“You can wish,” she let out unbothered. “I will upset you with my answer because not everything revolves around you. You think others have nothing to do except think about you?”
“And yet, it's you who followed me. Indeed, I am on your mind.” He proudly tilted his head.
Violette narrowed her eyes.
“Only because I know nothing about you and you are not really enthusiastic to reveal anything about yourself. It's a natural thing to do when some stranger offers you help and doesn't tell you anything about his plans,” she pointed out.
“You call me a stranger so often that I might start to think you say it only to not forget about it yourself.”
She frowned. “And what should this mean?”
“I'll leave it up to you.” His nose winced as he boldly leaned towards her and glimpsed down at her. “Well, I'm not the only one who enjoys walking late, am I?”
She realized what he meant. The night they first locked their eyes was not in the shop – she saw him the day before. She'd remembered his eyes flickering at her in the darkness of the dead-end alleyway.
“I was just walking home from work,” she murmured.
Dante hummed thoughtfully and then added, “Do you like it?”
“What?” Confusion hardened her features.
“Working in the potion shop?” Dante explained.
Violette didn't hesitate with an answer for this question. Her mouth twisted in an ironic smile. “Quoting one person, I'll say –why should it matter to you?”
“Just trying to keep our small talk going as you're already tagging along behind me.”
“Small talk? This is what you called it?” She tried to catch up with him again, not really able to keep up with his pace.
“Isn't it? A conversation that is not giving any important information, not for me, not for you,” he simply stated.
She frowned but a second later she simply voiced, “Then I will not answer if it's not important.”
“Enjoy the silence then.”
Oh no. If he thinks she'll give him such satisfaction he is terribly wrong. She had all intentions to turn his life upside down if it means she'll get the answers she's so hungry for. Does he really believe she will just shut her mouth and walk in silence? Though she didn't have time to say anything as Dante got ahead of her.
“Look, our mutual acquaintance.” He pointed his chin into the distance.
“What?” She was befuddled, peering into the distance. “What acquaintance?”
“The guy from the forest. A thief.”
Her face contorted in confusion, lips parted and brows bonded together. The male figure walking down the street in their direction hadn't evoked any resemblance in her mind.
“How do you know? He was in a mask,” she said, scrutinizing the stranger.
“Call it a talent,” he waved away and then added, “Should we say hi to him?”
“What?” Violette flinched. “No! Are you even in your right mind?”
“Why not?” he retorted with ease, as if they had stumbled upon a mutual friend. “It would be a gesture of good manners.”
He can't be serious. No.
“Oh so, you have decided to be well-mannered for a thief, but not me,” Violette snorted.
“I mean, he has more chances to hurt me, even being that bad at it. At least he has a knife. You on the other hand…have a wooden stick.”
