You missed her

Vespera watched Alaric awkwardly standing there, feeling annoyed.

Alaric lifted the gift bag he was holding and said, "I got your clothes dirty yesterday, so I bought a couple of new ones to make up for it."

Vespera was inexplicably irritated. She couldn't figure out what Alaric wanted. He kept trying to get close to her, creating gossip about them, but then he'd run back to Elowen, leaving Vespera hurt, only to show up later with gifts as apologies.

Alaric was like a shadow—unpredictable and impossible to grasp. Vespera disliked this and didn't want to get close to someone so inconsistent.

She glanced inside the bag and said, "No need to apologize, Alaric. I chose to pick you up, and my injuries are my own fault. Plus, what you bought isn’t really my style."

Alaric hesitated. He wasn’t stupid; he could sense Vespera’s displeasure, almost like she was sulking. He put the bag down and asked, "What do you like? I’ll get it for you."

Vespera looked at him and said, "Do you think I’m desp