9 The Apple isn't actually that Tempting

Within the Northern side of Elias Kingdom, heads turned as a young lady walked down the street. Coachmen in their efforts to get a peek at her face craned their neck, some nearly falling out of their seat, backing up traffic.

Hair as white as snow.

Eyes as red as apples.

Skin as soft as lychee.

She wasn't too tall or too short, her legs were slender and her hips were like an hourglass. There seemed to be something delicate about her, even though they hadn't seen her face.

As she paused to take a look at a stall selling live chicken, she brushed back a pearly lock behind her ear and nearby men inched closer to speak to her.

They waited for her to finish her business.

She took a long time staring at the chickens.

Unbeknownst to them, she was paying close attention to the chicken's stat screen.

Her eyebrows finally knitted in discontent. "I suppose... snow hens are really a rare thing then..." Her bottom lips trembled at the memory.

While others focused on playing the game she had gotten sidetrack with exploring the North.

It reminded her of her Motherland, Russia, a place she hadn't been to since she was a kid. She spent her time renting a residence and building her place, and one day while roaming the land, a little white head poked out of the snow. With little beady obsidian eyes.

At first, she thought it may be a rabbit. But it actually turned out to be a snow-white chicken. In her index, it was a snow chicken. It was love at first sight.

She named him Eddie, short for Edelweiss.

She thought her residence would still be there but since time had passed in the game, her player character hadn't paid the leftover amount and ended up losing her property.

When she returned to her former house to get her things... the snow chicken was nowhere in sight.

"I'll take this one... sir." She pointed at a golden orange hen.

"This one doesn't lay eggs." The seller admitted.

The girl's eyebrows twitched for a second, his confession earned him a sincere smile.

"I still want it. And this one." She pointed at another chicken.

The eyes of the men standing by glittered, this was their chance.

"Aiyo, miss, those seem heavy! Need some help?"

It was as if she didn't hear them after she paid, she opened one cage, nudging the chicken to share one with golden hen. The two hens ignored each other, clucking while trying to maintain their balance as she lifted up the small cage with ease.

A question sign hung over her head as she looked at all the guys eyeing her.

"Ah, am I in your way? Sorry."

"Ah no I-

She walked off and the men followed.

Her eyes veered in their direction, but she didn't acknowledge them. She kept her gaze fixed onward.

When she finally was stopped it was by a taller man in nice clothes.

"Ma'am, are these men bothering you?"

"Hmm?"

She turned around and glanced at the men behind her.

"The men from the chicken stall... were you... following me?"

"That we just wanted to help..."

"Huh?"

"Forget it man, let's go..." They backed off easily, the status of this person must be high.

"Are you dumb? Why are you going around by yourself, where are your maidservants? Leave the heavy lifting to them."

"This isn't that heavy."

The fellow exhaled air, as if she was being difficult. "This won't do, where do you live? Which residence are you from? I'll walk you there."

A smile sprawled across her lips.

Although her expression was angelic the words that came next left him confused.

"Sir, if you're so dying to make yourself useful, why don't you get out of my way, hmmm?"

"Huh?"

The fellow's face contorted, mouth opening. Did he just hear her correctly?

"You-

The little lady tilted her head to the side, and scoffed. "Maidservants?... Maid. ser. vants? Sir have you ever seen a noble lady lugging around chickens by herself?"

His mouth opened then shut, she was dressed simply but elegantly. Like an incognito young miss. So he had thought...

"I- So... you are not-

"Is every beautiful girl a noble in your eyes? Or perhaps," The corners of her lips curved unnaturally. "Should I take that as a compliment?"

He blinked a couple of times.

"..." Finally he looked away and huffed, his hands akimbo.

The girl smiled graciously.

"For getting rid of the roaches, and for that compliment just now, thank you." She walked on ahead.

He glanced at her once, then twice when he realized she was leaving.

"Wait a minute!"

He was going to follow until she said,

"Know when to make your exit please, don't be a roach."

His mouth hung open, she looked so nice the outrage he eventually felt was delayed till the very end.