Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

Ruune

I stared out the window of the yellow vehicle Griff had called a "taxi," watching the towering structures of Manhattan whiz by. Even after a few days on Earth, I still marveled at the sheer density of buildings and people crammed onto this small island. It was a far cry from the sprawling landscapes of Valoria or even the glittering capital city of our home world.

"We're almost there," Caroline said, her voice pulling me from my thoughts. She sat between Griff and me in the back seat, her smaller frame dwarfed by us. "The Armoury is one of the best menswear shops in the city. They'll get you sorted for the party."

I nodded, though I still wasn't entirely sure why I needed new attire. My Valorian formal wear was perfectly suitable for any occasion. But Caroline had insisted that blending in was crucial, especially given the importance of this event to Olivia.

Olivia. Just thinking her name sent an unexpected warmth through my chest. Between our carriage ride and the number of times she’d kissed me, I wasn’t sure where things stood. We’d officially relaxed her rules, but so far that only included hand holding. I shook my head, trying to dislodge thoughts of her warm hand and even warmer lips.

The taxi lurched to a stop, and we emerged onto a quieter street than I'd seen so far in the city. The buildings here were shorter, made of weathered brick, and the one in front boasted a large window displaying unmoving figures in impeccably tailored suits.

"This way," Griff said, leading us into a shop with "The Armoury" written in elegant, gold lettering on the door.

The interior consisted of dark wood and soft lighting, with shelves lining the walls and reaching the ceiling. It smelled clean and crisp and decidedly masculine. A bell chimed as we entered, and a slim man with graying hair and round spectacles approached us.

"Welcome to The Armoury," he said smoothly, his eyes widening slightly as he took in Griff and me. "How may I assist you today?"

Caroline stepped forward. "We need a suit for my friend here," she said, gesturing to me. "It's for a New Year's Eve party, so we're in a bit of a time crunch. I know custom isn't possible, but we're hoping you can alter something off the rack."

The man looked me up and down, his brow furrowing. "I see. Well, we'll certainly do our best. If you'll follow me, sir?"

I trailed after him to a raised platform in the back surrounded by mirrors. He circled me slowly, muttering to himself and occasionally reaching out to measure various parts of my body with a yellow fabric tape measure he produced from his pocket.

"I'm afraid we don't typically stock sizes quite so…robust, yet not rotund,” he said delicately. "But let me see what I can find in our largest cuts."

As he disappeared into the back, Griff approached me. "Remember, cousin," he said in a low voice, “it is only for one evening.”

“You know I could be dancing in the bubbling pools of Nerrulia right now.”

He narrowed his gaze. “But you decided to surprise me on Earth.”

“And Earth and the Drexians are our newest allies,” I said with a sigh. “I remember all too well.”

“I am glad to hear it.”

Before I could tell my cousin that he was more fun before he was so close to inheriting the throne, the tailor returned with an armful of clothing. "Let's start with the trousers," he said. "If you'll just remove your, er…current attire."

I shrugged and began to undo the fastenings of my Valorian clothing. The tailor's eyes nearly bulged from his head as I dropped my pants, revealing that I wore nothing underneath. It was a common practice on Valoria, but judging by the man's reaction and Caroline's stifled giggle and swiftly averted gaze, perhaps not so common here on Earth.

"Oh my," the tailor muttered, sending his gaze to the ceiling. "I'm not sure how we'll alter around…that. But let's try these on and see what we're working with."

I stepped into the trousers he held out, which were indeed far too large around the waist, but snug in other areas. The tailor knelt to begin pinning the excess fabric, his hands shaking slightly as he muttered to himself.

"So, Ruune," Caroline said, finally returning her gaze to me, "are you excited about the party?"

I considered her question as the tailor worked. Was I excited? The prospect of spending more time with Olivia certainly appealed to me. But the thought of meeting her parents and navigating the complex social dynamics of Earth's upper class was less enticing.

"I've never attended an Earth celebration like this before, and I want to ensure I don't disappoint Olivia ."

“You are part of the royal family of Valoria,” Griff said, squaring his shoulders. “You understand treacherous diplomatic situations well.”

The man pinning my legs glanced at Griff then at me, his furry eyebrows peaking before he returned to his work.

Caroline bit her lower lip. “Her mom is a lot. But I’m not worried about you with her. How are things going with Liv?”

“Fine,” I answered quickly. “Why?”

She exchanged a look with Griff before answering. "I know you're not looking for anything serious, and I'd hate to see either of you get hurt."

Her words struck a chord, reminding me of walking Olivia home. I'd found myself wondering what it would be like to do that often. It was a dangerous train of thought, one that led to places I'd sworn I'd never go.

"I appreciate your concern," I told Caroline, keeping my voice light. "But I assure you, we both understand the deal.”

Even as I said the words, a part of me wondered if they were true. The more time I spent with Olivia, the more I felt myself being drawn in by her quick wit, her infectious laugh, and the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide.

The tailor stood, interrupting my musings. "I think I've got the trousers sorted," he rubbed his wrinkled hands together. "Now, let's try on a jacket."

As he helped me into a dark blue jacket that strained across my shoulders and flapped at my waist, I caught sight of myself in the mirror. The Earth clothing was strange, restrictive in some ways, but oddly flattering in others. I turned, examining how the fabric clung to my form.

“You will make Valoria proud,” Griff said as he appraised me.

That was something I’d never heard before. It was something I’d never sought, but it felt surprisingly nice to hear. I rolled my eyes at him, but I couldn't help the small surge of pride at his words.

"I doubt Olivia will be impressed by clothing.”

Caroline gave a half shrug. “The girl likes a hot guy in a suit. Who doesn’t?”

Griff leaned close to her. “Should I also get a suit?”

She giggled at this, and I tried to ignore their nuzzling.

The tailor continued to work, pinning and adjusting, muttering to himself about proportions and seam allowances. I stood patiently, my mind wandering back to Olivia. I thought about how she'd looked as we’d walked hand in hand, about how good it had felt to be by her side.

"There," the tailor said finally, stepping back to examine his work. "I think we've done the best we can with the time constraints. You'll need to give me a day to make the alterations, but I’ll have it ready for you by New Year’s Eve.”

I looked at myself in the mirror again, barely recognizing the figure reflected back at me. The suit was indeed flattering, emphasizing my broad shoulders and trim waist. It was strange how a simple change of clothing could make one feel so different.

"You look great, Ruune," Caroline said, coming to stand beside me. "Liv's parents won't know what hit them."

I was less worried about what her parents thought, than what she did. As I changed back into my own clothes, I couldn't shake the feeling that the suit was another part of a ruse that was getting more complicated. I usually despised complications. Then why did I not mind any of this?

That, I realized with trepidation, was the most dangerous part of all.