Chapter 399: The little girl

After leaving the mansion, Stella and her beloveds crept their way outside the vast island. Other than Danielle and her husband, no one else had noticed them. And with that, the date in the clouds started.

It was a pretty smooth date, for Alex literally wanted to try everything outside. It wasn't like he couldn't order that stuff, but eating outside and trying food first-hand was just a different experience.

Besides, Alex could eat and feed his girls with many people around them. Meiya quickly caught up with the mood, swaying her hair as she leaned down to take a bite. She liked showing off, so that was exactly what she liked on dates.

Stella just sat still, but her lips were parted.

Common Winged people mainly showed off to their sweethearts through popular activities related to wings. Men flew in the sky race, avoiding wind and cloud obstacles, while the girls showcased their care for their feathers in a beauty contest.

Alex and his girls couldn't go for it yet.

But enjoying food and being a spectator was not a bad thing, either. Those activities also had a special room for people with money, so Alex naturally booked it for himself and his girls.

At the sky race, Stella's eyes had been narrowed, and a few minutes later, she fell asleep on Alex's shoulder, clearly not fond of the exercises.

"They use wings, just wings without any wind magic," Meiya explained, laughing and boasting that she had won the noble races a few times in the past.

And when the beauty contest appeared, Stella gazed and listened attentively for one contestant whose beauty caught her eye. She then closed her eyes, going back to sleeping in her beloved's arms.

On the other hand, Meiya scoffed at all girls.

It was a somewhat peculiar experience as she had always found something to insult, even in girls that seemed flawless.

And Alex couldn't help but agree with her, for she raised good points.

After that contest, he inwardly whispered, 'It's good that beauty contests don't take test personalities.'

Meiya probably wouldn't have won at all if that was the case. Well, maybe one.

It was becoming darker outside; the cloudless sky seemed on fire.

It was a beautiful sight as the clouds around islands and houses shone brightly in a scarlet color, turning into lanterns. And that light stayed even after darkness shade fell onto the sky, for Winged People found a way to trap the sunshine within their tamed clouds!

Alex had seen such a mesmerizing sight many times, for it also happened in Stella and Meiya's mansion. But it was different with common folks and their less grand houses that were around in orderly rows.

Alex and his girls etched the last memory of their date before turning around and going back to their house.

They had to use the shortcut through dark alleys.

And that was when Alex bumped into a little girl. She fell onto her bottom, yelping, then hearing some voices from another alley, the little girl flung herself up and went behind Alex's leg to hide.

Meiya and Stella helped her hide by staying closer to Alexander.

At last, two winged men appeared before them. They wore noble, white robes, their levels higher than common people. Their narrowed eyes, slightly pale and sweaty skin and impatience behind their voice told Alex that they had been doing something serious, urgent, and important.

It didn't take a genius to tell that the little girl behind him was their target. She clenched his clothes tighter, closing her eyes in a desperate attempt to cover her loud heart and rough breathing.

But there was more to it.

Alex's innate skill to read emotions had been flawless, yet she activated it, conveying her feelings to him. She was scared, lonely, and hopeless, and her little heart had been heavy ever since she could remember.

Those emotions struck Alex, who had seen more than an average person should.

"Have you seen someone passing through this alley?" one of the noblemen asked, his eyes sternly looking at Alex.

"No, we haven't... We are on our way back home, using this as a shortcut. We would clearly see someone using it alongside us," Alex replied with his emotions in check, trying his best to not reveal anything.

And had those guys had the noble power to see through emotions, Alex believed his fallen bloodline would have backed him up.

Fortunately, these two were common nobles, so to say nothing of innate ability that proud winged nobility boasted; they were pretty mediocre, too.

They immediately left and went to another alley after Alex's words, leaving nothing, even a word, behind.

Alex stood in silence for a few more breaths, then turned around when those two were out of earshot, smiling at the little girl. But his smile lasted just a second, for the little girl's body was in a life-threatening state.

She had a deep bruise on her cheek, and other small bruises littered her arms and legs. Alex couldn't see other parts of her body due to her clothes, but as those were tattered in a few places, he could take a glimpse at other wounds.

Her skin was cut in some places, blood oozing out. But for some reason, her robes remained white, as if her blood became white outside her body.

The little girl lifted her golden eyes, gazing at Alex with those big and adorable jewels. She formed a genuine smile on her face, then looked down at her side, opening a secret pocket with her little hands.

She took out a pouch gently and carefully, yet some coins clinked within, indicating that she held her money here.

She took out a small coin, which was a cent in Winged Realm's currency. She had much more cents in her pouch, probably around 100. Yet, even that would at most provide her half of the bread.

"Thank you!" said the little girl after raising the coin, "It's all I can pay now, but I will fully repay your kindness when I grow up! I'm sorry, it's just one coin, but I need more coins to pay for more kindness! I want people to know I am serious!"

Alex gazed at the girl with widened, trembling eyes. And then, he dropped onto his knees with a loud thud, shocking the little girl.

And in the next second, the little girl felt the warmth she had never felt before, for Alexander hugged her tightly.