"This boy..." she muttered and started walking to catch up. When she arrived at the farm, she found Javier already talking to the farmer.
"Thirty gold for two!" Javier declared confidently.
The farmer, a large man with a kind smile, laughed. "Forty is the best I can give you, young master."
"Thirty-five!"
The farmer scratched his chin, acting like he was thinking. "How about thirty-nine gold coins and fifty silver? Does that work for you, young master?"
Javier squinted at him, clearly thinking about it. The farmer could see he was enjoying the bargaining. "Such enthusiasm," the farmer thought, amused. He had heard about the youngest son of Viscount Armand—a lively boy who bargained like a skilled trader but was kind to the villagers.
"Thirty-eight gold coins for two! Ehehehe!" Javier countered with a big grin.
The farmer laughed heartily. "Thirty-nine, and that's the best deal I can give you, young master."
"Deal! Ehehehe!" Javier said, shaking the farmer's hand eagerly. He quickly counted the coins and gave them to the farmer, his smile getting wider.
"You're a sharp one, young master," the farmer said warmly as he handed Javier the reins of two nice pekkos.
"Sharp, handsome, and now a proud pekko owner! What a day!" Javier boasted, patting the birds kindly.
Liana finally caught up, watching with a mix of annoyance and amusement. "He really is impossible," she thought, but she couldn't help smiling a little.
"Young master, why do you need two pekkos?" Liana asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at him.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Javier replied, his eyes shining with excitement.
"One for me and one for you!"
Liana let out a long, familiar sigh. "As if anyone could stop him once he's made up his mind," she thought.
"You know, young master," Liana said with a calm smile, "Pekko are usually used to pull carriages or do heavy work on the farm. And for another thing too."
Javier blinked and tilted his head. "Huh? What other thing? Riding, right?"
Liana's smile softened, but she had a mischievous look in her eyes. "No... for food, young master."
"Ehhh!!!?? No!!!" Javier exclaimed, holding the reins of the pekko tightly. "This pekko is NOT for food! They're my companions, my noble steeds, my friends!"
The farmer, overhearing their talk, laughed heartily. "Don't worry, young master. No one's going to eat those fine birds."
"They better not!" Javier huffed, puffing out his chest.
Liana chuckled softly and shook her head. "He's so easy to tease," she thought, watching him pet the pekkos like a proud parent.
Javier turned to the farmer, his eyes bright with curiosity. "Old Man, do you sell bridles or something for their beaks?"
The farmer chuckled. "I have a couple of basic ones, young master. They're not fancy, but they'll do the job. I'll give you two."
Javier's grin got bigger. "Thanks, old man!"
The farmer nodded and handed over the bridles. "If you need something stronger or special, I recommend visiting the blacksmith. He can make better ones for your needs."
Javier looked at the simple bridles and shrugged. "These'll do for now. Gotta work with what you've got, right?"
Carefully, he went up to the pekkos and began fastening the bridles to their beaks. Even though the birds were big, they seemed calm under his hands, sometimes making low, happy sounds.
Liana watched him work, a small smile on her lips. "For someone who acts lazy, he sure gets excited when it's something he likes," she thought, shaking her head as Javier proudly adjusted the straps.
When he finished, Javier stepped back with his hands on his hips. "Perfect! These guys are ready for adventure."
The farmer laughed again. "Take care of them, young master. Pekkos are loyal creatures, but they like good treatment."
"Don't worry!" Javier declared, giving his new friends a playful pat.
Javier shouted with joy, "So, Liana! Hop on your Pekko! Let's go!" His big grin stretched from ear to ear, and his excitement was clear.
Liana let out a long sigh, adjusting her maid skirt as she walked to her Pekko. "Young master, you're like a child with a new toy," she muttered before gracefully climbing onto her bird.
Before she could even sit properly, Javier yelled, "Off we go! See ya, old man! Yeeehaaaa!"
He kicked his Pekko into a quick trot, then into a gallop, the strong bird running easily down the dirt path.
Liana gasped. "Young master! Wait!" She quickly nudged her Pekko to follow, trying to keep up.
Javier threw his head back and laughed, the wind blowing through his black hair. "Ehehehehe! This is fun!"
Now riding next to him, Liana gave him a scolding look but couldn't hide the small smile forming on her lips. "Young master, please slow down. What if you fall off?"
"I won't! Look at this! I'm a natural!" Javier waved one hand proudly, making his Pekko squawk as if it agreed with him.
"You're impossible," Liana sighed again, gripping the reins tightly as her Pekko matched Javier's speed, and the two rode along the road like adventurers ready to conquer the world.
Liana watched as her young master, Javier, rode ahead on his new Pekko, his big grin and loud laughter filling the air, and for a moment, Liana couldn't help but smile. She had seen Javier happy before, but this was different—he was shining with pride and joy, as if the world had finally rewarded him for his hard work.
She gently urged her Pekko forward, keeping up with him while quietly watching his happiness. This was the first time she'd seen him so thrilled about something he had worked so hard to get. Javier's determination to buy the Pekkos with his own money, earned through his own efforts, showed how independent and resourceful he was.
Liana smiled fondly as she gazed at him from behind. Young master… you really try so hard for the things you want, she thought. Even for something as simple as this, you put in so much effort. I hope that one day, you'll have that same passion for everything in your life.
Her hand brushed the reins of her Pekko as a soft sigh escaped her lips. And maybe, just maybe… she thought, her heart fluttering a little, I hope that someday, I'll be one of those things you truly want.
Shaking off her moment of vulnerability, she straightened up and called out to him teasingly, "Young master, if you're this excited now, what will you do when you get married? Laugh like this all the way to the altar?"
Javier turned back, his carefree grin lighting up his face. "If it's with you, Liana, I might just do that! Yeehaaaa!"
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly hid it with a sigh and a shake of her head. "Such a troublesome young master," she muttered, though her smile stayed as they rode on.
( End of Chapter )