Na-Isekai Ako-Chapter 4: Menalipo

Katherine found herself staring at the man before her. His hair and eyes were a deep chocolate brown, reminiscent of the people she had known in her past life. His gaze was warm yet unreadable, framed by long lashes that only added to his striking features. He appeared to be in his twenties, tall and exuding an aura that was difficult to ignore.

"My Lady?" The man's voice carried a hint of concern.

"Huh?" Katherine blinked, snapping out of her trance. Realizing she had been staring too long, she quickly composed herself.

She accepted his outstretched hand and stood up, dusting off her clothes before meeting his gaze again. "I'm fine. Thank you."

"I sincerely apologize, dear Lady. I wasn't paying attention. I was carrying too much and didn't see where I was going," he said, his expression earnest.

"It's alright, no harm done." Katherine shifted her focus to the scattered boxes on the ground. Though they seemed to be his, her mind was more preoccupied with her own predicament. "Are these yours?"

"Ah." The man glanced down before nodding. "Yes."

He crouched to pick them up, and without hesitation, Katherine joined him. She noticed how overloaded he had been, carrying more than was practical. It was no wonder he had bumped into her.

"Thank you, Lady, but you don't have to trouble yourself. You'll get dirty," he said politely when he saw her helping.

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"Don't worry about that." She smiled, brushing off his concern.

He hesitated for a moment before relenting. "You can place those on my load."

"Where are you taking these?" she asked instead, ignoring his suggestion and holding onto a few boxes.

"Just around the corner. There's a toy shop. These are parts for it."

"A toy shop?" Katherine's curiosity piqued. "Alright, I'll help you carry them."

"N-no, Lady, I couldn't possibly—"

"I also want to see the toy shop." She flashed another smile. "And my name is Katherine."

In the end, the man sighed, then returned her smile. "Thank you, Lady Katherine. I'm Menalipo."

With a slight bow, he adjusted his load and gestured for them to walk.

As they strolled down the street, Katherine found herself observing him. He carried himself with a gentle ease, never once showing frustration at his burden. His tone was always polite, his expressions calm and measured. Such a mild-mannered man, she mused. Even when flustered, he remained composed.

"Which family do you belong to, Lady Katherine?" Menalipo asked as they moved toward the shop.

"Hah..." Katherine hesitated, scrambling for the right answer. What was Aunt Yevon's last name again? "I'm the niece of Countess Yevon."

"Oh! The Countess!"

"You know my aunt?"

"Of course. The Countess is well known throughout the kingdom, largely due to her husband's contributions."

Husband? Katherine nearly blurted out her confusion but held her tongue. "Ah... I'm actually not too familiar with my aunt's achievements," she admitted. Not just unfamiliar—she had no idea at all. "How about you? May I know which family you belong to?"

The formal conversation felt unnatural to her, but she wasn't sure how else to act around someone like Menalipo.

"I am the nephew of Duke Briseo," he answered with a polite smile, "but I work at the palace office to assist with his responsibilities."

"Ah..." So, high society.... "But if you're the duke's nephew, shouldn't you just send someone else to do things like this?"

Menalipo chuckled. "I'm his nephew, not his son. Besides, today's my day off. I just wanted to get some fresh air."

"And play porter?"

He laughed again. "Yes, to play porter."

Katherine found herself smiling. There was something endearing about his easygoing nature, how he never seemed to take offense. He was the kind of noble who didn't mind getting his hands dirty, and that intrigued her.

Before long, they arrived in front of a quaint shop with a sign that read "Elseid."

"Elseid..."

"Go on in, Lady Katherine," Menalipo invited.

"Just Katherine is fine, Menalipo," she corrected before stepping inside.

Menalipo shook his head with a polite but firm smile. "I'm afraid I cannot, Lady Katherine. You are a lady of a noble household, and it would be improper for me to address you so informally." He paused for a moment before adding with a touch of amusement, "Perhaps in the future, if circumstances allow."

Katherine sighed inwardly but chose not to argue. Instead, she simply smiled. "If you insist," she said, though she found his unwavering politeness both endearing and exasperating.

The moment she entered, she felt an odd sense of familiarity. The shop was nothing like the traditional stores in Albania. The toys were neatly displayed in cabinets, each labeled with prices—organized, clean, and structured. It reminded her of the modern world she had once known, far removed from the haggling and chaos of local markets.

"What do you think?" Menalipo asked, clearly pleased by her reaction.

"I like it here," she admitted, smiling. "Where's the owner?"

"Not here today, but the attendant is." Menalipo gestured toward the counter, where a man sat, head down, mouth partially covered as if wearing a mask. His long black hair fell over his eyes.

"Zamir!" Menalipo called.

The man lifted his head slightly but remained silent.

"He looks like an emo..." Katherine thought, unaware she had spoken out loud.

"What?" Zamir's voice was sharp.

Katherine bit her lip, realizing her mistake. "Ah, nothing. I meant—it's a pleasure to meet you."

Zamir merely stared at her, unimpressed.

Menalipo cleared his throat awkwardly. "He's not much of a talker, Lady Katherine. Sorry."

"It's fine," she said, forcing a smile.

"I'll check the back to see if anything else needs handling," Zamir muttered before vanishing into the storage room.

Menalipo sighed. "That's just how he is."

"I get it. Maybe he was just surprised to see me with you."

"Probably not. Some days, he's just... like that."

Possessed? Or just having a bad day? Instead of voicing her thoughts, Katherine chuckled and picked up a toy from the shelf. "Do you come here often?"

"Yes. I buy toys here for my cousin."

"Cousin? The duke's child?"

"Yes. He's about your age... very kind and intelligent."

Katherine furrowed her brows slightly. If he's my age... doesn't that mean he's around fifteen or sixteen? Isn't that a little too old for toys? She hesitated before voicing her thoughts. "Ah... your cousin enjoys toys?"

Menalipo laughed. "Oh, not to play with. He collects them. Many of the items here are limited edition, some even custom-made."

Katherine nodded, processing this new information. So, a noble toy collector? That was... unexpected.

For a moment, she was reminded of her brother. He had loved toys, too—his eyes would light up at even the smallest trinket, his excitement infectious whenever he got something new. The memory made her chest tighten. She suddenly missed him, an ache settling in her heart.

"Next time, I'll introduce you two," Menalipo said warmly.

"Really? What's his name?" she asked, trying to shake off the wave of nostalgia.

"Florante. My cousin's name is Florante."

The toy slipped from Katherine's fingers, crashing onto the wooden floor. The sharp thud echoed through the shop.

A chill ran down her spine.

Florante...? It can't be.