Still locked in a sharp gaze, Canis was the first to speak.
"You know, today I met two people I know in a place far from home. Truly a complicated stroke of luck, Lady Shina."
Shina replied with a calm yet pointed tone, "Calling it luck doesn't quite match the expression you're wearing, Mr. Canis."
"Got me, huh?" Canis smirked, his words laced with mockery.
Despite their previous tension, neither could afford to show hostility here, not with so many people watching. They both understood the situation well—they had to pretend to be respectful toward each other, no matter how difficult it was.
Just then, Lucy approached them and called out to Shina.
"I had a feeling we'd run into you," she said with a playful smile. "I knew you were out shopping at the market."
Shina sighed subtly, her expression betraying a hint of frustration. She felt like her sister had set her up, but she couldn't say it outright. Instead, she shifted her gaze toward Lucy and remarked, "You seem more cheerful than usual, Sis. I suppose meeting old friends again does that to you."
Her eyes flickered toward Canis and Easton, her tone neutral, but a subtle undertone of reluctance lingered in her words.
From behind, Easton leaned slightly toward Aron and whispered, "Hey, Aron. Is that woman really the Frost Queen?"
"That's her, Mr. Easton," Aron replied quietly but firmly.
Before Easton could say another word, he felt an icy glare piercing through him. Slowly, he turned his head—and sure enough, Shina was staring directly at him, her red eyes like sharpened blades of frost.
"She's terrifying, she really is the Frost queen" Easton muttered to himself internally, a drop of cold sweat forming on his brow.
Trying to ease the mounting tension, Lucy stepped in with a cheerful smile. "Well, since we're all here, how about we sit down and chat over a nice meal?"
Shina immediately declined. "I've already bought ingredients to cook myself. Besides, we agreed to have lunch together today, remember?"
Lucy chuckled softly and wrapped her arm around her younger sister's shoulder. "We can still do that tonight. But right now, we have to welcome our old friends."
"They're your old friends, not mine…" Shina murmured under her breath.
"Come on, come on!" Lucy chimed as she gave Shina a gentle push from behind, clearly not taking no for an answer. Shina could only sigh and relent under her sister's bright insistence.
Canis, on the other hand, looked ready to refuse outright. But as he saw Easton and Aron already walking eagerly after Lucy and Shina, their faces lit up with excitement at the prospect of food, he exhaled slowly. He had no other choice. With a resigned look, he followed behind them.
{Chapter 28 end}