Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 190 - A Princess That Seems To Get Along With Old Men

We pass through a doorway that says it is for staff only and it lead toward a small but beautifully maintained garden area with an enclosed glass ceiling. Stone lanterns provided the only lighting among the meticulously arranged plants, many which seemed unknown to this area.

And a small water feature pouring into some wooden tube that almost made me jump out of my skin when it suddenly tipped its fill, popped back up, and sent a startling thunk into the enclosed space.

In the center of it all, the profile of an elderly man sitting at a low table with a cup steaming into the chill night air. Wearing a black outfit with the same giant silver symbol on other things in the establishment glinting off of the length of his back.

Reina calls some words softly in what I assume is Japanese - and what I assume is announcing our presence as my latest... friend strolls past me. With a slight turn she raises up her index finger and give me a ’one moment’ gesture.

Leaving me standing at the far edge of the garden with the woman I had only spoken to when she brought me food on two separate occasions. It’s very, very hard not to compare her to a servant even though I know jobs work a bit differently here.

So I decide on small talk after glancing down to the shorter human. Tea-brown hair put up in two buns styled near immaculately leave quite a strong impression that I could talk about.

"...I like your hair. "

> Very articulate. Good Citra. <

"Thank you. Yours is bold as well. High quality extensions look nice."

Smiling at the praise part of her lines, I eventually realize something is off and tilt my head away from her. Try as I might, I can’t seem to find anything that makes sense in context from Helene’s memory.

"What are extensions?"

Her dark eyes grow wide and her hand covers her mouth after I voice this question. Repeated bows, with a repeated phrase that is probably ’sorry’, before she gets a bit ahold of herself and apologizes to me in a language I understand.

"S-sorry. Very much. I made a rude assumption."

> That doesn’t exactly answer my curiosity... it only inflames it! Should I just look it up on my phone later? <

"It is like attaching extra hair onto your own. To increase the appearance of its length. Or to give particular qualities that might be desirable... which someone’s natural hair does not have. Clip-in types really can look quite beautiful lately."

Anise begins to talk, apparently back from doing her private greeting. She must have caught part of our exchange in order to answer me.

"I see. Thank you for explaining. And thank you for calling my real hair high quality."

With a nod at them both in turn, I still resolve to look this all up later. Now that I am set for money and forming plans, I can start taking better care of my appearance. It might be a better idea to just get used to lacking luxury products, but hair treatments are...

> Well, they are just necessary. You cannot tell me that you would not love to have your fur cleaned by nice brushes and made healthier with soothing natural washes and nourishing oils. Having had it done in my fox form, I assure you it is *necessary*. <

My wolf growls low in what I’m assuming is jealousy and I smirk as Anise locks her arm in mine again. I may also see about a membership to Crystalline for myself. Getting relaxed with a little less worries on my mind is sure to be a far better experience than the first time.

> And undergoing that was pretty good all things considered. Spoiled only by Victoria, really. <

Yes, I think I’ll ask Claire about helping with that as well. After she gets back to me about my other request. Vrika’s only addition to my plan is to remind me that I saw something about couple’s packages while I was there.

However, I immediately impress upon it that *seeing* Kyrie being touched by someone for a massage is absolutely unacceptable. I’d rather do it my-

> Oh, I see what you did there. Clever. <

As the wolf continues to copy the gekkering sound of a fox in my mindscape, the three of us approach the old owner of this restaurant. His eyes immediately find mine - as I’m the outsider. There’s something razor sharp and deeply assessing in his gaze, but not specifically hostile.

At a glance, I would call him older than Edgar, with hair lacking any of its youthful pigment. He says something to Reina in their language, then switches to the heavily accented English of an Asian immigrant - or so identified from a few television shows Helene has seen.

"Please. Sit with this old man for a moment."

As we settle onto the cushions around his small table, he continues to study me with the same sort of attention I’ve felt from other elders who’ve learned to read people well. Like the blind old gardener fox or the man who feeds birds.

"You have excellent posture for this country. As if taught to carry body properly from young age."

> How perceptive... He’s not going to just know where I came from and my whole story by me saying a few words like Ellie Rushwater did... right? <

"Thank you, sir. That’s very kind to point out."

"My late wife would have appreciated meeting you. My eyes and hands were always meant for fish, but she had... an eye for such human things. She taught this one much about fashion style and presentation when she was just starting her career."

Nodding towards the blonde, she smiles warmly again. In the way people do naturally when around family they love, even in memories. The way I have not done in quite some time.

> Yes, I do wish I was part of a pack too. Blood related or not. But you don’t have to point that out, you know how everything is right now... <

"Kiyomi-obaa was my first real mentor. She saw potential in me where others saw just another one of the struggling design students. I wouldn’t be where I am now without her."

"Ah, but she always said something. Did she not, grandchild?"

"Elegance must be refined with care, teaching only what is not natural."

Prompting the young woman sitting next to him, in what I estimate is a filial position in their culture - Reina intoned the quote she was supposed to. My own etiquette teachers may or may not have disagreed... but certainly, teaching a beast to act more human is not natural.

"She would have said the same about you, young lady. What is natural has been well refined."

When he looks directly at me again, I feel oddly seen through while also not being seen at all. Complimenting my ’motor skills’ which belong to Citra with admiration for the form which belongs to Helene.

> Then again, if he knows or senses something somehow, he might just be making a blunt remark about the unnaturalness of me? If he is a type of mystic from his country, then he could possibly tell that my soul is that of a fox. Best not to assume that is the case. <

"The refinement of the young is often only on the surface. Your restaurant’s cooking was exceptional - and the environment is clearly cherished. You’ve built a beautiful place here."

I did not give out praise often, but I can only be complimented so much before I have to return the favor... effusively.

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