….

  February 2nd, 2010.

  .

  The M.

  By 10 a.m., one of the ses in the indepe bookstore called Books & Books in Miami, FL, started to buzz in preparation for the u of a book.

  Regal and Gwendolyn arrived thirty mier. By then, the space was alive with activity.

  Everleaf Press ground staff were already doh the main things, like setting up the stage with decoration works ongoing.

  Overall, the empty venue space slowly began to take the shape of an official event.

  Regal didn't hang back.

  He jumped in to help where he could, his eyes catg the simple but thoughtful setup.

  A five-foot-tall banner featuring the cover of [Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stoood as the terpiece, and fresh flowers dotted the tables, giving everything a , weling vibe.

  The seats were arranged in a tidy semicircle, around the small stage - enough to hold 30 to 50 guests.

  Regal g the stack of books on the dispy table he entrance, eae ready for curious hands to pick them up.

  o them, a cash box and card reader were set up alongside, looking more official than Regal felt.

  On the refreshment table, cookies, crackers, coffee, and juice were id out as s from their side. Gwendolyn had been the mastermind behind all of it, even managing to score the snacks as donations.

  "Looks goht?" She asked fidently, walking by with a clipboard in hand

  She had just finished tag to verify how things were going on at the other two locations.

  Regal simply nodded and leaned against the back wall, watg the teis adjust the microphones.

  "Testing, testing... owo, three." The sound tech's voice crackled over the speakers before fading into silence.

  After a few more clicks and some static, everything was good to go.

  The room was slowly filling with guests, credit to the effort of the team members handing out flyers to passersby, pulling in anyone who looked remotely curious.

  Gwendolyn and Regal kept busy, double-cheg the flow of things.

  Every so often, a few passersby stop by the entraheir eyes sing the room with a mix of curiosity and i.

  ….

  The doors are officially open.

  Staff members greeted guests warmly, guiding them to their seats or pointing them to the refreshment table

  Regal occasionally caught the ss of versation as attendees browsed the book dispy or helped themselves to coffee.

  A couple of kids sneaked cookies, giggling as they tried not to get caught.

  Gwendolyn had already stepped into 'host' mode, greeting the attendees with utmost professionalism.

  Meanwhile, a sign-i assed around, asking guests to leave their names and emails for future marketing.

  Regal, oher hand, found himself on the receiving end of gratutions.

  Strangers approached him with polite smiles, kind words about his debut. He returheir smiles just as politely, but inwardly, he was unsure how to interpret their remarks.

  It would have been easier to take in their gratutions after the event had proven itself successful.

  But hearing it now, before anything had even begu premature - like people were already expeg a mediocre time, and softening the blow of potential disappoi for the young author.

  Luckily, not everyone approached him with empty praise. A few guests lingered by the book dispy, taking their time to flip through the pages.

  Regal caught glimpses of their approving nods, which did more to settle his han any obligatory pliments.

  From his vantage point, he observed it all - the mingling guests and the curious goward the design of the cover.

  For now, everyone moved at their own pace, expl the venue and finding their footing before the event officially kicked off.

  Despite being highly fident, only now did Regal feel a strange mix of emotions - part excitement, part doubt, and a dash of cautious hope.

  tud–!

  ?!Something bumped into his leg, jolting him out of his thoughts.

  Startled, he looked down and found a small girl, likely arou or nine years old. Her wide, sparkling eyes held a mix of curiosity and mischief as she stared up at him. Her tiny hand clutched the edge of his pants, as if trying to firm he was real.

  Regal blinked, croug down slightly to her level.

  "Uh... hey there." He said, his voice caught between fusion and amusement. "You lost, or just really ied in my pants?"

  "Hehhe~" The girl giggled, her grip tightening just a bit as she tilted her head, still silent.

  Regal gnced around, but there was no sign of anyone looking for her. It seemed she had wandered off on her own.

  "Well, if you are here for the cookies, yoing the wrong way." He poioward the refreshment table.

  The girl followed his gesture with a curious gaze before shaking her head vigorously.

  "No, cookie. Books! I want one!" She said, her little hands gesturing animatedly, as if the entire world should uand her desire for a book.

  Regal raised an eyebrow, sing the room once more for any sign of her guardian.

  But the little girl stood firmly at his side, her face glowing with i resolve to get her hands on a book.

  "Books, huh?" He grinned. "Well, you're in luck, princess. There's a whole table of them right over there." He gestured toward the dispy. "But you have to promise me something first."

  The girl tilted her head, her wide eyes log onto him, waiting for the catch.

  "After you read it, you have to tell me what you think. Deal?"

  Upon hearing the deal, the girl's face brightened, and she nodded enthusiastically, her curly hair boung with the motion.

  Regal straightened up aly guided her toward the book table, her small hand tugging on his sleeve, as though she couldn't get close enough to the books fast enough.

  "Alright, little one. Pick whichever one you like." He said, motioning to the ly arraacks of books.

  She paused, sing the covers with all the focus of someone making a life-altering decisioe his suggestial knew all the books were the same.

  After a few moments, her face lit up, and she pointed excitedly at one particur book. "This one!"

  Regal picked up the book she had chosen, handing it over to her.

  "Good choice." He said, a smile, his eyes flig around to make sure no one aying too much attention.

  He lowered his voice slightly. "Also, don't tell anyone I gave it to you for free, okay?"

  The girl's face practically radiated joy as she hugged the book to her chest, her feet hopping in pce as she skipped arouedly.

  Just then, Regal noticed a proag. She was sing the room, her eyes sharp, until they locked onto the little girl.

  Her pace quied as she called out, her voice cutting through the chatter in the room. "Lily!"

  The girl tur the sound of her name, holding up the book like a trophy. "Look, Mommy! I got a book!"

  The woman smiled warmly, bending down to meet her daughter at eye level.

  "That's wonderful, sweetheart." She turned her gaze tal, her smile still in pce.

  Her eyes flicked briefly to the ID card hanging fral's neck, reition fshing through her expression as she took in his staff badge.

  "Thank you." She said, standing upright. "I am sorry. I didn't realize she had wandered off. She is quite persistent when it es to books."

  Her smile softehe apology clearly lingering ione.

  Regal shook his head, gng at Lily, who was now hugging the book close to her.

  "Not at all." He said, his voice softening.

  The woman gave a slight nod, shifting her weight, and then scooped Lily up into her arms.

  The little girl didn't protest.

  Instead, she turned around, her grin wide and utterly iious, the kind of unguarded joy that only children so easily wear.

  "Thank you, mister!" She shouted, turning over her mother's shoulder as she started walking toward the row of chairs.

  Regal watched them go, his hand rising instinctively to wave them off, a strange warmth pooling in his chest.

  He found himself standing there for a moment lohan he expected, a little lost in the fleeting but pure moment.

  The book unch had been nothing short of an uphill struggle, full of uainties and stress.

  But this? It felt like a win.

  When Regal finally shook his head and gnced around, his eyes nded on Gwendolyn, who had clearly been watg the exge with an amused expression.

  She gave a subtle nod.

  Regal tilted his head, a faint smirk f.

  "Is this what a 'fan moment' feels like?" He muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

  Gwendolyn caught it, of course.

  She always did.

  Her smirk widened as she shot back. "Don't get too cocky, Junior."

  Regal rolled his eyes.

  ….

  .

  Soon lights flickered for a moment, signaling the start of the event.

  A hushed murmur of anticipation filled the room as the host stepped up to the microphone.

  "Good afternoon, everyohe host began with a warm smile, looking out at the gathered crowd. "Thank you all for beioday to celebrate the unch of this incredible new book. We are about to hear from the talented authal Seraphsail."

  The host tinued. "Today's event is not just a book unch…"

  A few more words of praise, and then the host grinned, his eyes sing the eager faces in the room.

  "Without further ado." the host said. "Please join me in weling Regal Seraphsail to the stage!"

  Polite appuse added as Regal made his way to the podium, adjusting the microphone as the sound of g faded quickly.

  Then, a high-pitched voice cut through, unmistakable and full of excitement.

  "Mama, look! It's him, that mister from before!"

  Regal's eyes instinctively darted toward the third row.

  There, the same little girl from earlier, her face glowing with enthusiasm, was tugging at her mother's sleeve. Her small hand poiraight at him, eyes wide with urained joy, blissfully unaware of the significe of the event.

  ?Regal blinked, surprised. He shot her a small smile and a wave, trying to shake the awkwardness.

  "Well, I don't know about the number of readers I have gained with this event." He said into the mic, his tone casual. "But I think I have definitely gained a new friend. Though, she is maybe a little too young, or just a bit too eager."

  Laughter rippled through the crowd, some chug at the ued warmth in his voice.

  The mother's surprised reairrored that of several others in the room.

  Despite a few nodding, it was clear they hadn't anticipated Regal to be the author.

  It wasn't hard to see why.

  His youth was obvious, but it wasn't just his age that threw people off, it was his easygoing demeanor, the stark trast to the polished image many had of an author.

  He let the silence hang for a sed, watg them all. Then, he cleared his throat.

  "Hey, everyone." He began again, a mrouoling in. "Thanks for showing up today."

  He sed the room, tinuing with a half-smile. "I am not much for speeches, so I will keep this brief. As you probably tell, I didn't do this for fame nition. It's simple, I just wao tell a story. And yeah, maybe make a little money along the way."

  He paused, letting the words hang.

  His eyes flicked over to Gwendolyn, the sight of her the fai spark of reassurance.

  With that, he grinned. "Thanks again for being here. I hope you enjoy the book, and if you don't, well... I guess I will try harder ime."

  The crowd ughed, and Regal gave an easy shrug before stepping away from the podium.

  The Q&A ed up quickly, the usual questions ing and going without much fanfare.

  A line began to form at the signing table. Regal took his seat, pulling a pen from his pocket aing it in front of him, ready for the step.

  It wasn't a huge crowd, he khe book was still fresh, but this was just the start.

  He greeted each person who came forward with a smile.

  Then it was Lilly's turn.

  She stood there, still holding her mother's hand.

  Befal could say anything, the mother spoke first, clearly flustered.

  "I am sorry." She said, her cheeks flushed a little. "I didn't know you were the author. She has been talking about you nonstop since she saw you on stage."

  Regal chuckled softly, shaking his head.

  Then his eyes darted to Lilly.

  His attention shifted to Lilly, still wide-eyed.

  "So, what do you think of the book, Lilly?" He asked, fully aware she probably hadn't read it yet, but still curious.

  Lilly's face lit up. She nodded vigorously. "I like it! I wanna read it, but my mama says I have to wait until I reae."

  "Well, I think yoing to love it when you read it." Regal replied, keeping the tone light and pyful. He scribbled a quiote in the book, making sure to add a personal touch. 'To Lilly, the future wizard, may your adventures be magical'.

  He ha back, giving her a wink. She beamed, and her mom smiled in appreciation.

  It was a small moment, but it made Regal's day.

  As the line slowly started to wind down, Regal leaned ba his chair, looking at the books stacked oable.

  .

  ….

  [To be tinued…]

  ★─────??★??─────★

  Author Note:

  Visit Patreon to instantly access +5 chapter for free, avaible to Free Members as well.

  For additional tent, please do support me and gain access to +10 more chapters.–> [email protected]/oWriters