After traversing the streets and trying out numerous games, Irene's stomach began to churl. Just as this happened, the savoury smell of a familiar food wafted into her nostrils. She was reminded of traditional Asian foods she enjoyed back in her previous life, and it made her mouth water.

As she began looking around for the source of the smell, Irene noticed a small stall located near an open park. Her eyes then caught a glimpse of meat and vegetables pierced into skewers.

Kebabs! She beamed, her mouth watering. I haven't had those in so long! As she turned to River and Rayvis, who were storing all of the prizes away with River's spatial magic, Irene turned toward them.

"Can we go eat from that stall?" She asked with twinkling eyes. Meanwhile, Snow perched onto River's head, with candy floss stuck to his beak, but both Irene and the mage ignored him.

"Sure, it smells delicious," Rayvis smiled, his mid-length silver hair curling around his neck as he tilted his head. "I'll have some too."

"Okay then, let's go!" As the young siblings headed excitedly to the lit-up stall, River's eyes narrowed. He waited for Rayvis to be out of hearing range, before staring up at the phoenix on his head.

"And just where have you been? Your beak is covered with candy." He sighed, adjusting the glasses on his nose.

"What, just 'cos I'm a spirit, I can't eat delicious food?" The bird retorted.

River shook his head, following after Irene and Rayvis, who were now buying skewers. "You never do change."

"I thought you liked me just the way I am." Snow pouted, and River displayed a look of disgust on his face.

"Huh? I never said that. Don't say something so misleading!"

Snow only laughed in response. "Why? Was my human form that horrendous?"

"How could it be, when you look exactly like Irene." River's face became nonchalant. "Except... a boy."

Snow's feathered tail swayed softly as he chuckled. Despite not showing his human form to Irene yet, the resemblance was uncanny.

As Irene sat beside her brother, happily savouring the flavoursome, tender cuts of steak and grilled peppers, she smiled as Snow and River started to catch up with them.

River then started to converse with Rayvis, who was finished with his skewers. His mid-length silver hair shone elegantly under the light, and when Irene noticed it, she pulled his hood up from behind.

"Ah-" he smiled at her. "Thanks, Rene."

The silver hair of duke Cherliann is very rare, so anyone could recognise Rayvis if they saw it. Irene thought, as he went back to his conversation with River. He was nagging me so much earlier to stay hidden, but now he's let his guard down.

As Irene finished her kebab, she decided that it was so delicious, she wanted another one. And so, she stood up from her seat and headed to the stall that was a few metres away, ensuring Rayvis was still in her line of sight.

As she approached the radiantly-lit stall, her eyes caught a glimpse of a boy who appeared to be waiting to order. He wore a black newsboy cap on a head of raven hair, and his attire resembled that of any normal commoner.

As she glanced at him from behind, Irene noticed the young stranger was looking upwards at the price board, but she didn't pay much attention to him.

"Excuse me! May I have another skewer please?" She asked, handing a silver coin to the man running the stall.

"Coming right up, Miss!" The man smiled, before his eyes glanced at the boy beside her. "What about you, young man? You gonna order or what?"

Irene side-glanced at the male beside her, who she was initially going to ignore as any stranger would — but instead found herself utterly in awe, when she saw his side profile.

Strong, arched brows and sharply-shaped eyes, with the most beautiful lapis-blue irises. He had a beautiful jawline, elegant nose, and smooth, plump cheeks which stretched perfectly across his appealing face. His skin was the colour of honey - an exquisite tanned shade that swayed between pale and rich. With a face free of blemish, his lips were a natural shade of rose.

The boy appeared to be her age, or perhaps a little older. For someone who seemed young, he was rather tall.

Oh my gosh, he's beautiful! Irene gasped, her eyes widening. Even a commoner like this has such good looks?

As expected of the world I imagined! If he was older he'd totally be my type!

But as Irene was admiring the beautiful boy's appearance, she was brought out of her trance when she noticed him frowning in disappointment.

"No, it's fine..." He sighed, and there was an obvious look of disappointment in his eyes. "I'm afraid I don't have enough money."

"I see, then maybe next time." The stall-keeper quickly said, before going in to prepare Irene's skewers. As the girl gazed at the boy next to her, she noticed him clenching his fists.

"I'm sorry, brother..." he whispered to himself, brows narrowing. "I can't even do this much for you..."

Irene wasn't really sure what kind of situation he was in to say something like that, but she could only guess. Perhaps this boy was too poor to afford any food, but from what she heard, it seemed he was buying in order to feed a younger sibling.

When she thought of this, Irene couldn't help but feel sorry for him. What if he's a poor orphan who's trying to raise his little brother on his own... She frowned, realising the boy was quite thin.

It was then, she had an idea, and before the boy could leave, she rummaged through her coin pouch - taking out a handful of coins.

"Hey," she called out to him, and he glanced at her with slight surprise. When their eyes met, Irene could've sworn something about him felt strangely familiar. But she decided to shake it off, smiling warmly as she gently took the boy's hand. "Take this. Buy as many skewers as you can, and have them with your brother."

The boy's ocean-blue eyes widened in surprise, as he stared wordlessly at his hand that was now filled with silver coins. "What...?" He then glanced back up at the girl's face, frowning slightly. "Um, I don't think I can... This is a bit too much..."

She smiled, and it was then he became aware of those gold-spun eyes, and those beautiful locks of white hair that blended with her pale skin. When he noticed how closely she was staring at him, he could feel his cheeks flush ever so slightly.

Isn't she a little close?

"It's more than alright!" She beamed, tilting her head. "It's okay, because I'm rich! I still have a lot left to spend. You can have that."

Her eyes then glanced at his hand, and she realised that the unique coin with a rose imprinted onto it was in the midst of the pile. Irene's smile brightened even more. "Oh, looks like you're the lucky one," she chuckled, before pointing to the silver piece. "This coin is really rare, so you can sell it for a higher price if you like. There's only two of its kind, so it's sure to be worth a lot!"

She told him as he took the coin into his other hand, and his fingers clasped around it. He looked at her once again, eyes narrowing slightly. "You're... Really giving me something this valuable?" He asked her, in doubt.

But Irene's free-spirited smile revealed almost no hint of malice. He could tell when he looked at her, she was genuinely kind.

"It's okay, because," she leaned in to whisper to him, as though she were telling him a secret. "I have the other one at home, so you can have this one. Why keep a coin when they're made to be passed around?" She chuckled.

The boy's blue eyes widened again in surprise, yet he managed to keep a straight face. "...Thank you," He said, before his previously troubled expression disappeared. With a kind and gentle smile, his gaze met with hers. "I'll treasure this."

Oh lord, he's so much cuter when he smiles! Irene wanted to scream, but was brought out of her trance when the man at the stall produced a freshly-made kebab for her.

"Sis! Come on, we need to go now!" Rayvis called out to her, and as Irene took her skewer, she glanced at the boy one more time.

"I hope you have a great time!" She beamed, before hurrying away.

"W-Wait!" Before he could process what was happening, the boy found himself calling out to her. But from the loud discordance of people's voices and music drowning out his voice, it seemed she didn't hear him.

I didn't get to ask her name... He thought, slightly disheartened when her cloaked figure disappeared into the crowd. As he glanced back down at the coins she left in his hands, her smiling face reappeared in his mind.

The boy felt his cheeks warm up. Pretty... He thought, recalling her cherubic features, before he gazed in the direction she ran off. She was really pretty...