Damian and Agnes exited the restaurant, the sun was already setting. It was getting late, and the orphanage group was probably preparing to leave.
Agnes made a confident move. She wrapped her hands around Damian's palms, and they began to hold hands as they walked to meet up with the orphanage group.
'Does this mean yes?' Damian thought, as the feel of Agnes's touch coursed through him.
"Damian," Agnes called out, her voice soft and low. "Do you ever think of where the sun hides?"
Agnes's question was confusing to Damian, She asked him that while gazing at the eye-catching scene of the sun setting. He wondered what she meant by the 'sun hiding,' does the sun even hide? Damian knew about some astronomy from his previous world, but concepts that were common to Damian weren't to them.
"I'm sorry, but I don't follow," he answered.
"Damian," she said, her voice immediately becoming cheerful, as she squeezed his hand. "Don't look so serious! The sun thing was just me being silly."
"Silly?" he chuckled. "Silly is you claiming you can cook better than Mr. Dogi. The sun question was... intriguing."
"It's true though! My pork strips will be legendary!" Agnes laughed. "But look, we are officially cutting it close. We are going to get an earful from the Matron."
"We are, aren't we?" Damian tightened his grip on her hand, a surge of adrenaline replacing his earlier confusion. "You know, sneaking out with you, the theater, the sketchy-but-delicious food... this was probably the most fun I've had since I got here."
Agnes's smile was radiant, as she replied. "Good! That was the whole point. We needed a proper break from the orphanage. And hey, look at the bright side, at least we'll get yelled at together."
"The knight and his princess, facing the dragon Matron side-by-side," Agnes chuckled some more as she said that.
She continued, tugging him into a quicker pace. "Now come on, before she locks us out and we have to sleep in one of those dirty alleyways. I am not sharing a bed with a bunch of smelly goat farmers!"
They both burst into laughter, their held hands swinging between them as they hurried back toward the central market, the last rays of the setting sun casting long shadows. The warmth of her hand in his was a more definite answer than any words could have been, an answer to the newly born relationship.
****
As Damian and Agnes arrived at the Central Market, the Matron quickly took note of their presence and hurried towards them, placing a hand firmly on each of their shoulders.
"Oh my," she said, though her tone held more relief than anger. "Damian, I have been looking for you. Your sister says she wants to make an urgent announcement at the orphanage."
"Cassie, she wants to do what?"