Page 20 of Honeythorn
“Well, just in case.” There was an awkward pause, but the servants looked like they had warmed to Milan somewhat. “Well…that was all, really. I’ll stop distracting you now.”
With that, the staff bowed and returned to their duties, except for Melissa, who stayed for a while longer as Milan shared his planned schedule with her. It was only when they finished that he noticed the cook, an Alpha called Ingrid, had come back. She was a portly woman with fair skin and blonde hair streaked with grey. There was a motherly air about her, which was only confirmed when she held out a delicious looking pastry.
“Do not skip breakfast, My Lord.”
Milan looked at the offering for a moment before a smile took over his face. He took it from her hands and bit into the buttery, flaky treat.
“As delicious as any of your other creations, Ingrid.”
“You’re going to make me blush,” she replied cheekily before shooing Melissa away and returning to the kitchen.
Milan took another bite of the pastry. Perhaps he would have some allies in the manor after all.
*********
Milan could not help the delighted smile that took over his face as he mounted Saturnus. He waved at the stable boy that had helped him get her ready before trotting away.
It was frigidly cold, at least to Milan’s sensibilities, but the air was still and the sky bright. A perfect day for an adventure.
Milan took his time on his ride into town. The land really was beautiful, lush with green even so deep into autumn. He was interested in seeing what would happen to the crops in winter. He’d heard of snow but had never experienced it and didn’t know how any plant would survive the earth being covered in ice.
Milan’s exposed face was almost frozen as he arrived, even as the rest of his body felt overwarm under the furs he had donned. He dismounted and left Saturnus at the resting stables on the edge of town, not wanting to make a spectacle of himself with such a fine steed. Still, it hardly seemed to matter—people still gaped rather rudely at him. Milan did not know if it was the colour of his skin—a rare, although not unique sight—or if people knew who he was by description, but he kept his head high, not avoiding people’s eyes as he nodded and smiled at them.
His first stop was a quaint shop with an old sign proclaiming,Eggs! Milk! Flour!Inside, there was a collection of local, staple fare arranged neatly on shelves.
“Hello there.” He smiled at the woman, a tall, dark-haired Omega behind the counter.
“Oh, hello.”
“I wanted to introduce myself. I’m Milan Pryor, Lord Raphael’s husband.”
“Oh! Of course, Lord Pryor. My name is Emma, how may I help you?” she replied, straightening at once and looking bewildered at having him in her shop.
“Oh, I am just visiting the town for the first time and wanted to make my face familiar. Is business good?”
“Yes, My Lord, very good. I am lucky that the cows still produce during winter, so I will be able to keep up with the demand.”
“How fortunate. You are well supplied, then?”
“Yes, very! I hope it stays steady.”
Milan tilted his head slightly at her unsure tone. “Is there any reason to think it would not?”
At once, Emma blushed. “Oh, no, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s all right,” Milan laughed, holding a hand up. “Please, speak frankly. I enjoy it.”
“Oh. Um…I only referred to the expansion of the train track through the fields, and how that will affect the farms. It cuts through the irrigation system that goes downhill, so…”
“That’s a very good point. I’ll make sure to bring it up with my husband.”
Emma looked mortified. “No, I didn’t—”
“I need not name you, please don’t worry. Anyway, it’s better if we all work together.” Milan winked.
“Ah…well…yes,” she replied, seeming stupefied but somewhat pleased.
He left the shop with a cheery goodbye and some cheese and explored the centre of the town in much the same way. He would go into shops, introducing himself and obtaining the shopkeepers’ names in return. They would be polite and stiff at first, but Milan would coo over the fares or ask after people’s children if he saw signs that they had any, and people seemed to warm towards him with amazing ease.
