"My goodness Arson, have not you sense of time!", Addelite's sharp tone woke him from his sleep, and, lifting his head, he saw her holding a tray with tea and bread. Yawning, he rose to his feet and folded up his blanket, gently placing it in the basket behind the counter and walking up to her as she served them each a cup of tea.

"I do hope this is not for me?"

"It is the least I can do for your staying the night here"

"That is very kind of you Addelite, and it is greatly appreciated, but you do not have to use

such precious resources on me."

"Please, do accept them, it would mean so much to me if you did", she warmly insisted, her smile being enough to convince him that it would be no burden on her to accept. Carefully taking a cup of tea, he thanked her and had his bread, the lady doing the same alongside him. When they had finished, she picked up the dishes and he went to open the shop, and, as much as he wished he did not see it, could not help but notice her lightly blush when he looked her way. Inside him his heart twisted at such a sight, please do not let this lady fall for me. She is a human, and I, a flame. It was not that he did not like her, she was kind, and much unlike other women her age, but he was sent to earth to work, not to make women fall for him. He had grown very fond of her, but he saw her as no more than a friend, and so, smiling, he pretended to not notice as to avoid any further thought of it, for he hoped it was simply in his head.

Addelite did the cleaning while he worked behind the counter, and, though his mind should have been on his job, he could not help but be distracted. After his conversation with his brother, he had hoped that never would Axel come into the shop. Yet, unfortunately, his brother had come in with no shame, had it been because he felt that with his brother working there he could get away with his criminal acts? Had Axel believed that Arson would let him do as he pleased? He had come in during broad daylight and began to stuff the crops into his pockets, when Addelite spotted him, Axel had simply ignored her and continued about his business. Concerned, Arson has attempted to intervene by talking his brother out of it, by suggesting that he return the goods or pay for them, yet, to his dismay, Axel only attempted to leave. Being in some sense a cop himself, Arson had called over two officers that had been walking by, hoping that, at least if they were to arrest his brother instead of himself, that Axel would not be as infuriated since he could escape.

Unfortunately, upon entering the castle the following night, his brother had threatened him for what he had done, threatening to come and burn down their store as well if it should ever happen again. Did I do the wrong thing? Should I have allowed him to continue, his being my brother? Have I... Have I betrayed my family? Worry built up in him, and guilt that he had endangered these innocent humans began to rack his brain. He watched the doors intently, tensing up each time it opened, always afraid that at any moment his brother might come inside. The fear that stirred in him made him lose the longing to go home, for if he did, he was afraid of what would face him should he run into his brother. His mind was swirling with questions, the fear that he had done wrong built up higher and higher until his hands begun to tremble.

"Arson? Is everything alright?", Addelite's voice brought him back to his surroundings, and, flustered, he looked down in shame over having let himself get carried away.

"Yes, yes, everything is alright. I am sorry, I should not have gotten so distracted..."

"It is alright, why don't you sit down and rest for a bit while I take over?", she suggested softly, gently taking him by the arm and helping him into a chair. Ashamed, he sat there in silence as she worked, how could he have let himself get so caught up in his brother's mess to have completely discarded what it was he should be doing? Wearily, he rested his head against the wall and waited for the night to fall, then, just as the last customer was leaving, he rose and began for the door. "Arson, wait", Addelite's voice called him back, so he turned to see her lighting a small candle lamp before making her way towards him, "Would you like to go for a stroll?"

"A stroll? At this hour? But your father must be worried for you!"

"I believe it would do you good to get some fresh air", was her response, and, without waiting for him to say more, she shut the door behind them and locked it, then, holding the lamp out in front of them, the both began to walk. For a few moments, a tense silence filled the air, though, she turned to him and softly began, "Arson, you seem stressed. Why must you always have so much on your mind? Sometimes when I speak to you, I feel as if you are not there, and, when you're alone, the look on your face makes it seem as if you carry the whole world on your shoulder. If, if I may ask, what is bothering you so much..?" Taking a shaky breath, he turned to her and gave a half smile, how could he tell her what was on his mind? To tell her what was bothering him was to give away that he was not human, something that would sentence her to death, how could he bear do such a thing? Uncomfortably, he lowered his head and could not bring himself to answer, though he hated himself for it, for she was taking the time to check on him, yet he failed to return her kindness. Thankfully, she noticed that he was not at ease and, hoping to not bother him more, began again with, "Anyway, a while back you had said that your family was not from here. Why did you leave? Have they an older son that is to be heir, so you left to make your own living?"

"No, Miss, I am the eldest and the heir. I assume the same goes for yourself considering your father entrusts you with his business?"

"Me, the eldest and heir!", she laughed, shaking her head, "Oh how I wish that were true! I am the only daughter of five children, and the youngest after four older brothers. No, no, I was allowed to work because my father wants me safe, seeing that I am not married, that is. Well then, are you from a poor family then?"

"Poor? Oh, no, my family makes about the equivalent of twenty thousand pounds a year."

"Twenty thousand pounds!", she cried, her eyes wide in astonishment, then, frantically trying to calm herself, forced her voice to stop shaking and said, "Well, I would not expect someone from such an upper class to work in such a small shop such as my own! Although, I suppose I should have seen that by your being a gentleman.." She smiled at him for a bit, and silently they continued on for a while longer. Examining his surroundings, he felt some piece as he looked on at the graceful sway in the leaves of the trees, and listened in on the gentle breeze that blew against them, swaying the grass with a hushed swish. Although dark, the moonlight's shadows were not to be feared, for the cast such a lovely glow over the park, and, as they walked on, he could not help but admire how lush it was. They had no such environments where he was from, so, to see such blossoming flowers, such lovely colors, it felt almost unreal. "This is m favorite spot", Addelite said quietly, and looking away, she added, "I often come here when I need to feel at ease"

"Well, I can see why, it is quite the lovely spot. Thank you for having shown me this place"

"It is my pleasure", she smiled, then, sighing and more serious, added, "It amazes me how someone so rich could be here, working in such a downgrading place, among such commoners. Much more, how you have done so this whole time without ever once mentioning your pay or your status. Not only that but, the way you don't talk down to me, like most men in your state would, I.... You truly are something else."

"I am simply doing what is right", he sighed, then, turning to her smiled and reassured her, "You are anything but a simple commoner, not many women work the way you do. For you to be in a shop all day, only to go home and resume with the housework is an amazing example of strength If anything, the extraordinary one is you" He had not yet finished his words when he noticed that the moon was a quarter up in the sky, so, turning to her he offered her his arm, and as she hooked around it, they began to walk back. "No lady should be left to walk home in the dark, please, do allow me to assist you back to your father's."