"It has been a while since I last haggled around," he said in mirth before saying, "Let's go to the next store," it felt like he was in the mood to bully every store person today, "You haven't spoken much," he noted without sparing her a look as he gave a nod to a man who must have been an acquaintance of his, "Still thinking about what happened? I thought it would have disappeared from your mind."

Now that Penny thought about it, she did forget about it and the matter though was a grave one, with Damien's back and forth dropping the price of the items in the store, it had truly taken her mind off. 

"I didn't know if I can or cannot speak," said Penny, carrying the two bags in her hand, following behind him to hear a surprised voice from him,

"Why would you say that? How can you take deprive the fun of the mouse talking, what would I do?" asked the man dramatically, "Don't worry about what happened earlier back there. I would rather have you talk than have a person who nods for everything I say. The mouse would be lost," when he saw her over his shoulder he said, "If I wanted someone like that I would have picked one of my maids but I should say they are utterly boring." 

"They are very lively," muttered Penny remembering the time she had a little exchange of words between the maids in the kitchen. 

"What is this hot brewing tea that I smell. I take you spoke to the maids in the mansion. Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure to talk to any of them," which was the truth. Damien preferred his maids to concentrate on their work and if he found them out of line the best was to teach them what they were supposed to do that idle around due to which every maid or servant for the matter did their work to the point, "How did you find them? Made friends already?" 

"I think I am fine with not knowing them," she answered frankly to see him nod.

"True. They are thoughtless idiots with empty brains that like to fill their minds with dirt and garbage. It would be better you don't go making friends there," at Damien's words Penny sighed softly. She never planned to. She was a slave or a guest in the mansion for a few days, all she had to do was bear for a few more days or weeks, "I often hear how servants quarrel among themselves for the master or mistress's attention. Rest be a.s.sured little mouse. This master shall not be moved that easily. You have all my attention." 

Penny looked sad at that thought. That was something she didn't want from him.

"Don't look like a wilted flower. Bonelake has more than needed water to bring the flower back to life."

"Too much of water is harmful to a plant, Master Damien," Penny and Damien both knew that they weren't speaking about plants or water here but with underlying meanings behind their words. 

"Fret not. I shall be the ground who will drink up all the water," Damien's quick response left Penny speechless as she didn't know how to answer it, "Let's get this flower some shade, shall we?" he said before stopping at a shoe store. 

Damien walked inside the store while Penny was skeptical if they were going to really buy her shoes? All this time today they had done nothing but look for things for her master which was why she was doubtful as she took steps inside the green painted store. 

"Good afternoon, Mr. Quinn. We are so happy to have you here,"  a woman greeted the pureblooded vampire who was checking out shoes that were made for men. The woman was as tall as Damien himself, her figure lean and her brown hair tied behind her back with a loose knot, "What kind are you looking for today?" 

Today? Did this man often come to buy shoes? asked Penny herself. Looking around the store she noticed it was only Damien and her who were present here right now as the only customers that was if Penny could be counted as a customer. Apart from them, it was only the lady and her helper girl who was young who wore a pair of gla.s.ses that rested on her face. 

"Good afternoon, Gwenyth," Damien greeted the woman. He tore away his gaze from the showcased shoes that were put up in every single block like in a library, "It is not for me but for her. Can you check her size please," the word please coming from his mouth felt more than foreign. Master Damien was polite?

The woman named Gwenyth eyes fell on the human girl, her light-colored red eyes taking in the human who stood wearing the slave uniform. For Gwenyth, Damien's behavior didn't come out to be a surprise as the pureblooded man had always been stranger than the rest but nonetheless he was someone she knew for some time now.

"What kind are you looking for her?" 

 "The best you have."

"Please take a seat," Gwenyth spoke to Penny who had been standing quiet and awkwardly. Penny had hoped for a pair of decent shoes that she could walk in. If clothes cost in gold coins, she could hardly imagine how much the shoes would be priced here, "Please," guided the woman with her polite manners and words that she had to follow before taking a seat on a plush chair. 

Penny's feet that dangled with her heels and the back of her feet covered in dirt as she had been walking all over the place bare feet, Gewnyth who noticed it called her a.s.sistant, "Maria. Take her to the wash." 

The a.s.sistant nodded her head, and Penny got down to follow the girl to another room leaving Damien and the woman to be alone in the room, "You will soon be seen on the newsletter of the town with gossips," hearing this Damien gave her a crooked smile. 

"I don't mind the spotlight."