"No thanks," Devin refused coldly. There was a reason behind his reaction. He didn't want to give Elena any impression that she was important to him. Give them an inch and they would take a mile. That is how girls are.

"Okay," Dejected Elena moped back to the bed as she buried her face on the pillow.

That night was special. It was the first night that Devin was cooking something for someone else and he definitely doesn't plan to eat alone. An opportunity like this comes once in a blue moon.

Even though he was cold to Elena he couldn't help but secretly smile.

"Here," he handed over a plate of noodles to Elena as he himself began eating one. Elena, who had never used chopsticks before, had a little bit of difficulty eating. But was soon able to pick it up thanks to her closely following Devin's machinations. After all she doesn't want to get caught not knowing the ways of this world.

Devin sighed as he watched her eat.

Devin wanted to throw her away from the house but her negotiation skill was working on him and compelled him to let her stay for the night.

"You sleep on the bed, I will sleep down here."

'I ain't doing her any favors. I am a man so I can endure the hardness of the floor. It's just because of that,' he reminded himself.

"You don't need to," Elena squeaked trying to sound polite.

"Oh shut up, just do as I say," Devin got annoyed as he wrapped his blanket around him and fell asleep.

***

***

The next morning.

Devin opened his eyes as he felt the hardness of the floor hitting his body.

"Heck what am I doing here?"

He shouted, not realizing what had happened yesterday. Since when had he started sleep walking? But watching Elena sleeping on the bed he remembered everything.

"Emm," his shouting had caused Elena to wake up. She rubbed her eyes.

"Has something happened?" she asked Devin.

"No nothing, just a nightmare." Devin scoffed, raising his shoulders.

"Oh," for a moment Elena seemed genuinely worried. "Should I comfort you?"

Elena was worried about him. Even she herself had nightmares before and it wasn't the most pleasant experience.

But all Devin could do was frown.

'What the fuck?' Living alone in the harsh world had made him mute to any form of love. This caused him to be all the more wary of Elena.

Seeing his knitted brows Elena knew that he wasn't remotely interested. So she chose to change the topic instead.

"So have you thought of your answer to my proposal?" Elena asked genuinely, seeming interested.

"No, I haven't. I will have an answer once I come back from school."

'School? Doesn't that mean that he would have to go away from me. If that happens the [Negotiation] would lose effect.'

Devin was about to get up but Ellena pulled him by his sleeve.

"Please… Please don't go. In case you reject me, I want to cherish these little moments that I have with you." Elena claimed as she looked at him with puppy eyes.

"Damn!"

Somehow Devin could no longer refuse.

'One day of not going to study will bring no harm. It's not everyday that I have company.'

From the very beginning he went to school to have some company; to be surrounded by people. He had no family, there was no one to skip him if he skips on school. But he never caused that to be the only place he could be truly alive.

At the end his inner desires won out. It wasn't because Elena was some girl who wanted to marry him but rather anyone if he would have wanted his company. He would have skipped work that day. He was just that much lonely.

"Fine, I will stay."

"Hehe," Elena smiled, knowing that her route was clearer now. Was it the effect of her [Negotiation] skill?

Devin scratched his head as he eyed Elena from top to bottom.

"There has been one thing buggin on my mind. But why are you wearing such weird clothes?"

Elena shot her eyes wide. It had never came to her mind that her clothes were weird.

'Have I been caught already?'

"I see. These clothes are considered weird here. Never came to mind." She said as she looked at her dress.

"What do you mean by here?"

Elena looked away. She regretted having a slip of her tongue.

"That I can only tell once you agree to my proposal," she whispered.

'Damn she is making me more and more curious!'

Devin couldn't help but sigh.

"Can you get me some other clothes then? Since these are weird. I promise that I will return them later to you."

Devin slapped his face in annoyance.

"Why would a guy have a girl's clothes in his home?"

"Oh yeah right they don't have, sorry"

"You know what? Let's go shopping!" If Devin was going to enjoy his time with her then he better do it the right way.

"Shopping? You mean we are going to the Merchant Guild?"

"Yeah… wait what?" Devin had definitely caught her saying something weird but because of her feeble voice that was cut off and lacked any substance at the same time, he wasn't able to pick up on it.

"No… Nothing, Let's go shopping as you suggested," She stuttered but held her ground properly as if she knew what she was doing. She could give away her identity yet.

"Well whatever, you have money on you don't you?"

But Elena looked away.

"What! You want to leech off me?".

***

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