Chapter 213: Holding Her Hand

{Third Person}

The shopping district was livelier than anywhere else Amara had seen since arriving in the Werewolf City.

Although it lacked the grandeur and modern conveniences of the larger cities in the Human Kingdom, there was an undeniable warmth to the place.

Neatly arranged storefronts lined both sides of the broad street, while well-dressed families wandered from one shop to another, stopping occasionally to greet familiar faces.

The atmosphere was peaceful, and for the first time in a long while, Amara found herself blending naturally into an ordinary crowd instead of being surrounded by palace walls and endless rules.

Alexander led her into one of the largest clothing stores in the district. The moment they entered, several attendants bowed respectfully.

"Your Highness."

Alexander acknowledged them with a slight nod before turning to Amara. "Take your time."

She looked around at the neatly arranged displays before asking quietly, "Just... clothes?"

"Mm." His answer was as brief as ever. "You need them."

Amara did not argue. She slowly wandered between the rows of clothing, occasionally stopping to touch a fabric or study a design before moving on. Everything looked far different from the dresses she had worn in the palace.

Most of the clothes here were simpler and more practical for daily life, yet they retained a quiet elegance that immediately appealed to her.

After a while, she selected a light blue dress and disappeared into one of the fitting rooms. A few minutes later, she stepped out.

Alexander happened to be sitting nearby, while Jasper stood quietly behind him.

Amara looked at Alexander somewhat uncertainly. "...Does this look alright?"

Alexander lifted his eyes from where they had been resting on the showroom floor. His gaze settled on her for a brief moment.

"It suits you."

Amara looked down at herself before smiling faintly. "I’ll take this one."

She disappeared behind the curtain again. Several minutes later, she emerged wearing another dress. "What about this one?"

Alexander looked at her once more. "The previous one suited you better."

"Oh..." She nodded thoughtfully. "I thought so too."

Jasper slightly lowered his head to hide the playful smile that was about to surface.

Before long, another outfit appeared. Then another. And another. Each time, Amara would step out and quietly ask, "Which one looks better?"

Alexander answered every question with the same calm honesty.

"That colour doesn’t suit you."

"The sleeves are too long."

"The first one is still better."

"This one."

Gradually, Amara stopped feeling embarrassed about asking. By the time she tried on the seventh outfit, the exchange between them had become surprisingly natural.

When she finally finished, she placed only four neatly folded outfits into her shopping basket.

Alexander’s eyes lingered on the basket for a moment. "Is that all?"

Amara nodded. "I think it’s enough."

He looked at the nearly empty basket before calmly asking, "Are there no others you liked?"

She hesitated. "There were..."

"Then why didn’t you choose them?" He asked, wondering what could possibly be her thought.

She lowered her eyes. "I’ve already picked enough."

Alexander finally understood. She was deliberately holding herself back. Not because she did not like the other clothes, but because she did not want to spend too much of his money.

He looked toward the shelves surrounding them before returning his gaze to her. "Go back."

Amara’s gaze widened. "...Pardon?"

"If you saw anything else you liked..." His tone remained as calm as ever. "...pick it."

She looked at him uncertainly. "I don’t want to trouble you."

"You aren’t." The answer came immediately.

Amara didn’t move an inch, so he continued, "You’ve only just moved into the city." He glanced briefly at the basket. "You will need more than four outfits."

She still looked hesitant. Seeing that she had not moved, he added quietly, "You don’t have to worry about the cost."

The words were spoken so naturally that Amara found herself looking at him in silence. Somehow, they gave her exactly the reassurance she needed.

A small smile gradually appeared on her face. "...Alright." She nodded gently. "I will look again."

This time, she walked through the store with far less restraint.

She chose several casual dresses, a few skirts, two coats for colder weather, comfortable shoes, and a handful of blouses she genuinely liked.

By the time she finished, the shopping basket was noticeably heavier than before. Returning to Alexander, she smiled sheepishly.

"I think... I’m really done now."

Alexander glanced into the basket before standing. "Let’s pay."

At the cashier, the attendants carefully folded every item before placing them into several elegant shopping bags.

Alexander took out his wallet and paid in cash. Once everything had been packed, Jasper stepped forward without being asked and collected every bag.

Amara looked at the growing pile in his hands before turning to Alexander. "...Thank you."

Alexander met her eyes briefly. "You don’t have to thank me every time." Before Amara could respond, he turned toward the exit. "Let’s go."

She quietly followed him outside, completely unaware that this shopping trip was only the second stop of the afternoon.

---

Alexander had barely taken a few steps along the pavement when his attention shifted across the street.

Not far away stood a modest ice cream shop. Its large glass windows displayed neatly arranged tubs of different flavours, while several customers sat outside beneath cream-coloured umbrellas, enjoying the pleasant afternoon.

He stopped walking.

Amara noticed and followed his gaze.

"There."

She looked at him curiously. "The ice cream shop?"

Alexander gave a small nod. "Let’s go."

The suggestion surprised her. She had not expected him to be interested in a place like that. Regardless, a smile quietly found its way onto her face.

They began crossing the street together while Jasper followed several paces behind with the shopping bags.

The road was not particularly busy, but a few motorcars passed every now and then.

Amara looked toward the opposite side, believing the road was clear enough to cross.

Her attention had drifted toward the colourful shop ahead, and without thinking, she stepped forward just as another car appeared around the bend.

She never saw it, but Alexander did.

Before she could take another step, his hand instinctively reached out and wrapped gently around her wrist.

He gently pulled her back. The motion was soft and controlled, simply enough to guide her safely beside him.

A moment later, the motorcar drove past them with a low rumble before disappearing farther down the road. Only then did Amara realize what had nearly happened.

She first glanced at the road, then at the hand lightly holding her wrist. Alexander’s gaze remained on the departing vehicle.

"Watch the road." His voice was calm. There was no trace of panic or annoyance, just a quiet reminder.

A few seconds passed before he seemed to realize that he was still holding her.

Without saying anything further, he slowly released her wrist and resumed walking toward the opposite side of the street as though nothing unusual had happened.