcus asked curiously. "You're only six."

Alexander chuckled, hands through his hair.

"Yeah…"

Should've seen me on Earth—big, tall, small, wide, thin… I had it all!

"Yeah, what?" Marcus pressed as they neared the undergarments. "You didn't answer."

Alexander gave a knowing look. "I'm just good—born with the touch to spot gold."

He bobbed his head.

Marcus stifled a laugh; Louise eyed him contemptuously.

"You're truly a fool," she shook her head.

Alexander frowned. "Just because you're bored and stuck-up doesn't mean you can insult me, okay… missy."

"I judge whatever my gaze lands on—and if it's you, so be it." She replied. "Besides, most hide trash—not flaunt it."

Damn!

Marcus chuckled; Louise turned back.

Alexander's narrowed eyes.

"Oh yeah?" His tone was filled with irritation.

"I might be trash, but you're just…"

His mind blank, searching for an insult.

Uh…

He spotted a vase of flowers on a glove shelf.

"You… you're… like a flower."

He scratched his cheek.

"Beautiful outside, but… thorny, like a prick." He nodded. "A prickly flower—that's you."

Louise stared blankly, confusion glinting.

Awkward silence fell; everyone glanced at Alexander.

Reaching undergarments—corsets, drawers, chemises—Olivia turned. "Elise, stay with the boys while I take Louise for sizing?"

Elise nodded; Olivia offloaded clothes onto her. Wait, no—they headed off.

Olivia and Louise vanished down the aisle.

With them gone, Marcus eyed Alexander curiously.

"Why call Louise a flower?"

He leaned in.

"Do… you like her?"

Alexander frowned.

"Of course not!"

Hands in the air.

"But it's hard insulting someone as cute as her."

"Huh?"

"No—I mean, nothing physically bad about her," Alexander chuckled nervously. "And insulting character on the spot's tough, you know?"

Marcus shook his head. "I can think of a million." Grinning. "Haughty, mean, stingy, brick personality, heartless, stubborn, rude, arrogant, stupid…"

Alexander sighed, rolling his eyes. "Alright, I get it—million things. Didn't think of them, okay?"

"Perhaps you like her more than you let on, my lord," Elise giggled.

Alexander pointed at her. "Watch it, woman—I'm still your lord; no disrespect."

Elise ruffled his hair, smiling.

"You'd make a cute couple—plus she looks like Lady Camilla."

Ugh, horrifying they share a face.

He shook his head.

"No— even if I did, she'd never like me back. See how she insults me?"

He pointed to where they went. "She hates my guts."

He groaned. "Sometimes wonder if everyone dislikes me. Maybe I'm unlikable."

"I like you, Alex," Marcus said. "You're the greatest boy ever."

Alexander scowled. "Alright—tell me why."

Marcus chin-tapped. "You're my best friend—we train, talk, play. You're funny." Arms behind back, looking down. Grinning. "But know what I like most?"

"Go on," Alexander said. "Listening."

"How nice you are."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Nice? How?"

"All the time," Marcus explained. "Remember taking me off the streets?"

"Yeah—bored, and couldn't let Elise kill you without dropping my radio." Arms crossed.

Marcus chuckled. "What about going to the store with Lady Erica—zombie-tired?"

"She's my mother—can't say no."

"And dancing with me and Elise—even though you didn't want to?"

Alexander scratched his cheek. "Well, uh…"

"Face it, Alex—you're the nicest boy ever. I like that. Without you, I'd still be a poor kid swinging sticks."

Alexander stared, replaying events—and more.

He'd thought himself selfish, but…

"Huh… guess you have a point, Marcus." He looked at his feet.

Lingering in undergarments, mulling over Marcus's words—Olivia and Louise returned, arms laden.

"Ah, Elise—help?" Olivia asked.

Elise nodded; Olivia offloaded clothes.

She sighed satisfied. "Now, dresses."