Chapter 134: The best at everything

As the first rays of dawn crept through the curtains, Zafron stirred from his slumber. He was already second-guessing his decision to follow the ladies out last night.All his body ached as he groaned. His eyes fluttered open, consciousness slowly seeping in as he remembered the day's agenda. With a soft groan, he pushed himself up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

'Another day, another noble event,' he thought, stretching his arms above his head. 'At least the company will be... interesting.'

He padded barefoot across the cool wooden floor, making his way to the bathroom. The mirror reflected a face still etched with the remnants of sleep, and he splashed cold water on his skin, willing himself to full alertness.

After a quick, invigorating bath, Zafron donned his bodyguard uniform. The crisp fabric settled comfortably against his skin, a familiar weight that brought with it a sense of purpose. He adjusted his collar, ensuring everything was in perfect order.

As he made his way downstairs, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air. Mara was already up, puttering around the kitchen.

"Morning," she called out, not turning from the stove where she was frying eggs. "You're up early."

Zafron nodded, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "Mostly shopping for some noble naming ceremony."

Mara turned, eyebrow raised. "Sounds thrilling," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Try not to have too much fun."

"I'll do my best to contain my excitement," Zafron replied dryly, taking a sip of his coffee.

As he prepared to leave, Matilda emerged from her room, still in her nightgown and looking decidedly less than awake. "Off to play dress-up with the nobles?" she yawned.

Zafron allowed himself a small smile. "Something like that. Don't get into too much trouble while I'm gone."

Matilda's eyes sparkled with mischief. "No promises."

With a final nod to his housemates, Zafron stepped out into the crisp morning air. The streets of Drakoria were already coming to life, shopkeepers opening their doors and early risers bustling about their business.

He still kept it in mind that he had a daily quest to complete. Over the past few days, they had become increasingly more difficult. But the improved stats also showed that all his hard work was worth it. His wardrobe which he moved about could testify to this.

He even felt he needed a new way to gauge his strength as it was becoming a little lighter than he expected. Well there was still time to complete the quest. It's not like they were going to shop till sunset, right?

As he made his way towards the Beaumont mansion, Zafron's mind wandered to the day ahead. Shopping with Cassandra... it wasn't exactly how he'd choose to spend his day off, but he couldn't deny a certain anticipation at the prospect of spending time with her.

'Keep it professional,' he reminded himself sternly. '

The Beaumont mansion loomed ahead, its elegant spires reaching towards the sky. As Zafron approached, he noticed a flurry of activity around the main entrance. Servants scurried about, loading parcels onto an ornate flying cart.

Cassandra stood amidst the chaos, looking every bit the noble lady in a flowing dress of deep emerald. Her hair was pulled back in an intricate braid, revealing the graceful curve of her neck. As she turned and caught sight of Zafron, her face lit up with a smile that made his heart skip a beat.

"Zafron! Right on time, as always," she called out, waving him over.

He approached with a respectful nod. "My lady. I trust you're well this morning?"

Cassandra's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Oh, come now, Zafron. We're about to spend the day shopping together. I think we can dispense with some of the formalities, don't you?"

Zafron blinked, momentarily thrown off balance. "I... suppose so."

"Excellent," Cassandra beamed. "Now, are you ready for a whirlwind tour of Drakoria's finest shops?"

Before Zafron could respond, a servant approached, bowing low. "My lady, the cart is ready."

Cassandra clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! Shall we, Zafron?"

As they settled into the plush seats of the flying cart, Zafron couldn't help but marvel at the intricate arcane runes etched into its surface. With a soft hum, the cart lifted off the ground, the magic thrumming through the air.

"First stop, Madame Elara's Emporium," Cassandra announced as the cart glided smoothly through the air. "She has the most exquisite fabrics in all of Drakoria."

As they soared over the city, Zafron found his gaze drawn to Cassandra. The wind played with loose strands of her hair, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. She caught him looking and smiled, causing him to quickly avert his gaze.

"So, Zafron," Cassandra said, leaning in slightly. "I never really asked this. You know, I'm aware carts like these are not available in Astoria. It's amazing how a neighbouring city like that which is bordering ours is so...backward?" She said for a second laughing a bit at what she said but when she noticed Zafron didn't share in her humour, she became serious again.

"Well, that's besides the point. The thing is, when these carts first got here, I was ...what? eight?! Can't remember but what I do remember is that I was really excited about it and almost wanted to ride on it everyday. So my father kept acquiring new ones each time I saw one I liked from a visiting noble or at an event.

Back then and still now, the quality of cart you had determined your social status and general way you'd be viewed by the public eyes,"

"So, what do you think of flying? Exciting, isn't it?"

Zafron nodded, trying to maintain his professional demeanor. "It's... efficient."

Cassandra laughed, the sound light and melodious. "Efficient? Is that all? Come now, surely you can do better than that."

Zafron felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It's... exhilarating," he admitted. "Like nothing else I've experienced."

"There, was that so hard?" Cassandra teased, her shoulder brushing against his as the cart banked gently to the right.

As they approached Madame Elara's Emporium, Zafron couldn't help but feel a twinge of anticipation. The day was already shaping up to be far more interesting than he'd anticipated.

The cart touched down gently in front of a grand building, its facade adorned with shimmering fabrics that seemed to change color as they moved. Zafron stepped out first, offering his hand to assist Cassandra. As she took it, he felt a spark of... something pass between them.

"Thank you, Zafron," Cassandra said softly, her hand lingering in his for a moment longer than strictly necessary.

As they entered the Emporium, they were greeted by a whirlwind of color and texture. Fabrics of every hue and material imaginable hung from the walls and draped over mannequins. In the center of it all stood a tall, elegant woman with silver hair piled high on her head.

"Lady Cassandra!" the woman exclaimed, gliding towards them. "What a pleasure to see you again. And who is this strapping young man?"

Cassandra smiled. "Madame Elara, this is Zafron, my... companion for the day."

Zafron bowed slightly, noting the slight hesitation in Cassandra's introduction. "A pleasure, Madame."

Madame Elara's eyes twinkled knowingly. "I'm sure it is. Now, my dear, what can I help you with today?"

As Cassandra began discussing fabrics and styles with Madame Elara, Zafron found himself drifting through the shop, marveling at the displays. He paused in front of a bolt of fabric that seemed to shimmer and shift, like the surface of a calm lake.

"Ah, I see you have an eye for quality," Madame Elara's voice came from behind him. "That's enchanted silk from the Moonweave forests. It changes color based on the wearer's mood."

Zafron raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. And potentially dangerous in the wrong hands." seaʀᴄh thё Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Madame Elara laughed. "Oh, you're a sharp one. I can see why Lady Cassandra keeps you around."

Before Zafron could respond, Cassandra called out from across the shop. "Zafron! Come here, I need your opinion on something."

As he made his way over, Zafron couldn't help but wonder what exactly his role was today. Bodyguard? Shopping companion? Something else entirely?

Cassandra stood in front of a mirror, holding up two different fabrics to her face. "Which do you think suits me better? The sapphire blue or the emerald green?"

Zafron hesitated, feeling out of his depth. "I... I'm not sure I'm qualified to make that judgment, my la... Cassandra."

She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Nonsense. I value your opinion. Now, which one?"

Zafron looked at her closely, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror. The emerald green brought out the flecks of gold in her eyes, while the sapphire blue complemented her dark skin beautifully.

'Emerald green… nice, but feels like I'm looking at a leprechaun. Sapphire blue… now that's more like it. It makes her look like a royal in disguise, minus the crown. Maybe I should start my own fashion line

"The blue," he said finally. "It... it suits you."

Cassandra's face lit up. "I think you're right. Excellent eye, Zafron. You're full of surprises today."

'She's actually smiling. Either I've just become a fashion guru or she's plotting to dress me up next. I hope my wardrobe is ready for this.'