As Xavier and Eulene walked out of the boutique, Eulene could not hold back her question longer.
"Why don't you use bank notes?" she asked. "I see you using coins all the time."
"How many Noviks do you think an average person needs per day to live?" Xavier returned a question.
Eulene raised a brow. "Depends on the place." Eulene had taken a bit of economics lesson from aunt Maisel. Moreover, she was a sect leader in her world. She was an adept at such matters. "Back in Derbury, five Noviks was enough to arrange food for an entire day."
Xavier nodded. "Here in Aramon, it's twice of that. Do you know how much it was 50 years ago?"
Eulene remained silent, awaiting his answer.
"One Novik could have fed a whole family for a week."
Eulene raised her brows in surprises. There was that much of a difference?
"The value of bank notes is never the same," Xavier explained. "It's always fluctuating, mostly decreasing due to inflation. 100 years ago, a Novik was almost as expensive as a gold coin. Now, if I take that hard earned Novik out, I can barely buy anything. Hence, I use coins made of precious metals. Their value increased over the course of two centuries."
Eulene nodded in understanding. It made sense. But this raised another question in her mind.
"Then why don't everyone use gold, silver and bronze coins?" she asked.
"For convenience," Xavier replied instantaneously. "What would you prefer? Carrying a kilogram of bronze coins or a bundle of 100 Noviks note? A kilogram of gold coins or a single bank check?"
"Oooh." Eulene understood everything. After all, not everyone had a magic hat or storage ring like them.
They walked through the Avenue. This time, Eulene was not rushing anymore. She walked side by side with Xavier.
Every passerby—be it a man or a woman—halted in their tracks and gave Eulene a second look. In a place where only the stars gathered, she was the moon. And with every stores she visit, her existence got brighter and brighter.
Crystalline heels, platinum ornaments embroidered with sapphires, fashionable hair accessories—she was a domain above theatre and opera stars. Xavier, on the other hand, did not buy anything for himself. But he was carrying a couple of shopping bags—filled with perfumes, accessories, a timepiece, cakes and desserts, and… a revolver.
They stayed in the Avenue for more than three hours, visiting every shop, tasting every treat that caught Eulene's eyes. Throughout the time, Eulene had forgotten that she was suddenly engaged.
Under the admiring and envious gaze of the high ticket crowd, the duo finally left the place in the evening. Xavier had a smile on his face, but the smile on Eulene's face was brighter.
"Do you want to visit other places?" Xavier asked.
To beings like them, such an excursion barely affected their total energy.
Eulene shook her head. "I want to try everything I bought today." She looked at the bags hanging from Xavier's hands.
Xavier's smile became a wry one. Eulene's eyes were clearly fixed on a single bag—the one that carried the revolver.
Xavier called a coach. Before the coachman could jump down from his seat, Xavier opened the door for Eulene. After she entered, Xavier followed, closing the door behind.
Xavier gave the coachman the address and closed the front window.
Eulene's smile began to dwindle again.
Xavier sighed. Looks like the shopping spree was starting to lose its effect. On the other hand, he had already fully composed himself, 'activating' his own heart again.
Eulene's heart became heavy again. It was not easy—to get used to the fact that she was marrying soon.
Xavier could not restrain himself anymore. "If you hate the idea too much, we can just leave Avarynth. It would be difficult for the Thirteenth to find us in a short period of time."
Eulene's eyes twitched. "Why haven't you said that sooner?"
"As I said, it's only temporary. Their are artefacts that can locate us."
Eulene sighed. "Forget it. It's too much of a hassle anyway." She shook her head. "And it's not that I hate the idea, it's just that it was too sudden."
"You can take your time," Xavier said. "There's a two month window. If we can prove that you are not malignant to the country by any means, maybe you can attain the citizenship without that condition."
Eulene nodded.
The carriage got silent again. Nobody had smiles on their face any longer. However, they decided to keep the silence.
Maybe the best solution of the problem… was time.
They reached Edenhelm in a matter of minutes.
Xavier—once again, deciding to be a gentleman—got out of the coach first and held the door for Eulene.
After walking through the courtyard, when Eulene stepped into the mansion, a sudden thought flashed through her mind.
Wait! Wasn't she just engaged? And she was already living under the same roof as him? Weren't they going on too fast?
Why was she even having such thoughts? Her face flushed.
"What happened?"
Xavier's words sounded like thunder to Eulene's ears. She woke up from her stupor and subconsciously took another step inside the house.
The deed was done. She was already in.
Xavier stared at Eulene with confusion.
Eulene's mind was in a flurry of clashing thoughts. Two sides of her were debating. One was saying she was getting further and further into the mess, while the other side retorted that it was fine. After all, they had been living under the same roof for over a month, and more importantly—they slept in different rooms.
"I'll prepare dinner," Xavier said, ignoring her state. "You can go and change."
"I am full from all those snacks," Eulene retorted. "I'll go take some rest."
Xavier stayed silent for a second before nodding. "Sure. You can go to bed. Keep in mind that we will have to leave early in the morning tomorrow."
"Where?" Eulene turned to Xavier and frowned.
"A potential workplace."