Blue Blood

Agatha sighed and shook her head while staring at Liam, who was elegantly seated in front of her, engrossed in the menu. They were currently at an expensive restaurant, and despite having been there for quite a while, Agatha was still unsure of why they were there.

"Liam," Agatha hissed discreetly.

Liam grinned as he set down the menu. "Have you decided on anything from the menu?"

Agatha gritted her teeth. She wanted to shout at him, but he had already resumed perusing the menu.

Looking around, Agatha felt uncomfortable in the upscale environment. Everywhere she looked, she saw wealthy individuals, distinguished by their attire, speech, and demeanor. The women were adorned with sparkling accessories.

Agatha sighed again, noticing the intense gazes from female creatures like Komodos, Goblins, Trolls, Gremlins, Leprechauns, and Metamorphs. Despite their differences, they seemed united in their interest in Liam, trying to strike up conversations with him since they arrived.

Agatha wasn't sure if Liam was oblivious to their attention or simply didn't care. He seemed genuinely excited to talk to her, smiling frequently, which earned her dark glares from the creatures.

Agatha wanted to leave, whether Liam agreed or not. She was not only uncomfortable but also unused to women glaring at her as if she had wronged them.

In a hushed whisper, Agatha asked, "Why did we come here again?"

Liam's gaze met hers. "We came to eat, Aggie," he said firmly.

Agatha wanted to argue that they didn't need to eat at such a fancy place. She had seen a smaller, more affordable restaurant nearby that smelled delicious. Plus, it would save them money and spare her from the stares.

Agatha remained silent, realizing she had no say in where they dined since she wasn't paying. If Liam wanted to be there, so be it.

Lost in thought, Agatha realized Liam had already ordered their food as the waitresses approached. She hadn't paid attention to the menu and simply ordered what Liam had chosen.

The meal arrived, and Agatha ate quietly. It was her first time tasting such delicious food, yet she couldn't fully enjoy it due to the scrutiny. She tried not to worry, but her previous experience made her paranoid.

Just a glance made her fear they were Nysander's spies. The numerous eyes made her dread a sudden attack.

"Do you have anywhere else in mind after this?" Liam asked after swallowing.

Agatha didn't know how to respond. She was still uncertain how they ended up there in the first place.

It had been a week since she had gone to Waken Burrow to face the Witch personally. In the days that followed, she spent her time taking care of Aiden. His strength returned, and his health improved. Liam made sure to take care of both of them, especially ensuring that they had plenty of food stocked.

Even now, Agatha was in denial. She had come to trust Liam despite her initial fear. Liam and Leonel had proven themselves trustworthy, and she was grateful for their help. Perhaps that was why she agreed to accompany Liam to his destinations, as a token of gratitude.

During the past week, Agatha hadn't interacted much with Liam and Leonel. The guards were different, but they were still under Liam's command.

After the Teleportation spell transported the Witch, she was taken to Fortunalia where Leonel awaited her. Agatha didn't dare to inquire about what happened next. All she knew was that Leonel had obtained information about Nysander's hideouts and potential attacks before the Witch died.

Armed with this information, Liam, Leonel, and their comrades launched raids on Nysander's hideouts. Despite their efforts, Nysander remained elusive. He wasn't in the latest hideout they raided, which now lay in ruins. Nysander had vanished like a bubble, leaving no trace.

Last night when Liam returned, Agatha was surprised to find him sleeping beside her without announcement, for the second time. She felt that if he wasn't constantly searching for Nysander, he would spend each night beside her.

Though Liam meant no harm, Agatha was still uncomfortable. Liam only slept beside her, occasionally embracing her but never crossing any boundaries. Still, she couldn't shake off her unease.

Agatha felt something strange whenever Liam was near. She couldn't explain it, which added to her confusion and worry. She disliked the uncertainty and the unknown. The fact that she didn't understand the tingling sensations Liam's presence evoked gave her a headache and made her heart race.

The first time Liam slept beside Agatha, she allowed it due to fatigue. But last night, she couldn't ignore his presence. However, she had no right to demand he not sleep in her room. It was his accommodation, after all. So she thought of something else, which was why they were at Garlic and Onions.

Agatha sighed again, recalling their argument from last night. Liam had given her two options: he would sleep beside her, or they would go on a date.

Agatha bit her lip, deciding she could handle this. "I want to go to Albus Hotspot," she said.

Liam frowned slightly, but her choice seemed final, so he nodded reluctantly. "Alright, we'll go there later. But first, we must visit the newly opened store. They're known for their women's clothing."

Agatha refrained from rolling her eyes at Liam's suggestion. Despite her disinterest in shopping for clothes, she nodded to avoid prolonging the conversation.

As they were about to leave the restaurant, Agatha noticed Liam carrying a few bags of food. "Why did you buy more food?" she asked, wondering if Liam hadn't eaten enough since he had ordered quite a bit.

"For Aiden," he replied simply.

Agatha stood still, surprised by Liam's consideration for Aiden. It seemed a warm, golden touch was melting her once rigid heart. She had noticed Aiden growing closer to them, and their kindness toward him warmed her heart. Aiden was a good kid, but as a "Dirty Blood" and a Ravager, he faced bullying and had no friends. Agatha was glad that Liam remembered Aiden's well-being too.

Once they got out, Liam headed directly to the clothing store, leaving Agatha to wonder why he was so fond of unique stores. The last time they had gone out with Aiden, Liam had taken them to different stores.

Assuming Liam had work to do, Agatha thought they would return home promptly. However, as the night approached, they were still out wandering and buying things. They had visited a few stores, and Liam had insisted on buying clothes or shoes for Agatha, promising to cover the expenses. They also stopped by a few bookstores and bag supplies shops before finally heading to Albus Hotspot.

Agatha needed to retrieve a few belongings she had left there in their rush to escape with Aiden. She hoped Camilla hadn't thrown them away. She wanted to go home to take care of Aiden and allow Liam to focus on finding Nysander again.

"What are you going to do there?" Liam asked, almost frowning. "Why would you go back? It's dangerous."

Agatha had lost count of how many times Liam had asked her since they got in the carriage. She ignored him, frustrated by the repeated questioning.

As they rode in the carriage, Agatha watched the surroundings change through the glass window. The clean streets gave way to towering establishments and elegantly dressed creatures. Soon, the scene shifted to a dirty and chaotic area.

Even the clothes of the passersby changed. When they crossed a bridge over a dirty lake, Agatha recognized the familiar place where many destitute children roamed aimlessly.

Agatha's eyes widened when four kids suddenly threw stones at their carriage and ran away. No one was hurt, but she was still in shock.

Beside Liam, Agatha sighed. "I still can't believe this part of Primotheus Capital is still the same place we're residing in. It's so different from what we see now."

"All five regions of Primotheus Capital have wealthy cities that are separated from the poor," Liam explained.

Agatha was surprised by Liam's statement and fell silent for a while.

Thinking it over, Agatha realized Liam was right. She had seen how the city had changed. She wondered what else Liam knew about it, considering he wasn't a native.

"Why don't they help the other regions develop as well?" Agatha asked, more as an afterthought. She wasn't aware of why their Lord neglected other parts of the capital, leaving them impoverished while there were wealthier regions.

"Poverty isn't easily eradicated," Liam replied softly, glancing away.

Agatha nodded in agreement. "It's not easy, especially when nothing is being done."

Liam sighed heavily. "Primotheus is huge, Aggie. There are so many citizens and various creatures, making it difficult to implement projects that benefit everyone. If a project benefits one sector, it has to consider dividing resources among races, which can cause conflicts."

Agatha nodded, understanding Liam's point. "Shouldn't everyone be helped, though?"

Liam shook his head. "With the complexities here, it's challenging. The five Lords don't always see eye to eye."

Agatha nodded again. Living in Primotheus Capital, she had often heard of the discord among the Lords. Though it hadn't escalated to war, there was no true alliance among them.

There were rumors that the bandits attacking Eldoria's Ministers were from Escrima's Lord. However, without evidence, the case remained unsolved. In the chaos of Primotheus, killings were common, especially without witnesses.

Agatha shook her head as she remembered the two men Liam had killed near Albus Hotspot.

"If other creatures get angry when one group is helped, and if they can all be helped simultaneously due to their large numbers, why not provide free education to all children regardless of race, origin, or upbringing? As long as they're children. That way, no race would be upset since all creatures have children," Agatha suggested.

Liam remained silent for a moment, pondering deeply on Agatha's words. "I understand your point, but sometimes people prioritize their present over the future, especially if their present is uncertain. Why would citizens prioritize schooling for their kids when they could use resources to feed them? Every coin here is priceless, Aggie."

Agatha sighed and cleared her throat. "If children have sufficient knowledge, they can grow wise and find work. It may not yield instant results, but I believe Primotheus Capital would flourish exponentially if education is given importance and focus."

Liam nodded in agreement. "But it's still challenging if others don't share your viewpoint. In Fortunalia, our lands, the Kings have done many things to help citizens, but corruption in power hinders our kingdom from flourishing."

Agatha knew Liam was a Water Fae who, for some reason, could also manipulate fire. While she knew he was from Fortunalia, she wasn't prepared to hear more about the place.

"If that's the case, citizens must choose who holds power over them. I understand the King can't be replaced or dethroned, as they're the pillars of the Kingdom and holders of the Ones," Agatha said, furrowing her brow as she tried to recall something her father had mentioned long ago. "But the Ministers can be changed, right? To ensure all plans are executed well."

Liam fell silent, looking at her with a sly smile. "I didn't expect you to have this idea. You'd make a great Queen..."

Agatha was taken aback by Liam's words. "Queen? Me?" She whispered to herself in disbelief. "I hate Blue Bloods," she added silently, not realizing Liam could hear her.

"Why?" Liam asked, curious.

Agatha hesitated, not ready to discuss that part of her life, so she changed the subject. "Do you have a wife and children?" she blurted out, catching herself by covering her mouth with her hands.

Liam raised an eyebrow and looked at Agatha with frustration. "Do you think I'd court you if I already had a wife and children?"

Agatha was shocked by Liam's response. Courting wasn't common in her world. Women were usually seen as objects, carriers of races, and men didn't court. They simply took what they wanted without consent.

"What did you just say?" Agatha asked, disbelief evident in her voice.