~Recap~

“Which I am like, everyday. No?” Azura retorts and the man just rolls his eyes.

Soon after, the lady begins stepping ahead towards the class and Theo notices a thread chain hanging out of Azura's bag. Now he gets perplexed even more.

“Hey, what is this?” Perks the man as he almost snatched the thread out. Almost because he couldn't really get it done. His hand was gripped midway by Azura. Though, Azura snapping onto his wrist like that wasn't the thing that shocked him. The thing that had him stunned was how Azura sensed that he was going to snatch on her bag? How did she know it already without even looking back?

Was something actually down with Azura? Or as the lady said herself, was something actually up with her? Either way, something was different. Something was doubtful.

______

After staying still for a couple of moments, reality hits Azura as she blinks in amazement at her own act. She instantly releases her hold on Theo's hand and chuckles in a nervous manner. Though, she quickly regains her hype back as she chirps. “Theo, don't you know that it's so rude to poke someone's bag.”

“Well, I do. But I also believe that you're not just someone but my friend. Let alone a good one.” Theo reasons to which Azura nods in agreement.

But speaks in disagreement. “Well, not even friends, not even family or even if you're a spouse, it's not allowed. And yeah, we're definitely not that so you get it. That you don't get it.”

Whatever Azura said literally went beyond Theo's mind and he looked so ready to protest but the lady quickly managed to change the topic to something which would easily divert the man's mind.

“Anyway, weren't you so excited and was urging to tell me something yesterday?”

Luckily, the man even shifts his expression real quickly. He was probably more interested in letting Azura know about his own bits than knowing what she was keeping in mist.

“Oh, right. Well, not really to tell you something, but rather to take you somewhere.” Corrects the man. Azura is now both perplexed and curious.

She raises one of her eyebrows in both suspicion and curiosity. “Oh, really? And, may I know where exactly?”

“You really don't know what surprises are supposed to be huh? Well, now you're gonna know it. And you're gonna know only in real life with real life experience. Not through some bland verbal manner.”

”Sounds like some three dimensional show. And if it's something like that for real, so I'll just let you know that I'm not into all this stuff.”

Theo chuckles at the lady's bluntness as he assures. “Don't worry about that because it's gonna be too real to be just dimensional. You'll be stunned.”

“Will that be in a good way and bad. Because if it's something freaky, I'll probably blackout.” Azura adds mischievously. And although she flaunted it in a mischief, it could be sensed that she was giving a sign of seriousness at the same time.

“Azura, as I said, don't worry about that.”

______

Of course Theo said that there was no need to worry. There would be probably nothing that needed to be worried about.

Though, judging from the long ass walk through the foggy state and that too in the woods, Azura was not only getting worried, she was getting anxious even!

“Huh… Theo, are we even going to reach somewhere or is this limitless walk your surprise that you've been hyping to show me?” The lady huffs tiredly.

A chuckle comes out of the man's mouth while he answers, “I wish I could carry you and give you a ride but, you've been consuming a lot of food like crazy.” He receives a smack from a playfully pouting Azura. “But I can't of course blame you because your father's food is just fabulous.” He then receives a prideful nod from the lady.

After a couple more moments of walking steadily, the duo reaches to what looked like a miniature of a mansion.

Despite being not so huge in size —probably around the area of Azura's own house or even lesser— it has the flare and elegance of an imperial entity.

“Liked what you looked at?”

The young woman heard the latter asking in a suggestive way. “Which is this place?” She then asks her own wondering.

“It's my home, Azura.”

As Theo claimed, this surprise was indeed excessively surprising. “You? You live here?” She questions in complete amazement.

Subtly smiling, Theo nods as an answer. Azura shakes her head, still not believing this moment. Theo just wondered if only a preview was getting her incredible, what would be her state when she'd witness what was inside the gate.

“Now, are you going to just stand here in the snow or coming inside to enjoy the show?” Theo taunts but Azura also isn't just there to stand bland.

“Well of course I would but the man standing next to me really doesn't know how to welcome a lady like a gentleman.”

Azura expected another retort or just a verbal comeback from the latter but what he did was just beyond Azura's imagination.

He envelopes her palm and takes it closer to his lips. Then he begins leaning down and embraces her skin with a subtle kiss. It legitimately seems as if he was a charming prince, welcoming his royal lady in such an enchanting way.

“May I have the opportunity to have your honorable presence in my little livinghood, your highness?” He almost rasps and Azura swears that she can literally fall on her knees.

Well, of course not in a way which many might be thinking. But rather in a way of felicity. In a way of contentment and jollity. Yes, her heart was racing like crazy, the degree of jolly inside her was immeasurable. But of course, she wasn't going to show it off, let it out that easily.

Yes, it has been months and more and what not since Theo has been with her. They became forced companions by Theo's insistence. Soon they became friends after Azura's acceptance and even when now they're best friends, Azura always makes sure to not keep things easy for the poor man.

Not that Theo minded any of it. Not especially when he rooted for these challenges. If Azura was a challenger, he was a champion.