"This boy..." she muttered and started walking to catch up. When she arrived at the farm, she found Javier already talking to the farmer.
"Thirty gold for two!" Javier declared confidently.
The farmer, a large man with a kind smile, laughed. "Forty is the best I can give you, young master."
"Thirty-five!"
The farmer scratched his chin, acting like he was thinking. "How about thirty-nine gold coins and fifty silver? Does that work for you, young master?"
Javier squinted at him, clearly thinking about it.
The farmer could see he was enjoying the bargaining.
He really is Lord Garius son.
I can see his enthusiasm, not just for the purchase, but for the thrill of the negotiation itself.
He's sharp, and he enjoys the game.
"Thirty-eight gold coins for two!" Javier countered with a big grin.
The farmer laughed heartily. "Thirty-nine, and that's the best deal I can give you, young master."
"Deal!" Javier said, shaking the farmer's hand eagerly. He quickly counted the coins and gave them to the farmer, his smile getting wider.
"You're a sharp one, young master," the farmer said warmly as he handed Javier the reins of two nice pekkos.
"Sharp, handsome, and now a proud pekko owner! What a day!" Javier boasted.
Liana finally caught up, watching with a mix of annoyance and amusement.
He really is impossible...
"Young master, why do you need two pekkos?" Liana asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at him.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Javier replied, his eyes shining with excitement.
"One for me and one for you!"
Liana let out a long weary exhale.
This young master of mine...
"You know, young master," Liana said with a calm smile, "Pekkos are usually used to pull carriages or do heavy work on the farm. And for another thing too."
Javier blinked and tilted his head. "Huh? What other thing? Riding, right?"
Liana's smile softened, but she had a mischievous look in her eyes. "No... for food, young master."
"Ehhh!!!?? No!!!" Javier exclaimed, crossing his arm. "This pekko is NOT for food! They're my companions, my noble steeds, my friends!"
The farmer, overhearing their talk, laughed heartily. "Don't worry, young master. No one's going to eat those fine birds."
"They better not!" Javier huffed, puffing out his chest.
Liana chuckled softly and shook her head.
He so easy to tease~
Liana glance at him as he went up to the pekkos and began fastening the bridles to their beaks and smile.
For someone who acts lazy, he sure gets excited when it's something he likes~
I wonder what makes him attracted to this… monster bird.
Not to mention he picked one with orange feathers, and this bird looks like the mischievous one.
Ah~ I wonder what will happen later.
When he finished, Javier stepped back with his hands on his hips. "Perfect! These guys are ready for adventure."
The farmer laughed again. "Take care of them, young master. Pekkos are loyal creatures, but they like good treatment."
"Don't worry!" Javier declared, giving his new friends a playful pat.
Javier shouted with joy, "So, Liana! Hop on your Pekko! Let's go!"
Liana let out a long sigh, adjusting her maid skirt as she walked to her Pekko. "Young master, you're like a child with a new toy," she muttered before gracefully climbing onto her bird.
Before she could even sit properly, Javier yelled, "Off we go! See ya, old man! Yeeehaaaa!"
He nudged his Pekko forward, and the large bird began moving with surprising speed. Its long legs propelled it forward in a rhythmic, bouncing gait.
Liana gasped. "Young master! Wait!" She quickly nudged her Pekko to follow, trying to keep up.
Javier threw his head back and laughed, the wind blowing through his black hair. "This is fun!"
Now riding next to him, Liana gave him a scolding look but couldn't hide the small smile forming on her lips. "Young master, please slow down. What if you fall off?"
"I won't! Look at this! I'm a natural!" Javier waved one hand proudly, making his Pekko squawk as if it agreed with him.
"You're impossible," Liana sighed again, gripping the reins tightly as her Pekko matched Javier's speed, watching how excited his grin and loud laughter filled the air.
Liana smiled fondly as she gazed at him from behind.
Young master…
You really try so hard for the things you want.
Even for something as simple as this, you put in so much effort.
I hope that one day, you'll have that same passion for everything in your life.
Her hand brushed the reins of her Pekko as a soft sigh escaped her lips.
And maybe, just maybe…
I hope that someday, I'll be one of those things you truly want.
Shaking off her moment of vulnerability, she straightened up and called out to him.
"Young master, if you're this excited now, what will you do when you get married? Laugh like this all the way to the altar?"
Javier turned back, his carefree grin lighting up his face. "If it's with you, Liana, I might just do that! Yeehaaaa!"
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly hid it with a sigh and a shake of her head.
"Such a troublesome young master."
(End of Chapter)